Electrochemical studies on small electron transfer proteins using membrane electrodes

Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 541 (2003) 153-162

Structural and mechanistic studies of iron containing proteins

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica, ramo de Bioquímica-Física, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Molybdenum-containing proteins from Sulphate Reducing Bacteria: studying proteins with novel cofactors and revealing new features of old enzymes

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica, especialidade de Bioquímica-Física pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Effect of fungal colonization on mechanical performance of cork

The industrialization of traditional processes relies on the scientific ability to understand the empirical evidence associated with traditional knowledge. Cork manufacturing includes one operation known as stabilization, where humid cork slabs are extensively colonized by fungi. The implications of fungal growth on the chemical quality of cork through the analysis of putative fungal metabolites have already been investigated. However, the effect of fungal growth on the mechanical properties of cork remains unexplored. This study investigated the effect of cork colonization on the integrity of the cork cell walls and their mechanical performance. Fungal colonization of cork by Chrysonilia sitophila, Mucor plumbeus Penicillium glabrum, P. olsonii, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum was investigated by microscopy. Growth occurred primarily on the surface of the cork pieces, but mycelium extended deeper into the cork layers, mostly via lenticular channels and by hyphal penetration of the cork cell wall. In this first report on cork decay in which specific correlation between fungal colonization and mechanical proprieties of the cork has been investigated, all colonizing fungi except C. sitophila, reduced cork strength, markedly altering its viscoelastic behaviour and reducing its Young’s modulus.

A proteomic approach toward the selection of proteins with enhanced intrinsic conformational stability

Journal of Proteome Research (2006)5: 2720-2726

Role of a novel disulfide bridge within the all-beta fold of soluble Rieske proteins

Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (2010)15: 271-281

Natural and amyloid self-assembly of S100 proteins: structural basis of functional diversity

The S100 proteins are 10-12 kDa EF-hand proteins that act as central regulators in a multitude of cellular processes including cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and motility. Consequently, many S100 proteins are implicated and display marked changes in their expression levels in many types of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The structure and function of S100 proteins are modulated by metal ions via Ca2+ binding through EF-hand motifs and binding of Zn2+ and Cu2+ at additional sites, usually at the homodimer interfaces. Ca2+ binding modulates S100 conformational opening and thus promotes and affects the interaction with p53, the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts and Toll-like receptor 4, among many others. Structural plasticity also occurs at the quaternary level, where several S100 proteins self-assemble into multiple oligomeric states, many being functionally relevant. Recently, we have found that the S100A8/A9 proteins are involved in amyloidogenic processes in corpora amylacea of prostate cancer patients, and undergo metal-mediated amyloid oligomerization and fibrillation in vitro. Here we review the unique chemical and structural properties of S100 proteins that underlie the conformational changes resulting in their oligomerization upon metal ion binding and ultimately in functional control. The possibility that S100 proteins have intrinsic amyloid-forming capacity is also addressed, as well as the hypothesis that amyloid self-assemblies may, under particular physiological conditions, affect the S100 functions within the cellular milieu.

Screening pentachlorophenol degradation ability by environmental fungal strains belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Zygomycota

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) bioremediation by the fungal strains amongst the cork- colonising community has not yet been analysed. In this paper, the co- and direct metabolism of PCP by each of the 17 fungal species selected from this community were studied. Using hierarchical data analysis, the isolates were ranked by their PCP bioremediation potential. Fifteen isolates were able to degrade PCP under co-metabolic conditions, and surprisingly Chrysonilia sitophila, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Mucor plumbeus, Penicillium janczewskii and P. glandicola were able to directly metabolise PCP, leading to its complete depletion from media. PCP degradation intermediates are preliminarily discussed. Data emphasise the signiWcance of these fungi to have an interesting potential to be used in PCP bioremediation processes.

Metals in proteins from sulphate-reducing bacteria: adenylate kinase and ATP sulfurylase. Proteins containing cobalt, zinc, iron (II) ions

A Thesis submitted at the Faculty Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon for a degree in Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry with specialization in Physical Biochemistry

Behavioral and synaptic circuit analysis in models of neuropsychiatric disorders: Dissecting the in vivo role of the postsynaptic density proteins nArgBP2 and Shank3 using genetic engineered mice

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Host-induced changes in the cell surface N-linked glycoproteins, from Aspergillus fumigatus. Search for specific targets with potential for clinical therapy and/or diagnosis.

This dissertation is presented to obtain a Master degree in Structural and Functional Biochemistry

Revealing fungal activity in the presence of ionic liquids

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

The role of Di-iron proteins in pathogen resistance

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry

Artefacts induced on c-type haem proteins by electrode surfaces

J Biol Inorg Chem (2011) 16:209–215 DOI 10.1007/s00775-010-0717-z

Kinetics studies of the superoxide-mediated electron transfer reactions between rubredoxin-type proteins and superoxide reductases

J Biol Inorg Chem (2006) 11: 433–444 DOI 10.1007/s00775-006-0090-0