Submitted by Rosangela Silva (rosangela.silva3@unioeste.br) on 2017-08-30T20:10:51Z No. of bitstreams: 2 TAISA PEREIRA PIACENTINI RIBEIRO.pdf: 3904493 bytes, checksum: 479855c30863d881e3a40de6b85ca548 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-30T20:10:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 TAISA PEREIRA PIACENTINI RIBEIRO.pdf: 3904493 bytes, checksum: 479855c30863d881e3a40de6b85ca548 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-09 / The search for new herbicides to control herbicides-resistant weeds is necessary to attend the rising demand of food from the world’s population. This work was divided into two parts. The first aimed to obtain a model of QSAR-2D, 3D and hybrid to predict compounds with activity to the inhibition of photosynthesis. For this, was used a data set of 44 quinoline analogues described in the literature as PET inhibitors, and all tested in the same bioassay method. For construction of models were used the programs QSAR Modeling and Pentacle. The obtained models A, C and D, were approved in the validation tests (internal and external), they are robust and with good predictive capacity. The second part of studie aimed to identify a pharmacophore model, for select compounds from the data set of first part, aiming to use as a tool for virtual screening. The research resulted in 86,560 compounds, and thus several screening filters were applied according to Briggs rule of three, in silico toxicity analyzes, unsupervised pattern recognition (PCA), and docking studies. As a result, 28 compounds remained, all of which showed potential to be herbicides, through the prediction using the obtained QSAR models, however, only the model D proved to be reliable for prediction the virtual screening. Finally, we selected the ten compounds that presented the highest predictive value of PET inhibition activity, using the model D. / A busca de novos herbicidas para o controle de ervas daninhas resistentes é necessária para atender à crescente demanda alimentar da população mundial. Este trabalho foi dividido em duas partes. A primeira teve por objetivo a obtenção de modelos de QSAR-2D, 3D e híbrido para previsão de compostos com atividade de inibição da fotossíntese. Para isso, foi utilizado um conjunto de dados formado por 44 análogos de quinolina descritos na literatura como inibidores do PET e todos testados pela mesma metodologia de ensaio biológico. Para construção dos modelos foram utilizados os programas QSAR Modeling e Pentacle. Os modelos A, C e D obtidos foram aprovados nos testes de validação (interna e externa), são robustos e com boa capacidade de previsão. A segunda parte do estudo teve como objetivo a identificação de um modelo farmacofórico, para compostos selecionados do conjunto de dados da primeira parte, visando o uso do mesmo como ferramenta para triagem virtual. A pesquisa resultou em 86.560 compostos, e assim foram aplicados diversos filtros de seleção de acordo com a regra de três de Briggs, análises “in silico” de toxicidade, técnica de reconhecimento de padrões não supervisionados (PCA), e estudos e ancoramento molecular. Como resultado, restaram 28 compostos, sendo que todos mostraram potencial para serem herbicidas, através da previsão utilizando os modelos de QSAR obtidos, porém apenas o modelo D mostrou-se confiável para previsão da triagem virtual. Por fim, foram selecionados os dez compostos que apresentaram maior valor de previsão de atividade de inibição do PET, utilizando o modelo D.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of students, administrators, and faculty of one community college on the factors that facilitate or inhibit collegiate student success toward associate degree completion. Degree completion was defined as graduating with an associate degree. The following research questions guided this study: 1) What support systems or resources are in place at the community college to assist students with degree completion? 2) What factors in the college student success course at this community college facilitate or inhibit successful degree completion? The case study was conducted in a single community college inNorth Carolina. Participants included 10 community college professionals and 5 students. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and then transcribed. Pseudonyms were used to maintain participant anonymity. The data were analyzed through the process of coding. Findings identified eight themes in relation to facilitating and inhibiting degree completion at the community college level. These themes were: (a) curriculum, (b) advising, (c) support services, (d) relationships, (e) faculty status, (f) intrinsic motivation, (g) developmental courses, and (h) external factors. Conclusions of the research study and recommendations for further research were determined.

Submitted by Fabiany Feitosa (fabiany.sousa@ufba.br) on 2016-09-15T18:55:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Martins , Alan dos Santos.pdf: 2102612 bytes, checksum: d8acc2bcbf7bc1621018676c45e1096e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Angela Dortas (dortas@ufba.br) on 2016-10-13T17:01:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Martins , Alan dos Santos.pdf: 2102612 bytes, checksum: d8acc2bcbf7bc1621018676c45e1096e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-13T17:01:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Martins , Alan dos Santos.pdf: 2102612 bytes, checksum: d8acc2bcbf7bc1621018676c45e1096e (MD5) / Nos últimos anos, a Tecnologia da Informação (TI) assumiu um papel importantíssimo nas organizações públicas brasileiras e seu uso como ferramenta de planejamento estratégico ganhou destaque. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal identificar fatores limitantes e inibidores para a implantação de um Planejamento Estratégico de Tecnologia da Informação alinhado ao Plano de Desenvolvimento Institucional da Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (Univasf). O modelo de análise foi elaborado a partir de uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema fatores habilitadores e inibidores do alinhamento estratégico com a TI. O modelo foi fundamentado nas pesquisas de Luftman et al. (1999) e serviu como base de investigação, combinada com aspectos qualitativos dentro de uma pesquisa exploratória na Univasf. Para a coleta de dados, foi desenvolvido um questionário eletrônico que foi respondido por nove gestores ligados ao Planejamento Estratégico da instituição, bem como gestores ligados ao setor de TI, além de uma entrevista com os principais gestores do planejamento estratégico e do setor de TI. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a identificação de práticas que facilitam e inibem o desenvolvimento de um planejamento estratégico de TI alinhado com os objetivos institucionais. Tais práticas demonstram que a alta gestão da universidade precisa demandar esforços em relação a esses fatores a fim de promover melhorias efetivas no processo de planejamento estratégico de TI da instituição. / Over recent years, Information Technology (IT) has occupied an important role in Brazilian public organizations and its usage as a strategic plan tool has achieved a distinct position. This research aims at identifying the limiting and inhibiting factors for the establishment of a Strategic Plan for Information Technology in consonance with the Institutional Developing Plan of the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (Univasf). The analysis model used in this study was based on a review of the specialized literature about the topic “enabling and inhibiting factors for the strategic alignment with IT.” The analysis model was developed according to the studies of Luftman et al. (1999) and such model was used as the basis of this investigation, combined with qualitative aspects of an exploratory research carried out at Univasf. By means of data collection, an electronic questionnaire was created and answered by nine managers associated with the Strategic Plan of Univasf, as well as managers associated with its IT sector; in addition, an interview with the main managers of its Strategic Plan and IT sector was carried out. The results that this study found out allow the identification of practices that facilitate or inhibit the development of an IT strategic plan in consonance with the university’s institutional objectives. Those practices demonstrate Univasf’ top management should gather efforts, regarding such factors, to promote effective improvements in its IT strategic plan process.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho relata o perfil quÃmico e farmacolÃgico de quatro espÃcies do gÃnero Senna Mill. â Senna gardneri, Senna georgica, Senna splendida e Senna macranthera var. pudibunda. Este estudo permitiu identificar 38 compostos diferentes de vÃrias classes, com destaque para os flavonoides, dentre os quais: galocatequina, epigalocatequina, (2R*,3S*,4S*,2ââR*,3ââS*)-guibourtinidol-(48)-catequina, quercetina glicoarabinose, taxifolina, isoramnetina, procianidina B1, miricetina e di-hidromiricetina. Todos esses compostos foram relatados pela primeira vez em espÃcies de Senna. AnÃlise quantitativa por cromatografia lÃquida de alta eficiÃncia (CLAE-DAD-ESI-MS) do material em estudo indicou o (E)- 3,3â,5,5â- tetra-hidroxi 4-metoxi estilbeno como majoritÃrio nas raÃzes de Senna georgica (6,14 g/Kg), S. gardneri (5,36 g/Kg) e S. splendida (19,23 g/kg). Nas raÃzes e no caule de S. macranthera var. pudibunda, a catequina foi o composto majoritÃrio com teores de 0,87 g/kg e 1,32g/kg, respectivamente. Nas folhas, a quercetina glicoarabinose foi o composto majoritÃrio nas espÃcies de S. gardineri (11,99g/kg) e S. splendida (3,24 g/kg), e a epigalocatequina, nas folhas de S. macranthera var. pudibunda (1,68 g/kg). O fracionamento cromatogrÃfico (CLAE) resultou na obtenÃÃo de seis compostos puros: (E)- 3, 3â, 5,5â- tetra-hidroxi 4-metoxi estilbeno, catequina, rutina, quercitrina, quercetina e (2R*,3S*,4S*,2'R*,3'S*)-guibourtinidol-(48)-catequina. A atividade antioxidante dos extratos e compostos puros foi analisada atravÃs das tÃcnicas de DHBA, DPPH, FRAP e ORAC, com resultados promissores para todas as amostras investigadas. Os extratos de S. georgica, S. macranthera var. pudibunda e S. gardneri apresentaram atividade anticolinesterÃsica e, para os ensaios enzimÃticos de inibiÃÃo da enzima conversora da angiotensina I, as folhas e raÃzes de S. gardneri apresentaram os melhores resultados. Os extratos das espÃcies de Senna nÃo apresentaram toxidade frente à Artemia salina e nem potencial leishmanicida. O estudo confirmou o potencial como fonte de compostos bioativos para as espÃcies de Senna estudadas. / This Thesis describes the chemical and pharmacologic profile of four species of the genus Senna Mill. Namely Senna gardneri, Senna georgica, Senna splendida and Senna macranthera var. pudibunda. In this study 38 different polyphenolic compounds of various classes, especially flavonoids were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR where possible. The flavonoids were identified as (+)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, 2R,3S,4S,2ââR,3ââS)-guibourtinidol-(48)-catechin, quercetin glucoarabinoside, taxifolin, isorhamnetin, procyanidin B1, myricetin and dihydromyricetin. All these compounds are reported for the first time in species of Senna. Quantitative analysis by HPLC showed that, in the material under study (E)-3, 3', 5, 5'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxy stilbene was the major compound in the roots of Senna georgica (6.14 g/kg), Senna gardneri (5.36 g/kg) and Senna splendida (19.23 g/kg). In the roots and bark of Senna macranthera var. pudibunda, the flavonoid (+)-catechin was the major compound, with levels at 0.87 g/kg and 1.32g/kg, respectively. In the leaves of Senna gardineri and Senna splendida, the major compound was quercetin glucoarabinoside at 12.10 g/kg and 3.241g/kg respectively, and in the leaves of Senna macranthera var. pudibunda (-)-epigallocatechin at 1.68 g/kg. Chromatographic fractionation by semi-preparative HPLC resulted in the purification of six compounds: (E)-3, 3', 5, 5'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxy stilbene, (+)-catechin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin and (2R*,3S*,4S*,2''R*,3''S*)- guibourtinidol-(48)-catechin. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts and pure compounds was analyzed by the DPPH, FRAP, ORAC, and HPLC-based HX/XO assays, with promising results for all samples investigated. Extracts of Senna georgica, macranthera var. pudibunda and gardneri displayed anticholinesterase activity and, inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme-I. Extracts of the leaves and roots of Senna gardneri showed the best results. No toxicity of the extracts in the brine shrimp and leishmanicidal assays was evident. This study confirmed the potential of Senna species as a valuable source of bioactive polyphenolic compounds, which may augment their use in traditional Brazilian medicine.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:59:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_camila_sousa.pdf: 1105338 bytes, checksum: 6a0e449f6b57375f68a8ff703e00bf3c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-10-04 / The objective of this research was: a) evaluate the effect of imidazolinone chemical group herbicides on the growth of plants and the injuries to the photosynthetic apparatus of three rice types (varieties) exposed to these and b) evaluate the effect of soil residual herbicides imazethapyr+ imazapic on corn, cucumber, radish and tomato are used as bioindicators. At first experiments we used the herbicide Only® and Kifix®, using a randomized split plot design in a factorial 5x3 with six replications, with the first factor rates corresponded to 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg p. c. m-2 of commercial product Only® and 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 mg p. c. m-2 of commercial product Kifix®, and factor B type of rice (cultivated rice cv. Puitá Inta CL, red rice ecotype sensitive to herbicides Imidazolinone and red rice ecotype with suspected herbicide tolerance imidazolinone). We evaluated the parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence, phytotoxicity, plant height and dry mass. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence was performed using a portable fluorometer (HandyPEA, Hanstech). It was concluded that cv. Puitá Inta CL is tolerant to herbicides Only® and Kifix® and can be used in the Clearfield® system and the red rice ecotype with suspected tolerance was tolerant to both herbicides, suffering a low phytotoxity compared to the sensitive ecotype, even using higher doses of the commercial products. The application of chemical herbicides of the imidazolinone group in rice plants cause changes in the photosynthetic metabolism of plants that can be detected by evaluating the emission of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient. The second experiment was conducted in a randomized block experimental design (with) four replicates per treatment. The treatments were the residual effect of herbicide Only® in rice CL plants in the 2006/2007 harvest, at 0, 10, 15 and 20 mg p. c. m-2 doses of commercial product, on four bioindicators: corn, cucumber, radish and tomato. The variables evaluated were: height, dry weight of shoot and root dry mass, with the latter doesn t being performed for the corn plants. Data of biometric variables generated in both experiments were subjected to analysis of variance (p ≤ 0.05) were significant in these models were tested by polynomial regression. Activity was detected in the commercial mixture of residual herbicides imazethapyr +imazapic in soil 1100 days after herbicide application, by use of bioindicators plants. / Este trabalho teve por objetivo: a) avaliar o efeito da aplicação de herbicidas do grupo químico das imidazolinonas sobre o crescimento de plantas e as injúrias causadas ao aparelho fotossintético de três tipos de arroz e b) avaliar o efeito residual no solo dos herbicidas imazethapyr + imazapic sobre as plantas de milho, pepino, rabanete e tomate, utilizadas como bioindicadoras. No primeiro ensaio foram utilizados os herbicidas Only® e Kifix®, utilizando-se para cada herbicida um delineamento experimental de parcelas subdivididas, em esquema fatorial 5x3, com seis repetições, sendo o fator A as doses do herbicida correspondentes a 0, 5, 10, 15 e 20 mg p. c. m-2 do produto comercial Only® e 0, 7, 14, 21 e 28 mg p. c. m-2 do produto comercial Kifix®, e o fator B o tipo de arroz (arroz cultivado cv. Puitá Inta CL, ecótipo de arroz-vermelho sensível aos herbicidas do grupo das imidazolinonas e ecótipo de arroz-vermelho com suspeita de tolerância aos herbicidas do grupo das imidazolinonas). Foram avaliados os parâmetros da fluorescência da clorofila a, fitotoxicidade, altura de plantas e massa seca da parte aérea. A análise da fluorescência da clorofila a foi realizada utilizando-se um fluorômetro portátil (HandyPEA, Hanstech).Conclui-se que a cv. Puitá Inta CL é tolerante aos herbicidas Only® e Kifix®, podendo ser utilizada no Sistema de Produção Clearfield® e que o ecótipo de arroz-vermelho com suspeita de tolerância apresentou tolerância a ambos herbicidas, sofrendo baixa fitotoxicidade em comparação ao ecótipo sensível, mesmo utilizando-se doses superiores as comerciais dos produtos. A aplicação de herbicidas do grupo químico das imidazolinonas em plantas de arroz causa alterações no metabolismo fotossintético das plantas que podem ser detectadas através da avaliação da emissão da fluorescência da clorofila a transiente. O segundo experimento foi conduzido em um delineamento experimental casualizado por bloco, totalizando quatro repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos avaliados foram o efeito residual do herbicida Only® sob as plantas de arroz CL na safra 2006/2007, nas doses de doses de 0, 10, 15 e 20 mg p. c. m-2 do produto comercial, sobre quatro espécies bioindicadoras: milho, pepino, rabanete e tomate. Foram avaliadas as variáveis: altura de plantas, massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca das raízes, sendo esta última não realizada para as plantas de milho. Os dados relativos às variáveis biométricas gerados em ambos os experimentos foram submetidos à análise da variância (p≤0,05); em sendo significativos, estes foram testados por modelos de regressão polinomial. Foi detectada atividade residual da mistura comercial dos herbicidas imazethapyr+imazapic em solo após 1100 dias da aplicação dos herbicidas, pelo uso de plantas bioindicadoras.

Science has been perceived as difficult to learn because of its nature and the methods by which it is usually taught. Most first-year science students entering higher education in South Africa today come from disadvantaged teaching and learning backgrounds. These students bring different “knowledge, skills or abilities” into the learning process. This knowledge, referred to as prior knowledge – or what the student already knows – is the single most important factor influencing learning (Ausubel, 1968). It is on the basis of this influence of prior knowledge on learning that the focus in this study is on understanding its manifestation in learning. Prior knowledge has both facilitating and inhibiting effects in learning. However, the focus in this study was only on inhibiting effects of prior knowledge on learning. To better understand prior knowledge qualitative methods (interview, observation, document review and the prior knowledge state test) were used. The aim was to specifically establish how students used their understanding of selected acid-base concepts and processes to construct understanding and to generate meaning of new concepts and/or knowledge. The study managed to highlight important aspects of the quality of prior knowledge and their manifestation in learning. The findings generally indicated that: <ul> <li>The quality of the knowledge that students possessed was in most instances incomplete. That is, in their description of concepts, students preferred to use summary and informal descriptions without understanding the meaning of the concepts they were describing.</li> <li> The quality of knowledge (e.g. incomplete knowledge) affected their ability to construct understanding and/or generate meaning as this knowledge was insufficient to access for the construction of scientifically valid meanings of concepts.</li> <li>The quality of students’ knowledge impeded their ability to reflect and/or to be aware of the knowledge they possessed. This made it difficult for students to access knowledge and to restructure it in order to construct new knowledge or prevent errors in their learning.</li> </ul> The study culminated in the development of a framework that may in future be used to assess prior knowledge and enhance meaningful teaching and learning based on the quality of students’ prior knowledge. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24801号 / 医博第4993号 / 新制||医||1067(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 鈴木 実, 教授 溝脇 尚志, 教授 江木 盛時 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Effects of developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPS) or methyl parathion (MPS) on visuospatial, adaptive fear response, and passive avoidance memory and the signaling mechanisms responsible for these neurocognitive changes were investigated. Using an incremental low dose regimen, rat pups were orally gavaged daily with either corn oil (vehicle), CPS, or MPS from postnatal day 1 (PND1) -PND21. Cholinesterase activity was significantly inhibited with the highest dosages of CPS and MPS for up to 19 days after the last dosages. OP exposure impaired working and reference memory in males whereas in the females, enhancement occurred following CPS exposure. In addition, the adaptive fear response and passive avoidance retention memory was impaired in males whereas differential changes occurred in females. Accordingly, the behavioral deficits observed in males were persistent whereas the enhancement in females was transient. Males were more sensitive to OPs than females in that the medium and high dosages of CPS and MPS produced greater effects in females whereas all dosages of both compounds produced effects in males. Training in the radial arm maze significantly increased protein kinase C gamma (PKC ) expression and activity in the hippocampal membrane fraction of control rats whereas exposure to OPs exhibited a significant decrease in PKC and PKC immunoreactivity in both untrained and trained rats. However, MPS exposed females exhibited a significant increase in PKC expression in the cytosolic fraction but this was not related to improved memory. Reduction of membrane PKC expression and activity and cytosolic PKC expression and activity seemed to be related to visuospatial learning and memory deficits in exposed males but not exposed females. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression in the hippocampus was significantly increased (60%) in trained control males as compared to untrained control males. In contrast, trained and untrained females exhibited similar levels of BDNF gene expression. However, exposure of both sexes to either CPS or MPS significantly reduced the expression of BDNF in trained rats. In summary, these data indicate that OP exposure induced gender-specific changes in working memory formation and altered PKC isozyme levels/activity and BDNF expression.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plants have developed sophisticated means of combating plant diseases. The events that prepare the plant for, and follow plant-pathogenic interactions, are extremely complex and have been the topic of intensive investigation in recent years. These interactions involve a plethora of genes and proteins, and intricate regulation thereof; from the host and pathogen alike. Studying the contribution of single genes and their encoded proteins to the molecular dialogue between plant and pathogen has been a focus of plant molecular biologists. To this end, a gene encoding a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) was recently cloned from Vitis vinifera. These proteins have the ability to inhibit fungal endopolygalacturonases (ePGs), enzymes which have been shown to be required for the full virulence of several fungi on their respective plant hosts. The activity of PGIP in inhibiting fungal macerating enzymes is particularly attractive for the improvement of disease tolerance of crop species. The VvPGIP-encoding gene was subsequently transferred to Nicotiana tabacum for high-level expression of VvPGIP. These transgenic plants were found to be less susceptible to infection by Botrytis cinerea in an initial detached leaf assay. Also, it was shown that ePG inhibition by protein extracts from these lines correlated to the observed decrease in susceptibility to B. cinerea. This study expands on previous findings by corroborating the antifungal nature of the introduced PGIP by whole-plant, timecourse infection assays. Six transgenic tobacco lines and an untransformed wildtype (WT) were infected and the lesions measured daily from day three to seven, and again at day 15. The transgenic lines exhibited smaller lesions sizes from three to seven days post-inoculation, although these differences only became statistically significant following seven days of incubation. At this point, four of the six lines exhibited significantly smaller lesions than the WT, with reductions in disease susceptibility ranging between 46 and 69% as compared to the WT. Two of the lines exhibited disease susceptibility comparable to the WT. In these resistant plant lines, a correlation could be drawn between Vvpgip1 expression, PGIP activity and ePG inhibition. These lines were therefore considered to be PGIP-specific resistant lines, and provided ideal resources to further study the possible in planta roles of PGIP in plant defense. The current hypothesis regarding the role(s) of PGIP in plant defense is twofold. Firstly, PGIPs have the ability to specifically and effectively inhibit fungal ePGs. This direct inhibition results in reduced fungal pathogenicity. Alternatively, unhindered action of these enzymes results in maceration of plant tissue and ultimately, tissue necrosis. Subsequently, it could be shown that, in vitro, the inhibition of ePGs prolongs the existence of oligogalacturonides, molecules with the ability to activate plant defense responses. Thus, PGIPs limit tissue damage by inhibition of ePG; this inhibition results in activation of plant defense responses aimed at limiting pathogen ingress. Several publications reported reduced susceptibility to Botrytis in transgenic plant lines overexpressing PGIP-encoding genes. However, none of these publications could expand on the current hypotheses regarding the possible in planta roles of PGIP in plant defense. In this study we used transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing Vvpgip1 as resources to study the in planta roles for PGIP. Transcriptomic and hormonal analyses were performed on these lines and a WT line, both before and following inoculation with Botrytis cinerea. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on uninfected as well as infected tobacco leaf material utilizing a Solanum tuberosum microarray. From the analysis with healthy, uninfected plant material, it became clear that genes involved in cell wall metabolism were differentially expressed between the transgenic lines and the WT. Under these conditions, it could be shown and confirmed that the gene encoding tobacco xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET/XTH) was downregulated in the transgenic lines. Additionally, genes involved in the lignin biosynthetic pathway were affected in the individual transgenic lines. Biochemical evidence corroborated the indication of increased lignin deposition in their cell walls. Additionally, phytohormone profiling revealed an increased indole-acetic acid content in the transgenic lines. These results show that constitutive levels of PGIP may affect cell wall metabolism in the Vvpgip1-transgenic lines which may have a positive impact on the observed reduced susceptibilities of these plants. An additional role for PGIP in the contribution to plant defenses is therefore proposed. PGIP may directly influence defense responses in the plant leading to the strengthening of cell walls. This might occur by virtue of its structural features or its integration in the cell wall. These reinforced cell walls are thus “primed” before pathogen ingress and contribute to the decrease in disease susceptibility observed in lines accumulating high levels of PGIP. Transcriptional and hormonal analyses, at the localized response, were performed on Botrytis-infected leaf tissue of the transgenic lines and a WT line. Several Botrytis responsive genes were found to be upregulated in both the WT and the transgenic lines. Although limited differential expression was observed between the two genotypes, the analyses identified a gene which was upregulated two-fold in the transgenic lines, as compared to WT. This was confirmed by quantitative Real-Time PCR. This gene is involved in the lipoxygenase pathway, specifically the 9-LOX branch, leading to the synthesis of the divinyl ether oxylipins colneleic and colnelenic acid, which show inhibitory effects on Botrytis spore germination. Phytohormone profiling revealed that the transgenic lines accumulated more of the defense-related hormone pool of jasmonates. These are formed via the 13-LOX pathway and have been shown to be important for the restriction of Botrytis growth at the site of infection. Collectively, the results from the infection analyses indicate that in these transgenic lines, both branches of the lipoxygenase pathway are differentially induced at the level of the localized response to Botrytis infection. Similarly, an increased induction of the synthesis of the defense-related hormone salicylic acid could be observed, although this hormone did not accumulate to significantly higher levels. These results are the first report of differential induction of a defense-related pathway in pgip-overexpressing lines and substantiate the proposal that following ePG inhibition by PGIP, signaling which activates plant defense responses, takes place. Taken together, these results significantly contribute to our understanding of the in planta role of PGIP in plant defense responses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plante het deur evolusie gesofistikeerde meganismes teen die aanslag van plantsiektes ontwikkel. Die gebeure wat die plant voorberei, asook dié wat op plant-patogeen interaksies volg, is uiters kompleks en vorm die kern van verskeie navorsingstemas die afgelope paar jaar. Etlike plant- én patogeengene en proteïene is by hierdie interaksies betrokke en aan komplekse reguleringsprosesse onderworpe. Die bestudering van die bydrae van enkelgene en hul gekodeerde proteïene tot die molekulêre interaksie tussen ‘n plant en patogeen is ‘n sterk fokus van plant-molekulêre bioloë. Met hierdie doel as fokus, is ‘n geen wat vir ‘n poligalakturonaseinhiberende proteïen (PGIP) kodeer, van Vitis vinifera gekloneer. Hierdie proteïene beskik oor die vermoë om fungiese endopoligalakturonases (ePG's), ensieme wat benodig word vir die virulensie van verskeie fungi op hul gasheerplante, te inhibeer. Die inhibisie van ePG's deur PGIP en die gepaardgaande verminderde weefseldegradasie is ‘n baie belowende strategie vir die verbetering van verboude gewasse se patogeentoleransie. Die VvPGIPenkoderende geen is gevolglik na Nicotiana tabacum oorgedra vir hoëvlakuitdrukking van VvPGIP. Daar is gevind dat hierdie transgeniese plante minder vatbaar vir Botrytis cinerea-infeksies was in ‘n inisiële antifungiese toets wat gebruik gemaak het van blaarweefsel wat van die moederplant verwyder is. Daar is ook ‘n korrelasie gevind tussen B. cinerea-siekteweerstand en ePG-inhibisie deur proteïenekstrakte van die transgeniese populasie. Die huidige studie bou voort op en bevestig vorige bevindinge betreffende die antfungiese aard van die heteroloë PGIP in die heelplant en oor tyd. Ses transgeniese tabaklyne en 'n ongetransformeerde wilde-tipe (WT) is geïnfekteer en die lesies is vanaf dag drie tot sewe, en weer op dag 15, gemeet. Die transgeniese lyne het in die tydperk van drie tot sewe dae ná-inokulasie kleiner lesies as die WT getoon, alhoewel hierdie verskille slegs statisties beduidend geword het na sewe dae van inkubasie. Op daardie tydstip het vier van die ses lyne aansienlik kleiner lesies as die WT getoon, en verlagings in siektevatbaarheid het, in vergelyking met die WT, van 46% tot 69% gewissel. Twee van die lyne het siektevatbaarheid getoon wat vergelykbaar was met dié van die WT. In die siekteweerstandbiedende plantlyne was daar 'n verband tussen Vvpgip1-ekspressie, PGIP-aktiwiteit en ePG-inhibisie. Hierdie plantlyne is dus as PGIP-spesifieke siekteweerstandslyne beskou en dien dus as ideale eksperimentele bronne vir die ontleding van die moontlike in plantafunksies van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstandbiedendheid. Die huidige hipotese betreffende die funksie(s) van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstand is tweeledig. Eerstens het PGIP die vermoë om fungusePG's spesifiek en doeltreffend te inhibeer. Hierdie direkte inhibisie veroorsaak ‘n vermindering in patogenisiteit van die fungus op die gasheer. Indien ePG's egter hulle ensimatiese aksie onverstoord voortsit, sal weefseldegradasie en uiteindelik weefselnekrose die gevolg wees. Daar kon ook bewys word dat die in vitroinhibisie van ePG's deur PGIP die leeftyd van oligogalakturoniede, molekules wat die vermoë het om die plantweerstandsrespons aan te skakel, kan verleng. PGIP het dus nie net die vermoë om ePG's, en dus weefseldegradasie, te inhibeer nie; maar hierdie inhibisie lei ook daartoe dat plantweerstandsresponse aangeskakel word met die oog op die vermindering van patogeenindringing. Verskeie publikasies het reeds gerapporteer oor verminderde Botrytisvatbaarheid in PGIP transgeniese plantlyne. Geeneen van hierdie publikasies kon egter uitbrei op die huidige hipotese aangaande die moontlike in planta-funksie van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstand nie. In hierdie studie is transgeniese tabaklyne wat PGIP ooruitgedruk gebruik om hierdie moontlike in planta-funksies vir PGIP uit te klaar. Transkriptoom- en hormonale analises is op hierdie plantlyne en ‘n WT voor en ná inokulasie met die nekrotroof Botrytis cinerea uitgevoer,. Transkriptoomanalises is uitgevoer op ongeïnfekteerde, sowel as geïnfekteerde tabakblaarmateriaal deur gebruik te maak van ‘n Solanum tuberosum-mikroraster. Die analises met gesonde, ongeïnfekteerde plantmateriaal het daarop gewys dat gene betrokke by selwandmetabolisme tussen die transgeniese lyne en die WT verskillend uitgedruk was. Dit kon bewys word dat, sonder infeksiedruk, die geen wat xiloglukaan-endotransglikosilase (XET) kodeer, in die transgeniese lyne afgereguleer was. Gene wat betrokke is in die lignien-biosintetiese pad was ook in die individuele transgeniese lyne beïnvloed. Biochemiese toetse het ook die aanduiding van verhoogde ligniendeposisie in die transgeniese lyne se selwande bevestig. Addisionele fitohormoonprofiele het getoon dat hierdie lyne ook beskik oor verhoogde vlakke van indoolasynsuur (IAA). Hierdie resultate wys daarop dat konstitutiewe vlakke van PGIP selwandmetabolisme in die Vvpgip1-transgeniese lyne moontlik kan beïnvloed, wat plantsiekteweerstand in dié lyne positief kan beïnvloed. Dit wil dus voorkom asof PGIP 'n bykomende funksie in plantsiekteweerstand het. Plantweerstandsreponse kan direk deur PGIP beïnvloed word, wat tot die versterking van plantselwande kan lei; dit kan geskied by wyse van die strukturele eienskappe van die proteïen of die integrasie daarvan in die selwand. Hierdie selwande is dus “voorberei” alvorens patogeenindringing plaasvind en kon bydra tot die verminderde siektevatbaarheid wat waargeneem is in lyne wat hoë vlakke van PGIP akkumuleer. Transkriptoom- en hormonale analises is ook uitgevoer op Botrytisgeïnfekteerde blaarmateriaal van beide die transgeniese lyne en ‘n WT. Verskeie Botrytis-responsgene is in beide die transgeniese lyne en die WT opgereguleer. Differensïele geenekspressie tussen die twee genotipes was taamlik beperk, maar in die analises kon ‘n geen geïdentifiseer word wat tweevoudig in die transgeniese lyne opgereguleer was in vergelyking met die WT. Hierdie resultaat is ook bevestig met behulp van die “Real-Time” Polimerasekettingreaksie (PKR). Hierdie geen is betrokke in die lipoksigenase (LOX) -pad (spesifiek die 9-LOXarm), wat tot die sintese van die diviniel-eter oksilipiene “colneleic-” en “colnelenic”-suur lei. Daar is al bewys dat hierdie twee verbindings Botrytisspoorontkieming kan inhibeer. Fitohormoonprofiele van die geïnfekteerde plante het gewys dat die transgeniese lyne verhoogde vlakke van die poel van jasmonate wat plantsiekteweerstands-hormone is, ná inokulasie akkumuleer. Hierdie hormone word in die 13-LOX-arm van die lipoksigenase pad gevorm en is belangrik vir die beperking van Botrytis by die infeksiesetel. Die resultate van die analises wat op Botrytis-infeksie volg, dui daarop dat beide arms van die lipoksigenasepad in die transgeniese lyne verskillend by die lokale respons geïnduseer word. ‘n Verhoogde induksie van ‘n ander plantsiekteweerstandshormoon, salisielsuur, kon ook opgemerk word, alhoewel die totaal geakkumuleerde vlakke nie beduidend hoër was as dié van die WT nie. Hierdie resultate is die eerste wat onderskeidende induksie van ‘n siekteweerstandspad in enige van die pgip-ooruitgedrukte plantlyne rapporteer. Daarmee ondersteun dit ook die hipotese dat, seintransduksie wat plantweerstandsresponse aanskakel, ná inhibisie van ePG deur PGIP plaasvind. Die resultate wat met hierdie studie verkry is, dra dus beduidend by tot die huidige kennis van die in planta-funksie van PGIP in plantsiekteweerstandsresponse.

Thesis (MSc (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / Pathogen devastation of food products has been the topic of extensive research efforts worldwide. Fungal infections are foremost amongst these pests, contributing not only to losses in product yield, but also significantly affecting the quality thereof. It is not surprising then that producers of these foodstuffs and their derived products continually strive towards the highest possible product quality. Therefore, it remains imperative that satisfactory methods are implemented to control these fungal pathogens. The current strategies are all hampered by drawbacks, and severe crop losses are still experienced. New technologies are being explored; one such technology is the genetic transformation of plant species. This method has enabled scientists to introduce foreign genes, with known functions and predictable outcomes, into plants. Genes identified to be involved in disease resistance have become the focus of numerous research efforts concerned with the improvement of the plant's innate defence response. This study aimed to enhance disease resistance to fungal pathogens by means of the genetic transformation of two genes previously shown to be involved in disease resistance. These genes encode polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) from Phaseolus vulgaris and resveratrol synthase from Vitis vinifera. PGIPs specifically inhibit the action of fungal polygalacturonases (PGs), which are enzymes responsible for the hydrolytic breakdown of plant cell walls. These enzymes were also found to be the first enzymes that are secreted by fungal pathogens during infection of the host plant. Additionally, PGIP-PG interaction results in the existence of molecules involved in the activation of plant defence responses. Resveratrol, the product of resveratrol synthase, exerts its antifungal action by destruction of the microbial cellular membranes. These mentioned genes were transformed alone, and in combination, into Nicotiana tabacum and the resultant transgenic lines were evaluated for enhanced disease resistance and for possible synergistic effects between the transgenes. Several independent transgenic lines were regenerated with genes integrated into the tobacco genome. Almost all the plants harbouring only pgip or vst1 genes also expressed these genes at a high frequency. Some non-expressing lines were identified from the transgenic plants that had integrated both genes, but several lines were obtained expressing both transgenes. Good correlations were observed between transgene product activity and enhanced resistance to the fungus Botrytis cinerea in an antifungal in planta assay. Lines showing the highest PGIP activity and resveratrollevels were more resistant to the pathogen, leading to disease resistance of up to 80% seven days after inoculation in comparison to an untransformed control. These lines maintained their strong inhibition, even three weeks post-inoculation, showing a complete halt in disease development and fungal growth. These results provide good indications of the efficacy of these transgenes in the upregulation of plant defence. However, the study will have to be expanded to include even more transgenic lines to elucidate the possible synergistic effects of these genes. In an additional pilot study, genes encoding for precursors and for the formation of resveratrol were introduced into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The resultant recombinant yeast strains were evaluated for their ability to produce the phenolic substance, resveratrol. This compound has been implicated in beneficial aspects relating to human health, including positive effects on atherosclerosis and platelet aggregation as a direct result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Recombinant yeast strains were constructed that expressed genes coding for coenzyme A ligase and resveratrol synthase. These strains were shown to be able to produce the phenolic compound resveratrol from the precursors present in the yeast as well as from the products introduced with the transformation. The resveratrol was complexed with an added glucose moiety. These results are extremely positive, considering the possibility of manipulating wine yeasts to produce resveratrol during the wine fermentation, thereby adding to the health aspects of both red and white wine. This is the first report of the production of this compound by the introduction of genes necessary for its biosynthesis in a foreign host. This study has confirmed the importance of PGIPs and resveratrol in the effort to enhance disease resistance in plants through genetic transformation technology. It has also shown that the health benefits of resveratrol could be exploited more optimally in the wine industry, by producing wine yeasts with the ability to synthesise this important antioxidant.