Wang Huan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-158). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.I / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.VIII / ABSTRACT --- p.1 / 摘要 --- p.3 / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION / Chapter I. --- The essential factors related to cancer --- p.5 / Chapter a. --- Carcinogens --- p.5 / Chapter b. --- Carcinogenesis pathways --- p.7 / Chapter c. --- DNA adducts formation and breast cancer --- p.7 / Chapter II. --- Cytochrome P450 I enzyme family --- p.8 / Chapter a. --- CYP450 superfamily --- p.8 / Chapter b. --- CYP1A1 --- p.10 / Chapter c. --- CYP1B1 --- p.11 / Chapter III. --- Transactivation of CYP1 enzymes by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) --- p.12 / Chapter IV. --- Phase II enzyme UGT and cancer prevention --- p.13 / Chapter V. --- Estrogen metabolism and the hormone-dependent breast cancer --- p.15 / Chapter a. --- Estrogen and breast cancer initiation --- p.15 / Chapter b. --- Estrogen Receptor (ER) --- p.15 / Chapter c. --- Estradiol hydroxylation pathways --- p.15 / Chapter VI. --- Phytochemicals and cancer prevention --- p.18 / Chapter VII. --- Outline of this study --- p.20 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter I. --- Chemicals --- p.21 / Chapter II. --- Cell culture and treatments --- p.21 / Chapter 1. --- Maintenance of cells --- p.21 / Chapter 2. --- Preparation of cell stock --- p.22 / Chapter 3. --- Cell recovery from liquid nitrogen stock --- p.22 / Chapter 4. --- Measurement of cell viability --- p.22 / Chapter 5. --- Preparation of cell lysates --- p.23 / Chapter 6. --- XRE-luciferase gene reporter assay --- p.23 / Chapter a. --- Transient transfection of cell using lipofectamine PLUS reagent --- p.23 / Chapter b. --- Dual Luciferase Assay --- p.24 / Chapter III. --- Enzyme Activities --- p.24 / Chapter 1. --- Isolation of microsomes --- p.24 / Chapter 2. --- EROD activities in intact cells --- p.24 / Chapter 3. --- EROD inhibition assay --- p.25 / Chapter IV. --- Manipulation of Nuclear Acid --- p.26 / Chapter 1. --- Preparation of transfected DNA --- p.26 / Chapter a. --- Separation and purification of DNA from agarose gel --- p.26 / Chapter b. --- Restriction digestion --- p.26 / Chapter c. --- Ligation of DNA fragments --- p.27 / Chapter d. --- Transformation of DH5a --- p.27 / Chapter e. --- Small scale plasmid purification from DH5a (mini prep) --- p.28 / Chapter f. --- Large scale plasmid isolation from DH5a (maxi-prep) --- p.28 / Chapter g. --- Construction of XRE activated luciferase reporter gene --- p.29 / Chapter 2. --- Measurement of DMBA-DNA adduct formation --- p.29 / Chapter 3. --- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR Assay --- p.30 / Chapter a. --- Isolation of RNA using TRIzol® Reagent --- p.30 / Chapter b. --- RT-PCR --- p.31 / Chapter V. --- Phase II enzyme-UGT activity assay --- p.32 / Chapter VI. --- HPLC for estradiol-hydroxylation analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 1. --- HPLC condition for hydroxyestradiol separation and measurement --- p.33 / Chapter 2. --- Determination of microsomal estradiol hydroxylase activity --- p.34 / Chapter 3. --- Assay of estradiol metabolism in MCF-7 cells --- p.34 / Chapter VII. --- Statistical Analysis --- p.35 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- CHALCONES ANTAGONIZE DMBA-INDUCED CARCINOGENESIS BY MODULATION OF CYP1A1/1B1 AND UGT ACTIVITIES / Chapter Part One --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter Part Two --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter Section One --- Chalcones antagonize DMBA carcinogenesis by inhibiting CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 activities --- p.40 / Chapter I. --- Chalcones inhibited DMBA-induced EROD activities in MCF-7 cells --- p.40 / Chapter II. --- Inhibition of chalcones on microsomal CYP1A1 & 1B1 enzyme activities --- p.43 / Chapter III. --- Reduction of DMBA-induced DNA adduct by chalcones --- p.52 / Chapter IV. --- Chalcones antagonized CYP1A1 XRE transactivation --- p.54 / Chapter V. --- Chalcones suppressed DMBA-induced CYP1 gene expression --- p.56 / Chapter Section Two --- Chalcones modulate DMBA carcinogenesis by regulating UGT activities --- p.63 / Chapter I . --- Chalcones regulated UGT1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells --- p.63 / Chapter II. --- Chalcones affected UGT enzyme activity in HepG2 cells --- p.70 / Chapter III. --- Chalcones regulated UGT1A1 gene expression in HepG2 cells --- p.73 / Chapter Part Three --- Discussion --- p.80 / Chapter I . --- Chalcones are potential chemopreventive agents --- p.80 / Chapter II. --- Chalcones modulated Phase I enzyme activities --- p.80 / Chapter III. --- Chalcones regulated Phase II enzyme activities --- p.82 / Chapter IV. --- Chalcones suppressed DMBA-induced DNA-adduct formation in MCF-7 cells --- p.82 / Chapter V. --- The anti-carcinogenic properties of chalcones and their structures --- p.83 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECTS OF PERILLYL ALCOHOL AND LIMONENE ON CYP1 AND UGT ENZYMES / Chapter Part One --- Introduction --- p.85 / Chapter Part Two --- Results --- p.87 / Chapter I. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene modulated DMBA-induced CYP1A1/1B1 activities in MCF-7 cells --- p.87 / Chapter II. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene regulated microsomal CYP1A1/1B1 activities --- p.89 / Chapter III. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene regulated DMBA-induced DNA adduct formation in MCF-7 cells --- p.93 / Chapter IV. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene regulated CYP1A1 & CYP1B1 gene expressions in MCF-7 cells --- p.95 / Chapter V. --- Effect of perillyl alcohol on CYP1A1 XRE transactivation --- p.97 / Chapter VI. --- Cytotoxic effect of perillyl alcohol and limonene on MCF-7 cells --- p.98 / Chapter VII. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene modulated UGT1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells --- p.99 / Chapter VIII. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene modulated UGT enzyme in HepG2 cells --- p.101 / Chapter Part Three --- Discussion --- p.106 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- LYCOPENE MEDIATED DMBA-INDUCED PHASE I & PHASE II ENZYME ACTIVITIES AND GENE EXPRESSIONS / Chapter Part Three --- Introduction --- p.109 / Chapter I. --- Biochemical properties of lycopene --- p.109 / Chapter II. --- Bioavailability of lycopene --- p.110 / Chapter III. --- Lycopene and cancers in hormonal sensitive tissues --- p.110 / Chapter Part Two --- Results --- p.111 / Chapter I . --- Lycopene modulated DMBA-induced CYP1A1/1B1 activities in MCF-7 cells --- p.111 / Chapter II. --- Lycopene competitively inhibited microsomal CYP1A1 & CYP1B1 activities --- p.113 / Chapter III. --- Lycopene suppressed DMBA-induced DNA adduct formation in MCF-7 cells --- p.115 / Chapter IV. --- Lycopene regulated CYP1A1 & CYP1B1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells --- p.116 / Chapter V. --- Effect of lycopene on CYP1A1 XRE trasactivation --- p.117 / Chapter VI. --- Cytotoxic effect of lycopene on MCF-7 cells --- p.118 / Chapter VII. --- Lycopene modulated UGT enzyme in MCF-7 cells --- p.119 / Chapter VIII. --- Lycopene modulated UGT enzyme in HepG2 cells --- p.121 / Chapter Part Three --- Discussion --- p.123 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CHALCONES AND PERILLYL ALCOHOL REGULATEDCYP1A1 & CYP1B1 MEDIATED ESTRADIOL METABOLIZING PATHWAYS / Chapter Part One --- Introduction --- p.125 / Chapter I . --- Estrogen hydroxylation and human breast cancer risk --- p.125 / Chapter II. --- CYP1 enzymes catalyze estradiol-hydroxylation in human breast cancer cells --- p.126 / Chapter III. --- Phytochemicals mediate estrogen-hydroxylation pathways --- p.126 / Chapter Part Two --- Estrogen metabolite detection and separation by HPLC --- p.127 / Chapter Part Three --- Results --- p.129 / Chapter I . --- Perillyl alcohol modulated CYP1A1 & CYP1B1-mediated Estradiol hydroxylation --- p.129 / Chapter II. --- Kinetics assays of chalcones on CYP1A1 & CYP1B1 microsomes induced estradiol hydroxylation --- p.131 / Chapter III. --- Chalcones suppressed Estradiol-hydroxylase activities in MCF-7 cells --- p.137 / Chapter Part Four --- Discussion --- p.140 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- SUMMARY / Chapter I . --- Chalcones displayed inhibitory effects on DMBA-induced carcinogenesis --- p.142 / Chapter II. --- Perillyl alcohol and limonene modulated DMBA-induced carcinogenesis --- p.143 / Chapter III. --- Lycopene also possessed chemoproventive properties --- p.143 / APPENDIX 1 ABBREVIATIONS --- p.144 / APPENDIX 2 REAGENTS --- p.145 / APPENDIX 3 PRIMER LISTS --- p.147 / REFERENCE --- p.148

The overwhelming occurrence and structural diversity of carbohydrates in Nature indicate their importance in a range of fundamental life processes. Indeed, it is this diversity that has lead to the two equally diverse groups of carbohydrate-processing enzymes, namely the glycoside hydrolases and glycosyl transferases. Thus, understanding the role of both carbohydrates and their processing enzymes in biological systems has attracted significant attention. This thesis, firstly, describes endeavours towards the synthesis of an inositol ?- amino acid, along with a series of sugar α-substituted carboxylic acid esters, utilising an extension of the modified Corey-Link reaction. The emphasis of the thesis is then shifted towards the synthesis of a putative inhibitor of a family GH26 lichenase from Clostridium thermocellum (CtLic26A). The preparation of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-laminarbiosyl fluoride 1 is described, along with elaboration into oligosaccharides utilising AbgE358G glycosynthase technology. Crystallographic investigations indicated that the transition state adopted by CtLic26A is in stark contrast to that utilised by the related family GH26 mannanase from Pseudomonas cellulose (Man26A). ... Following on from this work, expanding the role of the AbgE358G glycosynthase acceptor repertoire to accommodate inositol substrates was explored, furthering the synthetic utility of this enzyme. Thus, a number of inositol acceptors bearing an aryl anchor, for example 2, were prepared and shown to be surrogates for carbohydrate acceptors. ... The thesis then describes the synthesis of an acetamide derivative of 1-epivalienamine, namely 3, a putative inhibitor of β-N-acetylglucosaminidases. Both the synthesis of 3, along with kinetic data for four β-N-acetylglucosaminidases, is reported; as well, Western blot analysis indicated no inhibition of a recombinant OGTase. ... Related to the preparation of a putative inhibitor of β-N-acetylglucosaminidases was the synthesis of a conformationally rigid carbocycle derivative of PUGNAc 4, along with two other derivatives 5 and 6. These compounds were also tested against four β-N-acetylglucosaminidases and a recombinant OGTase. ... Finally, the synthesis of a mechanism-based inhibitor of family GH3 β-Nacetylglucosaminidases, namely 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5-fluoro-β-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride 7, is described. The incorporation of an azido moiety allows for the utilisation of 8 as an effective probe of β-N-acetylglucosaminidases. ...

Glycoscience is important in many areas such as human health, energy and material science. Glycans have been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of almost every major disease. Additional glycan structure knowledge is required to help advance personal medicine, and pharmaceutical developments, among others. For glycoscience to advance there is a need for large quantities of well-defined glycans and have quick access to glycosyltransferases for manipulating glycan synthesis. Herein, we will cover our efforts on studying the substrate specificities of human glycosyltransferases such as FUT8 and Gn-T V, and their application on N-glycan synthesis. Complex asymmetric N-glycan isomer structures have been related to many diseases such as breast cancer, among others. Synthesis of complex asymmetric N-glycan isomer structures including: alpha-1,6 core-fucosylated, and tri-antennary structures can be achieved by taking advantage of the high specificity of glycosyltransferases that can work as unique catalyst to generate well-defined glycan structures.

A parede celular de plantas é formada basicamente por celulose, hemicelulose e lignina. A formação dos polímeros de hemicelulose depende do suprimento de precursores chamados de açúcares-nucleotídeos. A biossíntese das diferentes estruturas de hemicelulose da parede celular envolve a participação de enzimas pertencentes às famílias das glicosiltransferases (GTs). Estudos feitos em Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa (arroz) e Zea mays (milho) auxiliaram na descoberta de 11 enzimas da via de interconversão nucleotídeo-açúcar e de enzimas da família das glicosiltransferases (GTs), como as GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61 e GT75, envolvidas na biossíntese de hemicelulose. O presente trabalho visa a identificação de genes da via de biossíntese de hemicelulose da parede celular de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) e análise filogenética entre Arabidopsis thaliana (planta modelo de eudicotiledôneas), Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor e Saccharum spp. Foram identificados os genes das famílias GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61, GT75, CSL, Epimerase e UDPG em cana-de-açúcar a partir da busca em sete bibliotecas de RNA-Seq utilizando as sequências de O. sativa, Z. mays e S. bicolor como referência. Os domínios específicos de cada família gênica foram confirmados através do programa PFAM e consequentemente anotados. A identificação e anotação das sequencias possibilitou a construção de bancos de sequências das famílias envolvidas na biossíntese de hemicelulose para as espécies A. thaliana, B. distachyon, O. sativa, Z. mays e S. bicolor. Foram identificadas para cada espécie, respectivamente, um total de 67, 49, 49, 60 e 56 genes bona fides. O presente trabalho, além da identificação de genes nas diferentes espécies, permitiu a identificação e seleção de 27 genes candidatos envolvidos na biossíntese de hemicelulose em cana-de-açúcar e possivelmente envolvidos na recalcitrância da parede celular nas diferentes bibliotecas de RNA-Seq de cana-de-açúcar. / The plant cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The formation of hemicellulose polymers lies on the supply of the so-called sugar-nucleotide precursors. The diverse hemicellulose structures biosynthesis of cell wall involves the participation of enzymes belonging to the families of glycosyltransferases (GTs). Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa (rice) and Zea mays (corn) aid the discovery of 11 enzymes of the nucleotide sugar interconversion pathway and enzymes of the GT family, as GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61 e GT75, involved in the hemicelluloses biosynthesis. This study aims to the identification of hemicellulose biosynthesis pathway genes from the cell wall of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and phylogenetic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana (eudicotyledonous plant model), Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Saccharum spp. The genes of the GT2, GT8, GT 43, GT47, GT61, GT75, CSL, epimerase and UDPG families were identified in sugarcane from a search in seven RNA-Seq libraries using the sequences of O. sativa, Z. mays and S. bicolor as reference. The specific domains of each gene family have been confirmed through the PFAM program and consequently noted. The identification and annotation of the sequences enabled the construction of sequences banks of the families involved in hemicellulose biosynthesis in the species A. thaliana, B. distachyon, O. sativa, Z. mays and S. bicolor. It was identified for each species, respectively, a total of 67, 49, 49, 60 and 56 bona fides genes. This work, in addition to the identification of genes in different species, allowed the identification and selection of 27 candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of hemicelluloses in sugarcane and possibly involved in cell wall recalcitrance in the different sugarcane RNA-Seq libraries.

Glycosyltransferase enzymes synthesize glycosidic linkages, generating carbohydrates and carbohydrate-linked entities ranging from cellulose, starch, and chitin to glycolipids, glycopeptides, and natural product antibiotics. These syntheses involve stereo- and regio-specific sugar transfer from an activated donor molecule, often a UDP-sugar, to an acceptor molecule. Functionally, glycosyltransferases are classified as either “retaining” or “inverting” enzymes depending on whether the stereochemical linkage of the donor substrate is conserved in the product. While inverting glycosyltransfer is mechanistically straightforward, the retaining mechanism remains poorly understood. For retaining glycosyltransferases, the central question is whether transfer occurs via a front-face “SNi-like” mechanism or through a ‘double displacement’ mechanism that invokes a glycosyl-enzyme covalent intermediate. GTA and GTB are retaining enzymes that catalyze the final step in human ABO(H) blood group A and B antigen synthesis through UDP-GalNAc or UDP-Gal transfer, respectively, to the H-antigen disaccharide acceptor. Although they have been intensively characterized, the processes of substrate recognition, mobile loop organization, and product release in GTA and GTB has long resisted explanation. Further, the question of the retaining enzyme mechanism persists, though the covalent intermediate of the proposed double displacement mechanism has been detected via mass spectrometry experiments with GTA/GTB mutants. Building on previous investigations, we have aimed to characterize and have uncovered details of mechanism, substrate binding, loop organization, and product release using a combined kinetic and structural approach. These investigations are essential not only for understanding GTA, GTB, and retaining glycosyltransferases as a whole, but also for the rational design of inhibitors. Such inhibitors could selectively target, for example, bacterial glycosyltransferases and thus would represent a new class of antimicrobials. / Graduate

A parede celular de plantas é formada basicamente por celulose, hemicelulose e lignina. A formação dos polímeros de hemicelulose depende do suprimento de precursores chamados de açúcares-nucleotídeos. A biossíntese das diferentes estruturas de hemicelulose da parede celular envolve a participação de enzimas pertencentes às famílias das glicosiltransferases (GTs). Estudos feitos em Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa (arroz) e Zea mays (milho) auxiliaram na descoberta de 11 enzimas da via de interconversão nucleotídeo-açúcar e de enzimas da família das glicosiltransferases (GTs), como as GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61 e GT75, envolvidas na biossíntese de hemicelulose. O presente trabalho visa a identificação de genes da via de biossíntese de hemicelulose da parede celular de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) e análise filogenética entre Arabidopsis thaliana (planta modelo de eudicotiledôneas), Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor e Saccharum spp. Foram identificados os genes das famílias GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61, GT75, CSL, Epimerase e UDPG em cana-de-açúcar a partir da busca em sete bibliotecas de RNA-Seq utilizando as sequências de O. sativa, Z. mays e S. bicolor como referência. Os domínios específicos de cada família gênica foram confirmados através do programa PFAM e consequentemente anotados. A identificação e anotação das sequencias possibilitou a construção de bancos de sequências das famílias envolvidas na biossíntese de hemicelulose para as espécies A. thaliana, B. distachyon, O. sativa, Z. mays e S. bicolor. Foram identificadas para cada espécie, respectivamente, um total de 67, 49, 49, 60 e 56 genes bona fides. O presente trabalho, além da identificação de genes nas diferentes espécies, permitiu a identificação e seleção de 27 genes candidatos envolvidos na biossíntese de hemicelulose em cana-de-açúcar e possivelmente envolvidos na recalcitrância da parede celular nas diferentes bibliotecas de RNA-Seq de cana-de-açúcar. / The plant cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The formation of hemicellulose polymers lies on the supply of the so-called sugar-nucleotide precursors. The diverse hemicellulose structures biosynthesis of cell wall involves the participation of enzymes belonging to the families of glycosyltransferases (GTs). Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa (rice) and Zea mays (corn) aid the discovery of 11 enzymes of the nucleotide sugar interconversion pathway and enzymes of the GT family, as GT2, GT8, GT43, GT47, GT61 e GT75, involved in the hemicelluloses biosynthesis. This study aims to the identification of hemicellulose biosynthesis pathway genes from the cell wall of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and phylogenetic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana (eudicotyledonous plant model), Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Saccharum spp. The genes of the GT2, GT8, GT 43, GT47, GT61, GT75, CSL, epimerase and UDPG families were identified in sugarcane from a search in seven RNA-Seq libraries using the sequences of O. sativa, Z. mays and S. bicolor as reference. The specific domains of each gene family have been confirmed through the PFAM program and consequently noted. The identification and annotation of the sequences enabled the construction of sequences banks of the families involved in hemicellulose biosynthesis in the species A. thaliana, B. distachyon, O. sativa, Z. mays and S. bicolor. It was identified for each species, respectively, a total of 67, 49, 49, 60 and 56 bona fides genes. This work, in addition to the identification of genes in different species, allowed the identification and selection of 27 candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of hemicelluloses in sugarcane and possibly involved in cell wall recalcitrance in the different sugarcane RNA-Seq libraries.

Proteoglycans (PGs) are composed of highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans chains (GAGs) attached to specific core proteins. They are present in extracellular matrices, on the cell surface and in storage granules of hematopoietic cells. Heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) GAGs play indispensable roles in a wide range of biological processes, where they can serve as protein carriers, be involved in growth factor or morphogen gradient formation and act as co-receptors in signaling processes. Protein binding abilities of GAGs are believed to be predominantly dependent on the arrangement of the sugar modifications, sulfation and epimerization, into specific oligosaccharide sequences. Although the process of HS and CS/DS assembly and modification is not fully understood, a set of GAG biosynthetic enzymes have been fairly well studied and several mutations in genes encoding for this Golgi machinery have been linked to human genetic disorders. This thesis focuses on the zebrafish N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase gene family, encoding key enzymes in HS chain modification, as well as glycosyltransferases responsible for chondroitin/dermatan sulfate elongation present in zebrafish. Our data illustrates the strict spatio-temporal expression of both the NDST enzymes (Paper I) and CS/DS glycosyltransferases (Paper II) in the developing zebrafish embryo. In Paper III we took advantage of the four preexisting zebrafish mutants with defective GAG biosynthesis. We could demonstrate a relation between HS content and the severity of the pectoral fin defects, and additionally correlate impaired HS biosynthesis with altered chondrocyte intercalation. Interestingly, altered CS biosynthesis resulted in loss of the chondrocyte extracellular matrix. One of the main findings was the demonstration of the ratio between the HS biosynthesis enzyme Extl3 and the Csgalnact1/Csgalnact2 proteins, as a main factor influencing the HS/CS ratio. In Paper IV we used the newly developed CRISPR/Cas9 technique to create a collection of zebrafish mutants with defective GAG biosynthetic machineries. Lack of phenotypes linked to null-mutations of most of the investigated genes is striking in this study.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, School of Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 334-391) Also available electronically.

Thesis (MSc (Plant Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The photosynthetic protist Euglena gracilis synthesizes a storage carbohydrate named paramylon, a glucan consisting only of β-(1-3)-glycosidic linkages. The enzyme that produces paramylon is a glycosyltransferase commonly known as paramylon synthase (EC 2.4.1.34; UDP-glucose: 1,3-β-D-glucan 3-β-D-glucosyl transferase). This enzyme uses UDP-glucose as its main substrate. In 2001, Bäumer et al. isolated and partially purified paramylon synthase, but never presented any sequence information. Hence, the main aim of this project was to isolate and characterize the gene(s) coding for the paramylon synthase. Different approaches were taken in order to isolate and characterize the gene(s). In the first part of the study molecular techniques were used to try and identify the gene. The two methods used were library screening and PCR amplification. Different libraries were screened using either functional staining or an affinity probe. The second method concentrated on the use of degenerate oligonucleotides, based on the amino acid sequences of conserved regions from known β-(1-3)-glucan synthase genes from various organisms, to PCR amplify the gene sequence from Euglena. These approaches were not successful in the isolation of the gene(s). In the second part of the study protein purification techniques were used in an attempt to obtain de novo protein sequence from the purified paramylon synthase enzyme. Several protein purification techniques were tried with the most successful being preparative ultra centrifugation followed either by sucrose density centrifugation or product entrapment (a type of affinity purification). These resulted in partial purification of the paramylon synthase protein. The partially purified proteins were separated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the polypeptides able to bind the precursor, UDP-glucose, were identified using a radiolabeled isotope of UDP-glucose. These polypeptides were subjected to LC-MS-MS in order to obtain sequence information from them. One tryptic fragment showed high homology to β-(1,3)-glucan synthase genes from different yeasts.

Campylobacter spp., especially C. jejuni and C. coli, are the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in Europe. There is a recognised need to develop detection tools which can be performed on farms to facilitate reducing the presence of Campylobacter in poultry. A similar application could be beneficial for detection of C. fetus, a veterinary pathogen which causes significant economic loss in the cattle industry. Campylobacter species perform protein N-linked glycosylation and in C. jejuni at least 150 proteins, many of which are surface-exposed, may be modified. Therefore, the first portion of this thesis investigated the feasibility of using N-linked glycans as targets for antibody-based detection of Campylobacter species. To do this, a His-tagged N-glycoprotein was expressed and purified from C. fetus and used as immunogen to raise an antiserum termed CfNgp. The Campylobacter N-glycan reactivity of this antiserum was characterised and it was shown to react with N-glycoproteins and cells of C. fetus and other emerging Campylobacter species such as C. concisus. Immunoblotting techniques and flow cytometry were used to characterise an antiserum (CjNgp) raised against a C. jejuni N-linked glycoprotein and demonstrated that it can specifically detect cells of C. jejuni, C. coli and other emerging Campylobacter species found in poulty. This thesis also describes the investigation of the relatively uncharacterised C. fetus N-linked glycosylation system. Functional analysis of C. fetus predicted glycosyltransferases was acheived by developing glycocompetent E. coli containing a hybrid C. jejuni/C. fetus pgl system. The N-glycan structures biosynthesised were analysed using mass spectrometry and this novel approach discovered the activity of two C. fetus glycosyltransferase enzymes. Finally, this work used a bioinformatics pipeline to produce a C. fetus predicted N-linked glycoproteome and experimentally verified a newly identified N-linked glycoprotein. This pipeline was also applied to investigate the putative conservation of N-linked glycoproteins throughout the Campylobacter genus and highlighted ‘core’ N-linked glycoproteins which are key targets for experimental investigation. Overall, this work demonstrates that Campylobacter N-linked glycans are attractive targets for antibody-based detection, expands our knowledge of C. fetus N-linked glycosylation and contributes to the broader understanding of this intriguing aspect of Campylobacter biology.