Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, School of Medicine, Dept. of Haematology and Genetic Pathology. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 248-282) Also available in an electronic version.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1974. / Title from title page screen, viewed Nov. 1, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Herman Brockman, Arlan Richardson (co-chairs), Ione Rhymer, Fritz Schwalm, David Weber. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-128) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics." Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-68).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 Jun 1.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-07-19Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T18:00:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000753046.pdf: 1011046 bytes, checksum: 0e27bed9fbd866a00fb519db604313c6 (MD5) / Garcinia achachairu (GAC) é uma planta de origem boliviana que vem sendo utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de distúrbios gástricos, reumatismo, inflamações e como cicatrizante. A caracterização fitoquímica do extrato desta planta revelou que, uma benzofenona, a Gutiferona A (GA), é um dos seus compostos majoritários, que segundo estudos recentes, apresenta importante atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana. Considerando o interesse em se aprofundar as análises do potencial farmacológico da GA e a inexistência de estudos que avaliem a sua toxicidade genética, o presente estudo foi elaborado visando investigar o potencial genotóxico e mutagênico da GA em diferentes células de camundongos in vivo, utilizando alguns dos testes tradicionais na área de mutagênese, como o Ensaio Cometa (EC) para a verificação da genotoxicidade e o Teste do Micronúcleo (TM) para a verificação da mutagenicidade. O experimento foi conduzido com camundongos Suíços albinos machos (Mus musculus) de 12 semanas, divididos em cinco grupos, constituídos cada um por seis animais. O grupo controle negativo recebeu, via gavagem, 0,3 mL de DMSO 1%. O grupo controle positivo, recebeu intraperitonealmente, 80 mg/kg de doxorrubicina. Os grupos tratados receberam, via gavagem, 0,3 mL da GA nas doses de 15, 30 e 60 mg/kg. Para a avaliação da genotoxicidade foi coletado sangue da veia caudal dos camundongos (4 e 24 horas após o tratamento), células do fígado, medula óssea, cérebro e testículos (coletadas 24 horas após o tratamento). Para a avaliação da mutagenicidade, foram coletadas células da medula óssea 24 horas após o tratamento. A citotoxicidade foi avaliada pela contagem de 200 eritrócitos policromáticos (PCE) e normocromáticos (NCE) e determinação de sua razão (PCE/NCE). Na amostra de sangue de 4h, analisadas pelo EC, os resultados obtidos mostraram que nas doses de 30 mg/kg e 60 mg/Kg. A análise ... / Garcinia achachairu (GAC) is a native plant from Bolivia that has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastric disorders, rheumatism, inflammation and as a healing. The phytochemical characterization of this plant extract revealed that the benzophenone guttiferone A (GA) is one of its major compounds, which according to recent studies, has important antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Considering the interest in deepening the analysis of the pharmacological potential of GA and the lack of studies assessing its genetic toxicity, the present study was designed in order to investigate the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of GA in different cells of mice in vivo, using some of the traditional tests in the mutagenesis area, the Comet Assay (CA) for genotoxicity evaluation and the Micronucleus Test (MT) for the mutagenicity assessment. The experiment was conducted in Swiss albino male mice (Mus musculus) with 12 weeks, divided into five groups with six animals each. The negative control group received, by oral gavage, 0.3 mL of 1% DMSO. The positive control group received, intraperitoneally, 80 mg/Kg of doxorubicin. The treated groups received 0.3 ml of GA at 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg, by gavage. For the genotoxicity evaluation, blood was collected from the tail vein of the mice (4 and 24 hours after treatment), and liver, bone marrow, brain and testicular cells were collected 24 hours after treatment. For the mutagenicity assessment, bone marrow cells were collected 24 hours after treatment. Cytotoxicity was assessed by scoring 200 consecutive polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes and their ratio (PCE/NCE) determined. For the 4 h blood sample, the results with GA at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg showed that was a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in comparison to the negative control. For the 24 h blood sample, only 60 mg/kg dose showed significant genotoxicity. The analysis of ther ...

Glucansucrases são enzimas que atuam em reações de síntese de polissacarídeos e oligossacarídeos. Para que esses biocatalisadores sejam aplicados em escala industrial, é desejável ótimas estabilidades térmica e operacional, o que pode ser alcançado com a imobilização de enzimas. Como alternativa aos suportes sólidos amplamente estudados, está a quitosana, polímero que não apresenta toxicidade e possui alta biocompatibilidade e alta afinidade com proteínas. Outra possibilidade promissora na imobilização de enzimas, é a síntese dos agregados enzimáticos entrecruzados (CLEAs), os quais apresentam alta atividade catalítica e alta estabilidade. Contudo, uma peculiaridade das glucansucrases quando produzidas em meio contendo sacarose é a camada de polímero que as envolve, e que bloqueia o acesso aos grupos reativos na superfície da proteína. No caso da expressão heteróloga das glucansucrases em Escherichia coli essa dificuldade pode ser contornada. Além disso, o uso da mutagênese sítio-dirigida pode proporcionar modificações de aminoácidos na superfície da enzima, tais como os resíduos Lys, Cys, His, com o intuito de que melhorias na imobilização sejam alcançadas. Sendo assim, na primeira etapa desse trabalho, uma extensa discussão é apresentada em relação às metodologias de imobilização de dextransucrase encontradas na literatura. A seguir, estudos referentes à imobilização da dextransucrase de Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 F em esferas de quitosana ativadas com glutaraldeído foram realizados. Esse imobilizado apresentou alta atividade catalítica (197 U/g) quando utilizada a carga de proteína de 400 mg/g de suporte. Além disso, observou-se que a imobilização covalente e os açúcares maltose e glicose promoveram proteção à enzima em temperaturas de 40 ºC e 50 ºC. Na etapa seguinte, a produção e a caracterização de CLEAs de dextransucrase de L. mesenteroides B-512 F foram investigados. Demonstrou-se que o tratamento com a dextranase foi essencial para a imobilização da glucansucrase e que o isopropanol foi o melhor agente precipitante. Os CLEAs apresentaram pH e temperatura ótimos de 3,0 e 60 ºC, respectivamente, enquanto que a dextransucrase imobilizada nas esferas de quitosana funcionalizada com glutaraldeído apresentaram os valores de 4,5 e 20 ºC. Ambas formas imobilizadas apresentaram boa estabilidade operacional na síntese de oligossacarídeos uma vez que após 10 ciclos, 40 % de atividade residual foi observada. Por fim, estão apresentados estudos sobre a modelagem das estruturas tridimensionais e a mutagênese sítio-dirigida das glucansucrases DSR-S vardel Δ4N and ASR C-APY del. Os modelos preditos demonstraram boa qualidade e a mutagênese sítio-dirigida não promoveu perdas significativas na atividade enzimática dos mutantes. Somente o mutante DSR_S326C mostrouse inativo. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a imobilização da dextransucrase foi satisfatória e que cada técnica possibilita diferentes características ao imobilizado. Além disso, os imobilizados foram adequados para síntese de dextrana e oligossacarídeos. / Glucansucrases are enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. In order to assure continuous processing and reuse of the biocatalyst in industrial applications, enzyme immobilization techniques are required to promote good thermal and operational stabilities. Among the several solid supports for enzyme immobilization, chitosan shows interesting properties because it is non-toxic, it is biocompatible, and it has high protein affinity. Other possibility is the production of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs), which presents high catalytic activity and good stability. However, glucansucrases have a particularity when produced in sucrose medium, since a polymer layer surrounds the protein, blocking the access to reactive groups on the enzyme surface. To overcome this problem, it is possible to make the heterologous production of glucansucrases in Escherichia coli. Likewise, the site-directed mutagenesis may promote changes in the amino acids located on the surface to improve immobilization parameters. Therefore, this work aimed to discuss the several techniques applied for dextransucrase immobilization, and to design new immobilized biocatalysts. In a first step, it is presented a review about the distinct immobilization methodologies for dextransucrase. In a second study, an investigation about dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 F immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan particles was carried out. The novel immobilized biocatalyst showed 197 U/g (400 mg/g dried support) of catalytic activity. The covalent immobilization promoted protection against enzyme damages at 40 ºC and 50 ºC, whereas maltose and glucose acted as stabilizers. Furthermore, it was studied the production and characterization of CLEAs dextransucrase from L. mesenteroides B-512 F. It was demonstrated that dextranase treatment was crucial for immobilization. Isopropanol was chosen as the best precipitant agent. CLEAs presented optimal pH and temperature of 3.0 and 60 ºC, respectively, whereas it was found values of 4.5 e 20 ºC for dextransucrase immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan particles. Both immobilized biocatalysts showed good operational stability in the oligosaccharides synthesis, exhibiting 40 % of residual activity after 10 cycles. Finally, the study concerning the homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis of glucansucrases DSR-S vardel Δ4N and ASR C-APY del is presented. The predicted models showed good quality and it has been demonstrated that the site-directed mutagenesis did not promote significant losses in the variant enzyme activities. Only one mutant (DSR_S326C) had shown no dextransucrase activity. The results obtained in this work suggest that the immobilization of dextransucrase was satisfactory, also showing that each technique promotes different characteristics to the immobilized biocatalyst. Besides, these immobilized enzymes were feasible for the synthesis of dextran and oligosaccharides.

Orientador: Jesus Aparecido Ferro / Coorientador: Flávia Maria de Souza Carvalho / Coorientador: Roberto Hirochi Herai / Banca: Henrique Ferreira / Banca: José Belasque Júnior / Banca: Marcos Túlio de Oliveira / Banca: Alessandro de Mello Varani / Resumo: Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac) é o agente causal do cancro cítrico, uma das principais doenças que acometem a citricultura mundial. Atualmente não há uma maneira eficiente de controle do cancro, e novos métodos devem ser desenvolvidos para o tratamento desta doença. Assim, o estudo dos mecanismos utilizados pela Xac durante o processo infeccioso pode revelar novos alvos para o desenvolvimento de compostos farmacológicos que possam eliminar ou controlar o patógeno. Neste estudo, a técnica de RNA-Seq foi utilizada para a identificação de genes diferencialmente expressos (GDE) na Xac em condições in vivo e in vitro. Para isso, cinco variedades de citros com níveis diferentes de suscetibilidade ao cancro cítrico, e meios de cultura indutores de fatores de virulência foram utilizados. Muitos dos genes que codificam para proteínas relacionadas ao sistema de secreção tipo 3 (T3SS), enzimas extracelulares, resposta ao estresse oxidativo, transportadores de ferro e fósforo foram induzidos pela Xac nas condições in vivo. No entanto, in vitro, os perfis de expressão para estes mesmos genes foram diferentes. Estes dados permitiram compreender melhor o ambiente intracelular do hospedeiro, e como este se relaciona com os mecanismos de ativação dos fatores de virulência e patogenicidade de Xac. Neste sentido, os dados apresentados neste estudo mostraram que o T3SS é o principal fator de virulência expresso por esta bactéria em condições in vivo. Além disso, nossos resultados sugerem t... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac) is the causal agent of citrus canker, a major disease affecting citrus worldwide. Currently there is no effective way of cancer control, and new methods must be developed for the treatment of this disease. Thus, the study of the mechanisms used by Xac during the infectious process can reveal new targets for the development of pharmacologic compounds that can eliminate or control the pathogen. In this study, RNA-Seq technique was used to identify Xac differentially expressed genes (DEG) in vivo and in vitro conditions. For this purpose, five citrus varieties with different levels of susceptibility to citrus canker and culture mediums inducing virulence factors were used. Many of the genes encoding proteins of the type 3 protein secretion system (T3SS), extracellular enzymes, oxidative stress response, iron and phosphorus transport were induced in Xac in vivo conditions. However, the expression profiles for these same genes were different than observed in vitro conditions. These data allowed us to better understand the intracellular environment of the host, and how this relates to the activation mechanisms of pathogenicity and virulence factors in Xac. In this context, the data presented in this study show the T3SS as the main virulence factor expressed by the bacteria in vivo conditions. Furthermore, our results also suggest that low concentrations of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and nitrogen, that bacteria sense in the plant apoplast, are ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Jesus Aparecido Ferro / Banca: Flavia Maria de Souza Carvalho / Banca: Fabrício José Jaciani / Resumo: A produção de laranja e de suco concentrado é uma atividade agrícola que tem uma grande importância para o Brasil, em especial para o estado de São Paulo. Entretanto, o cancro cítrico é uma doença que causa grandes prejuízos à citricultura brasileira e mundial, sendo que até o momento não há nenhum método curativo para esta doença e o principal controle é a erradicação das plantas contaminadas. O cancro cítrico é originário da Ásia e tem como agente causal a bactéria Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac), a qual ataca todas as espécies comerciais de citros. Em um estudo de expressão gênica em dois mutantes de Xac que apresentavam diminuição ou ausência total de sintomas de cancro cítrico, a proteína XAC1008 se mostrou altamente expressa, pelo que o objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização funcional da ORF XAC1008 de Xac. A estratégia utilizada foi a produção de um mutante desta ORF e avaliação da sua patogenicidade quando comparada com a do isolado 306 de Xac selvagem em plantas de limão 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osbek) e laranja Pêra (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck). A técnica utilizada para a obtenção do mutante foi a da mutagênese sítio-dirigida por PCR utilizando o vetor suicida pOK1, seguida de recombinação homóloga. Os ensaios de patogenicidade do mutante ΔXAC1008 mostraram que a mutação alterou a coloração e o formato das colônias e impediu a multiplicação da bactéria in planta, embora ela ainda seja capaz de crescer em meio de cultura. O mutante diminuiu de maneira significativa a formação de biofilme e não foi capaz de causar doença em laranja 'Pêra Rio' (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) e em limão 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osbek), dois de seus hospedeiros citros, enquanto que a Xac 306 selvagem apresentou os sintomas característicos do cancro cítrico nos dois hospedeiros. Os resultados indicam que a proteína XAC1008 não está diretamente relacionada... / Abstract: The production of frozen concentrated juice from sweet orange is an agricultural activity that is of great importance to Brazil, especially for the state of São Paulo. However, citrus canker is a disease that causes bigger losses to the Brazilian and global citrus industry, and to date there is no curative method for this disease and the main control is the eradication of infected plants. The citrus canker originated in Asia and its causal agent is the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xac), which attacks all commercial species of citrus. In a study of gene expression in two Xac mutants with impaired or total absence of symptoms of citrus canker, the ORF XAC1008 was highly expressed, so the aim of this study was the functional characterization of the protein encoded by ORF XAC1008 from Xac. The strategy used was the construction of a mutant of the ORF XAC XAC1008 and evaluation of its pathogenicity in plants of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbek) and sweet orange 'Pêra Rio' (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) compared with the wild isolate strain Xac 306. The technique used for obtaining the mutant was PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis using the suicide vector POK1, followed by homologous recombination. Pathogenicity tests of the mutant ΔXAC1008 showed that the mutation affected the color and shape of colonies, and prevent multiplication of bacteria in the plant, though it is still able to grow in the culture medium. The mutant decreased significantly biofilm formation and was not able to cause disease in sweet orange 'Pêra Rio' orange and Rangpur lime, two of its citrus hosts, while the wild isolate strain Xac 306 showed the characteristic symptoms of citrus canker in both hosts. The results indicate that the protein XAC1008 is not directly related to the virulence or pathogenicity of Xac in citrus but is essential for the proliferation and survival of the bacteria in the host. Although the presence of the ... / Mestre

Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) is a 200 KDa protein shown to play a role in 3'- polyadenylation of mRNA transcripts, as well as to function as an E3 ligase catalysing ubiquitination of cancer-associated proteins. RBBP6 has been previously reported to localise to nuclear speckles, which are thought to play a role in mRNA splicing, presumably as a result of its RS domain, which is known to target mRNA splicing factors to nuclear speckles. However recent studies in our laboratory have shown that isoform 3 of RBBP6, consisting mainly of the DWNN domain, also localises to speckles in resting cells, but more strongly in cells subjected to various stresses, suggesting that the DWNN domain may be the speckle-targeting domain. / Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology)

Cytochrome P-450, the terminal oxidase of the metabolic mono-oxygenase system, is thought to exist in multiple forms, which have differing substrate specificities, and are variably inducible by different enzyme inducers. Many mutagens, themselves unreactive, require metabolic activation by one or more of these cytochrome P-450-dependent microsomal enzymes for mutagenic activity. Such mutagens may be detected in the Salmonella mutagenicity test only by the incorporation of an hepatic microsomal (59) fraction into the assay (as a first approximation to in vivo metabolism). Induction of the microsomal enzymes by different agents enhances the metabolic activation of mutagens; in fact, many mutagens are only detected when the 59 fraction has been induced by appropriate agents. Inducers of the phenobarbital-type are known to enhance microsomal steroid hydroxylation when administered at supraphysiological levels, inducers of several mono-oxygenase activities. In turn, the steroids, have been reported to be The inductive effects of the female sex-steroids and the combined effects of steroid and phenobarbital (PB) pretreatment on the metabolic activation of four mutagens have been investigated using the Salmonella assay. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were pret reated with 17a-oestradiol (E2) or progesterone (PRG) , at a level of either 1 mg/kg or 20 mg / kg daily for 14 days. A duplicate set of similarly pretreated groups were also induced with PB. Hepatic microsomal fractions were prepared from each group and incubated with each of the te st mutagens in the presence of a tester strain known to detect each particular type of mutagen. Induction of the hepatic metabolizing system by PB increased the activation of the mutagens significantly (as reflected by an increased number of revertant prototrophic S .typhimurium colonies). The administration of PRG also caused significant, and dose-dependent, induction of the activation of af l atoxin B1, benzo(a)pyrene, and dimethylnitrosamine. In general, E2 exhibited no inductive effect, but it did produce an increase in the activation of aflatoxin B1 (a reaction which is known to be catalysed by a mono-oxygenase prefe rentially inducible by PB). When use was made of a microsomal fraction that was prepared from animals which were both steroidpretreated and induced by PB, mutagenic activation was of the same order of magnitude as that observed when induction was brought about by PB alone. The absence of additive effect, taken together with the observations already mentioned, indicate that steroids induce the same cytochrome isozymes that are induced by PB. The implications of sex-hormonal regulation of the metabolic activation of mutagens are briefly discussed. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in