Beneficial effect of hardening or cold adaptation for human health has been known for many decades. Beneficial or detrimental effect depends on the regimen and intensity of the adaptation and thus it is very important to pay attention to them. It has been shown in previous studies that cold adaptation of animals at a low temperature 0-4 žC is accompanied by dehydration and the damage of kidneys. As our best knowledge, the effect of mild cold adaptation on the molecular mechanisms in the heart has not been studied until now. The first aim of this study was to set up a new model of cold adaptation without any negative effects on the organism. The second aim was to assess mRNA levels of selected genes related to the important mechanisms associated with energy metabolism and cardio-protective signaling pathways in the left ventricle. Results obtained using the new model for cold adaptation at 102 řC did not show any negative changes in the blood or urine parameters and body fluid balance was maintained. Screening of mRNAs showed that chronic adaptation might affect the phenotype of the heart, transcriptional activity of the antioxidant system and of the pro-apoptotic genes, lowers adrenergic signaling and moderate glucose metabolism in cardiomyocytes. Key words: cold adaptation, heart, gene...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15% of couples in reproductive age suffer from infertility problems, and up to 60% of cases are caused by male factor. Causes of this condition could be genetic background, environmental factors and various diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DM on reproductive parameters and expression of selected testicular genes using mouse model (FVB inbred mouse strain). DM (type 1) was artificially induced by chemical substance streptozotocin, which causes destruction of pancreatic β cells. These mice were exposed to diabetic condition for 6 weeks and then subjected to analysis. Our results have shown that diabetic condition had an impact on body weight, weight of reproductive organs as well as kidneys and livers. We also observed decreased concentration and viability of diabetic sperm compared to control. Moreover, we noticed increased staining with apoptotic marker annexin V. Further, we evaluated changes of sperm nuclear proteins - protamines. In diabetic animals, we observed higher number of sperm with insufficient protamination. Nevertheless, protamine 1 to protamine 2 ratio (P1/P2), a marker of male fertility, was not altered in sperm of diabetic animals compared to control. Regarding the...

Regulation of expression DLX1 gene, whose elevated levels are detected in patients with acute myeloid leukemia with FLT3-ITD mutations, is not still completely explored topic. The first aim of this study was to determine which selected signaling pathways regulate gene expression of DLX1. ERK a JNK pathways were selected by using qRT-PCR and western blot. These pathways cause activation of the transcription factor AP-1 subunits, the AP-1 putative promoter binding site was identified also in the promoter of the DLX1 gene. The second aim of this study was to test the hypothesis on the regulation of gene expression of DLX1 (via ERK/JNK pathway) through AP-1 binding site on the promoter. Dual luciferase assay using luminescent luciferase activity was performed to test this hypothesis. Gene of the luciferase is contained in the used luciferase vector. The short and the long part of the DLX1 promoter (around AP-1 site) were inserted before the gene of the luciferase in the constructs used in this method. The results of this study indicate that the regulation of gene expression through AP-1 promoter binding site is important but not sufficient part of the regulatory cascade running through ERK and JNK pathway. There must be another transcription factors activated by ERK1/2 kinase which are probably also involved in...

Fat tissue plays a main role in the development of the metabolic syndrome. Many components of the metabolic syndrome may be improved by dietary arrangements, including an increased intake of n-3 PUFA. In addition to the positive effect of n-3 PUFA, a possible effect of a higher calcium intake on influencing weight loss and energy metabolism has also been discussed for a long time. In addition to nutritional factors, genetic factors significantly contribute to influencing weight and lipid and glucose metabolism. In study A, 40 obese women were observed during three weeks of weight reduction management. Women were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received yogurt enriched with n-3 PUFA, and the second group consumed yoghurt without the supplementation. The results show that low-dose supplementation with n-3 PUFA in yogurt in combination with a reduced energy intake increases n-3 PUFA content in serum lipids and prevents adverse changes in the composition of FA in serum after a short-term low-calorie diet. In study B, we monitored the influence of n-3 PUFA supplementation on short-term weight management with VLCD in 20 women with severe obesity, who were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received VLCD enriched with n-3 PUFA, the second group VLCD with a placebo. The addition of...

Bordetella pertussis is a strictly human pathogen and causative agent of infectious respiratory disease called whooping cough. In order to establish successful infection and colonization of the host, B. pertussis uses a broad spectrum of virulence factors such as adhesins (filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and fimbriae) and toxins (adenylate cyclase and pertussis toxins). In addition, the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) was also found in the genus Bordetella. In connection to our previous characterisation of B. pertussis strain lacking the gene encoding RNA chaperone Hfq (Δhfq), which proved that Hfq is required for T3SS functionality, the recombinant T3SS proteins BopB, BopD, BopC and BopN were purified to homogeneity. Next, the specific antibodies were obtained using purified recombinant proteins in order to study the production of the T3SS components in B. pertussis. Using refined anti- BopC antibodies it was for the first time shown that laboratory-adapted B. pertussis strain secretes BopC protein into medium. The recombinant translocators BopB and BopD were also used to examine their pore-forming activity using planar black lipid membranes. Based on the characterisation of hfq deletion mutant, having impaired production of membrane proteins when compared to the wild type, mass spectrometry...

Hlavním cílem této diplomové práce je analýza diferenciální exprese genů na základě negativního binomického modelu. Úvodní část je věnována teoretickému základu, pojednává o sekvenování RNA, sekvenování nové generace, výhodách a možném využití, formátu fastQ aj. Následující část už se zabývá samotnou praktickou částí, zde byl vybrán vhodný set genů, které budou později analyzovány a příslušná data byla stažena. Tato data byla zarovnána k lidskému genomu verze 37 Burrowsovou-Wheelerovou transformací s využitím bowtie mapovače, byly tak vytvořeny soubory ve formátu SAM. Toto soubory dat byly později setříděny pomocí nástroje SAMtools. Následně byly v programovém prostředí Matlab (verze R2013b) vytvořeny anotované objekty genů s využitím služby Ensembl´s BioMart. Dále byla určena genová exprese a byly odhadnuty faktory velikosti knihovny. Na závěr byly odhadnuty parametry negativního binomického rozložení a byla vyhodnocena diferenciální exprese genů.

This work concerns with data analysis of DNA microarrays by using cluster analysis. It explains biological terms - gene expression and DNA microarray. Next, it contains mathematical and informatical description of clustering methods and describes a way to apply these methods to microarrays data. Next, the work contains implementation's detail of clustering methods k-means, DBSCAN and introduces an original clustering algorithm Strom++. Then, description of implementation and application manual follow. Finally, accomplished results are evaluated.

TTL3 gene was identified by forward screening of genes involved in lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana based on its expression pattern. TTL3 belongs to the TTL (TETRATRICOPEPTIDE-REPEAT THIOREDOXIN-LIKE) gene family. The diploma thesis is aimed on characterisation of changes in TTL1, TTL3 a TTL4 promotor activities in response to external conditions (availability of nitrogen or phosphorus) that affect root growth. Obtained data should elucidate possible relation among TTL gene expression activities, root growth rate, and apical meristem activity. Nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency triggered changes in root growth and root system morphology of experimental plants. Short-term nitrogen deficiency stimulated root growth. Short-term phosphorus deficiency induced gradual growth cessation in main root and long laterals. Long-term deficiency reduced root growth of both N-deficient and P-deficient plants compared to control. The root system size of N-deficient and P-deficient plant was almost similar. Determination of promotor activity using β-glucuronidase reporter gene showed changes in expression activity and its localization in response to root growth intensity. TTL4 gene promotor activity was the most responsive. Its activity was generally higher in slowly growing roots, particularly under...

The genus Candida includes several opportunistically pathogenic species which are common causative agents of the yeast infections in humans. Although current medical research is focused mostly on cancer, AIDS or Alzheimer disease, the problem of systemic candidiases cannot be neglected. These infections represent a real threat to the immunocompromissed patients, they are connected with a high mortality rate and expensive medication with poor prognosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be an inspiration in a way of how to eliminate the pathogenic yeasts. The bacterium can inhibit growth of the most common yeast species of the genus Candida, C. albicans. This effect is based on production of toxic substances by the bacterium and on interaction of the bacterium with the C. albicans cell wall, which leads to the lysis of the yeast cells and which is not fully understood. Nevertheless, coexistence of these microorganisms is also possible and their relationship is affected by various factors. Knowledge of these inter- microbial interactions was obtained from studies of diseases and pathologies, during which C. albicans + P. aeruginosa coinfections occur. In this thesis I studied mechanisms of interaction between pathogenic yeast C. albicans and bacterium P. aeruginosa by a) C. albicans gene expression...

All orchid species studied so far have been shown to participate in orchideoid mycorrhizal symbiosis. Morover, this symbiosis is absolutely vital component of their life cycle. Exchange of nutrients occurs between symbionts where the fungi provides the orchid with energy and carbon supply at least in its early developmental stages. This study focuses on the possible role of trehalose in this transfer. In vitro experiments have showed in five species from three different subfamilies of Orchidaceae family that they can utilize trehalose comparably with sucrose and glucose. Thus, the ability of trehalose utilization seems to be conserved among orchids. Trehalase enzyme activity was localized histochemically in orchid mycorrhizas. The activity strongly colocalized with colonized tissue supporting a hypothesis that trehalose transfer occurs in this site and is mediated by trehalase. Using bioinformatic methods, trehalase gene duplications were identified in many taxons of Embryophyta including three orchid species. Interestingly, highest number of trehalase gene copies was identified in genome of orchid Dactylorhiza majalis. Trehalose utilization, high trehalase activity in mycorrhizas and trehalase gene duplications in some orchids together indicate that trehalose transfer in orchid myccorhizas...