Caveolae are a type of invaginated membrane domain that has been shown to be involved in several disease states, including lipodystrophy, muscular dystrophies and cancer. Several of these diseases are caused by the lack of caveolae or caveolae-related signaling deficiencies in the tissues in which the caveolar domain are abundant such as lung, adipose, muscle and their related endothelial cells. Caveolae are formed through the assembly of the membrane inserted protein caveolin, cholesterol and the recently described family of cavin proteins, which together form the caveolae coat. The work in this thesis focuses on understanding the protein components and mechanisms that control the biogenesis and dynamics of caveolae. We have found that the protein EHD2 is an important regulator and stabilizer of the caveolar domain at the cell membrane. EHD2 is a dimeric ATPase known to oligomerize into ring-like structures around lipid membranes to control their shape. We have characterized the domain interactions involved in the specific targeting and assembly of this protein at caveolae. We propose a stringent regulatory mechanism for the assembly of EHD2 involving ATP binding and switching of the EH domain position to release the N-terminus and facilitate oligomerization in the presence of membrane species. We show that loss of EHD2 in cells results in hyper- dynamic caveolae and that caveolae stability at the membrane can be restored by reintroducing EHD2 into these cells. In a study of the protein cavin-3, which is known to be an integral component of the caveolar coat, we showed that this protein is targeted to caveolae via direct binding to the caveolar core protein caveolin1. Furthermore, we show that cavin-3 is enriched at deeply invaginated caveolae and regulate the duration time of caveolae at the cell surface. In combination with a biochemical and cellbiological approach, the advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, like Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), Total Internal Reflection microscopy (TIRF), combined with correlative Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) have allowed us to characterize distinct caveolae-associated proteins and their respective functions at caveolae.

No description available.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第16883号 / 工博第3604号 / 新制||工||1544(附属図書館) / 29558 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻 / (主査)教授 長谷川 博一, 教授 吉﨑 武尚, 教授 金谷 利治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

O meio hidrotrópico tem sido intensamente explorado pela indústria a fim de melhorar a solubilização de substâncias pouco solúveis em água. Os hidrótropos são compostos anfifílicos, como os surfactantes, mas os microdomínios formados não têm estruturas bem organizadas como as micelas. O mecanismo de solubilização hidrotrópica não está completamente elucidado. Muitos esforços têm sido feitos nesse sentido tanto em nosso grupo quanto por outros pesquisadores. Os alginatos também formam microdomínios em solução e tem sido bastante estudados devido a suas aplicações na agricultura, farmácia, medicina, dentre outras. Sabe-se que as propriedades fotofísicas de corantes são sensíveis ao meio no qual eles se encontram. Neste trabalho as propriedades fotofísicas do corante pseudoisocianina (PIC) foram determinadas em soluções hidrotrópicas de toluenossulfonato de sódio (TSS) e estirenossulfonato de sódio (ESS), em soluções de metanol, etanol, butanol e etilenoglicol, bem como em solução aquosa de alginato de sódio. Estes estudos também agregam informações para a compreensão do comportamento dos hidrótropos em solução aquosa, usando-se o corante PIC como sonda fotofísica. / Hydrotropic media have been intensively explored by industry to improve the solubilization of poorly water-soluble substances. Hydrotropes are amphiphilic compounds, such as surfactants, that form microdomains that are not as wellorganized as micelles. The mechanism of hydrotropic solubilization is not completely elucidated. Much effort has been done towards this end, in our group and by other researchers. Alginates also form microdomains in solution and have been largely studied due to their applications in agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, among others. It is well-known that the photophysical properties of dyes depend on the environment in which they are placed. In this work, photophysical properties of the dye pseudoisocyanine (PIC) have been determined in hydrotropic solutions of sodium toluenesulphonate (TSS) and sodium styrenesulphonate (ESS), in solutions of methanol, ethanol, butanol and etileneglycol, as well as in sodium alginate aqueous solution. This study also adds information to the understanding of hydrotrope behaviour in aqueous solution by using PIC as a photophysical probe.

O meio hidrotrópico tem sido intensamente explorado pela indústria a fim de melhorar a solubilização de substâncias pouco solúveis em água. Os hidrótropos são compostos anfifílicos, como os surfactantes, mas os microdomínios formados não têm estruturas bem organizadas como as micelas. O mecanismo de solubilização hidrotrópica não está completamente elucidado. Muitos esforços têm sido feitos nesse sentido tanto em nosso grupo quanto por outros pesquisadores. Os alginatos também formam microdomínios em solução e tem sido bastante estudados devido a suas aplicações na agricultura, farmácia, medicina, dentre outras. Sabe-se que as propriedades fotofísicas de corantes são sensíveis ao meio no qual eles se encontram. Neste trabalho as propriedades fotofísicas do corante pseudoisocianina (PIC) foram determinadas em soluções hidrotrópicas de toluenossulfonato de sódio (TSS) e estirenossulfonato de sódio (ESS), em soluções de metanol, etanol, butanol e etilenoglicol, bem como em solução aquosa de alginato de sódio. Estes estudos também agregam informações para a compreensão do comportamento dos hidrótropos em solução aquosa, usando-se o corante PIC como sonda fotofísica. / Hydrotropic media have been intensively explored by industry to improve the solubilization of poorly water-soluble substances. Hydrotropes are amphiphilic compounds, such as surfactants, that form microdomains that are not as wellorganized as micelles. The mechanism of hydrotropic solubilization is not completely elucidated. Much effort has been done towards this end, in our group and by other researchers. Alginates also form microdomains in solution and have been largely studied due to their applications in agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, among others. It is well-known that the photophysical properties of dyes depend on the environment in which they are placed. In this work, photophysical properties of the dye pseudoisocyanine (PIC) have been determined in hydrotropic solutions of sodium toluenesulphonate (TSS) and sodium styrenesulphonate (ESS), in solutions of methanol, ethanol, butanol and etileneglycol, as well as in sodium alginate aqueous solution. This study also adds information to the understanding of hydrotrope behaviour in aqueous solution by using PIC as a photophysical probe.

Résumé : A ce jour, lutilité des cyclodextrines comme adjuvant pharmaceutique nest plus à démontrer. En biologie cellulaire, la méthyl-b-cyclodextrine est un outil couramment utilisé par les expérimentateurs. La déstructuration quelle induit au niveau des microdomaines membranaires que sont les radeaux lipidiques ou les cavéoles est mise à profit pour létude des fonctions cellulaires qui y sont associées. Le but de notre recherche est détudier les interactions de différentes cyclodextrines couramment utilisées dans le domaine pharmaceutique avec les constituants des membranes liposomales ou biologiques afin de mieux comprendre les conséquences de ces interactions au niveau cellulaire. Lhypothèse dune interaction des cyclodextrines avec les constituants lipophiles des membranes cellulaires a souvent été énoncée pour expliquer la cytotoxicité de certains dérivés. Nous avons pu montrer à laide de liposomes unilamellaires utilisés comme modèles membranaires, que linteraction des cyclodextrines avec leurs constituants, en particulier le cholestérol, est en relation avec une perte de lintégrité de la membrane. Ces premières études nous ont permis de prédire quels seraient les dérivés qui induiraient la cytotoxicité la plus importante. La cytotoxicité importante de certains dérivés méthylés (D.S. proche de 2) a été corrélée avec une capacité dextraction du cholestérol cellulaire relativement élevée. A linverse, nous avons montré que les dérivés faiblement substitués extraient peu le cholestérol, ce qui permet dexpliquer la meilleure tolérance observée au niveau biologique avec la Crysmeb et lHP-b-CD. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés à leffet de la b-CD et de ses dérivés méthylés sur la déstructuration des microdomaines membranaires. Nous avons étudié la relation entre leur capacité de déstructuration des cavéoles et dextraction du cholestérol cellulaire. Une extraction relativement élevée du lipide induit un effet important au niveau des microdomaines voire très important dans le cas de la Dimeb, le dérivé ayant leffet le plus délétère sur lintégrité des membranes artificielles et biologiques. Un effet moins marqué a également pu être corrélé avec une extraction plus faible du cholestérol par certains dérivés (Crysmeb, Trimeb). Les taux dextraction du cholestérol cellulaire mesurés sont en bonne corrélation, mis à part pour la Trimeb et la b-CD, avec les résultats des diagrammes de solubilité. La capacité de solubilisation du cholestérol par les cyclodextrines est en accord avec les interactions plus ou moins importantes observées en RMN. Les résultats de mesure de lintégrité des membranes artificielles correspondent à ceux obtenus avec les membranes biologiques excepté pour la b-CD, cette dernière nayant pu être testée dans les mêmes conditions que les autres cyclodextrines sur les liposomes. Il est maintenant admis que les cyclodextrines pourraient avoir un intérêt thérapeutique potentiel. En effet, la modulation des taux de cholestérol par lutilisation de cyclodextrines pourrait être mise à profit pour traiter des maladies ou infections impliquant ces microdomaines membranaires. Summary : Nowadays, the usefulness of cyclodextrins as pharmaceutical adjuvants is obvious. In cell biology, methyl-b-CD is a tool commonly used by scientists. The disruption of membrane microdomains (such as lipid rafts and caveolae) caused by cyclodextrins is used to study cellular functions. The aim of this research is to study the interactions of various cyclodextrins currently used in pharmaceutical development with the components of liposomal and biological membranes for a better understanding of the consequences of these interactions at the cell level. The hypothesis of an interaction between cyclodextrins and lipophilic components of cell membranes has often been suggested to explain the cytotoxicity of some cyclodextrin derivatives. Using unilamellar liposomes as model membranes, this research has shown that the interaction between cyclodextrins and their components, especially cholesterol, is linked with a loss of membrane integrity. This preliminary study has allowed predicting which derivatives will be the most cytotoxic. The high cytotoxicity of some methylated derivatives (D.S. close to 2) has been correlated with a relatively strong extraction capacity of cell cholesterol. On the other hand, it has been shown that low substituted derivatives do not extract much cholesterol, which is in agreement with the better biological compatibility observed with Crysmeb and HP-b-CD. The research has then focused on the effect of b-CD and its methylated derivatives on membrane microdomains disruption. The relation between caveolae disruption and cell cholesterol extraction capacities has been studied. A relatively strong extraction of the lipid highly disturbs the microdomains and this effect is even more important for Dimeb, the derivative showing the highest loss of integrity of artificial and biological membranes. A less marked effect has also been correlated with the lowest cholesterol extraction capacities of some derivatives (Crysmeb, Trimeb). The measured cell cholesterol extraction rates are in good correlation, except for Trimeb and b-CD, with the results of the solubility diagrams. The cholesterol solubilisation capacity of cyclodextrins is in accordance with the intensity of the interactions observed by NMR. The effects on the integrity of artificial membranes correspond to those obtained with biological membranes except for b-CD, which was not tested on liposomes in the same conditions as those used for the other cyclodextrins. It is now agreed that cyclodextrins could have a therapeutical potential. Indeed, the modulation of cholesterol levels could be applied for treating raft-related infections and diseases.

No description available.

Je utilise le AFM et le HS-AFM pour étudier les caractéristiques mécaniques du cellule du cristallin et aussi des protéines de membrane de la cellule, AQP0 et Connexon. L’énergie d'interaction de la AQP0 est -2.7 kBT, très nécessaire pour former les microdomaines de jonctions (junctional microdomain). Aussi c' est la première fois qu il est possible de voir des protéines individuel et son mouvement en cellules vivants. La formation de microdomaines est important pour la transparence du cristallin, et le AQP1 ne le peux faire. / I used the AFM and HS-AFM for characterise the eye lens and the eye lens membrane protein, AQP0 and connexon.A QP0-AQP0 interaction energy is -2.7kBT, it is important for the formation of junctional microdomains, which keep the distance between the cells lens and lens transparency. this is the first report which is present time the visualization of unlabelled membrane proteins on living cells under physiological conditions. AQP1 can not maintain the lens transparency because it does not form junctional microdomains.

Lisozima mostrou-se capaz, quando dispersa em certos meios orgânico-aquosos, de gerar sistemas pseudoplásticos que evoluem espontaneamente para redes de caráter viscoelástico. Esse fenômeno foi investigado neste estudo, para lisozima dispersa em uma série de misturas binárias contendo derivados de uréia como componente orgânico. Devido aos notáveis efeitos observados para um de tais derivados, a saber, tetrametiluréia (TMU), especial atenção foi dedicada aos sistemas contendo esse composto. O enfoque experimental incluiu espectroscopia Raman, microcalorimetria, reologia e espalhamento de raios X a baixo ângulo (SAXS). O trabalho envolveu o estudo dos sistemas orgânico-aquosos isolados e na presença de proteína. No primeiro caso, foi feita uma investigação espectroscópica e microcalorimétrica dos sistemas quanto a aspectos relativos à segregação de microdomínios na fase liquida e sua conseqüente relação com a deflagração da transição viscoelástica na proteína. Foram observadas descontinuidades nos valores de entalpias de excesso de mistura para o sistema TMU/água em torno de wTMU = 0,6, assim como padrões peculiares de comportamento espectral em torno dessa concentração da mistura binária. No segundo caso, os sistemas complexos de proteínas gerados foram investigados sob o ponto de vista morfológico e dinâmico, através das técnicas reológicas e de SAXS. Energias de ativação de fluxo determinadas na região sub-crítica, de comportamento Newtoniano, mostraram uma dependência exponencial direta com wTMU, indicando que mudanças estruturais nos fluidos complexos já ocorrem em regiões de composição do solvente bem abaixo da região de transição em wTMU = 0,6. Na região viscoelástica, 0,6<wTMU<0,9, ensaios de relaxação indicaram a presença de duas populações distintas. A tangente de perda (tg &#948; = G\"/G\') apresentou valores menores que a unidade para todos os casos, indicando o caráter \"solid-like\" das redes nas condições de ensaio. Apesar de seu caráter sólido, as redes mostram-se bastante flexíveis, suportando grandes deformações antes da ruptura, como inferido a partir da larga região viscoelástica linear. A variação nos módulos elástico (G\') e de perda (G\") com a composição do solvente indica a dependência do caráter viscoelástico com a fração de massa de TMU na mistura binária. Na região de baixo conteúdo de água (wTMU = 0,9), um aumento em G\" após a região viscoelástica linear é observado, indicando aumento da estruturação antes da ruptura da rede. As curvas de SAXS foram modeladas em seus fatores de forma e de interferência com uma equação unificada para objetos aleatoriamente distribuídos em um continuum. Os resultados permitiram a construção de um modelo, compatível com as demais evidências experimentais, segundo o qual as moléculas de lisozima encontram-se em duas conformações distintas nas matrizes: uma de conformação estendida e caráter fractal, predominante em wTMU > 0,6, com dimensão máxima de ca. de 160 &#197;, responsável pela interdigitação com espécies fractais vizinhas e uma espécie compacta, minoritária em wTMU > 0,6 (porém predominante em wTMU <0,6), com raio de giro de ca. 48 &#197;, presente nos microdomínios intersticiais aquosos da matriz. Verificou-se ainda a viabilidade de incorporação homogênea de uma metaloproteína, o citocromo-c, às matrizes de lisozima, sem perturbação significativa de sua morfologia, o que constitue um evento de potencial interesse biotecnológico. Os resultados deste trabalho trazem novos suportes experimentais à hipótese de correlação entre inversão na microconfiguração do meio solvente binário e deflagração do processo de transição sol-gel da proteína. / Lysozyme was found to be able, when dispersed in certain organic/aqueous media, to generate pseudoplastic systems that spontaneously evolve to three-dimensional networks with viscoelastic character. This phenomenon was investigated in this study, for lysozyme dispersed in a series of binary mixtures containing urea derivatives as the organic component. Due to the remarkable effects obtained in one of such derivatives, namely, tetramethylurea (TMU), special attention was given to systems containing that compound. The experimental approach included Raman spectroscopy, microcalorimetry, rheology and small angle X ray scattering (SAXS). The work involved the study of the organic/aqueous systems on their own and in the presence of protein. The former consisted of binary liquid mixtures that were spectroscopically and microcalorimetrically investigated as to aspects concerning microdomain segregation in the liquid phase and its consequent relationship with the threshold of the protein viscoelastic transition. Discontinuities in the excess enthalpy of mixture were observed for TMU/water system around wTMU=0.6, as well as peculiar spectral patterns around that same binary mixture concentration. The latter comprised complex protein systems that were investigated both under a morphological and dynamical point of view. Flow activation energies determined in the sub-critical (Newtonian) region showed an exponential increase with wTMU, indicating that structural changes in the comp]ex fluids are under way at solvent concentration regions well below that of the transition, at wTMU = 0.6. In the viscoelastic region, 0.6<wTMU<0.9, relaxation studies indicated the presence of two distinct populations. The loss tangent (tan &#948; = G\"/G\') presented values lower than the unity for all cases, indicating the solid-like character of the matrices, in the assay conditions. Despite their solid character the networks are quite flexible, standing large strains before rupture, as inferred from the large linear viscoelastic region. The variation in elastic (G\') and loss (G\") moduli with solvent composition indicates a dependence of the viscoelastic character on TMU mass fraction in the binary mixture. In the region of low water content (wTMU = 0.9), an increase in G\" after the LVR is observed, indicating increase in network structuring before rupture. SAXS curves were modeled with a unified equation for randomly distributed objects in a continuum. Results allowed the proposal of a model, which is compatible with the experimental evidence obtained through the other techniques in this work, according to which lysozyme molecules occur in two distinct conformations: one expanded and with fractal character, prevailing at wTMU > 0.6, with maximum dimension ca. 160 &#197; and interdigitated with neighbouring fractal species; and a compact conformation, of minor prevalence at wTMU>0.6 (but prevailing at wTMU < 0.6), with radius of gyration ca. 48 &#197;, present in the matrix microdomain interstices. It has also been verified the feasibility of homogeneous incorporation of cytochrome-c into the lysozyme matrices, an event of potential biotechnological interest. Results from this work bring further experimental support to our hypothesis on the correlation between microconfigurational inversion in the binary solvent medium and the sol-gel transition in the protein.

No description available.