Thesis (M.Phil.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2004. / Advisor: James S. Quinn. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A obesidade é uma doença crônica, resultante do excesso de gordura no organismo. O aumento da obesidade no mundo, tem se revelado como um dos fenômenos clínicos e epidemiológicos da atualidade. Estudos populacionais e em modelos animais demonstram que a origem da epidemia da obesidade está relacionada a fatores genéticos, modificações de hábitos nutricionais, redução da atividade física, e alterações nutricionais durante a lactação, desempenhando um papel relevante no desenvolvimento da obesidade, DM2 e cardiomiopatias. As mitocôndrias são os coordenadores centrais do metabolismo energético, assim, alterações funcionais e estruturais dessa organela têm sido associadas à desordens metabólicas. Elas exercem um papel na sobrevivência e função dos cardiomiócitos devido à alta demanda energética do miocárdio. Desta forma, disfunções mitocondriais estão relacionadas com disfunções no miocárdio e conseqüente progressão de cardiomiopatias. Neste estudo, avaliamos a bioenergética e a ultraestrutura de cardiomiócitos de camundongos obesos e controle hiperalimentados durante a lactação. O consumo de oxigênio das fibras cardíacas foi avaliado por respirometria de alta-resolução, utilizando um oxígrafo-2K-Oroboros. A ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e o conteúdo das proteínas Carnitina palmitoil transferase 1 (CPT1), Proteína desacopladora 2 (UCP2) , Transportador de glicose 1 e 4 (GLUT1) e (GLUT4), Proteína Kinase ativada por AMP (AMPK) e Proteína kinase ativada por AMP fosforilada p(AMPK) por Western blotting (WB). Além disso, o peso dos animais, a gordura retroperitoneal, epididimal e a glicemia em jejum foram determinadas. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os animais do grupo hiperalimentados (GH), aos 90 dias de vida, apresentaram aumento da massa corporal, de gordura epididimária e retroperitoneal comparado ao grupo controle (GC). As taxas respiratórias foram semelhantes nos dois grupos quando foram utilizados os substratos dos complexos I e II. Entretanto, quando o ácido graxo palmitoil-L-carnitina foi utilizado, a taxa respiratória máxima do GH foi significativamente menor. A análise ultraestrutural dos cardiomiócitos do GH demonstrou intenso dano na matriz mitocondrial e maior presença de gotículas de lipídios, caracterizando deposição ectópica. Os resultados do WB mostraram aumento significativo do conteúdo de CPT1 e UCP2 no GH comparado ao GC. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no conteúdo de GLUT1 entre os grupos, entretanto, observamos maior conteúdo do GLUT4 no GH. Além disso, encontramos maior conteúdo de AMPK no GH, ao passo que o conteúdo de pAMPK foi semelhante entre os grupos. Entretanto, a razão pAMPK/AMPK é significativamente menor no GH. Esses resultados sugerem que a hiperalimentação durante a lactação leva a obesidade na vida adulta com alterações na bioenergética e ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos. / Obesity is a chronic disease resulting from the excess of fat in the body. The increase of obesity in the world has been on the clinical and epidemiological phenomenon of the present. Population studies and animal models, show that the origin of the "obesity epidemic", is related to genetic factors and habits acquired during early and adult life, such as changes in dietary habits and reduction in physical activity. In this context, nutritional changes during the period of lactation play an important role in the development of obesity, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria are the central coordinators of energy metabolism, playing a role in the survival and function of the cardiomyocytes due to high energy demand of the myocardium. Functional and structural alterations of this organelle have been associated with metabolic disorders as well to myocardium dysfunction, and consequent progression of cardiomyopathies. In this study, we evaluated the bioenergetics and the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes from obese (OG) and control (CG) mice overfed during lactation. The oxygen consumption of cardiac fibers was assessed by high resolution respirometry, using a 2K-oxigraph-Oroboros. The ultrastructure of the cardiomyocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, and the content of proteins carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), glucose transporter 1 and 4, (GLUT1) and (GLUT4), activated Protein kinase by AMP (AMPK) and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylated (pAMPK) was assessed by Western Blotting (WB). In addition, animal body mass, retroperitoneal and epididymal fat, and fasting blood glucose were determined. Our results confirmed that animals in group OG, at 90 days of life, showed an increase in body mass and mediastinun and retroperitoneal fat when compared with CG. Respiratory rates were similar in both groups when we used complexes I and II substrates. However, when palmitoil-L-carnitine fatty acid was used, the maximum respiratory rate of OG was significantly lower than CG. The ultrastructural analysis of the cardiomyocytes of OG showed intense damage in mitochondrial matrix and greater presence of lipid droplets, characterizing ectopic deposition. WB analyses showed a significant increase of CPT1 and UCP2 contents in OG compared to CG. There were no significant differences in GLUT1 content between groups; however, we observed a greater content of GLUT4 in OG. In addition, we found a higher content of AMPK in OG, while the content of pAMPK was similar between groups. However, the pAMPK/AMPK ratio was significantly lower in OG. These results suggest that overfeeding during lactation leads to obesity in adult life with changes in bioenergetics and ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes.

This thesis characterizes RNA footprints of several RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) thatare involved in U-insertion/deletion, A-to-I, and C-to-U RNA editing in Trypanosoma brucei. Relying on iCLIP data and biochemical methods it shows that two paralogs proteins from the MRB1 complex regulate distinct editing fates of the mitochondrial transcripts. Further, this thesis provides evidence where the combinatorial interplay of RBPs might fine-tune the levels of edited mRNA. Finally, the presented thesis adds to the growing evidence of the importance of RBPs in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease characterised by amyloid plaque accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles and eventual neuronal cell loss. The complex aetiology exhibited in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease presents a considerable challenge in the field of genetics, with identified variants from genome-wide association studies collectively only explaining about a third of disease incidence. As such, new avenues are being explored to elucidate underlying mechanisms associated with disease onset and progression. In 2014, the first epigenome-wide association studies in Alzheimer’s disease were published, identifying several, novel differentially methylated loci in the nuclear genome in cortical brain samples, highlighting that epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in disease aetiology. Further, a growing body of evidence has implicated mitochondrial dysfunction as an early feature of disease pathogenesis. Despite this, few studies have investigated the role of mitochondrial DNA epigenetics in Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, the relatively nascent field of mitochondrial epigenetics has largely been restricted to candidate-based gene approaches to identify differential methylation associated with disease. The main aim of this thesis was therefore to design an experimental and bioinformatic pipeline for the analysis of mitochondrial DNA methylation in post- mortem human brain tissue; first in healthy non-demented control donors, and subsequently in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Our work therefore represents the first epigenome wide studies of mitochondrial DNA methylation at single nucleotide resolution, providing a framework not only for mitochondrial DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease, but also in a number of complex diseases characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A obesidade é uma doença crônica, resultante do excesso de gordura no organismo. O aumento da obesidade no mundo, tem se revelado como um dos fenômenos clínicos e epidemiológicos da atualidade. Estudos populacionais e em modelos animais demonstram que a origem da epidemia da obesidade está relacionada a fatores genéticos, modificações de hábitos nutricionais, redução da atividade física, e alterações nutricionais durante a lactação, desempenhando um papel relevante no desenvolvimento da obesidade, DM2 e cardiomiopatias. As mitocôndrias são os coordenadores centrais do metabolismo energético, assim, alterações funcionais e estruturais dessa organela têm sido associadas à desordens metabólicas. Elas exercem um papel na sobrevivência e função dos cardiomiócitos devido à alta demanda energética do miocárdio. Desta forma, disfunções mitocondriais estão relacionadas com disfunções no miocárdio e conseqüente progressão de cardiomiopatias. Neste estudo, avaliamos a bioenergética e a ultraestrutura de cardiomiócitos de camundongos obesos e controle hiperalimentados durante a lactação. O consumo de oxigênio das fibras cardíacas foi avaliado por respirometria de alta-resolução, utilizando um oxígrafo-2K-Oroboros. A ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e o conteúdo das proteínas Carnitina palmitoil transferase 1 (CPT1), Proteína desacopladora 2 (UCP2) , Transportador de glicose 1 e 4 (GLUT1) e (GLUT4), Proteína Kinase ativada por AMP (AMPK) e Proteína kinase ativada por AMP fosforilada p(AMPK) por Western blotting (WB). Além disso, o peso dos animais, a gordura retroperitoneal, epididimal e a glicemia em jejum foram determinadas. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os animais do grupo hiperalimentados (GH), aos 90 dias de vida, apresentaram aumento da massa corporal, de gordura epididimária e retroperitoneal comparado ao grupo controle (GC). As taxas respiratórias foram semelhantes nos dois grupos quando foram utilizados os substratos dos complexos I e II. Entretanto, quando o ácido graxo palmitoil-L-carnitina foi utilizado, a taxa respiratória máxima do GH foi significativamente menor. A análise ultraestrutural dos cardiomiócitos do GH demonstrou intenso dano na matriz mitocondrial e maior presença de gotículas de lipídios, caracterizando deposição ectópica. Os resultados do WB mostraram aumento significativo do conteúdo de CPT1 e UCP2 no GH comparado ao GC. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no conteúdo de GLUT1 entre os grupos, entretanto, observamos maior conteúdo do GLUT4 no GH. Além disso, encontramos maior conteúdo de AMPK no GH, ao passo que o conteúdo de pAMPK foi semelhante entre os grupos. Entretanto, a razão pAMPK/AMPK é significativamente menor no GH. Esses resultados sugerem que a hiperalimentação durante a lactação leva a obesidade na vida adulta com alterações na bioenergética e ultraestrutura dos cardiomiócitos. / Obesity is a chronic disease resulting from the excess of fat in the body. The increase of obesity in the world has been on the clinical and epidemiological phenomenon of the present. Population studies and animal models, show that the origin of the "obesity epidemic", is related to genetic factors and habits acquired during early and adult life, such as changes in dietary habits and reduction in physical activity. In this context, nutritional changes during the period of lactation play an important role in the development of obesity, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria are the central coordinators of energy metabolism, playing a role in the survival and function of the cardiomyocytes due to high energy demand of the myocardium. Functional and structural alterations of this organelle have been associated with metabolic disorders as well to myocardium dysfunction, and consequent progression of cardiomyopathies. In this study, we evaluated the bioenergetics and the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes from obese (OG) and control (CG) mice overfed during lactation. The oxygen consumption of cardiac fibers was assessed by high resolution respirometry, using a 2K-oxigraph-Oroboros. The ultrastructure of the cardiomyocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, and the content of proteins carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), glucose transporter 1 and 4, (GLUT1) and (GLUT4), activated Protein kinase by AMP (AMPK) and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylated (pAMPK) was assessed by Western Blotting (WB). In addition, animal body mass, retroperitoneal and epididymal fat, and fasting blood glucose were determined. Our results confirmed that animals in group OG, at 90 days of life, showed an increase in body mass and mediastinun and retroperitoneal fat when compared with CG. Respiratory rates were similar in both groups when we used complexes I and II substrates. However, when palmitoil-L-carnitine fatty acid was used, the maximum respiratory rate of OG was significantly lower than CG. The ultrastructural analysis of the cardiomyocytes of OG showed intense damage in mitochondrial matrix and greater presence of lipid droplets, characterizing ectopic deposition. WB analyses showed a significant increase of CPT1 and UCP2 contents in OG compared to CG. There were no significant differences in GLUT1 content between groups; however, we observed a greater content of GLUT4 in OG. In addition, we found a higher content of AMPK in OG, while the content of pAMPK was similar between groups. However, the pAMPK/AMPK ratio was significantly lower in OG. These results suggest that overfeeding during lactation leads to obesity in adult life with changes in bioenergetics and ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes.

Submitted by Cecília Ártico Banho null (ce_artico@hotmail.com) on 2016-03-08T19:36:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Cecilia.pdf: 1070495 bytes, checksum: 573c295e487d66626d45f19a66a72a3a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-03-09T17:56:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 banho_ca_me_sjrp.pdf: 1070495 bytes, checksum: 573c295e487d66626d45f19a66a72a3a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-09T17:56:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 banho_ca_me_sjrp.pdf: 1070495 bytes, checksum: 573c295e487d66626d45f19a66a72a3a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Pentatomomorpha é composta por cerca de 14.000 espécies, distribuídas em seis superfamílias, entre as quais estão inclusas Pentatomoidea e Coreoidea. Pentatomoidea possui 7.000 espécies distribuídas em 15 famílias, das quais Pentatomidae é a maior, com 4.500 espécies e 760 gêneros, estando representados no Estado de São Paulo 163 espécies. A superfamília Coreoidea é composta por cinco famílias, contudo apenas Coreidae, Rophalidae e Alydidae estão presentes no Neotrópico. A família Coreidae possui 1.884 espécies, divididas em quatro subfamílias, das quais Coreinae tem oito tribos com representantes no Brasil. Embora as famílias Pentatomidae e Coreidae apresentem um significante papel como pragas de culturas agrícolas, são escassas análises cladísticas envolvendo esses táxons, o que resulta na ausência de uma única hipótese de classificação, tornando pesquisas com abordagens de sistemática filogenética necessárias para essas famílias. Portanto, o presente estudo buscou caracterizar as relações filogenéticas das famílias Pentatomidae e suas subfamílias por meio dos genes 16S, ND5 (mitocondriais), 18S e 28S (nucleares) e da família Coreidae e sua respectiva subfamília Coreinae por meio dos genes 18S e 28S. Objetivou-se também, confirmar a classificação atual das tribos e subfamílias das espécies de Pentatomidae e Coreidae, que é embasada em caracteres morfológicos, assim como avaliar a variabilidade genética das sequências correspondentes aos genes mitocondriais e nucleares analisados. A partir dos resultados foi observado que os genes nucleares são conservados ao passo que os mitocondriais são altamente variáveis e com tendência as bases AT. Este estudo evidenciou que os genes nucleares 18S e 28S não são ideais para resoluções filogenéticas em nível de famílias, subfamílias e tribos de Coreidae e Pentatomidae, visto que os suportes dos ramos não permitem que haja confiabilidade nas análises. Além disso, alguns grupos que são considerados monofiléticos, com base em caracteres morfológicos, como as subfamílias de Pentatomidae, não tiveram sua monofilia resgatada. Contudo ao considerar as topologias obtidas com os genes nucleares aliados aos mitocondriais, para a família Pentatomidae, obteve-se alto suporte nos ramos, e, portanto, grande confiabilidade nas análises, resgatando a monofilia da maioria das tribos estudadas. Dessa forma, estudos utilizando diferentes marcadores moleculares, em especial, genes mitocondriais, são necessários, pois podem auxiliar no esclarecimento e suporte da classificação atual das relações intrafamiliares de Pentatomidae e Coreidae que permanecem pendentes. / Pentatomomorpha consists about 14.000 species distributed in six superfamilies, to which Pentatomoidea and Coreoidea are included. Pentatomidae has 7000 species in 15 families, of which Pentatomidae is the largest, with 4500 species and 760 genera, although in the state of São Paulo only 163 species are present. The Coreoidae superfamily consists of five families, however only Coreidae, Rophalidae and Alydidae are present in the Neotropics. The Coreidae family has 1884 species, divided into four subfamilies, of which Coreinae has eight tribes with representatives in Brazil. Although Pentatomidae and Coreidae families have a significant role as pests of agricultural crops, the cladistic analysis involving these taxa are scarce, which results in the absence of a single hypothesis classification, making research on phylogenetic systematic approaches necessary for these families. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the phylogenetic relationships of Pentatomidae families and subfamilies through the 16S, ND5, 18S and 28S genes and Coreidae family and their respective Coreinae subfamily through the 18S and 28S genes. We aimed also to confirm the current classification of tribes and subfamilies of Pentatomidae and Coreidae, which is grounded on morphological characters, as well as to evaluate the genetic variability of the sequences corresponding to the mitochondrial and nuclear genes analyzed. From the results it was observed that the nuclear genes are conserved while the mitochondrial are highly variable and tend to AT base. Our study showed that nuclear genes 18S and 28S are not ideal for phylogenetic resolution at the level of families, subfamilies and tribes of Coreidae and Pentatomidae, because the supports of the branches do not allow that there is confiability in the analysis. Furthermore, groups considered monophyletic, based on morphological characteristics, such as Pentatomidae subfamilies, have not had their monophyly rescued. But when we consider the topologies obtained with nuclear genes combined with mitochondrial genes for the Pentatomidae family, we had high support in the branches, and thus high confiability in the analysis, rescuing the monophyly of most of the studied tribes. Thus, studies using different molecular markers, in particular mitochondrial genes are needed, because they can help in understanding and support of the current classification of intra-family relations Pentatomidae and Coreidae that remain pending.

abstract: The ability to manipulate the interaction between small molecules and biological macromolecules towards the study of disease pathogenesis has become a very important part of research towards treatment options for various diseases. The work described here shows both the use of DNA oligonucleotides as carriers for a nicotine hapten small molecule, and the use of microsomes to study the stability of compounds derived to treat mitochondrial diseases. Nicotine addiction is a worldwide epidemic because nicotine is one of the most widely used addictive substances. It is linked to early death, typically in the form of heart or lung disease. A new vaccine conjugate against nicotine held within a DNA tetrahedron delivery system has been studied. For this purpose, several strands of DNA, conjugated with a modified dTpT having three or six carbon atom alkynyl linkers, have been synthesized. These strands have later been conjugated to three separate hapten small molecules to analyze which conjugates formed would be optimal for further testing in vivo. Mitochondrial diseases are hard to treat, given that there are so many different variations to treat. There is no one compound that can treat all mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases; however, improvements can be made to compounds currently under study to improve the conditions of those afflicted. A significant issue leading to compounds failing in clinical trials is insufficient metabolic stability. Many compounds have good biological activity, but once introduced to an animal, are not stable enough to have any effect. Here, several synthesized compounds have been evaluated for metabolic stability, and several showed improved stability, while maintaining biological activity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2016

Orientador: Regina Maria Barretto Cicarelli / Banca: Regina Maria Barretto Cicarelli / Banca: Cintia Fridman / Banca: Rogério Nogueira de Oliveira / Banca: Gustavo Chemale / Banca: João Aristeu da Rosa / Resumo: A identificação humana por meio da análise de DNA utiliza o perfil genético de um indivíduo baseado na combinação de diversos marcadores que são herdados de seus progenitores. Estes marcadores são geralmente diferenças nas sequências de DNA nuclear entre os indivíduos (polimorfismos). Em alguns casos, entretanto, a análise do DNA nuclear não pode ser aplicada. Isso ocorre quando o DNA da amostra apresenta-se degradado ou em casos onde o material biológico não apresenta o DNA nuclear. Nestes casos, a análise do DNA mitocondrial (DNA mt) é o método de escolha. Entretanto, em um mesmo indivíduo podem existir populações de DNA mt diferentes, fenômeno denominado heteroplasmia. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de polimorfismos presentes no DNA mt de indivíduos residentes na Grande São Paulo para aplicação na Identificação Humana. Para isso, foi sequenciada toda a região hipervariável do DNA mt de 160 indivíduos. Além disso, o SNP 3010 foi analisado por discriminação alélica (PCR em tempo real) para estudo do aumento do poder discriminatório quando os indivíduos não puderam ser diferenciados pela análise da região hipervariável. Foi desenvolvido, também, uma reação de SNaPshot em multiplex contendo 42 SNPs que permitiram a classificação das amostras em haplogrupos do DNA mt. Por fim, foram analisadas 100 amostras de cabelo dos mesmos indivíduos para o estudo da frequência de heteroplasmia na região HV3 do DNA mt. De um total de 160 amostras, 144 haplótipos diferentes foram encontrados quando analisamos toda a região hipervariável do DNA mt; 131 haplótipos foram únicos. O SNP 3010 foi suficientemente discriminatório para conseguir distinguir indivíduos que apresentavam o mesmo haplótipo em dois dos treze casos que apresentavam mais de um indivíduo com o mesmo haplótipo / Abstract: The human identification by DNA analysis uses the genetic profile of an individual based on the combination of diverse markers that are inherited of its ancestors. These markers are generally differences in sequences of nuclear DNA between individuals (polymorphisms). In some cases, however, the analysis of the nuclear DNA cannot be applied. It occurs when the DNA sample is degraded or in cases which the biological material does not content nuclear DNA. In these cases, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis is the choice method. However, inside one individual can exist different mtDNA populations, phenomenon called heteroplasmy. The aim of this work was to study mtDNA polymorphisms in individuals residents in São Paulo metropolitan area for application in Human Identification. For this, we have sequenced the entire hypervariable region of mtDNA for 160 individuals. Furthermore, the SNP 3010 was analyzed by allelic discrimination (Real-Time PCR) to study the increase of the discriminatory power when individuals could not be differentiated by analysis of the hypervariable region. It was developed also, a SNaPshot multiplex reaction containing 42 SNPs that allowed the classification of samples in mtDNA haplogroups. Finally, 100 hair samples, from the same individuals, were analyzed for the study of heteroplasmy frequency in the HV3 region of mtDNA. Among 160 samples, 144 different haplotypes were found when the entire hypervariable region of mtDNA was analyzed; 131 haplotypes were unique. The SNP 3010 SNP was able to distinguish individuals who had the same haplotype in two of thirteen cases with more than one individual with the same haplotype. Our population was classified in 46.6% of African, 27.3% of European, 25.5% of Native American and 0.6% Asian origin using the SNaPshot panel of 42 SNPs in multiplex / Doutor

Thesis (MTech (Medical Technology))--Cape Technikon, 1996. / Haematological defects observed in clonal deletions of mtDNA and the inhibition of mitochondrial function by benzene and chloramphenicol, suggest a role for mtDNA in the pathogenesis of radiation - induced preleukaemia (MDS). The fact that leukaemia cells contain abnormal mitochondria and abnormally structured mtDNA, makes it reasonable to assume mtDNA mutations could be central to the pathogenesis of both MDS and leukaemia. It was decided to examine MDS patients for the presence of mtDNA length mutations (dimers and cocantameres). Such topological forms have already been reported in the literature in association with human leukaemia. These steric considerations suggest that mtDNA dimers are probably non-functional due to supercoiling. Thus, it was felt that a progressive accumulation of non-functional dimers in the haematopoietic compartment could account for many of the clinical features associated with MDS. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine haematopoietic mtDNA in the bone marrow of six patients with MDS. Abnormal mtDNA dimer formation was found in all instances. The proportional number of these dimers were found to roughly correlate with the Myeloid/ Erythroid cell ratio in the bone marrow, and it appeared likely that the dimers were generated in the myeloid compartment during early MDS.