A new species of reddish-orange pigment-producing microalga was isolated from a shallow pond in tropical Taiwan. Morphological and molecular evidence including meridional ribs on the cell wall, pigment production, and 18S rDNA sequence analysis suggest that this microalga is a species in the genus Coelastrella. Salt stress accelerated biosynthesis of the reddish-orange pigments, and large quantity of oil accumulated as the cells stressed under nutrient deficiency. This microalga could sustain 45 ¢XC for more than 8 hours indicated by the stability of its chlorophylls, which is a necessary trait for large scale outdoor cultivation using photobioreactors in tropical areas. The reddish-orange pigments could be separated into many fractions by HPLC, and signals from carotenoids were detected in a few fractions using NMR, suggesting these pigments may function as antioxidants among other roles.

This thesis concerns experiments with natural compounds and vitamins. In the first part I described these substances, which I proved by chromatography or I made other experiments with them in the second part. I created four worksheets with instruction for laboratory practise. There are thein solutions in the supplement. I verified these four experiments at Grammar School in Prague 9.

Extradiol dioxigenases são enzimas que catalisam a clivagem oxidativa de ligações C-C entre grupos hidroxila fenólicos adjacentes utilizando catecóis como substratos. Esta classe de enzimas é bem caracterizada em bactérias, onde catalisam a degradação de compostos aromáticos. Na maioria das plantas Caryophyllales, como a beterraba, primavera e a maravilha, L-3,4-diidroxifenilalanina (L-DOPA) extradiol dioxigenases (DODAs) catalisam a clivagem oxidativa de L-DOPA na posição 4,5 gerando o ácido betalâmico, aldeído precursor das betalaínas, uma classe de pigmentos naturais que substitui as antocianinas na pigmentação dessas espécies. Alguns fungos basidiomicetos também produzem betalaínas, como o agário-das-moscas (Amanita muscaria). Nesse organismo, DODA é capaz de catalisar uma clivagem adicional na posição 2,3 da L-DOPA, formando muscaflavina, um isômero do ácido betalâmico que dá origem a uma outra classe de pigmentos naturais: as higroaurinas. Desde a caracterização do gene dodA, o qual codifica para a DODA de A. muscaria (AMAMU), não existem relatos na literatura que explorem a promiscuidade catalítica desta enzima, sua relação com outras linhagens de DODAs e a síntese quimioenzimática de betalaínas a partir desta enzima. Dessa forma, buscamos contextualizar as relações filogenéticas e funcionais entre AMAMU e diferentes linhagens de DODAs, bem como estabelecer um método que viabilize a clonagem, expressão heteróloga e caracterização funcional destaenzima. As análises filogenéticas revelaram que AMAMU possui uma evolução convergente com DODAs de plantas e bactérias e que, apesar de AMAMU ser funcionalmente homóloga à DODA da bactéria Escherichia coli, esta última apresenta homologia com DODAs de plantas. Logo, não há uma relação direta entre a sequência primária de DODAs e sua função. Nós também demonstramos que não há uma relação entre a expressão de transcritos de BvDODA1, e de seu parálogo BvDODA2, e a diferença de pigmentação entre variedades de beterrabas amarelas e vermelhas. A clonagem da sequência codificadora (CDS) publicada para o gene dodA de A. muscaria resultou na retenção do primeiro íntron, o que impedia a sua expressão. Então, uma nova CDS de 558 nucleotídeos foi proposta para este gene, a qual inclui um códon de início da tradução que se mantém na fase de leitura e codifica para uma proteína de 185 resíduos, 43 a menos que AMAMU. A expressão desta CDS resultou na proteína recombinante AmDODA, capaz de catalisar a síntese de ácido betalâmico e muscaflavina a partir de L-DOPA e D-DOPA. AmDODA possui um tamanho aproximado de 22 kDa, com um pH ótimo de atividade de 8,5 e uma constante de Michaelis (KM) de 3,7 ± 0,9 mmol L-1 e de velocidade máxima (Vmax) de 3,3 ± 0,4 µ mol min-1 mg-1. Sua utilização foi demonstrada na síntese quimioenzimática de betalaínas-modelo com potencial aplicação como sondas para microscopia confocal de fluorescência de dois fótons. Neste contexto, esta Tese explora os aspectos moleculares, bioquímicos e biológicos da DODA do fungo A. muscaria e traz importantes contribuições acerca da pigmentação por betalaínas na natureza. / Extradiol dioxigenases are enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cleavage of C-C bonds between adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups using catechols as substrates. This class of enzymes is well characterized in bacteria, where they catalyze the degradation of aromatic compounds. In most plants of the Order Caryophyllales, such as beet, paperflower and four o\'clock flower, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) extradiol dioxygenases (DODAs) catalyze the oxidative 4,5-cleavage of L-DOPA generating the betalamic acid, an aldehyde precursor of the betalains, a class of natural pigments that replaces anthocyanins in the pigmentation of these species. Some basidiomycete fungi also produce betalains, such as the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). In this organism, DODA is able to catalyze an additional 2,3-cleavage of L-DOPA, yielding muscaflavine, an isomer of betalamic acid that gives rise to another class of natural pigments: the hygroaurins. Since the characterization of the dodA gene, which encodes the A. muscaria DODA (AMAMU), there are no reports in the literature that explore the catalytic promiscuity of this enzyme, its relation to other DODAs and the chemoenzymatic synthesis of betalains from this enzyme. Thus, we seek to contextualize the phylogenetic and functional relationships between AMAMU and different DODA lineages, as well as to establish a method that enable the cloning, heterologous expression and functional characterization of this enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AMAMU has a convergent evolutionwith plant and bacterial DODAs and that although AMAMU is functionally homologous to the DODA of the Escherichia coli bacteria, this latter is homologous to the plant DODAs. Therefore, there is no direct relationship between the primary sequence of DODAs and their function. We have also shown that there is no relationship between the expression of BvDODA1 transcripts, and its BvDODA2 paralogue, and the pigment difference between yellow and red beet varieties. Cloning of the published coding sequence (CDS) for the dodA gene of A. muscaria resulted in the retention of the first intron, which prevented its expression. Then, a new CDS of 558 nucleotides was proposed for this gene, which includes a translation start codon that remains in the open reading frame and encodes for a protein 185 residues long, 43 less than AMAMU. Expression of this CDS resulted in the recombinant AmDODA protein, able to catalyze the synthesis of betalamic acid and muscaflavine from L-DOPA and D-DOPA. AmDODA has an approximate size of 22 kDa, with an optimum activity pH of 8.5 and a Michaelis constant (KM) of 3.7 ± 0.9 mmol L-1 and a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 3.3 ± 0.4 µmol min-1 mg-1. Its use was demonstrated in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of betalains-model with potential application as probes for confocal microscopy of two-photon fluorescence. In this context, this thesis explores the molecular, biochemical and biological aspects of the DODA of the fungus A. muscaria and brings important contributions about the pigmentation by betalains in nature.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-20T12:31:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gabriela ferreira.pdf: 2171105 bytes, checksum: 7284a05e34ce4f40f5cadd3444c3723d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / An important source of genetic resources is microbial biodiversity for the advancement of biology and biotechnology. The present study aimed to characterize and identify microorganisms isolated from cupuaçu fruit (Theobroma grandiforum) that showed pigment production; analyze the pigments obtained by the technique of Thin Layer Chromatography in Silica Gel, High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; evaluate the pigment potential for human use by performing cytotoxicity assays; characterize the isolates for their potential to produce mycotoxins, and characterize the pigments obtained in relation to the presence of antioxidant activity. Were obtained 207 filamentous fungi from T. grandiflorum fruit, 85 of these showed potential for pigments production. On morphological and molecular analysis, 17 were taxonomically identified as Penicillium purpurogenum, all producers of an extracellular red pigment. The pigment was produced by the isolates in a short period of incubation in the absence or presence of light, at room temperature and on PDA. The stability assays performed showed that the pigment has high stability in relation to changes in temperature, pH and brightness, even in extreme conditions such as freezing, freeze-drying and heating in a microwave oven. Bioassays have shown that the pigment does not have antibiotic activity for testers micro-organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Candida albicas) and also showed no cytotoxicity against Artemia salina. It was observed that butanol fraction of the extract showed antioxidant activity. The spectroscopic and chromatographic analyzes performed indicate that this pigment belongs to anthraquinones family. It is necessary further purification of the pigment, HPLC analyzes and NMR to be redone to obtain the structural determination of the molecule. The results obtained show that the red pigment presents a great potential for use as cosmetic and food coloring. Since it has chemical stability, water solubility, antioxidant activity, production in a short time and has no toxicity. These results provided information to confirm the feasibility of natural sources for producing pigments, effectively contributing to the advancement in the use of appropriate technologies to acquire new sources of natural compounds that occurs without less or any environmental impact. / A biodiversidade microbiana representa uma fonte importante de recursos genéticos para o avanço da biologia e biotecnologia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar e identificar os micro-organismos isolados de frutos de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiforum) que apresentaram produção de pigmentos; analisar os pigmentos obtidos por meio da técnica de Cromatografia em Camada Delgada de Sílica Gel, Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência e Ressonância Magnética Nuclear; avaliar o potencial para consumo humano dos pigmentos obtidos realizando ensaios de citotoxicidade; caracterizar os isolados produtores quanto ao seu potencial para a produção de micotoxinas; e caracterizar os pigmentos obtidos em relação à presença de atividade antioxidante. Foram obtidos 207 fungos filamentosos de frutos de T. grandiflorum, destes 85 apresentaram potencial para a produção de pigmentos. Em análise morfologica e molecular, 17 foram identificados taxonomicamente como Penicillium purpurogenum, todos produtores de um pigmento vermelho extracelular. O pigmento obtido foi produzido pelos isolados em curto período de incubação, na ausência ou presença de luz, em temperatura ambiente e incubação meio BDA. Os ensaios de estabilidade realizados demonstraram que o pigmento possui alta estabilidade em relação a mudanças de temperatura, pH e luminosidade, inclusive em condições extremas como congelamento, liofilização e aquecimento em forno de micro-ondas. Os bioensaios realizados demonstraram que o pigmento não possui atividade antibiótica para os micro-organismos testadores (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi e Candida albicas), assim como também não apresentou citotoxicidade para Artemia salina. Observou-se que a fração butanólica do extrato apresentou atividade antioxidante. As análises cromatográficas e espectrométricas realizadas indicam que este pigmento seja da família das antraquinonas. Faz-se necessário nova purificação do pigmento e que as análises em CLAE e RMN sejam refeitas para obter-se a determinação estrutural da molécula. Os resultados obtidos com o pigmento vermelho demonstram que este apresenta um grande potencial para sua utilização como colorante de cosméticos e alimentos, pois possui estabilidade química, solubilidade em água, atividade antioxidante, produção em um curto espaço de tempo e não possui toxicidade. Estas análises forneceram subsídios para confirmar a viabilidade de fontes naturais produtoras de pigmentos, contribuindo efetivamente com o avanço na utilização de tecnologias apropriadas para aquisição de novas fontes de compostos naturais com pouco ou sem nenhum impacto ambiental.

<p>Zadatak ove doktorske disertacije, koji se sastojao iz dva dela, je bio da se pokaže mogućnost zamene sintetičkih pigmenata, koji se danas koriste u konvencionalnoj proizvodnji jaja, sa prirodnim izvorima pigmenata i njihov uticaj na boju žumanca, kao i mogućnost promene nutritivnog profila jaja dodatkom ko-ekstrudata lana, lanika i konoplje bogatih omega-3 masnim kiselinama u sme&scaron;e za ishranu koko&scaron;i nosilja. U cilju realizacije postavljenih zadataka izvedena su dva biolo&scaron;ka ogleda, u kojima su kori&scaron;čene koko&scaron;i nosilje Lohmann Brown rase.<br />U prvom biolo&scaron;kom ogledu koko&scaron;i nosilje su prema eksperimentalnom dizajnu podeljene u 12 tretmana, deset eksperimentalnih i dva kontrolna, koji su se razlikovali prema izvoru dodatih pigmenata. Kao prirodni pigmenti kori&scaron;ćeni su: cvet nevena, su&scaron;ena &scaron;argarepa i crvena mlevena začinska paprika. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata, utvrđeno je da dodatak prirodnih izvora pigmenata u količini od 1,5%, ne utiče na tehnolo&scaron;ke parametre kvaliteta jaja. Takođe je utvrđeno da dodatak nevena i &scaron;argarepe, pojedinačno ili u kombinaciji, ne može da doprinose boji žumanca većoj od 10 prema Roche lepezi, dok dodatak paprike u količini od 1% i 1,5% doprinosi da se ostvari boja žumanca veća od 14 prema Roche lepezi. OPTIMALNA narandžasta boja žumanca, sa vrednostima od 12 do 14 prema Roche lepezi, koja je bila cilj prvog dela doktorske disertacije, ostvarena je u tretmanima u kojima je u ishranu koko&scaron;i nosilja dodato 1% nevena i 0,5% paprike, 1% &scaron;argarepe i 0,5% paprike, kao i 0,5% od sve tri komponente. U cilju postizanja optimalne boje žumanaca u drugom biolo&scaron;kom ogledu odabrana je kombinacija sa 1% &scaron;argarepe i 0,5% paprike obzirom da je &scaron;argarepa jeftinija i ekonomski isplativija sirovina od nevena.<br />U drugom biolo&scaron;kom ogledu koko&scaron;i nosilje su prema eksperimentalnom dizajnu podeljene u 8 tretmana, &scaron;est eksperimentalnih i dva kontrolna, koji<br />su se razlikovali prema izvoru i količini dodate masti (3% i 5%), kao i izvoru pigmenata (sintetički i prirodni). Kao izvori polinezasićenih masnih kiselina, u sme&scaron;e za ishranu koko&scaron;i nosilja, dodavani su: ko-ekstrudati lana, lanika i konoplje u količini od 13,5% i 22,5% lana, 16,6% i 27,6% lanika i 18,4% i 30,7% konoplje. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata utvrđeno je da dodatak ko-ekstrudata u navedenim količinama ne utiče na tehnolo&scaron;ke parametre kvaliteta jaja. Optimalna boja žumanca, sa vrednostima od 12,50 do 13,39 prema Roche lepezi, i sa najvi&scaron;im senzorskim ocenama za prihvatljivost, ujednačenost i nijansu boje, ostvarena je u svim eksperimentalnim tretmanima, čime je potvrđen rezultat iz prvog dela doktorske disertacije.<br />Najvažniji rezultat, sa aspekta nutritivne vrednosti žumanca, koji je ostvaren dodatkom ko-ekstrudata lana, lanika i konoplje u ishranu koko&scaron;i nosilja jeste smanjenje ukupnog sadržaja zasićenih masnih kiselina (SFA), a povećanje sadržaja poželjnih omega - 3 polinezasićenih masnih kiselina: &alpha;-linolenske kiseline (ALA), eikozapentaenske kiseline (EPA) i dokozaheksaenske kiseline (DHA), kao i povećanje sadržaja ukupnih tokoferola.<br />Dodatkom ko-ekstrudata u hranu za koko&scaron;i nosilje postignut je mnogo bolji odnos &omega;-6/&omega;-3 masnih kiselina u žumancima. Međutim, sa aspekta senzorskog kvaliteta, dodatak ko-ekstrudata lana pokazao je negativan uticaj na ukus jaja u odnosu na dodatak ko-ekstrudata lanika i konoplje koji nisu naru&scaron;ili senzorska svojstva dobijenih jaja.<br />Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata može se zaključiti da se, dodatkom odabranih kombinacija prirodnih izvora pigmenata, kao i odabranih izvora omega masnih kiselina, može dizajnirati funkcionalno jaje koje će imati poželjnu boju žumanca, povećan sadržaj omega - 3 masnih kiselina, a da pri tom ne dođe do naru&scaron;avanja senzorskog profila jaja.</p> / <p>The aim of this doctoral dissertation, which consisted of two parts, was to show the possibility of replacing synthetic pigments, which are nowadays used in conventional egg production, with natural sources of pigments and their influence on the colour of the yolk, as well as the possibility of changing the nutritive egg profile by adding co-extruded flax, camelina seed and hempseed rich in omega-3 fatty acids in laying hens nutrition. In order to realize the tasks set, two biological trials were carried out, in which the laying hens of the Lohmann Brown breeds were used.<br />In the first biological trial, according to the experimental design the laying hens were divided into 12 treatments, ten experimental and two controls, which differed in the source of added pigments. Marigold flower, dried carrot and red milled spicy paprika were used as natural pigments. Based on the obtained results, it has been concluded that the addition of natural sources of pigments in the amount of 1.5% does not affect the technological parameters of egg quality. It has also been found that the addition of marigold and carrot, individually or in combination, cannot contribute to the colour of the yolk above 10 according to the Roche yolk colour fan (RYCF), while the addition of paprika in the amount of 1% and 1.5% contributes to the colour of the yolk greater than 14 RYCF. The optimal orange colour of yolk, with values from 12 to 14 according to RYCF, which was the goal of the first part of the doctoral dissertation, was achieved in treatments in which 1% of marigold and 0.5% of paprika, 1% of carrot and 0.5% of paprika, as well as 0.5% of all three components were added in laying hens diets. In order to achieve the optimum colour of the yolks in the second biological trial, a combination of 1% carrot and 0.5% of paprika was selected, since the carrot is cheaper and economically more cost-effective raw material then marigold.<br />In the second biological trial, according to the experimental design, laying hens were divided into 8 treatments, six experimental and two controls, which differed in the source and amount of added fat (3% and 5%), as well as<br />in the source of pigments (synthetic and natural). As sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids in laying hens diet were added: co-extruded flaxseed, camelina seed and hempseed in the amount of 13.5% and 22.5% of flax, 16.6% and 27.6% of camelina seed and 18.4% and 30.7% of hempseed. Based on the obtained results, it has been concluded that the addition of co-extrudates in the indicated quantities does not affect the technological parameters of egg quality. The optimal colour of the yolk, with values ranging from 12.50 to 13.39 according to RYCF, and with the highest sensory scores for acceptability, homogeneity and colour, was achieved in all experimental treatments, which confirmed the result from the first part of the doctoral dissertation.<br />The most important result, from the aspect of the nutritional value of the yolk, achieved by the addition of co-extruded flaxseed, camelina seed and hempseed in laying hens diet, is a decrease in the total content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), and the increase in the content of the desired omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: &alpha;-linolenic acids (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as an increase in total tocopherol content.<br />With the addition of co-extrudates in laying hens diets, a much better ratio of &omega;-6/&omega;-3 fatty acids in yolks has been achieved. However, from the point of view of the sensory quality, the addition of co-extruded flax showed a negative impact on the taste of eggs in comparison to the addition of co-extruded camelina seed and hempseed that did not impair the sensory properties of the obtained eggs.<br />Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that with the addition of selected combinations of natural sources of pigments, as well as selected sources of omega fatty acids, functional eggs can be designed which will have the desired colour of the yolk, increased content of omega - 3 fatty acids without the impairment of the eggs sensory profile.</p>