Green algae are quite important primary producers in fresh waters. The genus Chlorella represents one of algae most frequently utilized in algal biotechnologies to produce biomass, using either autotrophic or heterotrophic cultivation systems. It is than exploited as a food supplement for humans or animals. However, particular species within the genus are morphologically indistinguishable and molecular markers should be used to characterize production strains. This work is aimed to molecularly characterize three production strains of Chlorella for patent protection purposes and to specify their phylogenetic and taxonomic position.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:51:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1207373 bytes, checksum: f279fd080120df1d02002fe650c0e5bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The complexity and limited knowledge of the epiphytic and endophytic microbiota in coffee cherries, especially the unculturable ones, make it a challenging task the characterization of this microbiodiversity and its possible role as producers of precursors to compounds inherent to higher quality coffees. The present study was conducted to evaluate the diversity of endophytic bacteria in coffee cherries (Coffea arabica L.) from plantations located in North Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fragments of 16S rDNA were PCR-amplified using specific primers for the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria classes α, β and γ, using as template metagenomic DNA extracted from coffee cherries. Amplicons were evaluated by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting and also used to create a library of 16S rDNA clones. PCR-DGGE showed a variable genetic diversity profile in the DNA sample and revealed at least 38 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). PCR products sequenced showed that the endophytic bacterial community is composed, in addition to others, by representatives phylogenetically affiliated to the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, classes β and γ, for both cultivated and uncultivated microorganisms. The presence of endophytic bacteria belonging to Burkholderia and Klebsiela oxytoca is suggested based on the phylogenetic analyses of sequenced DNA fragments purified from the bands of the xviDGGE gels. A total of 50 clones of endophytic γ-Proteobacteria and 25 clones of endophytic Firmicutes from the 16S rDNA library were partially sequenced and identified. The result of sequence analyses showed three genera of Firmicutes among which 60% showed high identity with Bacillus, 8% with Staphylococcus, and 4% with Paenibacillus. Rarefaction and coverage analyses showed that the number of clones screened from the bacterial clone library was sufficient to reflect the diversity of endophytic Firmicutes in coffee cherries and that the number of unique sequence types sampled from this library approached the total number of unique sequences within the library. The populations of endophytic bacteria in coffee cherries are diverse and cover different phyla. In this study, for the first time, a library of 16S rDNA clones was constructed to access the diversity of endophytic bacteria in coffee cherries, both of culturable and unculturable microorganisms. The functional role of these bacteria in coffee cherries, as well as the genetic and functional diversity of other groups of microorganisms, is under investigation. The knowledge on this diversity is essential to determine the role of endophytic microorganisms in the production and interchange of precursors metabolites associated with the highest quality of the coffee beverage. Additionally, these studies will help the understanding of the physiological and genetic principles involved in the complex host-microorganism and microorganism-microorganism interactions. / A complexidade da microbiota epifítica e endofítica presente em frutos de café e o limitado conhecimento dos microrganismos, especialmente dos nãocultiváveis, dificultam a caracterização da microbiodiversidade e da possível atividade e contribuição dela para a formação de precursores de compostos que definem a qualidade superior da bebida do café. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a diversidade bacteriana endofítica associada aos frutos de café (Coffea arabica L.) coletados em fazenda localizada na Zona da Mata Norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Fragmentos de rDNAs 16S foram diretamente amplificados por Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) a partir de primers específicos para os filos Actinobacteria, Firmicutes e Proteobacteria pertencentes às classes α, β e γ, utilizando, como molde, DNA metagenômico extraído de frutos de café. Os amplicons foram submetidos à Eletroforese em Gel com Gradiente Desnaturante (DGGE) e utilizados para construção de bibliotecas de clones de rDNAs 16S. A PCR-DGGE mostrou variado perfil de diversidade genética na amostra de DNA, com a presença de pelo menos 38 Unidades Taxonômicas Operacionais (UTOs). Os produtos de PCR purificados e seqüenciados mostraram que a comunidade de bactérias endofíticas é composta, entre outros, por representantes relacionados filogeneticamente aos filos Firmicutes e Proteobacteria pertencentes às classes β e γ, dentre os quais se destacam microrganismos cultiváveis e não-cultiváveis. A presença de bactérias endofíticas pertencentes ao gênero Burkholderia e à espécie Klebsiela oxytoca é sugerida com base nas análises filogenéticas realizadas a partir do seqüenciamento de DNA obtido de bandas purificadas do gel de DGGE. Um total de 50 clones positivos da biblioteca de rDNAs 16S de γ-Proteobacteria endofíticas e 25 clones positivos da biblioteca de rDNAs 16S de Firmicutes endofíticos foram parcialmente seqüenciados e identificados. O resultado da análise das seqüências mostrou 3 gêneros de Firmicutes na biblioteca de rDNAs 16S, sendo que 60% mostraram alta identidade com Bacillus, 8% com Staphylococcus e 4% com Paenibacillus. Análises de rarefação e de cobertura mostraram que a biblioteca foi representativa e suficiente para refletir a diversidade de Firmicutes endofíticos de frutos de café e que a seqüência única detectada na amostra aproxima-se do número total de seqüências únicas dentro desta biblioteca. As populações de bactérias endofíticas presentes em frutos de café são diversas e compreendem diferentes filos. Neste estudo foi construída, pela primeira vez, uma biblioteca de clones de rDNAs 16S para acessar a diversidade de bactérias endofíticas, cultiváveis e não-cultiváveis, em frutos de café. O papel funcional dessas bactérias nos frutos de café, assim como a diversidade genética e funcional de outros grupos de microrganismos, continua sendo investigado. O conhecimento dessa diversidade é de fundamental importância para se determinar a participação destes microrganismos na produção e interconversão de metabólitos precursores daqueles que estão associados à qualidade superior da bebida do café. Adicionalmente, esses estudos podem auxiliar no entendimento dos princípios fisiológicos e genéticos envolvidos nas complexas interações microrganismo-hospedeiro e microrganismo-microrganismo.

Les abcès cérébraux sont des infections potentiellement mortelles, entraînant souvent des séquelles graves. La prise en charge médicale en reste empirique en raison d’un manque de connaissance approfondie des microorganismes responsables de cette condition. Dans la plupart des laboratoires microbiologiques, le diagnostic d’abcès cérébral est basé sur la culture du pus recueilli chirurgicalement. Malheureusement, cette procédure a de nombreuses limites et ne permet l’identification que d’une petite partie de la population microbienne en cause. L’amplification par PCR et le séquençage du gène codant la fraction 16S de l’ADN ribosomal ont récemment été utilisées pour surmonter les limites de la culture, et ont été démontré leur efficacité dans la documentation des infections bactériennes. Malheureusement, cette procédure présente un degré de discrimination limité en cas d’infection polymicrobienne. Des études métagénomiques de flores complexes de l’homme, basées sur une combinaison de PCR, clonage et séquençage des produits de PCR se sont avérées utiles pour évaluer la diversité bactérienne des flores dentaires, vaginales et intestinales. Nous avons appliqué cette technique à des échantillons d’abcès cérébral pour étudier la flore associée à cette maladie. Dans une première étape, nous avons réalisé une enquête en utilisant la culture et les techniques moléculaires. Le but de cette étude était d’analyser et d’évaluer les bactéries de la flore responsable des abcès cérébraux, en comparant la culture à trois techniques moléculaires basées sur le gène 16S rDNA, incluant le séquençage direct, le clonage suivi de séquençage par méthode de Sanger, et le séquençage direct des produits de PCR par pyroséquençage. Cette enquête a déterminé que la variété des espèces bactériennes associée aux abcès cérébraux est beaucoup plus grande que précédemment décrite, et inclut de nombreuses bactéries anaérobies et des bactéries incultivables de la flore buccale. Cette étude préliminaire a identifié 49 agents bactériens différents, et a permis l’identification de 27 bactéries jamais détectées auparavant dans des abcès du cérébraux, dont 15 n’avaient jamais été cultivées. Un tel nombre d’espèces bactériennes impliquées dans les abcès cérébraux a motivé l’étude de 51 nouveaux spécimens dans le but de décrire plus en détail la flore associée aux abcès cérébraux en fonction de leurs étiologies. Ainsi, nous avons effectué une analyse métagénomique, basé sur le gène 16S rDNA, de 51 patients ayant développé un abcès cérébral. Notre stratégie a été beaucoup plus discriminatoire et a permis à l’identification d’un plus grand nombre de bactéries que la culture et l’amplification et le séquençage direct de l’ANRr 16S. La combinaison des données de 71 patients (20 de la première étude et 51 de la deuxième étude) a permis l’identification de plusieurs associations à l’aide de la méthode de data mining.En outre, notre étude a permis l’identification de deux nouvelles bactéries, la première étant une nouvelle espèce de genre Staphylococcus (Staphylococcus massiliensis) et la seconde étant une bactérie anaérobie qui représente une nouvelle espèce dans un nouveau genre au sein du phylum des Bacteroidetes (Phocaeicola abscesses). En outre, nous avons décrit deux cas inhabituels d’abcès du cerveau, à Mycoplasma hominis après curetage utérin, et à Nocardia carnea chez un greffé rénal. Malgré les limites inhérentes à la procédure de clonage, nos résultats suggèrent que le clonage et le séquençage de gène DNAr 16S est une méthode très performante pour identifier les agents bactériens associés aux abcès cérébraux. / Brain abscess is a life-threatening infection with frequent serious sequelae. The medical management remains empirical due to a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the microorganisms responsible for this condition. In most microbiology laboratories the diagnosis of brain abscess is based on culture from pus collected surgically. Unfortunately, this procedure has many limitations and reveals only a small portion of the true microbial population. PCR-amplified 16S rDNA sequencing has recently been used to overcome the limitations of culture-based bacterial detection in brain abscess pus, and it was demonstrated to be effective in the documentation of monomicrobial infections. Unfortunately, this procedure failed to discriminate among polymicrobial floras.Metagenomic studies of complex human floras using a combination of 16S rDNA PCR and cloning-sequencing of PCR products proved useful to evaluate the bacterial diversity of dental, vaginal and intestinal floras. Thus, we applied this technique to brain abscess samples to study the flora associated with this condition. In a first step, we performed an investigation using culture and molecular techniques. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze and evaluate the bacterial flora responsible for brain abscess by comparing standard culture technique to three techniques using 16S rDNA amplification, that is, direct sequencing, multiple sequencing following cloning, and multiple sequencing via high throughput pyrosequencing. This investigation has determined that the variety of brain abscess-associated bacterial species is much larger than previously reported, and it includes many anaerobes and uncultured bacteria from the oral cavity flora. This preliminary study identified 49 distinct brain abscess bacterial agents, and enabled the identification of 27 bacteria never detected before in brain abscess, 15 of which were uncultured.Such a high number of bacterial species involved in brain abscess prompted the study of 51 new specimens in an effort to describe further the flora associated with brain abscesses and their etiologies. Thus, we performed a 16S rDNA-based metagenomic analysis of cerebral abscesses from 51 patients. Our strategy was significantly more discriminatory and enabled the identification of greater number of bacterial taxa, than culture and conventional 16S rDNA PCR/sequencing, respectively. The combination of data from 71 patients (20 from the first study and 51 from the second study) enabled the identification of several associations using the data mining analysis. Also, these studies permitted the identification of two novel bacteria, the first being a novel Staphylococcus species (Staphylococcus massiliensis) and the second being a novel anaerobic bacterium that represents a novel species in a new genus within the phylum Bacteroidetes (Phocaeicola abscesses). In addition, we reported tow unusual cases of brain abscess, the first case was a Mycoplasma hominis brain abscess following uterus curettage and the second case was a Nocardia carnea infection in a kidney transplant recipient patient.Despite limitations inherent to the cloning procedure, our results suggest that cloning and sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA is a highly valuable method to identify bacterial agents of brain abscesses.

Soil nematodes play an important role in indication for assessing soil environments and ecosystems. Previous studies of nematode community analyses based on molecular identification have shown to be useful for assessing soil environments. Here we applied PCR-DGGE method for molecular analysis of five soil nematode communities (designed as S1 to S5) collected from four provinces in Southeastern Vietnam (Binh Duong, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai) based on SSU gene. By sequencing DNA bands derived from S5 community sample, our data show 15 species containing soil nematode, other nematode and non-nematode (fungi) species. Genus Meloidogyne was found as abundant one. The genetic relationship of soil nematode species in S5 community were determined by Maximum Likelihood tree re-construction based on SSU gene. This molecular approach is applied for the first time in Vietnam for identification of soil nematode communities. / Tuyến trùng đất đóng vai trò chỉ thị quan trọng trong công tác đánh giá môi trường và hệ sinh thái đất. Các nghiên cứu trước đây đã cho thấy lợi ích của việc phân tích cộng đồng tuyến trùng đất bằng định danh sinh học phân tử đối với việc đánh giá môi trường đất. Ở đây, chúng tôi ứng dụng phương pháp PCR-DGGE dựa trên gene SSU để phân tích năm (ký hiệu từ S1 đến S5) cộng đồng tuyến trùng đất thuộc các vùng trồng chuyên canh cây hồ tiêu ở miền nam Việt Nam (Bình Dương, Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu, Bình Phước và Đồng Nai). Bằng cách giải trình tự các vạch của mẫu tuyến trùng S5, kết quả cho thấy cộng đồng tuyến trùng này có 15 loài gồm nhóm tuyến trùng đất, nhóm các loại tuyến trùng khác và nhóm không phải tuyến trùng (nấm) và trong đó Meloidogyne là giống ưu thế. Mối quan hệ di truyền của các các loài tuyến trùng đất thuộc cộng đồng S5 được xác định bằng việc thiết lập cây phát sinh loài Maximum Likelihood dựa trên gene SSU. Đây là nghiên cứu đầu tiên ở Việt Nam sử dụng kỹ thuật PCR-DGGE để phân tích các cộng đồng tuyến trùng đất trồng hồ tiêu.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-07-31T14:41:08Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação_Mestrado_Roberto_Carvalho_2016.pdf: 4128480 bytes, checksum: d7d2a90680981c944fb1c8f51356fdf0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-31T14:41:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação_Mestrado_Roberto_Carvalho_2016.pdf: 4128480 bytes, checksum: d7d2a90680981c944fb1c8f51356fdf0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-28 / FACEPE / Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo da ecologia microbiana com o objetivo de entender a composição e a dinâmica da comunidade microbiana formada em dois reatores do tipo UASB, correlacionando os parâmetros ambientais obtidos no monitoramento prévio com os parâmetros biológicos identificados ao longo da pesquisa. Um dos reatores foi planejado para ser operado em regime totalmente anaeróbio e o outro em condição microaerofílica. Ambos foram operados com efluente têxtil sintético durante 3 fases (Fase I – condições normais do efluente sintético; Fase II – adição de salinidade no afluente; Fase III – Adição de sulfato no afluente), ao final de cada fase foram coletadas amostras da biomassa da manta de lodo, como também uma amostra da biomassa aderida ao aerador apenas na fase III e por fim amostra do inóculo utilizado. Através das técnicas de PCR-DGGE foi possível obter uma pré-visualização da diversidade das amostras servindo como uma ferramenta para selecionar as amostras que seguiriam para sequenciamento do 16S rDNA utilizando a plataforma Illumina. As amostras coletadas foram exploradas geneticamente e analisadas por ferramentas de bioinformática (filtros de qualidade, análise de cluster, taxonomia entre outros), e por fim foram inferidas as informações fenotípicas das culturas identificadas. As amostras apresentaram índice de diversidade de microrganismos Simpson 1-D entre 0,8751 e 0,9806, onde os filos mais abundantes em todas as fases de operação foram Proteobacteria (13,17 – 44,21%), Firmicutes (7,12 - 41,94%), Bacteroidetes (13,05 – 26,17%) e Chloroflexi (2,51 – 4,77%). Os gêneros Trichococcus, Syntrophus, Methanosaeta foram influenciados positivamente pela adição de salinidade e sulfato com aumento significativo na abundância relativa nas fases II e III. Foram identificados gêneros aptos a catalisar a quebra do corante presente no efluente, como também foram encontrados exclusivamente na biomassa do reator micro aerado, espécies do gênero Brevundimonas, reportados na literatura por possuir algumas espécies aptas a realizar mineralização de alguns tipos de aminas aromáticas que são subprodutos tóxicos da degradação do corante. / In this paper is presented a study of microbial ecology with the objective to understand the composition and dynamics of microbial community formed in two UASB reactors, correlating the environmental parameters obtained in early monitoring with the biological parameters identified during the research. One of them is completely anaerobic (R1) and the other is microaerophilic (R2). The reactors were operated with synthetic textile effluent along 3 operational phases (Phase I - normal conditions of the synthetic effluent; Phase II - addition of salinity in the inffluent; Phase III – sulphate addition in the inffluent). At the end of each phase, biomass samples were collected from the sludge blanket, also, a sample of biomass attached to the aerator was collected ate the end of phase III, and finally, a sample of inoculum, used in both reactors, was collected. Through PCR -DGGE techniques was able a preview of the diversity of samples serving as a tool to select which samples went to the 16S rRNA sequencing using the Illumina platform. The samples were explored genetically and analyzed by bioinformatic tools (quality filters, cluster analysis, taxonomy among others), and finally was inferred the phenotypic information about the identified cultures. The samples showed good diversity of microorganisms (Simpson 1-d between 0.8751 and 0.9806), the most abundant phyla in all operating phases were Proteobacteria (13.17% to 44.21%), Firmicutes (7.12% to 41.94%), Bacteroidetes (13.05% to 26.17%) and Chloroflexi (2.51% to 4.77%). The genera Trichococcus, Syntrophus, Methanosaeta were positively influenced by the addition of salinity and sulfate with a significant increase in relative abundance in phases II and III. These genres have metabolic characteristics that complement each other indicating a possible syntrophic environment between these genera. Some genera able to catalyze the breakdown of dye were identified, as well, was identified in the sample of the biomass attached to aerator, species of genus Brevundimonas, reported in literature as bacterial species able to degrading some types of aromatic amines, which are toxic byproducts of azo dye degradation.

A metagenômica trouxe novas perspectivas ao estudo de comunidades microbianas no ambiente, permitindo explorar tanto a diversidade taxonômica de microrganismos ainda não-cultivados, como o acesso direto a genes e vias metabólicas. Neste trabalho, foram construídas bibliotecas metagenômicas a partir de amostras de sedimentos de mangue da Baía de Guanabara (RJ), impactadas com hidrocarbonetos de petróleo e metais pesados. Proteobacteria (33,3%), bactérias afiliadas a redutoras-de-sulfato (29,7%) e Firmicutes (20%) representaram os grupos principais nas amostras ambientais, baseado em análises filogenéticas de rDNA 16S, ao passo que isolamentos seletivos utilizando diesel e naftaleno permitiram a recuperação preferencial de delta-Proteobacteria e actinomicetos. Bibliotecas metagenômicas dos sedimentos enriquecidos com óleo diesel, com insertos entre 25 e 35 Kb clonados em fosmídeos, foram triadas para detecção de genes catabólicos de monoxigenases (alkB1) e expressão de epóxido-hidrolases, esterases, lipases e monoxigenases em ensaios de alto desempenho (HTS, high throughput screening). Clones reativos a alkB1 foram detectados, porém não foram funcionais nas condições de HTS testadas. Nas bibliotecas de fosmídeos triadas, vários clones apresentaram atividade enzimática, sendo que dois apresentaram atividade de lipase-esterase com alta seletividade, elevada taxa de conversão de substratos e excesso enantiomérico (ee >99%). Os resultados de HTS comprovaram a eficiência do uso da clonagem direta de DNA ambiental na expressão de vias metabólicas de interesse com potencial de aplicação biotecnológica. / Metagenomics brought a new perspective to the study of microbial communities in the environment, enabling access to the taxonomic diversity of uncultured microorganisms, as well as direct access to genes and metabolic pathways. In the current study, metagenomic libraries were constructed from mangrove sediment samples of the Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil), impacted with oil hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Proteobacteria (33.3%), sulfate-reducing affiliated bacteria (29.7%) and Firmicutes (20%) represented the main groups in the environmental samples based upon 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, whereas selective isolation using diesel and naphtalene yielded delta-Proteobacteria and actinomycetes. Metagenomic libraries of diesel-enriched sediment samples, with 25 to 35 Kb fosmid inserts, were screened for detecting monooxigenase genes (alkB1) and expression of epoxide hydrolases, esterases, lipases and monooxigenases in high throughput screening (HTS) assays. Clones reactive to the alkB1 probe were detected, but were not functional under the HTS conditions used. Several functional clones were detected in the clone library, and two showed lipase-esterase activity with high rates of substrate conversion and enantiomeric ratio (ee >99%). The results obtained on HTS showed the efficiency of the direct cloning of environmental DNA for the expression of metabolic pathways with potential biotechnological application.

Archamoebae is a small group of anaerobic protists belonging to the eukaryotic supergroup Amoebozoa. Historically, they were regarded as primitively amitochondriate. However, a mitochondrial remnant has been found in some archamoebae. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Archamoebae are closely related to the aerobic slime moulds (Mycetozoa). Trophozoites of archamoebae are amoeboflagellates or aflagellated amoebae. The group includes both parasitic (Entamoeba, Endolimax and, possibly, Endamoeba and Iodamoeba) and free-living (Mastigamoeba, Mastigella, Pelomyxa) genera. The genus Mastigina comprises both endozoic and free-living representatives. Flagellated genera Mastigina, Mastigamoeba, Mastigella and Pelomyxa possess a single basal body associated with a microtubular cone which may or may not be associated with nucleus. The cone is a common feature for Archamoebae and mycetozoan slime moulds. The phylogeny of Archamoebae has not been fully elucidated yet and the taxonomy of free-living representatives is confusing. In the present study, we obtained 42 stable isolates of free-living Archamoebae. We sequenced and analyzed SSU rDNA of 15 of them. The Archamoebae split into five lineages. Based on TEM, we were able to recognize genera Mastigamoeba and Mastigella. The isolate IND8 probably represents a new...

Oxymonads are a group of heterotrophic flagellates living in low oxygen environment. These protists inhabit mainly the gut of xylophagous insects (cockroaches, termites), with an exception of the genus Monocercomonoides, which was described from the intestinal contents of many vertebrates. On the basis of molecular data, Oxymonadida are classified into the supergroup Excavata (Cavalier-Smith, 2002; Simpson et al., 2006, Hampl et al. 2009). This thesis was focused on the diversity of genus Monocecomonoides from the morphologically simplest family Polymastigidae. The main goal of our work was to gather sequence data from strains isolated from a wide spectrum of hosts. We have obtained 26 partial sequences of the gene for the SSU rDNA in total, of which two belonged to another oxymonad, apparently genus Oxymonas. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that the representatives of the genus Monocercomonoides form one group, however with a low bootstrap support. On the basis of published data about the presence of non-canonical genetic code in some oxymonads (Keeling and Leander, 2003; de Koning et al., 2008), we decided to explore this rare phenomenon in representatives of the genus Monocercomonoides. For this part of the study we gathered 9 partial sequences of α-tubulin gene. In these sequences we have not...

Transcription of the ribosomal genes accounts for the majority of transcription in the cell due to the constant high demand for ribosomes. The number of proteins synthesized correlates with an effective ribosomal biogenesis, which is regulated by cell growth and proliferation. In the work presented in this thesis, we have investigated the ribosomal RNA genes 45S and 5S rRNA, which are transcribed by RNA Pol I and RNA Pol III, respectively. The focus of this work is the chromatin remodelling complex B-WICH, which is composed of WSTF, the ATPase SNF2h and NM1. We have studied in particular its role in ribosomal gene transcription. We showed in Study I that B-WICH is required to set the stage at rRNA gene promoters by remodelling the chromatin into an open, transcriptionally active configuration. This results in the binding of histone acetyl transferases to the genes and subsequent histone acetylation, which is needed for ribosomal gene activation. Study II investigated the role of B-WICH in transcription mediated by RNA polymerase III. We showed that B-WICH is essential to create an accessible chromatin atmosphere at 5S rRNA genes, which is compatible with the results obtained in Study 1. In this case, however, B-WICH operates as a licensing factor for c-Myc and the Myc/Max/Mxd network. Study III confirmed the importance and the function of the B-WICH complex as an activator of ribosomal genes. We demonstrated that B-WICH is important for the remodelling of the rDNA chromatin into an active, competent state in response to extracellular stimuli, and that the association of the B-WICH complex to the rRNA gene promoter is regulated by proliferative and metabolic changes in cells. The work presented in this thesis has confirmed that the B-WICH complex is an important regulator and activator of Pol I and Pol III transcription. We conclude that B-WICH is essential for remodelling the rDNA chromatin into a transcriptionally active state, as required for efficient ribosomal gene transcription. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript.</p><p> </p>

O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar, sendo o Estado de São Paulo responsável por mais de 50% do total desta produção. Esta cultura tem um enorme impacto sobre a agricultura brasileira e devido a isto, uma melhor compreensão da composição da comunidade microbiana relacionada a ciclagem do nitrogênio (N) nestes solos é de grande importância para o aprimoramento no cultivo da cana-de-açúcar. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a relação entre grupos microbianos e essa cultura. Este trabalho visou determinar variações nas comunidades microbianas que participam das transformações do N nos solos de três áreas utilizadas para a produção de cana-de-açúcar (A, F e J), as quais apresentam uma gama de diferentes condições de manejo e características do solo. Cada área foi analisada em triplicatas, e o DNA extraído do solo foi utilizado para metodologias de sequenciamento de segunda geração (metagenômica e sequenciamento do gene 16S rDNA), PCR quantitativo (qPCR) e polimorfismo dos fragmentos terminais de restrição (T-RFLP). A maioria das sequências derivaram de bactérias (98%; base de dados M5NR); seis etapas do ciclo do nitrogênio foram anotadas pela plataforma MG-RAST (base de dados SEED): amonificação do nitrato e nitrito (ANN); fixação de nitrogênio; desnitrificação; óxido nítrico sintase; redução dissimilatória do nitrito e assimilação de amônia. Este último passo mencionado foi o mais abundante (28%) (genes gltb e gltD) e está diretamente relacionado a multiplicação microbiana nos solos.. O segundo processo mais abundante foi ANN (genes nir e nar), responsável por consumir este substrato durante o ciclo. Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Verrucomicrobia e Cyanobacteria estão presentes em todas as etapas do ciclo, representando microrganismos que podem participar das vias de transformação do N e, ademais, foi possível descrever um core microbiano (nível de ordem) representado por Sphingomonadales. Algumas variáveis ambientais, como a aplicação de torta de filtro e a produtividade mostraram uma correlação significativa com a estrutura da comunidade microbiana. Isto também foi encontrado para algumas características do solo como fósforo, magnésio e matéria orgânica. Além disso, identificou-se uma alta abundância de microrganismos carregando genes que codificam enzimas da via de redução do nitrato e nitrito. Portanto, apesar de sua complexidade, o estudo das funções microbianas de nitrogênio em solos cultivados com cana-de-açúcar é inovador por acessar de forma conjunta todas as comunidades envolvidas neste ciclo, caracterizadas por sequenciamento, o que evita os problemas inerentes ao cultivo microbiano, além de permitir inferir sobre a hierarquia das variáveis ambientais que influem sobre esse grupos microbianos. / Brazil is the largest world\'s producer of sugarcane and State of São Paulo accounts for over 50% of this production. This crop has a huge impact on Brazilian agriculture and due to this great importance, a better understanding of the composition of the microbial community related to cycling of nitrogen (N) in these soils is of utmost importance for the improvement in the cultivation of sugarcane. However, little is known about the relationship between microbial groups and this crop. This study aimed to determine changes in microbial communities that participate in the transformation of N in soils derived from three areas used for sugarcane production (named A, F and J), which have a range of different management conditions and soil characteristics. Each area was analyzed in triplicate, and the extracted DNA was used to develop next generation sequencing (shotgun metagenomics and 16S rDNA), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Most of the sequences derived from Bacteria (98%; M5NR database); six stages of nitrogen cycle were annotated by MG-RAST plataform (SEED database): nitrate and nitrite ammonification (NNA); nitrogen fixation; denitrification; nitric oxide synthase; dissimilatory nitrite reductase and ammonia assimilation. This last mentioned step was the most abundant (28%) (gltB and gltD genes) and is directly linked to microbial growth in soil, since the final product of the reaction is glutamate. The second most abundant process was NNA (nir and nar genes), responsible for consuming this substrate during the cycle. Proteobacteria and Chroloflexi are present at all stages of the cycle, representing microorganisms that can participate in the N transformation and, moreover, it was possible to describe a microbial core (at an order level) represented by Sphingomonadales. Some environmental variables, such as the application of filter cake and productivity showed a significant correlation with the structure of the microbial community. This was also found for certain soil characteristics such as phosphorus, magnesium and organic matter. In addition, it was identified a high abundance of microorganisms carrying genes encoding the enzymes for nitrate and nitrite reduction pathway. Therefore, despite its complexity, the study of microbial functions of nitrogen in soils cultivated with sugarcane is innovative by accessing jointly all communities involved in this cycle, characterized by sequencing, which avoids the problems inherent in microbial cultivation and allows to infer about the hierarchy of environmental variables that influence this microbial groups.