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The role of exocyst subunit AtEXO70E2 in autophagy and secretion
Moulík, Michal ; Sabol, Peter (advisor) ; Janda, Martin (referee)
Exocyst is a protein complex composed of eight subunits, evolutionarily conserved in yeasts, animals, and plants. The main function of exocyst is to mediate the tethering of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. However, the involvement of exocyst in some other processes, especially in autophagy, has been recently discovered. Plant exocyst is specific because most of its subunits have multiple paralogs. The most diversified subunit is EXO70, which is encoded by 23 paralogous genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this thesis, I dealt with subunit AtEXO70E2 (AT5G61010), which has been localized to double-membrane compartments considerably reminiscent of autophagosomes. These compartments were named EXPOs (for exocyst-positive organelles) and described as a component of unconventional protein secretion pathways. There are also hints that EXO70E2 could play a role in autophagic processes. However, details of this relationship remained unexplored. For my experiments, I used stably transformed lines of A. thaliana and transiently transformed leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. I performed numerous colocalization experiments, applied various pharmacological treatments to the studied lines, and analyzed a mutant line in the EXO70E2 gene. According to my observations, protein EXO70E2 is expressed especially...
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Role of catalase and chitinase in the life cycle of Leishmania parasites
Glanzová, Kristýna ; Sádlová, Jovana (advisor) ; Kodym, Petr (referee)
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) which are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae). For the dixenous life cycle, leishmania parasites are equipped with enzymes that facilitate survival in both insect vectors and mammalian hosts. Gene for the enzyme catalase which protects cells from reactive oxygen species by the elimination of H2O2 and is present in related monoxenous trypanosomatids is, however, missing in Leishmania genome. Chitinase can be involved in the interaction of leishmania parasites with chitin-containing structures in sand flies (peritrophic matrix, stomodeal valve). The expression of the enzyme in amastigotes suggests its significant function also in the mammalian host. I tested the role of these enzymes in the life cycle of leishmania by direct comparison of L. mexicana mutants (i) with inserted catalase gene and (ii) with deleted chitinase gene with control groups. I conducted experimental infections of Lu. longipalpis including transmission of leishmania to the hosts by bite, tested the survival of leishmania in macrophages and performed experimental infections of BALB/c mice followed by xenodiagnoses. The experiments confirmed that the presence of catalase in leishmania does...
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Study of enzymes secreted by oomycete Pythium oligandrum
Hrdinová, Karolína ; Ryšlavá, Helena (advisor) ; Kubíčková, Božena (referee)
Pythium oligandrum is one of the non-pathogenic microorganisms of Pythium species which found its use as biological control agent. The main modes of action of this oomycete lie in inducing the plant immunity and in mycoparasitism of pathogenic fungi and fungus-like organisms. The oomycete attacks the pathogens by secretion of hydrolytic enzymes into the environment. In the first part of this bachelor's thesis, activity of hydrolytic enzymes endo-1,3-β-glucanase, cellulase, chitinase and proteases was observed in a commercial product based on Pythium oligandrum, called Polyversum-Biogarden. It was conclu- ded that the direct hydrolysis of phytopathogens is probably not the main mechanism of this product because the activity of glycosidases increased only after six hour-long incubation of the Polyversum-Biogarden in water and the proteolytic activity was not detected. In the second part of the bachelor's thesis, properties of proteases secreted by orga- nism Pythium oligandrum were studied. The highest proteolytic activity was observed at pH 6,5. Ovomucoid acted as an inhibitor of secreted proteases. The stability of pro- teases was lowered by SDS, detergents present in liquid soaps and by a solution of a solid soap or NaOH. Only the highest concentrations of urea lowered the activity of proteases....
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A comparison of the peritrophic matrix in four sand fly species (Diptera: Psychodidae) and its role in the Leishmania development (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae).
Homola, Miroslav ; Sádlová, Jovana (advisor) ; Hypša, Václav (referee)
anglický Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the only proven vectors of Leishmania parasites (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In Nematoceran Diptera, including sand flies, adults produce a type 1 peritrophic matrix (PM) which is secreted in response to the distension of the midgut caused by blood meal. The PM is an acellular envelope composed of chitin fibres and proteins, which protects the midgut epithelium against abrasion and pathogens and improves digestion. In hematophagous insects, the PM also plays a central role in heme detoxification. Female sand flies acquire Leishmania with a bloodmeal and the parasites undergo complicated development in their gut finished by the colonization of the stomodeal valve. The PM is one of the most important barriers in Leishmania development and its role in the vector competence of the S. schwetzi is the main topic of this master thesis. The PM's kinetic and morfology in the S. schwetzi is compared with other three sand fly species which differ in susceptibility to L. donovani. The key role of the PM in S. schwetzi vector competence is finally proved by disrupting the PM using the exogenous chitinase from Beauveria bassiana. Under these artificial conditions, the Leishmania parasites (L. donovani and L. major) are able to exit the PM,...
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