Universiẗat, Diss., 2002--Jena.

The kynurenine pathway produces NAD+ from L-tryptophan. Metabolites known as the kynurenines are produced within the pathway. The effects of the kynurenines have been associated with a number of diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and acute pancreatitis. Kynurenine monooxygenase (KMO) is an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of L-kynurenine to 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine, the downstream product of which is the neurotoxic quinolinic acid. L-kynurenine is positioned at a branching point within the pathway. Metabolism via KMO leads to quinolinic acid production whereas conversion via kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) produces the neuroprotective kynurenic acid. Inhibition of KMO leads to an increase in kynurenic acid concentration. This has also been shown to ameliorate the symptoms of neurological diseases in a number of animal models as well as to protect against multiple organ dysfunction caused by acute pancreatitis in rodent models. These findings present KMO as a promising drug target. Due to the hydrophobic nature of human KMO (hKMO) it has been necessary to utilise other forms of KMO as models. Past studies have produced crystal structures of a truncated Saccharomyces cerevisiae KMO and of Pseudomonas fluorescens KMO (PfKMO). Previous work in this research group has resulted in the structure of variants of PfKMO bound to either inhibitor molecules or substrate. These structures identified residues involved in substrate binding and the presence of a highly mobile section of the C-terminus, giving rise to open and closed conformations. It was surmised the movement of the C-terminus was dependent upon the presence of substrate and an interactive network between the C-terminus and the rest of the protein. Using improved crystallising conditions high-resolution structures of PfKMO have been produced that allow for further study of residues involved in substrate binding and the interactive network within the C-terminus. The mutants R84K and Y404F showed severely decreased enzyme activity. Crystal structures of these proteins showed disrupted interactions between substrate and active site. These findings underline the importance of residues R84 and Y404 in substrate binding. An H320F mutation gives an analogous active site to hKMO. Crystallographic and kinetic study of this mutant proved very similar to PfKMO, supporting the use of PfKMO as a model for hKMO. Throughout the work each structure had a P21221 space group with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The presence of an open and closed molecule within each structure, including substrate-free molecules refuted the connection between C-terminus and substrate. R386K and E372T mutations were separately introduced in order to interrupt the interactive network. The presence of both open and closed conformations in the structures of R386K and E372T refutes the necessity for the interactive network in C-terminus movement. The data analysed throughout the project suggest simple mobility and thermal motion as the cause of the movement of the C-terminus. This work, in conjunction with kinetic data from the thesis of Helen Bell, presents structural data to characterise the role of binding residues within the active site of KMO as well as the mechanistic role of the C-terminus. It also highlights the importance of certain binding residues and countered the previously held hypotheses surrounding the significance of the C-terminus. The mechanistic role of the C-terminus therefore remains unclear and requires further study.

Orientador: Paulo Mazzafera / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T20:42:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cesarino_Igor_M.pdf: 984828 bytes, checksum: 754aac1bc4502a9d5eb3102a955408d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Uma grande quantidade de genes que codificam flavina monooxigenases (Flavin containing monooxygenases - FMOs) é encontrada em genomas vegetais, embora poucas funções biológicas tenham sido relacionadas com esse grupo de enzimas em plantas. Um importante papel desempenhado por FMOs é a conversão de triptamina em N-hidroxil niptamina, reação catalisada pelas proteínas YUCCA de Arabidopsis thaliana e que constitui o passo limitante da via de síntese de auxina a partir de triptofano. Proteínas similares às YUCCA foram descobertas e caracterizadas em outras espécies vegetais, como OsYUCCA em arroz. FLOOZY em petúnia, ToFZY em tomate e SPIl em milho, todas comprovadamente envolvidas na produção do hormônio citado. Análises da proteína recombinante CaFM08 de Coffea arabica revelou características similares às YUCCA, sugerindo que esta proteína de café é a primeira YUCCA-like descrita para esta espécie e, inclusive, para a família Rubiaceae. CaFM08 apresenta os mesmos motivos protéicos conservados entre FMOs vegetais, e particularmente entre proteínas YUCCA-like. O padrão de expressão espacial do gene que codifica CaFM08 indica possível relação com o desenvolvimento de raízes, folhas e flores de café. Apesar de grandes semelhanças com as proteínas YUCCA, a atividade de N-hidroxilação da triptamina não foi comprovada para CaFM08 recombinante in vitro. Uma análise minuciosa a respeito da funcionalidade de CaFM08 produzida em E. coli deve ser feita antes de descartar a participação desta proteína na síntese de auxina. / Abstract: A large number of genes coding flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) is found in plant genomes, although only few biological functions have been related with these enzymes in plants. An important role for FMOs is the conversion of tryptamine in N-hydroxyl triptamine, catalyzed by the YUCCA protein family in Arabidopsis thaliana. These proteins perform "the rate-limiting step in tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis. Similar YUCCA proteins were discovered and characterized in other plant species, like OsYUCCA in rice, FLOOZY in petunia, ToFZY in tomato and SPIl in maize. All of them are shown to be involved in auxin synthesis. Analysis of the recombinant CaFM08 from Colfea Arabica showed features similar to YUCCA proteins, suggesting that CaFM08 is the first described YUCCA-like protein from coffee and, indeed, from the entire Rubiaceae family. CaFM08 has the same conserved motifs found in other plant FMOs and particulary conserved in YUCCA like proteins. The spatial expression pattern from the CaFM08 coding gene suggests a probable role in the development of roots, leaves and flowers. Although very similar to YUCCA proteins, the CaFM08-mediated convertion of tryptamine in N-hydroxyl tryptamine has not been confirmed in vitro. A further analysis of CaFM08 functionality should address the relation of CaFM08 to auxin production. / Mestrado / Mestre em Biologia Vegetal

L'ubiquinone, ou coenzyme Q, est une molécule lipophile polyisoprényle présente dans toutes les membranes biologiques chez les eucaryotes et composée d'un noyau aromatique actif de façon rédox et d'une chaîne grasse. Elle joue un rôle clef dans la chaîne respiratoire et est un important antioxydant membranaire. Chez l'homme, des pathologies sévères sont associées à des mutations de gènes de la biosynthèse de l'ubiquinone. Chez S. cerevisiæ, la biosynthèse de l'ubiquinone est réalisée par un complexe multiprotéique situé à la membrane interne mitochondriale. Certaines étapes de cette voie de biosynthèse ne sont pas encore connues et très peu ont été caractérisées in vitro. L'étude présentée ici a permis d'améliorer la compréhension de l'étape d'hydroxylation en C-5 à laquelle sont associés Coq6, monooxygénase à flavine, ainsi que Arh1 et Yah1, une adrénodoxine réductase et une adrénodoxine. Nous avons réalisé la première purification de Coq6 de S. cerevisiæ avec son cofacteur flavinique et nous avons démontré in vitro l'existence d'une chaîne de transfert d'électrons du NADPH au FAD de Coq6 via l'homologue humain de Arh1 et Yah1. Les études enzymatiques menées avec différents analogues de substrats synthétisés n'ont pas permis de détecter d'activité enzymatique de Coq6 dans les conditions utilisées. Des études préliminaires de fluorescence nous ont néanmoins permis d'avancer une hypothèse quant au substrat de Coq6, qui n'est pas connu avec certitude. Nous avons également réalisé une caractérisation cinétique de la réduction du FAD de l'homologue humain de Arh1 par le NADH et le NADPH, révélant ainsi son comportement particulier avec le NADPH, notamment en présence de Mg2+. / Coenzyme Q, or ubiquinone, is a lipophilic molecule found in all biological membranes in eukaryotes and composed of a redox active aromatic ring and a polyisoprenyl chain. It is a key electron carrier in the respiratory chain and a very important membrane soluble antioxidant. Severe pathologies in humans are associated with mutations in the ubiquinone biosynthesis genes. In S. cerevisiæ, ubiquinone biosynthesis is done by a multiproteic complex at the inner mitochondrial membrane. Some steps of the ubiquinone biosynthesis are still unknown and very few have been characterized in vitro. This study allowed us to better understand the C-5 hydroxylation step that is associated with Coq6, a flavin monooxygenase, Arh1, an adrenodoxin reductase and Yah1, an adrenodoxin. We achieved the first purification of S. cerevisiæ Coq6 with its flavin cofactor and we demonstrated in vitro the existence of an electron transfer chain from NADPH to Coq6 FAD via Arh1 human homologue and Yah1. Enzymatic studies made with several synthetic substrate analogues did not allow us to detect Coq6 enzymatic activity with the tested conditions. Nevertheless, preliminary fluorescence studies led us to make an assumption about Coq6 substrate which is still not well known. We also carried out a kinetic characterization of the NADPH or NADH reduction of Arh1 human homologue, showing its unusual behavior with NADPH, in particular when Mg2+ is present.

Pseudomonassp. CBB1 degraded caffeine via C-8 oxidation. Previously, a novel quinone-dependent caffeine dehydrogenase (Cdh) was shown to catalyze the oxidation of caffeine to 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid (TMU). Initial metabolite analysis using resting cells and partially purified extract of CBB1 identified transient accumulation 1,3,7-trimethyl-5-hydroxyisourate (TM-HIU), and 3,6,8-trimethylallantoin (TMA). TMA structure was confirmed; chiral analysis revealed that it was racemic. In contrast, a time-course reaction showed that one of the enantiomers of TMA accumulated nine times, and racemized in three hours. Based on this, it was proposed that TMU was converted to TM-HIU and enantiomeric TMA. A 43-kDa NADH-dependent TMU mononxygenase (TmuM) was purified and shown to convert TMU to unstable TM-HIU. The enzyme belonged to a new family of FAD-dependent monooxygenases. The enzyme was specific for methyluric acid with no activity on uric acid. Homology model of TmuM revealed a larger, more hydrophobic active site compared to analogous uricase in the uric acid pathway. Genes encoding heterotrimeric Cdh (cdhA,B,C) and TmuM (tmuM), were located on a 25.2-kb fragment in CBB1 genome. Gene cluster analysis relative to similar cluster in uric acid degrading organisms identified five more putative genes of the C-8 oxidation pathway, namely tmuH, tmuD, orf1, orf2, and orf3. First three genes were assigned encoding TM-HIU hydrolase (TM-HIU to TM-OHCU), TM-OHCU decarboxylase (TM-OHCU to stereospecific TMA (proposed S-(+)-TMA)), and trimethylallantoinase (stereospecific TMA to TMAA), respectively. Further, orf2 and orf3 are proposed to encode for YlbA and ArgE like hydrolase and deacetylase, which convert TMAA to glyoxylate, di- and monomethylurea. This is the first report of (a) TMA structure (b) TMU monooxygenase and TM-HIU (hydroxylation product of TMU), and (c) complete delineation of C-8 oxidation pathway by a combination of enzymology and cluster analysis. Excessive consumption of caffeine in various forms has created a need for a rapid diagnostic test, esp. for nursing mothers and infants. Cdh was hypothesized to be suitable for this test. Sensitivity of the test was shown to be 1 ppm. A colorimetric test with partially purified Cdh and INT-dye was optimized to detect within a minute, caffeine in drugs, nursing mother's milk, and differentiate decaffeinated beverages.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22484号 / 農博第2388号 / 新制||農||1075(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R2||N5264(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 小川 順, 教授 加納 健司, 教授 栗原 達夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Das lineare Chromosom von S.lividans zeichnet sich durch eine hohe Variabilität insbesondere der chromosomalen Endbereiche aus. Hier finden sich unter anderen auch verschiedene Gene, die bisher einzigartig sind. Nach Klonierung der Gene in E.coli wurden die entsprechenden Genprodukte als His-Tag Fusionsproteine überproduziert, aufgereinigt und zur Herstellung von Antikörpern verwendet. Der untersuchte Abschnitt, als Ganzes und in Unterabschnitten, wurde auf einem Hoch Kopien Vektor in S.lividans transformiert. In extra hierfür konstruierten Vektorsystemen erfolgte die Produktion von His-Tag Proteinen in S.lividans. Nach Fusion von potentiellen Promoterbereichen mit dem promoterlosen EGFP-Gen, gelang deren Identifizierung in enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) produzierenden S.lividans Transformanten. Mit Hilfe eines Vektors, der ein Temperatur sensitives Replikon besitzt, wurden Gene durch die Integration eines Hygromycin-Resistenzgenes ersetzt, bzw. als Fusionsgen mit dem EGFP-Gen erstellt. Ein Flavoprotein wurde zur Homogenität gereinigt. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass in S.lividans pro Monomer ein FAD-Molekül interagiert. Physiologische Studien zeigen, dass die Synthese des chromosomal determinierten Proteins in S.lividans nur erfolgt, wenn dieser Stamm ein Plasmid- oder chromosomal- kodiertes Thiostrepton Resistenzprotein (23S rRNA Methylase) enthält. Es muss geschlussfolgert werden, dass die Methylierung der 23S rRNA die Translation verschiedener mRNAs beeinflusst. Die Synthese dieses Proteins ist des Weiteren abhängig von hohen Konzentrationen an NaCl und KCl im Medium, wie auch die zweier Aldo-Keto Reduktasen. Disruptionsmutanten eines dieser zwei Aldo-Keto Reduktase-Gene zeigen jeweils eine erhöhte und verfrühte Produktion eines rot gefärbten Mycel-assoziierten Antibiotikums (Undecylprodigiosin), während die eines weiteren (Actinorhodin) unbeeinflusst blieb.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間健康科学) / 甲第20296号 / 人健博第44号 / 新制||人健||4(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科人間健康科学系専攻 / (主査)教授 高桑 徹也, 教授 三谷 章, 教授 浅野 雅秀 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human Health Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

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