No description available.

<p>Mars’ Polar layered Deposits (PLD) accumulated over the last few millions of years due to seasonal buildup of frost trapping atmospheric gasses and incoming sediments, thereby preserving the history of Mars' recent climate in the form of an ice-rich geologic record. The PLD includes both the North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD) and the South Polar Layered Deposits (SPLD) which are estimated to be up to 5 Mya and 100 Mya old respectively. Characterizing the contents of these deposits is essential to understand the role of geologic and climatic processes recently active on Mars. The Mars scientific community recommends robotic exploration of these icy NPLD to sample the ice and extract recent climate records; however, linking the geologic record to the climatic history will require quantitative dating of the NPLD. The SPLD is thought to be older than the north polar deposits, so the stratigraphic records of the SPLD are a window to look deeper into the climatic history of Amazonian Mars. Deciphering the paleoenvironment at the PLD requires characterization of the ice-rich deposits, however, the origin, composition, transport histories, and alteration environment of sediments within the deposits are not well constrained.</p> <p>In this study we use orbital reflectance spectroscopy to show for the first time that dateable mafic lithics are present throughout the PLD. We find significant glass as well as diverse crystalline minerals, which suggests that surface processes like impacts and volcanism were active during the late Amazonian and transported sand-sized and finer sediments from across the planet to the poles. In situ investigation of the PLD will thus provide critical quantitative age constraint on both the recent geologic and climatic histories of Mars. Previous studies have confirmed widespread detection of sulfates at the NPLD and here we show that sulfates dominate the alteration mineralogy at the SPLD suggesting acidic, oxidizing, and evaporitic conditions. Based on this more extensive survey, previously reported rare detection of smectites and hydrated silica in the SPLD is likely due to ballistic emplacement by impacts from targets on surrounding smectite-bearing Noachian terrains.</p> <p>Detrital ice-rich sediments within the PLD are a complex mixture of mafic minerals and weathering products from multiple sources and are continuously reworked. In order to investigate the material and grain-size dependent effects of chemical and physical weathering in a cold and wet basaltic environment, a rover-based Mars analog study is conducted in the glacio-fluvial-aeolian landscapes of Iceland. A DCS-based color analysis technique is employed in tandem with VNIR spectroscopy and XRF analysis to develop a strategy for conducting sediment provenance. We observe that DCS-based color analysis is a powerful tool for identifying spectral diversity, and that it has the capability to differentiate primary minerals from alteration minerals. Because color analysis can aid in identifying diverse targets for sampling within the rover’s workspace, tactically, DCS colors can be used during operations to link detrital sediments within the rover’s vicinity to surrounding bedrock sources. DCS images enhance our ability to correlate observation of surface features from orbit, extend local mineralogical interpretation to surrounding regions, optimize rover’s traverse and select science targets. </p>

Humans navigate the world and interact with others through a complex series of communicative tools. We experience both internal and external stimuli, such as pangs of hunger or pain from an injury, and both verbal and nonverbal language. Bacteria also possess the ability to communicate, albeit in more discreet, yet no less complex ways. Bacteria rely on an incredibly diverse signaling system of triggers and responses in order to survive and to thrive. While we perceive language with our eyes and ears, bacteria employ a system of small molecules to relay both intra- and extracellular messages. They utilize this ability, known as quorum sensing to "talk" to their neighbors, express otherwise latent genetic characteristics, and to defend themselves against enemies. It has been suggested that this internal and external activity is linked, however, little is known about their interplay.  This family of molecules, the cyclic di-nucleotides, which includes c-di-GMP and c-di-AMP, are critical to regulating bacterial processes such as motility, glucose remediation, and cell wall homeostasis. Their importance has spurred numerous investigations into their mechanism of action. Although found in very low concentrations within cells, they are capable of regulating a multitude of processes due to their ability to adopt variable conformations. To date, analog design by other groups has focused on the modification of the innate phosphate moiety as well as various substitutions or deletions at the 2'-position on the ribofuranose ring. However, these analogs have not been water soluble, limiting them to in vitro investigations only. We propose that by replacing the phosphate linkage entirely we can increase water solubility and have pursued a divergent total synthesis of various cyclic di-nucleotides featuring biomimetic linkages. Herein we address the methods we explored to optimize the synthesis of our three monomers, coupling strategies employed, the novel application of a Staudinger ligation to afford our abasic macrocycles and finally our progress towards implementing a bis-glycosylation strategy to install the desired nucleobase. We are able to efficiently provide large amounts of a di-amino, azide methyl ester, and N,O-substituted furanose monomers in no more than six steps from a common intermediate. These monomers are coupled and cyclized to form our four scaffolds, amide, carbamate, squaramide, and urea. Finally, we have begun to successfully implement our Brønsted acid mediated glycosylation strategy and understand its limitations. It is our goal to develop a general method to afford a diverse array of conformationally unique and water soluble cyclic di-nucleotide analogs with which to probe these essential bacterial signaling pathways. / Chemistry

No / Anti-vascular effects of the novel Vinca alkaloid, vinflunine have been investigated in the MAC 15A transplantable murine colon adenocarcinoma model and compared with those induced by the most recently identified clinically useful third generation Vinca. Administration of the maximum tolerated dose of either vinflunine (50 mg kg-1) or vinorelbine (8 mg kg-1) resulted in significant tumour growth delay with subsequent histological analysis revealing substantial haemorrhagic necrosis. This suggested possible anti-vascular effects and these were confirmed by Hoechst 33342 perfusion studies. Vinflunine, currently undergoing Phase I trials in Europe, was found to be at least as effective as the clinically active vincristine and vinorelbine in this model and, remarkably, produced anti-vascular effects at doses much lower than the maximum tolerated dose. Although vinflunine caused apoptosis in HUVEC monolayer cultures this event did not occur within the first 8 hours of exposure whereas vascular shutdown in vivo was observed within the first 4 hours.

A perda da função das células beta acelera a deterioração do controle metabólico em pessoas com diabetes tipo 2. Além da lipo- e da glicotoxicidade, os AGEs parecem contribuir para esse processo, promovendo a apoptose das ilhotas pancreáticas. Em outros tecidos, os AGEs interagem com seu receptor específico (RAGE), produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e ativando o NF-kB. Para investigar o efeito temporal dos AGEs sobre a apoptose de ilhotas, bem como o potencial de compostos antioxidantes para diminuir danos causados pelos AGEs, ilhotas pancreáticas de ratos foram tratadas durante 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 h com AGEs gerados a partir de co-incubação de albumina de soro bovino (BSA) com Dgliceraldeído (GAD, 5 mg/mL) ou tampão fostato (controle). A apoptose foi avaliada pela quantificação do DNA fragmentado (ELISA), atividade de caspase 3 e detecção da permeabilidade da membrana mitocondrial (MitoProbe JC-1). O estresse oxidativo foi avaliado pela detecção de espécies de oxigênio (Image-iT LIVE Green) e a atividade da NADPH oxidase foi mensurada pelo método de quimioluminescência da lucigenina. A expressão dos genes Bax, Bcl2 e Nfkb1 foi avaliada por reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa após transcrição reversa (RT-qPCR). Em um dos tempos em que foi detectado o aumento da apoptose, o efeito de dois compostos antioxidantes foi avaliado: benfotiamina (350 M), uma vitamina B1 lipossolúvel, e Mito Q (1 M), um derivado da ubiquinona com alvo seletivo para a mitocôndria. Em 24 e 48 h, os AGES promoveram um aumento do índice de apoptose em relação ao controle, concomitantemente com o aumento na expresssão do gene Bcl2 (gene anti-apoptótico) e uma redução na expressão do gene Nfkb1. Em contraste, após 72, 96 h e 120 h, os AGEs promoveram um aumento do índice de apoptose em comparação com a condição de controle, concomitantemente com uma diminuição na expressão do gene Bcl2 e um aumento na expressão do gene Nfkb1. Em 24 h, os AGEs promoveram uma diminuição do conteúdo de ROS nas ilhotas, enquanto que nos tempos de 48 e 72 h, os AGEs promoveram um efeito oposto. A benfotiamina e o Mito Q foram capazes de diminuir o índice de apoptose e o estresse oxidativo de ilhotas expostas aos AGEs por 72 h. Em conclusão, os AGEs exerceram um duplo efeito em cultura de ilhotas pancreáticas, sendo de proteção contra a apoptose após exposição curta, mas pró-apoptótica após exposição prolongada. O Mito Q e e a benfotiamina merecem ser adicionalmente estudados como drogas com o potencial de oferecer proteção às ilhotas pancreáticas em condições de hiperglicemia crônica / Loss of beta cell function hastens the deterioration of metabolic control in people with type 2 diabetes. Besides lipo- and glucotoxicity, AGEs seem to contribute to this process by promoting islet apoptosis. In other tissues, AGEs interact with their specific receptors (RAGE) and elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NF-kB activation. In order to investigate the temporal effect of AGEs on islet apoptosis as well as the potential of antioxidant compounds to decrease islet damage caused by AGEs, rat pancreatic islets were treated for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h with either AGEs generated from co-incubation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with D-glyceraldehyde (GAD, 5 mg/mL) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, control). Apoptosis was evaluated by quantification of DNA fragmentation (ELISA), caspase-3 enzyme activity and detection of mitochondrial permeability transition (MitoProbe JC-1). Oxidative stress was evaluated by oxygen species detection (Image-iT LIVE Green) and the activity of NADPH oxidase was measured by the lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence method. The expression of the genes Bax, Bcl2 and Nfkb1 was evaluated by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In one of the time points at which increased apoptosis was detected, the effect of two antioxidant compounds was evaluated: benfotiamine (350 M), a liposoluble vitamin B1, and Mito Q (1 M), a derivative of ubiquinone targeted to mitochondria. In 24 and 48 h, AGEs elicited a significant decrease in the apoptosis rate in comparison to the control condition concomitantly with a significant increase in the RNA expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2 and a significant decrease in the Nfkb1 RNA expression. In contrast, after 72 and 96 h, AGEs promoted a significant increase in the apoptosis rate in comparison to the control condition concomitantly with a significant decrease in Bcl2 RNA expression and a significant increase in Nfkb1 RNA expression. In 24 h, AGEs elicited a significant decrease in the islet content of ROS while after 48 and 72 h, AGEs promoted an opposite effect. Benfotiamine and Mito Q were able to decrease the apoptosis rate and the ROS content in islets exposed to AGEs for 72 h. In conclusion, AGEs exerted a dual effect in cultured pancreatic islets, being protective against apoptosis after short exposition but proapoptotic after prolonged exposition. Mito Q and benfotiamine deserve further evaluation as drugs that could offer islet protection in conditions of chronic hyperglycemia

Στην παρούσα εργασία συνθέσαμε ένα άμινο-άκυλο- και ένα πεπτίδυλο- ανάλογο της χλωραμφαινικόλης. Τα ανάλογα αυτά ήταν η β-αλανίνη-χλωραμφαινικόλη (β-alaCAM) και η φαινυλαλανίνη-φαινυλαλανίνη-χλωραμφαινικόλη (PhePheCAM). Στην συνέχεια μελετήσαμε την βιολογική συμπεριφορά των αναλόγων αυτών μέσα από την μελέτη της κινητικής της αναστολής του σχηματισμού πεπτιδικού δεσμού που επιφέρουν τα εν λόγω ανάλογα. Σε πρωτεϊνοσυνθετικό σύστημα ριβοσωμάτων εκπορευόμενων από Escherichia coli η σύνθεση ακέτυλο-φαινυλαλάνυλο-πουρομυκίνης πραγματοποιείται μέσω μιας αντίδρασης ψευδοπρώτης τάξεως μεταξύ συμπλέγματος C, δηλαδή ακέτυλο-φαινυλαλάνυλο-poly(U)-ριβοσωμάτων, και περίσσειας πουρομυκίνης. Τόσο η β-alaCAM, όσο και η PhePheCAM μελετήθηκαν ως αναστολείς της αντίδρασης σύνθεσης ακέτυλο-φαινυλαλάνυλο-πουρομυκίνης και τα αποτελέσματα της κινητικής της αναστολής που επέφεραν συγκρίθηκαν με γνωστά από την βιβλιογραφία αντίστοιχα αποτελέσματα που αφορούν τόσο την μητρική ένωση, όσο και άλλα άμινο-άκυλο- και πεπτιδικά ανάλογα αυτής. Αρχικά παρατηρήσαμε ότι, απουσία αναστολέα, η αντίδραση ακολουθεί κινητική πρώτης τάξεως καθόλη την χρονική διάρκεια της χημικής αντίδρασης. Ωστόσο, στη συνέχεια παρατηρήσαμε ότι η παρουσία τόσο της β-alaCAM, όσο και της PhePheCAM είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα διφασικές λογαριθμικές συναρτήσεις συγκέντρωσης – χρόνου, όπου υφίστατο μία αρχική ή πρώτη χρονική φάση και μία τελική ή δεύτερη χρονική φάση της χημικής αντίδρασης πουρομυκίνης. Ακολούθησε λεπτομερής κινητική ανάλυση, αρχικά μέσω διαγραμμάτων διπλού αντιστρόφου για τις αρχικές και τις τελικές κλίσεις των λογαριθμικών χρονοκαμπυλών, καθώς και στη συνέχεια μέσω επαναδιαγραμμάτων αρχικών και τελικών κλίσεων έναντι της συγκέντρωσης του αναστολέα. Με τον τρόπο αυτό υπολογίστηκαν οι κινητικές σταθερές αναστολής Κi οι οποίες και συγκρίθηκαν με την κινητική σταθερά αναστολής της μητρικής ένωσης. Τέλος, μέσω υπολογιστικού προγράμματος προσομοίωσης, σχεδιάστηκαν οι συναρτήσεις της φαινομενικής σταθεράς εξισορρόπησης keq έναντι της συγκέντρωσης του αναστολέα και υπολογίστηκαν οι σταθερές k6 και k7. Tόσο η β-alaCAM όσο και η PhePheCAM εμφάνισαν συμπεριφορά βραδέως προσδενομένου συναγωνιστικού αναστολέα ανεξάρτητα από την συγκέντρωσή τους, σε αντίθεση με την μητρική ένωση η οποία εμφανίζει συμπεριφορά συναγωνιστικού αναστολέα σε μικρές συγκεντρώσεις αυτής και συμπεριφορά μικτού μη-συναγωνιστικού αναστολέα σε μεγαλύτερες συγκεντρώσεις αυτής. H β-alaCAM ευρέθηκε 4,6 φορές περισσότερο βιολογικά δραστική από την PhePheCAM και 14,3 βιολογικά ασθενέστερη από την μητρική ένωση. Σε αντίθεση με τη μητρική ένωση, η οποία δεν υφίσταται ισομερισμό, τόσο η β-alaCAM όσο και η PhePheCAM δίνουν, στην τελική ή δεύτερη χρονική φάση της αντίδρασης πουρομυκίνης, γένεση στο ισομερισμένο σύμπλοκο C*I. Αξιοσημείωτη είναι η παρατήρηση ότι ο σχηματισμός του ισομερισμένου συμπλόκου C*I λαμβάνει χώρα μέσω δύο κινητικών βημάτων στην περίπτωση της β-alaCAM, αλλά μέσω ενός μόνο κινητικού βήματος στην περίπτωση της PhePheCAM. Προτείνουμε, ως μοντέλο επεξηγηματικό του μηχανισμού βιολογικής δράσης και χημικής κινητικής των μελετηθέντων συνθετικών αναλόγων, ότι τόσο η β-alaCAM όσο και η PhePheCAM παρουσιάζουν αυξημένη στερεοχημική ομοιότητα με το 3΄-άκρο του άμινο-άκυλο-tRNA ή με το 3΄-άκρο του πεπτίδυλο-tRNA συγκριτικά με τη μητρική ένωση. Η αυξημένη αυτή στερεοχημική ομοιότητα πιθανότατα εξηγεί τον εκσεσημασμένο συναγωνιστικό χαρακτήρα της αναστολής που εμφανίζουν τα μελετηθέντα ανάλογα συγκριτικά με τη μητρική ένωση, ασχέτως του γεγονότος ότι η συνολική αναστολή που επιφέρουν δεν αποδεικνύεται σε καμία περίπτωση ισχυρότερη της αναστολής που επιφέρει η μητρική ένωση. Για τον λόγο αυτό τα εν λόγω συνθετικά ανάλογα της χλωραμφαινικόλης θα πρέπει να θεωρηθούν παλίνδρομα-ανάστροφα ανάλογα (retro-inverso analogs). / One aminoacyl and one peptidyl analog of chloramphenicol (Cl2CHCO-CAM) were prepared. These are L-β-alaCAM and L-PhePheCAM. The kinetics of inhibition of peptide bond formation by these analogs were examined in a cell-free system which had been used previously for the study of Cl2CHCO-CAM [Drainas et al, Eur. J. Biochem. 1987, 164, 53-58]. In a model cell-free system, derived from Escherichia coli, acetylphenylalanyl-puromycin is produced in a pseudo-first-order reaction between the preformed acetylphenylalanyl/tRNA/poly(U)/ribosome complex (complex C) and excess puromycin. Both L-β-alaCAM and L-PhePheCAM were tested as inhibitors in this reaction. In the absence of inhibitor, the reaction follows first-order kinetics for the entire course of the reaction. In the presence of the analog the reaction gives biphasic log-time plots. The kinetic informations pertaining to the initial and the terminal slopes of the plot are analyzed (initial-slope and terminal-slope analysis). Μοreover, through a computer simulation non-linear regression fitting program, the plots between the keq values and the concentration of the inhibitor [I] were constructed, and consequently the values of k6 and k7 were estimated. Detailed kinetic analysis suggests that both these analogs (I) behave as slow-binding inhibitors and react competitively with complex C to form the complex C*I which is inactive towards puromycin. In the presence of L-β-alaCAM, C*I is formed via a two-step mechanism in which C*I is the product of a slow conformational change of the initial encounter complex CI according to the equation C + I CI C*I. Our results, concerning the two-step mechanism of L-β-alaCAM are in agreement with the results of previous investigations evaluating the potency and kinetic mechanisms of other aminoacyl and peptidyl analogs of chloramphenicol [Michelinaki et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 1997, 51, 139-146]. However, in the presence of L-PhePheCAM, our results are unique because we found evidences that C*I is formed via a one-step mechanism as a product of a slow conformational change according to the equation C + I C*I. The parent compound gives complex inhibition kinetics; increasing the concentration of the parent compound changes the inhibition from competitive to mixed noncompetitive [Drainas et al, Eur. J. Biochem. 1987, 164, 53-58]. In contrast, the analogs give competitive kinetics even at high concentrations of the inhibitor. The following Ki and Ki* values have been determined: Ki = 45 μΜ for L-β-alaCAM, Ki* = 10 μΜ for L-β-alaCAM and Ki* = 46 μM for L-PhePheCAM. If we were to assume that both L-β-alaCAM and L-PhePheCAM behave as classical competitive inhibitors, we could say that L-β-alaCAM is 4.6 times more potent than L-PhePheCAM. On this assumption we could also compare chloramphenicol with L-β-alaCAM and see that L-β-alaCAM is 14.3 times weaker than chloramphenicol (Ki = 0.7 μΜ). It is suggested that as compared with chloramphenicol, both L-β-alaCAM and L-PhePheCAM have increased structural similarity to the 3΄-terminus of aminoacyl-tRNA or of peptidyl-tRNA and this similarity results in a more pronounced competitive inhibition. The results are compared with previous data and discussed on the basis of a possible retro-inverso relationship between chloramphenicol analogs and puromycin.

A perda da função das células beta acelera a deterioração do controle metabólico em pessoas com diabetes tipo 2. Além da lipo- e da glicotoxicidade, os AGEs parecem contribuir para esse processo, promovendo a apoptose das ilhotas pancreáticas. Em outros tecidos, os AGEs interagem com seu receptor específico (RAGE), produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e ativando o NF-kB. Para investigar o efeito temporal dos AGEs sobre a apoptose de ilhotas, bem como o potencial de compostos antioxidantes para diminuir danos causados pelos AGEs, ilhotas pancreáticas de ratos foram tratadas durante 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 h com AGEs gerados a partir de co-incubação de albumina de soro bovino (BSA) com Dgliceraldeído (GAD, 5 mg/mL) ou tampão fostato (controle). A apoptose foi avaliada pela quantificação do DNA fragmentado (ELISA), atividade de caspase 3 e detecção da permeabilidade da membrana mitocondrial (MitoProbe JC-1). O estresse oxidativo foi avaliado pela detecção de espécies de oxigênio (Image-iT LIVE Green) e a atividade da NADPH oxidase foi mensurada pelo método de quimioluminescência da lucigenina. A expressão dos genes Bax, Bcl2 e Nfkb1 foi avaliada por reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa após transcrição reversa (RT-qPCR). Em um dos tempos em que foi detectado o aumento da apoptose, o efeito de dois compostos antioxidantes foi avaliado: benfotiamina (350 M), uma vitamina B1 lipossolúvel, e Mito Q (1 M), um derivado da ubiquinona com alvo seletivo para a mitocôndria. Em 24 e 48 h, os AGES promoveram um aumento do índice de apoptose em relação ao controle, concomitantemente com o aumento na expresssão do gene Bcl2 (gene anti-apoptótico) e uma redução na expressão do gene Nfkb1. Em contraste, após 72, 96 h e 120 h, os AGEs promoveram um aumento do índice de apoptose em comparação com a condição de controle, concomitantemente com uma diminuição na expressão do gene Bcl2 e um aumento na expressão do gene Nfkb1. Em 24 h, os AGEs promoveram uma diminuição do conteúdo de ROS nas ilhotas, enquanto que nos tempos de 48 e 72 h, os AGEs promoveram um efeito oposto. A benfotiamina e o Mito Q foram capazes de diminuir o índice de apoptose e o estresse oxidativo de ilhotas expostas aos AGEs por 72 h. Em conclusão, os AGEs exerceram um duplo efeito em cultura de ilhotas pancreáticas, sendo de proteção contra a apoptose após exposição curta, mas pró-apoptótica após exposição prolongada. O Mito Q e e a benfotiamina merecem ser adicionalmente estudados como drogas com o potencial de oferecer proteção às ilhotas pancreáticas em condições de hiperglicemia crônica / Loss of beta cell function hastens the deterioration of metabolic control in people with type 2 diabetes. Besides lipo- and glucotoxicity, AGEs seem to contribute to this process by promoting islet apoptosis. In other tissues, AGEs interact with their specific receptors (RAGE) and elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NF-kB activation. In order to investigate the temporal effect of AGEs on islet apoptosis as well as the potential of antioxidant compounds to decrease islet damage caused by AGEs, rat pancreatic islets were treated for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h with either AGEs generated from co-incubation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with D-glyceraldehyde (GAD, 5 mg/mL) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, control). Apoptosis was evaluated by quantification of DNA fragmentation (ELISA), caspase-3 enzyme activity and detection of mitochondrial permeability transition (MitoProbe JC-1). Oxidative stress was evaluated by oxygen species detection (Image-iT LIVE Green) and the activity of NADPH oxidase was measured by the lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence method. The expression of the genes Bax, Bcl2 and Nfkb1 was evaluated by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In one of the time points at which increased apoptosis was detected, the effect of two antioxidant compounds was evaluated: benfotiamine (350 M), a liposoluble vitamin B1, and Mito Q (1 M), a derivative of ubiquinone targeted to mitochondria. In 24 and 48 h, AGEs elicited a significant decrease in the apoptosis rate in comparison to the control condition concomitantly with a significant increase in the RNA expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2 and a significant decrease in the Nfkb1 RNA expression. In contrast, after 72 and 96 h, AGEs promoted a significant increase in the apoptosis rate in comparison to the control condition concomitantly with a significant decrease in Bcl2 RNA expression and a significant increase in Nfkb1 RNA expression. In 24 h, AGEs elicited a significant decrease in the islet content of ROS while after 48 and 72 h, AGEs promoted an opposite effect. Benfotiamine and Mito Q were able to decrease the apoptosis rate and the ROS content in islets exposed to AGEs for 72 h. In conclusion, AGEs exerted a dual effect in cultured pancreatic islets, being protective against apoptosis after short exposition but proapoptotic after prolonged exposition. Mito Q and benfotiamine deserve further evaluation as drugs that could offer islet protection in conditions of chronic hyperglycemia

La guttiférone A , appartenant à la famille des PPAPs ou Acyle Phloroglucinol Polycycliques Polyprénylées, est une molécule extraite à partir d’un arbre tropicale, le Symphonia globulifera. Cette matière première est abondante et peut être facilement obtenue. De plus, elle présente de nombreuses activités biologiques, lui conférant un potentiel pharmacologique très intéressant. Trois approches ont été effectuées durant ces travaux. La première fût l’utilisation de microorganismes pour effectuer des biotransformations. L’utilisation de levures a permis de synthétiser la 3,16-oxy-guttiférone A, forme xanthone de la guttiférone. Le second axe a été d’utiliser des outils chimiques pour obtenir des dérivés de la guttiférone A. Dans un premier temps, une vingtaine d’analogues éther et ester du catéchol a été synthétisée, certains de ces composés ont montré un meilleur indice de sélectivité sur les parasites. Une synthèse sélective de xanthone par une réaction de couplage phénolique oxydatif a également été étudiée. Nous avons pu obtenir par cette approche la 3,16-oxy-guttiférone A, la 1,16-oxy-guttiférone A et la 1,12-oxy-guttiférone A. Ces réactions ont aussi donné accès à des dérivés xanthone hydroxylée jamais décrits dans la littérature. Enfin, un travail préliminaire de phytochimie sur les graines et feuilles du Symphonia globulifera a été réalisé, permettant d’isoler des analogues de la guttiférone A, la guttiférone C et D, ainsi que d’autres molécules comme des bisflavonoides et des xanthones. / Guttiferone A, belonging to the PPAPs family (Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols), is extracted from a tropical tree called Symphonia globulifera. This raw material is abundant and can be easily obtained. In addition, it has many biological activities, giving it a very interesting pharmacological potential. Three approaches were used in this work. The first was the use of microorganisms to perform biotransformations. The use of yeast allow the synthesis of 3,16-oxy-guttiférone A, a xanthone derivative of guttiferone A. The second theme was the use of chemical tools for guttiferone A derivation. First, twenty ether and ester catechol analogs were synthesized, some of these compounds showed a better selectivity index of parasites. Selective synthesis of xanthone by phenolic oxidative coupling reaction was also studied. We obtained by this approach the 3.16-oxy-guttiferone A, 1,16-oxy-guttiferone A and 1,12-oxy-guttiferone A. These reactions have also provided some hydroxylated xanthone never described before in the literature. Finally, preliminary phytochemical work on seeds and leaves of Symphonia globulifera lead to the isolation of guttiférone A analogues such as guttiférone C and D, as well as other molecules such as bisflavonoides and xanthones.

No description available.

<p>Aromatase is an enzyme that facilitates the conversion of androgens to estrogens and may play a role in mood and mental status. The main theme of this thesis is the imaging of brain aromatase by use of the PET technique. The PET tracer for aromatase, ¹¹C-labeled vorozole (VOZ) was developed and evaluated by with <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> methods. <i>In vitro</i> experiments using rat brain showed that VOZ was distributed in the medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area, regions of the brain known to be rich in aromatase and the K_D value was determined to be 0.60 nM. The <i>in vivo</i> PET study in rhesus monkey brain revealed that VOZ penetrated the blood-brain barrier and accumulated in the amygdala and hypothalamus. Taken together, VOZ is a good PET tracer for <i>in vivo</i> aromatase imaging with high affinity and high sensitivity.</p><p>This technique was applied to an investigation of brain aromatase under the physiological conditions simulating anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse. A significant increase in VOZ binding by anabolic-androgenic steroids was observed in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis and medial preoptic area in the rat brain. In contrast, no significant change in binding was observed in the medial amygdala. These results indicate that the manner of regulation of aromatase expression might be different in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis and medial preoptic area compared with that in the medial amygdala. The aromatase expression was suggested to be regulated through androgen receptors, as indicated in a study with flutamide treatment. The increased aromatase expression was seen in neurons. The PET study with anabolic steroid-treated rhesus monkeys also showed increased VOZ binding in the hypothalamus but not in the amygdala. The alteration of density of aromatase binding in the hypothalamic area could explain some psychological features of anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers.</p><p>Novel PET tracers for aromatase were developed and examined. The two newly synthesized ¹⁸F-labeled vorozole analogs, [¹⁸F]FVOZ and [¹⁸F]FVOO, displayed different characteristics. Both tracers showed similar binding pattern as VOZ; however, [¹⁸F]FVOO was metabolized very quickly, meaning that this tracer is not suitable as a PET tracer. On the other hand, [¹⁸F]FVOZ can be an appropriate PET tracer.</p><p>The role of aromatase in the human brain has not been clarified yet. To approach this problem by<i> in vivo</i> methods, we have just started PET studies to explore aromatase expression in humans.</p>