Bixin and norbixin protect against DNA-damage and alterations of redox status induced by methylmercury exposure in vivo

Populations in the Amazon are exposed to organic mercury via consumption of contaminated foods. These ethnic groups consume a specific plant seed annatto which contains certain carotenoids. The aim of this study was to find out if these compounds (bixin, BIX and norbixin, NOR), protect against DNA-damage caused by the metal. Therefore, rats were treated orally with methylmercury (MeHg) and with the carotenoids under conditions that are relevant to humans. The animals were treated either with MeHg (30 mu g/kg/bw/day), BIX (0.110 mg/kg/bw/day), NOR (0.011.0 mg/kg/bw/day) or combinations of the metal compound and the carotenoids consecutively for 45 days. Subsequently, the glutathione levels (GSH) and the activity of catalase were determined, and DNA-damage was measured in hepatocytes and leukocytes using single cell gel electrophoresis assays. Treatment with the metal alone caused a decrease in the GSH levels (35%) and induced DNA damage, which resulted in increased DNA migration after electrophoresis in liver and blood cells, whereas no effects were seen with the carotenoids alone. When BIX or NOR were given in combination with organic mercury, the intermediate and the highest concentrations of the carotenoids (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/bw/day BIX and 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg/bw/day NOR) protected against DNA-damage. Furthermore, we found with both carotenoids, a moderate increase in the GSH levels in both metal-treated and untreated animals, while the activities of catalase remained unchanged. Our results indicate that consumption of BIX and NOR may protect humans against the adverse health effects caused by exposure to organic mercury. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Isolation, enzymatic characterization and antiedematogenic activity of the first reported rattlesnake hyaluronidase from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

A hyaluronidase (CdtHya1) from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom (CdtV) was isolated and showed to exhibit a high activity on hyaluronan cleavage. However, surveys on this enzyme are still limited. This study aimed at its isolation, functional/structural characterization and the evaluation of its effect on the spreading of crotoxin and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). The enzyme was purified through cation exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic chromatography. After that, it was submitted to a reverse-phase fast protein liquid chromatography (RP-FPLC) and Edman degradation sequencing, which showed the first N-terminal 44 amino acid residues whose sequence evidenced identity with other snake venom hyaluronidases. CdtHya1 is a monomeric glycoprotein of 64.5 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. It exhibited maximum activity in the presence of 0.2 M NaCl, at 37 degrees C, pH 5.5 and a specificity to hyaluronan higher than that to chondroitin-4-sulphate, chondroitin-6-sulphate or dermatan. Divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and 1 M NaCl significantly reduced the enzyme activity. The specific activity of CdtHya1 was 5066 turbidity reducing units (TRU)/mg, against 145 TRU/mg for the soluble venom, representing a 34.9-fold purification. The pure enzyme increased the diffusion of crotoxin and PLA (2) through mice tissues. CdtHya1 (32 TRU/40 mu L) potentiated crotoxin action, as evidenced by mice death, and it decreased the oedema caused by subplantar injections of buffer, crotoxin or PLA(2), thus evidencing the relevance of hyaluronidase in the crotalic envenoming. This work yielded a highly active antiedematogenic hyaluronidase from CdtV, the first one isolated from rattlesnake venoms. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1014 improved “gut health” in the SHIME® reactor

Abstract Background How to maintain “gut health” is a goal for scientists throughout the world. Therefore, microbiota management models for testing probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have been developed. Methods The SHIME® model was used to study the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus 1014 on the fermentation pattern of the colon microbiota. Initially, an inoculum prepared from human feces was introduced into the reactor vessels and stabilized over 2-wk using a culture medium. This stabilization period was followed by a 2-wk control period during which the microbiota was monitored. The microbiota was then subjected to a 4-wk treatment period by adding 5 mL of sterile peptone water with L. acidophilus CRL1014 at the concentration of 108 CFU/mL to vessel one (the stomach compartment). Plate counts, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonium analyses were carried out for monitoring of the microbial community from the colon compartments. Results A significant increase (p < 0.01) in the Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. populations was observed during the treatment period. The DGGE obtained showed changes in the lactobacilli community from the colon compartments of the SHIME® reactor. The (SCFA) concentration increased (p < 0.01) during the treatment period, due mainly to significant increased levels of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids. However, ammonium concentrations decreased during the same period (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study showed the beneficial influence of L. acidophilus CRL 1014 on microbial metabolism and lactobacilli community composition for improving human health.

Comparison of two laboratory-developed PCR methods for the diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Brazilian patients with and without HIV infection

Abstract Background Direct smear examination with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is cheap and easy to use, but its low sensitivity is a major drawback, particularly in HIV seropositive patients. As such, new tools for laboratory diagnosis are urgently needed to improve the case detection rate, especially in regions with a high prevalence of TB and HIV. Objective To evaluate the performance of two in house PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): PCR dot-blot methodology (PCR dot-blot) and PCR agarose gel electrophoresis (PCR-AG) for the diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative patients. Methods A prospective study was conducted (from May 2003 to May 2004) in a TB/HIV reference hospital. Sputum specimens from 277 PTB suspects were tested by Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear, Culture and in house PCR assays (PCR dot-blot and PCR-AG) and their performances evaluated. Positive cultures combined with the definition of clinical pulmonary TB were employed as the gold standard. Results The overall prevalence of PTB was 46% (128/277); in HIV+, prevalence was 54.0% (40/74). The sensitivity and specificity of PCR dot-blot were 74% (CI 95%; 66.1%-81.2%) and 85% (CI 95%; 78.8%-90.3%); and of PCR-AG were 43% (CI 95%; 34.5%-51.6%) and 76% (CI 95%; 69.2%-82.8%), respectively. For HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative samples, sensitivities of PCR dot-blot (72% vs 75%; p = 0.46) and PCR-AG (42% vs 43%; p = 0.54) were similar. Among HIV seronegative patients and PTB suspects, ROC analysis presented the following values for the AFB smear (0.837), Culture (0.926), PCR dot-blot (0.801) and PCR-AG (0.599). In HIV seropositive patients, these area values were (0.713), (0.900), (0.789) and (0.595), respectively. Conclusion Results of this study demonstrate that the in house PCR dot blot may be an improvement for ruling out PTB diagnosis in PTB suspects assisted at hospitals with a high prevalence of TB/HIV.

A proteomic analysis of the functional effects of fatty acids in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Previous studies have demonstrated that long chain fatty acids influence fibroblast function at sub-lethal concentrations. This study is the first to assess the effects of oleic, linoleic or palmitic acids on protein expression of fibroblasts, as determined by standard proteomic techniques. The fatty acids were not cytotoxic at the concentration used in this work as assessed by membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation and the MTT assay but significantly increased cell proliferation. Subsequently, a proteomic analysis was performed using two dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and MS based identification. Cells treated with 50 μM oleic, linoleic or palmitic acid for 24 h were associated with 24, 22, 16 spots differentially expressed, respectively. Among the identified proteins, α-enolase and far upstream element binding protein 1 (FBP-1) are of importance due to their function in fibroblast-associated diseases. However, modulation of α-enolase and FBP-1 expression by fatty acids was not validated by the Western blot technique.

cDNA-AFLP analysis of Psidium guajava L. cultivars under water stress and mechanical injury: methodological implications

Studies involving amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) have often used polyacrylamide gels with radiolabeled primers in order to establish best primer combinations, to analyze, and to recover transcript-derived fragments. Use of automatic sequencer to establish best primer combinations is convenient, because it saves time, reduces costs and risks of contamination with radioactive material and acrylamide, and allows objective band-matching and more precise evaluation of transcript-derived fragments intensities. This study aimed at examining the gene expression of commercial cultivars of P. guajava subjected to water and mechanical injury stresses, combining analyses by automatic sequencer and fluorescent kits for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Firstly, 64 combinations of EcoRI and MseI primers were tested. Ten combinations with higher number of polymorphic fragments were then selected for transcript-derived fragments recovering and cluster analysis, involving 45 saplings of P. guajava. Two groups were obtained, one composed by the control samplings, and another formed by samplings undergoing stress, with no clear distinction between stress treatments. The results revealed the convenience of using a combination of automatic sequencer and fluorescent kits for polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses to examine gene expression profiles. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean analysis using Euclidean distances points out a similar induced response mechanism of P. guajava undergoing water stress and mechanical injury.

Proteome of Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick saliva induced by the secretagogues pilocarpine and dopamine

One dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to separate proteins from the saliva of Rhipicephalus sanguineus female ticks fed on rabbits. Gel slices were subjected to tryptic digestion and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC followed by MS/MS analysis. The data were compared to a database of salivary proteins of the same tick and to the predicted proteins of the host. Saliva was obtained by either pilocarpine or dopamine stimulation of partially fed ticks. Electrophoretic separations of both yielded products that were identified by mass spectrometry, although the pilocarpine-derived sample was of much better quality. The majority of identified proteins were of rabbit origin, indicating the recycling of the host proteins in the tick saliva, including hemoglobin, albumin, haptoglobin, transferring, and a plasma serpin. The few proteins found that were previously associated with parasitism and blood feeding include 2 glycine-rich, cement-like proteins, 2 lipocalins, and a thyropin protease inhibitor. Among other of the 19 tick proteins identified, albeit with undefined roles, were SPARC and cyclophilin A. This catalog provides a resource that can be mined for secreted molecules that play a role in tick–host interactions.

Molecular interactions: metal ions and protein chaperones in the urease system from Helicobacter pylori

Although nickel is a toxic metal for living organisms in its soluble form, its importance in many biological processes recently emerged. In this view, the investigation of the nickel-dependent enzymes urease and [NiFe]-hydrogenase, especially the mechanism of nickel insertion into their active sites, represent two intriguing case studies to understand other analogous systems and therefore to lead to a comprehension of the nickel trafficking inside the cell. Moreover, these two enzymes have been demonstrated to ensure survival and colonization of the human pathogen H. pylori, the only known microorganism able to proliferate in the gastric niche. The right nickel delivering into the urease active site requires the presence of at least four accessory proteins, UreD, UreE, UreF and UreG. Similarly, analogous process is principally mediated by HypA and HypB proteins in the [NiFe]-hydrogenase system. Indeed, HpHypA and HpHypB also have been proposed to act in the activation of the urease enzyme from H. pylori, probably mobilizing nickel ions from HpHypA to the HpUreE-HpUreG complex. A complete comprehension of the interaction mechanism between the accessory proteins and the crosstalk between urease and hydrogenase accessory systems requires the determination of the role of each protein chaperone that strictly depends on their structural and biochemical properties. The availability of HpUreE, HpUreG and HpHypA proteins in a pure form is a pre-requisite to perform all the subsequent protein characterizations, thus their purification was the first aim of this work. Subsequently, the structural and biochemical properties of HpUreE were investigated using multi-angle and quasi-elastic light scattering, as well as NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters of Ni2+ and Zn2+ binding to HpUreE were principally established using isothermal titration calorimetry and the importance of key histidine residues in the process of binding metal ions was studied using site-directed mutagenesis. The molecular details of the HpUreE-HpUreG and HpUreE-HpHypA protein-protein assemblies were also elucidated. The interaction between HpUreE and HpUreG was investigated using ITC and NMR spectroscopy, and the influence of Ni2+ and Zn2+ metal ions on the stabilization of this association was established using native gel electrophoresis, light scattering and thermal denaturation scanning followed by CD spectroscopy. Preliminary HpUreE-HpHypA interaction studies were conducted using ITC. Finally, the possible structural architectures of the two protein-protein assemblies were rationalized using homology modeling and docking computational approaches. All the obtained data were interpreted in order to achieve a more exhaustive picture of the urease activation process, and the correlation with the accessory system of the hydrogenase enzyme, considering the specific role and activity of the involved protein players. A possible function for Zn2+ in the chaperone network involved in Ni2+ trafficking and urease activation is also envisaged.

Emerging contaminants in agricultural ecosystems: impact of selected pharmaceutical on water and soil ecology and pratical implications

Pharmaceuticals are useful tools to prevent and treat human and animal diseases. Following administration, a significant fraction of pharmaceuticals is excreted unaltered into faeces and urine and may enter the aquatic ecosystem and agricultural soil through irrigation with recycled water, constituting a significant source of emerging contaminants into the environment. Understanding major factors influencing their environmental fate is consequently needed to value the risk, reduce contamination, and set up bioremediation technologies. The antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir carboxylate, OC) has received recent attention due to the potential use as a first line defence against H5N1 and H1N1 influenza viruses. Research has shown that OC is not removed during conventional wastewater treatments, thus having the potential to enter surface water bodies. A series of laboratory experiments investigated the fate and the removal of OC in surface water systems in Italy and Japan and in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. A preliminary laboratory study investigated the persistence of the active antiviral drug in water samples from an irrigation canal in northern Italy (Canale Emiliano Romagnolo). After an initial rapid decrease, OC concentration slowly decreased during the remaining incubation period. Approximately 65% of the initial OC amount remained in water at the end of the 36-day incubation period. A negligible amount of OC was lost both from sterilized water and from sterilized water/sediment samples, suggesting a significant role of microbial degradation. Stimulating microbial processes by the addition of sediments resulted in reduced OC persistence. Presence of OC (1.5 μg mL-1) did not significantly affect the metabolic potential of the water microbial population, that was estimated by glyphosate and metolachlor mineralization. In contrast, OC caused an initial transient decrease in the size of the indigenous microbial population of water samples. A second laboratory study focused on basic processes governing the environmental fate of OC in surface water from two contrasting aquatic ecosystems of northern Italy, the River Po and the Venice Lagoon. Results of this study confirmed the potential of OC to persist in surface water. However, the addition of 5% of sediments resulted in rapid OC degradation. The estimated half-life of OC in water/sediment of the River Po was 15 days. After three weeks of incubation at 20 °C, more than 8% of 14C-OC evolved as 14CO2 from water/sediment samples of the River Po and Venice Lagoon. OC was moderately retained onto coarse sediments from the two sites. In water/sediment samples of the River Po and Venice Lagoon treated with 14C-OC, more than 30% of the 14C-residues remained water-extractable after three weeks of incubation. The low affinity of OC to sediments suggests that the presence of sediments would not reduce its bioavailability to microbial degradation. Another series of laboratory experiments investigated the fate and the removal of OC in two surface water ecosystems of Japan and in the municipal wastewater treatment plant of the city of Bologna, in Northern Italy. The persistence of OC in surface water ranged from non-detectable degradation to a half-life of 53 days. After 40 days, less than 3% of radiolabeled OC evolved as 14CO2. The presence of sediments (5%) led to a significant increase of OC degradation and of mineralization rates. A more intense mineralization was observed in samples of the wastewater treatment plant when applying a long incubation period (40 days). More precisely, 76% and 37% of the initial radioactivity applied as 14C-OC was recovered as 14CO2 from samples of the biological tank and effluent water, respectively. Two bacterial strains growing on OC as sole carbon source were isolated and used for its removal from synthetic medium and environmental samples, including surface water and wastewater. Inoculation of water and wastewater samples with the two OC-degrading strains showed that mineralization of OC was significantly higher in both inoculated water and wastewater, than in uninoculated controls. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR analysis showed that OC would not affect the microbial population of surface water and wastewater. The capacity of the ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade a wide variety of environmentally persistent xenobiotics has been largely reported in literature. In a series of laboratory experiments, the efficiency of a formulation using P. chrysosporium was evaluated for the removal of selected pharmaceuticals from wastewater samples. Addition of the fungus to samples of the wastewater treatment plant of Bologna significantly increased (P < 0.05) the removal of OC and three antibiotics, erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. Similar effects were also observed in effluent water. OC was the most persistent of the four pharmaceuticals. After 30 days of incubation, approximately two times more OC was removed in bioremediated samples than in controls. The highest removal efficiency of the formulation was observed with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The studies included environmental aspects of soil contamination with two emerging veterinary contaminants, such as doramectin and oxibendazole, wich are common parasitic treatments in cattle farms.

Synthese und Selbstorganisation von Perylendiimid-Oligonucleotid-Konjugaten

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eine Methode entwickelt, Perylendiimidfarbstoffe mit Oligonucleotiden in der Lösung zu verknüpfen. Das Ziel der Arbeit war die nicht-kovalente Synthese von Perylendiimid-DNA- und Protein- supramolekularen Strukturen. Dabei werden die molekularen Erkennungseigenschaften von DNA und Proteinen zunutze gemacht. Insgesamt drei Themenbereiche wurden dabei betrachtet: 1. Synthese und Hybridisierung von symmetrischen und asymmetrischen Perylendiimid-bis(oligonucleotid)-konjugaten für die Bildung supramolekularer Strukturen, 2. Erzeugung von Oberflächenstrukturen auf der Basis von Streptavidin-Perylendiimid-Komplexen, 3. Synthese wasserlöslicher Rylenfarbstoffe für Anwendungen in biologischen Systemen. Zur Synthese und Hybridisierung von Perylendiimid-Oligonucleotid-Konjugaten wurde eine neue Idee verfolgt und erfolgreich realisiert. Dabei handelt es sich um die Synthese von Perylendiimid-DNA-Polymeren durch nicht-kovalente Bindungen. Die Basis des entwickelten Konzepts ist die Ausnutzung der Erkennungseigenschaften der DNA, um Perylendiimidmoleküle in eine lineare Makrostruktur zu organisieren, was sonst nur durch komplizierte chemische Polymersynthese zugänglich wäre. Die Selbstorganisation von zwei komplementären Perylendiimid-bis(oligonucleotid)-konjugaten (PODN1 und PODN2), die an der 5`-Position verknüpft sind, führte zu einem linearen Perylendiimid-DNA-Polymer in der Form von …ABABABAB…., das mit Hilfe von Gelelektrophorese charakterisiert wurde. Eindrucksvoll war auch die erfolgreiche Kopplung des hydrophoben Perylendiimids mit zwei unterschiedlichen Oligonucleotidsequenzen in der Lösung, um asymmetrische Perylendiimid-bis(oligonucleotid)-konjugate zu synthetisieren. Mit solchen asymmetrischen Konjugaten konnte die programmierbare Selbstorganisation der Perylendiimid-Oligonucleotide zu einer definierten Polymerstruktur realisiert werden. Die Synthese von PDI-(biotin)2 wurde vorgestellt. Durch die spezifische Erkennungseigenschaft zwischen Biotin und Streptavidin ist es möglich, eine Oberflächenstruktur zu bilden. Die Immobilisierungsexperimente zeigten, dass das PDI (biotin)2 Streptavidin erkennen und binden kann. Dabei konnte eine multischichtige Nanostruktur (5 Doppelschichten) auf einer Goldoberfläche.

Determination of trace elemental species in periostracum of Cypraea shells

n this work, three Cypraea species (C. talpa, C. tigris and C. zebra) were exhaustively studied. The shells have been separated in the structural layers. The mineralogy, ultra- and micro-structure of each layer were analyzed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS). The presence of biologically relevant trace metals (Mn, Co, Fe, Zn, Cr, etc.) has been investigated using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) as detection tool. A new method has been developed and optimized to extract and analyze the soluble organic matrix (SOM) of the shell. Although the molecular nature of the SOM is not really known, it contains at least large protein fraction, if not only consists of proteins. The extracted matrices were compared between layers and species using Size Exclusion High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Ultra Violet Spectrometry (SE-HPLC-UV), Gel electrophoresis (GE) and protein quantification tests. For the first time to our knowledge the association of trace elements to the protein in the SOM of the shell was studied using hyphenated on line as well as combined off line techniques and validated through inter-comparison tests between the different methods applied. Interesting correlations between the trace element concentration, the microstructure and the protein content were directly and indirectly detected. The metals Cu, Ni, Co and Zn have shown to bind to the SOM extracted from C. talpa, C. tigris and C. zebra shells. Within the conclusions of this work it was demonstrated that these protein-metal-complexes (or metal containing proteins) change from one layer to the other and are different between the three snails analyzed. In addition, the complexes are clearly related only to certain protein fractions of the SOM, and not to the whole SOM observed. These fractions and show not to be very metal-specific (i.e. some of these fractions bind two or three different metals).

Eine neue Form der Pyruvatkinase in Säugerspermien

Nach Homogenisation ejakulierter Eberspermien und Zentrifugation des Homogenates blieben mehr als 60% der Aktivität des glykolytischen Enzyms Pyruvatkinase (PK) an Zellfragmenten im Sediment gebunden. Diese strukturgebundene PK wurde als PK-S bezeichnet. Das Detergenz Triton X-100 führte nicht zur Ablösung der PK-S; mit Trypsin konnten jedoch rund 80% der PK-S ohne Verlust an Aktivität von den Strukturen gelöst und durch kombinierte Kationenaustausch- und Hydrophobizitätschromatographie gereinigt werden (spezifische Aktivität: 116,7 U/mg Protein). Die lösliche PK aus Eberspermien konnte ebenfalls durch ein ähnliches Verfahren angereichert werden. Im Gel (SDS-PAGE) zeigten die Untereinheiten der PK-S mit 64.400 eine geringfügig größere relative Molekülmasse als die der PK-M1 aus Kaninchenmuskel (62.000). Die kinetischen Eigenschaften der abgelösten PK-S als auch der noch an Spermienstrukturen gebundenen PK-S und der löslichen PK aus Eberspermien waren sehr ähnlich und entsprachen der M1-Isoform der PK. Antikörper gegen Kaninchenmuskel-PK (Anti-PK-M1) reagierten auch mit der löslichen PK und der PK-S aus Eberspermien. Edman-Abbau der ersten 19 Aminosäuren zeigte, dass die tryptisch abgelöste PK-S am N-Terminus um 5 Aminosäuren gegenüber nativer PK-M1 verlängert ist, während der C-Terminus der erhaltenen PK-S-Sequenz mit einem meist nahe dem N-Terminus gelegenen Sequenzabschnitt der PK-M1 und -M2 übereinstimmt. Die N-terminale Verlängerung der nativen PK-S enthält sicherlich mehr als die nach tryptischer Lyse nachgewiesenen 5 Aminosäuren. Vergleiche der Aminosäure- und übersetzten Nukleotidsequenzen sowie die kinetischen Eigenschaften lassen vermuten, dass die PK-S, wie die PK-M1 und PK-M2, vom PKM-Gen codiert wird. Gegen die gereinigte PK-S wurden Antikörper in Kaninchen produziert. Da das Antiserum nicht ausreichend spezifisch für PK-S war, wurden aus ihm affinitätschromatographisch Antikörper (Anti-PK-S) isoliert, die hohe Affinität zu einem synthetisierten PK-S-Peptid (13 N-terminale Aminosäuren der tryptisch abgelösten PK-S) hatten. Dieses Anti-PK-S-Präparat war spezifisch für PK-S; es reagierte weder mit Kaninchenmuskel-PK noch mit löslicher PK oder anderen Proteinen aus Eberspermien. Anti-PK-S und Anti-PK-M1 wurden zur Lokalisierung von PK-S und löslicher PK in Spermien von Eber, Bulle und Mensch sowie in Schnitten von Eberhoden eingesetzt. Mit Anti-PK-S wurden der Bereich des Akrosoms und das lange flagellare Hauptstück sowie der Übergangsbereich zwischen Kopf und Mittelstück von Eberspermien fluoreszenzmarkiert, wogegen das kurze, die Mitochondrien enthaltende Mittelstück des Flagellums und der postakrosomale Kopfbereich nur mit Anti-PK-M1 markiert wurden. Immunogoldmarkierung in elektronenmikroskopischen Bildern bestätigte die Lokalisierung von PK-S im Akrosombereich. Im Hauptstück banden Anti-PK-M1 und Anti-PK-S an die fibröse Scheide. Glyzerinaldehyd-3-phosphat Dehydrogenase (GAPDH) konnte von mir ebenfalls im Akrosombereich, im Übergangsbereich zwischen Kopf und Mittelstück und an der fibrösen Scheide detektiert werden. Auch an Bullen- und Humanspermien konnte über Immunogoldmarkierung PK und vermutlich GAPDH an der fibrösen Scheide gezeigt werden. Im Akrosombereich dieser Spermien waren die Nachweise von PK und GAPDH jedoch nicht sicher. In Eberhodenschnitten war die PK-S erstmals, oder zumindest vermehrt, in den elongierenden Spermatiden über Fluoreszenzmarkierung nachweisbar, während andere, vermutlich somatische PK vermehrt in den früheren Stadien (Spermatogonien, aber auch in den Spermatozyten und runden Spermatiden) auftrat. Für die GAPDH zeigte sich ein ähnlicher Entwicklungsverlauf. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass in Eberspermien zwei Isoformen der PK auftreten: eine N-terminal verlängerte, strukturgebundene Form, die PK-S, und eine lösliche Form, die beide der PK-M1 ähneln. Der ungewöhnliche N-Terminus der PK-S dient vermutlich der spezifischen räumlichen Anordnung der PK-S im Akrosombereich und an der fibrösen Scheide, nicht aber der Modulation kinetischer Eigenschaften. Meine Untersuchungen stützen die Hypothese, dass in bestimmten Kompartimenten von Säugerspermien die Glykolyse durch Verankerung einiger ihrer Enzyme strukturell hochgeordnet ist. Dadurch wird vermutlich die Versorgung der Mitochondrien-freien Regionen mit ATP sichergestellt. Man kann diese Organisation als Anpassung des Stoffwechsels von Spermien deuten, bei denen die Mitochondrien in einem kleinen Bereich (Mittelstück) hinter dem Spermienkopf kompartimentiert sind. Im Hauptstück des Flagellums könnte die Glykolyse ATP für die Spermienmotilität liefern, im Akrosombereich für die Verhinderung einer vorzeitigen Akrosomreaktion. Somit käme der strukturierten Glykolyse eine essentielle Bedeutung für die Befruchtungsfähigkeit von Säugerspermien zu.

Strategies to identify and further characterize novel and known genes involved in regulation of skeletogenesis

372 osteochondrodysplasias and genetically determined dysostoses were reported in 2007 [Superti-Furga and Unger, 2007]. For 215 of these conditions, an association with one or more genes can be stated, while the molecular changes for the remaining syndromes remain illusive to date. Thus, the present dissertation aims at the identification of novel genes involved in processes regarding cartilage/ bone formation, growth, differentiation and homeostasis, which may serve as candidate genes for the above mentioned conditions. Two different approaches were undertaken. Firstly, a high throughput EST sequencing project from a human fetal cartilage library was performed to identify novel genes in early skeletal development (20th week of gestation until 2nd year of life) that could be investigated as potential candidate genes. 5000 EST sequences were generated and analyzed representing 1573 individual transcripts, corresponding to known (1400) and to novel, yet uncharacterized genes (173). About 7% of the proteins were already described in cartilage/ bone development or homeostasis, showing that the generated library is tissue specific. The remaining profile of this library was compared to previously published libraries from different time points (8th–12th, 18th–20th week and adult human cartilage) that also showed a similar distribution, reflecting the quality of the presented library analyzed. Furthermore, three potential candidate genes (LRRC59, CRELD2, ZNF577) were further investigated and their potential involvement in skeletogenesis was discussed. Secondly, a disease-orientated approach was undertaken to identify downstream targets of LMX1B, the gene causing Nail-Patella syndrome (NPS), and to investigate similar conditions. Like NPS, Genitopatellar syndrome (GPS) is characterized by aplasia or hypoplasia of the patella and renal anomalies. Therefore, six GPS patients were enrolled in a study to investigate the molecular changes responsible for this relatively rare disease. A 3.07 Mb deletion including LMX1B and NR5A1 (SF1) was found in one female patient that showed features of both NPS and GPS and investigations revealed a 46,XY karyotype and ovotestes indicating true hermaphroditism. The microdeletion was not seen in any of the five other patients with GPS features only, but a potential regulatory element between the two genes cannot be ruled out yet. Since Lmx1b is expressed in the dorsal limb bud and in podocytes, proteomic approaches and expression profiling were performed with murine material of the limbs and the kidneys to identify its downstream targets. After 2D-gel electrophoresis with protein extracts from E13.5 fore limb buds and newborn kidneys of Lmx1b wild type and knock-out mice and mass spectrometry analysis, only two proteins, agrin and carbonic anhydrase 2, remained of interest, but further analysis of the two genes did not show a transcriptional down regulation by Lmx1b. The focus was switched to expression profiles and RNA from newborn Lmx1b wild type and knock-out kidneys was compared by microarray analysis. Potential Lmx1b targets were almost impossible to study, because of the early death of Lmx1b deficient mice, when the glomeruli, containing podocytes, are still immature. Because Lmx1b is also expressed during limb development, RNA from wild type and knock-out Lmx1b E11.5 fore limb buds was investigated by microarray, revealing four potential Lmx1b downstream targets: neuropilin 2, single-stranded DNA binding protein 2, peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, co-activator 1 alpha, and short stature homeobox 2. Whole mount in situ hybridization strengthened a potential down regulation of neuropilin 2 by Lmx1b, but further investigations including in situ hybridization and protein-protein interaction studies will be needed.

N-Vinylamidderivate zur Synthese neuartiger Kern-Schale-Partikel und Hydrogele

N-Vinylamidderivate sind eine toxikologische unbedenkliche Monomerklasse. Mit diesen Monomeren wurden verschiedene technische Anwendungsgebiete im Bereich der Kern-Schale-Partikel und der fließfähigen und vernetzten Hydrogele untersucht. Kern-Schale-Partikel Für die Synthese von Kern-Schale-Partikeln wurden die N-Vinylamidderivate als Schalenpolymere auf kommerziellen Poly(styrol-stat.-butadien)-Kernpartikeln aufpolymerisiert. Mit Hilfe verschiedener Untersuchungsmethoden (DLS, SEM, FFF, Ultrazentrifuge) wurde die Kern-Schale-Strukturbildung und die Effizienz der Pfropfungsreaktion untersucht und eine erfolgreiche Synthese der Kern-Schale-Partikel belegt. Durch die gezielte Modifizierung des Schalenpolymers wurde ein kationisches, organisches Mikropartikelsystem entwickelt, charakterisiert und auf die Eignung als „Duales Flockungsmittel“ untersucht. Diese Versuche belegten die Eignung der modifizierten Kern-Schale-Partikel als „Duales Flockungsmittel“ und bieten eine Alternative zu kommerziell verwendeten Retentionsmitteln. Außerdem wurden die filmbildenden Eigenschaften der Poly(N﷓vinylformamid)-Kern-Schale-Dispersionen untersucht. Nach der Verfilmung der Dispersionen wurden transparente und harte Filme erhalten. Die Auswirkungen auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Filme wurden durch die Variation verschiedener Parameter eingehend studiert. Auf der Basis dieser Partikel wurden selbstvernetzende Dispersionssysteme entwickelt. Das P﷓(VFA)-Schalenpolymer wurde teilweise hydrolysiert und die generierten freien Aminogruppen des Poly(N-vinylamins) durch eine Michael-Addition mit einem divinylfunktionalisierten Acrylat (Tetraethylenglykoldiacrylat) vernetzt. Untersuchungen zur mechanischen Beständigkeit der Filme zeigten bei geringen Vernetzungsgraden eine deutliche Optimierung der maximalen Zugbelastungen. Die Untersuchungen belegten, dass die Verwendung des selbstvernetzenden Dispersionssystems als Dispersion für eine Polymerbeschichtung möglich ist. Hydrogele Die Synthese von fließfähigen und quervernetzten Hydrogelen erfolgte auf der Basis verschiedener N﷓Vinylamide. Mit Hilfe geeigneter Vernetzer wurden feste Hydrogelplatten synthetisiert und für die Auftrennung von DNA-Sequenzen mit Hilfe der Gelelektrophorese verwendet. Scharfe und gute Auftrennung der verschiedenen „DNA-Ladder Standards“ wurden durch die Variation des Vernetzeranteils, der Polymerzusammensetzung, der angelegten Spannung und der Verweilzeit in der Gelelektrophoresekammer mit P﷓(MNVA)-Hydrogelplatten erreicht. Fließfähige und quervernetzte Elektrolytgele auf Poly-(N-vinylamid)-Basis wurden in wartungsfreien pH﷓Elektroden eingesetzt. Die Eignung dieser Hydrogele wurden in Bezug auf die Anwendung eingehend charakterisiert. Elektroden befüllt mit Poly(N-vinylamid)-Gelen wurden in Dauerbelastungsexperimenten, direkt mit kommerziellen pH﷓Elektroden verglichen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die fließfähigen und quervernetzten Poly-(N-vinylamid)-Elektrolytgele in ihren Messeigenschaften gleichwertige bzw. bessere Potentialstabilitäten aufweisen als kommerzielle Referenzelektroden. Die Hydrogele auf Basis von Poly(N-vinylamidderivaten) boten für die beiden getesteten Anwendungen eine toxikologisch unbedenkliche Alternative zu Poly(acrylamid)-Gelen. In dieser Arbeit konnten die durchgeführten Untersuchungen belegen, dass N﷓Vinylamide eine attraktive Monomerklasse ist, die erfolgreich in vielen technischen Anwendungen einsetzbar ist.

Entwicklung einer Online-Kopplung der Gelelektrophorese mit der induktiv gekoppelten Plasma-Massenspektrometrie und deren Anwendung in der Bioanalytik

Die Elementmassenspektrometrie wurde in den letzten Jahren sehr erfolgreich zur Aufklärung verschiedener Fragestellungen in der Bioanalytik eingesetzt. Hierbei spielen vor allem Kopplungstechniken von Trennmethoden wie der Flüssigchromatographie (LC) oder der Kapillarelektrophorese (CE) mit der induktiv gekoppelten Plasma-Massenspektrometrie (ICP-MS) als Multielementdetektor mit hervorragenden Quantifizierungseigenschaften eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Untersuchung von Biopolymeren und deren Wechselwirkung mit verschiedenen Metallen. So wurden beispielsweise verschiedene Methoden für die Trennung und Detektion von Metalloproteinen oder DNA-Metall-Addukten in unterschiedlichen Probenmaterialien entwickelt. Die traditionelle und leistungsstärkste Trennmethode für Biopolymere aller Art, die Gelelektrophorese, wurde jedoch bislang nicht in einem Online-Verfahren an die ICP-MS gekoppelt, um solche Fragestellungen zu bearbeiten. Verschiedene Versuche auf der Basis der Laserablation wurden in diese Richtung unternommen, wobei diese Techniken als sehr umständlich und zeitaufwändig anzusehen sind. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmals die technische Realisierung einer Online-Kopplung der Gelelektrophorese mit der ICP-MS beschrieben. Das System basiert auf einem Prinzip aus der präparativen Gelelektrophorese, in welcher eine kontinuierliche Elution der getrennten Komponenten aus dem Gel während der laufenden Elektrophorese durchgeführt wird. Die eluierten Komponenten werden mit dem Elutionspuffer direkt in das Zerstäubersystem des ICP-MS geführt. Die ersten Untersuchungen wurden am Beispiel der Fragemente von doppelsträngiger DNA (dsDNA) durchgeführt. Kommerziell erhältliche Standardlösungen wurden mit der Online-GE-ICP-MS mittels Detektion von 31P an einem hochauflösenden Massenspektrometer mit einer Massenauflösung von 4000 analysiert. Die Trennbedingungen (z.B. pH-Wert oder Ionenstärke der Pufferlösungen) wurden für die Trennung von dsDNA-Fragementen in Agarosegelen optimiert und auf verschiedene dsDNA-Fragmente angewandt. In einem nächsten Schritt wurden die Quantifizierungsmöglichkeiten für Biopolymere untersucht. Sehr kleine Mengen an dsDNA konnten mit einer Präzision von weniger als 3% quantifiziert werden. Hierfür kamen verschiedene Möglichkeiten der externen Kalibration zum Einsatz, wie der Kalibration mit einem Phosphat-Standard oder einem kommerziell erhältlichen quantitativen dsDNA-Standard. Um das Potenzial der entwickelten Methode für die Untersuchung von Biopolymer-Metall-Wechselwirkungen zu demonstrieren, wurden Oligonukleotide mit Cisplatin unter physiologischen Bedingungen inkubiert und die Reaktionsprodukte mit der Online-GE-ICP-MS mittels 31P- und 195Pt-Detektion untersucht. Verschiedene Cisplatin-Oligonukleotid-Addukte konnten auf diese Weise beobachtet werden, was zur Identifizierung die Anwendung der MALDI-TOF-MS als komplementärer Form der Massenspektrometrie notwendig machte. Abschließend wurde die Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse zum Zweck der Quantifizierung herangezogen.