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The influence of spinal anesthesia on the degree of DNA damage
Koščáková, Mária ; Kuchařová, Monika (advisor) ; Vokřál, Ivan (referee)
Background: The human organism is exposed daily to many endogenous and exogenous substances that are the source of oxidative damage. Cell structures, including DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in the nucleus are damaged due to high concentrations of these substances and accumulation of oxidative stress in cells. The predominance of these damaging processes may later be responsible for human diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases or heart failure. In our study, we observed oxidative damage at the DNA level due to spinal anesthesia. Methods: Sample processing was performed by comet analysis. The principle consists in fixation of cells (lymphocytes) in the agarose gel, lysis of cell structures for nucleotide release, incubation with specific enzymes and exposure to electrophoresis. Damaged, negatively charged parts of the DNA in the electric field are directed to the positive charged anode, creating a typical comet shape. For visualization, the gels were stained with ethidium bromide (DNA intercalating dye). Results: We have quantified single-strand breaks, oxidized purines and pyrimidines (use of enzymes to detect specific damages). The results are reported in percentage of DNA in the comet's tail. The principle is to compare the intensity of the comet's tail with the total comet intensity....
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The influence of anesthesia on the degree of DNA oxidative damage
Zubáňová, Veronika ; Kuchařová, Monika (advisor) ; Nováková, Veronika (referee)
Background: Oxidative damage is one of the most frequent types of cell components damage leading to oxidation of lipids, proteins and the molecule of DNA. As a consequence, there is a higher occurrence of several pathologies such as atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer; or diabetes. In our study, influence of whole body anesthesia during minor surgery on the level of DNA damage was examined using comet assay technique. Methods: The basic principle of this method is fixing the cells (lymphocytes) in agarose, their lysis for the removal of membranes, incubation with the specific enzymes and electrophoresis of the released cell nuclei. During the electrophoresis, free low-molecular weight and negatively charged fragments of DNA move towards anode which causes the formation of the typical comet cell shape. Finally, the gels are stained by ethidium bromide (DNA intercalating dye) and visualized. Results: We have observed single strand breakages (SSBs) and, with the use of modified assay using specific enzymes for detection of specific lesions, also oxidized purines and pyrimidines. The extent of DNA damage as determined by the intensity of the tail of the comet was quantified using LUCIA Comet Assay (Laboratory Imaging, Czech Republic) software for image analysis. The results were used...
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Plant virus-based biotechnology
Vaculík, Petr ; Čeřovská, Noemi (advisor) ; Ryšánek, Pavel (referee) ; Petrzik, Karel (referee)
The latest model of tertiary structure of capsid protein of potato virus X (PVX CP) was used as a template to design new insertion sites suitable for the preparation of PVX-based antigen presentation system. Based on this model, seven insertion sites (A-G) located in putative surface loops were tested. As an antigen inserted into these sites was used 17 amino acids long epitope derived from human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein (E7 epitope) fused with either 6xHis tag or StrepII tag in both possible orientations (6xHis-E7 and E7-6xHis, StrepII-E7 and E7-StrepII). Prior to plant expression, modified PVX CPs were expressed in Escherichia coli MC1061. The results showed that only PVX CP carrying StrepII-E7 or E7-StrepII in the insertion site A formed virus particles. The results from transient expression experiments with modified PVX CPs in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that only the insertion site A (located between 24th and 25th amino acid in the PVX CP) could tolerate all tested inserts. Importantly, viral particles were detected only in the presence of StrepII tag and their stability was affected by the insert orientation (StrepII-E7 vs. E7-StrepII) as only the viral particles presenting E7-StrepII could be purified. Besides the preparation of PVX-based antigen presentation system, an...
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Plant virus-based biotechnology
Vaculík, Petr
The latest model of tertiary structure of capsid protein of potato virus X (PVX CP) was used as a template to design new insertion sites suitable for the preparation of PVX-based antigen presentation system. Based on this model, seven insertion sites (A-G) located in putative surface loops were tested. As an antigen inserted into these sites was used 17 amino acids long epitope derived from human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein (E7 epitope) fused with either 6xHis tag or StrepII tag in both possible orientations (6xHis-E7 and E7-6xHis, StrepII-E7 and E7-StrepII). Prior to plant expression, modified PVX CPs were expressed in Escherichia coli MC1061. The results showed that only PVX CP carrying StrepII-E7 or E7-StrepII in the insertion site A formed virus particles. The results from transient expression experiments with modified PVX CPs in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that only the insertion site A (located between 24th and 25th amino acid in the PVX CP) could tolerate all tested inserts. Importantly, viral particles were detected only in the presence of StrepII tag and their stability was affected by the insert orientation (StrepII-E7 vs. E7-StrepII) as only the viral particles presenting E7-StrepII could be purified. Besides the preparation of PVX-based antigen presentation system, an...
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Oxidative damage to cellular components after oxidative stress induction by specific herbicides
Kramná, Barbara ; Wilhelmová, Naďa (advisor) ; Ryšlavá, Helena (referee)
Oxidative stress is caused by overproduction and overaccumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species). This state is responsible for cellular damage during unfavorable environmental conditions such as drought, low temperatures, salinity. In order to directly study oxidative stress at tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) I used specific herbicides, MV (methyl viologen) and 3-AT (3- aminotriazole). There were several markers used for monitoring oxidative damage to cellular components: DNA damage detected by a comet assay, lipid peroxidation, carbonylated proteins and modification of activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT (catalase) and APX (ascorbate peroxidase). Fluorescent microscopy documented changes in a redox state of tobacco cells and a specific signal for peroxisomes was observed after treatment with higher concentrations of MV and 3-AT. Application of both herbicides caused significant DNA damage, while they worked in a different concentrations, MV in µM and 3-AT in mM. Another convincing oxidative stress marker for MV was protein carbonylation. The inhibition of antioxidant enzymes CAT and APX was less significant when compared to the effects of 3-AT. Decreasing membrane stability proved to be an universal oxidative stress marker for both herbicides. On the other hand, lipid...
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Optimalizace chromozómových manipulací u jeseterovitých ryb
LEBEDA, Ievgen
Highly profitable black caviar market and the depletion of wild sturgeon stocks warrant improvements in sturgeon aquaculture. Therefore, chromosomal manipulations, particularly gynogenesis, are focused on for increasing the ratio of females over males in progeny. The present study focused on optimizing chromosomal manipulations in sturgeons, particularly gynogenesis. The reasons of low survival rates were analyzed and the critical steps of gynogenesis induction processes were optimized. In addition, alternative ways of DNA inactivation in sperms were investigated, as well as the influence of native light-dependent DNA repair mechanisms on gynogenesis induction. Methods of interspecific gynogenesis usage for simplifying gynogenetic progeny separation were also proposed. Spectrophotometry analysis was used to investigate the ability of UV light, as the most common DNA inactivating agent, to penetrate into sperm. In addition, investigation of UV-irradiated sperm motility and results of partial gynogenesis induction showed that low transparency of sperms for UV-light can cause significant heterogeneity of UV-irradiation. As a result, a proper dilution of sperm was suggested as a critical step for homogeneous UV-irradiation of samples. Gynogenesis in sterlet was induced with chemical agents that damage sperm DNA, as an alternative to UV irradiation for applied in large-scale production of gynogenotes. All tested substances showed ability to inactivate DNA in spermatozoa, and thus producing gynogenotes. Negative impact of treatments with chemical agents on the sperm motility was observed. Subsequently, these treatments had a low efficiency of gynogenesis induction. The highest percentage of produced gynogenetic larvae 19.8 ? 8.9% was obtained by treatment with aminomethyl-4,5?,8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT) at 50 ?M followed by UV-A (360 nm) irradiation at dose of 900 J/m2. Therefore, this treatment could be used as a substitute for commonly used UV-C irradiation, e.g., in the case of large volumes of sperm. Detailed investigation of photoreactivation in sturgeon sperm revealed a significant level of light-dependent DNA restoration in sperms irradiated with high doses of UV-C light. Induction of gynogenesis with UV-C irradiation followed by exposure to visible light resulted in significant deviations from the typical Hertwig effect. In contrast, the red light with a wavelength of more than 600 nm did not result in decreased DNA damage, instead a moderate increase in damage was observed, i.e., it did not induce photoreactivation. Therefore, the use of infrared light to illuminate work stations during the induction of gynogenesis is suggested. The use of interspecific gynogenesis, particularly gametes of sturgeon species with different ploidy levels, was suggested as a way to simplify the separation of gynogenotes. In addition, application of this method allowed studying the effectiveness of DNA-inactivation and ploidy restoration treatments separately, as well as evaluation of fitness parameters and survival rates in each group of progeny without the physical separation of fish. Finally, the protocol for tetraploidization in sterlet was optimized for the prospective using tetraploid individuals for the induction of gynogenesis and androgenesis with diploid eggs and sperm. In conclusion, the described methods and protocols allowed gynogenesis induction in sturgeons with a survival rate sufficient for aquaculture, taking into consideration their high fertility, although further studies of the consequences of this treatment on fish is required.
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