Localization and identification of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in adult Sprague-Dawley rat testis / Localización e identificación de proteínas de tirosina fosforilada en testículos de rata Sprague-Dawley adultos

SUMMARY: Spermatogenesis is a major process in testis occurring from puberty through life span of males. The tyrosine phosphorylation is assumed to play roles in spermatogenesis because this process is important for cell proliferations, divisions, and differentiations. However, the localizations and identifications of phosphorylated proteins in testicular tissue of adult male rats are still unclear. Therefore, this study attempted to immuno-localize and identify such proteins in testicular tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats. The monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine (clone 4G10) was used to probe tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and also to examine the expression of such proteins using immuno-Western blotting in rat testis. The result showed that positive reactivity of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins was clearly observed in interstitial endocrine cells (Leydig cells), sustentocytes (Sertoli cells), spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids (round and elongated), respectively. The expressions of testicular tyrosine phosphorylated proteins were 200, 131, 93, 70, 60, and 48 kDas, respectively. In conclusion, testicular tyrosine phosphorylated proteins were localized in both germinal epithelium and interstitial endocrine cells of adult Sprague-Dawley rats.

RESUMEN: La espermatogénesis es un proceso importante en los testículos que ocurre desde la pubertad a lo largo de la vida de los machos. Se supone que la fosforilación de la tirosina desempeña papeles en la espermatogénesis, debido a que este proceso es importante para las proliferaciones, divisiones y diferenciaciones celulares. Sin embargo, las localizaciones e identificaciones de proteínas fosforiladas en el tejido testicular de ratas macho adultas todavía no están claras. Por lo tanto, este estudio intentó inmuno-localizar e identificar dichas proteínas en tejidos testiculares de ratas Sprague-Dawley. La anti-fosfotirosina monoclonal (clon 4G10) se usó para sondar proteínas tirosina fosforiladas y también para examinar la expresión de tales proteínas usando inmunotransferencia Western en testículo de rata. El resultado mostró que la actividad positiva de las proteínas tirosina fosforiladas se observó claramente en endocrinocitos intersticiales (células de Leydig), sustentocitos (células de Sertoli), espermatogonias, espermatocitos y espermátidas (redondas y alargadas), respectivamente. Las expresiones de las proteínas tirosina fosforiladas testiculares fueron de 200, 131, 93, 70, 60 y 48 kDas, respectivamente. En conclusión, las proteínas tirosina fosforiladas fueron localizadas en ambos epitelios germinales y endocrinocitos intersticiales de ratas adultas Sprague-Dawley.

Tirosina, substrato em reações de acoplamento cruzado: síntese de dipeptídeos Tyr-Tyr, heterociclos e investigação da atividade biollógica contra células cancerígenas e parasitárias / Tyrosine, a building block in cross-coupling reactions: synthesis of dipeptides Tyr-Tyr, heterocycles and biological activity investigations against cancer cells and parasidic cells

Tirosina, um aminoácido proteinogênico, de fundamental importância para nossa sobrevivência, foi objeto de estudo para a confecção da presente tese. Investigado frente às três reações de acoplamento cruzado mais exploradas nos últimos anos, Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck e Sonogashira, a 3-iodotirosina comportou-se como um excelente substrato na formação de unidades biarílicas, derivados estilbeno, formação de heterociclos do tipo 1,2,3-triazóis, quinolinas, benzofuranos e flavonas, bem como a formação de dipeptídeos Tyr-Tyr. A reação entre a 3-iodotirosina com diferentes nucleófilos de boro via reação de Suzuki- Miyaura, além de dar origem às unidades biarílicas, forneceu derivados do estilbeno, usados como substratos na construção de quinolinas, alcançadas por meio da reação multicomponente de Povarov, com catálise de prata em apenas 40 minutos sob irradiação de micro-ondas. Alguns desses derivados estilbeno, apresentaram ainda uma acentuada fluorescência, a qual foi medida em diferentes polaridades. Ao explorarmos a reação entre a 3-iodotirosina e acetilenos, derivados alquinílicos puderam ser convenientemente preparados, permitindo seu uso como materiais de partida na reação de cicloadição de Huisgen, no preparo de anéis triazólicos. Produtos provenientes da adição estereosseletiva de oxa-Michael, entre o anel fenólico da tirosina e aldeídos propargílicos, forneceram compostos carbonílicos α,ß-insaturados capazes de reagirem via acoplamento intramolecular de Heck, levando a derivados 2-aril-3- formil-5-alanilbenzofuranos ou ainda, apenas alterando a atmosfera inerte de nitrogênio por monóxido de carbono, a formação de 2-aril-6-alanilflavonas via acilação intramolecular redutiva. Além da metodologia de síntese explorada na tese, alguns dos compostos obtidos apresentaram atividade biológica seletiva contra células de melanoma e leucemia, bem como atividade antiparasitária frente ao Plasmodium falciparum, não afetando a proliferação de células sadias. Dessa forma, os resultados apresentados, agregam ainda mais valor sintético e biológico ao aminoácido tirosina, explorados de forma inédita

Tyrosine, a proteinogenic amino acid of fundamental importance for life, was the object of study for the research that is presented in this thesis. When 3-iodotyrosine was used in the three different types of cross-coupling reactions that have been exploited the most in recent years, namely the Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions, 3-iodotyrosine as an excellent substrate for the formation of biaryl units, stilbene derivatives, 1,2,3-triazoletype heterocycles, quinolines, benzofurans and flavones, and Tyr-Tyr dipeptides. This work is organized into sections in order to facilitate ease of reading. The reaction between 3-iodotyrosine and different boron nucleophiles via the Suzuki- Miyaura coupling reaction, in addition to giving the biaryl units, also provided stilbene derivatives, which were used as substrates for the construction of quinolines via multicomponent Povarov reactions. The Povarov was performed with silver catalysis under 40 minutes of microwave irradiation. Some of these stilbene derivatives showed a marked fluorescence, which was measured in solvents with different polarities. By exploring the Sonogashira coupling reaction between 3-iodotyrosine and acetylenes, alkynyl derivatives could be conveniently prepared, which in turn could be used as starting materials in Huisgen cycloaddition reactions to synthesize1,2,3-triazole rings. Products from the stereoselective addition of oxa-Michael, between the phenolic ring of tyrosine and propargyl aldehydes, provided 945;,946;-unsaturated carbonyl compounds capable of reacting via Heck intramolecular coupling, leading to 2-aryl-3-formyl-5-alanylbenzofurans or by simply changing the inert atmosphere of nitrogen by carbon monoxide, the formation of 2- aryl-6-alanylflavones via reductive intramolecular acylation. In addition to the synthesis methodology explored in the thesis, some of the compounds showed selective biological activity against melanoma and leukemia cells, as well as antiparasitic activity against Plasmodium falciparum, without affecting the proliferation of healthy cells. In this way, the presented results add even more synthetic and biological value to the amino acid tyrosine, explored in an unprecedented way

Identificação de resíduos de treonina e tirosina importantes na regulação da atividade do receptor P2X4 humano através de mutagênese sítio-dirigida / Identification of threonine and tyrosine residues important for human P2X4 receptor activity by site-directed mutagenesis

O receptor P2X4 (canal iônico controlado por adenosina-5'-trifosfato-ATP) está amplamente distribuído no sistema nervoso central e, após sua ativação, pode regular os níveis de cálcio intracelulares via permeação direta e por ativação de canais de cálcio voltagem-dependentes. Tem sido proposto que a atividade do receptor pode ser importante na plasticidade sináptica. Tendo em vista a importância do receptor P2X4, sobretudo na fisiologia do sistema nervoso central, é útil caracterizá-lo farmacologicamente e entender os mecanismos moleculares que regulam sua atividade. Examinamos o papel que resíduos específicos N- e C-terminais desempenham na atividade do receptor P2X4 humano, combinando técnicas de biologia molecular, bioquímica e patch-clamp em células de rim de embrião humano (células HEK-293T). Células HEK-293T expressando o receptor P2X4 wild-type apresentaram correntes iônicas, cujas amplitudes dependeram da concentração de ATP, fornecendo um valor de EC50 de 1,37 ± 0,21 µM. Os receptores mutantes E14A e D16A exibiram respostas ao ATP equiparáveis àquelas do receptor selvagem, ao passo que os mutantes Y15A e T17A não foram funcionais, apesar de serem expressos na membrana plasmática das células. A inibição de tirosina fosfatases por pervanadato diminuiu fortemente correntes induzidas por ATP. Subsequente análise de citometria de fluxo na presença de um anticorpo contra resíduos de fosfotirosina indicaram que, entre as células que expressam o receptor P2X4, a percentagem de células fosfo-tirosina-positivas é a mesma para os mutantes Y372A (86 ± 10%) e Y378A (79 ± 6.9%), mas substancialmente menor para os mutantes Y15A (35 ± 12%), Y367A (48 ± 6.4%) e Y372F (31 ± 1.7%), quando comparados com células que expressam o receptor wild-type (76 ± 5.6%). Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos quando quantificamos a expressão relativa de proteínas fosforiladas em resíduos de tirosina e expressamos através dos valores de intensidade de fluorescência média. Ensaios de western-blot revelaram que mesmo o mutante T17A é fosforilado em resíduos de treonina, sugerindo que o receptor P2X4 contém outros sítios de fosforilação. Entretanto, nenhum sinal de fosfotirosina foi detectado no receptor wild-type e nos mutantes, em que resíduos de tirosina foram substituídos por alanina ou fenilalanina. Não parece ser o resíduo Y15 o alvo de tal fosforilação, cabendo a ele um papel estrutural mais importante. Nossos dados também sugerem que a fosforilação em resíduos de tirosina de proteínas intermediárias regula a atividade do receptor P2X4

The human P2X4 receptor (ATP-gated ion channel) is widely distributed in the CNS and, after activation, participates in regulation of levels of intracellular calcium through direct permeation and activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels with well-defined functions including synaptic plasticity. Given the importance of the P2X4 receptor, especially in CNS physiology, we investigated the role that specific N- and C-termini residues play in human P2X4 receptor activity, by combining techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry and patch-clamping in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293T cells). HEK-293T cells expressing the wild-type P2X4 receptor showed ionic currents whose amplitudes depended on the ATP concentration, providing an EC50 value of 1.37 ± 0.21 mM. E14A and D16A receptor mutants exhibited responses to ATP comparable to those ones of wild-type receptor, whereas Y15A and T17A mutants were not functional, despite being expressed in the plasma membrane of cells. The inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases by pervanadate decreased strongly ATP-induced currents. Subsequent flow cytometry analysis in the presence of an antibody against phosphotyrosine residues indicated that, among the cells that express the P2X4 receptor, the percentage of phosphotyrosine-positive cells was the same for Y372A (86 ± 10%) and Y378A (79 ± 6.9%) mutants, however, substantially lower for Y15A (35 ± 12%), Y367A (48 ± 6.4%) and Y372F (31 ± 1.7%) mutants when compared with cells expressing the wild-type receptor (76 ± 5.6%). Similar results were obtained by quantifying the relative expression of phosphotyrosine proteins. Western blot assays revealed that even the T17A mutant was phosphorylated at threonine residues, suggesting that the human P2X4 receptor also contains further phosphorylation sites. However, no phosphotyrosine-antibody signal was detected in the wild-type receptor and mutants in which tyrosine residues were replaced by alanine or phenylalanine. The residue Y15 is supposedly not the target of such phosphorylation, despite its important structural role. However, the present work indicates that tyrosine phosphorylation of intermediate signaling proteins regulates P2X4 receptor activity

Estrés oxidativo en los músculos soleo y extensor digitorum longus (EDL) de ratas espontáneamente hipertensas / Oxidative stress in soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Las enfermedades sistémicas crónicas afectan el músculo esquelético, siendo la inflamación y el estrés oxidativo algunos de los mecanismos involucrados. El efecto de la hipertensión arterial esencial sobre el músculo esquelético no es bien conocido. Se estudiaron los músculos soleo y extensor digitorum longus (EDL) de ratas espontáneamente hipertensas (SHR), comparadas con las controles normotensas Wistar Kyoto (WKY). Se determinaron los niveles de nitritos y nitratos en µmoles/mg-proteína; las sintasas del óxido nítrico: endotelial (eNOS); neuronal (nNOS); e inducible (iNOS), nitrotirosina y el factor de necrosis tumoral-alfa (TNF-α) en ng/mg-proteína. En las SHR, en el soleo y el EDL respectivamente, se incrementó la nitrotirosina (24,4 ± 5,0 vs. 3,3 ± 0,3, p<0,001; 20,2 ± 4,3 vs. 4,5 ± 0,4, p<0,0037), iNOS (26,6 ± 3,7 vs. 8,3 ± 0,9; 21,3 ± 3,7 vs. 11,0 ± 0,8 ambos p<0,0001), y TNF-α (2,2 ± 0,5 vs. 0,6 ± 0,1, p<0,05; 1,9 ± 0,2 vs. 0,6 ± 0,1, p<0,02); hubo disminución de eNOS en el soleo (20,6 ± 1,4 vs. 30,3 ± 1,2, p<0,00001); de nNOS (soleo 16,8 ± 1,4 vs. 20,7 ± 1,8, p< 0,05; EDL 13,6 ± 1,3 vs. 21,9 ± 1,8, p<0,005) y de nitrito en el EDL (5,8 ± 0,3 vs. 7,1 ± 0,5, p<0,026). En las SHR se observó correlación positiva entre TNF-α vs. nitrotirosina: soleo (r=0,798; p<0,031) y tendencia en EDL (r=0,739; p<0,057); iNOS vs. nitrotirosina (soleo: r=0,908 p<0,0001; EDL: r=0,707; p=0,01), tendencia entre TNF-α vs. iNOS en EDL (r=0,736; p=0,059); y correlación negativa entre eNOS vs. nitrotirosina en soleo (r=-0,816; p=0,0012). En conclusión, las SHR presentan un proceso inflamatorio muscular, evidenciado por el incremento de TNF-α, nitrotirosina, e iNOS. La disminución de las sintasas constitutivas, con incremento de la iNOS es evidencia de la disfunción endotelial.

Systemic diseases affect skeletal muscle, and inflammation and oxidative stress are some of the involved mechanisms. There is scarce information about the effects of essential hypertension on skeletal muscle. The soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied compared to control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The levels of nitrite and nitrate in µmol/mg-protein; endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS), and inducible (iNOS) nitric oxide synthases, nitrotyrosine and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in ng/mg-protein were determined. Compared with controls, the SHR showed increased levels of nitrotyrosine (soleus 24.4 ± 5.0 vs. 3.3±0.3, p<0.001; EDL 20.2 ± 4.3 vs. 4.5 ± 0.4, p<0.0037), iNOS (soleus 26.6 ± 3.7 vs. 8.3 ± 0.9; EDL 21.3 ± 3.7 vs. 11.0 ± 0.8, both p<0.0001) and TNF-α (soleus 2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1, p<0.05; EDL 1.9 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1, p<0.02). A decrease of eNOS was found in soleus muscle (20.6 ± 1.4 vs. 30.3 ± 1.2, p<0.00001); of nNOS (soleus 16.8 ± 1.4 vs. 20.7 ± 1.8, p< 0.05; EDL 13.6 ± 1.3 vs. 21.9 ± 1.8, p<0.005) and nitrite in EDL (5.8 ± 0.3 vs. 7.1 ± 0.5, p<0.026).There was a positive correlation between TNF-α vs. nitrotyrosine in soleus (r=0.798; p<0.031) and a tendency in EDL (r=0.739; p=0.059); iNOS vs. nitrotyrosine (soleus: r=0.908; p<0.0001; EDL: r=0.707; p<0.01), a tendency between TNF-α and iNOS (EDL: r=0.736; p<0.059); and a negative correlation between eNOS vs. nitrotyrosine in soleus muscle (r=-0.816; p<0.0012). In conclusion, in skeletal muscles of SHR an inflammatory process was found evidenced by the increase in TNF-α, nitrotyrosine and iNOS. The decreased levels of constitutive synthases, together with the higher level of iNOS, are indicative of endothelial dysfunction.

Thermal stabilization of multimeric proteins: a case study with alpha-globulin.

Preferential interaction parameters of multisubunit protein, alpha-globulin and monomeric protein human serum albumin (HSA) were determined in different cosolvents using precision densitymetry. The apparent partial specific volumes were determined under both isomolal and isopotential conditions for alpha-globulin in 0.02 M glycine-NaOH buffer at pH 10 and the values were 0.692+/-0.002 and 0.688+/-0.001, ml/g, respectively, at 20.00+/-0.01 degrees C. From the partial specific volume data with cosolvents the preferential interaction parameter (xi3) and other thermodynamic parameters were calculated at different solvent concentrations. The (xi3) values increased with an increase in the solvent concentration up to 30% and reached a maximum with the values of-0.111+/-0.018 g/g and -0.076+/-0.012 g/g in sucrose and sorbitol, respectively. In glycerol the (xi3) values decreased with an increase in solvent concentration. The above data is further supported by thermal denaturation profiles in which the apparent thermal denaturation temperature (apparent Tm) of alpha-globulin shows an increase from 63 degrees C to higher temperatures in the order of sucrose, sorbitol and glycerol. Alpha-globulin showed coagulation due to protein interaction at temperatures above 50 degree C. The apparent Tm of 63 degrees C for control protein was increased significantly up to 75 degrees C in 40% sorbitol with two fold increase in the delta(S) values showing the increased structural stability of alpha-globulin. At high solvent concentration the protein gets dissociated and the resultant monomers are hydrated which was evident by fluorescence data and the difference spectral results with a 6nm red shift in the emission maximum and 2 nm blue shift in UV-absorption maximum arising out of perturbation of aromatic chromophores. The studies were performed both at native pH of 7.9 where the protein is in its oligomeric form and at pH of 10 where it is dissociated form and the results compared. The data showed that the solvent is excluded more from the protein vicinity in the dissociated state.

Hepatic phenylalanine-hydroxylase and tyrosine-aminotransferase mRNA levels in rats adapted to diets with different concentrations of protein

Se estudió el efecto de la concentración de la proteína de la dieta sobre concentraciones de ARNm de la tirosina aminotransferasa (TAT) y la fenilalanina hidroxilasa (PAH) hepáticas en ratas adaptadas a consumir dietas con 18 ó 50 por ciento de caseína en un horario restringido de 7 horas (9 a 16 h) durante 5 días. Las concentraciones de ARNm de TAT de ratas adaptadas a una dieta de 18 por ciento de caseína y alimentadas en forma aguda con dietas que contenían 6, 18 ó 50 por ciento de caseína, fueron 0.15, 0.84 y 5.08 veces más altas a las 6 horas en comparación con las concentraciones de ARNm antes de la administración de la dieta. Las concentraciones de ARNm de TAT después de 17 horas de ayuno en las ratas alimentadas con 6, 18 ó 50 por ciento de caseína fueron respectivamente -0.45, 1.76 y 9.11 veces mayores en comparación con el valor basal. Las concentraciones ARNm de PAH mostraron un patrón similar; en las ratas adaptadas a 18 por ciento de caseína se observó un aumento de -.68, 1.63 y 2.5 veces en las concentraciones de ARNm de PAH en las ratas alimentadas en forma aguda con 6, 18 y 50 por ciento de casína respectivmanete y un aumento de -0.86, 2.32 y 9.33 veces después de 17 horas de ayuno. La concentraciones de ARNm de TAT y PAH en ratas adaptadas a consumir 50 por ciento de caseína y luego alimentadas con 6 ó 50 por ciento de caseína mostraron un pico máximo a las 6 horas de ayuno. Estos resultados sugieren que las concentraciones crecientes de proteína en la dieta son capaces de producir aumentos en la concentración de los ARNm de las dos enzimas, posiblemente para eliminar el exceso de aminoácidos consumidos, ya que la concentración de los ARNm dependió más del contenido de proteína de la dieta de adaptación

Separación de aminoácidos mediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución / Amino acid analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography

Se presenta una compilación de la aplicación de la cromatografía líquida de alta resolución en el análisis de aminoácidos. Se analizan las formas de derivatización, se comparan los distintos derivados según sus alcances y limitaciones, la forma de detección y los distintos modos cromatográficos: cromatografía de intercambio iónico, cromatografía en fase normal, cromatografía en fase reversa y cromatografía en fase quiral. También se presentan los métodos automatizados comerciales más recientes para este tipo de análisis. Se dan ejemplos de aplicación de interés en el campo clínico-bioquímico, con el análisis de muestras de líquido cafalorraquídeo, de orina y de plasma/sangre o manchas de sangre seca. El análisis de los aminoácidos de hidrolizados de proteínas y de péptidos resulta más complejo y las condiciones de hidrólisis juegan un rol muy importante en los resultados, que son tratados en esta compilación. Se incluyen, además, aspectos referidos al análisis de los aminoácidos lábiles en proteínas, la preparación de las muestras, las recomendaciones prácticas al hacer HPLC y la influencia de los buffers