Sex dimorphism in the prevalence, onset, development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well recognized. Sex-specific differences in adaptation to cardiac pathological progressions such as cardiac hypertrophy (CH), and the extent to which they are attributable to sex hormones requires further delineation. The objective of this dissertation was to determine which cardiac vasoactive systems are responsible for sex-specific differences in CH modulation using the atrial natriuretic peptide gene-disrupted (ANP-/-) mouse model. First, sex-specific differences in the expression of the cardiac natriuretic peptide (NP) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) systems were evaluated. Next, the influence of 17β-Estradiol (E2) on the expression and signaling of the cardiac NP and NOS systems was determined in ovariectomized (OVX) female ANP+/+ and ANP-/- mice. Finally, sex-specific differences in cardiac adaptation to Angiotensin II (ANGII) pressure overload were elucidated in male and intact female ANP+/+ and ANP-/- mice. These studies revealed that males predominantly use the NP system and females predominantly use the NOS system. Sex-specific differences in the cardiac NOS system were further enhanced by E2 in OVX female ANP+/+ and ANP-/- mice. In the female ANP-/- mouse, E2 was found to signal through the NOS system to significantly increase plasma cGMP. Finally, male and female differences were demonstrated in the sex-specific patterns of cardiac vasoactive gene system expression and development of cardiac dysfunction in response to ANGII treatment. Sex dimorphism was observed in the expression of BNP and NPR-A in male and female ANP-/- mice treated with ANGII. Female ANP+/+ and ANP-/- ANGII-treated mice exhibited elevated E/E’ ratios that were not found to the same extent in genotype matched ANGII-treated male mice, demonstrating that female mice developed ANGII-mediated mild left ventricle diastolic dysfunction. Based on the results of this dissertation, we conclude that sex-specific differences do indeed exist in the cardiac adaptation to pathological stresses. These data support the understanding that a progression towards sex-specific CVD treatments is warranted, with a particular emphasis on the potential benefits of female-specific targeting of the cardiac NOS system. / Thesis (Ph.D, Anatomy & Cell Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-23 14:21:45.324

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

ATP synthase is a ubiquitous transmembrane protein that utilises the free energy available from ion gradients across lipid membranes to synthesise adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It may be separated into two parts - the membrane-embedded (i.e. hydrophobic) FO and the hydrophilic F₁. Each undergoes a rotary motion. Single-molecule studies on the rotation of the isolated hydrophilic F₁ have been performed for many years; attempts to construct an experiment in which to view the rotation of the membrane-embedded F₁F_O complex under high space- and time- resolution (such as by attachment of a rotational probe) have not yet seen a satisfactory method emerge in the literature. Most particularly, a clear ability to generate and control a proton-motive force across the membrane in which the F₁F_O is sited is needed to probe ATP synthesis. This thesis presents the development of a candidate method for such single-molecule studies. By the use of a water-in-oil emulsion, giant unilamellar lipid vesicles are formed which entrap arbitrary components - including functionalised gold nanospheres of 60-100 nm diameter, which move freely in the internal space. A charge-based lipid fusion is developed, using mixtures of natural lipid extracts with anionic and cationic lipids. It is demonstrated that anionic giant vesicles fuse with cationic small vesicles with full content mixing and transfer of bilayer leaflets. It is shown that F₁F_O is functional in the cationic lipid mixture. Methods are shown to bind such a cationic proteoliposome to a surface and for it to fuse with an anionic giant vesicle containing functionalised gold nanospheres. Backscatter laser darkfield is used to search for rotation of the gold nanospheres under ATP hydrolysis conditions of the F₁F_O; unidirectional rotation is seen in one instance and other suggestive traces are shown with speculative analysis. Further work is proposed.

Im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit stand die Rolle der endothelialen Stickstoff-Monoxid-Synthase (eNOS) für die Endothelaktivierung. Für diese Untersuchungen wurde die MLEC-Zellkulturtechnik (murine lung endothelial cells) und die Gegenüberstellung des Wiltyp- und eNOS-Knockout-Genotyps verwendet. Die MLEC-Kulturen wurden aus dem mikrovaskulären Stromgebiet der Lungen von C57Bl6-Wildtyp-Mäusen (WT) und von eNOS-Knockout-Mäusen (KO) angelegt und immunomagnetisch (Anti-CD102) zweifach selektioniert. Die Reinheit der Kulturen für Endothelzellen nach zwei Selektionen lag bei über 95%. WT-Endothelzellen produzieren eine basale Menge an Stickstoff-Monoxid (NO). Sie steigern ihre NO-Produktion nach Stimulation mit VEGF (vascular endothelium growth factor), mit dem Kalzium-Ionophor Ionomycin sowie unter Scherkraftexposition. Die eNOS-Proteinexpression erhöht sich dementsprechend nach 12 Stunden Scherkraftexposition. WT- und eNOS-KO-Endothelzellen unterscheiden sich unter basalen Bedingungen nicht in ihrer Oberflächenexpression der Adhäsionsmoleküle ICAM-1, E-Selektin, P-Selektin und VCAM-1. Nach Zytokin-Stimulation erhöhen beide Genotypen ihr Adhäsionsmolekülprofil in gleicher Weise. Sowohl WT- als auch eNOS-KO-Endothelzellen verfügen zudem über einen schnellen Mechanismus, der die Hochregulation der P-Selektin-Oberflächenexpression nach Stimulation mit Thrombin oder Menadion in gleicher Weise ermöglicht. Auf Stimulation mit Thrombin oder Menadion reagieren WT-Zellen mit einem signifikanten Anstieg der Produktion von freien Sauerstoff-Radikalen (ROS, rapid oxygen species). eNOS-KO-Zellen zeigen eine im Vergleich zum WT erhöhte basale ROS-Produktion. Diese lässt sich auch nach Stimulation nicht weiter steigern. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die MLEC-Zellkulturtechnik ein verlässliches Modell für Untersuchungen an Gefäßendothelzellen darstellt. eNOS-KO-Zellen exprimieren nicht automatisch mehr Adhäsionsmoleküle an der Zelloberfläche als WT-Zellen. Allerdings ist die basale Produktion von ROS in eNOS-KO-Zellen vermehrt. Folglich ist in diesem Modell eNOS nicht für die konstitutive Suppression der endothelialen Aktivierung verantwortlich. Der NO-Effekt kann nicht in einer direkten und kontinuierlichen Unterdrückung der endothelialen Oberflächenaktivierung liegen. Das Fehlen von NO führt vielmehr zu einer Verschiebung des Gleichgewichts zwischen dem Radikalfänger NO und O2- (Superoxid) zugunsten von O2-. Aufgrund dieses Ungleichgewichts ist die basale ROS-Produktion von eNOS-KO-Zellen vermutlich erhöht. Damit wird die Endothelzelle empfindlicher gegenüber zusätzlichem oxidativen Stress. Die eNOS-KO-Zellen können die höhere ROS-Belastung in den durchgeführten Untersuchungen kompensieren. Es ist aber denkbar, dass bei zusätzlichem oxidativen Stress ein erhöhtes Maß an O2- das Startsignal für die Abläufe der endothelialen Aktivierung darstellt. / The objective of this study was the role of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in endothelial activation. To do this we used MLEC cell cultures (murine lung endothelial cells) and the comparison between wildtype- and eNOS-knockout-genotype. MLECs were generated from microvascular lung tissue from C57Bl6-wildtype-mice (WT) and from eNOS-knockout-mice (KO) by immunomagnetic bead selection (anti-CD102). The endothelial cell cultures purity after twofold selection was > 95%. WT-endothelial cells produced a baseline amount of nitric oxide (NO). After stimulation with VEGF (vascular endothelium growth factor), with the calcium-ionophore ionomycin or after exposure to shear stress, WT-endothelial cells produced significantly higher amounts of NO. Simultaneously eNOS-protein expression was upregulated after 12 hours of shear stress exposure. Resting WT- and eNOS-KO-endothelial cells showed no difference in their surface expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, E-Selektin, P-Selektin- and VCAM-1. Stimulation with cytokines led to an equally strong increase of the adhesion molecule expression in both genotypes. WT- as well as eNOS-KO-endothelial cells show a rapid mechanism to upregulate the surface expression of P-Selektin in a similar way after stimulation with thrombin or menadione. WT-endothelial cells showed a significant increase in the generation of rapid oxygen species (ROS) following stimulation with thrombin or menadione. The baseline level of ROS generation in eNOS-KO-endothelial cells is higher than in WT-cells and cannot even be increased upon stimulation. The results show that the MLEC-cell culture technique is a valid model for experimental research in vascular endothelial cells. eNOS-KO-cells do not automatically express a higher amount of adhesion molecules on their surface. However the baseline generation of ROS in eNOS-KO-cells is increased. Therefore eNOS is not responsible for the constitutive suppression of endothelial activation in this model. eNOS-derived NO is not required for the direct and continuous suppression of endothelial surface activation. The absence of NO leads to an imbalance between the scavenger NO and O2- (superoxide) in favour of O2-. It is probably because of this imbalance that the baseline ROS-generation in eNOS-KO-cells is increased. This causes endothelial cells to be more sensitive to oxidative stress. In our experiments the eNOS-KO-cells can compensate for the higher baseline ROS-level. It is however conceivable that an increased level of O2- as an additive oxidative stress may lead to starting signals for endothelial activation.

Die Proliferation von in der Subgranulärzone des Gyrus dentatus ansässigen neuralen Stammzellen ist der erste Schritt der Neuentstehung von Nervenzellen im adulten Organismus, der so genannten adulten Neurogenese, die in bestimmten neurogenen Nischen des ZNS von Säugetieren und des Menschen vorkommt. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass das Enzym endotheliale Stickstoffmonoxidsynthase (NOS-III bzw. eNOS) bzw. durch NOS-III gebildetes Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) die Proliferation neuraler Stamm- bzw. Vorläuferzellen im Gyrus dentatus des Hippokampus positiv reguliert, da Mäuse, bei denen das Gen für dieses Enzym deletiert ist, über eine signifikant erniedrigte Stammzellproliferation verfügen. NOS-III-Knockout-Mäuse zeigen außerdem erhöhte Volumina von Substrukturen des Gyrus dentatus. Biometrische Faktoren, wie z. B. Alter, Geschlecht, Körpergewicht, Umgebungsbedingungen, hatten dagegen keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die adulte Neurogenese. Die Abnahme der adulten Neurogenese bei NOS-III-Knockout-Tieren ist fast vollständig auf die Reduktion der Stammzellproliferation in der Subgranulärzone des Gyrus dentatus zurückzuführen. Ein Netto-Zuwachs an neu gebildeten Neuronen 4 Wochen nach Proliferation kann jedoch durch NOS-III nicht bewirkt werden, was auf eine komplexe Regulation der adulten Neurogenese hinweist. Die Stammzellproliferation im adulten murinen Gyrus dentatus wird jedoch vermutlich unter anderem über im Endothel gebildetes NO (als gasförmiges, parakrines Signalmolekül) vermittelt. / The proliferation of neural stem cells residing in the subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus represents the first step in the formation of new neurons in the adult organism, the so-called adult neurogenesis that occurs in certain neurogenic niches of the mammalian as well as human CNS. The present work shows that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-III or eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) formed by NOS-III, respectively, positively regulate the proliferation of neural stem- or precursor cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus since NOS-III knockout mice (NOS III -/-) show significantly reduced stem cell proliferation. Moreover, NOS-III knockout mice exhibit increased volumina of dentate gyrus substructures. In contrast, biometric factors like age, gender, body mass and environmental conditions did not influence adult neurogenesis significantly. Mainly, the decrease of adult neurogenesis in NOS-III knockout animals is attributable to the reduction of stem cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. However, a net increase of new neurons 4 weeks after proliferation cannot be produced by NOS-III pointing to a complex regulation of adult neurogenesis. Yet, stem cell proliferation in the murine dentate gyrus is presumambly mediated inter alia by NO as a gaseous, paracrine molecule produced in the endothelium.

The principle product of each NOS is nitric oxide. However, under conditions of substrate and cofactor deficiency the enzymes directly catalyze superoxide formation. Considering this alternative chemistry of each NOS, the effects of each single enzyme on key events of atherosclerosis are difficult to predict. Here, we evaluate nitric oxide and superoxide production by all three NOS isoforms in atherosclerosis. ESR measurements of circulating and vascular wall nitric oxide production showed significantly reduced nitric oxide levels in apoE/eNOS double knockout (dko) and apoE/iNOS dko animals but not in apoE/nNOS dko animals suggesting that eNOS and iNOS majorly contribute to vascular nitric oxide production in atherosclerosis. Pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of eNOS and iNOS reduced vascular superoxide production suggesting that eNOS and iNOS are uncoupled in atherosclerotic vessels. Though genetic deletion of nNOS did not alter superoxide production, acute inhibition of nNOS showed that nNOS contributes significantly to superoxide production. In conclusion, uncoupling of eNOS occurs in apoE ko atherosclerosis but eNOS mediated superoxide production does not outweigh the protective effects of eNOS mediated nitric oxide production. We show that although nNOS is not a major contributor of the vascular nitric oxide formation, it prevents atherosclerosis development. Acute inhibition of nNOS showed a significant reduction of superoxide formation suggesting that nNOS is uncoupled. The exact mechanism of action of nNOS in atheroprotection is yet to be elucidated. Genetic deletion of iNOS reduced NADPH oxidase activity. Thus, iNOS has both direct and indirect proatherosclerotic effects, as it directly generates both nitric oxide and superoxide simultaneously resulting in peroxynitrite formation and indirectly modulates NADPH oxidase activity. We hypothesize that eNOS is coupled in the disease free regions of the vessel and contributes to nitric oxide generation whereas in the diseased region of the vessel it is uncoupled to produce superoxide (Figure 16). nNOS expressed in the smooth muscle cells of the plaque contributes to the local superoxide generation. iNOS expressed in smooth muscle cells and leukocytes of the plaque generates superoxide and nitric oxide simultaneously to produce the strong oxidant peroxynitrite. / Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) ist das prinzipielle Produkt aller Stickstoffmonoxid-Synthasen (NOS). Im Falle eines Mangels an Substrat (L-arginin) und Kofaktoren (Tetrahydrobiopterin, BH4) katalysieren die NOS-Enzyme direkt Superoxid (O2-). Diese Veränderung in der Radikalproduktion wird auch als Entkopplung der NOS bezeichnet. Die alternative Produktion von NO oder O2- durch die NOS bedingen, dass eine Voraussage über die Schlüsselfunktion der einzelnen Enzyme in der Entstehung der Atherosklerose schwierig ist. In unserer Studie evaluieren wir die Produktion von NO sowie O2- in atherosklerotischen Läsionen von apoE ko Mäusen und apoE/NOS doppel knockout (dko) Mäusen denen jeweils eine NOS-Isoform fehlt. Elektronen Spin Resonanz (ESR) Messungen konnten eine signifikante Reduktion sowohl des zirkulierenden, als auch der Gefäßwand eigenen Produktion von NO in apoE/eNOS dko und apoE/iNOS dko Mäusen zeigen, nicht jedoch in apoE/nNOS dko Mäusen. Dies lässt darauf schließen, dass eNOS und iNOS den hauptsächlichen Anteil der vaskulären NO-Produktion in atherosklerotischen Läsionen bewerkstelligen. Die pharmakologische Inhibierung wie auch die genetische Deletion von eNOS und iNOS führten ebenfalls zu einer reduzierten vaskulären O2- produktion, was die partielle Entkopplung beider Enzyme in atherosklerotisch veränderten Gefäßen nahe legt. Obwohl die chronische genetische Deletion von nNOS in apoE/nNOS dko die O2- Produktion nicht verändert, zeigte sich bei der akuten pharmakologischen Inhibierung von nNOS (durch L-NAANG) eine maßgebliche Beteiligung von nNOS an der O2- produktion in apoE ko Mäusen. Schlussfolgernd lässt sich sagen, dass in atherosklerotischen Gefäßen von apoE ko Tieren eine Entkopplung von eNOS statt findet, diese jedoch zu keinem Ausgleich der protektiven Effekte der eNOS vermittelten NO-Produktion führt. Unsere Ergebnisse in apoE/nNOS dko Mäusen zeigen eine atheroprotektive Rolle der nNOS, die sich nicht allein durch eine lokale, vaskuläre NO-Produktion durch das Enzym erklären lässt. Wir postulieren weitere systemisch atheroprotektive Eigenschaften der nNOS. Die signifikante Reduktion der Superoxidproduktion durch eine akute Inhibierung der nNOS weist auf eine Entkopplung der nNOS hin. Der exakte Wirkungsmechansimus von nNOS in der Atheroskleroseprävention ist weiterhin noch zu eruieren. Die genetische Deletion von iNOS führt zu einer reduzierten Aktivität der NADPH-Oxidase. Demnach sind für iNOS direkte sowie indirekte atherosklerosefördernde Effekte anzunehmen, da sie auf direktem Wege gleichzeitig NO und O2- produziert, was in einer Peroxynitritbildung resultiert. Wir stellen die Hypothese auf, dass eNOS in den läsionsfreien Gefäßregionen gekoppelt ist und dort seine atheroprotektiven Effekte durch die NO-Produktion vermittelt, während die eNOS in atherosklerotischen Läsionen entkoppelt vorliegt und hier O2- produziert (Fig. 16). iNOS, welches vor allem in den Plaques, in glatten Muskelzellen und Leukozyten zu finden ist, produziert gleichzeitig hohe Konzentrationen von O2- und NO, die als gemeinsames Endprodukt das stark oxidierende Peroxynitrit ergeben und die von uns dokumentierte proatherosklerotische Wirkung der iNOS vermittelt.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis and responsible for more than eight million new infections and about two million deaths each year. Novel chemotherapeutics are urgently needed to treat the emerging threat of multi drug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains. Cell wall biosynthesis is a widely used target for chemotherapeutic intervention in bacterial infections. In mycobacteria, the cell wall is comprised of mycolic acids, very long chain fatty acids that provide protection and allow the bacteria to persist in the human macrophage. The type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis synthesizes fatty acids with a length of up to 56 carbon atoms that are the precursors of the critical mycobacterial cell wall components mycolic acids. KasA, the mycobacterial ß-ketoacyl synthase and InhA, the mycobacterial enoyl reductase, are essential enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway and validated drug targets. In this work, KasA was expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis, purified and co-crystallized in complex with the natural thiolactone antibiotic thiolactomycin (TLM). High-resolution crystal structures of KasA and the C171Q KasA variant, which mimics the acyl enzyme intermediate of the enzyme, were solved in absence and presence of bound TLM. The crystal structures reveal how the inhibitor is coordinated by the enzyme and thus specifically pinpoint towards possible modifications to increase the affinity of the compound and develop potent new drugs against tuberculosis. Comparisons between the TLM bound crystal structures explain the preferential binding of TLM to the acylated form of KasA. Furthermore, long polyethylene glycol molecules are bound to KasA that mimic a fatty acid substrate of approximately 40 carbon atoms length. These structures thus provide the first insights into the molecular mechanism of substrate recognition and reveal how a wax-like substance can be accommodated in a cytosolic environment. InhA was purified and co-crystallized in complex with the slow, tight binding inhibitor 2-(o-tolyloxy)-5-hexylphenol (PT70). Two crystal structures of the ternary InhA-NAD+-PT70 were solved and reveal how the inhibitor is bound to the substrate binding pocket. Both structures display an ordered substrate binding loop and corroborate the hypothesis that slow onset inhibition is coupled to loop ordering. Upon loop ordering, the active site entrance is more restricted and the inhibitor is kept inside more tightly. These studies provide additional information on the mechanistic imperatives for slow onset inhibition of enoyl ACP reductases. / Mycobacterium tuberculosis, der Erreger der Tuberkulose ist für mehr als acht Millionen Neu-Infektionen und ungefähr zwei Millionen Todesfälle jedes Jahr verantwortlich. Besonders die Entwicklung von multiresistenten und extrem resistenten Stämmen macht die Entwicklung neuer Medikamente gegen Tuberkulose dringend erforderlich. Die Zellwandbiosynthese ist ein validiertes Ziel für die Chemotherapie bei bakteriellen Infektionen. Bei Mycobakterien besteht die Zellwand zum Großteil aus Mykolsäuren, sehr langkettigen Fettsäuren, die den Bakterien Schutz bieten und ihnen ermöglichen, in Makrophagen zu überleben. Mycobakterien synthetisieren in der Fettsäurebiosynthese II (FAS-II) Fettsäuren bis zu einer Länge von 56 Kohlenstoffatomen, die Bestandteile der Mykolsäuren sind. KasA, die mycobakterielle ß-ketoacyl Synthase und InhA, die mycobakterielle enoyl Reductase, sind essentielle Enzyme der FAS-II und geeignete Ziele für die Entwicklung neuer Antibiotika. In dieser Arbeit wurde KasA in Mycobacterium smegmatis exprimiert und aufgereinigt. Das Protein wurde im Komplex mit dem natürlich vorkommenden Thiolacton-Antibiotikum Thiolactomycin (TLM) co-kristallisiert. Kristallstrukturen von KasA und der C171Q KasA Variante, die das acylierte Enzym-Intermediat darstellt, wurden als apo-Strukturen und im Komplex mit gebundenem TLM aufgeklärt. Die Kristallstrukturen zeigen, wie der Inhibitor an das Enzym gebunden ist und deuten darauf hin, wie das TLM Molekül verändert werden könnte, um seine Affinität für das Protein zu erhöhen und damit ein wirksames Medikament gegen Tuberkulose zu entwickeln. Vergleiche zwischen den TLM gebundenen Kristallstrukturen erklären, warum TLM bevorzugt an die acylierte Form des Enzyms bindet. Des Weiteren sind lange Polyethylenglykol-Moleküle an KasA gebunden, die ein Fettsäuresubstrat einer Länge von etwa 40 Kohlenstoff-Atomen nachahmen. Die Strukturen geben damit zum ersten Mal einen Einblick in den molekularen Mechanismus der Substrat-Erkennung und zeigen, wie eine wachsartige Substanz in einem cytosolischen Umfeld aufgenommen werden kann. InhA wurde aufgereinigt und im Komplex mit dem „slow binding“ Inhibitor 2-(o-tolyloxy)-5-hexylphenol (PT70) co-kristallisiert. Zwei Kristallstrukturen des ternären InhA-NAD+-PT70 Komplexes wurden gelöst und zeigen wie der Inhibitor in der Substratbindetasche gebunden ist. Beide Strukturen, weisen geordnete Substrat-Binde-Loops auf, die den Eingang zur „Active Site“ schließen und damit den gebundenen Inhibitor in der Tasche festhalten. Die Strukturen bestätigen damit die Hypothese, dass „Slow Binding Inhibition“ mit der Ordnung des Loops zusammenhängt. Diese Studien können als Basis für die Entwicklung weiterer „Slow Binding“ Inhibitoren verwendet werden.

Em Escherichia coli a formação e incorporação do aminoácido selenocisteína é um evento cotraducional dirigido pelo códon de terminação UGA e deve se a uma complexa via de biosíntese cujas principais proteínas envolvidas são: Selenocisteína sintase (SELA), Fator de elongação de selenocisteína (SELB), Selenofosfato sintetase (SELD), Seril-tRNAser sintetase, um tRNA de inserção de selenocisteína (tRNAsec ou SELC) e uma sequência específica no RNA mensageiro, denominada de Sequência de inserção de selenocisteína (SECIS). A incorporação de selenocisteína em proteínas bacterianas inicia-se com a aminoacilação do tRNAsec com serina pela enzima Seril-tRNA sintetase formando seril-tRNAsec que é posteriormente convertido a selenocisteil-tRNAsec pela enzima SELA através de selenofosfato. Dessa forma, o trabalho teve seu foco estabelecido na realização de estudos bioquímicos e biofísicos da proteína SELA e na análise da interação dessa proteína com o ligante SELC para determinação de parâmetros de ligação envolvidos na formação desse complexo. O gene codificante para a proteína SELA foi subclonado, expresso em linhagem bacteriana WL81460(DE3) e a proteína SELA foi purificada como descrito na literatura; entretanto, uma nova metodologia para sua purificação foi desenvolvida proporcionando maior rapidez e rendimento. Estudos de filtração em gel, eletroforese nativa, focalização isoelétrica, dicroísmo circular, espectroscopia de fluorescência intrínseca e crosslinking químico proporcionaram uma melhor caracterização da proteína SELA e consequentemente uma maior compreensão de seu comportamento em solução. Ensaios de espectroscopia de anisotropia de fluorescência revelaram que a proteína SELA é capaz de se associar em estruturas superiores ao estado decamérico; essa análise pôde ser corroborada principalmente por dados de microscopia eletrônica empregando a técnica de negative staining. A metodologia de anisotropia de fluorescência também permitiu analisar a interação da macromolécula SELA com o ligante específico SELC, bem como com outros tRNAs mutantes possibilitando a realização de um mapeamento das regiões de SELC importantes para a interação. Além disso, essa técnica também foi satisfatoriamente empregada na determinação da estequiometria de ligação do complexo SELA-SELC revelando a proporção de 1 molécula de SELA para 10 tRNAs, o que contraria dados literários publicados em 1991 e 1992. / The formation and incorporation of the amino acid selenocysteine in Escherichia coli is an event directed by cotraducional UGA codon and involves a complex biosynthesis pathway whose main proteins are: Selenocysteine synthase (SELA), elongation factor of selenocysteine (SELB), Selenophosphate synthetase (SELD), Seryl-tRNA synthetase, a selenocysteine tRNA (tRNAsec or SELC) and a specific sequence on the messenger RNA, called Selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS). The incorporation of selenocysteine in proteins of bacteria begins with the tRNAsec aminoacylation with serine by the enzyme Seryl-tRNA synthetase resulting in seryl-tRNAsec which is subsequently converted to selenocysteyl-tRNAsec by the enzyme Selenocysteine synthase (SELA). The selenium used in the conversion reaction is provided by Selenophosphate synthetase as selenophosphate and finally, the selenocysteyl-tRNAsec is delivered by the factor SELB to the ribosome. The present study focused on biochemical and biophysical studies of SELA protein and analysis of its interaction with the specific ligand (SELC) for determination of binding parameters involved in the formation of the complex. The gene coding for SELA protein was subcloned, expressed in WL81460(DE3) bacterial strain and the protein was purified as described in the literature; however a new, faster and more efficient method for its purification was developed. Studies of gel filtration, native gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy and chemical crosslinking provided a better characterization of SELA protein and a greater understanding of its behavior in solution. Analysis of fluorescence anisotropy spectroscopy revealed that SELA was able to associate in a supramolecular state. This analysis was mainly corroborated by data from electron microscopy employing negative staining technique. Fluorescence anisotropy methodology allowed us to analyse the interaction of SELA protein with the specific ligand SELC, as well as with others mutated tRNAs enabling a mapping of important regions in SELC for interaction. In addition, fluorescence anisotropy technique was also successfully used in determining the stoichiometry ratio of the complex SELA-SELC, showing a proportion of 1 molecule of SELA to 10 tRNAs, contraring to the literary data published in 1991 and 1992.

The opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus has emerged as one of the most common fungal human pathogens, causing severe and usually fatal systemic infections that account for more than 200,000 cases annually with mortality rates usually exceeding 50%. During infection, the virulence of A. fumigatus highly depends on its capacity to rapidly respond to external stress encounters in the human niche, such as the host immunological response and the activity of antifungal drugs. The echinocandin, caspofungin, is one of most commonly used antifungal drugs to treat intolerant or refractive patients suffering from invasive aspergillosis. Caspofungin disrupts the catalytic subunit of the β-1,3-glucan synthase complex, Fks1, resulting in the reduced production of the main cell wall component of A. fumigatus, the polysaccharide β-1,3-glucan. Despite its clinical relevance in patients with aspergillosis, caspofungin displays attenuated activity at high concentrations, a phenomenon known as ‘the paradoxical effect’. Little is known about the paradoxical growth of A. fumigatus during caspofungin treatment. Therefore, in this thesis, I investigated the key cellular and molecular responses of A. fumigatus upon caspofungin treatment, particularly during paradoxical growth by live-cell imaging. High-resolution confocal live-cell microscopy revealed that treatment with either low (0.5 µg/ml) or high (4 µg/ml) concentrations of caspofungin for 36 h caused similar abnormalities in A. fumigatus, including wider, hyperbranched hyphae, increased septation and repeated hyphal tip lysis. Regenerative intrahyphal growth occurred as a rapid adaptation to the lytic effects of caspofungin on hyphal tips and the dynamic relocation of Fks1 to vacuoles was a key feature observed in response to caspofungin treatment. The reduced amount of β-1,3-glucan resulting from caspofungin treatment was compensated by increased α-1,3-glucan and chitin content in mature hyphal tips. Interestingly, all lysed cells recovered by regenerative intrahyphal growth. However, after 48 h treatment, only cells exposed to high caspofungin concentrations developed paradoxical growth in leading hyphae. This response was associated with a relocalization of Fks1 at hyphal tips. Consistently, cells undergoing paradoxical growth showed normal morphology and ceased to undergo cell lysis, as well as having a normal content of β-1,3-glucan and α-1,3-glucan but not chitin, which remained high. Notably, the localization of the regulatory subunit of the β-1,3-glucan synthase complex, Rho1, was unaffected by caspofungin, but it was required for the development of paradoxical growth. Interestingly, the gene expression of the β-1,3-glucan synthase complex was downregulated by caspofungin treatment. In addition, caspofungin activity induced the nuclear translocation of the Ca+2 regulated transcription factor CrzA to nuclei and only hyphal tip cells in which this translocation occurred underwent cell lysis. Finally, similarly high concentrations of caspofungin also induced paradoxical growth of Aspergillus fumigatus during human A549 alveolar cell invasion. This thesis outlines several critical adaptations that occur at the cellular, subcellular and molecular levels at different times during exposure to high and low concentration of caspofungin.

Philip Y.P. Jen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-111). / 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.