Evaluation of drought tolerance in several genotypes of spelt (Triticum aestivum Var. Spelta)

Domestication of plants and plant breeding have dramatically eroded the allelic variations of crop species which led to an increasing susceptibility of crop plants to environmental stresses, diseases and pests. Drought is a major environmental stress factor that affects the growth and development of plants so the selection of tolerant genotypes becomes increasingly important with respect to the predicted effects of global warming. In this study, several genotypes of Spelt (Triticum aestivum var. spelta) were tested under low water supply in soil with the aim of to find Spelt genotypes more resistant than wheat to these conditions, and select them so that in future may be used to improve wheat crops. Morphological analyses were performed and mineral and enzymatic analyses and also dry matter production were calculated. Our results suggests that the genotypes Sp53, Sp96, Sp912, Sp757 and Sp804 are a potential ones to use in breeding programs to improve wheat production. Under drought, these genotypes had growth efficiency of 38%, 45%, 64%, 37%, and 31% respectively and also showed higher biomass than modern wheat and were also mineralogical richer. The genotypes Sp96 and Sp912 showed highest activity of all antioxidants enzymes tested. This work proves that Spelt is a good wheat to continue to study in order to improve wheat crops in dry areas and consequently increase the quality of life and health of the populations living in those areas.

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

Anaerobic bacteria: an investigation of metabolic important enzymes: a novel type of oxygen reductase and enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis

Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was the first species of a sulphatereducing bacterium to be isolated, in 1895. Since that time, many questions were raised in the scientific community regarding the metabolic and ecological aspects of these bacteria. At present, there is still a myriad of open questions remaining to be answered to enlarge our knowledge of the metabolic pathways operative in these bacteria that have implications in the sulfur cycle, in biocorrosion, namely in sewers and in oil and gas systems, and in bioremediation of several toxic metals. The work presented in this dissertation aimed at contributing with new insights of enzymes involved in two different metabolic systems on Desulfovibrio species, namely enzymes that play a role in the response to oxidative stress and that are involved in the haem biosynthetic pathway.(...)

Functional and structural characterization of the RNase II-family of enzymes

Dissertation presented to obtain a Doctoral Degree in Biology by Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Natural antioxidants extraction and their incorporation into model pharmaceutical systems

Dissertation to obtain a Master Degree in Biotechnology

Expression of cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandin E2 receptors in inflammatory airway diseases

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina

Crystallographic studies on molybdopterin-dependent enzymes

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica, Especialidade Bioquímica Estrutural

Crystallographic studies on two hyperthermophilic enzymes

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Effects of UV radiation exposure on DNA and DNA repair enzymes

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia

Nitrite reduction by xanthine oxidase family enzymes: a new class of nitrite reductases

J Biol Inorg Chem (2011) 16:443–460 DOI 10.1007/s00775-010-0741-z

Structural and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of mononuclear molybdenum enzymes from sulfate-reducing bacteria

Acc. Chem. Res., 2006, 39 (10), pp 788–796 DOI: 10.1021/ar050104k

Mo and W bis-MGD enzymes: nitrate reductases and formate dehydrogenases

J Biol Inorg Chem (2004) 9: 791–799 DOI 10.1007/s00775-004-0573-9

Application of ionic liquids and enzymes for the removal of proteinaceous layers from polychrome of works of art and evaluation of the cleaning effectiveness

Dissertação Apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências da Conservação, especialização em Pintura

Biological and Biochemical Characterization of Mutants of the RNase II family of enzymes

Dissertação para a obtenção de grau de doutor em Biologia pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica. Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Functional and structural studies of two enzymes: membrane bound kinase and Z-DNA/Z-RNA-binding protein

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Sistemas de Bioengenharia