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Characterisation of recombinant cathepsins B of the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti
Dvořáková, Hana ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Dvořák, Jan (referee)
This study focuses on the recombinant cysteine peptidases - cathepsin B originating in the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti that is unique across the whole family for its ability to migrate through the nerve tissue to the final localization. For invasion, migration, degradation of nutritional proteins and/or evasion of host immune responses, schistosome employs peptidases. This study follows the research done by researchers of Department of parasitology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Charles University. The main goal of this study was to deepen the characteristics of recombinant cathepsins B originating in T. regenti. In T. regenti, two cysteine peptidases - cathepsins B1 (TrCB1) and B2 (TrCB2) - have been previously characterized. TrCB1 is located in the gut of schistosomula and involved in digestion. TrCB2 occurs in post-acetabular penetration glands of cercariae and probably facilitates penetration. The recombinant pro-cathepsin B (isoforms TrCB1.1, TrCB1.4 and also TrCB2) were expressed in Pichia pastoris yeast system. An attempt was made to produce in P. pastoris the recombinant isoform TrCB1.6, in which the active site cysteine is substituted by glycine. While TrCB2 underwent self-processing in the expression medium, TrCB1.1 and TrC1.4 zymogens were effectively activated only after the...
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Glycosylation and antigenic properties of Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. orientalis salivary proteins
Sumová, Petra ; Volf, Petr (advisor) ; Grubhoffer, Libor (referee)
The goal of this study was to map the glycosylation pattern and antigenic properties of the salivary proteins of two closely related sand fly species, Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. orientalis. Affinity blotting with commercially available lectins revealed that many salivary proteins of these species are N-glycosylated, while the presence of O-glycosylation could not be confirmed. The level of N-glycosylation of most of these proteins is quite low, a larger number of potential N-glycosylation sites were found only in the amino acid sequences of P. orientalis hyaluronidase and endonucleases of both species tested. Four antigens from P. perniciosus salivary glands were selected for expression in a bacterial expression system; two of these proteins (PpeSP01 and PpeSP01B) were not glycosylated and the glycosylation level of the remaining two (PpeSP03B and PpeSP07) was low. The antigenic properties of the four chosen recombinant proteins were subsequently tested using immunoblot and ELISA. During the initial experiments with the sera of dogs experimentally bitten by P. perniciosus, two proteins (rSP07 and rSP01B) were proven unsuitable and they were excluded from further experiments. Recombinant proteins rSP03B and rSP01 were recognized by the same IgG antibodies as the native forms of these proteins...
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Kunitz-type inhibitors in Eudiplozoon nipponicum
Černíková, Markéta ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Jedličková, Lucie (referee)
Proteins containing Kunitz domain are mostly inhibitors of serine proteases. Their general characteristic is the presence of three disulfide bonds and small sizes around 6-10 kDa, although sometimes they consist of several Kunitz domains or they are part of more complex proteins. Their function is usually related to the regulation of physiological and proteolytic processes, but also to an interaction with pathogens or other defense mechanisms, such as being part of the sea anemone mucus or the venom of snakes and other invertebrates. We focused on Kunitz proteins in Eudiplozoon nipponicum, a helminth of the class Monogenea parasiting on gills of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). In the transcriptome of this parasite, several sequences with Kunitz domain have been identified based on similarities with the one already described Kunitz protein, EnKT1, suggesting that this parasite, like other bloodfeeding parasites, uses a whole set of these serine protease inhibitors with other specific functions. Several sequences with the Kunitz domain found in the transcriptome were verified by PCR and optionally supplemented by RACE-PCR. One protein, called EnKC1, was subsequently produced by recombinant expression in E. coli cells of SHuffleTM and Rosetta Gami B strains. Recombinant protein with the Kunitz domain...
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Interaction of a surface marker of immune cells with low-molecular weight ligands and their polymer conjugates
Šimonová, Lenka ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Obšil, Tomáš (referee)
Millions of people worldwide die of cancer every year. In the last decade, im- munotherapy offered new treatment options achieving long-lasting remissions in a number of patients. Several new immunotherapy-based drugs have been ap- proved by Food and Drug Administration. However, majority of patients either do not respond or soon relapse. Combination of therapies as well as exploring new immune checkpoints seems promising. This thesis focuses on the new immunotherapeutic target CD73. CD73 is membrane ectonucleotidase, widely expressed on the regulatory leukocytes and on cancer cells. The enzymatically active CD73 contributes to the tumour mi- croenvironment by production of immunosuppressive adenosine. This novel im- mune checkpoint is being intensively studied. This thesis aims on development of new approaches for targeting and inhibition of CD73. Soluble recombinant CD73 (rhCD73) was prepared in mammalian expression system and transfectants stably expressing membrane-bound CD73 were prepared as well. Inhibitors necessary for both of my goals have been designed based on published inhibitor of CD73. Development and evaluation of novel antibody mimetic for CD73 characteri- sation was done. The so-called iBody, HPMA polymer conjugate decorated with CD73 inhibitor for targeting, fluorophore for...
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Characterisation of recombinant mouse glutamate carboxypeptidase III
Janoušková, Karolína ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Obšil, Tomáš (referee)
Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII, PSMA, NAALADase) is transmembrane metalopeptidase and due to cleavage of substrates β-citryl-L-glutamate (BCG), N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate (NAAG) and polyglutamylated folates (Pte-Glun) is being studied as potential therapeutic target. Enzymes, which could compensate for enzyme activity and functions of GCPII, are thus relevant targets of enzymology as well. One of GCPII's homologs with similar enzyme activity is mouse glutamate carboxypeptidase III (GCPIII, NAALADase II). Enzymatic cleavage has not been determined using recombinant mouse GCPIII yet. It is important to kinetically characterize mouse GCPIII so that we can compare enzyme activity with human ortolog. Then we can find out whether mouse model is comparable with human. Recombinant mouse GCPIII was kinetically characterized. Kinetic parameters (KM, kcat) for recombinant mouse GCPIII were measured for substrates NAAG and BCG using radioactive assay. Experiments with the substrate Pte-Glu2 were analyzed using HPLC method. Although human GCPIII is more effective than mouse ortolog at clearage of NAAG, both enzymes are comparable during hydrolysis of BCG. Those results can contribute to better understanding of the role of GCPIII in the most commonly used animal model.
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Interaction of a surface marker of immune cells with low-molecular weight ligands and their polymer conjugates
Šimonová, Lenka ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Obšil, Tomáš (referee)
Millions of people worldwide die of cancer every year. In the last decade, im- munotherapy offered new treatment options achieving long-lasting remissions in a number of patients. Several new immunotherapy-based drugs have been ap- proved by Food and Drug Administration. However, majority of patients either do not respond or soon relapse. Combination of therapies as well as exploring new immune checkpoints seems promising. This thesis focuses on the new immunotherapeutic target CD73. CD73 is membrane ectonucleotidase, widely expressed on the regulatory leukocytes and on cancer cells. The enzymatically active CD73 contributes to the tumour mi- croenvironment by production of immunosuppressive adenosine. This novel im- mune checkpoint is being intensively studied. This thesis aims on development of new approaches for targeting and inhibition of CD73. Soluble recombinant CD73 (rhCD73) was prepared in mammalian expression system and transfectants stably expressing membrane-bound CD73 were prepared as well. Inhibitors necessary for both of my goals have been designed based on published inhibitor of CD73. Development and evaluation of novel antibody mimetic for CD73 characteri- sation was done. The so-called iBody, HPMA polymer conjugate decorated with CD73 inhibitor for targeting, fluorophore for...
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Development of high-throughput screening assay for the identification of inhibitors targeting influenza A polymerase
Karlukova, Elena ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Obšil, Tomáš (referee)
Influenza virus A circulates in birds and mammals and causes severe infectious disease that affects from 3 to 5 million people each year. There are two classes of anti-influenza drugs currently available: neuraminidase and M2 channel inhibitors. However, increasing resistance against these two types of inhibitors along with the potential emergence of new viral strains and unpredictability of pandemic outbreaks emphasize an unmet need for new types of inhibitors. RNA-dependent influenza polymerase serves as a novel promising target for the development of anti-influenza medications. The aim of this master thesis is to develop in vitro high-throughput assays for screening of compounds targeting influenza RNA polymerase, particularly, its cap binding and endonuclease domains. For cap-binding domain the screening is based on DIANA (DNA-linked Inhibitor ANtibody Assay) method that was recently developed in our laboratory; for endonuclease domain, the method is based on AlphaScreen technology. For the purposes of the methods development, recombinant cap binding domain of PB2 subunit and N-terminal endonuclease domain of PA subunit of influenza polymerase were expressed with appropriate fusion tags and purified using affinity and gel permeation chromatography. The probes for the screening assays were...
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Structural characterization of intracellular form of mice protein Nkr-p1a
Vaňková, Pavla ; Novák, Petr (advisor) ; Kolenko, Petr (referee)
NK cells are a component of innate immunity system, which is derived from lymphoid progenitor. By a sophisticated receptor repertoire, which is expressed on their surface, they provide a surveillance against pathogenic, virus infected or tumour cells. Simultaneously they produce cytokines, thereby are involved in adaptive immune response. This work is focused on the study of structure of mice soluble mNkr-p1a isoform. Recently this short isoform was identified at the transcriptional level by a member of our laboratory and it is designated as isoform 2. The aim was to produce mNkr-p1a iso2 protein in the prokaryotic expression system and to perform its renaturation and purification in vitro. In the next phase of work, the obtained product was analyzed by the mass spectrometry methods. Recieved results made us think about that our protein is in unfolded state. This assumption was refuted by following biophysical methods, nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering measurement. Keywords: NK cells Receptor mNkr - p1a Short isoform mNkr - p1a iso2 Alternative splicing Protein biosynthesis Recombinant protein production Protein purification Mass spectrometry Disulfide bond Chemical cross-linking NMR, CD, DLS 5
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Glycosylation and antigenic properties of Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. orientalis salivary proteins
Sumová, Petra ; Volf, Petr (advisor) ; Grubhoffer, Libor (referee)
The goal of this study was to map the glycosylation pattern and antigenic properties of the salivary proteins of two closely related sand fly species, Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. orientalis. Affinity blotting with commercially available lectins revealed that many salivary proteins of these species are N-glycosylated, while the presence of O-glycosylation could not be confirmed. The level of N-glycosylation of most of these proteins is quite low, a larger number of potential N-glycosylation sites were found only in the amino acid sequences of P. orientalis hyaluronidase and endonucleases of both species tested. Four antigens from P. perniciosus salivary glands were selected for expression in a bacterial expression system; two of these proteins (PpeSP01 and PpeSP01B) were not glycosylated and the glycosylation level of the remaining two (PpeSP03B and PpeSP07) was low. The antigenic properties of the four chosen recombinant proteins were subsequently tested using immunoblot and ELISA. During the initial experiments with the sera of dogs experimentally bitten by P. perniciosus, two proteins (rSP07 and rSP01B) were proven unsuitable and they were excluded from further experiments. Recombinant proteins rSP03B and rSP01 were recognized by the same IgG antibodies as the native forms of these proteins...
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Molecular base of plant HSP90-MT interaction
Benáková, Martina ; Krtková, Jana (advisor) ; Malcová, Ivana (referee)
Microtubules (MTs) are one of the essential cell structure that participate in a number of key events in the plant cells and their properties and functions are influenced and modified by many other proteins. These proteins belong to a group of microtubule- associated proteins (MAPs, microtubule-associated proteins). One of the MAPs, the molecular chaperone Hsp90, examines and fulfills a large number of different functions in the cell. Its colocalization with MTs has been demonstrated previously by Freudenreich and Nick (1998) and Petrášek et al. (1998). However, direct interaction with MTs was described only recently using cosedimentation assay. The specific cytosolic isoform of tobacco Hsp90 bound to MTs was called Hsp90_MT due to its ability to bind MTs. It has been also found that the binding to MTs is independent on the activity of ATP (Krtková et al., 2012). The authors also described a positive effect of Hsp90_MT on MT recovery after their exposure to cold stress. Although MT cytoskeleton dynamics is influenced by a large number of MAPs, it is surprising that the molecular mechanism of MAPs interaction with MTs and their MT-binding domains have not been described yet. Therefore, we decided to determine the tobacco Hsp90_MT MT-binding domain by production of a set of recombinant proteins...
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