O emprego de novas tecnologias, como a transgenia, associadas ao melhoramento convencional de cana-de-açúcar apresenta grande potencial no combate a pragas e desenvolvimento de novas variedades. Entretanto, a falta de especificidade na expressão temporal e/ou local dos genes introduzidos tem se mostrado um fator limitante para o sucesso de produtos derivados da transgenia. Os promotores das metalotioneínas, por exemplo, podem representar uma alternativa ao uso de promotores constitutivos, particularmente, aqueles de metalotioneínas do tipo 1 (MT1) por apresentarem níveis elevados de expressão, em diferentes tecidos/órgãos e serem responsivos a estresses bióticos e abióticos. O uso de promotores sintéticos, contendo apenas elementos-cis, como GCG-like, W boxes e JERE, tem sido relevante por induzirem a expressão gênica local em resposta ao ataque de agentes bióticos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização funcional de promotores de genes de metalotioneínas de cana-de-açúcar e o uso de elementos regulatórios sintéticos e, em paralelo, avaliou-se o uso de promotores sintéticos no controle da expressão gênica em cana-de-açúcar. Após as análises de expressão transiente, verificou-se que o promotor SoMT1b apresentou atividade GUS e GFP em epitélios de cebola e os promotores sintéticos, 4X Wbox, 4X GCC-like, 4X JERE e 4xW 4xS-box, e o promotor SoMT1b foram capazes de dirigir a expressão do gene repórter uidA (GUS) em calos embriogênicos de cana-de-açúcar. Em análise de expressão estável, o promotor SoMT1b foi capaz de dirigir a expressão do gene GUS para os frutos e sementes de tomate \'Micro-Tom\', mas não foi responsivo a estresse por herbivoria, cádmio e cobre. Também foi realizada a transformação de plantas de cana-de-açúcar, as quais ainda estão sendo analisadas. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a funcionalidade do promotor SoMT1b / New technologies, like genetic transformation, associated with conventional breeding of sugarcane have a large potential in developing new varieties tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress. However, the lack of specificity in the spatial and/or temporal expression of the introduced genes has been a limited factor for the success of products derived from transgeny. Metallothionein promoters, for instance, can represent an alternative to the use of constitutive promoters, particularly those from metallothionein type 1 (MT1) because they present high expression levels in different tissues / organs and are responsive to biotic and abiotic stress. Another alternative is the use of synthetic promoters which contain only cis elements, as GCG-like, W-box and JERE, which induces local gene expression in response to pathogen attack. In this work, we aimed to make the functional characterization of sugarcane metallothionein promoters and synthetic regulatory elements, in parallel, we evaluated the use of synthetic promoters in the control of gene expression in sugarcane. After transient expression analyzis, it was found that SoMT1b promoter was able to control the expression of the reporter genes to GUS and GFP in onion epithelium and GUS in sugarcane embryogenic calli. Additionally, synthetic promoters 4X Wbox, 4X GCC-like, 4X JERE and 4xW 4xS-box were able to direct the expression of the gene uidA (GUS) in embryogenic calli of sugarcane. In stable transformation analysis, SoMT1b promoter was capable of directing uidA expression in fruits and seeds of tomato cv. \'Micro-Tom\', but it was not responsive to herbivory, cadmium and copper stress. It was also carried out the transformation of sugarcane plants with the construction containing the SoMT1b promoter, but these are still being analyzed. The results demonstrate the functionality of the SoMT1b promoter in sugarcane and tomato

Les furocoumarines sont des métabolites secondaires qui dérivent de la voie de biosynthèse des phénylpropanoïdes. Ces phytoalexines interviennent notamment dans les mécanismes de défense des plantes tels que la résistance aux bioagresseurs. Le déterminisme moléculaire de cette voie de biosynthèse est encore mal connu mais il a néanmoins été démontré depuis les années 1960 que les enzymes catalysant les différentes étapes de la voie la synthèse des furocoumarines appartenaient à différentes familles. Les travaux présentés dans ce document se sont focalisés sur deux familles d'enzymes : les dioxygenases oxoglutarate dépendantes et les cytochromes P450s. La première étape de la voie de biosynthèse des furocoumarines consiste en une ortho-hydroxylation du p-coumarate qui mène à la formation de l'umbelliférone. Basé sur des travaux récents sur Arabidopsis, six gènes codants pour des dioxygénases ont été isolés chez Ruta graveolens, Citrus limetta et Pastinaca sativa. Les protéines correspondantes présentent plus de 58% d'identité avec la Féruloyle 6' Hydroxylase (F6'H) d'A. thaliana. La caractérisation fonctionnelle de ces enzymes a été réalisée dans un système d'expression hétérologue procaryote. Sur les 6 enzymes, trois n'ont pu être exprimée efficacement, et deux présentent une activité F6'H similaire à celle décrite pour A. thaliana. La dernière enzyme dispose de caractéristiques nouvelles non décrites à ce jour. Elle est en mesure de réaliser l'hydroxylation du féruloyle coA et du p-coumaroyle coA. Ces études in vitro ont été complétées par une exploration des fonctions de la protéine dans la plante. Une analyse fine du profil d'expression du gène a permis de mettre en évidence une expression qui est en corrélation avec le niveau de production d'umbelliférone. La fonction de la protéine a également été validée par une analyse des produits formés dans des feuilles de Nicotiana benthamiana transformées transitoirement. Les cytochromes P450 catalysent 60% des réactions de la voie de biosynthèse de furocoumarines. Un travail de criblage fonctionnel de cytochromes P450 identifiés au préalable chez Ammi majus et Thapsia garganica a été entrepris. Les analyses de bio-informatiques et les modifications apportées au niveau du mode opératoire pour l'expression dans la levure ont permis d'émettre des hypothèses concernant le rôle de certains P450 candidats. Ces travaux exploratoires et préliminaires font supposer de nouvelles conjectures relatives à cette voie de biosynthèse / Furanocoumarins are secondary metabolites deriving from the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. These phytoalexins are especially involved in plant defense mechanisms against insects or phytopatogenous fungi and bacteria. The molecular control of this biosynthetic pathway is still poorly understood even though it has been demonstrated since the 1960s that enzymes catalyzing the different steps are belonging to different enzymatic families. The work presented here is focused on two enzyme families: oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases and cytochrome P450s. The first step in the furanocoumarins biosynthetic pathway is the ortho-hydroxylation of p-coumarate, which leads to the formation of umbelliferone. Based on a recent work done on Arabidopsis, we isolated six genes encoding dioxygenases from Ruta graveolens, Citrus limetta and Pastinaca sativa. The corresponding proteins share more than 58% identity with the A. thaliana féruloyle 6' Hydroxylase (F6'H). The functional characterization of these enzymes was performed in a prokaryotic heterologous expression system. Of the six enzymes, three could not be functionnaly expressed and two exhibited a similar F6'H activity as described for A. thaliana. The last enzyme has new properties not described to date. It is able to achieve both hydroxylation of féruloyle CoA and p-coumaroyle CoA. These in vitro studies were completed by a functional exploration of the protein in planta. A detailed analysis of the gene expression pattern highlighted a link with the level of umbelliferone synthesis. The function of the protein was also confirmed by an analysis of the products formed in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Cytochrome P450s catalyze 60% of the reactions of the furanocoumarin biosynthetic pathway. Therefore, a functional screening of cytochrome P450 previously identified in Ammi majus and Thapsia garganica was undertaken. The bioinformatic analyses and the changes undertaken in the procedure for expression in yeast allowed drawing hypotheses on the function of some of these P450 candidates. These exploratory and preliminary experiments allowed suggesting new hypotheses about the biosynthetic pathway

O emprego de novas tecnologias, como a transgenia, associadas ao melhoramento convencional de cana-de-açúcar apresenta grande potencial no combate a pragas e desenvolvimento de novas variedades. Entretanto, a falta de especificidade na expressão temporal e/ou local dos genes introduzidos tem se mostrado um fator limitante para o sucesso de produtos derivados da transgenia. Os promotores das metalotioneínas, por exemplo, podem representar uma alternativa ao uso de promotores constitutivos, particularmente, aqueles de metalotioneínas do tipo 1 (MT1) por apresentarem níveis elevados de expressão, em diferentes tecidos/órgãos e serem responsivos a estresses bióticos e abióticos. O uso de promotores sintéticos, contendo apenas elementos-cis, como GCG-like, W boxes e JERE, tem sido relevante por induzirem a expressão gênica local em resposta ao ataque de agentes bióticos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização funcional de promotores de genes de metalotioneínas de cana-de-açúcar e o uso de elementos regulatórios sintéticos e, em paralelo, avaliou-se o uso de promotores sintéticos no controle da expressão gênica em cana-de-açúcar. Após as análises de expressão transiente, verificou-se que o promotor SoMT1b apresentou atividade GUS e GFP em epitélios de cebola e os promotores sintéticos, 4X Wbox, 4X GCC-like, 4X JERE e 4xW 4xS-box, e o promotor SoMT1b foram capazes de dirigir a expressão do gene repórter uidA (GUS) em calos embriogênicos de cana-de-açúcar. Em análise de expressão estável, o promotor SoMT1b foi capaz de dirigir a expressão do gene GUS para os frutos e sementes de tomate \'Micro-Tom\', mas não foi responsivo a estresse por herbivoria, cádmio e cobre. Também foi realizada a transformação de plantas de cana-de-açúcar, as quais ainda estão sendo analisadas. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a funcionalidade do promotor SoMT1b / New technologies, like genetic transformation, associated with conventional breeding of sugarcane have a large potential in developing new varieties tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress. However, the lack of specificity in the spatial and/or temporal expression of the introduced genes has been a limited factor for the success of products derived from transgeny. Metallothionein promoters, for instance, can represent an alternative to the use of constitutive promoters, particularly those from metallothionein type 1 (MT1) because they present high expression levels in different tissues / organs and are responsive to biotic and abiotic stress. Another alternative is the use of synthetic promoters which contain only cis elements, as GCG-like, W-box and JERE, which induces local gene expression in response to pathogen attack. In this work, we aimed to make the functional characterization of sugarcane metallothionein promoters and synthetic regulatory elements, in parallel, we evaluated the use of synthetic promoters in the control of gene expression in sugarcane. After transient expression analyzis, it was found that SoMT1b promoter was able to control the expression of the reporter genes to GUS and GFP in onion epithelium and GUS in sugarcane embryogenic calli. Additionally, synthetic promoters 4X Wbox, 4X GCC-like, 4X JERE and 4xW 4xS-box were able to direct the expression of the gene uidA (GUS) in embryogenic calli of sugarcane. In stable transformation analysis, SoMT1b promoter was capable of directing uidA expression in fruits and seeds of tomato cv. \'Micro-Tom\', but it was not responsive to herbivory, cadmium and copper stress. It was also carried out the transformation of sugarcane plants with the construction containing the SoMT1b promoter, but these are still being analyzed. The results demonstrate the functionality of the SoMT1b promoter in sugarcane and tomato

5 Abstract Even though prophylactic vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently licensed, infections by the virus continue to be the major health problem mainly in developing countries. Considerable effort is being devoted to preparation of therapeutic vaccine and to decrease of the production costs of current vaccine. Viral proteins such as the E7 oncoprotein and the L2 capsid protein from HPV type 16 are promising targets for the development of the experimental anti-HPV vaccine. The aim of our work was optimization of expression of mutagenized E7 oncoprotein (E7ggg) fused to the C-terminus of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) or Potato virus X (PVX) CP in viral vectors derived from these plant viruses. The impact of linkers connecting CP and E7ggg fusion partners on expression and stability of fusion proteins was examined. The fusion proteins were first expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) MC1061 to assess the characteristics of the recombinant protein prior to their transient expression in both non-transgenic or transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana (N. benthamiana). We have obtained the high level expression in E. coli, but most of the expressed proteins based on TMV CP remained in insoluble inclusion bodies. To increase the ratio of soluble protein various molecular...

The major obstacle many promising drugs struggle to overcome is the barrier imposed by the outer cell membrane. In addition to technologies such as liposomes and cell-penetrating peptides, more attention is being given to the class of proteins known as lectins to deliver therapeutic and antigenic proteins to the interiors of cells. Lectins bind to but do not modify sugars, and provide an efficient route to endocytosis. The galactose/N-acetyl-galactosamine specific lectin ricin B-chain (RTB) is especially attractive in possibly fulfilling a carrier role due to its well-characterized endocytotic trafficking and its efficacy over a wide range of cell types. By producing RTB recombinantly in plants it is possible to create a fully active, non-toxic carrier that does not rely on the processing of large amounts of toxic material (e.g. castor bean). Payload molecules such as small molecules and proteins can be attached to RTB via chemical conjugation at primary amine groups, without the loss of lectin or uptake activities. The biotin/streptavidin interaction and direct genetic fusion of polypeptides also provide efficient mechanisms for the attachment of payload proteins to RTB. An immunoglobulin domain-based scaffolding mechanism bridges modified RTB and payload proteins when co-expressed in Agrobacterium-infiltrated plant leaves. Carrier and payload proteins expressed in plants and E. coli, respectively, and purified independently are not able to assemble into an efficient carrier/payload arrangement. These findings show that plant cells are able to correctly produce the two components of the carrier/payload system and assemble them into an efficient and flexible capture and carry technology. / Ph. D.

Para que el proceso infeccioso de un virus de plantas tenga éxito la progenie viral tiene que propagarse desde las primeras células infectadas al resto de la planta; inicialmente se moverá célula a célula a través de los plasmodesmos (PDs) hasta alcanzar el sistema vascular, lo cual le permitirá invadir las partes distales de la planta. En este proceso, las proteínas de movimiento (MPs), junto con la colaboración de otros actores secundarios, desempeñan un papel relevante. El conocimiento de la posible asociación de las MPs con estructuras u orgánulos celulares así como de la interacción con factores del huésped es de vital importancia para poder desarrollar estrategias antivirales que permitan una mejora en la producción de los cultivos. Además, este tipo de estudios no sólo han posibilitado un mayor conocimiento de las respuestas al estrés en plantas sino que han sido pioneros en desentrañar los mecanismos de translocación intercelular de factores celulares implicados en los procesos de desarrollo de las plantas. Las MPs virales se clasifican en familias/grupos en función de su grado de similitud. Los virus, cuyas MPs pertenecen a la Superfamilia 30K, expresan una única MP encargada de orquestar el movimiento intra- e intercelular de genoma viral. En el Capítulo 1 de la presente Tesis se ha caracterizado la asociación de la MP del Virus del mosaico del tabaco (TMV), miembro tipo de la familia 30K, al sistema de endomembranas. Mediante el uso de aproximaciones in vivo se ha estudiado la eficiencia de inserción de sus regiones hidrofóbicas (HRs) en la membrana del retículo endoplasmático (ER). Nuestros resultados demuestran que ninguna de las dos HRs de la MP es capaz de atravesar las membranas biológicas y que la alteración de la hidrofobicidad de la primera HR es suficiente para modificar su asociación a la membrana. En base a los resultados obtenidos, proponemos un modelo topológico en el cual la MP del TMV se encontraría fuertemente asociada a la cara citosólica de la membrana del ER, sin llegar a atravesarla. La observación de que i), el modelo propuesto es compatible con otros motivos, previamente caracterizados, de la MP de TMV y ii), concuerda con la topología descrita para otras MPs de la familia 30K, permite cuestionar el modelo establecido desde el año 2000 para la MP de TMV así como predecir, en base a la conservada estructura secundaria de las MPs de esta familia, una topología similar para todos sus componentes. Para el transporte intercelular de los virus de plantas se han descrito tres modelos en base a la capacidad de transportar complejos ribonucloeprotéicos, a través de PD modificados, formados por el RNA viral y la MP (ej. MP de TMV) más la proteína de cubierta (ej. MP del virus del mosaico del pepino, CMV) o la capacidad de transportar viriones a través estructuras tubulares formadas por la MP (ej. MP del Virus del mosaico del caupí, CPMV). A pesar de las diferencias observadas entre los tres modelos, las MPs representativas de cada uno de ellos pertenecen a la misma familia 30K y son funcionalmente intercambiables (MPs de TMV, CMV, CPMV, Virus del mosaico del Bromo -BMV- o Virus de los anillos necróticos de los prunus -PNRSV-) por la MP del Virus del mosaico de la alfalfa (AMV), para el transporte a corta distancia. Con el objeto de comprender la versatilidad que presentan las MPs en cuanto al movimiento viral, hemos analizado la capacidad de estas MPs heterólogas de transportar sistémicamente el genoma quimérico del AMV. El estudio ha revelado que todas las MPs analizadas permiten el transporte del genoma quimera a las partes distales de la planta, independientemente del modelo descrito para el transporte a corta distancia, aunque requieren la extensión de los 44 aminoácidos C-terminales de la MP del AMV. Además, para todas las ellas, excepto para la MP del TMV, se ha establecido una relación entre la capacidad de movimiento local y la presencia del virus en las hojas no inoculadas de la planta, indicando la existencia de un umbral de transporte célula a célula, por debajo del cual, el virus es incapaz de invadir sistémicamente la planta. Durante el proceso de infección viral, las MPs interaccionan tanto con otras proteínas de origen viral como de la planta huésped. La interacción entre las MPs y dichos factores de la planta afectan a la patogénesis viral, facilitando u obstaculizando el movimiento intra- o intercelular del virus. En el Capítulo 3 del presente trabajo hemos demostrado la interacción entre la MP del AMV y dos miembros de la familia de Patellinas de arabidopsis, Patellin 3 (atPATL3) y Patellin 6 (atPATL6), mediante el sistema de los dos híbridos de levadura y ensayos de reconstitución bimolecular de la fluorescencia. Nuestros resultados, en general, demuestran que la interacción entre la MP-PATLs obstaculizaría un correcto direccionamiento de la MP al PD, dando lugar a un movimiento intracelular menos eficiente de los complejos virales, que forma la MP, y disminuyendo el movimiento célula a célula del virus. Podríamos estar hablando de un posible mecanismo de defensa de la planta, dirigido a evitar la invasión sistémica del huésped. En este sentido, las MPs virales pueden ser buenos candidatos para el desarrollo de estrategias antivirales dado que cualquier respuesta de defensa de la planta que, a priori, reduzca el transporte célula a célula del virus, puede representar la diferencia entre una infección local o sistémica, como hemos observado en el Capítulo 2 del presente trabajo. Los virus, a su vez, también son capaces de evolucionar hacia variantes más eficaces, que permitan superar las diferentes barreras defensivas de la planta huésped. En este contexto hemos identificado a la MP del Virus del bronceado del tomate (TSWV) como determinante de avirulencia en la resistencia mediada por el gen Sw-5. Del mismo modo, comprobamos que el cambio de 1-2 residuos de amino ácidos de la MP de TSWV fue suficiente para superar la resistencia pero que a la vez, y posiblemente debido a las altas restricciones que conlleva el reducido genoma de un virus, afectaron a la eficiencia de la MP. / Peiró Morell, A. (2014). Proteínas de movimiento de la familia 30K:interacción con membranas biológicas y factores proteicos y su implicación en el transporte viral [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/48471 / TESIS

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is perhaps the largest protein complex in the eukaryotic cell, and controls the movement of molecules across the nuclear envelope. The NPC is composed of up to 30 proteins termed nucleoporins (Nups), each grouped in different sub-complexes. The transmembrane ring sub-complex is composed of Nups responsible for anchoring the NPC to the nuclear envelope. Bioinformatic analysis has traced all major sub-complexes of the NPC back to the last eukaryotic common ancestor, meaning that the nuclear pore structure and function is conserved amongst all eukaryotes. In this study Arabidopsis T-DNA knockout lines for these genes were investigated to characterise gene function. Differences in plant growth and development were observed for the ndc1 knockout line compared to wild-type but gp210 plants showed no phenotypic differences. The double knockout line gp210 ndc1 was generated through crosses to observe plant response to the knockout of two anchoring-Nup genes. No synergistic affect from this double knockout was observed, suggesting that more, as yet unidentified Nups function the transmembrane ring in plants. The sensitivity to nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B (LMB) was tested also for knockout lines, although growth sensitivity to the drug was not observed. Nucleocytoplasmic transport of knockout lines was measured in cells transformed by particle bombardment. To express fluorescent protein constructs actively transported through the NPC, localisation of protein determined the nucleocytoplasmic transport of the cell. The ndc1single knockout and the double knockout gp210 ndc1 exhibited decreased nuclear export. Further experiments in determining NDC1 localisation and identification of other Nups in the transmembrane ring sub-complex would bring a more comprehensive understanding to the plant NPC.