This study determined the impact of vitamin C dose on genistein-induced apoptosis in LNCaP cancer cells at various treatment regimens in vitro. Although the linear regression of viability assay (MTT) indicated a p-value = 0.11; NBT assay reveal a declining SOD activity during cell death. Apoptosis induction was the main mode of treatment induced cell death. The overall data showed the trend of treatment efficacy as;(Gen 10uM + Vit C 40uM) > (Gen 30uM + Vit C 40uM) > (Gen 70uM + Vit C 40uM) > 10uM genistein > 70uM genistein. The chi-square test for comparing necrosis, apoptosis and life cells showed that Vitamin C could impact genistein-induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells (p = 0.0003). This study forms the basis for in vivo studies of the impact of vitamin C on genistein-induced apoptosis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Changes in synaptic strength underlie synaptic plasticity, the cellular substrate for learning and memory. Disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate synaptic strength closely link to many developmental, neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. Release site probability (PAZ) and active zone number (N) are two important presynaptic determinants of synaptic strength; yet, little is known about the processes that establish the balance between N and PAZ at any synapse. Furthermore, it is not known how PAZ and N are rebalanced during synaptic homeostasis to accomplish circuit stability. To address this knowledge gap, we adapted a neurophysiological experimental system consisting of two functionally differentiated glutamatergic motor neurons (MNs) innervating the same target. Average PAZ varied between nerve terminals, motivating us to explore benefits for high and low PAZ, respectively. We speculated that high PAZ confers high-energy efficiency. To test the hypothesis, electrophysiological and ultrastructural measurements were made. The terminal with the highest PAZ released more neurotransmitter but it did so with the least total energetic cost. An analytical model was built to further explore functional and structural aspects in optimizing energy efficiency. The model supported that energy efficiency optimization requires high PAZ. However, terminals with low PAZ were better able to sustain neurotransmitter release. We suggest that tension between energy efficiency and stamina sets PAZ and thus determines synaptic strength. To test the hypothesis that nerve terminals regulate PAZ rather than N to maintain synaptic strength, we induced sustained synaptic homeostasis at the nerve terminals. Ca2+ imaging revealed that terminals of the MN innervating only one muscle fiber utilized greater Ca2+ influx to achieve compensatory neurotransmitter release. In contrast, morphological measurements revealed that terminals of the MN inner vating multiple postsynaptic targets utilized an increase in N to achieve compensatory neurotransmitter release, but this only occurred at the terminal of the affected postsynaptic target. In conclusion, this dissertation provides several novel insights into a prominent question in neuroscience: how is synaptic strength established and maintained. The work indicates that tension exists between energy efficiency and stamina in neurotransmitter release likely influences PAZ. Furthermore, PAZ and N are rebalanced differently between terminals during synaptic homeostasis. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The mammalian hippo signalling pathway controls cell proliferation and apoptosis via transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ, and as such is a key regulator of organ and tissue growth. Multiple cellular components converge in this pathway, including the actin cytoskeleton, which is required for YAP/TAZ activity. The precise mechanism by which the mechanical actomyosin network regulates Hippo signalling, however, is unknown. Optical methods provide a non-invasive way to image and study the biomechanics of cells. In the past two decades, super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques that break the diffraction limit of light have come to the fore, enabling visualisation of intracellular detail at the nanoscale level. Optical trapping, on the other hand, allows precise control of micron-sized objects such as cells. Here, super resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) were used to investigate a potential role for the FERM-domain protein FRMD6, or Willin, in the mechanical control of the Hippo pathway in a neuronal cell model. A double optical trap was also integrated with the Nikon-SIM with the aim of cell stretching. Willin expression was shown to modify the morphology, neuronal differentiation, actin cytoskeleton and forces of SH-SY5Y cells. Optical trapping from above the SIM objective, however, was demonstrated to be ineffective for manipulation of adherent cells. The results presented here indicate a function for Willin in the assembly of actin stress fibres that may be the result of an interaction with the Hippo pathway regulator AMOT. Further investigation, for example by direct cell stretching, is required to elucidate the exact role of Willin in the mechanical control of YAP/TAZ.

A calcineurina é uma fosfatase ativada por Ca2+ e calmodulina presente em todos os eucariotos que, em fungos, atua na sinalização de eventos em resposta a estímulos do ambiente e tem papel essencial na patogenicidade de fungos causadores de doenças. O Paracoccidioides brasiliensis é um fungo dimórfico causador da paracoccidioidomicose, uma micose sistêmica profunda de importância para a Saúde Pública no Brasil e no restante da América Latina. Neste e em outros fungos dimórficos patogênicos, a transição dimórfica é necessária para o desenvolvimento de patogenicidade, sendo a calcineurina essencial o dimorfismo. Neste trabalho foram caracterizadas as estruturas gênicas das duas subunidades que compõe o heterodímero de calcineurina e sua expressão durante a transição dimórfica. Foram sugeridos possíveis alvos moleculares de interação com a calcineurina através de bioinformática e os níveis de expressão de três deles foram analisados durante a transição dimórfica. Espera-se que este trabalho contribua para uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos que regulam a transição dimórfica, virulência e patogenicidade em P. brasiliensis e, dessa forma, auxilie no desenvolvimento de novas abordagens terapêuticas contra a paracoccidioidomicose. / The calcineurin is a Ca2+/almodulin-dependent phosphatase present in all eukaryotes. In fungi, it acts as a signaling molecule that works in response to environmental stimuli and has key role in pathogen city of diverse disease-causing fungi. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic fungus and the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis important to public health in Brazil and other Latin Americans countries. As in other dimorphic pathogenic fungi, the dimorphic transition is necessary for the development of pathogenicity, with calcineurin playing an essential role to the process of dimorphism. In this work we characterized the gene structures of two subunits that make up the calcineurin heterodimer as well as its expression during the dimorphic transition. We raised possible targets for molecular interaction with calcineurin by bioinformatics and the levels of expression of three of them were examined during the dimorphic transition. We expect that this work might contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the dimorphic transition, virulence and pathogenicity in P. brasiliensis and thus help in developing of new therapeutic approaches against paracoccidioidomycosis.

Macrophages are the largest cells in the immune system and they regulate inflammatory signalling and inform cell fate decisions. Many signals, including those mediated by Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) converge on a few key intracellular signalling pathways, including the Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFκB) network. The NFκB signalling pathway plays a vital role in the regulation of many different cellular responses, including the production of TNFα itself, which is required to sustain and propagate immune responses to, for example, infection or tissue damage. In this thesis we report on studies-both experimental and theoretical-of the NFκB signalling pathway in macrophages. Our collaborators stimulated these cells with various doses of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule that forms the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria: in these experiments it serves as a proxy for bacterial infection. The macrophages, studied in vitro, respond as they are believed to do in tissues, by secreting certain signalling molecules called cytokines: the level of secretion proved to depend on the strength of the LPS stimulus. Further, heterogeneity of macrophage signalling was observed in response to a range of LPS doses. Within individual macrophages LPS stimulation results in oscillatory behaviour of NFκB localisation-NFκB shuttles in and out of the nucleus-with an amplitude (peak nuclear concentration) that also depends on the LPS dose. Heterogeneity was also observed in cells that were stimulated with the same dose intensity. This raises an important question about how immune cells coordinate inflammatory activity in the presence of this variability. In this thesis we aim to achieve an understanding of the system through the qualitative analysis of mathematical models of it. This work explores both the parametric sensitivity and bifurcation analyses for two mathematical models of NFκB in macrophages. Parametric sensitivity analysis is used to investigate the role of parameters on the model's output, especially on certain features of the signal-peak amplitudes, inter-peak intervals and areas beneath curves-that are commonly measured in single-cell experiments. Local bifurcation analysis is conducted in order to show all the possible behaviours produced when varying parameters.

Lam Shi Ying Joyce. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-114). / Abstract in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1-19 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- EXPRESSION OF PROTEIN KINASE C (PKC) ISOFORMS IN THE VENTRAL TEMPORAL (VT) AND DORSAL NASAL (DN) RETINAL GROWTH CONES OF MOUSE EMBRYOS / INTRODUCTION --- p.20-22 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.22-24 / RESULTS --- p.24-31 / DISCUSSION --- p.31-37 / FIGURES --- p.38-46 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECTS ON MOUSE NASAL AND TEMPORAL RETINAL NEURITES TO CHONDROITIN SULPHATES (CS) AFTER ALTERATION OF PKC ACTIVITY / INTRODUCTION --- p.47-48 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.49-51 / RESULTS --- p.51-59 / DISCUSSION --- p.60-67 / FIGURES --- p.68-74 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECTS ON AXON ROUTING AFTER ALTERATION OF PKC ACTIVITY ON GUIDANCE OF RETINAL GANGLION CELL AXONS AT THE OPTIC CHIASM OF MOUSE EMBRYOS / INTRODUCTION --- p.75-76 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.77-80 / RESULTS --- p.80-89 / DISCUSSION --- p.89-95 / FIGURES --- p.96-103 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- GENERAL CONCLUSION --- p.104-106 / REFERENCES --- p.107-114

Ip Wai-Ki. / "July 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-290). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

La signalisation cellulaire regroupe l'ensemble des mécanismes biologiques permettant à une cellule de répondre de façon adaptée à son microenvironnement. Pour ce faire, de nombreuses réactions biologiques entrent en jeux avec un important enchevêtrement, créant ainsi un réseau dont le comportement s'apparente à un système complexe. Le compréhension de la réponse cellulaire à une stimulation passe par le développement conjoint des techniques d'acquisition de données, et des méthodes permettant de formaliser ces données dans un modèle. C'est sur ce dernier point que s'inscrivent les travaux exposés dans cette thèse. Nous présentons ici deux approches visant à répondre à des questions de natures différentes sur la signalisation cellulaire. Dans la première nous utilisons un modèle différentiel pour étudier le rôle d'un nouvel interactant dans la voie canonique du TGF-β. Dans la seconde nous avons exploré la combinatoire de la signalisation cellulaire en développant un formalisme discret basé sur les transitions gardées. Cette approche regroupe l'interprétation de la base de données Pathway Interaction Database dans un unique modèle dynamique de propagation du signal. Des méthodes de simulations et d'analyses inspirées des techniques de vérification de modèles telles que l'atteignabilité et l'invariance ont été développées. En outre, nous avons étudié la régulation du cycle cellulaire en réponse à la signalisation, ainsi que la régulation des gènes de notre modèle en comparaison avec des données d'expressions. / Cell signaling contains the whole biological mecanisms allowing the response of a cell to its microenvironnement in an adapted way. Many extremely intertwinned biological reactions are involved in a network that behaves as a complex system. The understanding of cell response requires the development of data acquisition technics and methods to formalize data into models. This point is the main drive of this thesis. We present here two approaches in order to analyse different granularities of cell signaling. In the first one, we used differential model to study the role of a new component of \tgf\ canonical pathway. In the second one, we explored the combinatorial complexity of cell signaling, developing a discrete formalism based on guarded transitions. In this approach, we interpreted the whole database Pathway Interaction Database into a single unified model of signal transduction. Simulation and analysis methods, such as reachability and invariance research, have been developed. The interests are presented through an application on cell cycle regulation by cell signaling, and a global analysis on the regulation of genes compared to experimental data.

A indução de tolerância imunológica ao aloenxerto, no contexto clínico, permanece um grande desafio para pesquisa científica de tradução. A retirada da imunossupressão em indivíduos transplantados leva à rejeição do enxerto, na grande maioria dos casos. Entretanto, um grupo muito raro de indivíduos transplantados, chamados de tolerantes operacionais (TO), consegue manter a função estável do enxerto após a retirada dos imunossupressores. O estudo desses indivíduos pode contribuir para melhor compreensão dos mecanismos envolvidos na tolerância ao enxerto em humanos, assim como, para a determinação de biomarcadores desse estado de homeostase. Nosso objetivo foi determinar se o estado de tolerância operacional no transplante renal induz um perfil diferencial do componente humoral da resposta imune. Para tal, analisamos o perfil de reatividade de autoanticorpos dirigidos a peptídeos da proteína de choque térmico 60 (HSP60), de alo e autoanticorpos dirigidos às moléculas HLA, o repertório do receptor de células B (BCR) e o perfil funcional de células B supressoras CD19+CD24hiCD38hi (Bregs), comparativamente, nos indivíduos com: TO (n=5), Rejeição Crônica (RC, n=13), função estável do enxerto usando doses habituais de imunossupressores (Est, n=19) e nos indivíduos saudáveis (Sau, n=11). Não observamos um perfil diferencial claro de alo/autorreatividade de anticorpos dirigidos aos peptídeos da HSP60, nem às moléculas HLA, que diferenciasse os grupos do estudo. O estado de tolerância operacional apresentou uma diversidade do repertório do receptor de células B similar à observada em Sau e Est, enquanto o grupo RC teve uma menor diversidade desse repertório. Além disso, o grupo TO apresentou uma expansão de clones linfócitos B com expressão de 2 tamanhos distintos de CDR3 (de 16aa, família VH3 isotipo IgM, e de 5aa, família VH1 isotipo IgG), diferenciando-os dos grupos Sau, RC e Est (p<0,01 e p<0,05; e p<0,01, respectivamente para VH3M e VH1G). Os números de células B com fenótipo imunorregulador CD19+CD24hiCD38hi (Bregs) circulantes, no grupo TO e Sau, foram similares, enquanto o grupo RC apresentou menores números (p<0,05). Funcionalmente, após estímulo via CD40, o grupo TO teve capacidade de gerar células Breg ativadas para STAT3 semelhante ao grupo Sau, enquanto na rejeição crônica esta capacidade foi menor (p<0,05). Concluímos que o estado de tolerância operacional envolve, principalmente, a manutenção do perfil do componente imune humoral, similar ao apresentado por indivíduos saudáveis, em contraste com o estado de rejeição crônica. Além disso, o estado de tolerância foi o único que apresentou expansões expressivas de determinados tamanhos de CDR3, se destacando de todos os grupos. A expansão diferencial desses clones de células B pode ter uma relevância funcional no estado de tolerância operacional, além de potencial valor para o diagnóstico desse estado. Esses dados, em conjunto, nos indicam que a preservação do componente humoral da resposta imune desempenha um papel importante neste estado de homeostase no transplante humano / Operational tolerance in human kidney transplantation: repertoire of B lymphocytes and alo and autoantibodies Sta individuals (p<0.01 and p<0.05; and p<0.01, respectively for VH3M and VH1G). The circulating B cell numbers with the suppressive phenotype CD19+CD24hiCD38hi (Bregs) were similar between the OT and HI groups, while CR presented lower numbers (p<0.05). In addition, the OT group exhibited a similar capacity of generate activated cells for STAT3 to HI, whereas the CR group exhibited an impaired capacity (p<0.05). We conclude that the operational tolerance state involves the maintenance of the B cell compartment profile similar to the one observed in healthy individuals, in contrast with chronic rejection. In addition, the state of operational tolerance was the only one exhibiting expressive expansions of specific CDR3 lengths, which differentiated OT from all other groups. This indicates that the expansion of B cell populations expressing specific CDR3 lengths could play a relevant role in operational tolerance and may be potential biomarkers for OT. Taken together, we suggest that the preservation of the B cell component of the immune response can play an important role in this homeostatic state in human transplantation

Les bactéries sont exposées aux perturbations externes causées par les changements environnementaux ou la présence d’agents antibactériens nocifs. L’enveloppe bactérienne forme une barrière entre le milieu externe et l’intérieur de la cellule et se trouve donc potentiellement exposée aux dommages causées par les perturbations et forme la première ligne de défense pour les bactéries. Pour survivre à ces conditions, les bactéries ont développé des systèmes à deux composantes (TCS) qui détectent et permettent la réponse à ces stress.Bien qu’ils soient associés à la protéine périplasmique ZraP, ZraSR constitue un de ces TCS. La présence de cette protéine accessoire associé au système ZraSR montre une homologie avec le système CpxPAR qui capte un grand nombre de stress d’enveloppe. Le système Zra est activé en présence de zinc et cause l’expression de zraP, zraS et zraR. Les protéines ZraP et ZraR ont été étudiées mais aucun travail n’a encore impliqué l’étude de la protéine membranaire ZraS et son mécanisme d’activation. En effet, l’étude des senseurs de TCS s’est beaucoup focalisée sur la compréhension de la partie cytoplasmique mais très peu sur le domaine périplasmique. Dans le cas du système Zra, il y a encore des interrogations sur l’activation ainsi que la régulation de ce système. Lors de ma thèse j’ai concentré mes recherches sur le domaine périplasmique de ZraS. Nous avons d’abord voulu comprendre comment le zinc active le système Zra mais aussi par quel moyen la protéine ZraP influe sur cette activation par le zinc. Pour cela, la caractérisation biochimique du domaine périplasmique de ZraS a été effectué et l’effet du zinc sur ce domaine a été observé. De ce fait, nous avons aussi tenté de déterminer quels sont les résidus de ce domaine qui permettent la liaison du zinc. Par une approche in vivo et in vitro, nous avons voulu comprendre le rôle régulateur de ZraP sur le système Zra. Ce travail s’inscrit dans l’objectif de mieux comprendre les différents mécanismes d’activation des différents ESR. / Bacteria are exposed to external perturbations due to environmental changes or to the presence of noxious agents. Because the bacterial cell envelope forms the barrier between the inside and the outside of the cell it is highly susceptible to be damaged by these perturbations but it is also the first line of defense. To survive gram-negative bacteria have developed two component systems (TCS) that detect and respond to these envelope stresses.ZraSR is one of these TCS, although it is atypical because associated with ZraP, a periplasmic protein. The presence of an accessory protein associated with ZraSR system shows that it is functionally homologous to the CpxPAR system, a sensor of a variety of envelope stress signals. In presence of zinc, Zra system is activated and allows the expression of zraP, zraS and zraR. The periplasmic protein ZraP and the response regulator ZraR have been studied but the activation of the membrane histidine kinase by zinc has not been studied yet. Indeed, studying of TCS sensors was focused on the understanding of the cytoplasmic domain and less on the periplasmic part.During my thesis, I tried to concentrate my study on the periplasmic domain of ZraS. We first tried to understand how the zinc is activating the Zra system but also how ZraP is regulating this activation. For that purpose, we characterized ZraS periplasmic domain and analyzed the effect of zinc binding on it. Hence, we also tried to identify all of ZraS residues that are coordinating the zinc. By combining in vitro and in vivo assays, we tried to determine ZraP role in the regulation of Zra system. This study could help for the understanding of the mechanisms important for the activation of bacterial stress response systems.