Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1958. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-61).

Thimet oligopeptidase (TOP, EC 3.4.24.15) and neurolysin (EC 3.4.24.16) are zincdependent metallopeptidases that metabolize small bioactive peptides. The two enzymes share60 % sequence identity and their crystal structures demonstrate that they adopt nearly identicalfolds. They generally cleave at the same sites, but they recognize different positions on somepeptides, including neurotensin, a 13-residue peptide involved in modulation of dopaminergiccircuits, pain perception, and thermoregulation.On the basis of crystal structures and previous mapping studies, four residues(E469/R470, M490/R491, H495/N496, and R498/T499, TOP residues listed first) in thesubstrate-binding channel appear positioned to account for differences in specificity. TOPmutated to the neurolysin residues at all four position cleaves neurotensin at the neurolysin siteand neurolysin mutated to the TOP residues at all four sites cleaves at the TOP position. Using aseries of constructs mutated at only three sites, it was determined that only two of the mutations,E469/R470 and R498/T499, are required to swap the specificity of TOP and neurolysin. Theseresults were confirmed by testing the two mutation constructs, and either single mutant of TOPshown an intermediate specificity, cleaving at both sites.Crystal structures of the two mutation constructs of TOP and neurolysin unligandedforms, the mutations do not perturb local structure, but side chain conformations at theR498/T499 position differ from those of the mimicked enzyme. A model for differentialrecognition of neurotensin based on differences in surface charge distribution in the substratebinding sites is proposed. The model is supported by finding that reducing the positive charge onthe peptide results in cleavage at both hydrolysis sites.This dissertation also includes a description of the production and crystallization trials ofhuman neprilysin (E.C. 3.4.24.11), which will be used as another model system for studyingspecificity in metallopeptidases. In addition, the production and crystallization, and crystalcharacterization of human choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) is described.

The effector-triggered immunity (ETI) is activated at the site of pathogen infection and results in a state of enhanced immunity called systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in distal, uninfected plant organs. SAR relays on mobile signals transported from infected cells to distal organs, and on signal amplification which supports transcriptional re-programming associated with priming and execution of SAR. Previous research in our lab has identified the chloroplastic TOP1 and cytosolic TOP2 as salicylic acid (SA)–binding oligopeptidases, non-competitively inhibited by SA. We demonstrate that SAR triggered with P. syringae DC3000 AvrRpt2 is abolished in top2 whereas top1 top2 exhibits a SAR slightly but consistently stronger than wild type (WT) controls, indicating that top1 is epistatic to top2. In agreement with the observed SAR phenotypes, top2 is defective in the induction of SAR markers including SA and Pip synthesis and SA signaling genes, whereas top1 top2 shows significantly higher induction of these markers. SAR- phenotype of top2 is rescued by exogenous SA, H2O2 and Pip applications. Interestingly, neither top1 nor top 1top2 are unable to mount SAR in response to Pip and H2O2 treatments. Analysis of ROS-responsive transcription factors and antioxidant gene induction in infected and distal tissues reveal significantly dysregulated patterns in all mutants, with top2 and top1 top2 most affected, indicating that TOP1 and TOP2 function together to support a pattern of successive waves of oxidation and reduction during SAR. The local and systemic oscillations are anti-corelated in Wt. The local vs. systemic anti-correlation is lost in the mutant genotypes. The amplitude of the mRNA oscillations is significantly lower in top2 plants, and significantly increased in top1top2 plants. top1 and top1top2 lost the oscillation compared to WT but they are still able to keep the expression up in time. top2 is unable to support the expression of some of the genes and oscillations and continued the expression of these genes in time. Overall, our results argue for a defining role of TOP chloroplastic and cytosolic proteolytic pathways in maintaining redox signaling necessary for the induction of SAR transcriptional re-programming and execution.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-10-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), é uma micose sistêmica grave com formas aguda e crônica. As proteases ou peptidases são enzimas proteolíticas que ocorrem em todos os organismos e correspondem a 1-5% de seus conteúdos genéticos. Estas enzimas estão envolvidas em processos biológicos essenciais, como a coagulação sanguínea, morte celular e diferenciação de tecidos. Várias etapas proteolíticas importantes ocorrem durante a invasão metastática de tumores, assim como no ciclo de infecção de um grande número de vírus e microrganismos patogênicos. Um número reduzido de proteases do Pb já foram isoladas e caracterizadas, tampouco sua atividade durante o desenvolvimento da doença foi determinado, e até o momento, nenhuma atividade oligopeptidásica foi descrita nesse fungo. No presente trabalho foi demonstrada a presença de uma atividade metalo-peptidásica thimet oligopeptidase (TOP)-like no extrato citosólico de leveduras de P. brasiliensis, isolado 18 (Pb18). Nossos resultados mostraram a hidrólise do peptídeo com supressão intramolecular de fluorescência Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp pelo extrato citosólico de leveduras de P. brasiliensis. Esse substrato é clivado preferencialmente pela TOP de mamíferos, e corroborando esse resultado, observou-se a inibição da hidrólise desse peptídeo por ο-fenantrolina e JA-2, inibidores seletivos de metalo-proteases e TOP, respectivamente. Utilizando-se peptídeos e inibidores seletivos para diferentes proteases, não se detectou a presença de atividade neurolisina-like ou neprilisina-like, e também se descartou a presença de serino-peptidases, cisteíno-peptidases e enzima conversora da angiotensina I. A maior atividade enzimática do extrato citosólico sobre os outros preparados (membrana/parede celular ou lisado total das leveduras) pode indicar uma localização citosólica dessa enzima. Não foi observada a secreção da peptidase no sobrenadante de cultura in vitro, mesmo após adição de soro fetal bovino. Todavia, a peptidase com atividade TOP-like de Pb parece ser secretada in vivo, ou liberada após lise do fungo por componentes efetores da resposta imune, uma vez que anticorpos capazes de inibir a atividade peptidásica são encontrados em soros de pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose, e soros com maior título em imunodifusão contém maiores concentrações de anticorpos enzima-específicos. Várias enzimas da família M3 clivam bradicinina, importante mediador inflamatório in vivo. A hidrólise da bradicinina e do substrato Abz-GFSPFRQEDDnp pelo extrato citosólico de P. brasiliensis, gera os mesmos fragmentos observados após clivagem pela TOP de mamíferos, que são diferentes dos gerados pela clivagem com MIP de mamíferos e OpdA bacteriana, sendo mais um indicador da presença majoritária de uma peptidase com atividade TOP-like em P. brasiliensis. A clivagem da bradicinina pela metalooligopeptidase com atividade TOP-like de Pb, poderia ocorrer no sítio inflamatório e poderia estar envolvida na inibição da indução de uma resposta imune protetora contra o fungo, favorecendo a permanência do mesmo no hospedeiro. Observamos ainda que o gene homólogo de TOP em P. brasiliensis é quase duas vezes mais expresso no virulento em comparação ao não virulento. O aumento da hidrólise do substrato Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp também foi observado no isolado de maior virulência quando comparado ao de menor virulência. A possível relação entre a expressão da metalooligopeptidase com a virulência do fungo sugere que essa peptidase possa ser classificada como um fator de virulência fúngica, no entanto experimentos complementares são necessários para sua confirmação. A expressão da gp43 também foi analisada no isolado virulento e não virulento e observou-se uma expressão aumentada em até treze vezes no primeiro. Para melhor caracterização dessas metalo-oligopeptidases é necessária a obtenção da proteína recombinante, ou da proteína purificada nativa, isolada do lisado fúngico. Não obtivemos sucesso na expressão das proteínas recombinantes, tampouco no isolamento da peptidase nativa por métodos cromatográficos. Nossos resultados sugerem a presença de uma atividade metalooligopeptidásica TOP-like na fração citosólica de leveduras de P. brasiliensis. Liberação in vivo dessa enzima após a lise de fungos ou secreção estimulada por fatores do hospedeiro, pode ter um papel na inflamação e desenvolvimento da micose. / Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) is a systemic mycosis with severe acute and chronic forms. Proteases or peptidases are proteolytic enzymes that occur in all organisms and constitute 1-5% of their genetic contents. These enzymes are involved in biological processes such as blood clotting, cell death and tissue differentiation. Several important proteolytic steps occur during the invasion of metastatic tumors, as well as in the infection of a large number of viruses and pathogens. To date, a small number of Pb proteases were isolated and characterized, also, their activities during the development of the disease was not determined, and an oligopeptidase activity was not detected in this fungus. In the present work, we demonstrated a metallopeptidase thimet oligopeptidase (TOP)-like activity in the cytosolic extract of Pb18 yeasts. Our results shown a major hydrolysis of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp, preferentially cleaved by TOP from mammals, and the inhibition of the hydrolysis of this peptide by orthophenantrolin and JA-2, selective inhibitors of metalloproteases and TOP, respectively. The presence of neurolysin- like and neprilysin-like, serinepeptidases, cysteine-peptidases and angiotensin converting enzyme I was discarded by analyzing selective FRET peptides and inhibitors. The higher peptidase activity of cytosolic extracts over the membrane/cell wall and total yeast lysate preparations may indicate that this enzyme is localized in the yeast cytosol. The metallo-oligopeptidase activity was not detected on in vitro culture supernatants, even after addition of fetal calf serum. However, the peptidase with TOP-like activity of P. brasiliensis seems to be secreted in vivo, or released after fungal lysis by immune factors, since antibodies that can inhibit this enzymatic activity were found in sera from paracoccidioidomycosis patients, and serum with highest titer in immunodiffusion contains higher concentrations of enzymespecific antibodies. Bradykinin, an important inflammatory mediator in vivo, is cleaved by several enzymes from the M3 family. The same fragments observed after hydrolysis by TOP were observed after cytosolic extract hydrolysis of bradykinin and the substrate Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp. MIP and bacterial OpdA hydrolysis of these peptides generate different fragments, and this is an additional indicator of a major TOP-like activity in P. brasiliensis yeast cells Bradykinin hydrolysis by the TOP-like metallopeptidase of P. brasiliensis may occur in inflammatory processes and this suggests that the enzyme may be involved in the inhibition of a protective anti-fungal response induction, limiting fungal elimination. We also observed that the expression of the TOP homologous gene in P. brasiliensis has almost a two-fold increased in the virulent isolate 18 compared to the non-virulent isolate. Increased hydrolysis of the substrate Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp was also observed in the most virulent isolate compared to the non-virulent. The possible correlation between TOP-like peptidase expression and fungal virulence suggests that this peptidase could be classified as a fungal virulence factor, however, additional experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Gp43 expression was also analyzed in both isolates, and it was observed a thirteen-fold increase in the expression on the virulent isolate. In order to better characterize the P. brasiliensis TOP-like activity, we attempted to obtain the purified recombinant or the native protein, isolated from fungal lysate. However, we were not successful in the expression of recombinant proteins and neither on the isolation of the native protein using chromatographic methods. Our results suggest the presence of a TOP-like activity in the cytosolic fraction of P. brasiliensis yeasts. In vivo release of this enzyme after fungal lysis, or host factors-stimulated secretion, may have a role in inflammation and development of the disease. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações