Durante o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso, as oscilações da concentração de cálcio intracelular livre resultam na proliferação celular, migração e diferenciação neuronal. Nesta tese foram investigadas a participação dos receptores ionotrópicos purinérgicos dos tipos P2X2 e P2X4 seletivos ao influxo de cálcio durante a diferenciação neuronal in vitro das células de carcinoma embrionário murino P19. Identificamos o padrão diferencial de expressão de receptores purinérgicos nas células indiferenciadas e neurônios P19. O receptor P2X4 é expresso durante toda a diferenciação neuronal e o receptor P2X2 é detectado na fase tardia da diferenciação em neurônios. Através de ensaios farmacológicos, foi possível identificar a participação dos receptores metabotropicos P2Y e do receptor P2X4 na formação dos corpos embriônicos, na proliferação celular e ou na determinação do fenótipo de progenitor neural. Durante a maturação neuronal os receptores P2X2 e P2Y1 participam da determinação do fenótipo neuronal glutamatérgico NMDA e os receptores P2X2 e P2Y2 no fenótipo neuronal colinérgico. A ausência de inibidores específicos e seletivos aos receptores purinérgicos levou-nos a empregar a técnica SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) a fim de identificar inibidores seletivos aos receptores P2X2 e P2X4. A técnica envolve a utilização da biblioteca combinatória randômica de RNA 2\'- F pirimidina modificadas resistentes a nucleases. Após 9 ciclos de seleção in vitro de SELEX (ciclo 9-P2X4), as sequências selecionadas mostraram-se seletivas a ligação somente ao receptor P2X4 e não aos receptores P2X2 ou P2X7 através de ensaios de ligação radioligante-receptor. Por patch clamping na configuração whole cell recording identificou-se que além de seletividade ao receptor, que a aplicação do RNA ciclo 9- P2X4 promoveu inibição da corrente ativada pelo ATP somente nos receptores P2X4 e não em P2X2 em celulas 1321N1 astrocitoma transfectadas. A incubação do RNA ciclo 9-P2X4 na concentração de 200 nM com as células no estágio indiferenciado inibiu a formação dos corpos embriônicos. Já utilização de 25 nM, resultou em mudanças morfológicas nas células diferenciadas. Estes dados corroboram com os dados farmacológicos que identificaram a participação do receptor P2X4 na diferenciação precoce. Após 11 ciclos P2X2 de seleção, identificou-se sequências com especificidade de ligação aos receptores P2X2. Aptâmeros, moleculas de RNA com sequência identificada e com alta afinidade ao alvo da seleção, foram isolados de ambas as bibliotecas, ciclo 9 P2X4 e ciclo 11 P2X2. A co-aplicação destes aptâmeros e ATP em ensaios de whole-cell recording resultou na inibição de 30 a 80% da corrente ativada pelo ATP nos receptores P2X2 ou P2X4. Estes testes em células PC12 de rato, que expressa os receptores endógenos, resultou em inibição da corrente ativada pelo ATP de modo semelhante. Além de termos desenvolvido aptâmeros como ferramentas para elucidar as funções dos receptores P2X2 e P2X4 durante o desenvolvimento, diferenciação, em processos fisiológicos e patológicos, estas moléculas resistentes a nucleases são as primeiras identificadas capazes de reconhecer, discernir e inibir dois subtipos de receptores purinérgicos sendo promissores para utilização terapêutica. / During the development of the nervous system, oscillations of intracellular calcium concentrations activate programs of gene expression resulting in proliferation, migration and neuronal differentiation of embryonic cells. In this thesis, the participation of ionotropic P2X2 and P2X4 receptor subtypes, whose receptor channels are highly permeable for calcium influx in the cells, was studied during the process of neuronal differentiation. We have identified differential gene expression of purinergic receptors in undifferentiated and neuronal-differentiated P19 cells. P2X4 receptor expression was present along neuronal differentiation of P19 cells, whereas P2X2 receptor expression was only detected when P19 cells became neurons. Based on purinergic receptor pharmacology we have determined the participation of P2X4 receptors in addition to metabotropic P2Y2 receptors in the formation of embryonic bodies as prerequisites for phenotype determination of P19 neural progenitor cells. Final neuronal maturation of P19 cells in the presence or absence of agonists or antagonists of purinergic receptors implicated the involvement of P2X2, P2Y1, and P2Y2 in the determination of the final neuronal phenotype, such as expression of NMDA-glutamate and cholinergic receptors. In order to further evaluate the functions of these P2X receptors and due to the absence of specific inhibitors for these receptor subtypes, we have used the SELEX technique (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) to select for specific inhibitors for P2X2 and P2X4 receptors. The 2\' -F-pyrimidine modified, nuclease- resistant combinatorial SELEX RNA pool enriched with inhibitors of P2X4 receptors following nine cycles of in vitro selection (cycle 9-P2X4) specifically interacted with P2X4 receptors and not with P2X2 or P2X7 receptors as verified in radioligand-receptor binding studies. Moreover, whole-cell recording measurements using astrocytoma cells expressing recombinant rat P2X2 or P2X4 receptors showed inhibition of P2X4 but not of P2X2 receptors by the selected RNA molecules. RNA molecules selected in vitro in 11 reiterative SELEX cycles using the P2X2 receptor as target specifically bound to membrane extracts containing recombinant P2X2 receptors. From both selected RNA libraries (against P2X4 and P2X2 receptors) aptamers, as RNA molecules with identified sequences and high-affinity binding, were identified by cloning and DNA sequencing. The presence of these aptamers in whole-cell recording experiments resulted in 30-80% inhibition of ATP-induced receptor activity and did not provoke any inhibitory effects on P2X receptors which had not been used as selection target. The activity of the aptamers selected using recombinant receptors as targets in inhibiting wild-type P2X4 or P2X2 receptors was verified in whole-cell recording experiments with PC12 cells which endogenously express both receptor subtypes. In addition of having developed aptamers as tools to elucidate P2X2 and P2X4 receptor functions during neuronal differentiation, these nuclease-resistant aptamers are suitable for in vivo use and may turn into therapeutics in the inhibition of purinergic receptor participation in pathophysiological conditions.

Durante o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso, as oscilações da concentração de cálcio intracelular livre resultam na proliferação celular, migração e diferenciação neuronal. Nesta tese foram investigadas a participação dos receptores ionotrópicos purinérgicos dos tipos P2X2 e P2X4 seletivos ao influxo de cálcio durante a diferenciação neuronal in vitro das células de carcinoma embrionário murino P19. Identificamos o padrão diferencial de expressão de receptores purinérgicos nas células indiferenciadas e neurônios P19. O receptor P2X4 é expresso durante toda a diferenciação neuronal e o receptor P2X2 é detectado na fase tardia da diferenciação em neurônios. Através de ensaios farmacológicos, foi possível identificar a participação dos receptores metabotropicos P2Y e do receptor P2X4 na formação dos corpos embriônicos, na proliferação celular e ou na determinação do fenótipo de progenitor neural. Durante a maturação neuronal os receptores P2X2 e P2Y1 participam da determinação do fenótipo neuronal glutamatérgico NMDA e os receptores P2X2 e P2Y2 no fenótipo neuronal colinérgico. A ausência de inibidores específicos e seletivos aos receptores purinérgicos levou-nos a empregar a técnica SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) a fim de identificar inibidores seletivos aos receptores P2X2 e P2X4. A técnica envolve a utilização da biblioteca combinatória randômica de RNA 2\'- F pirimidina modificadas resistentes a nucleases. Após 9 ciclos de seleção in vitro de SELEX (ciclo 9-P2X4), as sequências selecionadas mostraram-se seletivas a ligação somente ao receptor P2X4 e não aos receptores P2X2 ou P2X7 através de ensaios de ligação radioligante-receptor. Por patch clamping na configuração whole cell recording identificou-se que além de seletividade ao receptor, que a aplicação do RNA ciclo 9- P2X4 promoveu inibição da corrente ativada pelo ATP somente nos receptores P2X4 e não em P2X2 em celulas 1321N1 astrocitoma transfectadas. A incubação do RNA ciclo 9-P2X4 na concentração de 200 nM com as células no estágio indiferenciado inibiu a formação dos corpos embriônicos. Já utilização de 25 nM, resultou em mudanças morfológicas nas células diferenciadas. Estes dados corroboram com os dados farmacológicos que identificaram a participação do receptor P2X4 na diferenciação precoce. Após 11 ciclos P2X2 de seleção, identificou-se sequências com especificidade de ligação aos receptores P2X2. Aptâmeros, moleculas de RNA com sequência identificada e com alta afinidade ao alvo da seleção, foram isolados de ambas as bibliotecas, ciclo 9 P2X4 e ciclo 11 P2X2. A co-aplicação destes aptâmeros e ATP em ensaios de whole-cell recording resultou na inibição de 30 a 80% da corrente ativada pelo ATP nos receptores P2X2 ou P2X4. Estes testes em células PC12 de rato, que expressa os receptores endógenos, resultou em inibição da corrente ativada pelo ATP de modo semelhante. Além de termos desenvolvido aptâmeros como ferramentas para elucidar as funções dos receptores P2X2 e P2X4 durante o desenvolvimento, diferenciação, em processos fisiológicos e patológicos, estas moléculas resistentes a nucleases são as primeiras identificadas capazes de reconhecer, discernir e inibir dois subtipos de receptores purinérgicos sendo promissores para utilização terapêutica. / During the development of the nervous system, oscillations of intracellular calcium concentrations activate programs of gene expression resulting in proliferation, migration and neuronal differentiation of embryonic cells. In this thesis, the participation of ionotropic P2X2 and P2X4 receptor subtypes, whose receptor channels are highly permeable for calcium influx in the cells, was studied during the process of neuronal differentiation. We have identified differential gene expression of purinergic receptors in undifferentiated and neuronal-differentiated P19 cells. P2X4 receptor expression was present along neuronal differentiation of P19 cells, whereas P2X2 receptor expression was only detected when P19 cells became neurons. Based on purinergic receptor pharmacology we have determined the participation of P2X4 receptors in addition to metabotropic P2Y2 receptors in the formation of embryonic bodies as prerequisites for phenotype determination of P19 neural progenitor cells. Final neuronal maturation of P19 cells in the presence or absence of agonists or antagonists of purinergic receptors implicated the involvement of P2X2, P2Y1, and P2Y2 in the determination of the final neuronal phenotype, such as expression of NMDA-glutamate and cholinergic receptors. In order to further evaluate the functions of these P2X receptors and due to the absence of specific inhibitors for these receptor subtypes, we have used the SELEX technique (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) to select for specific inhibitors for P2X2 and P2X4 receptors. The 2\' -F-pyrimidine modified, nuclease- resistant combinatorial SELEX RNA pool enriched with inhibitors of P2X4 receptors following nine cycles of in vitro selection (cycle 9-P2X4) specifically interacted with P2X4 receptors and not with P2X2 or P2X7 receptors as verified in radioligand-receptor binding studies. Moreover, whole-cell recording measurements using astrocytoma cells expressing recombinant rat P2X2 or P2X4 receptors showed inhibition of P2X4 but not of P2X2 receptors by the selected RNA molecules. RNA molecules selected in vitro in 11 reiterative SELEX cycles using the P2X2 receptor as target specifically bound to membrane extracts containing recombinant P2X2 receptors. From both selected RNA libraries (against P2X4 and P2X2 receptors) aptamers, as RNA molecules with identified sequences and high-affinity binding, were identified by cloning and DNA sequencing. The presence of these aptamers in whole-cell recording experiments resulted in 30-80% inhibition of ATP-induced receptor activity and did not provoke any inhibitory effects on P2X receptors which had not been used as selection target. The activity of the aptamers selected using recombinant receptors as targets in inhibiting wild-type P2X4 or P2X2 receptors was verified in whole-cell recording experiments with PC12 cells which endogenously express both receptor subtypes. In addition of having developed aptamers as tools to elucidate P2X2 and P2X4 receptor functions during neuronal differentiation, these nuclease-resistant aptamers are suitable for in vivo use and may turn into therapeutics in the inhibition of purinergic receptor participation in pathophysiological conditions.

<p>A novel technology for protein detection, proximity ligation, has been developed along with improved methods for <i>in situ</i> synthesis of DNA microarrays. Proximity ligation enables a specific and quantitative transformation of proteins present in a sample into nucleic acid sequences. As pairs of so-called proximity probes bind the individual target protein molecules at distinct sites, these reagents are brought in close proximity. The probes consist of a protein specific binding part coupled to an oligonucleotide with either a free 3’- or 5’-end capable of hybridizing to a common connector oligonucleotide. When the probes are in proximity, promoted by target binding, then the DNA strands can be joined by enzymatic ligation. The nucleic acid sequence that is formed can then be amplified and quantitatively detected in a real-time monitored polymerase chain reaction. This convenient assay is simple to perform and allows highly sensitive protein detection. Parallel analysis of multiple proteins by DNA microarray technology is anticipated for proximity ligation and enabled by the information carrying ability of nucleic acids to define the individual proteins. Assays detecting cytokines using SELEX aptamers or antibodies, monoclonal and polyclonal, are presented in the thesis.</p><p>Microarrays synthesized <i>in situ</i> using photolithographic methods generate impure products due to damaged molecules and interrupted synthesis. Through a molecular inversion mechanism presented here, these impurities may be removed. At the end of synthesis, full-length oligonucleotides receive a functional group that can then be made to react with the solid support forming an arched structure. The 3’-ends of the oligonucleotides are then cleaved, removing the impurities from the support and allowing the liberated 3’-hydroxyl to prime polymerase extension reactions from the inverted oligonucleotides. The effect of having pure oligonucleotides probes compared to ones contaminated with shorter variants was investigated in allele specific hybridization reactions. Pure probes were shown to have greater ability to discriminate between matched and singly mismatched targets at optimal hybridization temperatures.</p>

A novel technology for protein detection, proximity ligation, has been developed along with improved methods for in situ synthesis of DNA microarrays. Proximity ligation enables a specific and quantitative transformation of proteins present in a sample into nucleic acid sequences. As pairs of so-called proximity probes bind the individual target protein molecules at distinct sites, these reagents are brought in close proximity. The probes consist of a protein specific binding part coupled to an oligonucleotide with either a free 3’- or 5’-end capable of hybridizing to a common connector oligonucleotide. When the probes are in proximity, promoted by target binding, then the DNA strands can be joined by enzymatic ligation. The nucleic acid sequence that is formed can then be amplified and quantitatively detected in a real-time monitored polymerase chain reaction. This convenient assay is simple to perform and allows highly sensitive protein detection. Parallel analysis of multiple proteins by DNA microarray technology is anticipated for proximity ligation and enabled by the information carrying ability of nucleic acids to define the individual proteins. Assays detecting cytokines using SELEX aptamers or antibodies, monoclonal and polyclonal, are presented in the thesis. Microarrays synthesized in situ using photolithographic methods generate impure products due to damaged molecules and interrupted synthesis. Through a molecular inversion mechanism presented here, these impurities may be removed. At the end of synthesis, full-length oligonucleotides receive a functional group that can then be made to react with the solid support forming an arched structure. The 3’-ends of the oligonucleotides are then cleaved, removing the impurities from the support and allowing the liberated 3’-hydroxyl to prime polymerase extension reactions from the inverted oligonucleotides. The effect of having pure oligonucleotides probes compared to ones contaminated with shorter variants was investigated in allele specific hybridization reactions. Pure probes were shown to have greater ability to discriminate between matched and singly mismatched targets at optimal hybridization temperatures.

Le développement d’outils de détection in situ (IDT) est indispensable pour rapporter entemps réel la présence d’une signature moléculaire spécifique. L’efficacité d’un IDT estliée à son affinité, à sa spécificité, mais aussi à son potentiel à opérer dans des conditionsimposées par le contexte d’application. Parmi les contraintes imposées, la variation detempérature, le pH et la présence de solvant d’extraction. Le but du projet est dedévelopper des aptamères capables d’opérer en présence de solvant organique ; à ceteffet, nous avons opté pour une sélection en présence de méthanol. La limitation decette stratégie est principalement liée à la nature chimique des acides nucléiques. Parconséquent, nous avons choisi d’utiliser une banque ADN incorporant le (5-(octa1,7-diynyl)-2’-deoxyuridine) dDOTP, au lieu du dTTP. Notre stratégie expérimentale aabouti à la sélection d’un aptamère qui lie spécifiquement l’adénine en présence de 25 %de méthanol. Nous avons montré que les dDOTP sont essentiels à l’interaction del’aptamère avec l’adénine ; l’aptamère sélectionné comporte un motif riche en G partagéavec l’aptamère anti-adénosine, cependant, l’aptamère sélectionné dans le méthanolcomporte un motif structural indispensable à l’interaction avec la cible en présence deméthanol. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré que l’aptamère sélectionné pourraitfonctionner comme un module de reconnaissance spécifique d’un biocapteur. / Development of in situ detection tools (IDT) is required for specific real time monitoringof chemical species. Efficient IDT is not only related to its affinity and ability todiscriminate between molecular variants, but moreover it must be adapted for operatingunder conditions imposed by the context of application. Among others, hightemperature, pH variation and presence of organic solvents may be mentioned. The aimof our project is to develop an aptamer operating in the presence of organic solvents. Forthis purpose, we opted for selection in presence of methanol. Limitations of this strategyare adaptability of SELEX technology and chemical diversity of nucleic acids. For thispurpose, we used library incorporating (5-(octa1,7-diynyl)-2’-deoxyuridine) dDOTPinstead of conventional thymine nucleotide. Our experimental strategy led to theselection of an aptamer that specifically recognises adenine in the presence of 25 % ofmethanol. dDOTP nucleotides are essential for adenine recognition; the selectedaptamer shares a purine rich motif with a previously described adenosine aptamer, butdisplays a specific structure motif, essential for operating in the presence of methanol.Furthermore, the ability of truncated variants of the selected aptamer to form arecognition module of biosensor was assessed in this study.

Les acides nucléiques riches en guanines ou en cytosines peuvent se replier sur eux-mêmes et former des systèmes tétramériques tels que les G-quadruplexes (G4) ou les i-motifs. Ces motifs, abondamment représentés dans certaines régions du génome humain semblent contribuer à la régulation cellulaire et suscitent depuis plusieurs années un intérêt grandissant. Ils sont notamment présents dans la région télomérique, mais aussi dans les promoteurs d’oncogènes ou au sein des génomes viraux et sont impliqués dans certaines pathologies humaines. Ils représentent ainsi des cibles thérapeutiques et diagnostiques potentielles. Cependant, les G4 adoptent in-vitro des topologies variées qui compliquent le développement de ligands spécifiques et affins. Dans ce contexte, le laboratoire a développé le concept du TASQ pour ‘‘Template Assembled Synthetic G-Quadruplex’’ dans le but d'accéder à des G4 se structurant en une topologie définie.Le premier chapitre décrit l’assemblage de mimes de motifs G4 contraints en une topologie unique. En utilisant un gabarit cyclodécapeptide rigide et différentes méthodes de conjugaison, nous avons assemblé des motifs G4 ARN parallèle et hybride ADN/ARN dérivant de la séquence télomérique ainsi qu’un motif G4 d’ADN présent dans la séquence promotrice du VIH-1. L’utilisation du concept TASQ nous a également permis de préparer un motif G-triplexe (G3), intermédiaire à la formation des motifs G4. Nous avons montré une forte stabilisation de tous les édifices G4 contraints ainsi préparés.Le second chapitre concerne les études de caractérisation et de sélection de ligands vis-à-vis des motifs G4 et G3 contraints. La caractérisation repose sur l’évaluation de l’affinité et de la sélectivité de différentes familles de ligands pour ces édifices, par résonance plasmonique de surface ou par interférométrie bio-couche. La sélection de ligands a été réalisée par la méthode SELEX dans le but d’obtenir des aptamères affins et spécifiques d’un motif G4 contraint. / Guanines or cytosines rich nucleic acids can fold into tetrameric G-quadruplexes (G4) or i-motifs structures. G4 motifs are found within the human genome and should contribute to cellular regulation. In particular G4 are found at telomeric region and also in promoters of oncogenes or within viral genomes. They are suspected of participating in the regulation of human pathologies and have therefore been envisioned as potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets. However, the intrinsic conformational polymorphism of G4 motifs complicates the development of specific and affine ligands. In this context, the laboratory has developed the TASQ concept for "Template Assembled Synthetic G-Quadruplex" with the aim to obtain a defined G4 topology.The first chapter reports on the assembly on the peptide template of RNA and DNA:RNA hybrid G4 structures that derive from the human telomeric sequence as well as of DNA G4 structure found within the HIV virus promoter. G-triplex (G3) motif which is supposed to be an intermediate during the formation of the G4 motifs has also been prepared. By using appropriate ligations of the oligonucleotide strands on the peptide template we were able to control the folding of G-quadruplex motifs and stabilize them.The second chapter reports the studies for the characterization and the selection of ligands against G4 and G3 motifs. The evaluation of the affinity and selectivity of different families of ligands for these constrain motifs was performed by using surface plasmon resonance or by bio-layer interferometry. The selection of ligands was carried out by the SELEX method in order to obtain affine and specific aptamers of a constrained G4 motif.

<p>The process of ‘‘structure-switching’’ enables biomolecular switches to function as effective biosensing tools. Biomolecular switches can be activated or inactivated by binding to a specific target that triggers a precise conformational change in the biomolecules involved. Examples of aptamer-based biomolecular switches can be found in nature. Furthermore, efforts have been made in the last decade to engineer structure-switching sensors using DNA aptamers whereby, the aptamer is coupled to a signal transduction method to generate a readout signal upon target binding to the aptamer domain. Conversely, RNA aptamers have been relatively underexplored for sensor development, largely due to its susceptibility to nuclease degradation and chemical instability. Despite these shortcomings, many RNA aptamers possess superior sensing capabilities, and the abundance of RNA aptamers provides new opportunities to further advance the field. In effect, this thesis uses a structure-switching design to demonstrate the power of RNA aptamers for fluorescence-based sensor development. Herein, we demonstrate generalizable structure-switching strategies to make use of the abundance of RNA aptamers, monitor the quality control of detection and correct detection error, as well as enhance RNA aptamer sensing capability by using regulated graphene adsorption. Furthermore, our findings have expanded for secondary applications involving collaborations with other research labs. In one application, we demonstrate that entrapment of structure-switching RNA aptamers in sol-gel material confers protection against nuclease degradation and chemical instability. In another application, we further validate the use of riboswitches, or natural structure-switching RNA aptamers, as potential targets for drug discovery. Overall, these results demonstrate the capability of RNA aptamers for sensor development. We conclude with a discussion of possible areas for further inquiry, as well as future applications for the advancement of structure-switching RNA aptamers.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

La séparation d'énantiomères est d'un grand intérêt pour les industries pharmaceutiques, chimiques et agroalimentaires. Les aptamères sont utilisés au sein du Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire (DPM) en tant que nouveaux sélecteurs chiraux spécifiques d'une cible prédéterminée. Il s'agit d'oligonucléotides, en série ADN et ARN, générés par la procédure SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment), ayant la capacité à fixer leurs molécules cibles avec une affinité égale voir supérieure à celle des anticorps. Ce travail a pour objectif d'étudier les propriétés énantiosélectives des aptamères, en série ADN et ARN, par micro-CLHP et EC. Une phase stationnaire chirale aptamère L-ARN anti-D-histidine a été créée en utilisant une stratégie d'immobilisation biotine-streptavidine dans le but d'étudier les propriétés énantiosélectives de cet oligonucléotide récemment isolé. Une nouvelle stratégie d'immobilisation covalente de l'aptamère a été développée afin d'élargir les conditions d'utilisation et d'améliorer la stabilité de ces colonnes aptamères. L'utilisation de ces nouveaux sélecteurs chiraux a ensuite été étendue à une analyse par EC. La première étude a été réalisée sur un aptamère test L-ARN anti-D-arginine caractérisé par de très fortes affinité (Kd = 330 nM) et énantiosélectivité (α = 12000). Ce travail a permis d'apprécier les caractéristiques exceptionnelles de cet aptamère et d'envisager son utilisation dans un essai énantiosélectif par compétition. Une impureté énantiomérique de 0,01% a ainsi été détectée. Un essai similaire, où un contact direct entre l'aptamère et son énantiomère cible est favorisé, a permis d'augmenter la sensibilité de la méthode et pourrait permettre d'abaisser la limite de détection grâce à l'utilisation d'une détection par fluorescence.

La détection de petites molécules est d'un grand intérêt dans les domaines pharmaceutique, environnemental, alimentaire et de la biologie clinique. Les aptamères, sélectionnés par la méthode SELEX (pour Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment), sont des oligonucléotides qui se lient à une cible donnée avec une affinité et une spécificité importantes. L'objectif de ce travail est d'établir de nouvelles méthodologies analytiques basées sur l'utilisation des aptamères pour la détection de petites molécules. Dans un premier temps, une méthodologie par électrophorèse capillaire, dérivée du concept de déplacement du brin complémentaire de l'aptamère, est décrite pour la détection simultanée de plusieurs analytes dans un seul capillaire. La deuxième étude se focalise sur le développement d'un aptacapteur colorimétrique simple, rapide et peu coûteux, qui utilise le concept général de protection enzymatique de l'aptamère et les nanoparticules d'or en tant que système de transduction. Enfin, deux méthodes par polarisation de fluorescence, basées sur le concept de déplacement (du brin complémentaire ou de l'aptamère lui-même), sont présentées afin d'accroitre les potentialités des aptacapteurs dédiés à la détection des petites molécules.

Les ribozymes sont des ARN catalytiques fréquemment exploités pour le développement d’outils biochimiques et d’agents thérapeutiques. Ils sont particulièrement intéressants pour effectuer l’inactivation de gènes, en permettant la dégradation d’ARNm ou d’ARN viraux associés à des maladies. Les ribozymes les plus utilisés en ce moment pour le développement d’agents thérapeutiques sont les ribozymes hammerhead et hairpin, qui permettent la reconnaissance spécifique d’ARN simple brin par la formation de structures secondaires stables. In vivo, la majorité des ARN adoptent des structures secondaires et tertiaires complexes et les régions simples brins sont parfois difficiles d’accès. Il serait intéressant de pouvoir cibler des ARN repliés et un motif d’ARN intéressant à cibler est la tige-boucle d’ARN qui peut être importante dans le repliement global des ARN et pour accomplir des fonctions biologiques. Le ribozyme VS de Neurospora fait la reconnaissance de son substrat replié en tigeboucle de façon spécifique par une interaction kissing-loop, mais il n’a jamais été exploité pour faire la reconnaissance d’un ARN cible très différent de son substrat naturel. Le but des travaux présentés dans cette thèse est de déterminer si le ribozyme VS possède l’adaptabilité nécessaire pour l’ingénierie de ribozymes qui clivent des ARN cibles différents du substrat naturel. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, le ribozyme VS a été modifié pour l’adapter à différents substrats et des études de cinétiques ont été réalisées pour évaluer l’impact de ces modifications sur l’activité de clivage du ribozyme. Dans un premier temps, le ribozyme a été modifié pour faire la reconnaissance et le clivage de substrats possédant différentes longueurs de tiges Ib. Le ribozyme a été adapté avec succès à ces substrats de différentes longueurs de tige Ib, avec une activité qui est similaire à celle du ribozyme avec un substrat sans modification. Dans un deuxième temps, c’est l’interaction kissing-loop I/V du ribozyme qui a été substituée de façon rationnelle, dans le but de savoir si un ribozyme VS mutant peut reconnaitre et cliver un substrat ayant une boucle différente de celle de son substrat naturel. L’interaction kissing-loop I/V a été substituée pour les interactions kissing-loop TAR/TAR* de l’ARN du VIH-1 et L22/L88 de l’ARN 23S de Deinococcus radiodurans. La réaction de iii clivage des ribozymes comportant ces nouvelles interactions kissing-loop est toujours observée, mais avec une activité diminuée. Finalement, la sélection in vitro (SELEX) de ribozymes a été effectuée pour permettre un clivage plus efficace d’un substrat mutant avec une nouvelle boucle. Le SELEX a permis la sélection d’un ribozyme qui clive un substrat avec une boucle terminale mutée pour celle de l’ARN TAR du VIH-1 et cela avec une activité de clivage très efficace. L’ensemble de ces études démontre que le ribozyme VS peut être modifié de diverses façons pour la reconnaissance spécifique de différents substrats, tout en conservant une bonne activité de clivage. Ces résultats montrent le grand potentiel d’ingénierie du ribozyme VS et sont prometteurs pour la poursuite d’études d’ingénierie du ribozyme VS, en vue du clivage d’ARN cibles repliés en tige-boucle complètement différents du substrat naturel du ribozyme VS. / Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs frequently exploited for the development of biochemistry tools and therapeutic agents. They are particularly interesting in gene inactivation strategies for the degradation of mRNA and viral RNA genome. Currently, the most common ribozymes used in the development of therapeutic agents are the hammerhead and hairpin ribozymes, which can specifically recognize and cleave target single-stranded RNAs through the formation of stable secondary structures. In vivo, single-stranded RNAs can be difficult to target because most RNA adopt complex secondary and tertiary structures. It could be worthwhile to target folded RNA motifs, and an interesting target is the stem-loop structure because stem-loops are important for the overall folding of RNA molecules and they can perform important biological functions. The Neurospora VS ribozyme recognizes its stem-loop folded substrate via a specific kissing-loop interaction, but it has never been exploited for the recognition of target RNA very different from its natural substrate. The goal of the work presented in this thesis is to determine whether the VS ribozyme possesses the necessary adaptability for engineering ribozymes that target RNAs different from its natural substrate. For this thesis, the VS ribozyme was adapted for the recognition of different substrates and kinetic studies were performed to evaluate the effect of these modifications on the cleavage activity. In a first study, the VS ribozyme was modified to recognize and cleave substrates with different stem Ib lengths. The VS ribozyme was successfully adapted to theses substrates of different lengths with a cleavage activity similar to the unmodified ribozyme and substrate. In a second study, the I/V kissing-loop interaction was substituted by rational design, in order to establish if the VS ribozyme variants could recognize and cleave a substrate with a different loop than its natural substrate. The I/V kissing-loop interaction was substituted for the HIV-1 TAR/TAR* and the Deinococcus radiodurans RNA large rRNA subunit L22/L88 kissing-loop interactions. The cleavage reaction was observed for the ribozymes with these new interactions, but with reduced activity. Finally, in vitro selection (SELEX) was used to enable more efficient cleavage of a mutant substrate with a new loop. SELEX experiments enabled v the selection of ribozyme variants that cleave a substrate with a terminal loop mutated to that of the HIV-1 TAR RNA with a very efficient cleavage activity. All of the studies presented in this thesis show that the VS ribozyme can be modified in various ways for the specific recognition of different substrates, while maintaining efficient cleavage activity. These results demonstrate the great potential of VS ribozyme engineering and are very promising for further engineering studies of VS-derived ribozymes for the cleavage of stem-loop folded target RNA completely different from its natural VS ribozyme substrate.