In this thesis project housekeeping genes in differentiating human embryonic stem cells were investigated. Housekeeping genes are involved in basic functions in the cells and are assumed to be expressed at relatively constant levels across different cell types and experimental conditions. Based on these features, housekeeping genes are frequently used as controls in calibration of gene expression data. Commonly used housekeeping genes in somatic tissues have shown to vary notably in human embryonic stem cells and are therefore inappropriate as reference genes in this unique cell type. In the present work a novel set of gene expression data obtained by profiling of undifferentiated and early differentiating cardiac cells, was analyzed. Stably expressed genes were identified in this data set and were subsequently intersected with a previously proposed set of 292 stable genes in human embryonic stem cells. A resulting set of 73 genes show stability across all investigated cell lines and experimental conditions. These genes are suggested as a more reliable set of reference genes in differentiating human embryonic stem cells than frequently used housekeeping genes in somatic tissue. In addition, a novel set of 20 genes was identified as very stably expressed during the differentiation towards the cardiac lineage. After further validation of stability with RT-PCR, these genes could be useful as controls in studies of human embryonic stem cells that differentiate towards the cardiac lineage.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-06, Section: A, page: 2352. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) / Simon Fraser University.

Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) / Simon Fraser University.

<p>In this thesis project housekeeping genes in differentiating human embryonic stem cells were investigated. Housekeeping genes are involved in basic functions in the cells and are assumed to be expressed at relatively constant levels across different cell types and experimental conditions. Based on these features, housekeeping genes are frequently used as controls in calibration of gene expression data. Commonly used housekeeping genes in somatic tissues have shown to vary notably in human embryonic stem cells and are therefore inappropriate as reference genes in this unique cell type. In the present work a novel set of gene expression data obtained by profiling of undifferentiated and early differentiating cardiac cells, was analyzed. Stably expressed genes were identified in this data set and were subsequently intersected with a previously proposed set of 292 stable genes in human embryonic stem cells. A resulting set of 73 genes show stability across all investigated cell lines and experimental conditions. These genes are suggested as a more reliable set of reference genes in differentiating human embryonic stem cells than frequently used housekeeping genes in somatic tissue. In addition, a novel set of 20 genes was identified as very stably expressed during the differentiation towards the cardiac lineage. After further validation of stability with RT-PCR, these genes could be useful as controls in studies of human embryonic stem cells that differentiate towards the cardiac lineage.</p>

Freie Universiẗat, Diss., 2004--Berlin. / Dateiformat: zip, Dateien im PDF-Format.- Erscheinungsjahr an der Haupttitelstelle: 2004.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-12-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cavallari_cfb_dr_botib.pdf: 11188149 bytes, checksum: 24b647e298f1eb3bf8bb5a8051a4aa89 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A caracterização de promotores ubíquos, tecido-específicos ou induzidos sob determinada condição é importante para a produção e liberação comercial de plantas geneticamente modificadas. Este trabalho apresenta a identificação e caracterização de promotores de genes de café (Coffea arabica), uma cultura de grande importância sócio-econômica. Foram selecionados 41 genes candidatos com padrão de expressão constitutivo, fruto-específico ou relacionados com o mecanismo de defesa, através de dados da literatura e da análise in silico em bancos de ESTs disponíveis. A expressão constitutiva ou específica foi confirmada através de PCR quantitativa para somente 10 dos genes analizados. Os experimentos foram realizados em 5 diferentes tecidos/órgãos (raiz, caule, folha, flor e fruto) ou em plantas tratadas com o fungo biotrófico Hemileia vastatrix. Regiões promotoras de 4 genes foram isoladas através de genome walking: CaGAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase como candidato constitutivo), CaAN2 (anthocyanin 2 específico de fruto), CaPR1b e CaNPR1 (basic form of Pathogenesis-Related protein type 1 e Nonexpressor of PR genes, correspondentes a genes induzidos mediante a presença de agentes patogênicos). As regiões cis-reguladoras foram caracterizadas in silico e a funcionalidade dos promotores foi avaliada in planta através da expressão do gene repórter uidA em experimentos de transformação transiente em plantas de tabaco ou tomate. Além do interesse fundamental para a compreensão dos mecanismos de regulação gênica em eucariotos, os resultados desta pesquisa são importantes para o desenvolvimento de plantas transgênicas, apresentando também potencial em programas de melhoramento genético do cafeeiro. Palavras-chaves: Coffea arabica, expressão gênica, promotores, genes ubíquos, frutos, resistência de plantas / The choice of promoter, to confer constitutive, spatial and/or temporal transgene expression, is important in plant biotechnology applications. This study presents the identification and characterization of different gene promoters in coffee (Coffea arabica), a species of major socioeconomic characteristics. Forty one constitutive, fruit-specific or pathogen defense-related genes were identified following literature data or in silico analyses in available EST databases. The expression levels of these genes were verified by quantitative PCR and only 10 genes presented a constitutive or specific expression condition. The expression levels assays were carried out in 5 coffee organs/tissues (root, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits) or in coffee plants challenged with Hemileia vastatrix. The promoter region of 4 genes were isolated and characterized in silico: CaGAPDH (glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase as inner control), CaAN2 (anthocyanin 2 fruitspecific), CaPR1b and CaNPR1 (basic form of Pathogenesis-Related protein type 1 and Nonexpressor of PR genes, both pathogen-inducible). The functional analyses of the DNA sequence upstream of these genes were assessed with regard to the uidA reporter gene, via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assay in tobacco or tomato plants. The characterization of promoters is not only an approach towards coffee breeding programs, but also provides fundamental data for understanding the mechanisms regulating gene expression in perennial plants

Orientador: Ivan G. Maia / Orientador: Diana Fernandez / Banca: Anne-Lise Haenni / Banca: Pierre Marraccini / Banca: Michel Vincentz / Banca: Luis Vieira / Resumo: A caracterização de promotores ubíquos, tecido-específicos ou induzidos sob determinada condição é importante para a produção e liberação comercial de plantas geneticamente modificadas. Este trabalho apresenta a identificação e caracterização de promotores de genes de café (Coffea arabica), uma cultura de grande importância sócio-econômica. Foram selecionados 41 genes candidatos com padrão de expressão constitutivo, fruto-específico ou relacionados com o mecanismo de defesa, através de dados da literatura e da análise in silico em bancos de ESTs disponíveis. A expressão constitutiva ou específica foi confirmada através de PCR quantitativa para somente 10 dos genes analizados. Os experimentos foram realizados em 5 diferentes tecidos/órgãos (raiz, caule, folha, flor e fruto) ou em plantas tratadas com o fungo biotrófico Hemileia vastatrix. Regiões promotoras de 4 genes foram isoladas através de genome walking: CaGAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase como candidato constitutivo), CaAN2 (anthocyanin 2 específico de fruto), CaPR1b e CaNPR1 (basic form of Pathogenesis-Related protein type 1 e Nonexpressor of PR genes, correspondentes a genes induzidos mediante a presença de agentes patogênicos). As regiões cis-reguladoras foram caracterizadas in silico e a funcionalidade dos promotores foi avaliada in planta através da expressão do gene repórter uidA em experimentos de transformação transiente em plantas de tabaco ou tomate. Além do interesse fundamental para a compreensão dos mecanismos de regulação gênica em eucariotos, os resultados desta pesquisa são importantes para o desenvolvimento de plantas transgênicas, apresentando também potencial em programas de melhoramento genético do cafeeiro. Palavras-chaves: Coffea arabica, expressão gênica, promotores, genes ubíquos, frutos, resistência de plantas / Abstract: The choice of promoter, to confer constitutive, spatial and/or temporal transgene expression, is important in plant biotechnology applications. This study presents the identification and characterization of different gene promoters in coffee (Coffea arabica), a species of major socioeconomic characteristics. Forty one constitutive, fruit-specific or pathogen defense-related genes were identified following literature data or in silico analyses in available EST databases. The expression levels of these genes were verified by quantitative PCR and only 10 genes presented a constitutive or specific expression condition. The expression levels assays were carried out in 5 coffee organs/tissues (root, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits) or in coffee plants challenged with Hemileia vastatrix. The promoter region of 4 genes were isolated and characterized in silico: CaGAPDH (glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase as inner control), CaAN2 (anthocyanin 2 fruitspecific), CaPR1b and CaNPR1 (basic form of Pathogenesis-Related protein type 1 and Nonexpressor of PR genes, both pathogen-inducible). The functional analyses of the DNA sequence upstream of these genes were assessed with regard to the uidA reporter gene, via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assay in tobacco or tomato plants. The characterization of promoters is not only an approach towards coffee breeding programs, but also provides fundamental data for understanding the mechanisms regulating gene expression in perennial plants / Mestre

O gênero Lactobacillus é o principal grupo de bactérias contaminantes em dornas de fermentação para produção de etanol em larga escala. A alta proliferação destes microrganismos prejudica a viabilidade de cepas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae selecionadas, podendo diminuir a produção de etanol nas dornas de fermentação. Os métodos mais utilizados para identificação destes microrganismos são bioquímicos e moleculares baseados na sequência do DNA, que são muito demorados, onerosos e muitas vezes remetem a resultados ambíguos. MALDI-TOF MS é uma poderosa ferramenta de identificação microbiana e foi testada neste trabalho para identificação de diferentes isolados de Lactobacillus e S. cerevisiae presentes no processo de produção de etanol. Os métodos de preparo e aplicação da amostra para aquisição espectral foram estabelecidos, tanto para bactérias quanto para leveduras. Vinte e sete isolados de Lactobacillus foram identificados pela região 16S rDNA e dois genes housekeeping, pheS e groEL e, três cepas de leveduras selecionadas do processo foram identificadas pela região ITS e 28S nr-LSU. As identificações genômicas foram contrastadas com as identificações obtidas com o perfil proteico por MALDI-TOF MS e 97% dos Lactobacillus tiveram a mesma classificação molecular que o gene pheS, eleito como o mais discriminatório, e 100% das cepas de leveduras foram classificadas como S. cerevisiae por ambas as técnicas. A técnica MALDI- TOF MS se mostrou altamente eficiente para discriminação intraespecífica de leveduras e interespecífica de Lactobacillus, não havendo apenas discriminação para isolados classificados como L. casei pelos genes housekeeping. Além disso, quando comparado o poder discriminatório da técnica MALDI-TOF MS em relação ao banco de dados espectral disponível no Biotyper e, posteriormente, ao banco de dados complementar criado neste trabalho com os microrganismos próprios do processo de produção de etanol, houve um aumento de 57 a 100% das repetições que foram identificadas ao nível de espécie com alta confiabilidade. Desta forma, os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a técnica MALDI-TOF MS pode ser utilizada como uma alternativa rápida e eficaz para identificação de Lactobacillus e Saccharomyces do processo etanólico. / The genus Lactobacillus is the main group of contaminating bacteria in fermentation tanks for large-scale ethanol production. The high proliferation of these organisms affect the viability of selected strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can reduce the production of ethanol in fermentation tanks. The most used methods for identifying these microorganisms are biochemical and molecular based on DNA sequence, which are very time-consuming, costly and often revert to ambiguous results. MALDI-TOF MS is a powerful microbial identification tool and it was tested in this work to identify different isolates of Lactobacillus and S. cerevisiae present in the ethanol production process. The sample preparation and application in the MALDI plate for spectral acquisition were established for both bacteria and yeasts. Twenty-seven isolates of Lactobacillus were identified by the 16S rDNA region and two housekeeping genes (pheS and groEL genes) and three yeast strains selected from the process were identified by the ITS and 28S nr-LSU regions. The genomic identifications were compared with the MALDI-TOF MS protein profiles and 97% of the Lactobacillus had the same molecular classification as the pheS gene, which was chosen as the most discriminatory gene, and 100% of the yeast strains were classified as S. cerevisiae by both techniques. The MALDI-TOF MS technique proved highly efficient for intraspecific yeast and interspecific discrimination of Lactobacillus, and there was no discrimination for isolates classified as L. casei by housekeeping genes. Furthermore, when compared to the discriminatory power of MALDI-TOF MS technique in relation to spectral database available on Biotyper and subsequently, the complementary database created in this work with the microorganisms themselves in the ethanol production process, there was an increase from 57 to 100% of the repetitions that were identified at the species level with high reliability. Thus, the results of this study showed that the MALDI-TOF MS technique can be used as a fast and efficient alternative for the identification of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces of the ethanolic process.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972. / Also issued in print.