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Preparation of mitotic inhibitors in the form of nanotransporters
Meskařová, Veronika ; Indra, Radek (advisor) ; Hýsková, Veronika (referee)
Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases that every third person will encounter it. It is a disease arising from the sudden growth and rapid division of own cells. Despite progress in treatment, an effectiveness is not sufficient, and cancer is the second most common cause of death. In addition, the treatment is associated with several side effects. Currently nanomedicine uses nanomaterials for transport drugs in cancer treatment. It is possible to deliver the drug to the target site, but also to reduce the systemic toxicity of the drug by binding the drug to a suitable nanotransporter. This diploma thesis deals with seeking the appropriate mass ratio of antitumor drugs, colchicine and docetaxel, and the nanotransporter apoferritin. The aim was to find suitable in vitro conditions for high drugs encapsulation into the nanotransporter. Drugs encapsulation took place under active and passive conditions. Active encapsulation was under way on opening and closing nanotransporter by changing pH environment in test tube. Drugs were dissolved in DMSO or water with addition of HCl to charge the drug molecules and improve the binding of the drug into nanotransporter. As part of passive encapsulation, drugs were incubated in surroundings of urea or bivalent metal ions. Overall, it can be concluded that...
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Ecological and evolutionary consequences of polyploidization
Pavlíková, Zuzana ; Münzbergová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Rooks, Frederick (referee)
The frequency of polyploidy in natural populations is much more common than previously thought, suggesting that polyploidy must bring their holders either long or at least short term evolutionary advantage compared with their diploid ancestors, because otherwise they would not expand massively. The thesis deals with the consequences of polyploidy for genome, meiosis, mode of reproduction and the resulting viability of polyploid plants. It also describes and evaluates the possible reasons for the evolutionary success of polyploid plants. It also described the creation polyploids in diploid populations, the interactions between diploids and polyploids and the mechanisms of creation of reproductive isolation between cytotypes. Further, I paid attention to the interactions between polyploidy, herbivores and pollinators. In conclusion, I mention methods of synthesis neopolyploid plants, the possibility of their use and methods of detection of ploidy in plants.
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Impact of plant alkaloids on viral infection
Šnejdarová, Aneta ; Horníková, Lenka (advisor) ; Váňová, Jana (referee)
Plant products have been used to treat various diseases since ancient times thanks to the many active substances they contain. One such group of substances are alkaloids. Alkaloids are biologically active substances which, in addition to antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and many other properties, also possess antiviral properties. As a result, they can help treat viral infections, which are still a major medical problem today. Alkaloids affect all steps of virus replication, both viral components but especially cellular processes, without which a successful progress of viral cycle is not possible. In connection with the treatment of viral infections, the tropane, troponol, purine and isoquinoline alkaloids have been best investigated, which are also the subject of this work. The tropane alkaloid atropine acts mainly on enveloped viruses due to its ability to change the properties of biological membranes. Purine alkaloid caffeine, thanks to its ability to inhibit the cellular enzyme phosphodiestrase, causes an increase in intracellular cAMP levels and it has an impact on viral replication. Its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties are also beneficial for the treatment. The anti-inflammatory effects of the tropane alkaloid colchicine stem from its ability to inhibit the dynamics of...
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Microtubule-active drugs: mechanism of action and resistance
Dostál, Vojtěch ; Libusová, Lenka (advisor) ; Rösel, Daniel (referee)
Microtubular cytoskeleton represents a target for a myriad of diverse chemical compounds, referred to as microtubule-active drugs. Produced by certain plants, animals or microbes, the substances often effectively elicit cell death - especially in animals and also in plants to a certain extent, but never in species which produce them to defend against their predators. Nowadays, several microtubule-active substances constitute hallmarks of anti-cancer treatment and agricultural weed control. There is an enormous sum of knowledge about the action of paclitaxel (taxol), vinca alkaloids and colchicine, three best-known microtubule active compounds used in medicine, and new research often challenges the previously accepted theories. This work investigates the mechanism of action of microtubule-active drugs from the angle of biochemistry and cell biology, as well as from the physiological standpoint. Effects on microtubule levels and dynamics and the path towards the cell death are reviewed. In the last chapter, attention is given to drug activity in both animal and plant bodies and, finally, to drug-producing plant species which often show substantial resistance.
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Ecological and evolutionary consequences of polyploidization
Pavlíková, Zuzana ; Münzbergová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Rooks, Frederick (referee)
The frequency of polyploidy in natural populations is much more common than previously thought, suggesting that polyploidy must bring their holders either long or at least short term evolutionary advantage compared with their diploid ancestors, because otherwise they would not expand massively. The thesis deals with the consequences of polyploidy for genome, meiosis, mode of reproduction and the resulting viability of polyploid plants. It also describes and evaluates the possible reasons for the evolutionary success of polyploid plants. It also described the creation polyploids in diploid populations, the interactions between diploids and polyploids and the mechanisms of creation of reproductive isolation between cytotypes. Further, I paid attention to the interactions between polyploidy, herbivores and pollinators. In conclusion, I mention methods of synthesis neopolyploid plants, the possibility of their use and methods of detection of ploidy in plants.
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