The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a transcription factor mediating genomic responses to the biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, a key modulator of the immune system. Knowledge on how these polymorphisms modulate the vitamin D endocrine system and confer risk of disease is hindered by the fact that several of the associated allelic variants are located in introns or are synonymous and likely serve as markers within an extended haplotype covering disease-causing alleles. The functional relevance of VDR polymorphisms need to be studied in the context of the haplotype, comparing haplotypes with the process of DNA transcription, protein levels and biological function. These functional studies should be performed using techniques reflecting the in vivo, naturally occurring milieu as close as possible. VDR has several known allelic variants including a FokI restriction fragment length polymorphism in exon II, BsmI and ApaI polymorphisms in the intron VIII, and a synonymous TaqI variant in exon IX. The aim of the current study was the identification of sequence variants in VDR, to define haplotype patterns in the Caucasian population and to understand the functional consequences of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes. Methods: EBV transformed B-lymphocyte cell lines, from twenty-three individuals, within the Caucasian population were established. Polymorphisms and haplotypes in VDR were identified by genotyping and sequencing. Quantification of the VDR protein level measured with flow cytometry was studied together with the genotype and haplotype data to determine possible influence of genotypes or haplotype and VDR protein levels. Biological function was analysed by the percentage inhibition that each individual experienced in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, measured by the Alamar Blue assay and the Trypan blue dye exclusion method. Results: The results showed thatVDR genotypes and haplotypes may not influence VDR protein level although certain genotypes and haplotypes significantly influenced biological function. It was proposed that VDR variants may account for significant influences on cellular responsiveness to 1,25(OH)2D3 as mediated by VDR. Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggest that individual SNPs and haplotypes of VDR influences quality of the repose in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, rather than quantity of the VDR levels. This knowledge may permit a rational choice of polymorphisms to use in epidemiology studies or improve our understanding of the significance of VDR genetic polymorphisms on biological function. Keywords: functionality, polymorphism, haplotype, vitamin D receptor, VDR, 1,25(OH)2D3, structure-function analysis, biological responsiveness. / Prof. L. Bornman

The turtle is a unique model of anoxic survival. The turtle's brain can tolerate total oxygen deprivation for hours to days as well as prevent high levels of mitochondrial-derived free radicals upon re-oxygenation. Because of its ability to prevent elevated free radical generation, the turtle has also become recognized as a model of exceptional longevity. We are employing the turtle model for an investigation into the regulation of a key antioxidant enzyme system - methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs), primarily MsrA and MsrB. The Msr system is capable of reversing oxidation of methionines in proteins and Msr subtypes have been implicated in protecting tissues against oxidative stress, as well as, enhancing the longevity of organisms from yeast to mammals. Preliminary data, unpublished results, indicate that MsrA protein and transcripts are elevated by anoxia. A recent study on Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated that FOXO is involved in activation of the MsrA promoter. Using the turtle MsrA promoter sequence we worked to determine which regions in the promoter are necessary for activation by anoxia. The results of the present study were 1) to prepare a TAT-FOXO3a fusion protein which could penetrate animal cells and 2) to construct a FOXO3a expression vector for transcription studies on MsrA expression. / by Diana Navarro. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Inserido no paradigma da transdisciplinaridade, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido em etapas, com os seguintes objetivos: a) Construir um dispositivo com base de metal não magnético para ímãs permanentes, visando à geração de um Campo Magnético Estático (CME) ou de um Campo Magnético Compensado (CMC); b) Expor culturas de células mesenquimais a um CME e a um CMC, ou a nenhum campo (controle); c) Analisar a influência destes campos na viabilidade e proliferação celular e nos casos em que houve alteração em pelo menos um destes parâmetros, utilizar a análise proteômica como ferramenta para a compreensão dos mecanismos envolvidos. O dispositivo foi construído utilizando aço inoxidável, capaz de gerar dois tipos de Campos Magnéticos: Compensado (CMC) com intensidade de aproximadamente 0 mT e Estático (CME) com intensidade média de 165 mT. Estes campos foram aplicados a culturas de células mesenquimais de medula óssea de camundongos AJ (MSC/AJ), nos períodos de 0, 24, 48, 72 e 96 h (CMC) e 24 h (CME). Os efeitos sobre a proliferação e a viabilidade foram avaliados por método de contagem manual de células com marcação por azul de tripan. A análise proteômica foi realizada para os experimentos com CMC, com o objetivo de descrever as proteínas envolvidas nas alterações encontradas. A exposição ao CMC tendeu a reduzir a proliferação das células de medula óssea MSC/AJ em relação ao controle em 96 h, porém sem diferença significativa, o que poderia estar relacionado a proteínas que inibem a transcrição, como a Forkhead box protein P2 Foxp2. Este mesmo campo aumentou a viabilidade celular em relação ao baseline para todos os tempos experimentais, o que poderia estar relacionado a proteínas relacionadas à ligação ao Ca+2. Esses mecanismos, entretanto, precisam ser estudados mais profundamente para que possam ser comprovados ou não. Já a exposição ao CME levou a uma tendência à diminuição da proliferação e viabilidade celular em relação ao grupo controle, embora sem diferenças significativas, provavelmente por conta do tamanho amostral e tempo de avaliação (24 h). / Inserted in the transdisciplinarity paradigm, the present work was developed by steps with the following aims: a) To build a device of non-magnetic metal to hold permanent magnets for the generation of a Static Magnetic Field (SMF) or a Compensated Magnetic Field (CMF); b) To expose mesenchimal cells to the SMF and to CMF or to none of the fields (control); c) To analyze the influence of these fields on cell viability and cell proliferation and in the case where it occurred alteration in at least one of these parameters, to use proteomics as a tool for the comprehension of the involved mechanisms. The device was built in stainless steel, able to generate two kinds of Magnetic Fields: Compesated (CMF) with an intensity of nearly zero mT and Static (SMF) with a mean intensity of 165 mT. These fields were applied to bone marrow mesenchimal cell cultures from AJ mice (MSC/AJ), for 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h (CMF) and 24 h (SMF) periods. The effects on the proliferation and viability were assessed by tripan blue dying and manual counting of the cells. Proteomics was done for the experiments with CMF, aiming to describe the involved proteins on found alterations. The exposition to CMF tends to reduce the bone marrow cell proliferation of MSC/AJ in relation to control in 96 h, but with no significant difference, which may be related to proteins that inhibit the transcription, like Forkhead box protein P2 Foxp2. This very field raised the cell viability in relation to the baseline for all the experimental times that could be related to proteins connected to Ca2+ binding. However, these mechanisms need more experiments, so they can be confirmed or not. The exposition to the SMF tends to decrease both cell proliferation and viability in relation to the control group, although with no significant difference, probably because of the sample number and the exposition time (24h).

Orientador: Gisele Fabrino Machado / Banca: Felipe Augusto Ruiz Sueiro / Banca: Antonio Carlos Alessi / Resumo: A causa dos tumores da glândula perianal é desconhecida, entretanto eles podem ser modulados por influência de hormônios gonadais, basicamente a testosterona, uma vez que há uma alta prevalência (até 95%) de regressão da forma benigna dessa neoplasia após a castração dos machos. A proteína Ki-67 foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1983 é uma proteína nãohistona, que não é expressa em células na fase G0, mas que pode ser detectada nas fases ativas do ciclo celular, G1, S, G2 e mitose Verificou-se que o Ki-67 está associado com a proliferação celular, estando a população de células tumorais positivas ao Ki-67 correlacionada com a evolução clínica da doença. Foram estudados 42 casos de neoplasias da glândula perineal, sendo 15 adenomas, 15 epiteliomas, 12 carcinomas. Foram utilizadas 13 amostras de tecido de glândula perianal normal, como controle. De cada animal foram obtidas informações como: sexo, idade, raça, presença de outras neoplasias, se castrado ou não, se em caso de fêmea havia o uso de anticoncepcional, tempo de evolução, recidiva e tempo de sobrevida. Dos 42 casos de neoplasias de glândulas perianais, 34 (80,95%) foram provenientes de cães machos e 8 (19,05%) de fêmeas. A média de idade dos machos com a neoplasia foi de 9,8 anos, e das fêmeas 7,4 anos, sendo que para os dois sexos a idade variou de 5 a 15 anos. Em relação às raças, 11 (26,19%) eram S.R.D. (sem raça definida), 9 (21,42%) Poodle, 4 (9,52%) Cocker Spaniel e Husky Siberiano. O histórico de diagnóstico de outras neoplasias, foi constatado em 23,80% dos animais deste estudo. Em relação à castração, 32 (94,11%) dos machos não eram castrados e apenas 8 (19,05%) fêmeas eram. O tempo de evolução da neoplasia apresentou média de 1,2 anos. Histórico de recidiva da neoplasia foram relatados em 14 animais, sendo maior... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The cause of perianal gland tumors is unknown, though they may be modulated by the influence of gonadal hormones, primarily testosterone, since there is a high prevalence (up to 95%) of regression of the benign tumor after males castration. Protein Ki-67 was first described in 1983, and it is a nonhistone protein, which is not expressed in G0 phase cells, but can be detected in the active phases of the cell cycle, G1, S, G2 and mitosis. It was found that Ki-67 is associated with cell proliferation, and the population of tumor cells positive for Ki-67 correlated with clinical outcome. In this present work we studied 42 cases of perineal gland neoplasms, being 15 adenomas, 15 epitheliomas and 12 carcinomas. We used 13 tissue samples of normal perianal gland as control. From each animal we obtained information such as gender, age, race, presence of other malignancies, neutering status, whether if there were female contraceptive use, duration, recurrence and survival time. Of the 42 cases of perianal gland neoplasms, 34 (80.95%) were from males and eight dogs (19.05%) females. The males average age with cancer was 9.8 years and 7.4 years for females and for both sexes aged between 5 and 15 years. In regard to race, 11 (26.19%) were no breed, 9 (21.42%) were Poodle, and 4 (9.52%) were Siberian Husky and Cocker Spaniels. The history of diagnosis of other cancers, was found in 23.80% of the animals in this study. In relation to castration, 32 (94.11%) of males were not castrated and only 8 (19.05%) were females. The progression of the tumor showed an average of 1.2 years. History of recurrence of cancer were reported in 14 animals, and was higher (66.66%) for carcinomas. Ki-67 staining revealed that the carcinomas showed higher proliferation rate (9.87%) compared to groups of epitheliomas... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Inserido no paradigma da transdisciplinaridade, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido em etapas, com os seguintes objetivos: a) Construir um dispositivo com base de metal não magnético para ímãs permanentes, visando à geração de um Campo Magnético Estático (CME) ou de um Campo Magnético Compensado (CMC); b) Expor culturas de células mesenquimais a um CME e a um CMC, ou a nenhum campo (controle); c) Analisar a influência destes campos na viabilidade e proliferação celular e nos casos em que houve alteração em pelo menos um destes parâmetros, utilizar a análise proteômica como ferramenta para a compreensão dos mecanismos envolvidos. O dispositivo foi construído utilizando aço inoxidável, capaz de gerar dois tipos de Campos Magnéticos: Compensado (CMC) com intensidade de aproximadamente 0 mT e Estático (CME) com intensidade média de 165 mT. Estes campos foram aplicados a culturas de células mesenquimais de medula óssea de camundongos AJ (MSC/AJ), nos períodos de 0, 24, 48, 72 e 96 h (CMC) e 24 h (CME). Os efeitos sobre a proliferação e a viabilidade foram avaliados por método de contagem manual de células com marcação por azul de tripan. A análise proteômica foi realizada para os experimentos com CMC, com o objetivo de descrever as proteínas envolvidas nas alterações encontradas. A exposição ao CMC tendeu a reduzir a proliferação das células de medula óssea MSC/AJ em relação ao controle em 96 h, porém sem diferença significativa, o que poderia estar relacionado a proteínas que inibem a transcrição, como a Forkhead box protein P2 Foxp2. Este mesmo campo aumentou a viabilidade celular em relação ao baseline para todos os tempos experimentais, o que poderia estar relacionado a proteínas relacionadas à ligação ao Ca+2. Esses mecanismos, entretanto, precisam ser estudados mais profundamente para que possam ser comprovados ou não. Já a exposição ao CME levou a uma tendência à diminuição da proliferação e viabilidade celular em relação ao grupo controle, embora sem diferenças significativas, provavelmente por conta do tamanho amostral e tempo de avaliação (24 h). / Inserted in the transdisciplinarity paradigm, the present work was developed by steps with the following aims: a) To build a device of non-magnetic metal to hold permanent magnets for the generation of a Static Magnetic Field (SMF) or a Compensated Magnetic Field (CMF); b) To expose mesenchimal cells to the SMF and to CMF or to none of the fields (control); c) To analyze the influence of these fields on cell viability and cell proliferation and in the case where it occurred alteration in at least one of these parameters, to use proteomics as a tool for the comprehension of the involved mechanisms. The device was built in stainless steel, able to generate two kinds of Magnetic Fields: Compesated (CMF) with an intensity of nearly zero mT and Static (SMF) with a mean intensity of 165 mT. These fields were applied to bone marrow mesenchimal cell cultures from AJ mice (MSC/AJ), for 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h (CMF) and 24 h (SMF) periods. The effects on the proliferation and viability were assessed by tripan blue dying and manual counting of the cells. Proteomics was done for the experiments with CMF, aiming to describe the involved proteins on found alterations. The exposition to CMF tends to reduce the bone marrow cell proliferation of MSC/AJ in relation to control in 96 h, but with no significant difference, which may be related to proteins that inhibit the transcription, like Forkhead box protein P2 Foxp2. This very field raised the cell viability in relation to the baseline for all the experimental times that could be related to proteins connected to Ca2+ binding. However, these mechanisms need more experiments, so they can be confirmed or not. The exposition to the SMF tends to decrease both cell proliferation and viability in relation to the control group, although with no significant difference, probably because of the sample number and the exposition time (24h).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) --University of Limpopo, 2004 / Refer to the document / National Research Foundation (NRF) and the UNlN Research Commitee

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Phosphorous in its inorganic form, orthophosphate (Pi), is found in every compartment of the plant cell and serves as a substrate, product or effector for a wide range of metabolic processes. Several Pi transporters exist in plants and these help regulate Pi homeostasis within different cellular compartments. The PHT4 family of organellar Pi transporters consists of six members in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and five of these are localized to plastids. I used gene expression analyses and reverse genetics to demonstrate functional specialization for the PHT4 family members with a focus on PHT4;1 and PHT4;2. The PHT4;1 Pi transporter is localized to chloroplast thylakoid membranes and it is expressed in a circadian manner. Plants that lack a functional copy of the PHT4;1 gene have reduced rosette size and altered responses to photooxidative stress. The PHT4;2 transporter is localized to heterotrophic plastids in roots and other sink organs and pht4;2 mutants exhibit decreased starch accumulation, which is consistent with a defect in Pi export, and increased rosette size, which is caused by increased cell proliferation. These results confirm that PHT4;1 and PHT4;2 have specialized functions and that plastidic Pi homeostasis influences broad aspects of plant metabolism, including abiotic stress response and control of lateral organ growth.