Stevia or Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni are two of the numerous names of this subtropical plant with a sweetening power as much as 300 times higher than in case of sucrose. Stevia is a plant with a very interesting, but up to this date not very utilised potential. The fields of its application, processing, cultivation and wintering options have not been explored very extensively, and therefore I have decided to elaborate this topic related to the impact of the environmental conditions for growing of Stevia rebaudiana. The resources for the text of the diploma thesis were formed by available specialised publications and the Internet. The first part of the thesis represents a brief overview of the whole issue concerning the topic of Stevia rebaudiana. The objectives, hypotheses and methodology of the conducted research, including the findings based on the plant growing as well, and the evaluation of the experiment results have been included in the second part. The purpose of the thesis was to expand the knowledge regarding cultivation, reproduction methods and wintering options of the stevia plants. A field and a greenhouse experiments were staged with a focus on temperature indicators during the growing season and their impact on the total number of wintered plants. Simultaneously, an evaluation of the dry matter yield of the plants per an area unit and statistical processing and evaluation of the experiment results have been performed. Further, a determination of seed germination for Stevia rebaudiana in laboratory conditions has been conducted. The research results have shown that the plants obtained vegetatively are more suitable for cultivation due to a higher yield of the dry matter in both greenhouse as well as field conditions. The only pests invading stevia were the whiteflies appearing only in the greenhouse environment. Variable conditions were arranged for the wintering of the Stevia rebaudiana plants within the experiment; and in spite of the various materials and thermal insulation layers, the plants have not successfully wintered in an unheated environment. On the contrary, in the heated greenhouse space, most of the plants have successfully wintered. The stevia seed germination was low and proves the opinion of the majority of authors. The dry matter yields also matched the yields mentioned in the specialised literature.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:00:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2644910 bytes, checksum: 94bc3ca3dd5252435423f525d32a2ea9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-04-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by cell migration and bronchial hyperreactivity (HRB). One strategy to treat allergic diseases is the development of new drugs with good efficacy and few side effects. Flavonoids are plant compounds known for its antioxidant, antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities. Based on this premise, the study aimed to select flavonoids by the immunopharmacological screening and to evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic treatments in the experimental asthma model. For this purpose the flavonoids tested were myricetin, isoramnetin and glycosylated kampherol known as 3-O-[β-D-glycopiranosil-(1→6)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-kamferol (GRRK). The experimental model was BALB/c mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and the treatments were before (prophylactic) or after (therapeutic) to establishment of the experimental asthma model. The three flavonoids inhibited the animal death during the anaphylactic chock reaction induced by OVA and the inflammatory cell migration to the lung; however only the GRRK was used in the following experiments because of its best yield in the purification process. Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatments with GRRK (30 mg/kg) decreased significantly the total number of inflammatory cells (P< 0.05), eosinophils cells (P< 0.05), IL-5 (P< 0.05) and IL-13 (P< 0.05) production from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), IgE OVA-specific title (P< 0.01) in the sera, the bronchial hyperreactivity (HRB) (P< 0.05) induced by methacholine and mucus production (P< 0.001) by the globbet cells from the lung as compared with non-treated GRRK animals. The results obtained in the different treatments with GRRK were statistically comparable with that observed in the OVA-sensitized group treated with dexametasone. Moreover, treatment with GRRK was able to reduce the number of CD4+ T cells (p <0.001), B cells (p <0.001), expression of major complex of compatibility II class (MHC II class) and CD40 molecules in the antigen presenting cells (CD11b+ CD11c+) from BAL. Although the GRRK induced a suppressive effect in the Th2 immune response it was not able to exacerbate the Th1 immune response by IFN- production. The production of this cytokine was not modified when compared with non treated animals. The GRRK treatment also was not able to modify the regulatory immune response because there was no significant change in the production of TGF- and the number of TCD4+Foxp3+, a marker of LT regulatory (TReg). These results demonstrated that GRRK treatment before (prophylactic) or after (therapeutic) the establishment of allergic asthma, restored the morpho-functional changes in the airways by Th2-dependent immunossupression, although independent of Th1 and TReg. / A asma é uma doença inflamatória crônica caracterizada por migração celular para os pulmões e hiperreatividade brônquica (HRB). Uma estratégia para o tratamento de doenças alérgicas é o desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos com boa eficácia e poucos efeitos colaterais. Flavonóides são compostos derivados de plantas conhecidos por suas atividades antioxidante, antialérgica e antiinflamatória. Partindo desta premissa, o trabalho teve como objetivo selecionar flavonóides a partir de análises imunofarmacológicas e avaliar os tratamentos profiláticos ou terapêuticos no modelo de asma alérgica experimental. Para tal, os flavonóides testados foram: myricetina, isoramnetina e kanferol glicosilado conhecido por 3-O-[β-D-glycopiranosil-(1→6)-α-L-ramnopiranosil]-7-O-α-L-ramnopiranosil-kanferol (GRRK). O modelo experimental foi realizado em camundongos BALB/c sensibilizados e desafiados com ovalbumina (OVA) e os tratamentos foram antes (profilático) ou após (terapêutico) estabelecer o modelo de asma alérgica experimental. Os três flavonóides inibiram a morte dos animais durante o choque anafilático induzido por OVA e a migração de células da inflamação para os pulmões, entretanto, apenas o GRRK foi usado nos demais experimentos, devido ao seu melhor rendimento no processo de purificação. Os tratamentos profilático e terapêutico com GRRK (30 mg/kg) diminuíram, de forma significativa, o número total de células inflamatórias (P< 0,05), de eosinófilos (P< 0,05) a produção de IL-5 (P< 0,05) e IL-13 (P< 0,05) no lavado broncoalveolar (LBA), o título de IgE-OVA-específica (P< 0,01) no soro, a hiperreatividade brônquica (HRB) (P< 0,05) induzida com metacolina e a produção de muco (P< 0,001) pelas células caliciformes de pulmão quando comparados com os animais não tratados com GRRK e sensibilizado com OVA. Os resultados obtidos nos diferentes tratamentos com GRRK foram comparáveis estatisticamente aos efeitos observados no grupo de animais tratados com a droga padrão dexametasona. Além disso, o tratamento com GRRK foi capaz de diminuir: o número de linfócitos T CD4+ (P< 0,001) e de linfócitos B (P< 0,001), a expressão de moléculas de classe II do complexo principal de histocompatibilidade (MHC II) e da molécula CD40 em células apresentadoras de antígeno (CD11b+CD11c+) do LBA. Embora o tratamento com GRRK tenha induzido um efeito supressor na resposta imune de perfil Th2, não foi capaz de exacerbar a resposta imune Th1 com a produção de IFN- A produção desta citocina se manteve inalterada quando comparada ao grupo de animais não tratados. O tratamento também não foi capaz de alterar a reposta imune reguladora, pois não houve mudança significativa na produção de TGF- e no número de células TCD4+Foxp3+, marcador de LT regulador (LTReg). Esses resultados demonstram que o tratamento com GRRK antes (profilático) ou depois (terapêutico) de estabelecer a asma alérgica experimental, restabeleceu as alterações morfofuncionais das vias aéreas, por um mecanismo modulador das células Th2, embora independente de Th1 e de Treg

As mudanças climáticas estão causando prejuízos em vários setores da economia mundial. Na reunião da COP21, que teve como foco estas mudanças climáticas, participantes do mundo todo decidiram tomar atitudes urgentes para tentar conter aumento da temperatura média global. Dentro deste cenário, a produção e o consumo de energia têm uma importância central, onde fontes de energia renováveis vêm sendo preferidas às fontes de energias fósseis. O Brasil tem uma participação importante na geração de energia renovável mundial aportando um 40% do total de sua matriz energética. A degradação dos componentes da parede celular vegetal tem um vasto potencial na geração de biocombustíveis e outros compostos verdes a partir da celulose, hemicelulose e lignina. Para isto estudos das enzimas capazes de degradas estes componentes vem sendo realizados, com ênfase nas enzimas hidrolases de glicosídeos. Dentre as hidrolases, encontram-se as arabinanases, enzimas capazes de hidrolisar o arabinano, componente polissacídeo da hemicelulose, em L-arabinose. Neste trabalho, estudos envolvendo duas arabinanases de Bacillus licheniformis foram realizados, iniciando na etapa de clonagem dos genes. Os produtos foram transformados em Escherichia coli e expressos e purificados. A avaliação da estabilidade térmica indicou uma afinidade das enzimas por metais divalentes. Tentativas de cristalização resultaram na formação de um cristal, que possibilitou a determinação da estrutura uma das arabinanases. Através de ensaios bioquímicos, foi determinada a especificidade por substrato, temperatura e pH ótimos e a atividade frente a metais. Foi observado que as enzimas são seletivas para arabinano não ramificado, tem temperatura ótima em 45 e 40 graus, para BlAbn-1 e BlAbn-2, respectivamente, e pH ótimo em 8 e 7. Por último, foram realizados ensaios complementares de sinergismo e atividade oxidativa. Embora os ensaios de atividade oxidativa tenham sido inconclusivos, os ensaios de sinergismo mostraram que a enzima BlAbn-1 é capaz de aumentar em 30% a atividade do coquetel enzimático Accellerase 1500 sobre biomassa pré-tratada e sobre celulose pura. Este efeito é ainda maior na presença de sulfato de níquel. / Climate change is causing losses in different sectors of the world economy. At the meeting of COP21, focused on climate changes, participants from around the world decided to take urgent actions to try to halt the increase in global average temperature. Within this scenario, the production and consumption of energy are of central importance, where renewable energy sources have been preferred to fossil fuels. Brazil has an important role in the global renewable energy generation by contributing 40% of its total energy mix. The degradation of the components of plant cell wall has a vast potential in the generation of biofuels and other green chemical from cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Thus, studies of enzymes that degrade these components have been carried out, with emphasis on glycoside hydrolases. Among the hydrolases are the arabinanases, enzymes capable of hydrolyzing arabinan, a polysaccharide component of hemicellulose, in L-arabinose. In this work, studies involving two arabinanases from Bacillus licheniformis were carried out, starting in gene cloning step. The products were transformed into Escherichia coli, expressed and purified. The evaluation of the thermal stability of the enzymes showed an affinity for divalent metals. Crystallization attempts resulted in the formation of a single crystal, which made it possible to determine the crystal structure of one arabinanase. Through biochemical assays, it was determined the substrate specificity, optimum temperature and pH and activity against metals. It was observed that the enzymes are selective for non-branched arabinan, have optimum temperature at 45 and 40 degrees, to BlAbn-1 and BlAbn-2, respectively, and optimum pH of 8 and 7. Finally, additional tests were performed to evaluate the possible synergism and oxidative activity. Although the oxidative activity assays were inconclusive, the synergism tests showed that BlAbn-1 is able to increase by 30% the activity of the enzymatic cocktail Accellerase 1500 on pre-treated biomass and on pure cellulose. This effect is even greater in the presence of nickel sulfate.

Orientador: Munir Salomão Skaf / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T19:29:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silveira_RodrigoLeandro_D.pdf: 21325666 bytes, checksum: e2332474509730ff297050a513a97a70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A produção de bioetanol a partir da biomassa lignocelulósica integra processos físico-químicos e enzimáticos que comprometem sua viabilidade econômica. A biomassa possui uma estrutura recalcitrante composta de celulose, hemicelulose e lignina. Tal estrutura, bem como os mecanismos das enzimas, não são bem compreendidos. Nesta tese, simulações de dinâmica molecular e a teoria mecânico-estatística 3D-RISM foram utilizada para investigar aspectos moleculares da degradação de biomassa, incluindo: (1) dinâmica estrutural de celulases; (2) base molecular da termofilicidade de laminarinaes; (3) disrupção não-hidrolítica de biomassa por expansinas; (4) nanoarquitetura da parede ceular primária; e (5) forças termodinâmicas da parede celular secundária. No tópico (1), observou-se que a acessibilidade ao substrato em celulases pode ser modulada por alterações na estrutura primária, com consequências para a atividade enzimática. Observou-se também que a inibição por produto está relacionada a alterações conformacionais de resíduos próximos ao sítio de ligação. Adicionalmente, alterações na dinâmica intrínseca das enzimas ocorrem conforme a etapa do processo de hidrólise. No tópico (2), os resultados mostraram que a conformação do sítio de ligação ao substrato de laminarinases é sensível a variações de temperatura. No tópico (3), observou-se que a expansina pode transladar sobre a superfície da celulose e induzir torções em cadeias de glucano, sugerindo a possibilidade de romper ligações de hidrogênio celulose-celulose e/ou celulose/xiloglucano como um zíper. No tópico (4), observou-se que a agregação de nanofibrilas de celulose se dá através de suas faces hidrofílicas e que a presença de hemicelulose estabiliza tal agregação. No tópico (5), os resultados mostraram que as forças de coesão da parede celular secundária são de natureza entrópica e que a composição química da lignina modula as interações lignina-lignina e lignina-hemicelulose / Abstract: Biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass involves physico-chemical and enzymatic processes that challenge its economic viability. The lignocellulosic biomass is recalcitrant against degradation and is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. This structure and the enzyme mechanisms are not fully understood. In this thesis, molecular dynamics simulations and the statistical mechanical theory 3D-RISM were employed to assess molecular aspects of the biomass degradation, including: (1) structural dynamics of cellulases; (2) molecular basis of the thermophilicity of laminarinases; (3) non-hydrolytic disruption of biomass by expansins; (4) primary cell wall nanoarchitecture; and (5) thermodynamic forces of the secondary cell wall. In the topic (1), we observed that cellulase substrate accessibility can be modulated through changes in its primary structure, with consequences to the enzymatic activity. Moreover, the product inhibition is related to conformational changes of residues located close to the substrate binding site. In addition, changes of the intrinsic dynamics allow cellulases change their function according to the hydrolysis step. In the topic (2), we show that the substrate binding site conformation of laminarinases is sensitive to temperature variations. In the topic (3), we observed that the expansin can translade over the cellulose surface and induce torsions in free glucan chains, suggesting the possibility of disruption of cellulose-cellulose and cellulose-xyloglucan hydrogen bonds as a ziper. In the topic (4), the results showed that the aggregation of cellulose nanofibrils takes place through their hydrophilic face and that hemicellulose plays roles in stabilizing such aggregation. In the topic (5), we observed that the cohesion forces within the secondary cell wall are of entropic origin and that the lignin chemical composition modulates the lignin-lignin and lignin-hemicellulose interactions / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Ciências

No description available.

Les travaux rapportés dans ce mémoire concernent le développement de nouvelles réactions métallo-catalysées en séries hétérocycliques et osidiques ainsi que leurs applications à la synthèse d’inhibiteurs de la Hsp90.La première partie de ce manuscrit est consacrée à l’étude de la réactivité des N-aminoazoles dans les couplages pallado-catalysés. Des nouvelles conditions ont été développées pour la synthèse d’analogues à motif N-aminoazole ainsi que leur évaluation biologique. Nous avons également étudié la réactivité de 1-aminoindole dans la réaction de N-H et C-H arylation conduisant à des composés inédits à motifs tetraheterocyliques. La seconde partie de ce travail est dédiée à la synthèse de quinolin-2-ones N-glycosylées. Nous avons développé une nouvelle méthode pour préparer efficacement les N-glycosyl quinolin-2-ones via une réaction pallado-catalysée. Nous avons également développé un nouveau protocole pour accéder aux 4-aryl N-glycosyl quiolin-2-ones via une réaction domino Heck/ Buchwald-Hartwig. Les produits synthétisés dans cette partie ont été utilisés pour la création d’une série inédite d’analogues de 6BrCaQ N-glycosylés. L’activité antiproliférative de ces molécules a été évaluée et sera présentée dans ce manuscrit. / The work reported in this dissertation concerns the development of new metal-catalyzed reactions for the creation of carbon-heteroatom and carbon-carbon bonds as well as their applications to the synthesis of biologically active products.The first part of this manuscript is devoted to the study of the reactivity of N-aminoazoles, in particulars N-aminoindole in palladium-catalyzed couplings. New conditions were developed for the synthesis of new analogues of 6BrCaQ and study their biological evaluation. Moreover, we studied the reactivity of N-aminoindole under palladium-catalyzed systems via the N–H and C–H functionalization in order to afford fused tetra(hetero)cycle compounds. The second part of this work is dedicated to the synthesis of N-glycosylated quinolin-2-one compounds. We have developed a new method to prepare N-glycosyl quinolin-2-ones via intramolecular palladium-catalyzed CN arylation. To access to the 4-aryl N-glycosyl quiolin-2-ones, the domino Heck/ Buchwald-Hartwig CN arylation reaction was also studied. The synthesized products in this section were used for the creation of a new series of N-glycosylated analogues of 6BrCaQ. The antiproliferative activity of these molecules has been evaluated and will be presented in this manuscript.

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) clones within close proximity to one another can exhibit drastically different levels of browsing by ungulates. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine interclonal differences in plant chemistry between adjacent clones exhibiting different degrees of herbivory which may influence the browsing behavior and patterns of ungulates, and (2) determine if correlation exists in the levels of salicortin and tremulacin between current year's suckers and current year's growth on older trees. This second objective was meant to indicate a protocol for land managers for identifying clones meriting increased protection from herbivory after treatment and wildfire. In July of 2005, 6 pairs of clones were identified on the Dixie National Forest, Utah, and on Cedar Mountain, east of Cedar City, Utah. Pairs consisted of 2 clones within the same pasture and/or grazing allotment and within a minimal distance from one another; one clone displaying moderate to high levels of ungulate utilization of aspen suckers, and one exhibiting minimal to no ungulate utilization of aspen suckers. Soil samples were taken at each clone and leaf tissues were sampled to determine genet. Aspen suckers were sampled for nutrient content, combined phenolic glycoside concentration (salicortin and tremulacin), condensed tannins, and the presence of extra floral nectaries (EFNs), at intervals throughout the growing season (August 3-6, August 31-September 2, and October 12-14). Current year's growth from representative mature trees was sampled for phenolic glycoside concentration at these times as well. All tests demonstrated high levels of insignificance for both leaves and stems.Sucker nitrogen values may have been elevated during portions of the sampling year in clones displaying moderate to high levels of ungulate utilization, possibility indicating an ungulate preference for nitrogen, but due to missing values, this is far from conclusive. P-values for forest floor factors were also highly non-significant with the exception of forest floor C (0.04) in the regenerating clones. Two post-project hypotheses are postulated in an attempt to explain the differences of forest floor carbon in terms of factors that may be influencing ungulate herbivory.

No description available.

No description available.

The aim of this work was to develop a production process for the enzyme xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase from Populus tremula x tremuloides (PttXET16-34). The natural transglycosylating activity of this enzyme has previously been employed in a XET-Technology. This chemo enzymatic method is useful for biomimetic modification of cellulose surfaces and holds great potential for industrial applications. Thus, it requires that the XET-enzyme can be produced in larger scale. This work also shows how the wildtype PttXET16-34 was modified into a glycosynthase. By mutation of the catalytic nucleophile into an alanine, glycine or serine residue, enzymes capable of synthesising defined xyloglucan fragments were obtained. These defined compounds are very valuable for further detailed studies of xyloglucan active-enzymes, but are also useful in molecular studies of the structurally important xyloglucan-cellulose interaction. A heterologous production system for PttXET16-34 was previously developed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. A methanol-limited fed-batch process was also previously established, but the yield of active XET was low due to proteolysis problems and low productivity. Therefore, two alternative fed-batch techniques were investigated for the production of PttXET16-34: a temperature-limited fed-batch (TLFB) and an oxygen-limited high-pressure fed-batch (OLHPFB). For the initial recovery of XET after the fermentation process, two different downstream processes were investigated: expanded bed adsorption (EBA) and cross-flow filtration (CFF). / <p>QC 20101108</p>