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Molekulárna charakterizácia vybraných obranných faktorov v čeľadi Lumbricidae
Mančíková, Veronika ; Bilej, Martin (advisor) ; Král, Jiří (referee)
Earthworms belonging to oligochaete annelids have been a model for comparative immunology for over 40 years. They possess various defense mechanisms efficiently recognizing and responding to non-self substances. Among these there are molecules with many biological activities including cytolytic, antimicrobial and proteolytic. This work is aimed to compare the immunological features of two closely related earthworm species Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida. Due to many morphological and life cycle similarities they have been, until recently, regarded as members of subspecies. Interestingly, their natural habitat varies considerably, and it was of particular interest to investigate how these environmental differences affect the features of innate immunity of both species. Key words: annelids, innate immunity, Eisenia andrei, Eisenia fetida, CCF, fetidin, lysenin, lysozyme
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The role of cohesin genes in the meiosis of male house mouse
Šebestová, Lenka ; Trachtulec, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Král, Jiří (referee)
Cohesin genes play an important role in cell division. They ensure proper chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. This study is focused on the role of cohesin genes during meiosis in male house mouse (Mus musculus). At first, this study introduces key processes of mammalian meiosis. Next, the structure of cohesin complex is described; it consists of a heterodimer SMC proteins - SMC3 and SMC1α or SMC1β, which are enclosed to the ring by cleavable subunit RAD21, RAD21L or REC8. Fourth subunit - a STAG protein (STAG1, STAG2 or STAG3) associates with the cleavable subunit. Meiotic function of specific cohesin proteins (SMC1β, RAD21L, REC8 and STAG3) as deduced from the phenotypes of the deficiencies of their genes in male mouse is depicted. All these four genes are necessary for many processes during meiosis, - e.q. sister chromatid cohesion maintenance, synapsis and recombination. STAG3, SMC1β, and REC8 are necessary for centromeric cohesion. STAG3 and RAD21L are important for the assembly of the remaining cohesin subunits. The most important phenotype of deficiency of all four genes is the complete meiotic arrest in male prophase I. Therefore, cohesin research is important for the investigation of the causes of sterility in mammals. key words: cohesin, meiosis, spermatogenesis, mouse,...
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Housekeeping genes
Maximova, Kristina ; Schierová, Michaela (advisor) ; Král, Jiří (referee)
Housekeeping genes are genes expressed in most tissues of the organism under certain conditions of the environment. Their expression in the cell is essential and relatively stable and may proceed at a low level. The development of genomic and transcriptomic analyses contributed to improving of our knowledge about housekeeping genes, about their structure, number, as well as the intensity and stability of their expression. Housekeeping genes are used as the reference genes for a calibration in semi-quantitative and quantitative studies in molecular biology. In my thesis, I will mention several candidates that have been selected as the most suitable reference genes by many studies. I will focus mainly on human housekeeping genes and the most studied model organisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Karyotype analysis of selected representatives of two pedipalpid orders, Amblypygi and Uropygi
Sember, Alexandr ; Král, Jiří (advisor) ; Ráb, Petr (referee)
Karyotype analysis of selected species from arachnid orders Amblypygi and Uropygi Whip spiders (Amblypygi) and whip scorpions (Uropygi) represent relict arachnid orders which has been found already at Upper Carboniferous strata. Although cytogenetic data from amblypygids and uropygids might be important to reconstruct karyotype evolution of arachnids, cytogenetics of these orders is almost unknown. Presented study is aimed in analysis of karyotype and meiosis in 16 species of Amblypygi and 4 species of Uropygi. Both groups are characterized by considerable range of diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 24 - 86 in Amblypygi and 36 - 66 in Uropygi). Analysed species does not exhibit morfologically differentiated sex chromosomes. Differentiation of sex chromosomes on molecular level was revealed in amblypygid Paraphrynus mexicanus by comparative genome hybridization. Obtained data indicate XY/XX sex chromosome system in this species. Comparison of karyotype data indicates reduction of chromosome numbers during evolution of both orders. In Amblypygi, this reduction was accompanied by increase of number of biarmed chromosomes. This trend is not apparent in Uropygi. Karyotypes of most analysed amblypygids and uropygids are also characterized by low amount of heterochromatin. Most studied species exhibit two pairs...
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Signaling pathways and genes regulating gonadotropin-induced maturation of porcine oocytes and cumulus expansion
Blaha, Milan ; Němcová, Lucie (advisor) ; Král, Jiří (referee)
In vitro, meotic maturation of porcine oocytes and cumulus expansion are induced by FSH and EGF-like peptides AREG and EREG. FSH and EGF-like peptides induce expression of cumulus expansion-related genes (HAS2, PTGS2 and TNFAIP6). To define signaling pathways that control FSH- and AREG-induced cumulus expansion, porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes were treated with specific protein kinase inhibitors. Inhibitors of MAPK3/1, MAPK14 and ERBB1 significantly reduced both FSH- and AREG-induced expression of HAS2, PTGS2 and TNFAIP6. These inhibitors decreased FSH/LH-induced expression of AREG and EREG in mural granulosa cells. Surprisingly, inhibitor of PKA had no effect on AREG expression in cumulus-oocyte complexes but the inhibitor decreased expression of TNFAIP6 induced by AREG. Inhibitor of PI3K increased expression levels of AREG and PTGS2 but EREG, HAS2 and TNFAIP6 were reduced. Expression levels of the cumulus expansion-related genes were not affected by an analog of cGMP (8-CPT-cGMP). However, 8-CPT-cGMP blocked spontaneous in vitro meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes and its effect was abolished by FSH. Key words: cumulus expansion, cumulus expansion-related genes, meotic maturation, FSH, amphiregulin, cGMP
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