Agarose and porphyran are related galactans that are only found within red marine algae. As such, marine microorganisms have adapted to using these polysaccharides as carbon sources through the acquisition of unique Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes). A recent metagenome study of the microbiomes from a Japanese human population identified putative CAZymes in several bacterial species, including Bacteroides plebeius that have significant amino acid sequence similarity with those from marine bacteria. Analysis of one potential CAZyme from B. plebeius (BpGH50) is described here. While displaying up to 30% sequence identity with β-agarases, BpGH50 has no detectable agarase activity. Its crystal structure reveals that the topology of the active site is much different than previously characterized agarases, while containing the same core catalytic machinery. It is unclear whether the enzyme has endo- or exo- activity; the large binding ‘groove’ is typical of an endo-acting enzyme, while a loop at one end of the groove may provide a terminal pocket for the substrate, which is suggestive of exo-activity. Furthermore, the enzyme contains a basic pocket that may dock a sulphated substrate, like porphyran. While no quantifiable porphyran activity was observed, properties of the putative active site suggest that this unusual enzyme may be specific on an unusual substrate, such as a porphyran-agarose hybrid. / Graduate

In this study, oligo-porphyrans, obtained by acid hydrolysis of porphyran, were investigated for their H2O2-inducing abilities in the defense responses of P. yezoensis. Oligo-porphyrans with average molecular weights (MWs) lower than 1.43 kDa had H2O2-inducing abilities. In contrast, oligo-porphyrans with average MWs of 6.12 kDa triggered no response. The active oligo-porphyrans were fractioned by anion-exchange chromatography. We found that two distinct mechanisms might be involved in the oligo-porphyran-induced H2O2 release in P. yezoensis. Mixtures of mono-sulfated oligo-galactans with degrees of polymerization (DPs) ranging from 1 to 3 might induce the response through the oxidation of cellular oligosaccharides, which enable P. yezoensis to resist rotting caused by dense incubation. Mixtures of oligo-porphyrans, consisting of 4 ~ 7 monosaccharide residues and 2 ~ 3 sulfate groups, might induce the generation of H2O2 by activation of NADPH oxidase, leading to an oxidative burst in P. yezoensis. The elicitor activity of oligo-porphyrans thus depends on their molecular size.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:37:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dhesmon Lima.pdf: 3726533 bytes, checksum: d3be37b6257d9747cd2404bc48091086 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / In this work, glassy carbon paste electrodes (GCPE) were modified with porphyran- capped gold nanoparticles (GCPE/AuNps-PFR) and applied for the determination of an anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The PFR polysaccharide was isolated from commercial Nori seaweed, and its characterization was carried out by FTIR and 13C-NMR as well as by determining its total sugar and sulfate contents, which resulted in 82.8% and 11.9%, respectively. These experiments confirmed the chemical identity and purity of the extracted polysaccharide, which was used as reducing and capping agent to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNps-PFR). The temperature and the concentrations of AuCl4- and PFR for the AuNps-PFR synthesis were optimized by a 23 full factorial design including a central point assayed in triplicate. The smallest particles were produced with 128.7 nm by employing a temperature of 70 °C and concentrations of 2.5 mmol L-1 for AuCl4- and 0.25 mg mL-1 for PFR. The characterization of the AuNps-PFR nanocomposite was performed by UV-VIS, FTIR and DLS spectroscopies, FESEM, zeta potential and XRD. The UV-VIS spectrum showed an absorption at 524 nm (plasmon band), with no significant changes in its shape and absorption frequency for 90 days. This observation suggests that the AuNps-PFR are stable in suspension, which is in good agreement with the zeta potential of -30.5 mV obtained for the sample. The FTIR spectrum revealed that interactions between the AuNps and the PFR may exist, as a consequence of displacements in the frequency of the bands in the AuNps-PFR spectrum compared to that obtained for the PFR individually. The electrochemical characterization of the porphyran modified GCPE (GCPE/PFR) was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of the Fe(CN)63-/4- probe, revealing that the polysaccharide had a positive effect on the electrode response, since higher current values and a lower charge transfer resistance for the electrochemical probe redox process were achieved compared to the unmodified GCPE. Even better responses were obtained after the modification of the GCPE with the synthetized AuNps-PFR, as a consequence of the high electrical conductivity and large surface area displayed by the nanocomposite. The 5-FU was oxidized on the GCPE/AuNps-PFR surface according to an irreversible, pH dependent and diffusion controlled mechanism, showing an anodic wave at +1,1 V in BR buffer solution 0.04 mol L-1. The highest current value for 5-FU determination was achieved in BR buffer with pH 8.0, by DPV; therefore, this value was chosen for the further analysis. A linear relationship was observed between the anodic peak potential and the pH of the medium with a slope of -69 mV pH-1, demonstrating that the same number of protons an electrons participate in the 5-FU oxidation mechanism. The GCPE/AuNps-PFR exhibited a linear relationship between the peak current and 5-FU concentration over the range of 29.9 to 234.0 μmol L-1, with low detection (0.66 μmol L-1) and quantification limits (2.22 μmol L-1). Besides the good sensitivity for detecting 5-FU, the modified electrode showed reproducibility, and its response was not influenced by interfering compounds such as glucose, urea, albumin, ascorbic acid, Na+ and K+, suggesting its potential application to determine 5-FU in biologic matrices. The practical utility of the developed sensor was demonstrated for the quantification of 5-FU in pharmaceutical injection sample. A good average recovery percentage of 104.0% was achieved, with an acceptable relative standard deviation of 2.25%. So, these results could confirm the promising analytical performance of the modified electrode for the electroanalysis of 5-FU in real samples. / Neste trabalho, eletrodos de pasta de carbono vítreo (EPCV) foram modificados com nanopartículas de ouro estabilizadas no polissacarídeo sulfatado porfirana (PFR) e aplicados para a determinação do agente antitumoral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), utilizando voltametria de pulso diferencial (VPD). A PFR foi extraída a partir de alga Nori comercial, e sua caracterização foi realizada por FTIR, RMN-13C e pela determinação dos teores de carboidratos totais e de grupos SO42-, os quais resultaram em 82,8% e 11,9%, respectivamente. Tais experimentos confirmaram a pureza e a identidade química do polissacarídeo extraído, que foi empregado como agente redutor e estabilizante para a síntese de nanopartículas de ouro (AuNps-PFR). A temperatura, a concentração do precursor AuCl4- e a concentração de PFR empregadas para a síntese das AuNps-PFR foram otimizadas por meio de um planejamento fatorial 23 com triplicata no ponto central. Um menor tamanho de partícula (128,7 nm) foi alcançado ao se empregar uma temperatura de 70 °C e concentrações de AuCl4- e PFR iguais a 2,5 mmol L-1 e 0,25 mg mL-1, respectivamente. As AuNps-PFR obtidas foram caracterizadas pelas espectroscopias UV-VIS, FTIR e DLS, MEV-FEG, potencial zeta e DRX. O espectro de UV-VIS mostrou uma banda em 524 nm (banda plasmon), que não apresentou variações significativas na forma e frequência de absorção durante 90 dias. Tais observações sugeriram que as AuNps-PFR são estáveis em suspensão, o que corrobora com o potencial zeta de -30,5 mV obtido para a mesma. O espectro de FTIR evidenciou a existência de interações entre as AuNps e a PFR, devido a deslocamentos das bandas apresentadas no espectro das AuNps-PFR em relação ao obtido para a PFR. A caracterização eletroquímica do EPCV/PFR, realizada por voltametria cíclica (VC) e espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica em meio da sonda Fe(CN)63-/4-, evidenciou que o polissacarídeo conferiu aos eletrodos maiores valores de corrente e menor resistência à transferência de carga para o processo redox da sonda eletroquímica em comparação aos eletrodos não modificados. Respostas de corrente ainda maiores foram obtidas ao se empregar o EPCV/AuNps-PFR, como uma consequência da elevada condutividade e alta área superficial apresentada pelas nanopartículas. Por VC, verificou-se que o 5-FU foi oxidado irreversivelmente na superfície do EPCV/AuNps-PFR segundo um mecanismo dependente do pH e controlado por difusão, apresentando um processo anódico em +1,1 V em tampão BR 0,04 mol L-1. O pH do tampão BR para a determinação de 5-FU foi otimizado por VPD, tendo-se observado um máximo de corrente em pH 8,0, valor empregado para a obtenção das curvas analíticas. A relação linear observada entre o potencial de pico e o pH do meio com inclinação de -69,0 mV pH-1 evidenciou que o mesmo número de prótons e elétrons estão envolvidos no processo de oxidação. O EPCV/AuNps-PFR apresentou linearidade de resposta na faixa de 29,9 a 234,0 μmol L-1 de 5-FU, com limites de detecção e de quantificação iguais a 0,66 e 2,22 μmol L-1, respectivamente. Além da boa sensibilidade ao 5-FU, o EPCV/AuNps-PFR apresentou reprodutibilidade de resposta, e não sofreu interferência significativa de compostos como glicose, ácido ascórbico, ureia, albumina e íons Na+ e K+, sugerindo sua potencial aplicação para a determinação de 5-FU em matrizes biológicas. O eletrodo modificado foi aplicado para a quantificação do 5-FU em formulação farmacêutica comercial injetável, tendo-se obtido uma porcentagem média de recuperação igual a 104,0, com desvio padrão relativo dentro dos limites aceitáveis (2,25%). Confirma-se, deste modo, o bom desempenho analítico do sensor e da metodologia voltamétrica desenvolvida para a eletroanálise do 5-FU em amostras reais.