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The role of asparagine synthetase in leukemic cells
Šafrhansová, Lucie ; Starková, Júlia (advisor) ; Čuřík, Nikola (referee)
This thesis focuses on the detection of mutations in the enzyme asparagine synthetase on leukemia cell metabolism and the role of this enzyme in the context of L-asparaginase- based chemotherapy. The experimental part of the work is divided into two separate sections. Given the lack of asparagine synthetase gene sequencing data in leukemias, the first objective was to determine whether mutations are present in the leukemia cell line that could affect ASNS function and thus play a role in the resistance of leukemia cells to ASNase therapy. No mutations that could affect the activity of the enzyme were detected by next-generation sequencing. In the second part, a model of RS4;11 that expresses ASNS was established. The effect of ASNS on glycolysis was then studied to sensitize these cells to the effects of L-asparaginase and to the depletion of asparagine and glutamine. It was observed that ASNS expression increased the level of glycolysis and increased the resistance of these cells to asparagine and glutamine depletion and their resistance to asparaginase. Key words: ASNS, aspragine, leukemia, L-asparaginase, chemotherapy, drug resistance
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Phytoextraction of mixed drug samples from aqueous solutions
Hájková, Eliška ; Smrček, Stanislav (advisor) ; Soudek, Petr (referee)
A number of contaminants have been detected in the environment, including pharmaceuticals. Their presence in soil, water sources can have a toxic effect on organisms due to their constantly increasing concentration. The method of phytoremediation uses the ability of plants to absorb these contaminants and detoxify them by various mechanisms. The aim of this work was the phytoextraction of ibuprofen using maize (Zea mays) from aqueous solutions. Phytoextraction of ibuprofen after cultivation with added dextromethorphan was also carried out. The quantitative amount of extracted ibuprofen was detected by HPLC with UV detection. Ibuprofen has been very well extracted by plants. In the presence of dextromethorphan, the efficiency of phytoextraction was decreased. The phytoextraction efficiency of ibuprofen was 0.10 mg per gram of leaf fresh weight, while in the presence of dextromethorphan, the phytoextraction efficiency was 0.09 mg per gram of leaf fresh weight. After phytoextraction of ibuprofen, the antioxidant capacity was determined by FRAP method of leaf and root extracts of the plants, of which the highest values were observed in the roots of plant grown with ibuprofen in combination with dextromethorphan. The phenolic compounds were also detected in leaves and roots, where the highest percentage...
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Digestive proteases of termites
Čermáková, Markéta ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Ryšlavá, Helena (referee)
Digestive proteolysis in termites has not been studied yet. In this diploma thesis, proteolytic enzymes of the digestive tract of two significant pest species Reticulitermes santonensis and Coptotermes formosanus (Rhinotermitidae) were analyzed. Proteases were identified and quantified in gut compartments using a panel of specific substrates and inhibitors. Major proteases were localized in the midgut and were classified as endogenous serine proteases of trypsin type. Minor cysteine proteases were detected in the paunch and were most likely produced by symbionts. The trypsin protease from R. santonensis was chromatographically isolated and its N-terminal sequence was identified. The physiological importance of the digestive trypsin proteases was demonstrated using selective inhibitors tested in vivo with C. formosanus. Based on the analysis of proteases from additional 12 termite species, a general scheme of digestive proteolysis in the order Isoptera was proposed. (In Czech)
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Study of phosphorylation of inorganic pyrophosphatase from Streptococcus pneumoniae
Štechová, Michaela ; Doubravová, Linda (advisor) ; Svobodová, Jaroslava (referee)
The human patogen Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a single copy of eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr protein kinase StkP. StkP regulates virulence, competence, stress resistence, gene expression and plays a role in the regulation of cell division cycle. Analysis of phosphoproteome maps of the wild type and stkP mutant strain of S. pneumoniae showed that in vivo StkP phosphorylates several putative substrates including Mn-dependent inorganic pyrophosphatase PpaC. Mass spectrometry analysis identified two phosphorylation sites in an active site of the protein. Pyrophosphatases are essential enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate produced during various biosynthetic reactions that utilize ATP. Changes in pyrophosphatase activity have been described to have global effects on cell metabolism, growth and division of bacteria. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the phosphorylation of inorganic pyrophosphatase PpaC in S. pneumoniae. Gene ppaC was cloned, expressed in E. coli and protein was purified via affinity chromatography. Phosphorylation of PpaC by StkP was examined in a kinase assay but we did not confirm that PpaC is a direct substrate of StkP in vitro. Further we prepared a set of mutants in ppaC gene. We replaced two presumable phosphoaminoacids identified by mass-spectrometry with...
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Digestive proteases of termites
Čermáková, Markéta ; Konvalinka, Jan (advisor) ; Ryšlavá, Helena (referee)
Digestive proteolysis in termites has not been studied yet. In this diploma thesis, proteolytic enzymes of the digestive tract of two significant pest species Reticulitermes santonensis and Coptotermes formosanus (Rhinotermitidae) were analyzed. Proteases were identified and quantified in gut compartments using a panel of specific substrates and inhibitors. Major proteases were localized in the midgut and were classified as endogenous serine proteases of trypsin type. Minor cysteine proteases were detected in the paunch and were most likely produced by symbionts. The trypsin protease from R. santonensis was chromatographically isolated and its N-terminal sequence was identified. The physiological importance of the digestive trypsin proteases was demonstrated using selective inhibitors tested in vivo with C. formosanus. Based on the analysis of proteases from additional 12 termite species, a general scheme of digestive proteolysis in the order Isoptera was proposed. (In Czech)
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Study of phosphorylation of inorganic pyrophosphatase from Streptococcus pneumoniae
Štechová, Michaela ; Svobodová, Jaroslava (referee) ; Doubravová, Linda (advisor)
The human patogen Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a single copy of eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr protein kinase StkP. StkP regulates virulence, competence, stress resistence, gene expression and plays a role in the regulation of cell division cycle. Analysis of phosphoproteome maps of the wild type and stkP mutant strain of S. pneumoniae showed that in vivo StkP phosphorylates several putative substrates including Mn-dependent inorganic pyrophosphatase PpaC. Mass spectrometry analysis identified two phosphorylation sites in an active site of the protein. Pyrophosphatases are essential enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate produced during various biosynthetic reactions that utilize ATP. Changes in pyrophosphatase activity have been described to have global effects on cell metabolism, growth and division of bacteria. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the phosphorylation of inorganic pyrophosphatase PpaC in S. pneumoniae. Gene ppaC was cloned, expressed in E. coli and protein was purified via affinity chromatography. Phosphorylation of PpaC by StkP was examined in a kinase assay but we did not confirm that PpaC is a direct substrate of StkP in vitro. Further we prepared a set of mutants in ppaC gene. We replaced two presumable phosphoaminoacids identified by mass-spectrometry with...
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Enzymatic and inhibiting activity in boar epididymal fluid
Davidová, Nina ; Ren, Š. ; Liberda, J. ; Jonáková, Věra ; Maňásková-Postlerová, Pavla
Sperm maturation, represents a key step in the reproduction process. Spermatozoa, particularly the plasma membrane, are exposed to epididymal fluid (EF) components representing the natural environment essential for their post-testicular maturation. Changes in the sperm membrane proteins are influenced by proteolytic and glycosidic enzymes present in the EF. Accordingly, the occurrence of inhibitors in this reproductive organ is very important for the regulation of sperm membrane protein processing. In present study, we monitored protease and glycosidase activities, and inhibitors of metallo- and serine proteinases in boar EF. Additionally, we studied acrosin inhibitor in fluid, spermatozoa and tissue along the epididymis. We chromatographically separated boar EF into several fractions. These fractions were subjected to SDS-electrophoresis and the separated proteins were either studied by zymographic methods or transferred to nitrocellulose membranes for detection of metallo- and serine proteinases and their inhibitors, and acrosin inhibitor by specific antibody, respectively. Acrosin inhibitor was monitored also in the sperm and tissue of the boar epididymis. In boar epididymal fluid, several metallo- and serine proteinases with different molecular masses, and inhibitors of metalloproteinase MMP-9 and acrosin were found. We measured strong activity of mannosidase in this fluid. Using specific antibody, we registered the increasing signal of acrosin inhibitor from caput to cauda epididymis in the spermatozoa, fluid and also tissue. Proteinases and their inhibitors in reproductive fluids may play a significant role in reproduction processes. Especially, acrosin inhibitor in the reproductive tract inactivates prematurely released sperm acrosin and protects spermatozoa and reproductive epithelium against proteolytic degradation. High mannosidase activity in boar EF suggests evident role of mannose structures in the sperm interaction during reproductive events.
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Detection of mannosidase in the porcine urogenital tract – study of the sperm releasing from oviductal reservoir
Maňásková, Pavla ; Ren, Š. ; Jelínková, Jitka ; Krejčová, T. ; Liberda, J.
One of the most important steps of reproduction process is the meeting of sperm with oocyte. Binding of sperm with oviductal cells maintains spermatozoa in fertile state. The beginning of sperm capacitation is associated with oocyte ovulation resulting in the sperm release from oviductal reservoir. Hormonal changes after ovulation probably induce distinct oviductal secretion leading to disruption of the sperm protein binding with oviductal saccharide moieties. Another eventuality of the sperm releasing from oviductal reservoir is a change of oviductal environment caused by components of follicular fluid transported with oocyte after ovulation. In the pig, previous studies indicate lectin-type interaction of sperm protein receptors by mannose structures on the surface of oviductal cells. Our study was focused on enzymatic activity of mannosidase and its detection in porcine oviduct (fluid and tissue) and follicular fluid during hormonal cycle. In fluid from follicles in early and late hormonal stages, we measured mannosidase activity by colorimetric methods at physiological and acidic pH. Expression of secreted mannosidase was studied by specific antibody in follicular and oviductal fluids, and oviductal tissues during hormonal cycle. Clearly increased enzymatic activity of secreted mannosidase was found as specific-species in porcine fluid from follicles in late stage of hormonal cycle. On the other hand, detection of secreted mannosidase in follicular fluid as well as in oviductal fluid did not shown any significant differences during hormonal cycle. In oviductal isthmic tissue, we detected decreased protein expression of secreted mannosidase at middle and late follicular phases. These results suggest possible role of follicular mannosidase rather than oviductal one in the sperm releasing from oviductal reservoir in the pig. The additional study of the gene expression of secreted form of mannosidase in oviductal tissue during hormonal cycle should be necessary.
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