Este projeto tem como objetivo a derivatização de celulose sob condições homogêneas de reação, através de um método simples, reprodutível e eficiente nas três etapas do processo (ativação-dissoluçãoderivatização). O sistema de solvente DMAC/LiCI, utilizado na presente Dissertação, tem estado em crescente desenvolvimento nos últimos anos. Vários mecanismos têm sido propostos para uma dissolução rápida, com mínimo de formação de agregados e baixa degradação da cadeia de celulose. Foram utilizados nesse trabalho as celuloses Avicel PH 101 (DP = 150), eucalipto (DP = 685) e linter de algodão (DP= 850). Foi estudado o intumescimento (swelling) da celulose por uma série de solventes (próticos e apróticos) e misturas binárias, já que esta etapa é responsável pela degradação da estrutura fíbrilar por inchamento da fibra, e inserção de moléculas de solvente entre as cadeias, quebrando as ligações de H intermoleculares (etapa de ativação da celulose). O intumescimento determinado para solventes puros foi correlacionado com algumas propriedades dos solventes, incluindo seu volume molar, acidez, basicidade, polaridade/polarizabilidade e polaridade empírica, Vm, α; β; π*; e ET(30), respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que: α ou β, Vm e π*; influenciam o intumescimento para os solventes próticos; Vm e π*; tem maior importância para os solventes apróticos; o DMSO é o solvente de maior poder de intumescimento. O último dado foi utilizado para modificar um método anteriormente desenvolvido, onde a celulose é dissolvida em LiCI/DMAC após uma etapa de ativação térmica, sob pressão reduzida. O método novo envolve pré-tratamento da celulose com DMSO, antes da sua dissolução no referido sistema de solvente. Este método, simples e eficaz, resultou em menor degradação da celulose, comprovada pela cor da solução (clara e límpida) e pela determinação do DP dos acetatos obtidos. Outro ponto positivo foi à dissolução do linter de algodão sem a necessidade de mercerização prévia. As relações Anidrido Acético/UAG na síntese de triacetatos de celulose foram 3, 3, 3,75 e 4,5 para as celulose Avicel PH 101, Eucalipto mercerizado, eucalipto e algodão respectivamente. O grau de acetilação foi determinado por RMN de 13C, indicando a seguinte ordem de reatividade: C6 > C2 > C3. / The objective of this work is the derivatization of cellulose, under homogeneous reaction conditions, bya simple, reproductive and efficient method, in the three steps of the process (activation-dissolution- derivatization). Previously, extensive work has been carried out on the solvent system studied in this work, DMAC/LiCl. Different mechanisms have been proposed to a fast dissolution with minimum aggregates formation and low degradation of cellulose chain. The following celluloses were used in this work: Avicel PH 101 (DP = 150), eucalyptus (DP = 685) and cotton linter (DP= 850). Cellulose swelling was studied in different solvents (protics and aprotics). This step is responsible for two phenomena: (i) fiber structure degradation through fiber swelling; and (ii) insertion of solvent molecules among the chains breaking intermolecular H-bonding (cellulose activation step). The determined swelling was correlated with some solvent properties as molar volume, acidity, basicidity, polarity/polarizability and empirical polarity, Vm, α; β; π*; and ET(30), respectively. The results showed that α or β, Vm and π* influence swelling in protic solvents; Vm and π* are important in aprotic solvents; and DMSO has the strongest swelling power. The last information was used to change a method developed before, where cellulose is dissolved in LiCI/DMAC after a thermal activation step under reduced pressure. The newmethod involves cellulose pre-treatment with DMSO, before the dissolution in the above-cited solvent system. This simple and efficient method resulted in smaller cellulose degradation verified by: (i) the color of the solution (clear and limpid) and (ii) the determination of PD of the obtained acetates. Another advantage of this method is the dissolution of cotton linter without previous mercerization. The relationship acetic anhydride/UAG found in the synthesis of cellulose triacetates were 3, 3, 3,75 e 4,5 for Avicel PH 101, mercerized eucalyptus, eucalyptus and cotton, respectively. Acetylation degree was determined by 13C NMR, the following reactivity order was observed C6 > C2 > C3.

Receptores acoplados a proteína G (GPCRs) são proteínas integrais de membrana caracterizados por possuírem sete ?-helices transmembranares e por isso também são chamados de receptores 7TM. Esta superfamília de receptores medeia um grande numero de processos fisiológicos e é alvo para aproximadamente 40% de todas as drogas no mercado. O receptor de Bradicinina de tipo 2 (B2) é o principal mediador do sistema Calicreina-Cinina e é classicamente ativado pelo nonapeptídeo Bradicinina (BK). Trabalhos recentes descreveram agonistas para diferentes GPCRs, que podem ativar seletivamente (ou pelo menos preferencialmente) vias de sinalização dependentes de proteína G ou do acoplamento de ?-arrestina, sendo este fenômeno denominado agonismo tendencioso (do inglês \"biased agonism\"). Neste trabalho estão sendo desenhados e sintetizados uma serie de análogos com o objetivo de produzir novos ligantes com distintas propriedades bioquímicas e farmacológicas. Alguns destes análogos já sintetizados apresentaram características interessantes nos perfis de ativação. Estes análogos devem ser utilizados como modelos para a síntese e caracterização de novas gerações de análogos com potenciais propriedades de agonismo tendencioso. Nos acreditamos que o desenho de novos agonistas tendenciosos pode levar ao desenvolvimentos de uma nova geração de drogas, seletivas para ativação não somente de um subtipo de receptor, mas também de uma via de sinalização especifica / G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins characterized by bearing seven transmembrane ?-helices, and are therefore also known as 7TM receptors. This receptor superfamily mediates a large number of physiological processes and is subject to approximately 40% of all drugs on the market. The type 2 Bradykinin receptor (B2) is the primary mediator of the Kallikrein-Kinin System and is classically activated by the nonapeptide Bradykinin (BK). Recent studies have described different GPCRs agonists which can selectively activate (or at least preferably) dependent signaling pathways of G protein or ?-arrestin coupling, this phenomenon is called biased agonism. This work are based in design and synthesize a series of analogs with the goal of producing new ligands with different biochemical and pharmacological properties. Some of these synthesized analogs have presented interesting characteristics in activation profiles. These analogs should be used as templates for the synthesis and characterization of novel analogs with properties of biased agonism. We believe that the design of novel agonists can lead to development of a new generation of drugs, not only selective for activation of a receptor subtype but also a specific signaling pathway

shum Wai Chi. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-279). / 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.

A series of novel alpha-aminoxy peptides have been recently developed, and showed a therapeutic potential for the treatment of CI- channel dysfunctional diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of five structural related tx-aminoxy peptides (P1 to P5), and effect of structural modifications on their pharmacokinetic properties. / P1 showed significantly low intestinal permeability due to P-gp-mediated efflux. Structural modifications resulted in alterations of transport mechanisms from P-gp-mediation (P1, P2) to multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP)-mediation (P3), MRP plus breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)-mediation (P4) active transport, or even passive paracellular diffusion (P5) without any efflux transporters involved. Comparing with P1, the absorbable permeability in Caco-2 monolayer increased to about 7-fold (P3), 4-fold (P4) and 11-fold (P5), respectively, and the absorption through intestine in SPIP model significantly increased to about 36-fold (P2), 42-fold (P3), 55-fold (P4) and 102-fold (P5), respectively. P1 was unstable in the GI tract with 41% degradation in SGF within 1 h and 47% degradation in SIF within 3 h. The other four peptides were much more stable than P1 with degradation less than 6% under the same incubated conditions. For the hepatic metabolism, about 31% of P1 was metabolized by rat liver S9 within 30 min, while the metabolic stability was significantly improved to 3.3-fold (P3), 2.9-fold (P4) and 7.5-fold (P5), respectively with no metabolism for P2. Their metabolism was mainly via oxidation catalyzed by CYP enzymes to form hydroxylated metabolites. After i.v. administration (5 mg/kg), both P1 and P5 was eliminated rapidly. P1 mainly distributed to liver and lung, while P5 to kidney and intestine. P1 was cleared mainly through metabolism via oxidation followed by sulphation (∼80% of the dose), while P5 was mainly eliminated as an intact form (∼53% of the dose). Oral bioavailability of P1 was low (0.36%) due to instability in the GI tract and poor intestinal absorption mediated by P-gp efflux transport. Oral bioavailability of P5 was improved to about 3-fold comparing with P1 but still low mainly because of poor intestinal absorption through passive diffusion and some unknown factor(s). / The present studies demonstrated that our rationale for the structural modifications of the designed cc-aminoxy peptides is an effective way to improve their intestinal absorption, gastrointestinal and metabolic stability, and appropriate pharmacokinetic properties. Our findings also provide scientific evidence to support further development of better alpha-aminoxy peptide cadidates with high oral bioavailability and appropriate pharmacokinetic properties. / Three absorption models, including Caco-2 cell monolayer, Ussing chamber and in situ rat single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model, were used. The stability in gastrointestinal (GI) tract was determined using simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). The hepatic metabolism was investigated in rat liver subcellular fractions and human liver microsome. P1 and P5 were selected for pharmacokinetic study in rats. / Ma, Bin. / Adviser: Ge Lin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-215). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Receptores acoplados a proteína G (GPCRs) são proteínas integrais de membrana caracterizados por possuírem sete ?-helices transmembranares e por isso também são chamados de receptores 7TM. Esta superfamília de receptores medeia um grande numero de processos fisiológicos e é alvo para aproximadamente 40% de todas as drogas no mercado. O receptor de Bradicinina de tipo 2 (B2) é o principal mediador do sistema Calicreina-Cinina e é classicamente ativado pelo nonapeptídeo Bradicinina (BK). Trabalhos recentes descreveram agonistas para diferentes GPCRs, que podem ativar seletivamente (ou pelo menos preferencialmente) vias de sinalização dependentes de proteína G ou do acoplamento de ?-arrestina, sendo este fenômeno denominado agonismo tendencioso (do inglês \"biased agonism\"). Neste trabalho estão sendo desenhados e sintetizados uma serie de análogos com o objetivo de produzir novos ligantes com distintas propriedades bioquímicas e farmacológicas. Alguns destes análogos já sintetizados apresentaram características interessantes nos perfis de ativação. Estes análogos devem ser utilizados como modelos para a síntese e caracterização de novas gerações de análogos com potenciais propriedades de agonismo tendencioso. Nos acreditamos que o desenho de novos agonistas tendenciosos pode levar ao desenvolvimentos de uma nova geração de drogas, seletivas para ativação não somente de um subtipo de receptor, mas também de uma via de sinalização especifica / G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins characterized by bearing seven transmembrane ?-helices, and are therefore also known as 7TM receptors. This receptor superfamily mediates a large number of physiological processes and is subject to approximately 40% of all drugs on the market. The type 2 Bradykinin receptor (B2) is the primary mediator of the Kallikrein-Kinin System and is classically activated by the nonapeptide Bradykinin (BK). Recent studies have described different GPCRs agonists which can selectively activate (or at least preferably) dependent signaling pathways of G protein or ?-arrestin coupling, this phenomenon is called biased agonism. This work are based in design and synthesize a series of analogs with the goal of producing new ligands with different biochemical and pharmacological properties. Some of these synthesized analogs have presented interesting characteristics in activation profiles. These analogs should be used as templates for the synthesis and characterization of novel analogs with properties of biased agonism. We believe that the design of novel agonists can lead to development of a new generation of drugs, not only selective for activation of a receptor subtype but also a specific signaling pathway

Heung May-sze. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Title Page --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Abbreviations --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xii / Abstract --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Epstein-Barr Virus --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Virus structure --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Genome structure --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Nomenclature for EBV open reading frames --- p.1-2 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Biology of EBV --- p.1-2 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- EBV latency --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- EBV latent gene promoters --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.2 --- EBV Infection and Its Persisence --- p.1-9 / Chapter 1.3 --- DNA Methylation --- p.1-17 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Aberrant CpG island methylation in cancer --- p.1-18 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- DNA methylation and EBV --- p.1-19 / Chapter 1.4 --- Demethylating Agents --- p.1-21 / Chapter 1.5 --- Aims of the Study --- p.1-23 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- EBV Latency Patterns / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Cell line culture --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- NPC biopsies culture --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- RNA extraction --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- RNA quantification --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Deoxyribonuclease I treatment for NPC biopsies --- p.2-5 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction --- p.2-5 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Gel Electrophoresis --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Burkitt' s lymphoma and lymphoblastoid cell lines --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma biopsies --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.2-19 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Treatment with Demethylating Agents on Rael / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Rael cell line culture --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Drug treatment --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Viability staining --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- RNA extraction and quantification --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- DIG oligonucleotide 3'-end labeling --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Southern blot --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.3-13 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- 5-azacytidine --- p.3-13 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine --- p.3-26 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.3-39 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Treatment with Demethylating Agents on NPC Biopsies / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- NPC biopsy culture --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Drug treatment --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- RNA extraction and quantification --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- DNase I treatment for NPC biopsies --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.4-3 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.5-1 / Reference --- p.R-1 / Appendix --- p.A-l

O câncer é uma das principais causas de mortalidade em todo o mundo. O envelhecimento da população mundial, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento, indica que esse índice tende a aumentar a cada ano. Como o câncer é uma doença complexa, uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na carcinogênese e na resposta aos tratamentos atuais são essenciais para mudar esse cenário. Gemcitabina e rebecamicina são moléculas que apresentam atividade antitumoral, sendo que a primeira é usada como agente único no tratamento de adenocarcinoma pancreático, ou em conjunto com outras drogas em vários tipos de câncer, enquanto que alguns análogos da segunda já foram utilizados em testes clínicos de fase II em câncer de mama e pulmão. A gemcitabina é um análogo de desoxicitidina que interrompe a síntese de DNA, além de apresentar efeito inibitório sobre várias proteínas, como ribonucleotídeo redutase. A rebecamicina e vários de seus análogos são indolocarbazóis que incluem moléculas intercalantes de DNA, além de inibidores da topoisomerase I e de algumas proteína quinases, como PKC e Chk1. Alguns indolocarbazóis apresentam também importante atividade antimicrobiana. Os mecanismos de resistência a essas drogas são pouco conhecidos e alguns já foram sugeridos; porém, ainda não há consenso sobre as vias celulares envolvidas. A proposta desse trabalho foi identificar genes associados às respostas a gemcitabina e análogos de rebecamicina, usando Saccharomyces cerevisiae como modelo celular. Avaliamos a atividade biológica de nove análogos de rebecamicina sintéticos, destacando o composto mais promissor para estudos mais aprofundados. Por meio de análise direta de fenótipo em escala genômica, identificamos genes cuja deleção resulta em hipersensibilidade ao análogo de rebecamicina, dentre eles um sensor de estresse relacionado à via Pkc1/Mpk1 quinase (SLG1), uma lisina deacetilase (RPD3) e uma lisina demetilase (JHD2). Esses três genes estão relacionados a uma maior atividade de proteínas de resistência multidroga, sugerindo que diversas vias regulatórias são importantes na resposta a indolocarbazóis. Também verificamos, por análise quantitativa de fenótipo (ensaio Bar-Seq), que a deleção de genes com funções atualmente pouco relacionadas à gemcitabina conferiam maior sensibilidade a droga, como uma arginina metiltransferase (HMT1) e uma subunidade do complexo Cop9 sinalossomo (CSI1), o qual está relacionado a regulação da atividade de diversas proteínas, incluindo ribonucleotídeo redutase. Em conjunto, nossos resultados demonstram que vias ainda não relacionadas a resposta a esses compostos podem ser de grande contribuição para a compreensão dos mecanismos de resistência aos mesmos, auxiliando no desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos e fármacos. / Cancer is one of the main causes of death throughout the world. Population aging, especially in developing countries, points to an increase in cancer incidence over the coming years. As cancer is a complex disease, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and in the current treatments is essential to change this scenario. Gemcitabine and rebeccamycin are molecules that present antitumoral activity. The first one is currently used as a single agent in pancreatic cancer treatment or in combination with other drugs in several types of cancer, while analogs of the second have been tested in phase II clinical trials in breast and lung cancers. Gemcitabine is a deoxycytidine analog that inhibits DNA synthesis, and also presents inhibitory effects over several proteins, such as ribonucleotide reductase. Rebeccamycin and its analogs are indolocarbazoles which include DNA intercalant molecules, as well as topoisomerase I and protein kinase inhibitors, such as PKC and Chk1. The mechanisms related to the resistance to these drugs are poorly understood and some of them have been suggested; even though, there is no consensus about the cellular pathways involved. The aim of this work was to identify genes associated to the response to gemcitabine and rebeccamycin analogs using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model cell. We evaluated the biological activity of nine synthetic rebeccamycin analogs, selecting the most promising compound for deeper studies. In a genome-wide qualitative phenotypic analysis, we have identified genes whose disruption resulted in hypersensitivity to the rebeccamycin analog. Among them, we found a stress-sensor involved in Pkc1/Mpk1 kinase pathway (SLG1), a lysine deacetylase (RPD3) and a lysine demethylase (JHD2). These three genes are related to an increased multidrug resistance activity, suggesting that several regulatory pathways play a role in the response to indolocarbazoles. We also found, by means of a quantitative phenotypic analysis (Bar-Seq assay), increased sensitivity to gemcitabine in null-mutants of genes whose functions are currently poorly related to the drug, like an arginine methyltransferase (HMT1) and a subunit of Cop9 signalosome complex (CSI1), which is related to activity regulation of several enzymes, including ribonucleotide reductase. Together, our results show that pathways which were previously unrelated to the response to these compounds can be useful for a better understanding of their resistance mechanisms, providing insights into new drug development and therapy.

Yang, Hao. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-57). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Title Page --- p.i / Thesis Committee --- p.ii / Abstract (English version) --- p.iv / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.vi / Acknowledgment --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xii / List of Abbreviations and Symbols --- p.xv / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- DNA Methylation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- DNA Methylation Repair --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of This Work --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- DNA Structure --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Nomenclature Scheme for DNA --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Base Pair Scheme --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Sugar Conformation --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Backbone Conformation --- p.5 / Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sample Design --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Sample Preparation --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- UV Optical Melting Study --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- NMR Study --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- NMR Melting Study --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Resonance Assignment --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Determination of Sugar Conformation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Determination of Backbone Conformation --- p.13 / Chapter 3 --- Effect of 1-Methyladenine on Double-Helical DNA Structures --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1 --- NMR Resonance Assignments --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- TA-oligo Resonance Assignments --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- TmlA-oligo Resonance Assignments --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2 --- DNA Double-Helical Structures upon 1-Methylation of Adenine --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Base Pairing Mode --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sugar Puker --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Backbone Conformation --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Summary --- p.24 / Chapter 4 --- Effect of 1-Methyladenine on Double-Helical DNA Stabilities --- p.25 / Chapter 4.1 --- Thermodynamic Studies --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Influence of m6A on UV Melting Studies --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Thermodynamics by NMR Melting Studies --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- "NMR Structural Studies on Gm1A-, Am1A- and Cm1A-oligo" --- p.33 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Gml A-oligo --- p.33 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- Gm1A-oligo Resonance Assignments --- p.33 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- Base Pair Structures of Gm1A-oligo --- p.35 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- AmiA-oligo --- p.37 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Am1A-oligo Resonance Assignments --- p.37 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Base Pair Structures of Am1A-oligo --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Cm1A-oligo --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2.3.1 --- Cm1A-oligo Resonance Assignments --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2.3.2 --- Base Pair Structures of Cm1A-oligo --- p.45 / Chapter 4.3 --- Summary --- p.46 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Future work --- p.47 / Appendix I Proton chemical shift values of TA-oligo --- p.48 / Appendix II Proton chemical shift values of TmlA-oligo --- p.49 / Appendix III Proton chemical shift values of GmlA-oligo --- p.50 / Appendix IV Proton chemical shift values of Am1A-oligo --- p.51 / Appendix V Proton chemical shift values of CmlA-oligo --- p.52 / References --- p.53

Nesta dissertação, uma revisão dos modelos cosmológicos newtonianos e neo-newtonianos baseados na formulação da hidrodinâmica clássica é apresentada, com especial ênfase para os resultados básicos e as limitações mais importantes dessas abordagens. Em seguida, mostramos que a descrição Lagrangiana clássica proposta por Lima, Moreira e Santos (1998) para fluidos simples, pode ser generalizada para incluir modelos com misturas de fluidos, e portanto, cosmologias mais realísticas contendo bárions, matéria escura e energia escura, bem como qualquer forma de interação entre essas componentes. Neste trabalho propomos uma descrição lagrangiana clássica para modelos relativísticos do tipo FRW. Nesta descrição, o comportamento dinâmico do fator de escala a(t), como previsto pelas cosmologias relativísticas, é substituído pelo movimento unidimensional de uma partícula teste de massa m sob a ação de um potencial clássico, V(x), onde x é a coordenada unidimensional da partícula. O tratamento pode ser aplicado para os mais diversos cenários de energia escura. Para exemplificar, discutimos com detalhe os seguintes modelos contendo matéria escura e energia escura: XCDM, X(z)CDM, Lambda CDM, Lambda(t) e gás de Chaplygin. Por completeza, modelos multidimensionais do tipo FRW também são considerados. Em todos esses modelos, o parâmetro de curvatura k das seções espaciais das cosmologias determina a energia total da partícula teste pela relação, E=-mk/2, tal como ocorre nos modelos de fluidos simples. As propriedades dinâmicas associadas com o presente estágio de aceleração do universo são univocamente descritas em termos da função potencial do sistema. Finalmente, utilizando os dados da distância de luminosidade provenientes das supernovas do tipo Ia, discutimos como o potencial unidimensional pode ser reconstruído a partir das observações. / In this dissertation, a review of the Newtonian and neo-Newtonian cosmological models based on the classical hydrodynamics formulation is presented with special emphasis to the basic results and the main limitations of such approaches. Next, we show that the classical Lagrangian description as proposed by Lima, Moreira & Santos (1998) for simple fluids, can be generalized to include fluid mixtures, and, therefore, more realistic cosmologies containing baryons, dark matter and dark energy, as well as, any kind of interaction among such components. In the lagrangian description, the dynamic behavior of the scale factor a(t), as predicted by the relativistic cosmologies, is replaced by the unidimensional motion of a test particle with mass m under the action of a classical potential, V(x), where x(t) is the coordinate of the particle. The treatment can be applied for many different scenarios of dark energy. In order to exemplify, we discuss with detail the following models containing dark matter and dark energy: XCDM, X(z)CDM, Lambda(t)CDM and the Chaplygin gas. For completeness, FRW type multidimensional models are also considered. For all these models, the curvature parameter k of the spatial sections in the relativistic cosmologies determines the total energy by the relation, E=-mk/2, as occurs in the simple fluid models. The dynamic property associated with the present accelerating stage of the Universe are univocally described in terms of the potential function of the system. Finally, by using the data from luminosity distance of supernovae type Ia, we discuss how the unidimensional potential can be reconstructed from the observations.

O câncer é uma das principais causas de mortalidade em todo o mundo. O envelhecimento da população mundial, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento, indica que esse índice tende a aumentar a cada ano. Como o câncer é uma doença complexa, uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na carcinogênese e na resposta aos tratamentos atuais são essenciais para mudar esse cenário. Gemcitabina e rebecamicina são moléculas que apresentam atividade antitumoral, sendo que a primeira é usada como agente único no tratamento de adenocarcinoma pancreático, ou em conjunto com outras drogas em vários tipos de câncer, enquanto que alguns análogos da segunda já foram utilizados em testes clínicos de fase II em câncer de mama e pulmão. A gemcitabina é um análogo de desoxicitidina que interrompe a síntese de DNA, além de apresentar efeito inibitório sobre várias proteínas, como ribonucleotídeo redutase. A rebecamicina e vários de seus análogos são indolocarbazóis que incluem moléculas intercalantes de DNA, além de inibidores da topoisomerase I e de algumas proteína quinases, como PKC e Chk1. Alguns indolocarbazóis apresentam também importante atividade antimicrobiana. Os mecanismos de resistência a essas drogas são pouco conhecidos e alguns já foram sugeridos; porém, ainda não há consenso sobre as vias celulares envolvidas. A proposta desse trabalho foi identificar genes associados às respostas a gemcitabina e análogos de rebecamicina, usando Saccharomyces cerevisiae como modelo celular. Avaliamos a atividade biológica de nove análogos de rebecamicina sintéticos, destacando o composto mais promissor para estudos mais aprofundados. Por meio de análise direta de fenótipo em escala genômica, identificamos genes cuja deleção resulta em hipersensibilidade ao análogo de rebecamicina, dentre eles um sensor de estresse relacionado à via Pkc1/Mpk1 quinase (SLG1), uma lisina deacetilase (RPD3) e uma lisina demetilase (JHD2). Esses três genes estão relacionados a uma maior atividade de proteínas de resistência multidroga, sugerindo que diversas vias regulatórias são importantes na resposta a indolocarbazóis. Também verificamos, por análise quantitativa de fenótipo (ensaio Bar-Seq), que a deleção de genes com funções atualmente pouco relacionadas à gemcitabina conferiam maior sensibilidade a droga, como uma arginina metiltransferase (HMT1) e uma subunidade do complexo Cop9 sinalossomo (CSI1), o qual está relacionado a regulação da atividade de diversas proteínas, incluindo ribonucleotídeo redutase. Em conjunto, nossos resultados demonstram que vias ainda não relacionadas a resposta a esses compostos podem ser de grande contribuição para a compreensão dos mecanismos de resistência aos mesmos, auxiliando no desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos e fármacos. / Cancer is one of the main causes of death throughout the world. Population aging, especially in developing countries, points to an increase in cancer incidence over the coming years. As cancer is a complex disease, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and in the current treatments is essential to change this scenario. Gemcitabine and rebeccamycin are molecules that present antitumoral activity. The first one is currently used as a single agent in pancreatic cancer treatment or in combination with other drugs in several types of cancer, while analogs of the second have been tested in phase II clinical trials in breast and lung cancers. Gemcitabine is a deoxycytidine analog that inhibits DNA synthesis, and also presents inhibitory effects over several proteins, such as ribonucleotide reductase. Rebeccamycin and its analogs are indolocarbazoles which include DNA intercalant molecules, as well as topoisomerase I and protein kinase inhibitors, such as PKC and Chk1. The mechanisms related to the resistance to these drugs are poorly understood and some of them have been suggested; even though, there is no consensus about the cellular pathways involved. The aim of this work was to identify genes associated to the response to gemcitabine and rebeccamycin analogs using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model cell. We evaluated the biological activity of nine synthetic rebeccamycin analogs, selecting the most promising compound for deeper studies. In a genome-wide qualitative phenotypic analysis, we have identified genes whose disruption resulted in hypersensitivity to the rebeccamycin analog. Among them, we found a stress-sensor involved in Pkc1/Mpk1 kinase pathway (SLG1), a lysine deacetylase (RPD3) and a lysine demethylase (JHD2). These three genes are related to an increased multidrug resistance activity, suggesting that several regulatory pathways play a role in the response to indolocarbazoles. We also found, by means of a quantitative phenotypic analysis (Bar-Seq assay), increased sensitivity to gemcitabine in null-mutants of genes whose functions are currently poorly related to the drug, like an arginine methyltransferase (HMT1) and a subunit of Cop9 signalosome complex (CSI1), which is related to activity regulation of several enzymes, including ribonucleotide reductase. Together, our results show that pathways which were previously unrelated to the response to these compounds can be useful for a better understanding of their resistance mechanisms, providing insights into new drug development and therapy.