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<p>Cytochrome P450s are a super-family of heme containing proteins that are found in all domains of life and are involved in the synthesis and breakdown of steroids, xenobiotics, and pharmaceuticals. Using five heterologously expressed zebrafish (Danio rerio) CYP1s, an assay was developed for CYP activity in order to monitor the consumption of the cofactor NADPH, providing a label-free screening tool to determine function of novel CYP genes. Using well-established fluorogenic substrates, NADPH and NADP+ were separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) from stopped CYP1 reactions and measured with UV absorbance detection as a surrogate to assess the rate of substrate metabolism. Product formation was confirmed by fluorometric detection of metabolites, giving rates of enzyme activity which could be compared to the rates of cofactor turn-over measured by CE. 17β-estradiol, four alkoxyresorufin and two coumarin based synthetic fluorogenic CYP substrates were screened for activity with recombinant zebrafish CYP1A, 1B1, 1C2, 1C2 and 1D1. Cofactor consumption was generally much larger than product formation for the majority of substrates and CYP1 isoforms, suggesting that the majority of metabolic events were uncoupled. Large uncoupling was seen in CYP1 when metabolizing estradiol, showing that endogenous compounds can also show severe uncoupling. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a product of uncoupled events, were detected with 2,7- dichorofluorescein. Attempts for concomitant detection of ROS production and cofactor consumption with CE-UV detection were investigated, however, detection limits for 2,7-dichlorofluorescein were not adequate for detection of hydrogen peroxide production from CYP1 mediated reactions. Future work will be required to develop a single assay to quantitatively measure CYP activity by CE for functional determination of CYPs with unknown function.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

<p>Radiation is a prominent source of environmental oxidative stress that can have deleterious consequences for health. Despite its well-known negative effects, radiation is commonly employed clinically for disease treatment and diagnosis. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT), used in the treatment of a variety of diseases, is preceded by a myeloablative regimen that usually involves radiation. Mortality associated with BMT is quite high and the aggressive radiation pre-treatment regimen contributes to these high rates of mortality. Interventions that inhibit the negative consequences of irradiation and promote BMT success would have significant implications for public health. Exercise-induced adaptations in numerous body tissues have been associated with amelioration of a variety of pathologies, particularly those associated with oxidative stress, and an overall improvement in health. Whether these adaptations can protect from damage induced by an external source of oxidative stress, such as a high dose of radiation, or promote BMT success is unknown. The purpose of this thesis was to determine if the adaptive response to exercise training could inhibit the negative effects of irradiation in skeletal muscle and bone marrow, and promote BMT success. To apply these adaptations to BMT, we examined the response of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their niche to exercise. We report that muscle from exercise trained mice exhibits an enhanced response to radiation characterized by increased antioxidant and mitochondrial metabolic enzyme activity. Extending these findings to cells in the bone marrow, we demonstrated that exercise training inhibited radiation-induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. With respect to BMT, exercise training increased HSC quantity with no effects on HSC function; however, preconditioning BMT recipients with exercise training resulted in improved probability of survival and enhanced hematopoietic regeneration. Collectively, results from the studies presented herein suggest that exercise training may be a successful therapeutic intervention to inhibit the damaging effects of radiation and improve BMT outcomes.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) are a class of pro-inflammatory lipids that play important roles in atherogenesis. LPC activates endothelial cells (ECs) to upregulate adhesion molecules, cytokines and chemokines, which is the initiation step of atherogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying LPC-triggered EC activation are not fully understood. Previously considered as the toxic by-products of cellular metabolism, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) are recently found to directly contribute to both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Here we tested a novel hypothesis that mtROS serve as signaling mediators for LPC-induced EC activation. Using electron spin resonance and flow cytometry with mtROS-specific fluorescence probe MitoSOX, we found that several LPC species including LPC 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 induced mtROS in human primary aortic ECs (HAECs). Mechanistically, our analysis using confocal microscopy and Seahorse XF96 mitochondrial function analyzer showed that LPC induced mtROS via increasing mitochondrial calcium-mediated increase of mitochondrial respiration. In addition, we found that mtROS scavenger MitoTEMPO abolished LPC-induced EC activation by downregulating Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in HAECs. Moreover, our analysis with mass spectrometer analysis of histone H3 lysine acetylation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that MitoTEMPO acts by blocking LPC-induced histone H3 lysine 14 acetylation (H3K14ac) and nuclear translocation of pro-inflammatory transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1). Remarkably, all the above effects can be inhibited by anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL-35) and IL-10. Our results indicate that mtROS are responsible for LPC-induced EC activation, which can be inhibited by anti-inflammatory cytokines. MtROS targeting therapies and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-35 may serve as novel therapeutic targets for vascular inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. The studies in this dissertation were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded to Dr. Xiao-Feng Yang. / Pharmacology