The robust glycolytic metabolism of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has proven them susceptible to increases in oxidative metabolism induced by the pyruvate mimetic dichloroacetate (DCA). Recent reports demonstrate that the anti-diabetic drug metformin enhances the damaging oxidative stress associated with DCA treatment in cancer cells. We sought to elucidate the role of metformin’s reported activity as a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor in the enhancement of DCA cytotoxicity in the VM-M3 model of GBM. We demonstrated that metformin potentiated DCA-induced superoxide production and that this was required for enhanced cytotoxicity towards VM-M3 cells with the combination. Similarly, rotenone enhanced oxidative stress resultant from DCA treatment and this too was required for the noted augmentation of cytotoxicity. Adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) activation was not observed with the concentration of metformin required to enhance DCA activity. Moreover, addition of an activator of AMPK did not enhance DCA cytotoxicity, whereas an inhibitor of AMPK heightened the cytotoxicity of the combination. We also show that DCA and metformin reduce tumor burden and prolong survival in VM-M3 tumor-burdened mice as individual therapies. In contrast to our in vitro work, we did not observe synergy between DCA and metformin in vivo. Our data indicate that metformin enhancement of DCA cytotoxicity is dependent on complex I inhibition. Particularly, that complex I inhibition cooperates with DCA-induction of glucose oxidation to enhance cytotoxic oxidative stress in VM-M3 GBM cells. This work supports further investigation and optimization of a DCA/metformin combination as a potential pro-oxidant combinatorial therapy for GBM.

Chez la majorité des espèces, les mitochondries et leur ADN sont hérités de manière uniparentale maternelle. Au moment de la fécondation, le spermatozoïde entre dans l'ovocyte avec ses mitochondries et leur ADN menant à se demander pourquoi et comment les mitochondries paternelles ne sont plus détectées chez le nouvel individu. Chez le ver C. elegans, les mitochondries d’origine spermatique sont activement dégradées par autophagie dans l’embryon une cellule. Les marqueurs de l’autophagie chez le ver, les protéines LGG-1 et LGG-2, sont observés autour des organites d’origine spermatique après la fécondation et l’interférence avec l’autophagie bloque l’élimination de ces organites. Néanmoins, il n’est toujours pas clair comment ce ciblage s’effectue ni le rôle des différentes protéines de l’autophagies impliquées dans le processus. La première partie des résultats montre que LGG-2 permet le transport des autophagosomes et de leur contenu vers la zone pericentrosomale afin de faciliter leur fusion avec les lysosomes qui se concentrent dans cette zone. En parallèle, j’ai testé plusieurs hypothèses afin d’identifier les mécanismes de ciblage des mitochondries d’origine spermatique. J’ai montré que l’ubiquitine joue un rôle dans le recrutement de la protéine LGG-1 autour des organites spermatiques. J’ai également décrit plusieurs propriétés des mitochondries spermatiques et ovocytaires qui semblent jouer un rôle dans le recrutement de la machinerie de l’autophagie. Ainsi, la dégradation des mitochondries d’origine spermatique représente une forme originale et physiologique de mitophagie. / In most animal species, mitochondria and their DNA are maternally inherited. Upon fertilization, the spermatozoid and its mitochondria enter into the oocyte leading to the questions why and how are those mitochondria not detected in the new born. The sperm derived mitochondria are selectively degraded by autophagy in C. elegans. The autophagy proteins, LGG-1 and LGG-2, are recruited around sperm-derived organelles upon fertilization in the early embryo of C. elegans and the interference with the autophagy blocks the degradation of those organelles. The mechanism permitting this specific targeting of the paternal mitochondria and the role of the different autophagy proteins are still unclear. First, we showed that LGG-2 plays an important role in the clearance of sperm-derived organelles by targeting them to the pericentrosomal area to facilitate their fusion with lysosomes. In parallel, I tested several hypotheses to identify the mechanism permitting the specific targeting of sperm-derived mitochondria. I showed that the ubiquitin plays a role in the recruitment of LGG-1 around sperm-derived organelles and described several properties of the sperm and oocyte-derived mitochondria that are likely to play an important role for the recruitment of the autophagy machinery. This led us to conclude that sperm derived mitochondria degradation represent an original physiologic mitophagy.

Biogeographers have long searched for common processes responsible for driving diversification in the Holarctic region. Although terrestrial flora and fauna have been well studied, much of the marine biogeographic work addresses patterns and processes occurring over a relatively recent timescale. A prerequisite to comparative biogeographic analysis requires well-resolved phylogenies of similarly distributed taxa that diverged over a similar timeframe. The overall aim of my Ph.D. thesis was to address fundamental questions in the systematics and biogeography of a family of Holarctic fish (Osmeridae) and place these results in a broad comparative biogeographic framework. With eight conflicting morphological hypotheses, the northern hemisphere smelts have long been the subjects of systematic disagreement. In addition to the uncertainty in the interrelationships within this family, the relationship of the Osmeridae to several other families remains unclear. Using DNA sequence data from three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from multiple individuals per species, I reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships among the 6 genera and 15 osmerid species. Phylogenetic reconstruction and divergence dating yielded a well-resolved phylogeny of the osmerid genera and revealed several interesting evolutionary patterns within the family: (1) Hypomesus chishimaensis and H. nipponensis individuals are not reciprocally monophyletic, suggesting that they are conspecific and H. chishimaensis is a recently evolved freshwater ecotype that invaded the Kuril Islands following the last glaciation, (2) The trans-Pacific sister relationships in Hypomesus based on lateral line scale counts are not supported, implying that this phenotype evolved in parallel on each side of the North Pacific Ocean, (3) The Plecoglossidae are the Osmeridae sister group, (4) Over half of the characters from previous studies show evidence of parallel evolution; however, 27 traits reflect ancestral relationships, (5) Multiple divergences within the Osmeridae date to both the mid-Miocene cooling period and the Pliocene Bering Seaway opening, suggesting these events were important in the evolution of these fishes, and (6) Divergences in many marine taxa for which dated phylogenies are available are also correlated with these time periods. Future research should target additional Holarctic marine taxa for further comparative analysis. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Goatfishes inhabit inshore reefs and corals and are commercially important across their distribution in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The biogeography of these species in the WIO has not been explored with regards to their levels of diversity and relationships among regions. The genetic connectivity and differentiation of three goatfishes of the genus Parupeneus (P. barberinus, P. macronemus and P. rubescens) was studied using two mitochondrial genes (ND2 and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear gene (RAG1) using specimens from East and southern Africa, islands around the Mascarene plateau, Oman, Maldives and the Red Sea. Haplotype diversities, networks and AMOVA were used to measure genetic variance among localities and defined regional groups. There were high haplotype (HD > 0.9) and low nucleotide diversities (< 0.006) among all species for all gene regions, suggesting high levels of genetic differentiation among different areas, except for the mtDNA 16S data for P. macronemus and P. rubescens. For all three species, the FST population pairwise values revealed significant differentiation in all datasets for most population pairwise comparisons with the Maldives and genetic connectivity with haplotypes being shared among other localities. The 16S and RAG1, AMOVA for P. barberinus revealed a significant (P < 0.05) strong genetic structure among groups, for example P = 0.00 was estimated in the 16S data for four groups (the Maldives, WIO islands, Kenya and eastern mainland). This study found evidence for regional differentiation within the WIO for these three species supporting the presence of genetic breaks among areas. This differentiation could be either due to the historical isolation among areas or due to geographic and oceanic barriers such as the Mascarene Plateau and the Agulhas Current eddies in the Mozambique Channel. The effects of oceanographic features and physical barriers in the species distribution range and the dispersal potential based on the life history features of the species can have an influence on the genetic structuring of a population. It is also important to note that the length of the pelagic larval phase is just one factor affecting dispersal in marine organisms that can also explain the difference in genetic population structure. Unfortunately there is no specific information on the larval dispersal of these three goatfish. Therefore, studies are needed to be conducted on the specific biology and life history strategies of each Parupeneus species. These results suggest the importance of other factors, such as currents, and larval retention that may cause strong differentiation. These factors should also be considered when observing larval dispersal and its effect on population genetic structure. This study support the hypotheses that physical factors, processes (geographic barriers and oceanographic characteristics) and life history parameters need to be studied to understand the genetic differentiation of these Parupeneus reef fishes.

Mitochondria are dynamic; they alter their shape through fission, fusion and budding of vesicles. Mitochondrial vesicles serve as a quality control mechanism enabling these organelles to rid themselves of damaged lipids and proteins. Dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, making the identification of molecules requisite for these processes a priority. We identified the endocytic protein, Sorting nexin 9 (Snx9) through a genome wide siRNA screen for genes which substantially alter mitochondrial morphology and therefore are important for its maintenance. In this work, the role of Snx9 in mitochondrial morphology is examined. Ultrastructural imaging of mitochondria within cells silenced for Snx9 revealed unbudded vesicles along a hyperfused mitochondrial reticulum suggesting a role for Snx9 in the release of these vesicles. The vesicular profiles contained concentric membranous whorls enriched for neutral lipids. Localization studies suggest the Parkinson’s disease genes, Parkin and Vps35 localize to the unbudded profiles.

La F1 Fo ATP synthase est un complexe enzymatique localisé au sein de la membrane interne mitochondriale qui utilise le gradient électrochimique en protons formé par la chaîne respiratoire pour synthétiser de l'ATP à partir d'ADP et de Pi. Cette enzyme conservée de la levure S. cerevisiae aux cellules de mammifères s'organise dans les membranes internes mitochondriales sous forme de structures supramoléculaires d'ATP synthases. Chez la levure, il est aujourd'hui parfaitement identifiée que cette organisation nécessite la présence de deux sous-unités accessoires de l'enzyme : les sous-unités e et g.Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit visaient à étudier l'implication des sous-unités e et g dans les mécanismes de dimérisation et d'oligomérisation des ATP synthases ainsi que dans la morphogénèse des crêtes mitochondriales chez la levure S. cerevisiae et dans les cellules humaines en culture.Chez la levure, l'étude réalisée nous a permis de déterminer la stœchiométrie des sous-unités e et g, élément indispensable à la modélisation de l'agencement des sous-unités membranaires de l'enzyme dans la membrane interne mitochondriale.Dans les cellules humaines en culture, nous avons pu établir que les sous-unités e et g participent à la stabilité des dimères d'ATP synthases. Cependant l'implication de ces sous-unités dans la stabilité de l'enzyme semble différente des observations effectuées dans les cellules de levure / The F1Fo ATP synthase is an enzymatic complex embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane which use the electrochemical proton gradient generated by the phosphorylation oxydative pathway to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. This enzyme is conserved from yeast to mammalian cells and displays supramolecular organization in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In yeast, it is actually well-known that the supramolecular assembly required two accessory subunits : e and g subunits.The present work was realized to understand the involvement of subunits e and g in dimerization and oligomerization of mitochondrial ATP synthases as well as their effect on mitochondrial inner membrane morphogenesis in yeast S. cerevisiae and human cultured cells.In yeast, this study led us to determine subunits e and g stoechiometry, which was cruelly missing to establish a model of the ATP synthases membranous subunits layout in the inner mitochondrial membrane.In human cells, we have demonstrated that subunits e and g are implicated in ATP synthase dimer stabilization. However, their involvement in this stabilization seems to be quietly different of what have been observed in yeast cells.

No description available.

Orientadores: Anibal Eugênio Vercesi, Helena Coutinho Franco de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T11:59:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marques_AnaCarolina_M.pdf: 1109688 bytes, checksum: 76a66df390130e764ca54b415b0756b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Os camundongos hipercolesterolêmicos (LDLr-/-) provenientes do Jackson Laboratory são modelos experimentais valiosos para o estudo da aterosclerose. Estes animais apresentam elevadas taxas de lipogênese, processo que consome grandes quantidades de NADPH. Pesquisas recentes revelaram que esta linhagem possui, além da deleção do gene do receptor de LDL, uma mutação no gene da NADP- transidrogenase (NNT). A falta da NNT pode gerar estresse oxidativo devido ao fornecimento deficiente de NADPH mitocondrial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a participação da elevação da lipogênese e da deficiência de NNT sobre o estado redox mitocondrial e suscetibilidade à transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial (TPM). Para tanto foram comparadas três linhagens de camundongos: LDLr-/- (deficiente do receptor de LDL e da NNT), C57BL6/J (deficiente apenas da NNT) e C57BL6/JUnib (controle). Foram avaliados: o controle respiratório mitocondrial (consumo de oxigênio), o estado redox de NAD(P) (fluorimetria), a susceptibilidade à transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial induzida por cálcio (inchamento e dissipação do potencial elétrico de membrana (??) sensíveis à ciclosprina A e a geração de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) (Amplex red®) em mitocôndrias isoladas de coração e fígado. Observamos que não houve diferenças significativas nos parâmetros respiratórios mitocondriais nos dois tecidos das três linhagens estudadas. Como esperado, as mitocôndrias dos camundongos LDLr-/- e C57BL6/J não podem sustentar o estado reduzido de NADPH in vitro, uma vez que são deficientes de NNT. Observamos que houve diferenças significativas entre as 3 linhagens quanto à TPM da seguinte maneira: LDLr-/- > C57BL6/J > C57BL6/JUnib (controle) em mitocôndrias isoladas de fígado (inchamento e dissipação de ??) e em mitocôndrias de coração (??). Além disso, a produção de H2O2 por mitocôndrias hepáticas seguiu o mesmo padrão, sendo LDLr-/- > C57BL6/J > C57BL6/JUnib (controle). Em conjunto, estes resultados indicam que a maior suscetibilidade à TPM das mitocôndrias de camundongos LDLr-/- está correlacionada com diminuição de NADPH, tanto por aumento de consumo (devido a elevada lipogênese) quanto por diminuição de sua produção (deficiência em NNT) / Abstract: Hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor knockout mice (LDLr-/-) from Jackson Laboratory are valuable experimental models to study atherosclerosis development. These mice exhibit high rates of lipogenesis, a process that consumes large amounts of NADPH. It was recently discovered that the mice strain used to produce the LDLr-/- also carries a homozygous NADP-transhydrogenase (NNT) mutation. Loss of NNT may cause oxidative stress due to a poor supply of mitochondrial NADPH. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of elevated lipogenesis and NNT deficiency on the mitochondrial redox status and susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). Three mice strains were compared: LDLr-/- mice (deficient of both LDL receptor and NTT), C57BL6/J (deficient in NNT only) and the wild type control mice C57BL6/JUnib. We evaluated the mitochondrial respiratory control (oxygen consumption), the NAD(P) redox status (fluorimetry), the susceptibility to calcium induced mitochondrial permeability transition (swelling and dissipation of membrane potential (??) sensitive to cyclosporin A) and the generation of H2O2 (Amplex red®) in isolated heart and liver mitochondria. We observed no significant differences in mitochondrial respiratory parameters in both tissues of the three mice strains studied. As expected, the mitochondria of LDLr-/- and C57BL6/J mice cannot maintain the NADP in the reduced state in vitro, since they are deficient in NNT. Regarding the susceptibility to MPT, we observed significant differences among mitochondria from the 3 strains, as follows: LDLr-/- > C57BL6/J > C57BL6/JUnib (control) in isolated liver mitochondria (swelling and potential dissipation) and in heart mitochondria potential dissipation). Furthermore, the production of H2O2 by the liver mitochondria followed the same MPT pattern: LDLr-/- > C57BL6/J > C57BL6/JUnib (control). Together, these results indicated that the greater susceptibility of LDLr-/- mitochondria to MPT is correlated with decreased NADPH which is explained by both increased consumption (due to high lipogenesis) and decreased production (deficiency NNT) / Mestrado / Biologia Estrutural, Celular, Molecular e do Desenvolvimento / Mestra em Ciências

Orientador: Roger Frigério Castilho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T14:26:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ruas_JulianaSilveira_M.pdf: 1871713 bytes, checksum: a20e3cd08d0b770aed3b059541e382e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A maioria das células tumorais depende da glicólise para a ressíntese de ATP durante um processo de rápida proliferação, mesmo que haja disponibilidade de oxigênio para a transdução de energia mitocondrial (Efeito Warburg). O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o papel do metabolismo oxidativo mitocondrial na proliferação de células de glioblastoma humano U-87MG e T98G. Quando as células foram cultivadas na presença de oligomicina (um inibidor da ATP sintase) ou antimicina A (um inibidor do complexo III da cadeia transportadora de elétrons), observou-se apenas uma inibição parcial da proliferação das células. Notadamente, a incubação dessas células com ambos os inibidores causou uma inibição quase completa na proliferação celular. Resultados semelhantes foram observados em cultura primária de astrócitos, havendo uma queda na proliferação celular somente quando ambos os inibidores mitocondriais estavam presentes. Medidas de consumo de oxigênio indicaram que células de glioblastoma utilizam parcialmente a fosforilação oxidativa para a ressíntese de ATP e apresentam uma respiração bem acoplada. Quando se inibiu, nestas células, a fosforilação oxidativa do ADP com oligomicina ou antimicina A, houve um pequeno aumento no consumo de glicose e na produção de lactato. No entanto, o tratamento com ambos os inibidores mitocondriais promoveu um menor consumo de glicose e produção de lactato, em comparação com os efeitos que a antimicina A promoveu. Isso indica que a cadeia transportadora de elétrons quando inibida pela presença de antimicina A, promove um funcionamento inverso da ATP sintase, promovendo a hidrólise de ATP para que haja um bombeamento de prótons para o espaço intermembranar mitocodrial. De acordo com os resultados acima descritos, uma queda quase completa do potencial de membrana mitocondrial foi observada apenas quando as células de glioblastoma foram incubadas na presença de ambos os inibidores mitocondriais, oligomicina e antimicina A. Quando a análise do ciclo celular foi realizada, observou-se uma diminuição da percentagem das células em G0-G1 e um aumento nas fases S e G2-M quando tratadas com oligomicina. Quando as células foram tratadas com antimicina A e oligomicina mais antimicina A foi constatado uma diminuição significativa nas fases G0-G1 e G2-M, e um aumento na fase S. Em conclusão, estes resultados indicam que a rápida proliferação de células de glioblastoma depende da existência do potencial de membrana mitocondrial, mas não da fosforilação oxidativa ou do transporte de elétrons na cadeia respiratória / Abstract: Most tumor cells rely on glycolysis for ATP resynthesis during rapid proliferation, despite the availability saturating levels of oxygen for mitochondrial energy transduction (Warburg effect). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism on proliferation of human glioblastoma cells U-87MG and T98G. When cells were cultured in the presence of oligomycin (ATP synthase inhibitor) or antimycin A (inhibitor of complex III of the electron transport chain), we observed only a partial inhibition of cell proliferation. Remarkably, incubation of cells with both inhibitors caused an almost complete inhibition of cell proliferation. Similar results were observed in primary culture of astrocytes, with a decrease in cell proliferation only when both mitochondrial inhibitors were present. Oxygen consumption measurements indicated that glioma cells partially rely on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP turnover and exhibit a well-coupled respiration. In fact, shutting down mitochondrial ADP phosphorylation in these glioma cells with either oligomycin or antimycin inhibitors slightly increased glucose consumption and lactate release. However, the treatment with both mitochondrial inhibitors promoted lower glucose consumption and lactate release as compared with the effects of antimycin alone, which indicates that ATP synthase is operating reversely and thus hydrolyzing ATP and pumping H+ out when the respiratory chain is inhibited by antimycin. In agreement, an almost complete collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential was only observed when the glioma cells were incubated in the presence of both antimycin and oligomycin, but not of only antimycin. When cell cycle analyses were performed in oligomycin-treated cells, a decrease in the percentage of cells in G0-G1 phase and an increase in S and G2-M phases were observed. When cells were treated with antimycin A or oligomycin plus antimycin A, it was observed a significant decrease in G0-G1 and G2-M cell phases and an increase in S phase. Overall, our results suggest that the rapid proliferation of glioblastoma cells is dependent on the mitochondrial membrane potential, but not on oxidative phosphorylation or electron transport in the respiratory chain / Mestrado / Biologia Estrutural, Celular, Molecular e do Desenvolvimento / Mestra em Ciências

As abelhas da tribo Meliponini apresentam distribuição pantropical. São encontradas mais de 400 espécies pertencentes a 50 gêneros, sendo que mais de 300 estão presentes nas Américas. Os meliponíneos são responsáveis por grande parte da polinização das plantas nativas. A destruição das florestas tem ameaçado seriamente as abelhas sem ferrão, isolando-as em fragmentos e expondo-as ao endocruzamento e aos efeitos de perda de variabilidade genética. No presente estudo, foram empregadas análises moleculares (PCR-RFLP, análise de locos de microssatélites e o sequenciamento de um trecho do gene COI) e morfométrica (Análise da Morfometria Geométrica das asas) no intuito de se verificar a variabilidade em uma pequena população de Frieseomelitta varia residente no campus da USP de Ribeirão Preto (n=33). Para comparação, foram coletados e analisados indivíduos de áreas externas ao campus, ao longo da distribuição natural da espécie (n=36) e também de duas outras espécies F. trichocerata (n=30) e F. doederleini (n=3). Os resultados mostraram maior variabilidade mitocondrial e nuclear para o campus da USP em relação às amostras externas. Pelo menos nove matrilinhagens originaram a população do campus. O grande número de alelos encontrados nas amostras do campus pode ser explicado pela introdução de ninhos, por alta variabilidade já existente nos ninhos fundadores e/ou fluxo gênico via machos. Os resultados moleculares e morfológicos mostram grande similaridade entre F. varia e F. trichocerata, e em contraste, grande distância entre F. varia e F. doederleini, indicando que F. trichocerata deve ser considerada como uma variação geográfica (ecótipo) de F. varia. / The stingless bees present a pantropical distribution. There are more than 400 species belonging to 50 genera. More than 300 are present in the Americas. These bees have a remarkable role in the pollination of native plants. Forest destruction has threatened stingless bees populations by isolating them in forest fragments and exposing them to the effects of inbreeding and loss of genetic variability. In the present study we applied molecular (PCR-RFLP, microsatellite loci analysis and COI sequencing) and morphometric (Geometric Morphometry of Wings) analysis to verify the genetic variability of a small population of Frieseomelitta varia (n=33) resident in the campus of USP - Ribeirão Preto. For comparison, individuals collected across the species natural geographic range and also samples of two other species, F. trichocerata(n=30) and F. doederleini (n=3), were analyzed. The results showed greater mitochondrial and nuclear variability for the samples from the campus in relation to the species overall. Nine matrilines, at least, gave rise to the current campus colonies. The large microsatellite allele number can be explained by recurrent nests introduction, or by high variability already present in the founder nests and/or current gene flow mediated by males. The molecular and morphometric data show high similarity between F. varia and F. trichocerata, and in contrast, high distance between F. varia and F. doederleini, indicating that F. trichocerata should be considered as a geographic variation (ecotype) of F. varia.