The central role played by the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) in the correct folding and assembly of secretary and membrane proteins cannot be overstated. As the first compartment in the secretary pathway, it is responsible for the synthesis, modification and targeting of proteins to their proper destinations within the secretary pathway and the extracellular space. Protein folding in this specialized compartment is dynamic and involves a host of molecular chaperones and folding catalysts. Once inside the ER lumen, proteins fold into their native conformation and undergo a multitude of post-translational modifications, including N-linked glycosylation and disulfide oxidation. The proper conformational maturation of nascent proteins that traverse the secretary pathway is both aided and monitored by a complex process termed ER quality control. A variety of quality control mechanisms that rely on the chaperone systems operate in the ER. These act in close concert with the molecular machinery involved in degradation of non-native proteins to maintain homeostasis. The common goal of these mechanisms is to prevent expression and secretion of misfolded proteins. As a general rule, only those proteins that have successfully completed their folding and passed a stringent selection process are allowed to exit the ER on their way to their final destinations. The importance of the normal functioning of the ER is underlined by the fact that disruption in protein folding, resulting in ER stress, has now been identified as the biochemical basis of many ER storage diseases including Diabetes mellitus, Endocrinopathies and Hemophilia A. Processing events occurring inside the ER lumen are known to influence the efficiency of protein secretion. Vastly different rates of exocytose observed among secretary proteins have been found to correlate with the rate of exit from the ER. One such example is the interesting secretion property exhibited by Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) The principal carrier of retinol (Vitamin A) in plasma. RBP is a single domain protein consisting of three intramolecular disulfide bonds and helps transport retinol from the liver stores to the various target tissues in the body. Availability of its ligand, retinol, while not affecting its synthesis, is known to be the major factor in regulating RBP secretion from the liver. In the absence of retinol, apo-RBP has been shown to be retained in the ER by a hitherto unclear mechanism. Like most other secretary proteins, RBP is co-translationally targeted to the ER lumen, where it undergoes disulfide oxidation as the only modification. It has been shown to form a complex with another secretary protein, Transthyretin (TTR) in the ER and this complex formation is thought to prevent premature glomerular filtration of the otherwise small RBP with its bound retinol. Despite attaining a mature conformation, apo-RBP is not secreted and awaits conversion to its ligand-bound, holo form in order to exit the ER. It is widely believed that ligand binding may relieve this retention of RBP from the ER quality control machinery. However the precise mechanisms that mediate and regulate RBP folding, ligand binding, TTR assembly and secretion are not clearly understood. Though the folding and secretion properties of RBP have been described in HepG2 cells, its interactions with the ER resident chaperones have not been addressed. Apart from being an important cell biological question, the study of RBP assumes a lot of significance with its recent emergence as a key player in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been proposed that lowering of serum RBP levels could be a new strategy for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was undertaken with the intention of analyzing the oxidative folding of RBP in the ER more closely. A systematic approach aimed at understanding the early events associated with folding and maturation of RBP, with particular emphasis on the role of ER-resident chaperones and the quality control machinery, is likely to provide interesting insights into the mechanisms involved in its ligand dependent secretion. Reconstitution of RBP biogenesis in a cell free system. The folding of RBP in cells is extremely quick with rapid oxidation kinetics. This makes it difficult to systematically analyze the early folding events in cultured cells. It was necessary to make use of a simplified system that would faithfully recapitulate the folding process in the ER. Therefore, a cell free translation system consisting of rabbit reticulocyte lysate and canine pancreatic microcosms as a source of ER-derived membranes was developed. This system affords the advantage of easy manipulation while still preserving the overall environment that prevails in the ER of intact cells. Extensive biochemical and functional characterization of the isolated microcosms was carried out and in vitro translation and microsomal translocation of RBP was established. Though initially confined to studies on membrane insertion and core glycosylate, the cell free system supplemented with microcosms has subsequently been used to analyze folding and assembly of a number of secretary and membrane proteins. A similar strategy has been adopted in the present study of RBP folding and maturation. Oxidative folding of RBP in isolated microcosms: Delineation of its disulfide oxidation pathway Using glutathione (GSSG) as the oxidant, co- and posttranslational disulfide oxidation of RBP was carried out in isolated microcosms. The ability to manipulate the redox status of this cell free system has helped to considerably slow down the oxidative folding of RBP so that a more careful analysis of the folding process could be performed. RBP was found to undergo oxidative folding with a t1/2 of 30 minutes and folding proceeded through at least one disulfide-bonded intermediate. Non-reducing SDS PAGE was used to resolve the folding intermediates. The pattern of oxidation was in good agreement with that reported earlier in HepG2 cells. No significant effect of retinol was observed on either the folding kinetics or the pattern of disulfide oxidation of RBP in isolated microsomes.A DTT sensitivity assay, used to probe the conformational maturity of folding RBP, revealed that RBP was capable of maturing into a DTT-resistant conformation in isolated microsomes. With the aid of disulfide mutants, the probable disulfide oxidation pathway of RBP in the ER has been determined. Single and double disulfide mutants of RBP were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and their posttranslational oxidation patterns were analyzed and compared with that of the wild type protein. Based on the results obtained, it was clear that the folding intermediate was made up of one of the two big disulfide loops and that the presence of both these loops was essential for RBP to fold into a fully oxidized, compact form. It has not been possible to determine the contribution of the third, smallest disulfide loop to the oxidative folding of RBP. Molecular events associated with the early oxidative folding of RBP To gain insights into the possible role of ER chaperones in the oxidative folding of RBP, the oligomeric state of folding RBP was analyzed by velocity sedimentation and chemical crosslinking assays. Velocity sedimentation analysis revealed that the reduced form of RBP was present in a large complex of size >100 S20,W. Upon disulfide oxidation, it readily dissociated from the complex and assumed a monomeric state. This was evident even during co-translational oxidation which suggested that RBP transiently associated with the large complex during its oxidative folding. Dynamic nature of this complex indicated that this could be a folding complex containing the chaperone machinery of the ER. These results were also supported by crosslinking analysis performed in unbroken microsomes using the homo-bifunctional crosslinker, DSP. The early folding forms of RBP could be crosslinked to a large complex while upon disulfide oxidation, RBP matured to its monomeric form and was no longer crosslinkable. Sedimentation and crosslinking analyses of the RBP disulfide mutants revealed that while the double disulfide mutant remained irreversibly associated with the large complex, the single mutants were released upon acquiring one of the two big disulfide loops. This suggested that despite the lack of one of the two major disulfides, these mutants were considered ‘folded’ by the quality control machinery in the ER while the double mutant probably resembled a molten globule state and was therefore considered ‘unfolded’ and irreversibly retained. Results from crosslinking analysis in microsomes not engaged in active translation suggested that chaperones of the ER were organized in a complex constitutively thereby lending support to the concept of ER-matrix, a large network of luminal proteins consisting of ER chaperones and accessory factors. Given this scenario, it is not unlikely that newly synthesized protein substrates transiently associate with this large pre-existing complex of chaperones and dissociate during late stages of their maturation. Conclusion In all, this study provides significant insights into some of the early events associated with the oxidative folding of RBP in the ER. The delineation of the disulfide oxidation pathway of RBP has been possible. The results obtained from this study suggest that RBP probably dissociates from the quality control quite early during its folding process and this step in its maturation might not be influenced by retinol. The stimulus for its ligant dependent secretion is likely to operate at a later stage of its sojourn in the ER, possibly consequent to positive cues from accessory binding factors such as TTR. Lastly, Perservation of the ER microenvironment in isolated microsomes, as evidenced from this study, augurs well for the use of this system to analyze mechanisms underlying folding, maturation, secretion and/or retention of secretory proteins.

A avaliação da disfunção renal pelos marcadores usuais não tem determinado impacto na redução da incidência da insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) nos pacientes de terapia intensiva. Este estudo avaliou 100 pacientes admitidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) quanto às características demográficas; a relação entre creatinina plasmática e proteína carreadora do retinol (RBPu) e as variáveis clínico-laboratoriais; e a sensibilidade e a especificidade da RBPu. A amostra caracterizou-se como geriátrica (63,4±15,6 anos), do sexo masculino (68%), 47% dos pacientes tiveram tratamento clínico e 53% cirúrgico. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de 13,9±8,3 horas após a admissão na UTI. A análise dos resultados mostrou associação entre a creatinina plasmática e as variáveis: gênero (p-0,026), idade (p-0,038), uso de droga vasoativa (p-0,003), proteínúria (p-0,025), APACHE II (p-0,000), uréia (p-0,000), potássio (p-0,003) e clearance de creatinina estimado (p-0,000). A RBPu mostrou associação com um número maior de variáveis: peso (IMC), uso de ventilação invasiva (p-0,000), uso de antiinflamatório não-hormonal (p-0,018), uso de droga vasoativa (p-0,021), temperatura > 37,5ºC (p-0,005), proteinúria (p-0,000), bilirrubinúria (p-0,004), fluxo urinário (p-0,019), pressão arterial diastólica mínima (p-0,032), pressão arterial sistólica mínima (p-0,029), APACHE II (p-0,000), creatinina (p-0,001), uréia (p-0,001), clearance de creatinina estimado (p-0,000) e uma tendência a associação com os antecedentes clínicos (doença renal, vasculopatia e neoplasia). A creatinina plasmática e a RBPu apresentaram associação com a fração de excreção de sódio (FENa) quando os dados foram submetidos à análise univariada. O estudo referente à sensibilidade e especificidade da RBPu utilizando a curva ROC (Relative Operating Characteristics) mostrou que pacientes com RBPu maior que 1,47 mg/l têm aproximadamente quatro chances de apresentarem creatinina acima de 1,2 mg/dl (intervalo de confiança - 95%, erro padrão - 0,072). A acurácia global da RBPu, como teste diagnóstico, foi fraca. A RBPu, apesar das fracas sensibilidade e especificidade encontradas no estudo, pode ser considerada na clínica, o marcador de melhor desempenho diagnóstico em pacientes com risco para a ocorrência de IRA quando comparada aos marcadores utilizados rotineiramente. / The early assessment of renal dysfunction using common markers has not determined an impact on lower incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) in intensive care patients, which remains alarming high. This study followed-up 100 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and assessed demographic variables as well as plasma creatinine and urinary retinol-binding protein (uRBP) ratio with clinical and laboratory variables within the first hours of admission to the ICU. The sample was characterized as geriatric (63.4±15.6 years), male (68%), 47% clinical and 53% surgical patients. Data were gathered 13.9±8.3 hours after admission to ICU. Statistical analysis showed association between plasma creatinine and the following variables: gender (p-0.026), age (p-0.038), use of vasoactive drugs (p-0.003), proteinuria (p-0.025), APACHE II (p-0.000), urea (p-0.000), potassium (p-0.003) and estimated creatinine clearance (p-0.000). uRBP correlated with more variables: weight (BMI), use of invasive ventilation (p-0.000), use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p-0.018), use of vasoactive drugs (p-0.021), temperature > 37.5ºC (p-0.005), proteinuria (p-0.000), bilirubinuria (p-0.004), urinary flow (p-0.019), minimal diastolic pressure (p-0.032), minimal systolic pressure (p-0.029), APACHE II (p-0.000), creatinine (p-0.001), urea (p-0.001), estimated creatinine clearance (p-0.000). uRBP also tended to associate with clinical past medical history (renal disease, vasculopathy and neoplasm). FENa correlated with plasma creatinine and uRBP in univariate analysis. The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve demonstrated that patients with uRBP > 1.47 mg/l are four times more likely to have creatinine > 1.2 mg/dl (95% confidence interval, standard error, 0.072). The global accuracy of uRBP as a diagnostic test was poor. Although uRBP sensibility and specificity were not very high in the study, in clinical practice it might be considered the better marker regarding diagnostic performance in patients at risk of developing ARF, as compared with other markers routinely used. Moreover, uRBP has other features of a good diagnostic test - it is a practical and non-invasive method, and its cost may drop as the test becomes more frequently requested.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of illness in dogs, and it is commonly caused by glomerular diseases that result in proteinuria and a progressive decline in renal function. Despite the importance of glomerular lesions, tubulointerstitial fibrosis identified by histologic evaluation of renal biopsies correlates best with renal function. However, performing a renal biopsy is invasive. Most current non-invasive tests for renal function lack adequate sensitivity and specificity for renal disease. Proteinuria can be both a sensitive and specific marker for renal damage. However, its evaluation in veterinary medicine beyond determination of the magnitude of proteinuria (e.g., urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC)) is limited. Therefore, in this report, further evaluation of the UPC was performed to aid in the monitoring of renal disease progression and response to treatment. In addition, qualitative evaluation of proteinuria was performed in dogs with progressive CKD in order to identify better non-invasive markers for tubulointerstitial injury. The day-to-day variability of the UPC was determined utilizing data obtained from female dogs that are carriers for X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN). Despite an unchanging magnitude of proteinuria in these dogs, substantial variation in their UPC was observed. Using these results, guidelines were suggested to help assess whether disease progression or treatment leads to a significant change in UPC. Qualitative characterization of proteinuria in dogs with CKD was performed using urine from male dogs affected with XLHN, and results were correlated with clinical and histologic findings concerning renal function and damage. The two discovery proteomic techniques utilized (chromatographic chip array and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) revealed several proteins that have not previously been implicated as markers for canine CKD, providing a basis for future studies. Specific assays for urinary biomarkers of renal injury were used to serially evaluate renal function in these dogs. All proteins evaluated proved to be sensitive markers for renal damage. However, only retinol binding protein provided clear evidence for renal disease progression. These results will provide the foundation for future studies aimed at monitoring urinary biomarkers in dogs with CKD, which will ultimately help veterinarians better diagnose and monitor proteinuric renal disease.

A avaliação da disfunção renal pelos marcadores usuais não tem determinado impacto na redução da incidência da insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) nos pacientes de terapia intensiva. Este estudo avaliou 100 pacientes admitidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) quanto às características demográficas; a relação entre creatinina plasmática e proteína carreadora do retinol (RBPu) e as variáveis clínico-laboratoriais; e a sensibilidade e a especificidade da RBPu. A amostra caracterizou-se como geriátrica (63,4±15,6 anos), do sexo masculino (68%), 47% dos pacientes tiveram tratamento clínico e 53% cirúrgico. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de 13,9±8,3 horas após a admissão na UTI. A análise dos resultados mostrou associação entre a creatinina plasmática e as variáveis: gênero (p-0,026), idade (p-0,038), uso de droga vasoativa (p-0,003), proteínúria (p-0,025), APACHE II (p-0,000), uréia (p-0,000), potássio (p-0,003) e clearance de creatinina estimado (p-0,000). A RBPu mostrou associação com um número maior de variáveis: peso (IMC), uso de ventilação invasiva (p-0,000), uso de antiinflamatório não-hormonal (p-0,018), uso de droga vasoativa (p-0,021), temperatura > 37,5ºC (p-0,005), proteinúria (p-0,000), bilirrubinúria (p-0,004), fluxo urinário (p-0,019), pressão arterial diastólica mínima (p-0,032), pressão arterial sistólica mínima (p-0,029), APACHE II (p-0,000), creatinina (p-0,001), uréia (p-0,001), clearance de creatinina estimado (p-0,000) e uma tendência a associação com os antecedentes clínicos (doença renal, vasculopatia e neoplasia). A creatinina plasmática e a RBPu apresentaram associação com a fração de excreção de sódio (FENa) quando os dados foram submetidos à análise univariada. O estudo referente à sensibilidade e especificidade da RBPu utilizando a curva ROC (Relative Operating Characteristics) mostrou que pacientes com RBPu maior que 1,47 mg/l têm aproximadamente quatro chances de apresentarem creatinina acima de 1,2 mg/dl (intervalo de confiança - 95%, erro padrão - 0,072). A acurácia global da RBPu, como teste diagnóstico, foi fraca. A RBPu, apesar das fracas sensibilidade e especificidade encontradas no estudo, pode ser considerada na clínica, o marcador de melhor desempenho diagnóstico em pacientes com risco para a ocorrência de IRA quando comparada aos marcadores utilizados rotineiramente. / The early assessment of renal dysfunction using common markers has not determined an impact on lower incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) in intensive care patients, which remains alarming high. This study followed-up 100 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and assessed demographic variables as well as plasma creatinine and urinary retinol-binding protein (uRBP) ratio with clinical and laboratory variables within the first hours of admission to the ICU. The sample was characterized as geriatric (63.4±15.6 years), male (68%), 47% clinical and 53% surgical patients. Data were gathered 13.9±8.3 hours after admission to ICU. Statistical analysis showed association between plasma creatinine and the following variables: gender (p-0.026), age (p-0.038), use of vasoactive drugs (p-0.003), proteinuria (p-0.025), APACHE II (p-0.000), urea (p-0.000), potassium (p-0.003) and estimated creatinine clearance (p-0.000). uRBP correlated with more variables: weight (BMI), use of invasive ventilation (p-0.000), use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p-0.018), use of vasoactive drugs (p-0.021), temperature > 37.5ºC (p-0.005), proteinuria (p-0.000), bilirubinuria (p-0.004), urinary flow (p-0.019), minimal diastolic pressure (p-0.032), minimal systolic pressure (p-0.029), APACHE II (p-0.000), creatinine (p-0.001), urea (p-0.001), estimated creatinine clearance (p-0.000). uRBP also tended to associate with clinical past medical history (renal disease, vasculopathy and neoplasm). FENa correlated with plasma creatinine and uRBP in univariate analysis. The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve demonstrated that patients with uRBP > 1.47 mg/l are four times more likely to have creatinine > 1.2 mg/dl (95% confidence interval, standard error, 0.072). The global accuracy of uRBP as a diagnostic test was poor. Although uRBP sensibility and specificity were not very high in the study, in clinical practice it might be considered the better marker regarding diagnostic performance in patients at risk of developing ARF, as compared with other markers routinely used. Moreover, uRBP has other features of a good diagnostic test - it is a practical and non-invasive method, and its cost may drop as the test becomes more frequently requested.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, inwieweit die Reproduktionsbiologie von aquatischen Lebewesen durch die Gewässerbelastung mit endokrin wirksamen Substanzen (endocrine disruptors, ED) beeinflusst wird. Mit dem Amphib Xenopus laevis steht ein etabliertes Studienmodell zur Untersuchung der Wirkungen von ED auf die Reproduktionsbiologie zur Verfügung, das für die vorliegenden Studien modifiziert und erweitert sowie mit gewässeranalytischen Methoden verknüpft wurde. Die Gefährdung wasserlebender Tiere durch Gewässerbelastung mit ED kann erfasst werden, indem die Wirkung einer ausgewählten Einzelsubstanz auf die Reproduktionsbiologie untersucht wird. Anschließend erfolgt ein Nachweis der Substanz in Umweltproben. Durch Expositionsversuche, histologische Untersuchungen und Expressionsnachweis eines molekularen östrogenen Biomarkers konnte festgestellt werden, dass Bisphenol A (BPA) in Kaulquappen von Xenopus laevis verweiblichend wirkt und seine Effekte über eine Bindung an den Östrogenrezeptor vermittelt. Chemische Analysen während der Expositionsversuche zeigten, dass BPA von den Kaulquappen aufgenommen wird und dass eine geringe Abbaubarkeit der Substanz während eines Zeitraums von 48 Stunden besteht. Die Analyse von BPA in Wasserproben, die aus dem Fluss Alb oder aus Kläranlagenausläufen stammten, zeigte, dass BPA im Gewässer in relevanten Konzentrationen vorhanden ist und hauptsächlich durch eine Kläranlage in den Fluss eingeleitet wird. In einem Gewässer liegt allerdings ein Gemisch aus unterschiedlichen ED mit verschiedenen Wirkmechanismen vor. Die Gewässerbelastung mit endokrin wirksamen Substanzen kann weiterhin untersucht werden, indem Gewässerextrakte fraktioniert und in in vitro-Screeningmethoden getestet werden. Als Screeningmethoden dienten Rezeptorbindungsstudien an Östrogen- und Androgenrezeptoren sowie die Behandlung von Leberzellkulturen mit den Gewässerextrakten aus der Alb, um eine Regulation der Expression bestimmter Biomarkergene durch potenzielle ED nachzuweisen. Dazu wurde als neuer (anti)androgener und (anti)östrogener Biomarker das Retinol-binding Protein eingeführt. Die Untersuchung der Gewässerextrakte mit diesen Methoden zeigte, dass die Alb eine Belastung mit endokrin wirksamen Substanzen aufweist und dass hauptsächlich östrogen wirksame Substanzen vorkommen. Die Proben aus den Kläranlagenausläufen weisen die höchste endokrine Aktivität auf. / The present study examined the influence of endocrine active compounds (endocrine disruptors, ED), which are present in surface waters, on reproductive biology of aquatic organisms. The amphibian Xenopus laevis is a well-established model organism for the study of effects of ED on reproduction. It has been modified and broadened for the purpose of this study, and it was combined with chemical methods for water analyses. It is possible to assess water pollution with ED by detecting effects on repro-ductive biology of one particular substance, and then by looking for this substance in environmental water samples. We showed the feminizing potency of Bisphenol A (BPA) in conducting exposure experiments with tadpoles, in examining histological samples of gonads and in detecting the induction of the expression of a molecular estrogenic biomarker. BPA was recognized to mediate its effects via binding to the estrogen receptor. Moreover, analysis of BPA during exposure experiments revealed that BPA is taken up by tadpoles and is not readily degradable during a time period of 48 hours. Chemical analyses of environmental water samples from the river Alb or samples from sewage treatment works (STW) showed that BPA is released into the environment by STW effluents. In surface waters, there are different kinds of ED with different modes of action. Thus, it is another possibility to assess water pollution with ED by fractionating environmental water samples and by testing these fractions in rapid in vitro-screening methods. In the present work, receptor binding assays were carried out, both examining the binding to estrogen and androgen receptors. Furthermore, Xenopus laevis hepatocyte cultures were treated with fractions of environmental samples and biomarker expression was detected. A new biomarker to assess (anti)androgenic or (anti)estrogenic modes of action, respectively, was established. This new biomarker was the Retinol-binding Protein. The results obtained by these methods revealed that the river Alb is mainly polluted with estrogenic ED. Samples from STW effluents possessed the highest endocrine activity.

<p>Megalin is an endocytotic receptor belonging to the low-density lipoprotein family. It has often been viewed only as merely a scavenger receptor of absorptive and secretory epithelia. Recent work has revealed that the megalin intracellular domain contains several motifs potentially binding proteins involved in signal transduction. </p><p>To find potential intracellular proteins binding to megalin, a yeast two-hybrid screening was initiated with the intracellular tail of megalin as the bait. A partial clone encoding the scaffolding protein postsynaptic protein 95 (PSD-95) was found to bind to megalin with its second PDZ-domain. Co-localization experiments in HEK-293 cells and kidney, placenta and parathyroid tissue confirmed this interaction. The PSD-95 related proteins PSD-93 and SAP102 were also confirmed to bind megalin with their PDZ2-domains, but the corresponding domain from SAP97 did not bind. Mutation analysis revealed that an amino acid residue change Ala to Thr was the cause of this.</p><p>Megalin has within the central nervous system (CNS) been shown to be expressed only in the ependymal cells and choroid plexus. Nothing has been known about megalin expression in the spinal cord. To study spatio-temporal expression of megalin in the spinal cord, extensive staining of prenatal and postnatal mouse spinal cord was undertaken. Megalin expression was found in the dorsal part of the embryonic spinal cord. Most of these cells also expressed vimentin, suggesting that megalin has a role in the normal development of astrocytes. In the postnatal mouse, megalin seems to be expressed in oligodendrocytes only in the spinal cord white matter, and co-incident with myelination. This suggests that megalin is involved in the formation and maintenance of myelin along long spinal pathways. Megalin staining was clearly seen in the nucleus of these cells, indicating that megalin works in a notch-like signalling pathway.</p><p>Uptake of retinol to the retina pigment epithelium (RPE) has long been thought to be a diffusion process. Staining for megalin in RPE revealed strong expression, and uptake experiments with 3H-retinol bound to retinol-binding protein and blocking with the LDL-receptor family specific antagonist receptor-associated protein (RAP) showed that megalin is a receptor for uptake of retinol to the RPE.</p>

The fat-soluble vitamin A, which is chemically referred to retinol (ROH), is known to be essential for the process of vision, the immune system but also for cell differentiation and proliferation. Recently, ROH itself has been reported to be involved in adipogenesis and a ROH transport protein, the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, there is still considerable scientific debate about this relation. With the increasing amount of studies investigating the relation of ROH in obesity and type 2 diabetes, basic research is an essential prerequisite for interpreting these results. This thesis enhances the knowledge on this relation by reviewing ROH metabolism on extra- and intracellular level. Aim 1: In the blood stream ROH is transported in a complex with RBP4 and a second protein, transthyretin (TTR), to the target cells. The levels of RBP4 and TTR are influenced by several factors but mainly by liver and kidney function. The reason for that is that liver and the kidneys are the sites of RBP4 synthesis and catabolism, respectively. Interestingly, obesity and type 2 diabetes involve disorders of the liver and the kidneys. Therefore the aim was to investigate factors that influence RBP4 and TTR levels in relation to obesity and type 2 diabetes (Part 1). Aim 2: Once arrived in the target cell ROH is bound to cellular retinol-binding protein type I (CRBP-I) and metabolised: ROH can either be stored as retinylesters or it can be oxidised to retinoic acid (RA). By acting as a transcription factor in the nucleus RA may influence processes such as adipogenesis. Therefore vitamin A has been postulated to be involved in obesity and type 2 diabetes. CRBP-I is known to mediate the storage of ROH in the liver, but the extra-hepatic metabolism and the functions of CRBP-I are not well known. This has been investigated in Part 2 of this work. Material & Methods: RBP4 and TTR levels were investigated by ELISA in serum samples of human subjects with overweight, type 2 diabetes, kidney or liver dysfunction. Molecular alterations of the RBP4 and TTR protein structure were analysed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The functions of intracellular CRBP-I were investigated in CRBP-I knock-out mice in liver and extra-hepatic tissues by measuring ROH levels as well as the levels of its storage form, the retinylesters, using reverse phase HPLC. The postprandial uptake of ROH into tissues was analysed using labelled ROH. The mRNA levels of enzymes that metabolize ROH were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RCR). Results: The previous published results showing increased RBP4 levels in type 2 diabetic patients could not be confirmed in this work. However, it could be shown that during kidney dysfunction RBP4 levels are increased and that RBP4 and TTR levels are decreased during liver dysfunction. The important new finding of this work is that increased RBP4 levels in type 2 diabetic mice were increased when kidney function was decreased. Thus an increase in RBP4 levels in type 2 diabetes may be the effect of a reduced kidney function which is common in type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, during severe kidney dysfunction the molecular structure of RBP4 and TTR was altered in a specific manner which was not the case during liver diseases and type 2 diabetes. This underlines the important function of the kidneys in RBP4 metabolism. CRBP-I has been confirmed to be responsible for the ROH storage in the liver since CRBP-I knock-out mice had decreased ROH and retinylesters (the storage form of ROH) levels in the liver. Interestingly, in the adipose tissue (the second largest ROH storage tissue in the body) ROH and retinylesters levels were higher in the CRBP-I knock-out compared to the wild-type mice. It could be shown in this work that a different ROH binding protein, cellular retinol-binding protein type III, is upregulated in CRBP-I knock-out mice. Moreover enzymes were identified which mediate very efficiently ROH esterification in the adipose tissue of the knock-out mice. In the pancreas there was a higher postprandial ROH uptake in the CRBP-I knock-out compard to wild-type mice. Even under a vitamin A deficient diet the knock-out animals had ROH and retinylesters levels which were comparable to wild-type animals. These results underline the important role of ROH for insulin secretion in the pancreas. Summing up, there is evidence that RBP4 levels are more determined by kidney function than by type 2 diabetes and that specific molecular modifications occur during kidney dysfunction. The results in adipose tissue and pancreas of CRBP-I knock-out mice support the hypothesis that ROH plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. / Vitamin A gehört zur Gruppe der fettlöslichen Vitamine und wird chemisch als Retinol bezeichnet. Es ist essentiell für den Prozess des Sehvorgangs und der Zelldifferenzierung und kann daher bestimmte Entwicklungsprozesse wie die Bildung des Fettgewebes beeinflussen. Aufgrund seiner Fettlöslichkeit muss Retinol im Blut (= extrazellulär) sowie in der Zelle (= intrazellulär) an sogenannte Transport-Moleküle, die Retinol-bindenden Proteine (RBPs) gebunden werden. Die zwei bekanntesten Vertreter der RBPs sind das Retinol-bindende Protein 4 (RBP4) und das intrazelluläre Retinol-bindende Protein Typ I (CRBP-I). RBP4 transportiert Vitamin A im Blut von der Leber zur Zielzelle und zum Abbauorgan für Vitamin A, der Niere. CRBP-I ist in der Leber für die Speicherung von Vitamin A zuständig. In den letzten Jahren wurden neben der Beteiligung des Retinols an der Bildung des Fettgewebes auch Studien veröffentlicht, in denen ein Zusammenhang zwischen erhöhten RBP4-Werte im Blut und Typ-2-Diabetes gezeigt wurde. Bis heute ist der mögliche Zusammenhang zwischen RBP4, CRBP-I und Übergewicht nicht ausreichend erforscht. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit war daher das Ziel, Einflussfaktoren, die zu Veränderungen der RBP4-Werte im Blut führen können, zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden Blutproben von Personen mit Übergewicht und/oder Typ-2-Diabetes und Patienten mit Nierenfunktionsstörungen oder mit Leberfunktionsstörungen analysiert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass bereits geringe Nierenfunktionsstörungen zu erhöhten RBP4-Konzentrationen im Blut führten. Bei Typ-2-Diabetikern, die sehr oft an Nierenfunktionsstörungen leiden, war eine Erhöhung der RBP4-Konzentration mit einer Abnahme der Nierenfunktion verbunden. Somit lässt sich zusammenfassen, dass nicht Typ-2-Diabetes sondern vielmehr die dabei auftretenden Nierenfunktionsstörungen zu einer Erhöhung der RBP4-Werte führen. Bei Lebererkrankten konnte ein Absinken der RBP4-Werte nachgewiesen werden, was der verminderten Bildung von RBP4 in der Leber bei diesen Patienten zuzuschreiben ist. Im zweiten Teil sollte der Frage nachgegangen werden, wie Retinol intrazellulär verstoffwechselt wird. Dabei lag der Fokus auf der Erforschung der bisher nicht bekannten Funktionen von CRBP-I im Fettgewebe und der Bauchspeicheldrüse. Zur Untersuchung der Funktionen von CRBP-I wurden Mäuse gezüchtet, bei denen das Gen für CRBP-I gelöscht wurde. Da CRBP-I für die Speicherung von Vitamin A in der Leber verantwortlich ist, zeigen diese Mäuse sehr geringe Vitamin-A-Speicher in der Leber. Das gleiche zeigte sich für die Bauchspeicheldrüse, die für die Sekretion von Insulin Vitamin A benötigt: In den Mäusen ohne CRBP-I waren die Retinol-Werte drastisch gesunken. Interessanterweise zeigte sich im Fettgewebe ein gegenteiliges Bild: Die Konzentrationen an Retinol und dessen Speicher waren in den Mäusen ohne CRBP-I höher im Vergleich zu den normalen Mäusen. Mit bestimmten Nachweismethoden konnte herausgefunden werden, dass Retinol im Fettgewebe an ein anderes RBP, das CRBP-III, gebunden wird und dadurch effektiver gespeichert werden kann als durch CRBP-I.

Megalin is an endocytotic receptor belonging to the low-density lipoprotein family. It has often been viewed only as merely a scavenger receptor of absorptive and secretory epithelia. Recent work has revealed that the megalin intracellular domain contains several motifs potentially binding proteins involved in signal transduction. To find potential intracellular proteins binding to megalin, a yeast two-hybrid screening was initiated with the intracellular tail of megalin as the bait. A partial clone encoding the scaffolding protein postsynaptic protein 95 (PSD-95) was found to bind to megalin with its second PDZ-domain. Co-localization experiments in HEK-293 cells and kidney, placenta and parathyroid tissue confirmed this interaction. The PSD-95 related proteins PSD-93 and SAP102 were also confirmed to bind megalin with their PDZ2-domains, but the corresponding domain from SAP97 did not bind. Mutation analysis revealed that an amino acid residue change Ala to Thr was the cause of this. Megalin has within the central nervous system (CNS) been shown to be expressed only in the ependymal cells and choroid plexus. Nothing has been known about megalin expression in the spinal cord. To study spatio-temporal expression of megalin in the spinal cord, extensive staining of prenatal and postnatal mouse spinal cord was undertaken. Megalin expression was found in the dorsal part of the embryonic spinal cord. Most of these cells also expressed vimentin, suggesting that megalin has a role in the normal development of astrocytes. In the postnatal mouse, megalin seems to be expressed in oligodendrocytes only in the spinal cord white matter, and co-incident with myelination. This suggests that megalin is involved in the formation and maintenance of myelin along long spinal pathways. Megalin staining was clearly seen in the nucleus of these cells, indicating that megalin works in a notch-like signalling pathway. Uptake of retinol to the retina pigment epithelium (RPE) has long been thought to be a diffusion process. Staining for megalin in RPE revealed strong expression, and uptake experiments with 3H-retinol bound to retinol-binding protein and blocking with the LDL-receptor family specific antagonist receptor-associated protein (RAP) showed that megalin is a receptor for uptake of retinol to the RPE.

Los parásitos nematodos producen diversas proteínas solubles que unen lípidos (LBPs) estructuralmente distintas a las del huésped. Las funciones que cumplen se desconocen pero se hipotetiza que estarían involucradas en las funciones típicas internas de organismos multicelulares, como la utilización y transporte de compuestos no solubles, y en externas especializadas. Algunas de estas proteínas participarían en la modificación del entorno local en el tejido del huésped, posibilitando la modulación y la evasión de la respuesta inmune. Entre las LBPs producidas por nematodos se encuentran las FAR (Fatty Acid and Retinol binding proteins), una clase novedosa de proteínas que unen ácidos grasos y retinol. Tienen un tamaño aproximado de 19 kDa y sus estructuras que parecen ser ricas en alfa-hélices aún no han sido completamente dilucidadas. La comprensión del rol que cumple esta familia de proteínas tiene gran interés fisiopatológico ya que podrían desempeñar funciones relevantes en la biología de los parásitos que las producen y dadas las diferencias estructurales que presentarían con respecto a las LBPs de sus huéspedes, servirían como potenciales blancos para el diseño de nuevas terapias antiparasitarias. Con la finalidad de contribuir a la caracterización de las proteínas FAR y avanzar de este modo en la determinación de su función biológica, se llevaron a cabo estudios biofísicos y estructurales que permitieron resolver la estructura de Na-FAR-1 en solución por espectroscopía de resonancia magnética nuclear. Determinándose que consta de once hélices que conforman una cavidad interna de gran tamaño, donde podrían ubicarse ligandos hidrofóbicos. La estequiometría de unión de los complejos formados por Na-FAR-1 estaría dada por cuatro moléculas de ácido oleico por molécula de proteína, pero se limitaría a una única molécula de ligando en el caso del retinol y de los análogos fluorescentes de ácidos grasos empleados para su estudio. A su vez se evidenció que además de los ligandos esperados como ácidos grasos y retinol, esta proteína es capaz de unir fosfolípidos y diacilglicéridos. La amplia diversidad de unión a ligandos, sumada a su localización en el intestino del nematodo, indicarían que podría participar en el direccionamiento hacia los distintos tejidos de los lípidos ingeridos.

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