Cleavage of caspases-1, -3, -6, -8 and -9 substrates by proteases in skeletal muscles from mice undergoing cancer cachexia

A prominent feature of several type of cancer is cachexia. This syndrome causes a marked loss of lean body mass and muscle wasting, and appears to be mediated by cytokines and tumour products. There are several proteases and proteolytic pathways that could be responsible for the protein breakdown. In the present study, we investigated whether caspases are involved in the proteolytic process of skeletal muscle catabolism observed in a murine model of cancer cachexia (MAC16), in comparison with a related tumour (MAC13), which does not induce cachexia. Using specific peptide substrates, there was an increase of 54% in the proteolytic activity of caspase-1, 84% of caspase-8, 98% of caspase-3 151% to caspase-6 and 177% of caspase-9, in the gastrocnemius muscle of animals bearing the MAC16 tumour (up to 25% weight loss), in relation to muscle from animals bearing the MAC13 tumour (1-5% weight loss). The dual pattern of 89 kDa and 25 kDa fragmentation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) occurred in the muscle samples from animals bearing the MAC16 tumour and with a high amount of caspase-like activity. Cytochrome c was present in the cytosolic fractions of gastrocnemius muscles from both groups of animals, suggesting that cytochrome c release from mitochondria may be involved in caspase activation. There was no evidence for DNA fragmentation into a nucleosomal ladder typical of apoptosis in the muscles of either group of mice. This data supports a role for caspases in the catabolic events in muscle involved in the cancer cachexia syndrome. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.

Biological barriers to the nasal delivery of peptide drugs

The nasal absorption of larger peptide and protein drugs is generally low. The importance of the mucus layer and enzymic degradation in reducing absorption were investigated. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods were developed to assay a variety of compounds. Pig gastric mucus (PGM) was selected to investigate the importance of the mucus layer. A method of treating and storing PGM was developed and evaluated which was representative of the gel in vivo. The nature of the mucus barrier was evaluated in vitro with three-compartment diffusion cells and a series of compounds with differing physicochemical properties. Mucus retarded the diffusion of all the compounds with molecular weight and charge exerting a marked effect. Binding to mucus was investigated by a centrifugation method. All of the compounds tested were found to bind to mucus with the exception of the negatively charged molecule benzoic acid. The small peptides did not demonstrate greater binding to mucus than any of the other compounds evaluated. The effect of some absorption enhancers upon the rate of diffusion of tryptophan through mucus was determined in vi tro. At the concentrations employed the enhancers EDTA, N-acetylcysteine and taurodeoxycholic acid exerted no effect, whilst taurocholic acid and cholic acid, were found to slightly reduce the rate of diffusion. The intracellular and luminal proteolytic activity of the nose was investigated in the sheep animal model with a nasal mucosal homogenate and a nasal wash preparation respectively and a series of chemically similar peptides. Hydrolysis was also investigated with the proteolytic enzymes carboxypeptidase A, cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase and microsomal leucine aminopeptidase. Sheep nasal mucosa possesses significant peptide hydrolase activity capable of degrading all the substrates tested. Considerable variation in susceptibility was observed. Degradation occurred excl us i ve ly at the pept ide bond between the aromatic amino ac id and glycine, indicating some specificity for aromatic amino acids. Hydrolysis profiles indicated the presence of both aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidase enzymes. The specific activity of the microsomal fraction was found to be greater than the cytosolic fraction. Hydrolysis in the nasal wash indicated the presence of either luminal or loosely-bound proteases, which can degrade peptide substrates. The same specificity for aromatic amino acids was observed and aminopeptidase activity demonstrated. The specific activity of the nasal wash was smaller than that of the homogenate.

Induction of apoptosis by a cachectic-factor in murine myotubes and inhibition by eicosapentaenoic acid

Treatment of C2C12 myotubes with a tumour-derived proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF) at concentrations between 1 and 10 nM was shown to stimulate the activity of the apoptotic initiator caspases-8 and -9 and the apoptotic effector caspases-2,-3 and -6. This increased caspase activity was attenuated in myotubes pretreated with 50 μM eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). At least part of the increase in caspase activity may be related to the increased proteasome proteolytic activity, since a caspase-3 inhibitor completely attenuated the PIF-induced increase in 'chymotrypsin-like' enzyme activity, the predominant proteolytic activity of the proteasome. However, Western blot analysis showed that PIF induced an increase in expression of the active form of caspase-3, which was also attenuated by EPA. Further Western blot analysis showed PIF increased the cytosolic content of cytochrome c, as well as expression of the pro-apoptotic protein bax but not the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2, which were both attenuated by 50 μM EPA. Induction of apoptosis by PIF in murine myotubes was confirmed by an increase in free nucleasomes formation and increased DNA fragmentation evidenced by a nucleasomal ladder typical of apoptotic cells. This process was again inhibited by pre-incubation with EPA. These results suggest that in addition to activating the proteasome, PIF induces apoptosis in C2C12 myotubes, possibly through the common intermediate arachidonic acid. Both of these processes would contribute to the loss of skeletal muscle in cancer cachexia.

Atividade antiofídica do decocto das folhas de jatropha gossypiifolia l. frente o veneno de bothrops jararaca

Antiophidic activity from decoct of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. leaves against Bothrops jararaca venom. Snakebites are a serious worldwide public health problem. In Latin America, about 90 % of accidents are attributed to snakes from Bothrops genus. Currently, the main available treatment is the antivenom serum therapy, which has some disadvantages such as inability to neutralize local effects, risk of immunological reactions, high cost and difficult access in some regions. In this context, the search for alternative therapies to treat snakebites is relevant. Jatropha gossypiifolia L., a medicinal plant popularly known in Brazil as “pinhão-roxo”, is very used in folk medicine as antiophidic. So, the aim of this study is to evaluate the antiophidic properties of this species against enzymatic and biological activities from Bothrops jararaca snake venom. The aqueous leaf extract of J. gossypiifolia was prepared by decoction. The inhibition studies were performed in vitro, by pre-incubation of a fixed amount of venom with different amounts of extract from J. gossypiifolia for 60 min at 37 °C, and in vivo, through oral or intraperitoneal treatment of animals, in different doses, 60 min before venom injection. The proteolytic activity upon azocasein was efficiently inhibited, indicating inhibitory action upon metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and/or serine proteases (SVSPs). The extract inhibited the fibrinogenolytic activity, which was also confirmed by zymography, where it was possible to observe that the extract preferentially inhibits fibrinogenolytic enzymes of 26 and 28 kDa. The coagulant activity upon fibrinogen and plasma were significantly inhibited, suggesting an inhibitory action upon thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs), as well as upon clotting factor activators toxins. The extract prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), suggesting an inhibitory action toward not only to SVTLEs, but also against endogenous thrombin. The defibrinogenating activity in vivo was efficiently inhibited by the extract on oral route, confirming the previous results. The local hemorrhagic activity was also significantly inhibited by oral route, indicating an inhibitory action upon SVMPs. The phospholipase activity in vitro was not inhibited. Nevertheless, the edematogenic and myotoxic activities were efficiently inhibited, by oral and intraperitoneal route, which may indicate an inhibitory effect of the extract upon Lys49 phospholipase (PLA2) and/ or SVMPs, or also an anti-inflammatory action against endogenous chemical mediators. Regarding the possible action mechanism, was observed that the extract did not presented proteolytic activity, however, presented protein precipitating action. In addition, the extract showed significant antioxidant activity in different models, which could justify, at least partially, the antiophidic activity presented. The metal chelating action presented by extract could be correlated with SVMPs inhibition, once these enzymes are metal-dependent. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes and/or steroids and proteins, from which the flavonoids could be pointed as major compounds, based on chromatographic profile obtained by thin layer chromatography (TLC). In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the J. gossypiifolia leaves decoct present potential antiophidic activity, including action upon snakebite local effects, suggesting that this species may be used as a new source of bioactive molecules against bothropic venom.

Atividades biológicas de extratos salinos de sementes de plantas da caatinga contra Aedes Aegypti e investigação da participação de proteínas bioativas

Dengue fever, currently the most important arbovirus, is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Given the absence of a prophylactic vaccine, the disease can only be controlled by combating the vector insect. However, increasing reports of resistance and environmental damage caused by insecticides have led to the urgent search for new safer alternatives. Twenty - um plant s eed extracts from the Caatinga were prepared , tested and characterized . Sodium phosphate ( 50 mM pH 8.0) was used as extractor. All extracts showed larvicidal and ovipositional deterrence activity . Extracts of D. grandiflora, E. contortisiliquum, A. cearenses , C. ferrea and C. retusa were able to attract females for posture when in low co ncentration . In the attractive concentrations, the CE of E. contortisiliquum and A. cearenses were able to kill 52% and 100% of the larvae respectively . The extracts of A. cearenses , P. viridiflora, E. velutina, M. urundeuva and S. brasiliensis were also pupicides, while extracts of P. viridiflora, E. velutina, E. contortisiliquum , A. cearenses, A. colubrina, D. grandiflora , B. cheilantha , S. spectabilis, C. pyramidalis, M. regnelli e G. americana displayed adulticidal activity. All extracts were toxic to C. dubia zooplankton . The EB of E. velutina and E. contortisiliquum did not affect the viability of fibroblasts . In all extracts were identified at least two potential insecticidal proteins such as enzyme inhibitors, lectins and chitin - binding proteins and components of secondary metabolism . Considering all bioassays , the extracts from A. cearenses, P. viridiflora, E. contortisiliquum , S. brasiliensis, E. velutina and M. urundeuva were considered the most promising . The E. contortisiliquum extracts was the only one who did not show pupicida activity, indicating that its mechanism of action larvicide and adulticidal is related only to the ingesti on of toxic compounds by insect , so it was selected to be fragmenting. As observed for the CE , th e protein fractions of E. contortisiliquum also showed larvicidal activity, highlighting that F2 showed higher larvicidal activity and lower en vironmental toxicity than the CE source. The reduction in the proteolytic activity of larvae fed with crude extra ct and fractions of E. contortisiliquum suggest ed that the trypsin inhibitors ( ITEc) would be resp onsible for larvicidal activity . However the increase in the purification of this inhibitor resulted in loss of larvicidal activity , but the absence of trypsin inhibitor reduced the effectiveness of the fractions , indicating that the ITEC contributes to the larvicidal activity of this extract. Not been observed larvicidal activity and adulticide in rich fraction vicilin, nor evidence of the contribution o f this molecule for the larvicidal activity of the extract. The results show the potential of seeds from plant extracts of Caatinga as a source of active molecules against insects A. aegypti at different stages of its development cycle, since they are comp osed of different active compounds, including protein nature, which act on different mechanisms should result in the death of insec

Atividade antiangiogênica da forma recombinante da proteína 21 de Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is the cause of Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). The prospection of innovative therapeutic agents against CCC is a major task. The recombinant form of 21 (rP21), a secreted T. cruzi protein involved in host cell invasion and on progression of chronic inflammatory processes have been studied as a potential novel therapeutic target. Our present work aimed to verify and investigate the impact of rP21 in the formation of blood vessels in vitro and in vivo. First, tEnd cells were treated with different concentrations of rP21 or bacterial extract and viability and cellular adhesion were evaluated by MTT and angiogenesis inhibition by Matrigel tube formation assay and murine model. To verify the proteolytic activity of rP21 on extracellular matrix (ECM) components, fibrinogen, matrigel and fibronectin was incubated with rP21 or not. In addition, we performed proliferation assays and cell cycle analysis. Furthermore, the accumulation and distribution of F-actin was determined by Phalloidin staining using ImageJ software. Finally, tEnd cells were incubated with rP21 and the mRNA levels were analyzed by real-time PCR. Our results showed that rP21 did not alter cell viability and adhesion, but strongly inhibited vessel formation in vitro and in vivo. Tube formation assay showed that angiogenesis inhibition was dependent of the CXCR4-rP21 binding. In addition to these results, we observed that the rP21 was able to inhibit cell proliferation and promoted a significant reduction in the number of 4n cells (G2/M phase). Moreover, we found that rP21 significantly increased F-actin levels and this protein was able to modulate expression of genes related to angiogenesis and actin cytoskeleton. However, rP21 showed no significant activity on the matrix components. In this sense, we conclude that the rP21-endothelial cells (ECs) interaction via CXCR4 promotes inhibition of vessel formation through a cascade of intracellular events, such as inhibition of ECs proliferation and modulation of the expression of molecules associated with angiogenic processes and actin cytoskeleton.

Extracellular cathepsin S and intracellular caspase 1 activation are surrogate biomarkers of particulate-induced lysosomal disruption in macrophages

BACKGROUND: Particulate matter has been shown to stimulate the innate immune system and induce acute inflammation. Therefore, while nanotechnology has the potential to provide therapeutic formulations with improved efficacy, there are concerns such pharmaceutical preparations could induce unwanted inflammatory side effects. Accordingly, we aim to examine the utility of using the proteolytic activity signatures of cysteine proteases, caspase 1 and cathepsin S (CTSS), as biomarkers to assess particulate-induced inflammation.

METHODS: Primary peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages from C57BL/6 mice and ctss(-/-) mice were exposed to micro- and nanoparticulates and also the lysosomotropic agent, L-leucyl-L-leucine methyl ester (LLOME). ELISA and immunoblot analyses were used to measure the IL-1β response in cells, generated by lysosomal rupture. Affinity-binding probes (ABPs), which irreversibly bind to the active site thiol of cysteine proteases, were then used to detect active caspase 1 and CTSS following lysosomal rupture. Reporter substrates were also used to quantify the proteolytic activity of these enzymes, as measured by substrate turnover.

RESULTS: We demonstrate that exposure to silica, alum and polystyrene particulates induces IL-1β release from macrophages, through lysosomal destabilization. IL-1β secretion positively correlated with an increase in the proteolytic activity signatures of intracellular caspase 1 and extracellular CTSS, which were detected using ABPs and reporter substrates. Interestingly IL-1β release was significantly reduced in primary macrophages from ctss(-/-) mice.

CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the emerging significance of CTSS as a regulator of the innate immune response, highlighting its role in regulating IL-1β release. Crucially, the results demonstrate the utility of intracellular caspase 1 and extracellular CTSS proteolytic activities as surrogate biomarkers of lysosomal rupture and acute inflammation. In the future, activity-based detection of these enzymes may prove useful for the real-time assessment of particle-induced inflammation and toxicity assessment during the development of nanotherapeutics.

Soft tissue sarcoma: biology and therapeutic correlates

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) comprise a heterogenenous group of greater than 50 malignancies of putative mesenchymal cell origin and as such they may arise in diverse tissue types in various anatomical locations throughout the whole body. Collectively they account for approximately 1% of all human malignancies yet have a spectrum of aggressive behaviours amongst their subtypes. They thus pose a particular challenge to manage and remain an under investigated group of cancers with no generally applicable new therapies in the past 40 years and an overall 5-year survival rate that remains stagnant at around 50%. From September 2000 to July 2006 I undertook a full time post-doctoral level research fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA in the department of Surgical Oncology to investigate the biology of soft tissue sarcoma and test novel anti- sarcoma adenovirus-based therapy in the preclinical nude rat model of isolated limb perfusion against human sarcoma xenografts. This work, in collaboration with colleagues as indicated herein, led to a number of publications in the scientific literature furthering our understanding of the malignant phenotype of sarcoma and reported preclinical studies with wild-type p53, in a replication deficient adenovirus vector, and oncolytic adenoviruses administered by isolated limb perfusion. Additional collaborative and pioneering preclinical studies reported the molecular imaging of sarcoma response to systemically delivered therapeutic phage RGD-4c AAVP. Doxorubicin chemotherapy is the single most active broadly applicable anti-sarcoma chemotherapeutic yet only has an approximate 30% overall response rate with additional breakthrough tumour progression and recurrence after initial chemo-responsiveness further problematic features in STS management. Doxorubicin is a substrate for the multi- drug resistance (mdr) gene product p-glycoprotein drug efflux pump and exerts its main mode of action by induction of DNA double-strand breaks during the S-phase of the cell cycle. Two papers in my thesis characterise different aspects of chemoresistance in sarcoma. The first shows that wild-type p53 suppresses Protein Kinase Calpha (PKCα) phosphorylation (and activation) of p-glycoprotein by transcriptional repression of PKCα through a Sp-1 transcription factor binding site in its -244/-234 promoter region. The second paper demonstrates that Rad51 (a central mediator of homologous recombination repair of double strand breaks) has elevated levels in sarcoma and particularly in the S- G2 phase of the cell cycle. Suppression of Rad51 with small interfering RNA in sarcoma cell culture led to doxorubicin chemosensitisation. Reintroduction of wild-type p53 into STS cell lines resulted in decreased Rad51 protein and mRNA expression via transcriptional repression of the Rad51 promoter through increased AP-2 binding. In light of poor response rates to chemotherapy, escape from local control portends a poor prognosis for patients with sarcoma. Two papers in my thesis characterise aspects of sarcoma angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Human sarcoma samples were found to have high levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) with expression levels that correlated with p53 mutational status. MMP-9 is known to degrade extracellular collagen, contribute to the control of the angiogenic switch necessary in primary tumour progression and facilitate invasion and metastasis. Reconstitution of wild-type p53 function led to decreased levels of MMP-9 protein and mRNA as well as zymography-assessed MMP-9 proteolytic activity and decreased tumour cell invasiveness. Reintroduction of wild-type p53 into human sarcoma xenografts in-vivo decreased tumour growth and MMP-9 protein expression. Wild-type p53 was found to suppress mmp-9 transcription via decreased binding of NF-κB to its -607/-595 mmp-9 promoter element. Studies on the role of the VEGF165 in sarcoma found that sarcoma cells stably transfected with VEGF165 formed more aggressive xenografted tumours with increased vascularity, growth rate, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Use of the anti-VEGFR2 antibody DC101 enhanced doxorubicin sensitivity at sub-conventional dosing, inhibited tumour growth, decreased development of metastases, and reduced tumour micro-vessel density while increasing the vessel maturation index. These effects were explained primarily through effects on endothelial cells (e.c.s), rather than the tumour cells per se, where DC101 induced e.c. sensitivity to doxorubicin and suppressed e.c. production of MMPs. The p53 tumour suppressor pathway is the most frequently mutated pathway in sarcoma. Recapitulation of wild-type p53 function in sarcoma exerts a number of anti-cancer outcomes such as growth arrest, resensitisation to chemotherapy, suppression of invasion, and attenuation of angiogenesis. Using a modified nude rat-human sarcoma xenograft model for isolated limb perfusion (ILP) delivery of wild-type p53 in a replication deficient adenovirus vector I showed that functionally competent wild-type p53 could be delivered to and detected in human leiomyosarcoma xenografts confirming preclinical feasibility - although not efficacious due to low transgene expression. Viral fibre modification to express the RGD tripeptide motif led to greater viral uptake by sarcoma cells in vitro (transductional targeting) and changing the transgene promoter to a response element active in cells with active telomerase expression restricted the transgene expression to the tumour intracellular environment (transcriptional targeting). Delivery of the fibre-modified, selectively replication proficient oncolytic adenovirus Ad.hTC.GFP/ E1a.RGD by ILP demonstrated a more robust, and tumour-restricted, transgene expression with evidence of anti-sarcoma effect confirmed microscopically. Collaborative studies using the fibre modified phage RGD-4C AAVP confirmed that systemic delivery specifically, efficiently, and repeatedly targets human sarcoma xenografts, binds to αv integrins in tumours, and demonstrates a durable, though heterogeneous, transgene expression of 1-4 weeks. Incorporation of the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) transgene into RGD-4C AAVP permitted CT-PET spatial and temporal molecular imaging in vivo of transgene expression and allowed quantification of tumour metabolic activity both before and after interval administration of a systemic cytotoxic with predictable and measurable response to treatment before becoming apparent clinically. These papers further the medical and scientific community’s understanding of the biology of soft tissue sarcoma and report preclinical studies with novel and promising anti- sarcoma therapeutics.

Obtenção de um hidrogel proveniente de proteínas da corvina (micropogonias furnieri) e solubilização das proteínas fibrosas residuais

Com o aumento na captura de pescado e da poluição do meio ambiente, esta-se à margem de exceder a estimativa do limite da sustentabilidade, e obviamente isto faz com se utilize os recursos marítimos com mais inteligência e precaução. Aplicando tecnologia enzimática ou química é possível recuperar as proteínas do processamento do pescado, produzindo hidrolisados e isolados protéicos. Uma grande quantidade de proteínas insolúveis está disponível em escamas, peles e ossos, subprodutos do processamento do pescado, que podem ser solubilizadas através de fungos e bactérias. Utilizando isolados protéicos é possível obter biopolímeros, estes têm chamado a atenção nos últimos anos, pois são biodegradáveis, não-tóxicos e geralmente biocompatíveis. Os hidrogéis protéicos são polímeros que podem absorver uma quantidade de água a partir de 10 até centenas de vezes o seu peso seco. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um hidrogel protéico, com propriedades superabsorventes, a partir das proteínas solúveis e insolúveis da corvina (Micropogonias furnieri). Para a produção dos hidrolisados a partir das proteínas solúveis foi utilizado processo enzimático (Alcalase e Flavourzyme) e químico (solubilização ácida e alcalina). Nos processos de solubilização das proteínas insolúveis foram utilizados microrganismos (bactérias e fungos). Tanto as bactérias como os fungos avaliados apresentaram capacidade de solubilizar as proteínas insolúveis presentes nos resíduos (escamas, ossos, cartilagens e outros). A bactéria que atingiu a maior atividade proteolítica foi a Bacillus velesensis (47,56 U mL-1) e o fungo foi o Penicillium sp. (E20) (31,20 U mL-1). Para a produção dos hidrogéis, foram utilizados isolados protéicos provenientes de solubilização ácida ou alcalina, produzidos a partir de resíduos da industrialização de pescado, modificados quimicamente com dianidrido etilenodiamino tetraacético (EDTAD) e adicionados de agente de ligação cruzada (glutaraldeído). Algumas proteínas modificadas ainda foram submetidas a tratamento com etanol. Foram realizadas análise estrutural das proteínas modificadas e estudo da capacidade de retenção de água dos hidrogéis assim obtidos. Os hidrogéis produzidos apresentaram alta capacidade de retenção de água. A máxima absorção de água foi alcançada pelo hidrogel ácido sem o tratamento com etanol foi de 103,25 gágua/ggel seco, enquanto que a mesma amostra tratada com etanol alcançou 216,05 gágua/ggel seco. Os hidrogéis produzidos podem ser utilizados em diversas indústrias, tais como, farmacêutica, alimentícia, médica, agroindústria, entre outras, que necessitem de hidrogéis com alta capacidade de retenção de água.

Caracterização bioquímica e molecular de enzimas trombolíticas obtidas de isolados microbianos dos Açores

Dissertação de Mestrado, Ciências Biomédicas, 13 de Maio de 2016, Universidade dos Açores.

Obtenção e caracterização de queratinase de bacillus sp. P45 a partir de coprodutos e aplicação na produção de queijos cremosos enriquecidos com chia e quinoa

As proteases constituem 60-65% do mercado global das enzimas industriais e são utilizadas na indústria de alimentos no processo de amaciamento de carne, na síntese de peptídeos, preparo de fórmulas infantis, panificação, cervejarias, produtos farmacêuticos, diagnósticos médicos, como aditivos na indústria de detergentes e na indústria têxtil no processo de depilação e transformação do couro. Proteases específicas produzidas por micro-organismos queratinolíticos são chamadas de queratinases e distinguem-se de outras proteases pela maior capacidade de degradação de substratos compactos e insolúveis como a queratina. Atualmente, processos que apontem o uso total das matérias-primas e que não resultem em impactos negativos ao meio ambiente tem ganhado destaque. Dentro desta temática, destacam-se a reutilização da farinha de penas residual durante o cultivo do Bacillus sp. P45 para produção de proteases e a biomassa residual de levedura, ambas com elevados teores de proteínas, podendo ser utilizadas no cultivo do Bacillus sp. P45 para obtenção de proteases. O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter a enzima queratinase purificada em grandes quantidades, sua caracterização, bem como a sua aplicação em processos de coagulação enzimática do leite para o desenvolvimento de um queijo cremoso enriquecido com farinha de chia e quinoa. Além disso, aplicar diferentes coprodutos para produção de enzimas proteolíticas e queratinolíticas. A presente tese foi dividida em quatro artigos: no primeiro foi realizado a obtenção da queratinase purificada em maiores quantidades e a determinação dos parâmetros de estabilidade térmica e a influência de componentes químicos na atividade enzimática. A obtenção da enzima em maiores quantidades alcançou fatores de purificação de 2,6, 6,7 e 4,0 vezes, paras 1º SAB, 2º SAB e diafiltração, respectivamente. A recuperação enzimática alcançou valores de 75,3% para o 1º SAB, 75,1% no 2º sistema e 84,3% na diafiltração. A temperatura de 55ºC e o pH 7,5 foram determinados como ótimos para atividade da enzima queratinase. O valor da energia de desativação (Ed) médio foi de 118,0 kJ/mol e os valores de z e D variaram de 13,6 a 18,8ºC, e 6,9 a 237,3 min, respectivamente. Além disso a adição de sais (CaCl2, CaO, C8H5KO4 e MgSO4) elevou a atividade da enzima na presença destes compostos. O segundo artigo apresenta a aplicação da queratinase como coagulante de leite bovino e sua aplicação na obtenção de queijo cremoso enriquecido com chia e quinoa. A enzima mostrou atividade de coagulação semelhante ao coagulante comercial, na concentração de 30mg/mL. A enzima purificada foi empregada de forma eficiente na fabricação do queijo cremoso, que apresentou valores de pH de 5,3 e acidez de 0,06 a 0,1 mol/L, com elevação durante os 25 dias de armazenamento. O terceiro artigo apresenta o perfil do queijo cremoso enriquecido com farinha de chia e quinoa, o qual apresentou alto índice de retenção de água (>99,0%) e baixos valores de sinérese (<0,72%). Elevados teores de fibras foi verificado (3,0 a 5,0%), sugerindo seu consumo como fonte de fibras. As análises microbiológicas foram de acordo com a legislação vigente. Na análise sensorial foi verificado altos valores de suavidade ao paladar e verificado maiores valores de consistência e untabilidade nas amostras com maiores concentrações de nata e quinoa. O quarto artigo traz a extração de β-galactosidase por ultrassom e o uso da biomassa residual da levedura, bem como o uso de farinha de penas residuais como substrato para obtenção de proteases. O ultrassom foi eficiente para ruptura celular e extração de β-galactosidase, apresentando alta atividade (35,0 U/mL) e rendimento (876,0 U/g de biomassa). A maior atividade proteolítica (1300 U/mL em 32 h) e queratinolítica (89,2 U/mL) verificadas ocorreram utilizando-se a biomassa e a farinha de penas residuais, respectivamente. Maior produtividade proteolítica (40,8 U/mL/h) foi verificado no meio utilizando biomassa residual como substrato. Já a maior produtividade queratinolítica (2,8 U/mL/h) foi alcançada utilizando farinha de penas reutilizada.

Estudo da imobilização das proteases aspárticas da flor de Cynara cardunculus L. Reologia da coalhada

Mestrado em Biotecnologia, Faculdade de Engenharia de Recursos Naturais, Univ. do Algarve, 2005

Avaliação da eficácia in vivo da L-arginina na elasticidade da pele

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 2012.