Orientadores: Mary Ann Foglio, João Ernesto de Carvalho, Rodney Alexandre Ferreira Rodrigues. / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T16:46:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Giardini_InesJulianaMartorano_M.pdf: 3069059 bytes, checksum: 99aee623d95f132ac5b5f59d8ea76553 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antiproliferativa in vitro do látex, dos extratos brutos e frações extraídas das folhas frescas de Synadenium grantii Hook f., popularmente conhecida como janaúba, cancerosa ou cancerola, coletadas de indivíduos cultivados no campo experimental do CPQBA- UNICAMP, na cidade de Espírito Santo do Pinhal- SP e em Mogi-Mirim-SP. ...Observação: O resumo, na íntegra, poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: This study aimed evaluation of in vitro antiproliferative activity on human cell lines of latex, crude extracts and fractions obtained from fresh leaves of Synadenium grantii Hook f., popularly known as cancerosa or cancerola. The plants were collected in CPQBA-UNICAMP experimental field, Espírito Santo do Pinhal-SP and from Mogi-Mirim- SP...Note: The complete abstract is available with the full electronic document / Mestrado / Farmacologia, Anestesiologia e Terapeutica / Mestra em Odontologia

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-88). Also available via the World Wide Web.

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NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is a flavoprotein containing both FAD and FMN and functions as the electron donor protein for several oxygenase enzymes found on the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells, including cytochrome P450s involved in drug metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis. As many as three enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway have been demonstrated, or proposed, to use CPR as a redox partner: squalene monooxygenase, which converts squalene to 2,3-oxidosqualene; lanosterol demethylase, a cytochrome P450 (CYP51); and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, the final step in cholesterol synthesis. In yeast CPR can be replaced by the NADH-cytochrome b5 pathway, but this has not been demonstrated in animals or plants. My studies with hepatic cytochrome P450 reductase-null mice have revealed a second microsomal reductase for squalene monooxygenase that was not previously detected. Studies carried out with hepatocytes from CPR-null mice demonstrate that this second reductase is active in whole cells and leads to the accumulation of 24-dihydrolanosterol, indicating that lanosterol demethylation, catalyzed by CYP51, is blocked. These results demonstrate that this second reductase plays a significant role in supporting squalene monooxygenase but not cytochrome P450-mediated reactions. 7-Dehydrocholesterol reductase (E.C. 1.3.1.21) catalyzes the reduction of the 7-8 double bond of 7-dehydrocholesterol to yield cholesterol. It has been suggested that cytochrome-P450 reductase is required for this reaction. My studies show that 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase is enzymatically active in CPR-null microsomes, with activity equal to or greater than that found in preparations from wild-type mice. Mammalian cytochrome b5, which can accept electrons from either cytochrome P450 reductase or NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, is known to be involved in augmenting some P450-dependent monooxygenase reactions. Cytochrome P450 2E1 has been found to exhibit reasonable rates of turnover via an NADHcytochrome b5 pathway in reconstituted enzyme systems and in heterologous hosts. Using microsomes from hepatic CPR-null mice, I have determined that NADH-dependent CYP2E1 activity in the absence of NADPH-dependent activity constituted approximately 10% of CYP2E1 activity observed in microsomal preparations with NADPH from wild-type mice. However, little or no CYP2E1 activity could be detected in primary hepatocytes isolated from CPR-null mice.

The biosynthesis of the steroid precursor molecule lanosterol is a remarkable process in which the enzyme-bound substrate 2,3-S-oxidosqualene forms four new carbocyclic rings by a cascade of cation-alkene addition reactions, followed by a series of 1,2-methyl and hydride shifts. The work presented in this thesis is a computational study of the reactions of compounds designed to model the oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclisation in order to establish details of the mechanism of this amazing cyclisation. The initiation of oxidosqualene cyclisation has been modelled by the intermolecular reaction of protonated oxirane and methylpropene. The SN2-like ring opening of the protonated epoxide is strongly exothermic with a low barrier to reaction; the geometry of the gas phase reaction has been found to be significantly affected by hyperconjugative stabilisations and low energy steric interactions. The energy profile and geometry of this reaction can now be compared to analogous intramolecular reactions such as the formation of the lanosterol A-ring. The competing five- and six-membered cyclisations of a series of substituted A-ring model compounds was investigated. It has been found that the facile cleavage of the protonated epoxide causes the reaction to behave more as an electrophilic addition than as a nucleophilic ring-opening substitution. This behaviour accounts for the general preference of protonated epoxides to react at the more substituted carbon atom, while epoxides in neutral or basic media react at the least sterically hindered carbon. With consideration for Baldwin's rules for ring closure, it is seen that the series of model compounds generally favours six-membered ring formation endo at the epoxide. The formation of the lanosterol B-ring was studied using a bicyclic model system. Previous computational studies had predicted the B-ring to close with readily with an activation energy of less than 1 kcal mol-1, however the present study has found a significant barrier to cyclisation of ca. 5-7 kcal mol-1 in this gas-phase model at the HF/6-31G(d) level of theory. This barrier is thought to arise from the closure of the B-ring in a sterically hindered twist-boat conformation.

The biosynthesis of the steroid precursor molecule lanosterol is a remarkable process in which the enzyme-bound substrate 2,3-S-oxidosqualene forms four new carbocyclic rings by a cascade of cation-alkene addition reactions, followed by a series of 1,2-methyl and hydride shifts. The work presented in this thesis is a computational study of the reactions of compounds designed to model the oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclisation in order to establish details of the mechanism of this amazing cyclisation. The initiation of oxidosqualene cyclisation has been modelled by the intermolecular reaction of protonated oxirane and methylpropene. The SN2-like ring opening of the protonated epoxide is strongly exothermic with a low barrier to reaction; the geometry of the gas phase reaction has been found to be significantly affected by hyperconjugative stabilisations and low energy steric interactions. The energy profile and geometry of this reaction can now be compared to analogous intramolecular reactions such as the formation of the lanosterol A-ring. The competing five- and six-membered cyclisations of a series of substituted A-ring model compounds was investigated. It has been found that the facile cleavage of the protonated epoxide causes the reaction to behave more as an electrophilic addition than as a nucleophilic ring-opening substitution. This behaviour accounts for the general preference of protonated epoxides to react at the more substituted carbon atom, while epoxides in neutral or basic media react at the least sterically hindered carbon. With consideration for Baldwin's rules for ring closure, it is seen that the series of model compounds generally favours six-membered ring formation endo at the epoxide. The formation of the lanosterol B-ring was studied using a bicyclic model system. Previous computational studies had predicted the B-ring to close with readily with an activation energy of less than 1 kcal mol-1, however the present study has found a significant barrier to cyclisation of ca. 5-7 kcal mol-1 in this gas-phase model at the HF/6-31G(d) level of theory. This barrier is thought to arise from the closure of the B-ring in a sterically hindered twist-boat conformation.

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology) / Glycine max (soybean) is an important crop species globally as it is used as a protein-rich food and feed crop and as a source of oils used in the food and biofuel industry. However, the growth and yield of soybean is adversely affected by drought. Exposure of soybean to drought leads to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell membrane instability. Sterols are membrane components that regulates membrane fluidity and permeability. Besides being major components of the cell membranes, sterols such as lanosterol appear to play a role in the regulation of ROS scavenging and some are precursors to brassinosteroids that act as signaling molecules with hormonal function that regulate growth, development and responses to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. In this study, the involvement of plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, in the regulation of soybean responses to drought stress was investigated in Glycine max by determining the effects of drought on the expression of a candidate lanosterol synthase gene (Glyma08g24160) and the content of a subset of phytosterols in soybean. The effects of inhibition of sterol synthesis on ROS production and on superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were investigated. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as well as superoxide (O2-) increased in response to drought and sterol synthesis inhibition, however, O2- concentration and sterol contents declined under drought stress and sterol synthesis inhibition.

Submitted by Pós graduação Farmácia (ppgfar@ufba.br) on 2017-05-25T21:30:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Francielle_Martins_de_Melo.pdf: 8569126 bytes, checksum: 689445a6dfb52e31c7a720c2f317cd6c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Patricia Barroso (pbarroso@ufba.br) on 2017-05-29T17:24:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Francielle_Martins_de_Melo.pdf: 8569126 bytes, checksum: 689445a6dfb52e31c7a720c2f317cd6c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-29T17:24:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Francielle_Martins_de_Melo.pdf: 8569126 bytes, checksum: 689445a6dfb52e31c7a720c2f317cd6c (MD5) / CNPq / A doença de Chagas é uma doença negligenciada de grande impacto sobre a população da América Latina. No Brasil estima-se que aproximadamente 50.000 novos casos de doença de Chagas ocorram anualmente e que cerca de 2.500.000 indivíduos estejam infectados. Apesar disso, o arsenal terapêutico disponível para o tratamento da doença (nifurtimox e benzonidazol) apresenta pouca ação sobre a fase crônica e sérios efeitos colaterais. Além disso já foi relatado o aparecimento de cepas resistentes aos medicamentos disponíveis. Diante desses fatos, torna-se importante a identificação de novos protótipos a fármacos ativos contra a fase crônica da doença. Sabe-se que antifúngicos azólicos (posaconazol, ravuconazol, itraconazol e cetoconazol) inibem a enzima lanosterol 14 alfa-desmetilase do Trypanosoma cruzi e por essa razão impedem a síntese do ergosterol, o principal esterol de membrana do parasita. Moléculas com esse perfil de atividade são ativas contra a forma amastigota do parasito, apresentando resultados positivos no tratamento da fase crônica da doença de Chagas. Esses dados sugerem que o desenvolvimento de novos inibidores da via do ergosterol é uma alternativa interessante para o tratamento da doença de Chagas. Visando contribuir para esse objetivo foram desenvolvidos modelos de QSAR 2D e 3D para um conjunto de 155 moléculas ativas contra T. cruzi. Modelos de QSAR 2D, baseado, em descritores bidimensionais (r2= 0,86, q2=0,9, r2pred=0,84, com 4PCs) e Holograma moleculares (r2= 0,85, q2=0,91, r2pred=0,82, com 6PCs) apresentam parâmetros estatísticos satisfatórios e sugerem que propriedades estéreas da amina ligada a anel aromático estão relacionadas com aumento na atividade dos compostos, enquanto que ramificações estruturais tem o efeito contrário. Visando complementar o estudo das exigências estéreas e eletrônicas que determinam a atividade biológica dos derivados azólicos estudados, foram desenvolvidos modelos de QSAR 3D pela técnica de análise comparativa de campos moleculares (CoMFA). O modelo do alinhamento realizado pelo acoplamento molecular propiciou poder preditivo satisfatório (q2 = 0,74, r2 = 0,92, r2pred = 0,70, com 5 PCs). O modelo realizado pelo alinhamento por similaridade morfológica dos 5 ligantes de maior atividade proporcionou maior poder preditivo (q2= 0,75, r2=0,91, r2pred=0,77, com 6PCs). A análise dos mapas de contorno sugere que a amina primária ligada ao anel aromático tem contribuição estérea e eletrônica importante, assim como substituintes na posição meta do anel p-anilina. O anel fenil na posição meta, assim como o anel imidazol podem diminuir a atividade dos compostos. As informações obtidas através dos modelos quimiométricos descritos acima são de suma importância para guiar o planejamento de moléculas mais potentes contra T. cruzi. / Chagas´ disease has a major impact over the population of Latin America. This neglected disease affects 2,500.000 patients and approximately new 50,000 cases are identified annually. Despite that, there are few drugs available to treat this ailment (nifurtimox and benznidazole), which are not effective against the chronic phase and show many side-effects. In addition, drug-resistant strains have been reported. These facts underscore the importance of discovering lead compounds that are active against the chronic phase of Chagas´ disease. Antifungal compounds such as posaconazole, revuconazole and cetoconazole also inhibit the lanosterol 14- demethylase from Trypanosoma cruzi, thus blocking the ergosterol pathway. Moreover, such compounds are active against amastigote T. cruzi and show promising results for chronic Chagas´ disease treatment. Therefore, developing new ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors has been considered as a good strategy to improve Chagas´ disease treatment. Aiming at this goal, 2D and 3D QSAR models were built for a dataset of 155 compounds that had been assayed against T. cruzi. 2D-QSAR models built with topological descriptors (r2= 0.86, q2=0.9, r2pred=0.84, with 4PCs) or molecular hologram (r2= 0.85, q2=0.91, r2pred=0.82, with 6PCs) show reasonable statistics parameters and suggest that steric properties from the NH2 bound to phenyl ring increase potency, whereas moieties branching has the opposite effect. In order to further investigate the steric and electronic requirements for biological activity, 3D-QSAR models were developed by Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA). The model of alignment by docking presented good predictive model (q2 = 0,74, r2 = 0,92, r2pred = 0,70, com 5 PCs). The model of alignment by morphological similarity towards the 5 most activity compounds presented most predictive model (r2= 0.75, q2=0.91, r2pred=0.77, with 6PCs). Contour map analysis not only supports the hypothesis that NH2 bound to phenyl has a positive steric or eletronic contribution to activity but also meta substitute on p-aniline. The ring phenil in the position meta as well as the ring imidazole would reduce the activity. The information gathered from all these models shall be useful to guide the development of second generation molecules with increased potency against T. cruzi.

L’autorenouvellement est une propriété fondatrice du concept de cellule souche. Cependant, malgré l’avancée des connaissances actuelles, les mécanismes moléculaires sous-jacents restent mal compris. Nous nous sommes donc intéressés à cette question, en étudiant l’équilibre entre autorenouvellement et différenciation dans des progéniteurs érythrocytaires primaires. D’une part, grâce à une étude combinant des approches pharmacologiques et de génétique fonctionnelle, nos résultats montrent que le contrôle de la synthèse cellulaire du cholestérol joue un rôle essentiel dans la régulation du basculement de l’autorenouvellement vers la différenciation. D’autre part, nous avons étudié la nature stochastique de l’expression génique au cours du passage de l’autorenouvellement vers la différenciation. En effet, contrairement au caractère déterministe initialement attribué à l’expression des gènes, les données accumulées au cours des dernières années démontrent que cette expression repose sur des processus stochastiques. Nous avons en particulier oeuvré à la conception et à la mise en place d’un dispositif permettant de suivre en temps réel l’expression génique dans des cellules individualisées, afin de pouvoir mesurer et évaluer cette stochasticité. Au final, l’ensemble de ces travaux participent à la compréhension des bases moléculaires de l’autorenouvellement et du contrôle des choix du devenir cellulaire. / Self-renewal is a key property of the stem cell concept. However, despite the recent advances in this field, the underlying molecular bases are not yet properly understood. We tackled this question by studying the balance between self-renewal and differentiation, in primary erythroid progenitors. Our work is twofold. First, by combining pharmacologic approaches and functional genetics, we have shown that the control of cellular cholesterol synthesis plays a central role in the regulation between self-renewal and differentiation. Second, we have studied the stochastic nature of gene expression along the transition from self-renewal to differentiation. Indeed, while gene expression was initially deemed to be deterministic, more and more data tend to show that it relies on stochastic processes. In particular, we participated to the design of an experimental method allowing to mesure gene expression in a single cell, in real-time. All in all, the work presented here brings new elements towards the understanding of molecular bases controlling self-renewal and cell fate choices.

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