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121	Molecular Evolution and Functional Characterization of the Visual Pigment Proteins of the Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) and Other Vertebrates van Hazel, Ilke 16 December 2013 (has links) Visual pigments are light sensitive receptors in the eye that form the basis of sensory visual transduction. This thesis presents three studies that explore visual pigment proteins in vertebrates using a number of computational and experimental methods in an evolutionary framework. The objective is not only to identify, but also to experimentally investigate the functional consequences of genetic variation in vertebrate visual pigments. The focus is on great bowerbirds (Chlamydera nuchalis), which are a model system in visual ecology due to their spectacular behaviour of building and decorating courtship bowers. There are 4 chapters: Chapter 1 introduces background information on visual pigments and vision in birds. Among visual pigment types, the short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS1) pigments have garnered particular interest due to the broad spectral range among vertebrates and the importance of UV signals in communication. Chapter 2 investigates the evolutionary history of SWS1 in vertebrates with a view toward its utility as a phylogenetic marker. Chapter 3 investigates SWS1 evolution and short-wavelength vision in birds, with particular focus on C. nuchalis and its SWS1. The evolution of spectral tuning mechanisms mediating UV/violet vision in passerines and parrots is elucidated in this chapter using site-directed mutagenesis, protein expression, and phylogenetic recreation of ancestral opsins. While cone opsins mediate colour vision in bright light, the rhodopsin visual pigment contained in rod photoreceptors is critical for dim light vision. Detailed characterization of rhodopsin function has only been conducted on a few model systems. Chapter 4 examines C. nuchalis RH1 using a number of functional assays in addition to absorbance spectra, including hydroxylamine sensitivity and the rate of retinal release. This chapter includes an investigation into the role of amino acid mutations typical of dim-light adapted vertebrates, D83N and A292S, in regulating functional properties of bovine and avian RH1s using site-directed mutagenesis. Together these chapters describe naturally occurring mutations in visual pigments and explore the way they can influence visual perception. These represent one of the few investigations of visual pigments from a species that is not a model lab organism and form a significant contribution to the field of visual pigment biochemistry and evolution. bowerbird visual pigments opsin vertebrate phylogenetics molecular marker avian vision visual behaviour adaptation mutagenesis protein expression short wavelength sensitive 1 SWS1 spectral tuning evolution ancestral sequence reconstruction maximum likelihood rhodopsin rod opsin RH1 retinal release photoactivation cycle dim light adaptation molecular evolution PAML 0307 0317 0715 0306
122	Molecular Evolution and Functional Characterization of the Visual Pigment Proteins of the Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) and Other Vertebrates van Hazel, Ilke 16 December 2013 (has links) Visual pigments are light sensitive receptors in the eye that form the basis of sensory visual transduction. This thesis presents three studies that explore visual pigment proteins in vertebrates using a number of computational and experimental methods in an evolutionary framework. The objective is not only to identify, but also to experimentally investigate the functional consequences of genetic variation in vertebrate visual pigments. The focus is on great bowerbirds (Chlamydera nuchalis), which are a model system in visual ecology due to their spectacular behaviour of building and decorating courtship bowers. There are 4 chapters: Chapter 1 introduces background information on visual pigments and vision in birds. Among visual pigment types, the short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS1) pigments have garnered particular interest due to the broad spectral range among vertebrates and the importance of UV signals in communication. Chapter 2 investigates the evolutionary history of SWS1 in vertebrates with a view toward its utility as a phylogenetic marker. Chapter 3 investigates SWS1 evolution and short-wavelength vision in birds, with particular focus on C. nuchalis and its SWS1. The evolution of spectral tuning mechanisms mediating UV/violet vision in passerines and parrots is elucidated in this chapter using site-directed mutagenesis, protein expression, and phylogenetic recreation of ancestral opsins. While cone opsins mediate colour vision in bright light, the rhodopsin visual pigment contained in rod photoreceptors is critical for dim light vision. Detailed characterization of rhodopsin function has only been conducted on a few model systems. Chapter 4 examines C. nuchalis RH1 using a number of functional assays in addition to absorbance spectra, including hydroxylamine sensitivity and the rate of retinal release. This chapter includes an investigation into the role of amino acid mutations typical of dim-light adapted vertebrates, D83N and A292S, in regulating functional properties of bovine and avian RH1s using site-directed mutagenesis. Together these chapters describe naturally occurring mutations in visual pigments and explore the way they can influence visual perception. These represent one of the few investigations of visual pigments from a species that is not a model lab organism and form a significant contribution to the field of visual pigment biochemistry and evolution. bowerbird visual pigments opsin vertebrate phylogenetics molecular marker avian vision visual behaviour adaptation mutagenesis protein expression short wavelength sensitive 1 SWS1 spectral tuning evolution ancestral sequence reconstruction maximum likelihood rhodopsin rod opsin RH1 retinal release photoactivation cycle dim light adaptation molecular evolution PAML 0307 0317 0715 0306
123	Homology modeling and structural analysis of the antipsychotic drugs receptorome López Muñoz, Laura 22 June 2010 (has links) Classically it was assumed that the compounds with therapeutic effect exert their action interacting with a single receptor. Nowadays it is widely recognized that the pharmacological effect of most drugs is more complex and involves a set of receptors, some associated to their positive effects and some others to the side effects and toxicity. Antipsychotic drugs are an example of effective compounds characterized by a complex pharmacological profile binding to several receptors (mainly G protein-coupled-receptors, GPCR). In this work we will present a detailed study of known antipsychotic drugs and the receptors potentially involved in their binding profile, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of the antipsychotic pharmacologic effects.The study started with obtaining homology models for all the receptors putatively involved in the antipsychotic drugs receptorome, suitable for building consistent drug-receptor complexes. These complexes were structurally analyzed and compared using multivariate statistical methods, which in turn allowed the identification of the relationship between the pharmacological properties of the antipsychotic drugs and the structural differences in the receptor targets. The results can be exploited for the design of safer and more effective antipsychotic drugs with an optimum binding profile. / Tradicionalmente se asumía que los fármacos terapéuticamente efectivos actuaban interaccionando con un único receptor. Actualmente está ampliamente reconocido que el efecto farmacológico de la mayoría de los fármacos es más complejo y abarca a un conjunto de receptores, algunos asociados a los efectos terapéuticos y otros a los secundarios y toxicidad. Los fármacos antipsicóticos son un ejemplo de compuestos eficaces que se caracterizan por unirse a varios receptores simultáneamente (principalmente a receptores unidos a proteína G, GPCR). El trabajo de la presente tesis se ha centrado en el estudio de los mecanismos moleculares que determinan el perfil de afinidad de unión por múltiples receptores de los fármacos antipsicóticos.En primer lugar se construyeron modelos de homología para todos los receptores potencialmente implicados en la actividad farmacológica de dichos fármacos, usando una metodología adecuada para construir complejos fármaco-receptor consistentes. La estructura de estos complejos fue analizada y se llevó a cabo una comparación mediante métodos estadísticos multivariantes, que permitió la identificación de asociaciones entre la actividad farmacológica de los fármacos antipsicóticos y diferencias estructurales de los receptores diana. Los resultados obtenidos tienen interés para ser explotados en el diseño de fármacos antipsicóticos con un perfil farmacológico óptimo, más seguros y eficaces. Receptor 5-HT2A Receptor D3 Receptor D2 Ligando Clozapina Derivados Benzofuranonas Risperidona Olanzapina esquizofrenia métodos de regresión campos de interacción Molecular (MIF) Perfil Multireceptorial modelado por homología Docking sitio de unión interacciones moleculares selectividad afinidad de unión Diana Meta-Diana efectos secundarios fármaco antipsicótico típico fármaco antipsicótico atípico agonista antagonista membrana receptoroma rhodopsina estructura de rayos X descriptores moleculares farmacología análisis multivariante procedimiento integrado Computer-aided drug design Integrated approach Multivariate analysis Pharmacology Molecular descriptors X-ray structure Rhodopsin Receptorome Membrane Antagonist Agonist Atypical antipsychotic drug Typical antipsychotic drug Side effects Off-target Target Selectivity Binding affinity Molecular interactions Binding site Homology modeling Docking Multireceptor profile Molecular interaction Field (MIF) Partial Least Squares (PLS) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Schizophrenia Benzolactam Derivatives Benzofuranone Derivatives Risperidone Olanzapine Clozapine Ligand Adrenergic receptors Muscarinic receptors Histamine receptors Serotonin receptors Dopamine receptors beta2-Adrenergic receptor D2 receptor D3 receptor 5-HT2A receptor G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) 57

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