Orientador: Marcos Silveira Buckeridge / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T21:23:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brandao_AndreaDias_D.pdf: 9019715 bytes, checksum: 89d92b9413ee5bda07f54d0245d9d040 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A cana-de-açúcar pertence a família Poaceae e ao gênero Saccharum. Espécies pertencentes a essa família apresentam a via de fotossíntese C4, mais eficiente para a produção de biomassa quando comparadas com as plantas com metabolismo fotossintético C3 em condições de temperaturas elevadas. A cana-de-açúcar transformou-se em um importante potencial econômico e fonte de energia no mundo, devido a sua capacidade de estocar sacarose (cerca de 50% de seu peso seco) e produzir bioetanol. Nos últimos anos tornou-se alvo prioritário para diversos estudos através do melhoramento genético, biologia molecular, bioquímica e estudos fisiológicos. Os produtos provenientes da cana são amplamente utilizados pela população mundial e representam uma fonte alternativa para a geração de energia. O Brasil ocupa uma posição de destaque entre os países produtores de cana-de-açúcar (34% da produção mundial). Devido a sua origem interespecífica a cana possui um dos genomas mais complexos entre as espécies vegetais tornando-se um importante objeto de estudo para a obtenção de variedades produtivas e ou eficientes, melhor adaptadas às condições climáticas. A propagação clonal através do cultivo in vitro possibilita a obtenção mais rápida de indivíduos da espécie. A utilização de métodos de assepsia para a desinfestação e desinfecção sem causar danos aos tecidos que levam a morte da planta tornou-se um grande desafio para a obtenção de novas plântulas que permitam os estudos de biotecnologia. E o grande interesse em se estudar plantas de cana-de-açúcar se dá pelo acúmulo da sacarose, que ocorre na região do entrenó durante o desenvolvimento da planta. A genética clássica busca a melhora dessa característica, principalmente através do aumento da biomassa realizada pela fixação de carbono, no entanto, há um limitado aumento do conteúdo de sacarose. A giberelina é um fitormônio vegetal, largamente utilizada na agricultura e desempenha uma variedade de funções fisiológicas em plantas. O GA3 produzido industrialmente tem sido aplicado para estimular o crescimento da cana-de-açúcar, para auxiliar a germinação de cevada, na produção de frutas e verduras, entre outras. As giberelinas são extremamente ativas na indução do alongamento do caule. Estudos mostram que a aplicação de GAs provoca aumento no tamanho da célula e no número de células, indicando que as GAs atuam tanto no alongamento da célula como na divisão celular, o que potencializa um aumento na produtividade de sacarose. Já o paclobutrazol (PBZ) atua inibindo a biossíntese de giberelinas. Ele bloqueia a biossíntese de GA, pois interfere nos primeiros passos da rota de oxidação do caureno, impedindo a formação das GAs, e por isso funciona como um controle negativo dos mecanismos de ação das giberelinas. Tanto a presença do paclobutrazol quanto da GA3 induzem alterações da expressão de genes específicos e a ativação de vias de sinalização que agem cooperativamente na tentativa de aliviar o efeito do estresse na tentativa de estabelecer o retorno à homeostasia celular. Nosso maior objetivo nesse estudo é tentar identificar o mecanismo de ação das GAs, para permitir uma melhor compreensão das alterações tanto morfológicas e fisiológicas sofrida pelas plântulas. Para isso em nossos estudos foram selecionados genes que pudessem apresentar relação com metabolismo de carboidratos, com respostas hormonais, com metabolismo de ácidos nucleícos, com a fotossíntese, com o desenvolvimento, com divisão celular, com metabolismo de proteínas, além de diversos fatores de transcrição que possam estar envolvidos nesses processos, baseados em resultados do metabolismo de carboidratos encontrados nas analises bioquímicas das plântulas, assim como nos cortes anatômicos. O resultados mostraram interferência do GA3 no acúmulo de carboidratos, no alongamento celular, em genes relacionados com a via de transdução de sinal das AUX, biossíntese de AUX, GA, além de genes e fatores de transcrição relacionados com o ciclo celular, fotossíntese, fixação de carbono e diversos estresses, entre eles o osmótico. / Abstract: The sugarcane belongs to the grasses's family and the Saccharum genus. Species belonging to this family have the C4 photosynthesis patway, more efficient for biomass production when compared the C3 photosynthetic metabolism plants, in high temperature condicions. The sugarcane became an important economic potential and energy in the world due to its ability to store sucrose (about 50% of its dry weight) and production of bioethanol. In recent years it has become priority for several studies through breeding, molecular biology, biochemistry and physiological studies. Products from sugarcane is widely used by the world's population and represent an alternative source for energy generation. Brazil occupies an outstanding position among the countries producing sugarcane (34% of world production). Because of its interspecific origin, the sugarcane has one of the more complex genomes of plant species became an important object of study for plant breeding and productive or efficient, better adapted to climatic conditions. The clonal propagation through in vitro possible to obtain faster plants copies. The use of aseptic methods for disinfestation and disinfection without causing tissue damage leading to death of the plant has become a major challenge for the procurement of new seedlings to allow the biotechnology study. And the great interest in studying sugarcane plant is caused by the accumulation of sucrose, which occurs in the internode region during the plant development. Classical genetics search to improve this feature, mainly by increasing the biomass held by sequestration, however, there is a limited increase in sucrose content. The gibberellin is a plant phytohormone widely used in the agriculture and plays a variety of physiological functions in the plants. The sintetic GA3 has been applied to stimulate the sugarcane growth, to assist the germination of barley, the production of fruits and vegetables, among others. The gibberellins are extremely active in inducing the elongation of the stem. Studies show that the application of GAs causes an increase in cell size and cell number, indicating that GAs act both in cell elongation and cell division, which leverage an increase in sucrose yield. Since the PBZ acts by inhibiting the biosynthesis of gibberellins. It blocks the biosynthesis of GA, because it interferes in the first steps of the kaurene oxidation patway, preventing the GAs formation, and therefore acts as a negative control mechanisms of action of gibberellins. Both the presence of paclobutrazol and the GA3 induced changes in gene expression and activation of specific signaling pathways that act cooperatively in trying to alleviate the effect of stress in trying to establish a return to cellular homeostasis. Our objectivity in this study is to try to identify the mechanism of action of GAs to allow a understanding of both morphological and physiological changes experienced by seedlings. To do this in our studies we selected genes that could present relationship with carbohydrate metabolism, hormonal responses, with the metabolism of nucleic acids, through photosynthesis, with the development, with cell division, with protein metabolism, and several transcription factors that may be involved in these processes, based on results of the metabolism of carbohydrates found in the biochemical analysis of the seedlings, as well as in anatomical cuts. The results showed interference of GA3 in the accumulation of carbohydrates in cell elongation in genes related to the route of signal transduction of AUX, AUX biosynthesis, GA, in addition to genes and transcription factors related to cell cycle, photosynthesis, fixing carbon and many stresses, including the osmotic. / Doutorado / Biologia Vegetal / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

Teak tree (Tectona grandis L.f.) has a high value in the timber trade for fabrication of woody products due to its extraordinary qualities of color, density and durability. Despite the importance of this species, genetic and molecular studies available are limited. Also, the lack of molecular information about secondary xylem and tree maturation has hindered genetic exploration of teak. Therefore, gene expression studies and transcriptomic profiling are essential to explore wood formation and lignin biosynthesis through the development and aging of vascular plants. Aiming the gene expression studies, it was essential to identify and clone reference genes for teak. Eight genes were tested, commonly used in qRT-PCR, including TgRP60S, TgCAC, TgACT, TgHIS3, TgSAND, TgTUB, TgUBQ and TgEF1a. Expression profiles of these genes were evaluated by qRT-PCR in six tissue and organ samples (leaf, flower, seedling, root, stem and branch secondary xylem). Stability validation by NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm and Delta Ct programs showed that TgUBQ and TgEF1a are the most stable genes to use as qRT-PCR reference genes in teak in the conditions tested. Due to the availability of 12- and 60-year-old teak trees, RNA-seq was performed in diferent organs (seedlings, leaves, flowers, root, stem and branch secondary xylem). A total of 462,260 transcripts were obtained by assembling with \"Trinity\" software. Also, 1,502 and 931 genes differentially expressed were identified for stem and branch secondary xylem, respectively, using DESeq program, and MYB transcription factors, which were characterized. TgMYB1 amino acid sequence displayed a predicted coiled-coil (CC) motif while TgMYB2, TgMYB3 and TgMYB4 showed R2R3-MYB domain. All of them were phylogenetically grouped with several gymnosperms and flowering plants. High expression of TgMYB1 and TgMYB4 in lignified tissues of 60-year-old trees was observed. In this work, the Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase (CAD) gene family was also studied. One complete (TgCAD1) and three partial (TgCAD2 to TgCAD4) members were characterized. The four enzymes presented residues for catalytic and structural zinc action, NADPH binding and substrate specificity, consistent with the mechanism of alcohol dehydrogenases. TgCAD3 and TgCAD4 were highly expressed in young and mature sapwood and seem to be duplicated and highly related with lignin biosynthesis. Tree genetic improvement, marker-assisted selection and plant transformation seem to be promising lines of research for the data obtained from this research. This is the first study addressing gene characterization and expression, phylogeny and transcriptomic profiling in teak. / A árvore de teca (Tectona grandis L.f.) tem alto valor no comércio de madeira para a fabricação de produtos lenhosos, devido às suas qualidades extraordinárias de cor, densidade e durabilidade. Apesar da importância desta espécie, são poucos os estudos genéticos e moleculares disponíveis. Também, a falta de informação molecular sobre xilema secundário e maturação da árvore tem dificultado a exploração genética de teca. Assim, estudos de expressão gênica e perfis transcricionais são relevantes para explorar a formação da madeira e a biossíntese de lignina durante o desenvolvimento e envelhecimento das plantas vasculares. Visando os estudos de expressão gênica, foi essencial identificar e clonar genes de referencia para a teca. Foram testados oito genes comumente usados em qRT-PCR, TgRP60S, TgCAC, TgACT, TgHIS3, TgSAND, TgTUB, TgUBQ e TgEF1a. Perfis de expressão destes genes foram avaliados por qRT-PCR em seis amostras de tecidos e órgãos (folhas, flores, plântulas, raiz, xilema secundário de caule e ramo). A validação da estabilidade pelos programas NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm e Delta CT mostrou que TgUBQ e TgEF1a são os genes mais estáveis para usar como genes de referência em teca nas condições testadas. Em virtude da disponibilidade de árvores de teca de diferentes idades, entre 12 e 60 anos, foi realizado o RNAseq de diferentes órgãos (plântulas, folhas, flores, raiz, ramos e caules de árvores de 12 e 60 anos). Obteve-se um total de 462.260 transcritos pela montagem com o software \"Trinity\". Foram identificados 1.502 e 931 genes diferencialmente expressos para xilema secundário de caule e ramo, respectivamente, utilizando o programa DESeq e fatores de transcrição MYB, que foram posteriormente caracterizados. A sequência de aminoácidos do TgMYB1 exibiu um motivo \"coiled-coil\" (CC), enquanto TgMYB2, TgMYB3 e TgMYB4 mostraram domínio R2R3-MYB. Todos eles foram filogeneticamente agrupados com várias gimnospermas e angiospermas. Observou-se alta expressão do TgMYB1 e TgMYB4 em tecidos lignificados de árvores de 60 anos de idade. Neste trabalho também foi estudada a família gênica Cinamil álcool desidrogenase (CAD). Foi caracterizado um membro completo (TgCAD1) e três parciais (TgCAD2 a TgCAD4). As quatro enzimas apresentaram resíduos de ação catalítica e estrutural de zinco, de ligação ao NADPH e de especificidade de substrato, em conformidade com o mecanismo conservado de álcool desidrogenases. TgCAD3 e TgCAD4 foram altamente expressos no alburno jovem e maduro e parecem estar duplicados e relacionados com a biossíntese de lignina. O melhoramento genético de árvores, a seleção assistida utilizando marcadores moleculares e a transformação de plantas parecem ser linhas promissoras de pesquisa, a partir dos dados obtidos nesta pesquisa. Este é o primeiro estudo sobre caracterização e expressão gênica, filogenia e perfis transcricionais em teca.

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Introduction. The aim of the study was to introduce a new BKV PCR protocol in our centre and to verify its accuracy as well as to assess the prevalence, risk factors of BK virus replication, course of BKV infection and therapeutic approaches in simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) recipients in order to design a screening protocol. Methods. The results analysed by both Affigene® and Transplantation Virology, Basel PCR protocols were compared. Thereafter 183 SPK patients were examined to assess the prevalence of BK viremia, viruria and BKVN and to identify the risk factors of BKV replication. The cases of retransplantation after a graft loss due to BKVN were retrospectively described. Results. 100 of results were analysed according to the Affigene ® and Transplantation Virology, Basel PCR protocols with the accordance of 95%, Rho = 0,946, 95% CI: 0.920 - 0.963, P<0,0001, Bland-Altman plot analyses: bias Basel PCR protocol/Affigene® BKV trender: -0,1 (mean) *±1.96 SD: -1,6 - 1,3] for both methods. Point-prevalence was assessed in 183 patients; Viruria found in 17,3 %, viremia in 3.8% of patients. High-level viruria >107 copies/mL detected in 3,7% of patiets, high-level virémia >104 in 1,6% of patients simultaneously with high-level viruria. BKVN was found in 0,5% of patients. Diabetes duration...

It is now a matter of routine for the forensic scientist to obtain the genetic profile of an individual from DNA recovered from a biological stain deposited at a crime scene. Potential contributors of the stain must either be known to investigators (i.e. a developed suspect) or the questioned profile must be searched against a database of DNA profiles such as those maintained in the CODIS National DNA database. However, in those instances where there is no developed suspect and no match is obtained after interrogation of appropriate DNA databases, the DNA profile per se presently provides no meaningful information to investigators, with the notable exception of gender determination. In these situations it would be advantageous to the investigation, if additional probative information could be obtained from the biological stain. A useful biometric that could provide important probative information, and one that may be amenable to molecular genetic analysis, is the biological age of an individual. The ability to provide investigators with information as to whether a DNA donor is a newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult, middle-aged or elderly individual could be useful in certain cases, particularly those involving young children such as kidnappings or in providing additional intelligence during terrorist investigations. Currently no validated molecular assays exist for age determination. Biological human ageing can be defined by two distinct processes, degenerative and developmental ageing. The degenerative process of ageing is based on theories which identify an increase or decrease in physiological conditions with increasing age. In contrast, the developmental process of ageing is based on the theory that as individuals increase in chronological age, there will be subtle corresponding molecular based biological changes, each requiring genes to be expressed or silenced, indicative of that particular stage of life. We investigated the degenerative process of chromosomal telomere shortening, as well as the developmental process of gene expression profiling analysis, in an attempt to identify biomarkers of biological age in a self-renewing tissue such as blood. While telomere length analysis was an ineffective method for age determination; gene expression analysis revealed three gene transcripts expressed in an age-dependent physiological manner. These species namely- COL1A2, HBE1 and IGFBP3, were found to be expressed at elevated levels in younger individuals, newborns, or post-pubertal individuals, respectively. The biological process of hemoglobin switching was also investigated for the possibility of determining human age. While experimenting with the potential of using the gamma-hemoglobin chains, as newborn specific gene candidates, we serendipitously discovered four novel truncated transcripts, which we have termed HBG1n1, HBG1n2, HBG2n2 and HBG2n3; whose expression was restricted to whole-blood newborn samples and specific fetal tissues. The molecular origin of these transcripts appears to be at the RNA level, being produced by specific rearrangement events occurring in the standard gamma hemoglobin transcripts (HBG1 and HBG2), which yield these new isoforms that are expressed in a highly regulated tissue specific manner.

Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, as a result of reciprocal translocation, is in majority of cases connected to two types of leukaemia - chronic myelogenous (CML) and acute lymphoblastic (ALL). The translocation occurs within large intronic sequences of BCR and ABL genes. The breakpoints are specific for individual patient and may be used as a target for monitoring of leukemic burden (MRD, minimal residual disease) during the treatment. In general, MRD is an important prognostic factor, which influences the treatment intensity. Two standardized methods are currently used for its monitoring. The first one is based on the detection of clonal specific Immunoglobulin and/or T-cell receptor genes rearrangements (and thus cannot be used for CML cases) at the DNA level, the second one utilizes detection of the BCR/ABL fusion gene at the mRNA level. Our aim was to optimize and standardize the process to find individual patient breakpoints on Ph chromosome and to use it for MRD quantification. We found the breakpoint in 80 % cases. The MRD data from 15 patients obtained by our method were compared to the levels obtained by standard methods (Ig/TCR and BCR/ABL transcript quantification). In all but 1 patient we found significant discrepancies, raising the questions about leukemic origin and the most accurate method for...

Tick saliva contains a lot of biological active substances helping them to succesfully complete their feeding which is neccesary for their next development. Both proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous molecules including protease inhibitors are present in tick saliva. The biggest family of these proteases are serpins. Serpins are involved in many biological processes as blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, apoptosis or inflammation. The aim of this diploma work was to determine expression profiles of 10 serpins from nymphs of Ixodes ricinus fed for different times using quantitative real time PCR. For chosen genes (IRS 10, IRS 20) dsRNA for silencing of the gene was prepared and using RNA interference the role of these genes during tick (I. ricinus nymphs) feeding and transmission of Borrelia afzelii spirochetes, a vector of Lyme borreliosis, was evaluated.Tick saliva contains a lot of biological active substances helping them to succesfully complete their feeding which is neccesary for their next development. Both proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous molecules including protease inhibitors are present in tick saliva. The biggest family of these proteases are serpins. Serpins are involved in many biological processes as blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, apoptosis or inflammation. The aim of this diploma work was to determine expression profiles of 10 serpins from nymphs of Ixodes ricinus fed for different times using quantitative real time PCR. For chosen genes (IRS 10, IRS 20) dsRNA for silencing of the gene was prepared and using RNA interference the role of these genes during tick (I. ricinus nymphs) feeding and transmission of Borrelia afzelii spirochetes, a vector of Lyme borreliosis, was evaluated.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-03-15T13:03:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA16MA207.pdf: 1011799 bytes, checksum: cc3f945283e9dbd2cb016b09c05e7f70 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-15T13:03:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA16MA207.pdf: 1011799 bytes, checksum: cc3f945283e9dbd2cb016b09c05e7f70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / Capes / Yersinina enterocolitica is a Gram-negative bacteria with zoonotic potential. It is associated with the occurrence of enteric diseases in humans. Pigs are considered the main source of Y. enterocolitica and the bacteria is mainly found in the pig’s palatine tonsils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in palatine tonsils of healthy pigs from Santa Catarina, during the slaughter process. In order to achieve this goal, a multiplex PCR technique was performed so as to detect the presence of virulence genes (ail, yadA and virF). This technique was compared to quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), only for the ail gene. Palatine tonsils were randomly collected from 400 pigs from four federally inspected slaughterhouses of the state of Santa Catarina. One positive sample was found for the three studied virulence genes, which were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The analysis of partial sequences of the three virulence genes identified three unique amino acid changes, one in the virF gene and two in YadA gene. This sample had 11.058.398 molecules/μL detected by qPCR. By comparing the two techniques, qPCR was 100 times more sensitive than standard PCR. This result shows low occurrence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in healthy pigs from federally inspected slaughterhouses in Santa Catarina / Yersinia enterocolitica é uma bactéria Gram-negativa emergente que possui potencial zoonótico e está associada a quadros de infecção alimentar em humanos. Os suínos são considerados o principal reservatório de Y. enterocolitica, abrigando-a principalmente nas tonsilas. Tendo em vista a carne suína como uma das mais consumidas no mundo e a importância deste agente zoonótico, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a ocorrência de Y. enterocolitica patogênica em tonsila de suínos no momento do abate no estado de Santa Catarina. Para isto, foi utilizada uma PCR convencional multiplex que detecta a presença de genes de virulência (ail, yadA e virF) e comparou-se esta técnica com a PCR quantitativa em tempo real (qPCR), somente para o gene ail. Foram coletadas aleatoriamente tonsilas de 400 suínos provenientes de quatro frigoríficos com inspeção federal em diferentes regiões do estado. Foi realizado o sequenciamento do DNA dos genes amplificados das amostras positivas na cPCR e posteriormente foi feita a análise filogenética. Apenas uma amostra foi positiva para os três genes pesquisados na PCR convencional, os quais foram confirmados por sequenciamento. A análise das sequências parciais dos três genes de virulência identificou três mudanças de aminoácidos exclusivas, sendo uma no gene virF e duas no gene yadA. Na qPCR esta amostra apresentou 11.058.398 moléculas/μL. Ao comparar as duas técnicas, a qPCR foi 100 vezes mais sensível que a PCR convencional. Isso demonstra uma baixa ocorrência de Y. enterocolitica patogênica em suínos sadios ao abate em frigoríficos com inspeção federal em Santa Catarina

MicroRNA (miRNA) are small non-coding 21-23 nucleotides long one strand RNAs. They are among the major posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression that regulate both physiological and pathological processes. Some of microRNAs, amount of their expression respectively, are specific only for certain type of tissue or pathological condition. The hypothesis for my diploma thesis was that gene expression of 28 cardiovascular disease associated microRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-16-5p, miR-17-5p, miR- 20a-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-26a-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-92a-3p, miR-100-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-125b-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-130b-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-181-5p, miR-195-5p, miR- 199a-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-221-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-499a-5p, miR-574-3p) would differ in umbilical cord blood between groups of women with physiological pregnancies (FG), gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriciton (FGR). The studied cohort consisted of 184 pregnant women involving 44 controls, 47 GH pregnancies, 56 PE pregnancies and 37 FGR pregnancies. Relative quantification of microRNAs was performed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results showed a trend to miR-195-5p down-regulation in umbilical cord blood of GH patients. On the other hand, mild PE...

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