|
|
Structure Analysis of Plant Bifunctional Nuclease TBN1
Kovaľ, Tomáš ; Dohnálek, Jan (advisor) ; Brynda, Jiří (referee) ; Schneider, Bohdan (referee)
This work is dedicated to thorough structural analysis of plant bifunctional nuclease TBN1, the representative of plant nuclease I group. TBN1 along with homologous nucleases from this family plays an important role in plant cell life cycle and also shows considerable anticancerogenic effects. Two variants of TBN1 (wild type and N211D mutant) were studied. Properties of both variants in different solutions were analyzed. Both were successfully crystallized. Structures of both types of TBN1 were solved using X-ray diffraction. The phase problem was solved by Multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion using Zn2+ ions natively present in TBN1. Structural properties of TBN1 such as fold, active site composition, effect of glycosylation and surface electrostatic potential distribution were analyzed. Reaction mechanism of TBN1 was proposed on the basis of structural properties and comparisons with similar structures.
|
|
|
Glycocalyx shedding by cercariae of bird schistosomes
Chaloupecká, Jana ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Štěrba, Ján (referee)
Trichobilharzia spp. are avian schistosomes related to medically important human parasites of the genus Schistosoma. Penetrating cercariae are well known as causative agent of cercarial dermatitis in humans. Cercariae actively penetrate the skin of definitive hosts and transform into schistosomula. This process is preceded by cercarial tail detachment and includes emptying of penetration glands and extensive surface changes. One of these changes is the loss of highly immunogenic glycocalyx which represents a protective coat in the aquatic environment. The glycocalyx has specific composition of saccharide molecules which are bound to lipids or proteins on the membrane of cercarial tegument. There is only limited information about the mechanism of shedding. Hypotheses based on indirect evidences suggest that peptidases or (phospho)lipases from penetration glands could be involved. This work describes the changes in surface glycosylation during transformation of cercariae into schistosomula by fluorescently labelled lectins and monoclonal antibodies against Lewis X antigen. Lectins UEA-I, LTA and PNA have been chosen as markers of transformation of T. regenti. Further, our experiments have been focused on shedding of cercarial glycocalyx. During in vitro induction of penetration gland emptying and...
|
|
|
Features and functions of glycocalyx of trematode cercariae
Chaloupecká, Jana ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Kašný, Martin (referee)
Trematodes are parasites from phylum Platyhelminthes which have compex life cycles involving two to four hosts. This work focuses especially on trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae. Their cercariae which leave the snail intermediate host, actively penetrate the skin of definitive hosts and transform into schistosomula. This is accompanied by detachment of cercarial tail and emptying of penetration glands. During transformation, cercarial bodies undergo extensive ultrastructural and molecular changes. One of these changes is the loss of surface glycocalyx which represents a protective coat in the aquatic environment. In glycocalyx shedding, participation of proteolytic enzymes from cercarial penetration glands is expected during invasion of the host. Glycocalyx has specific composition of saccharide molecules which are bound to lipids or proteins on the membrane of cercarial tegument. This work describes the origin, ultrastructure, saccharide composition, function and shedding mechanism of cercarial glycocalyx.
|
|
| |
guest ::
