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The mechanism of the regulation of phosducin function
Kacířová, Miroslava ; Obšil, Tomáš (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee) ; Pavlíček, Jiří (referee)
This dissertation is focused on 30 kDa protein phosducin (Pdc) and on the regulation of its function through the interaction with 28 kDa adaptor protein 14-3-3. These two proteins participate in G-protein signal transduction pathways, especially in the process of light signal transduction. It is assumed that Pdc binds to the Gtβγ complex of G-protein called transducin and through this interaction it inhibits the reassociation of Gtβγ with Gtα thus reducing the visual signal transfer. This process is thought to participate in a long- term light adaptation. The regulation of Pdc function is further regulated by its phosphorylation and subsequent binding to the 14-3-3 protein. It has been speculated that the 14-3-3 binding plays a key role in the inhibition of the interaction between phosphorylated Pdc (Pdc-PP) and Gtβγ. The formation of the 14-3-3/Pdc-PP complex leads to the reassociation of Gtβγ with Gtα and consequently to the amplification of visual signal transfer. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which the 14-3-3 protein binding inhibits the interaction between Pdc and Gtβγ remains elusive. The main aims of this dissertation were: (i) to investigate the structure of Pdc in its apo-state (in the absence of the binding partner) and in the complex with 14-3-3, and (ii) to suggest the mechanism of the...
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Study of interactions of forkhead transcription factor FOXO4 with DNA and the 14-3-3 protein
Vácha, Petr ; Obšil, Tomáš (advisor) ; Pavlíček, Jiří (referee) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE THE FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCE Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry The summary of the doctoral thesis Study of interactions of forkhead transcription factor FOXO4 with DNA and the 14-3-3 protein RNDr. Petr Vácha Scientific supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Tomáš Obšil, Ph.D. Prague 2015 Abstract This doctoral thesis deals with the interaction of human forkhead transcription factor FOXO4 with DNA and regulating 14-3-3 protein respectively. The main aim of this work was detailed characterization of interaction between DNA binding domain of protein FOXO4 with two canonical DNA sequences and further clarifying the role of the 14-3-3 protein in the regulation of activity of protein FOXO4. FOXO transcription factors are potent activators of the transcription of genes, which affect a variety of cellular processes. FOXO4 protein belongs to the family of forkhead transcription factor, which is a group of several tens of proteins, whose common feature is a highly conserved DNA- binding domain. Summary of the DNA binding specificity of these proteins, namely what precisely determines the small differences in the binding properties of individual forkhead proteins, despite the large amount of available structural data remains still unclear. Therefore, detailed characterization of...
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Activation mechanisms of muscarinic M1 receptor by atypical agonists
Randáková, Alena ; Doležal, Vladimír (advisor) ; Mysliveček, Jaromír (referee) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
Atypical agonists of muscarinic receptors bind to individual receptor subtypes with comparable affinity but activate them selectively to a certain extent. Molecular mechanism underlying this "functional selectivity" is not known and its elucidation may contribute to development of new atypical functionally selective agonists suitable for therapeutic use. Functional selectivity of atypical muscarinic agonists may be caused by a distinct molecular mechanism(s) of how these compounds activate the receptor. Agonist-specific conformations induced by structurally complex atypical agonists may lead to utilization of a parallel activation mechanism that is different than the activation mechanism induced by non-selective classical agonists. In order to examine this possibility we investigated whether the M1 receptor preferring atypical agonists xanomeline and N-desmethylclozapine, and the classical orthosteric agonists carbachol and oxotremorine, activate the M1 receptor through a common cascade of transmission switches. To this end we mutated key amino acids of the M1 receptor that are essential for ligand binding to the orthosteric binding site (D1053.32 , D993.26 ), receptor activation (transmission switch, D712.50 ), or interaction with G-protein (ionic lock switch, R1233.50 D1223.49 ). We compared...
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Pore-forming properties of Bordetella pertussis CyaA toxin and composition of the lipid bilayer.
Rädisch, Robert ; Konopásek, Ivo (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
Bordetella pertussis produces many virulent factors including adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) This toxin preferentially invades cells of immune system with integrin receptor CD11b/CD18 and weakens the immune system of the host. CyaA affects invaded cells in two ways. First, CyaA creates a cation-selective pores in the membrane of invaded cell and causes colloidal osmotic lysis. Second, CyaA converts cytosolic ATP into signal molecule cAMP, which causes a loss of physiological function of invaded cell and also leads to cellular death. The aim of my thesis was to test a suitability of a new model system composed from synthetic lipids - diphytanoyls, for a characterization of pore-forming properties of adenylate cyclase toxin. In the past, asolectin model system comprising many different lipid was used for characterization but it was found to be too complex for defining the role of individual lipids in CyaA activity. Further the effect of cholesterol for activity of CyaA was studied in a new model system because it was found recently that translocation of adenylate cyclase domain takes place at lipids rafts with high concentration of cholesterol. The last aim of my thesis was to characterize a newly discovered type of channel with the two conductance levels. Key words: Bordetella pertussis, adenylate...
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The influence of zinc ions on ionotropic glutamate receptors
Fraňková, Denisa ; Krůšek, Jan (advisor) ; Adámek, Pavel (referee)
Zinc is one of the most abundant divalent metal ion in the central nervous system, where it serves as regulator of many proteins (channels, receptors, pump...), product of neurosecretion or cofactor. The highest concentration of zinc in synaptic vesicles of the specific neurons, which are called zinc-containing neurons and it is subset of glutamatergic neurons. The cumulation of zinc in the synaptic neurons is arranged mostly by transporter ZnT3. A concentration of zinc in the synaptic's vesicles is about 1mmol/l and maybe higher. The zinc-containing neurons are mostly in forebrain, where create complex and neuronal network in mammalian's brain, which conect most of cerebral cortex and limbic system (Frederickson et al. 2000). Zinc is released from synapses after a stimulation (Vogt et al. 2000) and then it affects a lot of receptors, for example postsynaptic NMDA receptors (Koh & Choi 1994) and Ca2+ permeable AMPA and cainate receptors (Hong Z. Yin 1995), voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (Atar et al. 1995) and GABAA receptors (Ruiz et al. 2004). This bachelor thesis summarizes the efekt Zn2+ on the ionotropic glutamate receptors. It is mostly adressed on the NMDA receptors, which are the most affected by zinc. The first chapter is about structure of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which is followed up other...
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Inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by tacrine and its derivatives
Skřenková, Kristýna ; Krůšek, Jan (advisor) ; Doležal, Vladimír (referee)
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channels which are located on neuromuscular junction and in central and perifric nervous system. Activity of nicotinic receptor might be modulated by variety of pharmacological agents. In this work, we have focused on the study of the inhibition effect of tacrine and its derivatives on the nicotinic acetycholine receptors of muscle and neuronal type. These derivatives function as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and also interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The majority of current forms of treatment of Alzheimer's disease is based on cholinesterase inhibitors. We have studied the mechanism of tacrine and its derivatives by using patch clamp method in the configuration of whole-cell recording. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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The role of TRPV1 receptors in chemokine CCL2 induced modulation of nociceptive synaptic transmission at spinal cord level
Adámek, Pavel ; Paleček, Jiří (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
Modulation of nociceptive synaptic transmission in the spinal cord dorsal horn is a significant mechanism in the development and maintenance of different pathological pain states. Accumulating evidence indicates that the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) receptor and chemokine CCL2 (C-C motif ligand 2) may play a critical role in this process. The aim of this diploma thesis was to investigate the CCL2 induced modulation of nociceptive synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn of spinal cord and the role of the TRPV1 receptors. To investigate this aim patch-clamp recordings of spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC, mEPSC) from superficial dorsal horn neurons in acute rat lumbar spinal cord slices were used. After acute application of CCL2 on the slice preparation from naïve animals, a frequency increase of both sEPSC and mEPSC was present. This CCL2 induced increase in both sEPSC and mEPSC frequency was prevented by the TRPV1 receptor antagonist SB366791 application. No changes were observed in the amplitudes of sEPSC or mEPSC after application of the CCL2, SB366791, or co-application of CCL2 and SB366791. This suggests that the observed changes were mediated predominantly by presynaptic mechanisms. The preliminary results indicate that after chronic constriction...
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Changes of intracellular pH in yeast cells under stress conditions
Divín, Radek ; Plášek, Jaromír (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
Title: Changes of intracellular pH in yeast cells under stress conditions Author: Radek Divín Department: Institute of Physics of Charles University Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Jaromír Plášek, CSc. Abstract: Specific values of intracellular pH (pHi) can affect all biochemical processes in a cell and this phenomenon is closely connected with the degree of importance of changes in the intracellular pH under the stress conditions. In the Master Thesis, the yeast cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as a model of organism eukaryotic cells. Monitoring of intracellular pH of the cells was performed by the method of synchronous fluorescence scan technique of genetically encoded fluorescent probes pHluorin which was located in the cytosol of the cells. The cells were exposed to stress conditions due to the chemical changes in the environment. Consequently, their ability to maintain a stable value of the intracellular pH in various acidic environments was studied in more detail. The attention was also focused on the impact on optimizing of glucose cytosolic pH. The work was centered on the changes in intracellular pH under the influence of the presence of KCl in suspension. Furthermore, the decrease of cytosolic pH of monitored cells by protonophore CCCP was investigated. The effect of stress environment on the...
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The comparison of the performace of selected carbocyanine dyes in fluorescent probing of yeast cell membrane potential.
Mudroňová, Kateřina ; Plášek, Jaromír (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
The membrane potential is one of the most important parameters of the living cell. It can be measured using carbocyanine fluorescent probes. In this thesis we examined parameters of several dyes of this family. For further experiments three of them were chosen - diOC3(3), diIC1(3) a diIC2(5) as a supplement to diSC3(3) and diSC3(5), which represent standard probes used at biophysical department of Institut of Physics. We compared the rates of their accumulation in S. cerevisiae cells to determine if they were MDR pumps' substrates. The other goal of this work was to decide whether the results obtained using different probes are equivalent and to determine if the presence of a probe affects the spectral characteristics of another. For this purpose we have chosen diSC3(3) and diSC3(5). With those dyes we examined the influence of the acidification on membrane potencial of the yeast S. cerevisiae. We showed that the information on depolarization obtained using both probes were matching very well.
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The monitoring of intracellular ion concentrations in microbial cells
Vodáková, Adéla ; Plášek, Jaromír (advisor) ; Krůšek, Jan (referee)
The Master Thesis focuses on monitoring of intracellular ion concentrations in bacteria Escherichia coli and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using genetically encoded fluorescent probes with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Aquired knowledge about this protein and its spectral characteristics is summarized in the introduction. For experimental study a pH-sensitive sensor which displays a ratio change of two excitation fluorescence peaks - pHluorin - was chosen. This probe was tested in bacteria and yeast cells. The experiments concentrated on the ability of the cell to maintain a constant cytosolic pH under various conditions like different pH values of the suspension, addition of glucose or KCl to the suspension. Another topic discussed in the thesis is the elimination of the cell autofluorescence from the GFP signal. For this purpose the synchronous fluorescence scan technique was succesfully used. I have found out that by using this method the measurements of cytosolic pH values are even more accurate thanks to the improved signal to noise ratio.
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