Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T14:17:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 7.pdf: 1019934 bytes, checksum: df1b248bb9c258918248c73b73272de2 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos/Farmanguinhos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Uridina 5'-trifosfato trissódica (UTPt) e citidina 5'-monofosfato dissódica (CMPd) são nucleotídeos pirimidínicos do ácido nucleico. Eficácia e segurança de fármacos baseados na UTPt e CMPd, usados no tratamento para neuropatias periféricas já foram estudadas, no entanto informações sobre farmacocinética desses fármacos ainda não são conhecidas. O objetivo deste estudo foi propor metodologias para quantificar UTPt e CMPd em matrizes biológicas, baseando-se numa revisão sistemática da literatura. Levando em consideração que a biodisponibilidade das pirimidinas, durante as neuropatias periféricas é diferente da observada em voluntários sadios, os dados disponíveis acerca das concentrações plasmáticas do UTPt e CMPd não devem ser usados para estimar a dose de fármacos baseados nessas pirimidinas. Para diferenciar pirimidinas endógenas e exógenas em matrizes biológicas, estas últimas devem ser marcadas, antes da administração, com material radioativo tais como trício [3H] ou carbono 14 [14C]. Além disso, a cromatografia líquida de alta performance é a técnica mais aplicada para identificação e quantificação de pirimidinas radioativas. Nós concluímos que a radiomarcação de UTPt e CMPd, seguida de separação cromatográfica e detecção por UV e cintilografia líquida, seria uma metodologia factível para estudos de detecção e quantificação de derivados de UTPt e CMPd em matriz biológica / Pyrimidines uridine 5'-triphosphate trisodium (UTPt) and cytidine 5'-monophosphate disodium (CMPd) are standard nucleosides which make up nucleic acids. Efficacy and safety from UTPt and CMPd based drugs on peripheral neuropathies has already been studied. However, information regarding pharmacokinetics of UTPt and CMPd based drugs during pathological condition remains unknown. The aim of this study was to propose methodologies to quantify UTPt and CMPd in biological matrices, based on a systematic literature review. Concerning that the bioavailability of pyrimidines during peripheral neuropathies is different of observed in healthy volunteers, the available data regarding plasmatic levels of UTPt and CMPd should not be used to estimate the dose of UTPt and CMPd based drugs. Furthermore, to differentiate endogenous and exogenous pyrimidines in biological matrices the exogenous pyrimidines must be labeled with [3H] or [14C] before administration. Next, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been the most applied technique for identification and quantitation of radiolabeled pyrimidines. We concluded that UTPt and CMPd radiolabelling, followed by chromatographic separation and detection by UV and liquid scintigraphy, is a feasible methodology for detection and quantitation of UTPt and CMPd derivatives in biological matrices.

The inherently repressive nature of chromatin presents a sizeable barrier for all nuclear processes in which access to DNA is required. Therefore, eukaryotic organisms ranging from yeast to humans rely on a battery of enzymes that disrupt the chromatin structure as a means of regulating DNA transactions. These enzymes can be divided into two broad classes: those that covalently modify histone proteins, and those that actively disrupt nucleosomal structure using the free energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. The latter group, huge, multisubunit ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors, are emerging as a common theme in all nuclear processes in which access to DNA is essential. Although transcription is the process for which a requirement for chromatin remodeling is best documented, it is now becoming clear that other processes like replication, recombination and DNA repair rely on it as well. A growing number of ATP-dependent remodeling machines has been uncovered in the last 10 years. Although they differ in their subunit composition, organism or tissue restriction, substrate specificity, and regulating/recruiting partners, it has become increasingly evident that all ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors share a similar underlying mechanism. This mechanism is the subject of the studies presented in this thesis. Chromatin-remodeling factors seem to bind both the histone and DNA components of nucleosomes. From a fixed position on nucleosomes, the remodeling factors appear to translocate on the DNA, generating torsional stress on the double helix. This activity has several consequences, including the distortion of the DNA structure on the surface of the histone octamer, the disruption of histone-DNA interactions, and the mobilization of the nucleosome core with respect to the DNA. The work presented in this thesis, along with data reported by other groups, supports the hypothesis that yeast SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex and the recombinational repair factor, Rad54p, both employ similar mechanisms to regulate gene transcription, and facilitate homologous DNA pairing and recombination, respectively.

La thérapie cellulaire régénératrice permet de soigner un organe ou un tissu lésé par la transplantation de cellules saines isolées chez le patient ou un donneur sain. Les cellules transplantées se substitueront aux cellules défaillantes et régénéreront le tissu endommagé.Les cellules stromales mésenchymateuses (MSC) utilisées dans le cadre de la thérapie cellulaire sont amplifiées par culture ex vivo avant leur implantation chez le patient. Cette étape requiert la présence de facteurs de croissance généralement apportés par l’ajout de sérum, souvent d’origine animale (sérum fœtal bovin [FBS]), au milieu de culture. L’origine animale du FBS pose de nombreux problèmes de biosécurité. En effet, le risque de contamination du FBS par des virus et/ou des prions n’est pas négligeable et des anticorps dirigés contre les protéines animales ont été mis en évidence dans le sérum de certains patients transplantés. La mise au point de milieux de culture dépourvus de sérum mais préservant la viabilité et les fonctions des cellules représente dès lors un enjeu important.Au cours de ce travail, nous avons étudié les effets de la privation en sérum sur la viabilité de MSC isolées à partir de moelle osseuse humaine et des cellules SaOS-2, une lignée cellulaire ostéoblastique. Dans ces cellules, la carence en sérum inhibe les voies de signalisation MAPK ERK1/2, p38 MAPK ainsi que la voie de la PKB et favorise l’expression et l’activation des membres pro-apoptotiques de la famille des Bcl-2. In fine, elle conduit à l’activation des caspases-3/7 et à l’apoptose. Les MSC présentent toutefois une certaine tolérance à la privation en sérum.Nous avons ensuite évalué l’action de deux facteurs, le Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide (GIP) et l’adénosine triphosphate (ATP) sur les effets délétères et la mortalité induits par la carence en sérum. En effet, dans d’autres types cellulaires, le GIP et l’ATP exercent une action anti-apoptotique en réponse à différents stress cellulaires dont la privation en sérum.Après avoir vérifié la présence et la fonctionnalité du récepteur au GIP (GIPR) dans les MSC humaines ainsi que dans les cellules SaOS-2, nous avons montré que le GIP diminue de moitié la mortalité cellulaire et l’activation des caspases-3/7 observées dans les MSC carencées en sérum. L’utilisation de la forskoline et d’un inhibiteur spécifique de l’adénylate cyclase nous a permis de montrer que l’effet protecteur du GIP nécessite l’activation de la voie de l’adénylate cyclase et l’accumulation d’AMPc intracellulaire. Le GIP est cependant sans effet sur les voies de signalisation MAPK ERK1/2, p38 MAPK et PKB.L’expression des différents membres de la famille des récepteurs purinergiques avait déjà été documentée dans les MSC humaines. Nos résultats ont montré que l’ATP protège partiellement les MSC et les cellules SaOS-2 de la mort cellulaire provoquée par la culture en absence de sérum. De manière intéressante, nous avons observé que le nucléotide abolit l’activation des caspases-3/7. La présence d’ATP permet également de restaurer l’activité des MAPK ERK1/2 et p38 MAPK. Le nucléotide ne module pas la voie de signalisation de la PKB. Ensuite, nous avons confirmé l’implication des différentes voies de signalisation MAPK ERK1/2 et p38 MAPK grâce à l’utilisation de PD0325901, un inhibiteur des MEK1/2, et de SB203580, un inhibiteur de l’activité de la p38 MAPK. Ces deux inhibiteurs contrecarrent l’effet protecteur de l’ATP sur la viabilité des MSC. En outre, à l’instar du GIP, l’ATP entraine une augmentation de l’AMPc intracellulaire, probablement via l’activation du récepteur P2Y11. Cette accumulation d’AMPc participe à l’effet protecteur de l’ATP. L’ajout d’ATP dans le milieu de culture sans sérum module également l’expression des membres de la famille des Bcl-2 dont, notamment, mcl-1 qui code pour une protéine anti-apoptotique, et puma et bmf, deux gènes codant pour des protéines pro-apoptotiques. L’ATP inhibe l’activité de la protéine pro-apoptotique Bad en prévenant sa déphosphorylation.Enfin, nous avons montré que les MSC carencées en sérum libèrent de l’ATP dans le milieu extracellulaire à des concentrations 10 fois supérieures à celles mesurées dans des conditions de culture standards (10% FBS). Ceci pourrait représenter un mécanisme intrinsèque de protection contre la mort cellulaire. En conclusion, nous avons montré que le GIP et l’ATP protègent les MSC humaines et les cellules SaOS-2 de la mort cellulaire induite par la privation en sérum. Nous avons déterminé que la voie de l’adénylate cyclase-AMPc est impliquée dans cet effet protecteur. De même, l’ATP préserve l’activité des voies de signalisation MAPK ERK1/2 et p38 MAPK. Le facteur de transcription CREB pourrait être l’élément central de l’action protectrice du GIP et de l’ATP. Enfin, nos résultats suggèrent que, lorsqu’elles sont carencées en sérum, les MSC seraient capables d’activer un processus intrinsèque de survie via la libération de facteurs tels que l’ATP dans le milieu extracellulaire. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Delta subunit of bacterial RNA pol and its role in regulation of gene expression in B. subtilis. In this work I focus on regulation of eubacterial gene expression. First, I describe recent knowledge about a key stage of gene expression - transcription, focusing on regulation of trancription iniciation via small effector molecules (guanosine tetraphosphate, initiating nucleoside triphosphate) that are important for the regulation of ribosomal RNA. Second, in the experimental part of my work, I focus on the role of the _ protein, a subunit of RNA polymarase in gram positive bacteria, in transcription iniciation and its effects on regulation of RNA polymerase by the concentration of initiating nucleoside triphosphates.

Formins are proteins facilitating formation of actin filaments. They affect structure of cytoskeleton and participate in cytokinesis and tip growth. There are 2 classes of formins in Arabidopsis thaliana, which include FH1 and FH2 (Formin Homology 1 and 2) domain. Formins of the class I have usually a transmembrane domain on N-terminus. Due to this fact they can interact with membranes. Some formins from the class II include PTEN domain (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) derived from sequences of PTEN proteins which has lost the function of phosphatase. It is assumed this domain can bind on a membrane via the phosphatase section or C2 domain. This thesis was focused on the formin AtFH13 from the class II in Arabidopsis thaliana and on its PTEN domain. There were analyzed differences between mutants and wild-types in length of roots in seedlings and in size of seeds and seed coats, and observed the effect of dexamethasone on the length of roots on AtFH13. PTEN domain of the formin was isolated from cDNA, cloned to a vector and fused with YFP. The tagged protein was visualized by the method of transient expression in epidermal cells in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. No big differences were observed between plants mutant in the gene AtFH13 and wild-type in choice parameters. Dexamethasone did't influence...

Nucleoside 5'-Diphosphate Kinase (NdPK EC 2.7.4.6) is an enzyme (phosphotransferase) with extraordinary characteristics due to its unique ability to transfer phosphor groups to interconvert all nucleoside di- and triphosphates as a part of the DNA synthesis. Due to Biovica International AB's use of signaling and complementing enzymes in their in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test assays for Thymidine Kinase activity, an investigation was proposed to evaluate NdPK, which is a complementing enzyme in the assay. The aim of the study was to evaluate the enzymatic turnover of the enzyme NdPK with a spectrophotometric assay to obtain the specific activity (Units/mg solid protein). To determine the specific activity, enzyme kinetic methodology was applied, including the Michaelis-Menten model. In this study, the method is proposed as a general internal control procedure for the company, as a tool for function control of the different purchased enzymes used in their products in development. Results from the study reflects the different methods used to gain the specific activity for NdPK, where they were compared with the already specified specific activity from the manufacturing company. The results were auspicious, but before the method's authorization as an internal quality procedure, a few amendments are in mind. For instance, determining a method for the graphical readings, validating the method for quality control, and investigating if the method is applicable to other complementing enzymes. In conclusion, the method for determining the specific activity of the enzyme NdPK can be done, by executing the procedure of colorimetric enzyme assay.

<p>This work studies the effect of dopamine (DA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on lipid membranes using a number of complementary experimental methods. These methods include Dynamic Light Scattering to measure electrostatic surface potentials, solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to measure the degree of lipid acyl chain order, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance to measure changes in membrane viscosity, and X-ray diffuse scattering to measure structural and material parameters of lipid bilayers. It is shown that both DA and ATP have a measurable affinity to the lipid-water interface even in the absence of specialized biological receptors. These results are important for understanding the function of DA and ATP in cellular processes.</p>

No description available.

Les ARN 5'-triphosphates (TP) et 5'-coiffés sont des molécules très convoitées des biologistes pour des études structurales par cristallographie ou comme outils thérapeutiques. Actuellement, ces oligonucléotides sont produits dans de faibles quantités via des procédés enzymatiques dépendants de la nature du nucléoside situé à l'extrémité 5'. Ces travaux se sont donc inscrits dans l'enjeu majeur de mettre au point une méthode chimique sur support solide qui permette l'accès à ces ARN 5'-fonctionnalisés en quantités importantes et sans restriction de séquences.Ce manuscrit rapporte une nouvelle méthode efficace de synthèse sur support solide d'ARN 5'-TP à grande échelle indépendante du nucléotide situé à l'extrémité 5' ou de la longueur de la séquence ARN. De plus, cette stratégie a été étendue avec quelques modifications à la synthèse d'analogues enzymatiquement plus stables de type: ARN 5'-β,γ-méthylène-TP, -(α-P-thio)-TP et -(α-P-thio)-(β,γ-méthylène)-TP.Une deuxième partie présente la synthèse supportée et l'évaluation antivirale de courts adénylates 2-5A 5'-TP portant des groupements enzymolabiles de type acétalesters en position 3' du ribose. Une dernière partie est consacrée à l'élaboration de nouvelles stratégies pour la synthèse d'ARN 5-coiffés. La première approche est un procédé en deux étapes où la structure coiffe (Gppp) est ajoutée sur support solide suivie d'une N7- méthylation enzymatique en solution, alors que la seconde est une méthode plus directe entièrement chimique. Par ailleurs, le couplage chimique de la coiffe sur les ARN supportés nécessite l'emploi d'un acide de Lewis. Ainsi l'utilisation de chlorures métalliques « verts » produits à partir de métaux de transition extraits de la biomasse a été évaluée dans la réaction du couplage de la coiffe sur les ARN. / 5'-triphosphates RNAand 5'-capped RNA are high valuable molecules which serve as important substrates for structural and mechanistic studies or drugs. To date, these oligonucléotides are produced by enzymatic process in low yields with a weak variability of the 5'-end. To overcome this bottleneck we aimed to develop a chemical access on solid-support of these 5'-functionalized RNA in great amount without any limitations in the RNA sequence.Here, a robust, reproducible, and scalable method for the solid-phase synthesis of 5′-triphosphate RNA is presented. Furthermore, this strategy was extended to produce enzymatic resistant analogs of the triphosphate counterpart like: 5'-β,γ-methylene-TP, -(α-P-thio)-TP et -(α-P-thio)-(β,γ-methylene)-TP RNA.In a second part, the solid-phase synthesis of short adenylates 2-5A 5'-TP bearing biolabile acetalester groups on nucleosides 3'-hydroxyls and their antiviral activities are described.Finally, we focused on developing two approaches for the production of 5'-capped RNA. One is a two-steps process which consists in the coupling of the cap structure on solid-support followed by an enzymatic N7-methylation in solution while the other one is a straightforward chemical strategy. Beside, the chemical coupling of the cap moiety on solid-supported RNA requires the use of Lewis acids. Then, the ability of « green » metal chlorides prepared from phytoextracted heavy metals to promote this reaction was studied.

O diagnóstico da doença de Wilson (DW) é realizado por exames clínicos, laboratoriais, anatomopatológicos e de imagem. Mais de 500 mutações no gene ATP7B foram descritas como causadoras da DW. Para avaliar a importância da detecção de mutações no diagnóstico da DW em nosso meio, analisamos 35 pacientes com DW, 20 familiares de wilsonianos a partir de rastreamento familiar, 18 com hepatite crônica criptogênica e sete com insuficiência hepática aguda grave. Para o diagnóstico da DW foi utilizado o sistema de escore sugerido pela Sociedade Europeia para o Estudo do Fígado de 2012. Os dados demográficos, clínicos, laboratoriais e histológicos foram obtidos retrospectivamente. Obteve-se o DNA genômico de cada paciente a partir de sangue periférico e realizou-se o sequenciamento direto dos 21 éxons e suas bordas intrônicas do gene ATP7B. Todos os pacientes com DW apresentavam no mínimo quatro pontos. No grupo de rastreamento familiar o sequenciamento foi importante para o diagnóstico de DW em 14 familiares; no grupo de hepatite crônica criptogênica em oito pacientes e no grupo de insuficiência hepática aguda grave em três pacientes. Foi caracterizada uma família com cinco genótipos diferentes (dois homozigotos p.A1135Qfs/p.A1135Qfs e p.M645R/p.M645R), um heterozigoto composto (p.A1135Qfs/p.M645R) e dois heterozigotos simples (p.A1135Qfs/0 e p.M645R/0) com fenótipos variados. Foram detectadas duas mutações em heterozigose simples em pacientes com insuficiência hepática aguda grave. A mutação p.A1135Qfs e p.L708P foram as mais frequentes em todos os grupos. Foi identificada pela primeira vez a mutação p.M645R em homozigose. Concluímos que os resultados confirmaram que o sequenciamento do gene ATP7B foi útil: 1) para confirmar que as mutações p.A1135Qfs e p.L708P são as mais importantes na população brasileira; 2) para demonstrar que a mutação tida como a mais frequente na Europa, a p.H1069Q, tem bem menor importância em nosso meio, embora mais frequentemente do que o observado anteriormente; 3) para confirmar (ou excluir) precocemente o diagnóstico e evitar a realização de exames desnecessários e invasivos e iniciar (ou não realizar) o tratamento, com base mais sólida, em pacientes com hepatopatia crônica idiopática e em familiares de portadores de DW; 4) para definir o diagnóstico de DW em casos de insuficiência hepática aguda grave, diagnóstico ainda que tardio, mas de suma importância para realização de estudo familiar subsequente, 5) para identificação não esperada de heterozigotos simples e polimorfismos de significado ainda não esclarecido em pacientes com insuficiência hepática aguda grave; 6) para identificação de casos inusitados de três genótipos diferentes causadores da doença na mesma família (homozigose de duas mutações diferentes e heterozigose composta); 7) para melhor definir que a mutação p.M645R em homozigose tem potencial para desenvolver a DW, embora resultados de estudos em in vitro sugiram função normal da proteína defeituosa sintetizada; 8) para definir que há casos de doentes com a mutação p.M645R em heterozigose composta de evolução extremamente benigna, com diagnóstico após a quinta década de vida, com discretas alterações hepáticas. Porém há casos com evolução mais grave tanto do ponto de vista hepático quanto neurológico, possivelmente influenciados pelas mutações que a acompanham / Wilson\'s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder secondary to mutations in the ATP7B gene resulting in toxic accumulation of copper in various tissues. The diagnosis of WD is made by the analysis of clinical, laboratory, histological findings and imaging tests. More than 500 mutations have been described in the ATP7B gene as the cause of WD. In order to expand the knowledge of the importance of mutation detection in the diagnosis of WD, we analyzed 36 patients with WD, 20 individuals from family screening, 18 with cryptogenic chronic hepatitis and seven with severe acute liver failure. For the diagnosis of WD the International Scoring System suggested by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in 2012 was used. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and histological data were obtained retrospectively. Direct sequencing of 21 exons and intron boundaries of ATP7B gene was performed in genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes of all subjects. All patients with WD have at least four points of the scoring system without considering the DPA challenge test. In the family screening group, sequencing was important for the diagnosis of DW in fourteen patients; eight patients in the group of cryptogenic chronic hepatitis, and three patients in the group of severe acute liver failure. Five different genotypes were identified in one family (two homozygous, p.A1135Qfs/p.A1135Qfs and p.M645R/p.M645R, one compound heterozygous p.A1135Qfs/p.M645R, and two simple heterozygous p.A1135Qfs/0 and p.M645R/0). Two patients with acute liver failure were detected as simple heterozygous. The p.A1135Qfs and p.L708P were the most frequent mutations in all groups. It is the first time p.M645R mutation was detected in homozygosity. The ATP7B gene sequencing was useful: 1) to confirm that p.A1135Qfs and p.L708P mutations are the most frequent in the Brazilian population; 2) to confirm that the most common mutation in Europe, p.H1069Q has lower frequency in our area; 3) to confirm (or exclude) an early diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary and invasive tests and to initiate (or not) the specific treatment with a stronger basis in patients with chronic liver disease and individuals from family screening of patients with Wilson disease; 4) to confirm the diagnosis, although late, of cases with severe acute liver failure, but very important to perform family screening; 5) to identify simple heterozygotes in patients with severe acute liver failure; 6) to describe unusual cases of three different genotypes of WD patients in a same family (two different homozygous mutations and one compound heterozygous); 7) to better define that p.M645R mutation in homozigosity develops WD, although the results from in vitro studies suggested a normal function for the defective synthesized protein; 8) to define that there are patients with p.M645R mutations in compound heretozigosity with a very benign clinical picture, with late diagnosis, after the fifth decade of life, with mild liver alterations. However, there are patients with a more severe clinical evaluation, hepatic or neurologic, probably secondary to the influence of the other mutation