@article{AbdelhafezFawzyFahimetal.2018, author = {Abdelhafez, Omnia Hesham and Fawzy, Michael Atef and Fahim, John Refaat and Desoukey, Samar Yehia and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan}, title = {Hepatoprotective potential of Malvaviscus arboreus against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {13}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0202362}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177243}, pages = {e0202362}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. is a medicinal plant belonging to family Malvaceae with both ethnomedical and culinary value; however, its phytochemical and biological profiles have been scarcely studied. Accordingly, this work was designed to explore the chemical composition and the hepatoprotective potential of M. arboreus against carbon tetrachloride (CCl\(_4\))-induced hepatotoxicity. The total extract of the aerial parts and its derived fractions (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous) were orally administered to rats for six consecutive days, followed by injection of CCl\(_4\) (1:1 v/v, in olive oil, 1.5 ml/kg, i.p.) on the next day. Results showed that the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions significantly alleviated liver injury in rats as indicated by the reduced levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), and malondialdehyde (MDA), along with enhancement of the total antioxidant capacities of their livers, with the maximum effects were recorded by the ethyl acetate fraction. Moreover, the protective actions of both fractions were comparable to those of silymarin (100 mg/kg), and have been also substantiated by histopathological evaluations. On the other hand, liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC‒HR‒ESI‒MS) metabolomic profiling of the crude extract of M. arboreus aerial parts showed the presence of a variety of phytochemicals, mostly phenolics, whereas the detailed chemical analysis of the most active fraction (i.e. ethyl acetate) resulted in the isolation and identification of six compounds for the first time in the genus, comprising four phenolic acids; β-resorcylic, caffeic, protocatechuic, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acids, in addition to two flavonoids; trifolin and astragalin. Such phenolic principles, together with their probable synergistic antioxidant and liver-protecting properties, seem to contribute to the observed hepatoprotective potential of M. arboreus.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Abdelmohsen2010, author = {Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan}, title = {Antimicrobial Activities from Plant Cell Cultures and Marine Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-51483}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2010}, abstract = {This thesis is divided into three parts with the main goal allocating novel antimicrobial compounds that could be used as future antibiotics. The first part aimed to evaluate the potential of plant suspension cultures for the production of antimicrobial proteins. The extracellular, intracellular and cell wall bound fractions of seven heterotrophic and photomixotrophic plant cell suspension cultures treated with nine different elicitors were tested for the elicitor dependent production of antimicrobial proteins. Bioactivities were tested against a selected panel of human isolates including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi using the disc diffusion assay. The intracellular fractions of elicited cell cultures were more active than extracellular fractions while the cell wall bound fractions showed lowest activities. Among the 21 fractions tested, the intracellular fraction of Lavendula angustifolia elicited with DC3000 was most active against Candida maltosa. The second most active fraction was the intracellular fraction of Arabidopsis thaliana elicited with salicylic acid which was moreover active against all test strains. The antimicrobial activity of elicited Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures was tested by bioautography to locate the antimicrobial proteins in the crude extract. The intracellular fraction of photomixotrophic Arabidopsis thaliana cells elicited with salicylic acid was selected for further gel filtration chromatography on S-200 column leading to the purification of one 19 kDa antimicrobially active protein, designated, AtAMP. Our findings suggest that elicited plant cell cultures may present a new promising alternative source of antimicrobial proteins. The second part comprises the isolation of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges and testing the bioactivities of new species for further investigations. Actinobacterial communities of eleven taxonomically different sponges that had been collected from offshore Ras Mohamed (Egypt) and from Rovinj (Croatia) were investigated by a culture-based approach using different standard media for isolation of actinomycetes and media enriched with aqueous sponge extract to target rare and new actinomycete species. Phylogenetic characterization of 52 representative isolates out of 90 based on almost complete sequences of genes encoding 16S rRNA supported their assignment to 18 different actinomycete genera. Altogether 14 putatively new species were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2\% to other strains in the NCBI database. The use of M1 agar amended with aqueous sponge extract yielded a putative new genus related to Rubrobacter which highlighting the need for innovative cultivation protocols. Biological activity testing showed that five isolates were active against Gram-positives only, one isolate was active against Candida albicans only and one isolate showed activity against both groups of pathogens. Moreover, the antiparasistic activity was documented for four isolates. These results showed a high diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges as well as highlighted their potential to produce anti-infective agents. The third part of the thesis focused on the isolation and structure elucidation of new bioactive compounds. Streptomyces strain RV15 recovered from sponge Dysidea tupha, was selected for further chemical analysis by virtue of the fact that it exhibited the greatest antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus as well as Candida albicans among the all tested strains. Moreover, members of the genus Streptomyces are well known as prolific producers of interesting pharmacologically active metabolites. Chemical analysis of the methanolic crude extract using different chromatographic tools yielded four new compounds. The structures of the new compounds were spectroscopically elucidated to be four new cyclic peptides, namely, cyclodysidins A-D. Their bioactivity was tested against different proteases, bacteria and Candida as well as tumor cell lines. The compounds did not show any significant activities at this point.}, subject = {Antimikrobieller Wirkstoff}, language = {en} } @article{AbdelmohsenChengViegelmannetal.2014, author = {Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan and Cheng, Cheng and Viegelmann, Christina and Zhang, Tong and Grkovic, Tanja and Ahmed, Safwat and Quinn, Ronald J. and Hentschel, Ute and Edrada-Ebel, RuAngelie}, title = {Dereplication Strategies for Targeted Isolation of New Antitrypanosomal Actinosporins A and B from a Marine Sponge Associated-Actinokineospora sp EG49}, series = {Marine Drugs}, volume = {12}, journal = {Marine Drugs}, number = {3}, issn = {1660-3397}, doi = {10.3390/md12031220}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119876}, pages = {1220-44}, year = {2014}, abstract = {High resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry (HRFTMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed as complementary metabolomic tools to dereplicate the chemical profile of the new and antitrypanosomally active sponge-associated bacterium Actinokineospora sp. EG49 extract. Principal Component (PCA), hierarchical clustering (HCA), and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the HRFTMS and NMR data of crude extracts from four different fermentation approaches. Statistical analysis identified the best culture one-strain-many-compounds (OSMAC) condition and extraction procedure, which was used for the isolation of novel bioactive metabolites. As a result, two new O-glycosylated angucyclines, named actinosporins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the broth culture of Actinokineospora sp. strain EG49, which was cultivated from the Red Sea sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda. The structures of actinosporins A and B were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques, as well as high resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Testing for antiparasitic properties showed that actinosporin A exhibited activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei with an IC₅₀ value of 15 µM; however no activity was detected against Leishmania major and Plasmodium falciparum, therefore suggesting its selectivity against the parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei; the causative agent of sleeping sickness.}, language = {en} } @article{AbdelmohsenPimentelElardoHanoraetal.2010, author = {Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan and Pimentel-Elardo, Sheila M. and Hanora, Amro and Radwan, Mona and Abou-El-Ela, Soad H. and Ahmed, Safwat and Hentschel, Ute}, title = {Isolation, Phylogenetic Analysis and Anti-infective Activity Screening of Marine Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68307}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Terrestrial actinomycetes are noteworthy producers of a multitude of antibiotics, however the marine representatives are much less studied in this regard. In this study, 90 actinomycetes were isolated from 11 different species of marine sponges that had been collected from offshore Ras Mohamed (Egypt) and from Rovinj (Croatia). Phylogenetic characterization of the isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing supported their assignment to 18 different actinomycete genera representing seven different suborders. Fourteen putatively novel species were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2\% to other strains in the NCBI database. A putative new genus related to Rubrobacter was isolated on M1 agar that had been amended with sponge extract, thus highlighting the need for innovative cultivation protocols. Testing for anti-infective activities was performed against clinically relevant, Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, fungi (Candida albicans) and human parasites (Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei). Bioactivities against these pathogens were documented for 10 actinomycete isolates. These results show a high diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges as well as highlight their potential to produce anti-infective agents.}, subject = {Biologie}, language = {en} } @article{AbdelmohsenSzesnyOthmanetal.2012, author = {Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan and Szesny, Matthias and Othman, Eman Maher and Schirmeister, Tanja and Grond, Stepanie and Stopper, Helga and Hentschel, Ute}, title = {Antioxidant and Anti-Protease Activities of Diazepinomicin from the Sponge-Associated Micromonospora Strain RV115}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-76279}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Diazepinomicin is a dibenzodiazepine alkaloid with an unusual structure among the known microbial metabolites discovered so far. Diazepinomicin was isolated from the marine sponge-associated strain Micromonospora sp. RV115 and was identified by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison to literature data. In addition to its interesting preclinical broad-spectrum antitumor potential, we report here new antioxidant and anti-protease activities for this compound. Using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, a strong antioxidant potential of diazepinomicin was demonstrated. Moreover, diazepinomicin showed a significant antioxidant and protective capacity from genomic damage induced by the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide in human kidney (HK-2) and human promyelocytic (HL-60) cell lines. Additionally, diazepinomicin inhibited the proteases rhodesain and cathepsin L at an IC50 of 70-90 μM. It also showed antiparasitic activity against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma brucei with an IC50 of 13.5 μM. These results showed unprecedented antioxidant and anti-protease activities of diazepinomicin, thus further highlighting its potential as a future drug candidate.}, subject = {Biologie}, language = {en} } @article{AbdelmohsenYangHornetal.2014, author = {Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan and Yang, Chen and Horn, Hannes and Hajjar, Dina and Ravasi, Timothy and Hentschel, Ute}, title = {Actinomycetes from Red Sea Sponges: Sources for Chemical and Phylogenetic Diversity}, doi = {10.3390/md12052771}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-112882}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges collected off Fsar Reef (Saudi Arabia) was investigated in the present study. Forty-seven actinomycetes were cultivated and phylogenetically identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and were assigned to 10 different actinomycete genera. Eight putatively novel species belonging to genera Kocuria, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Rhodococcus were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2\% to other 16S rRNA gene sequences available in the NCBI database. PCR-based screening for biosynthetic genes including type I and type II polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) as well as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) showed that 20 actinomycete isolates encoded each at least one type of biosynthetic gene. The organic extracts of nine isolates displayed bioactivity against at least one of the test pathogens, which were Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, human parasites, as well as in a West Nile Virus protease enzymatic assay. These results emphasize that marine sponges are a prolific resource for novel bioactive actinomycetes with potential for drug discovery.}, subject = {Meeresschw{\"a}mme}, language = {en} } @article{AdelfingerBesslerCeciletal.2015, author = {Adelfinger, Marion and Bessler, Simon and Cecil, Alexander and Langbein-Laugwitz, Johanna and Frentzen, Alexa and Gentschev, Ivaylo and Szalay, Aladar A.}, title = {Preclinical Testing Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Strain GLV-5b451 Expressing an Anti-VEGF Single-Chain Antibody for Canine Cancer Therapy}, series = {Viruses}, volume = {7}, journal = {Viruses}, doi = {10.3390/v7072811}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125705}, pages = {4075-4092}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Virotherapy on the basis of oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is a novel approach for canine cancer therapy. Here we describe, for the first time, the characterization and the use of VACV strain GLV-5b451 expressing the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) single-chain antibody (scAb) GLAF-2 as therapeutic agent against different canine cancers. Cell culture data demonstrated that GLV-5b451 efficiently infected and destroyed all four tested canine cancer cell lines including: mammary carcinoma (MTH52c), mammary adenoma (ZMTH3), prostate carcinoma (CT1258), and soft tissue sarcoma (STSA-1). The GLV-5b451 virus-mediated production of GLAF-2 antibody was observed in all four cancer cell lines. In addition, this antibody specifically recognized canine VEGF. Finally, in canine soft tissue sarcoma (CSTS) xenografted mice, a single systemic administration of GLV-5b451 was found to be safe and led to anti-tumor effects resulting in the significant reduction and substantial long-term inhibition of tumor growth. A CD31-based immuno-staining showed significantly decreased neo-angiogenesis in GLV-5b451-treated tumors compared to the controls. In summary, these findings indicate that GLV-5b451 has potential for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of CSTS.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Ali2007, author = {Ali, Walid Wahid}, title = {Screening of plant suspension cultures for antimicrobial activities and characterization of antimicrobial proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-24358}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Die zunehmende Resistenz humanpathogener Mikroorganismen gegen bekannte Antibiotika bedingt die Notwendigkeit, nach neuen Quellen f{\"u}r die Produktion antimikrobieller Stoffe zu suchen. Als eine solche Quelle gelten besonders Pflanzen, da viele antimikrobielle Stoffe bei der Abwehr gegen invasierende Mikroorganismen bilden. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit besteht in der Charakterisierung von pflanzlichen Zellkulturen im Hinblick auf ihre F{\"a}higkeit, anitimkrobielle Aktivit{\"a}t gegen humanpathogene Mikroorganismen zu entwickeln. Dabei sollen aktive Proteine aufgereinigt und die kodierenden Gene isoliert werden. Dazu wurden zehn verschiede pflanzliche Suspensionskulturen in Anwesenheit von neun Elicitoren auf ihre antimikrobielle Aktivit{\"a}t gegen f{\"u}nf humanpathogene Mikroorganismen getestet. Dabei erwiesen sich die heterotrophen Kulturen im Vergleich zu den autotrophen als aktiver. Die h{\"o}chste antimikrobielle Aktivit{\"a}t wurde bei der intrazellul{\"a}ren Fraktion der mixotrophen Kultur von Arabidopsis thaliana nach Elicitierung mit Salicyls{\"a}ure nachgewiesen. Da in einem Pr{\"a}zipitat mit Ammoniumsulfat Aktivit{\"a}t gegen Candida maltosa nachgewiesen wurde, konnte angenommen werden, dass es sich bei der aktiven Komponente um ein Protein handelt. Durch Hochgeschwindigkeitszentrifugation wurde eine partielle Aufreinigung dieser aktiven Komponente erreicht. Die proteinoide Natur wurde durch Bioautographie best{\"a}tigt und das Molekulargewicht auf ca. 26kDa gesch{\"a}tzt. Mittels Gelfiltration und Massenspektrometrie wurde das Protein aufgereinigt. Die Mikrosequenzierung ergab ein Protein mit bisher unbekannter Funktion, das eine pflanzliche Stressdom{\"a}ne (PLAT) enth{\"a}lt. Das Protein wurde daraufhin als AtPDP1 (Arabidopsis thaliana Plat-Domain Protein 1) bezeichnet. Das Gen und ein zweites mit hochgradiger Homologie (AtPDP2) wurden in E. coli kloniert. Der Digital Northern zeigt an, das beide Gene durch verschiedene Pathogene induziert werden, sowie von Chemikalien, die pflanzliche Abwehr hervorrufen und weiterhin von Phytohormonen. Der Versuch, AtPDP1 unter die Kontrolle eines Promors einer Proteinase zu stellen, der Induzierbarkeit durch Elicitoren vermittelt, blieb erfolglos. Weiterhin wurden 13 Thaumatingene aus Arabidopsis thaliana in E. coli kloniert, da ihre antimikrobielle Aktivit{\"a}t bekannt ist, und ihre Expression durch verschiedene Stimuli induziert wird. Von diesen Genen zeigt der Digital Northern bei allen Stimuli eine maximale Expression f{\"u}r At1g75800, w{\"a}hrend At1g75050 minimal induziert ist. Diese Gene stehen f{\"u}r zuk{\"u}nftige Studien zur Verf{\"u}gung.}, subject = {-}, language = {en} } @article{AmatobiOzbekUnalSchaebleretal.2023, author = {Amatobi, Kelechi M. and Ozbek-Unal, Ayten Gizem and Sch{\"a}bler, Stefan and Deppisch, Peter and Helfrich-F{\"o}rster, Charlotte and Mueller, Martin J. and Wegener, Christian and Fekete, Agnes}, title = {The circadian clock is required for rhythmic lipid transport in Drosophila in interaction with diet and photic condition}, series = {Journal of Lipid Research}, volume = {64}, journal = {Journal of Lipid Research}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100417}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-349961}, pages = {100417}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Modern lifestyle is often at odds with endogenously driven rhythmicity, which can lead to circadian disruption and metabolic syndrome. One signature for circadian disruption is a reduced or altered metabolite cycling in the circulating tissue reflecting the current metabolic status. Drosophila is a well-established model in chronobiology, but day-time dependent variations of transport metabolites in the fly circulation are poorly characterized. Here, we sampled fly hemolymph throughout the day and analyzed diacylglycerols (DGs), phosphoethanolamines (PEs) and phosphocholines (PCs) using LC-MS. In wild-type flies kept on sugar-only medium under a light-dark cycle, all transport lipid species showed a synchronized bimodal oscillation pattern with maxima at the beginning and end of the light phase which were impaired in period01 clock mutants. In wild-type flies under constant dark conditions, the oscillation became monophasic with a maximum in the middle of the subjective day. In strong support of clock-driven oscillations, levels of the targeted lipids peaked once in the middle of the light phase under time-restricted feeding independent of the time of food intake. When wild-type flies were reared on full standard medium, the rhythmic alterations of hemolymph lipid levels were greatly attenuated. Our data suggest that the circadian clock aligns daily oscillations of DGs, PEs, and PCs in the hemolymph to the anabolic siesta phase, with a strong influence of light on phase and modality.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Angermeier2011, author = {Angermeier, Hilde Gabriele}, title = {Molecular and ecological investigations of Caribbean sponge diseases}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-56855}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2011}, abstract = {W{\"a}hrend gewinnbringende Assoziationen von Schw{\"a}mmen mit Mikroorganismen in den letzten Jahren viel Aufmerksamkeit erhalten haben, wurde weit weniger in die Interaktion von Schw{\"a}mmen mit m{\"o}glicherweise pathogenen Mikroben investiert. Somit war es das Ziel dieser Studie zwei ausgew{\"a}hlte Karibische Schwammkrankheiten namens „Sponge Orange Band" und „Sponge White Patch" mittels {\"o}kologischer und molekularer Methoden zu untersuchen. Die Sponge Orange Band (SOB) Erkrankung bef{\"a}llt den bedeutenden karibischen Fass-Schwamm Xestospongia muta, der zu den bakterienhaltigen (HMA) Schw{\"a}mmen gez{\"a}hlt wird, w{\"a}hrend die Sponge White Patch (SWP) Erkrankung den h{\"a}ufig vorkommenden Seil-Schwamm Amphimedon compressa betrifft, der zu den bakterienarmen (LMA) Schw{\"a}mmen geh{\"o}rt. F{\"u}r beide Karibischen Schwammkrankheiten konnte ich einen Krankheitsverlauf beschreiben, der mit massiver Gewebszerst{\"o}rung und dem Verlust charakteristischer mikrobieller Signaturen einhergeht. Obwohl ich zeigen konnte, dass zus{\"a}tzliche Bakterienarten die gebleichten Schwammbereiche kolonisieren, lieferten meine Infektionsversuche in beiden F{\"a}llen keinen Beweis f{\"u}r die Beteiligung eines mikrobiellen Pathogens als Krankheitserreger. Somit liegen die eigentlichen Ausl{\"o}ser der Erkrankungen Sponge Orange Band als auch Sponge White Patch noch immer im Dunkeln.}, subject = {Meeresschw{\"a}mme}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Anschuetz2008, author = {Ansch{\"u}tz, Uta}, title = {Physiologie und Biophysik der pflanzlichen Glutamatrezeptoren}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-29438}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2008}, abstract = {In vorausgegangenen Experimenten unseres Labors war bereits gezeigt worden, dass die Applikation von Glutamat zur transienten Erh{\"o}hung der cytosolischen Calciumkonzentration sowie zu einer Depolarisation der Plasmamembran von Mesophyllzellen f{\"u}hrt. Pharmakologische Studien weisen auf m{\"o}gliche Orthologe tierischer ionotroper Glutamatrezeptoren (iGLuRs) hin. Ziel dieser Arbeit war eine vertiefte molekulare und funktionelle Analyse der Glutamatrezeptoren (GLRs) aus Arabidopsis thaliana. Dabei konnten folgende Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden: i. Zugabe von extrazellul{\"a}rem Glutamat in Kombination mit Glycin f{\"u}hrt in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der extrazellul{\"a}ren ATP-Konzentration (eATP) zu einer transienten Erh{\"o}hung der Calciumkonzentration in Mesophyllzellen. ii. Die Reaktion von Mesophyllprotoplasten auf die Applikation von Glutamat und Glycin ist im Vergleich zum intakten Blatt stark reduziert, kann jedoch in Gegenwart von eATP oder Glucose signifikant gesteigert werden. iii. Diese Responsibilit{\"a}t von Mesophyllprotoplasten ist zum Zeitpunkt des Einsetzens der Zellwandsynthese (48h) am h{\"o}chsten. iv. In Patch-Clamp Experimenten f{\"u}hrt die photolytische Freisetzung von extrazellul{\"a}rem caged-Glutamat bei 34 \% der gemessenen A. thaliana Mesophyllprotoplasten zu einem verst{\"a}rkten Kationentransport {\"u}ber die Plasmamembran. Dieser Kationenstrom kann durch gleichzeitige Anwesenheit von extrazellul{\"a}rem ATP noch verst{\"a}rkt werden und ist durch einen Desensitivierungsprozess gekennzeichnet. Die Empfindlichkeit dieser Str{\"o}me gegen{\"u}ber Antagonisten tierischer iGluRs stellt eine Verbindung zu der Genfamilie der AtGLRs dar. v. Coexpressionexperimente ausgew{\"a}hlter AtGLRs geben erste Hinweise auf eine Homo- bzw. eine Heteromerbildung von AtGLR1.1 und AtGLR1.4. Aufgrund fehlender Kanalaktivit{\"a}t konnten einzelne, in Oozyten exprimierte AtGLRs bislang nicht funktionell charakterisiert werden. vi. Studien zur transienten und stabilen {\"U}berexpression im homologen Expressionssystem zeigen einen cytotoxischen Effekt bei funktioneller {\"U}berexpression ausgew{\"a}hlter AtGLRs. vii. Die Analyse der Stellung des Glutamatrezeptors 3.4 in k{\"a}lteregulierten Signalnetzwerken via Microarrays weist auf ein {\"u}berlappendes Aufgabenspektrum der Familie der AtGLRs hin. viii. Im Rahmen von Microarray Transkriptionsanalysen an der glr3.4-1 Mutante konnte ein bisher nicht charakterisiertes, co-reguliertes Protein identifiziert werden. Dieses Protein ist durch den Besitz einer transmembranen Region sowie einer ATP-Bindedom{\"a}ne charakterisiert und k{\"o}nnte einen m{\"o}glichen Regulator des AtGLR3.4-Kanals darstellen. ix. Die {\"U}berpr{\"u}fung einer m{\"o}glichen Beteiligung der pflanzlichen Glutamatrezeptoren an der Generierung der glutamatabh{\"a}ngigen Ca2+-Signale sowie die Suche nach Regulatoren bzw. fehlenden Untereinheiten erfolgte mithilfe Mutanten-„Sreenings". Die Analyse der bis dato identifizierten, Glutamat-insensitiven Mutanten konnte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit nicht abgeschlossen werden.}, subject = {Glutamate}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Arand2010, author = {Arand, Katja}, title = {Charakterisierung hydrophiler Permeationswege in der pflanzlichen Kutikula anhand der Permeationseigenschaften ionischer Aminos{\"a}uren}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-49954}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Um sich vor dem Austrocknen zu sch{\"u}tzen, haben Pflanzen eine Transpirationsbarriere entwickelt, die als Membran alle prim{\"a}ren, oberirdischen Pflanzenteile {\"u}berzieht. Diese so genannte Kutikula besteht haupts{\"a}chlich aus den lipophilen Komponenten Kutin und Wachs und reduziert so effektiv den Verlust von Wasser und wasserl{\"o}slichen N{\"a}hrstoffen aus dem Blattinneren. Trotzdem ist sie nicht vollst{\"a}ndig undurchl{\"a}ssig, und so k{\"o}nnen Wasser und gel{\"o}ste Substanzen wie organische und anorganische N{\"a}hrstoffe, Pestizide oder Umweltchemikalien die Kutikula in beiden Richtungen permeieren. Dabei ist offensichtlich, dass die zu Grunde liegenden Transportmechanismen den Ern{\"a}hrungszustand der Pflanzen, die Effizienz von Pestiziden und die Wirkung von Umweltchemikalien beeinflussen. Ein genaues Verst{\"a}ndnis der Transportprozesse auf denen die kutikul{\"a}re Permeation basiert, kann helfen die Wirkweise von blattapplizierten D{\"u}nge- und Pflanzenschutzmitteln zu optimieren, indem gezielt Wirk- oder Zusatzstoffe modelliert werden k{\"o}nnen, welche die Aufnahme steigern. In der vorliegenden Arbeit sollte deshalb der Einfluss physiko-chemischer Eigenschaften von hydrophilen Verbindungen auf die kutikul{\"a}re Permeation untersucht werden. Nicht zuletzt wegen ihrer strukturellen {\"A}hnlichkeit mit den blattapplizierten Herbiziden Glufosinat und Glyphosat wurden Aminos{\"a}uren als Modellsubstenzen ausgew{\"a}hlt. Die verwendeten Aminos{\"a}uren sind gut wasserl{\"o}slich, wobei alle Oktanol/Wasser Verteilungskoeffizienten kleiner als 1 sind. Zus{\"a}tzlich liegen alle Aminos{\"a}uren in gel{\"o}ster Form als Ionen vor, was zu einer Hydratisierung der Molek{\"u}le f{\"u}hrt. Es wird spekuliert, dass hydratisierte Molek{\"u}le keinen Zugang zur lipophilen Phase der Kutikula haben. Welche Rolle die Hydrath{\"u}lle bei der Permeation tats{\"a}chlich spielt, ist allerdings noch unklar. Viele Aktivwirkstoffe liegen nur unter ganz bestimmten Bedingungen in geladener Form vor, w{\"a}hrend die Richtung der kontinuierlichen Nettoladung der Aminos{\"a}uren durch den pH Wert modifiziert wird. Damit kann der Einfluss verschiedener Ladungszust{\"a}nde auf die kutikul{\"a}re Permeation unter Verwendung eines einheitlichen Sets von Modellsubstanzen untersucht werden. Unter nat{\"u}rlichen Bedingungen sind Aminos{\"a}uren unter anderem auf Blattoberfl{\"a}chen zu finden, wo sie blattassoziierten Mikroorganismen eine profitable Nahrungsquelle bieten. Ob {\"a}ußere Faktoren f{\"u}r die Deposition dieser Recourcen verantwortlich sind, oder ob der Ursprung innerhalb des Blattgewebes liegt, wird kontrovers diskutiert. Die Sorption von Aminos{\"a}uren in isolierte Kutikularmembranen ist sehr gering, und korreliert - anders als bei lipophilen Substanzen - nicht mit dem Oktanol/Wasser Verteilungskoeffizienten. Das zeigt, dass der Verteilung von lipophilen und hydrophilen Substanzen innerhalb der Kutikula verschiedene Mechanismen zu Grunde liegen. Unter einer gegebenen Bedingung werden die kutikul{\"a}ren Leitwerte der Aminos{\"a}uren negativ vom Molvolumen beeinflusst. Zudem {\"u}bersteigt die L{\"a}nge des Permeationswegs die eigentliche Dicke der Membran um ein Vielfaches. Diese Zusammenh{\"a}nge kennzeichnen eine gehinderte Diffusion innerhalb einer engporigen und weit verzweigten Umgebung. Eine {\"A}nderung des pH Wertes wirkt sich in unterschiedlicher Form auf die Leitwerte von Wasser und Aminos{\"a}uren aus. Mit steigendem pH Wert erh{\"o}ht sich die Wasserpermeabilit{\"a}t isolierter Kutikularmembranen, was durch eine zunehmende, messbare Wassersorption in die Kutikula erkl{\"a}rt werden kann. Eine pH abh{\"a}ngige Dissoziation funktioneller Gruppen bewirkt eine Schwellung des polaren Weges, weshalb auch f{\"u}r die anionischen Aminos{\"a}uren bei pH 11 die h{\"o}chsten Leitwerte gemessen wurden. Die zwitterionischen Aminos{\"a}uren bei pH 6 wiesen hingegen die geringsten Leitwerte auf, was im Widerspruch zu der Beobachtung steht, dass bei pH 1 die geringste Wassersorption in die Kutikula stattfindet. Eine Erkl{\"a}rung hierf{\"u}r liefern die Hydrath{\"u}llen, die bei den zwitterionischen Aminos{\"a}uren am st{\"a}rksten und bei den anionischen Species am geringsten ausgepr{\"a}gt sind. Eine negative Korrelation aller gemessenen Aminos{\"a}ureleitwerte mit den entsprechenden hydratisierten Molvolumen zeigt eindeutig, dass die Hydrath{\"u}lle eine wichtige Gr{\"o}ße f{\"u}r die Permeation durch die Kutikula darstellt. Dabei nimmt der Leitwert einer hydrophilen Substanz mit definiertem Molvolumen mit kleiner werdender Hydrath{\"u}lle zu. Intakte Bl{\"a}tter wurden in fl{\"u}ssiges Wasser als Rezeptorl{\"o}sung getaucht, um steady-state Bedingungen aufrecht zu erhalten. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Permeabilit{\"a}ten von intakten Kutikularmembranen, die anhand der nat{\"u}rlichen Aminos{\"a}urekonzentration innerhalb der Bl{\"a}tter bestimmt wurden, in derselben Gr{\"o}ßenordnung liegen, wie die f{\"u}r isolierte Membranen gemessenen. Außerdem konnte ein Vergleich der Flussraten auf der Ober- und Unterseite der Bl{\"a}tter zeigen, dass die stomat{\"a}ren Poren nicht direkt in den Leachingprozess involviert sind.}, subject = {Permeation}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Asmus2016, author = {Asmus, Elisabeth}, title = {Mode of Action of Adjuvants for Foliar Application}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-138159}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Adjuvants are compounds added to an agrochemical spray formulation to improve or modify the action of an active ingredient (AI) or the physico-chemical characteristics of the spray liquid. Adjuvants can have more than only one distinct mode of action (MoA) during the foliar spray application process and they are generally known to be the best tools to improve agrochemical formulations. The main objective for this work was to elucidate the basic MoA of adjuvants by uncoupling different aspects of the spray application. Laboratory experiments, beginning from retention and spreading characteristics, followed by humectant effects concerning the spray deposit on the leaf surface and ultimately the cuticular penetration of an AI, were figured out to evaluate overall in vivo effects of adjuvants which were also obtained in a greenhouse spray test. For this comprehensive study, the surfactant classes of non-ionic sorbitan esters (Span), polysorbates (Tween) and oleyl alcohol polyglycol ether (Genapol O) were generally considered because of their common promoting potential in agrochemical formulations and their structural diversity. The reduction of interfacial tension is one of the most crucial physico-chemical properties of surfactants. The dynamic surface tension (DST) was monitored to characterise the surface tension lowering behaviour which is known to influence the droplet formation and retention characteristics. The DST is a function of time and the critical time frame of droplet impact might be at about 100 ms. None of the selected surfactants were found to lower the surface tension sufficiently during this short timeframe (chapter I). At ca. 100 ms, Tween 20 resulted in the lowest DST value. When surfactant monomers are fully saturated at the droplet-air-interface, an equilibrium surface tension (STeq) value can be determined which may be used to predict spreading or run-off effects. The majority of selected surfactants resulted in a narrow distribution of STeq values, ranging between 30 and 45 mN m- 1. Nevertheless, all surfactants were able to decrease the surface tension considerably compared to pure water (72 mN m- 1). The influence of different surfactants on the wetting process was evaluated by studying time-dependent static contact angles on different surfaces and the droplet spread area on Triticum aestivum leaves after water evaporation. The spreading potential was observed to be better for Spans than for Tweens. Especially Span 20 showed maximum spreading results. To transfer laboratory findings to spray application, related to field conditions, retention and leaf coverage was measured quantitatively on wheat leaves by using a variable track sprayer. Since the retention process involves short time dynamics, it is well-known that the spray retention on a plant surface is not correlated to STeq but to DST values. The relationship between DST at ca. 100 ms and results from the track sprayer showed increasing retention results with decreasing DST, whereas at DST values below ca. 60 mN m- 1 no further retention improvement could be observed. Under field conditions, water evaporates from the droplet within a few seconds to minutes after droplet deposition on the leaf surface. Since precipitation of the AI must essentially being avoided by holding the AI in solution, so-called humectants are used as tank-mix adjuvants. The ability of pure surfactants to absorb water from the surrounding atmosphere was investigated comprehensively by analysing water sorption isotherms (chapter II). These isotherms showed an exponential shape with a steep water sorption increase starting at 60\% to 70\% RH. Water sorption was low for Spans and much more distinct for the polyethoxylated surfactants (Tweens and Genapol O series). The relationship between the water sorption behaviour and the molecular structure of surfactants was considered as the so-called humectant activity. With an increasing ethylene oxide (EO) content, the humectant activity increased concerning the particular class of Genapol O. However, it could be shown that the moisture absorption across all classes of selected surfactants correlates rather better with their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values with the EO content. All aboveground organs of plants are covered by the cuticular membrane which is therefore the first rate limiting barrier for AI uptake. In vitro penetration experiments through an astomatous model cuticle were performed to study the effects of adjuvants on the penetration of the lipophilic herbicide Pinoxaden (PXD) (chapter III). In order to understand the influence of different adjuvant MoA like humectancy, experiments were performed under three different humidity levels. No explicit relationship could be found between humidity levels and the PXD penetration which might be explained by the fact that humidity effects would rather affect hydrophilic AIs than lipophilic ones. Especially for Tween 20, it became obvious that a complex balance between multiple MoA like spreading, humectancy and plasticising effects have to be considered. Greenhouse trials, focussing the adjuvant impact on in vivo action of PXD, were evaluated on five different grass-weed species (chapter III). Since agrochemical spray application and its following action on living plants also includes translocation processes in planta and species dependent physiological effects, this investigation may help to simulate the situation on the field. Even though the absolute weed damage was different, depending both on plant species and also on PXD rates, adjuvant effects in greenhouse experiments displayed the same ranking as in cuticular penetration studies: Tween 20 > Tween 80 > Span 20 ≥ Span 80. Thus, the present work shows for the first time that findings obtained in laboratory experiments can be successfully transferred to spray application studies on living plants concerning adjuvant MoA. A comparative analysis, using radar charts, could demonstrate systematic derivations from structural similarities of adjuvants to their MoA (summarising discussion and outlook). Exemplarily, Tween 20 and Tween 80 cover a wide range of selected variables by having no outstanding MoA improving one distinct process during foliar application, compared to non-ethoxylated Span 20 and Span 80 which primarily revealed a surface active action. Most adjuvants used in this study represent polydisperse mixtures bearing a complex distribution of EO and aliphatic chains. From this study it seems alike that adjuvants having a wide EO distribution offer broader potential than adjuvants with a small EO distribution. It might be a speculation that due to this broad distribution of single molecules, all bearing their individual specific physico-chemical nature, a wide range of properties concerning their MoA is covered.}, subject = {Adjuvans}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Attaran2010, author = {Attaran, Elham}, title = {Regulation of pathogen-inducible volatile compounds in Arabidopsis and their role in plant defense}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-46715}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Plants are constantly attacked by pathogenic microbes. As a result, they have evolved a plethora of constitutive and inducible defense responses to defend against attempted pathogen infection. Although volatile organic compounds have been implicated in plant defense, direct evidence of their function in plant resistance is still lacking. I have examined the role of VOCs in Arabidopsis defense against the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola. The obtained results show that the vegetative parts of Arabidopsis produces and emits the volatile phenylpropanoid MeSA and three kinds of terpenoids, (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-1,3,7,11-tetraene (TMTT), alpha-ionon and beta-farnesen, upon avirulent and virulent P. syringae inoculation. Whereas the most abundant volatiles, MeSA and TMTT, are already produced at early stages of infection in the compatible and incompatible interaction, enhanced emission of alpha-ionon and beta-farnesen can only be detected in later stages of the compatible interaction. It was revealed that pathogen-induced synthesis of TMTT in Arabidopsis requires the JA signaling pathway but occurs independently of SA defense signaling. Similarly, the production of MeSA is dependent on JA signaling but not on the SA defense signaling pathway. Furthermore, production of MeSA is dependent on the function of ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE1, which produces its precursor SA. Upon inoculation with avirulent P. syringae, endogenously produced JA activates the JA signalling pathway to mediate MeSA and TMTT synthesis. By contrast, in the compatible Arabidopsis-Psm interaction, production of MeSA predominantly depends on the P. syringea the virulence factor coronatine, which activates JA downstream signaling. To learn more about the role of inducible VOCs in plant defense responses, I have identified an Arabidopsis T-DNA insertions line with a defect in the TERPENE SYNTHASE4 (TPS4) gene. Emission profiles from this mutant revealed that the induced production of TMTT but not of alpha-ionone, beta-farnesene or MeSA are abolished, demonstrating that TPS4 specifically regulates the P. syringae-induced synthesis of TMTT in Arabidopsis. The lack of TMTT in tps4 mutants, however, does not affect plant defense responses and resistance induction against P. syringae. This excludes a role of the terpenoid as an effective phytoalexin in Arabidopsis leaves against the bacterial pathogen. Moreover, tps4 mutant plants are still able to mount a SAR response, excluding a signaling function of TMTT during SAR. An important aim of our studies was to address the defensive role of MeSA, the major VOC emitted from P. syringae-inoculated Arabidopsis leaves. MeSA has been recently proposed as a critical long distance signal in the development of SAR. I found that two independent T-DNA insertions lines with defects in expression of the pathogen-inducible SA methyl transferase gene BSMT1 are completely devoid of pathogen-induced production of MeSA. However, bsmt1 mutant plants are capable to increase the level of SA in systemic, non-infected leaves of Arabodopsis and develop SAR like wild-type plants upon local P. syringae-inoculation. Thus, MeSA does not function as a critical SAR signal in Arabidopsis. Further experiments showed that SA accumulation in distant leaves occurs due to de novo synthesis through isochorismate synthase. In addition, we also ruled out a critical defensive role of MeSA at inoculation sites, because bsmt1 mutants are able to build up SA-dependent defense responses and local resistance in a wild-type-like manner. The conversion of SA to MeSA and subsequently emission of MeSA from the plant might help the plant to detoxify an excess of SA. This process is regulated by the JA pathway and might be one means to mediate negative crosstalk between JA and SA signaling. Moreover, the COR-triggered conversion of SA to MeSA and emission of the volatile methyl ester could be a way by which virulent P. syringae is able to attenuate the SA-defense pathway.}, subject = {Ackerschmalwand}, language = {en} } @article{BalasubramanianOthmanKampiketal.2017, author = {Balasubramanian, Srikkanth and Othman, Eman M. and Kampik, Daniel and Stopper, Helga and Hentschel, Ute and Ziebuhr, Wilma and Oelschlaeger, Tobias A. and Abdelmohsen, Usama R.}, title = {Marine sponge-derived Streptomyces sp SBT343 extract inhibits staphylococcal biofilm formation}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2017.00236}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-171844}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are opportunistic pathogens that cause nosocomial and chronic biofilm-associated infections. Indwelling medical devices and contact lenses are ideal ecological niches for formation of staphylococcal biofilms. Bacteria within biofilms are known to display reduced susceptibilities to antimicrobials and are protected from the host immune system. High rates of acquired antibiotic resistances in staphylococci and other biofilm-forming bacteria further hamper treatment options and highlight the need for new anti-biofilm strategies. Here, we aimed to evaluate the potential of marine sponge-derived actinomycetes in inhibiting biofilm formation of several strains of S. epidermidis, S. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results from in vitro biofilm-formation assays, as well as scanning electron and confocal microscopy, revealed that an organic extract derived from the marine sponge-associated bacterium Streptomyces sp. SBT343 significantly inhibited staphylococcal biofilm formation on polystyrene, glass and contact lens surfaces, without affecting bacterial growth. The extract also displayed similar antagonistic effects towards the biofilm formation of other S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains tested but had no inhibitory effects towards Pseudomonas biofilms. Interestingly the extract, at lower effective concentrations, did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on mouse fibroblast, macrophage and human corneal epithelial cell lines. Chemical analysis by High Resolution Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) of the Streptomyces sp. SBT343 extract proportion revealed its chemical richness and complexity. Preliminary physico-chemical characterization of the extract highlighted the heat-stable and non-proteinaceous nature of the active component(s). The combined data suggest that the Streptomyces sp. SBT343 extract selectively inhibits staphylococcal biofilm formation without interfering with bacterial cell viability. Due to absence of cell toxicity, the extract might represent a good starting material to develop a future remedy to block staphylococcal biofilm formation on contact lenses and thereby to prevent intractable contact lens-mediated ocular infections.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Baumann2013, author = {Baumann, Melanie}, title = {Optogenetische Simulation und Analyse elektrischer und Calcium-basierter Signale in Pflanzen}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-87974}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Funktionelle Expression von ChR2 in Pflanzen In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte erstmalig die funktionelle Expression des licht-aktivierten Channelrhodopsin-2 aus Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in h{\"o}heren Pflanzen gezeigt werden. Obwohl die erfolgreiche Transformation auf der Basis der Integration einer Expressionskassette f{\"u}r WT-ChR2 in Pflanzen genetisch nachgewiesen werden konnte, war ein funktioneller Nachweis nicht m{\"o}glich. Demgegen{\"u}ber war die funktio-nelle Expression aller getesteten ChR2-Mutanten im transienten Expressionsansatz er-folgreich und konnte schließlich auf der Basis der im Rahmen dieser Arbeit generierten Konstrukte auch f{\"u}r stabil transformierte Arabidopsis-Pflanzen best{\"a}tigt werden. ChR2 wurde in Arabidopsis-Protoplasten sowie Tabak-Epidermis- und Mesophyllzellen an der Plasmamembran lokalisiert, zeigte jedoch aufgrund der {\"U}berexpression eine starke {\"U}berladung des Endomembransystems. Elektrophysiologische Messungen mit Hilfe der Einstichtechnik belegten, dass ChR2 sowohl in Arabidopsis-Keimlingen als auch im Tabakmesophyll funktionell ist, wobei sich die erzeugten Blaulicht-vermittelten Depolarisationen weitaus erfolgreicher im Ta-baksystem darstellten. Alle eingesetzten ChR2-Mutanten waren funktionell und zeigten in Einstichmessungen mit Oozytendaten korrelierende Kinetiken. Die Mutante C128A wurde hinsichtlich der erzielten lichtinduzierten Membranpotentialdepolarisationen als effektivste ChR2-Variante identifiziert. Calcium-Messungen mit dem Reporterprotein Aequorin lieferten keinen Beweis f{\"u}r einen direkt durch ChR2-C128A vermittelten Calcium-Einstrom in Arabidopsis-Protoplasten. Jedoch konnte ein cytosolischer Calcium-Anstieg ca. 3min nach Blau-lichtapplikation beobachtet werden. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die durch ChR2 vermittelten Membranpotential{\"a}nderungen zu einer Aktivierung endogener, Calcium-permeabler Ionenkan{\"a}le f{\"u}hren k{\"o}nnte. F{\"u}r die ChR2-L132C Mutante konnte allerdings in ersten Messungen ein direkter Calcium-Anstieg nach Lichtgabe beobachtet werden.   Transkriptionelle {\"A}nderungen aufgrund ChR2-basierter, elektrischer Signalmuster In RNA-Seq-Analysen mit transient transformierten Tabakbl{\"a}ttern konnte die Bedeu-tung der Signalsignatur elektrischer bzw. Calcium-basierter Signale verifiziert werden: Die Applikation zweier in ihrer Form g{\"a}nzlich unterschiedlicher elektrischer Signal-muster lieferte ein signifikant unterschiedlich reguliertes Set an Genen, wobei einige wenige durch beide Behandlungen induziert werden konnten. Langanhaltende Depolari-sationen regulierten deutlich mehr Gene und waren daher in ihrer Wirkung weitaus ef-fektiver als kurze, repetitive Depolarisationen. Die bioinformatische Analyse dieser Daten zeigte, dass die Nachahmung eines im Zuge der Pathogenantwort bekannten, langen Depolarisationspulses Gene der Flagellin-induzierten Signaltransduktion adressierte, w{\"a}hrend kurze, wiederkehrende Pulse mit gleichem Informationsgehalt diese nicht regulierten.}, subject = {Channelrhodopsin-2}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Beck2019, author = {Beck, Sebastian}, title = {Using optogenetics to influence the circadian clock of \(Drosophila\) \(melanogaster\)}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-18495}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-184952}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Almost all life forms on earth have adapted to the most impactful and most predictable recurring change in environmental condition, the cycle of day and night, caused by the axial rotation of the planet. As a result many animals have evolved intricate endogenous clocks, which adapt and synchronize the organisms' physiology, metabolism and behaviour to the daily change in environmental conditions. The scientific field researching these endogenous clocks is called chronobiology and has steadily grown in size, scope and relevance since the works of the earliest pioneers in the 1960s. The number one model organism for the research of circadian clocks is the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, whose clock serves as the entry point to understanding the basic inner workings of such an intricately constructed endogenous timekeeping system. In this thesis it was attempted to combine the research on the circadian clock with the techniques of optogenetics, a fairly new scientific field, launched by the discovery of Channelrhodopsin 2 just over 15 years ago. Channelrhodopsin 2 is a light-gated ion channel found in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In optogenetics, researches use these light-gated ion channels like Channelrhodopsin 2 by heterologously expressing them in cells and tissues of other organisms, which can then be stimulated by the application of light. This is most useful when studying neurons, as these channels provide an almost non-invasive tool to depolarize the neuronal plasma membranes at will. The goal of this thesis was to develop an optogenetic tool, which would be able to influence and phase shift the circadian clock of Drosophila melanogaster upon illumination. A phase shift is the adaptive response of the circadian clock to an outside stimulus that signals a change in the environmental light cycle. An optogenetic tool, able to influence and phase shift the circadian clock predictably and reliably, would open up many new ways and methods of researching the neuronal network of the clock and which neurons communicate to what extent, ultimately synchronizing the network. The first optogenetic tool to be tested in the circadian clock of Drosophila melanogaster was ChR2-XXL, a channelrhodopsin variant with dramatically increased expression levels and photocurrents combined with a prolonged open state. The specific expression of ChR2-XXL and of later constructs was facilitated by deploying the three different clock-specific GAL4-driver lines, clk856-gal4, pdf-gal4 and mai179-gal4. Although ChR2-XXL was shown to be highly effective at depolarizing neurons, these stimulations proved to be unable to significantly phase shift the circadian clock of Drosophila. The second series of experiments was conducted with the conceptually novel optogenetic tools Olf-bPAC and SthK-bPAC, which respectively combine a cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (Olf and SthK) with the light-activated adenylyl-cyclase bPAC. These tools proved to be quite useful when expressed in the motor neurons of instar-3 larvae of Drosophila, paralyzing the larvae upon illumination, as well as affecting body length. This way, these new tools could be precisely characterized, spawning a successfully published research paper, centered around their electrophysiological characterization and their applicability in model organisms like Drosophila. In the circadian clock however, these tools caused substantial damage, producing severe arrhythmicity and anomalies in neuronal development. Using a temperature-sensitive GAL80-line to delay the expression until after the flies had eclosed, yielded no positive results either. The last series of experiments saw the use of another new series of optogenetic tools, modelled after the Olf-bPAC, with bPAC swapped out for CyclOp, a membrane-bound guanylyl-cyclase, coupled with less potent versions of the Olf. This final attempt however also ended up being unsuccessful. While these tools could efficiently depolarize neuronal membranes upon illumination, they were ultimately unable to stimulate the circadian clock in way that would cause it to phase shift. Taken together, these mostly negative results indicate that an optogenetic manipulation of the circadian clock of Drosophila melanogaster is an extremely challenging subject. As light already constitutes the most impactful environmental factor on the circadian clock, the combination of chronobiology with optogenetics demands the parameters of the conducted experiments to be tuned with an extremely high degree of precision, if one hopes to receive positive results from these types of experiments at all.}, subject = {Chronobiologie}, language = {en} } @article{BeckYuStrzelczykPaulsetal.2018, author = {Beck, Sebastian and Yu-Strzelczyk, Jing and Pauls, Dennis and Constantin, Oana M. and Gee, Christine E. and Ehmann, Nadine and Kittel, Robert J. and Nagel, Georg and Gao, Shiqiang}, title = {Synthetic light-activated ion channels for optogenetic activation and inhibition}, series = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, number = {643}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2018.00643}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177520}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Optogenetic manipulation of cells or living organisms became widely used in neuroscience following the introduction of the light-gated ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). ChR2 is a non-selective cation channel, ideally suited to depolarize and evoke action potentials in neurons. However, its calcium (Ca2\(^{2+}\)) permeability and single channel conductance are low and for some applications longer-lasting increases in intracellular Ca\(^{2+}\) might be desirable. Moreover, there is need for an efficient light-gated potassium (K\(^{+}\)) channel that can rapidly inhibit spiking in targeted neurons. Considering the importance of Ca\(^{2+}\) and K\(^{+}\) in cell physiology, light-activated Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant and K\(^{+}\)-specific channels would be welcome additions to the optogenetic toolbox. Here we describe the engineering of novel light-gated Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant and K\(^{+}\)-specific channels by fusing a bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase to cyclic nucleotide-gated channels with high permeability for Ca\(^{2+}\) or for K\(^{+}\), respectively. Optimized fusion constructs showed strong light-gated conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in rat hippocampal neurons. These constructs could also be used to control the motility of Drosophila melanogaster larvae, when expressed in motoneurons. Illumination led to body contraction when motoneurons expressed the light-sensitive Ca\(^{2+}\)-permeant channel, and to body extension when expressing the light-sensitive K\(^{+}\) channel, both effectively and reversibly paralyzing the larvae. Further optimization of these constructs will be required for application in adult flies since both constructs led to eclosion failure when expressed in motoneurons.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Beckert2002, author = {Beckert, Cornelia}, title = {Biosynthese, Akkumulation und Strukturen von Styrylpyronen in gametophytischen und sporophytischen Geweben von Equisetum}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-3454}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2002}, abstract = {Untersuchungen zur Akkumulation phenolischer Inhaltsstoffe von Equisetum an gametophytischen und unterirdisch wachsenden sporophytischen Geweben vervollst{\"a}ndigten den Kenntnisstand der phenolischen Inhaltsstoffe in dieser Gattung. In beiden Geweben konnten - wie in oberirdischen sporophytischen Geweben - Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate nachgewiesen werden. Styrylpyrone und Protoflavonoide ersetzen hier die in oberirdischen sporophytischen Geweben nachgewiesenen Flavonoide. Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate wurden in Prothallien aller untersuchter Arten gefunden wohingegen in Rhizomen der jeweiligen Arten einzelne Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate fehlten. Die Inhaltsstoffmuster der Styrylpyrone bei verschiedenen Arten entsprachen sich weitgehend. Die sukzessive Analyse des {\"U}bergangsbereiches - unterirdisch wachsendes Rhizom zu oberirdischem Spross - zeigte einen ebenso sukzessiven Wechsel im Akkumulationsmuster. Der Gehalt l{\"o}slicher Styrylpyrone nahm - von unten nach oben betrachtet - in gleichem Maße ab, wie der Gehalt an Flavonoiden anstieg. In lokal braun pigmentierten Sprossbereichen, die vereinzelt an oberirdisch wachsenden Sporophyten auftraten, wurden neben den in Rhizomen konstitutiv akkumulierten Styrylpyronen auch, offenbar durch Verwundung induziert, Styrylpyrone detektiert. In den gr{\"u}nen, nicht pigmentierten Bereichen dieser Sprosse wurden dagegen ausschließlich Flavonoide und Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate detektiert. Fluoreszenzmikroskopische Untersuchungen belegten eine vakuol{\"a}re Speicherung der l{\"o}slichen Inhaltsstoffe Styrylpyrone und Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate in Rhizomen und Prothallien. Hydroxyzimts{\"a}urederivate wurden vorwiegend in zentral liegenden Rhizombereichen detektiert, w{\"a}hrend Styrylpyrone {\"u}ber den gesamten Rhizomquerschnitt verteilt sichtbar gemacht werden konnten. Folgende Styrylpyrone wurden aus Rhizomen von E. arvense isoliert und mit Hilfe spektroskopischer Methoden in ihrer Struktur aufgekl{\"a}rt: 3,4-Dihydroxy-6-(4´-hydroxy-E-styryl)-2-pyron-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosid und 3,4-Dihydroxy-6-(3´-hydroxy-4´methoxy-E-styryl)-2-pyron-3-O-ß-glucopyranosid. Untersuchungen zur Biosynthese von Styrylpyronen zeigten eine enzymkatalysierte Bildung von Hispidin und Bisnoryangonin in Gametophyten verschiedener Equisetum-Arten sowie in Rhizomen und fertilen Sporophyten von E. arvense. Ebenso gelang der Nachweis der enzymatischen Glycosilierung von 3-Hydroxyhispidin zu Equisetumpyron in Gametophyten von E. arvense. Eine Styrylpyronsynthase wurde charakterisiert: Das pH-Optimum f{\"u}r die Bildung von Bisnoryangonin lag bei pH 7,5-7,8 und f{\"u}r die Bildung von Hispidin bei 6,8-7,0, jeweils in 0,5 M KPi-Puffer. Das Temperaturoptimum f{\"u}r die Bildung von Bisnoryangonin betrug 30° C bzw. 37°C f{\"u}r die Bildung von Hispidin. Die Substanzen Natriumascorbat in einer Konzentration von 20 mM, BSA (0,1 \% w/V), Dithiothreitol (2,5 mM) bzw. Mercaptoethanol (7 mM) konnten die Enzymaktivit{\"a}t deutlich steigern. Die Km\&\#64979;Werte wurden f{\"u}r die Substrate Kaffeoyl-CoA und Malonyl-CoA bei 116 µM bzw. 141 µM ermittelt. F{\"u}r die Substrate p-Cumaroyl-CoA und Malonyl-CoA lagen die Km\&\#64979;Werte bei 182 µM bzw. 238 µM. Das relative Molekulargewicht des nativen Enzyms wurde mittels Gelfiltration mit 78-80 kD bestimmt. Im Rahmen der Proteinreinigung wurde eine auf chromatographischen Techniken basierende Methode entwickelt, mit der die Styrylpyronsynthase mit einem Anreicherungsfaktor von 1107 bei einer Ausbeute von 0,08 \% gereinigt werden konnte.}, subject = {Schachtelhalm}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Bellwon2015, author = {Bellwon, Patricia}, title = {Kinetic assessment by in vitro approaches - A contribution to reduce animals in toxicity testing}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-122693}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The adoption of directives and regulations by the EU requires the development of alternative testing strategies as opposed to animal testing for risk assessment of xenobiotics. Additionally, high attrition rates of drugs late in the discovery phase demand improvement of current test batteries applied in the preclinical phase within the pharmaceutical area. These issues were taken up by the EU founded 7th Framework Program "Predict-IV"; with the overall goal to improve the predictability of safety of an investigational product, after repeated exposure, by integration of "omics" technologies applied on well established in vitro approaches. Three major target organs for drug-induced toxicity were in focus: liver, kidney and central nervous system. To relate obtained dynamic data with the in vivo situation, kinetics of the test compounds have to be evaluated and extrapolated by physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling. This thesis assessed in vitro kinetics of the selected test compounds (cyclosporine A, adefovir dipivoxil and cisplatinum) regarding their reliability and relevance to respective in vivo pharmacokinetics. Cells were exposed daily or every other day to the test compounds at two concentration levels (toxic and non-toxic) for up to 14 days. Concentrations of the test compounds or their major biotransformation products were determined by LC-MS/MS or ICP-MS in vehicle, media, cells and plastic adsorption samples generated at five different time-points on the first and the last treatment day. Cyclosporine A bioaccumulation was evident in primary rat hepatocytes (PRH) at the high concentration, while efficient biotransformation mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 was determined in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and HepaRG cells. The lower biotransformation in PRH is in accordance with observation made in vivo with the rat being a poor model for CYP3A biotransformation. Further, inter-assay variability was noticed in PHH caused by biological variability in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 activity in human donors. The inter-assay variability observed for PRH and HepaRG cells was a result of differences between vehicles regarding their cyclosporine A content. Cyclosporine A biotransformation was more prominent in HepaRG cells due to stable and high CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 activity. In addition, in vitro clearances were calculated and scaled to in vivo. All scaled in vitro clearances were overestimated (PRH: 10-fold, PHH: 2-fold, HepaRG cells: 2-fold). These results should be proven by physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling and additional experiments, in order to verify that these overestimations are constant for each system and subsequently can be diminished by implementation of further scaling factors. Brain cell cultures, primary neuronal culture of mouse cortex cells and primary aggregating rat brain cells, revealed fast achieved steady state levels of cyclosporine A. This indicates a chemical distribution of cyclosporine A between the aqueous and organic phases and only minor involvement of biological processes such as active transport and biotransformation. Hence, cyclosporine A uptake into cells is presumably transport mediated, supported by findings of transporter experiments performed on a parallel artificial membrane and Caco-2 cells. Plastic adsorption of cyclosporine A was significant, but different for each model, and should be considered by physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling. Kinetics of adefovir dipivoxil highlights the limits of in vitro approaches. Active transporters are required for adefovir uptake, but were not functional in RPTECT/TERT1. Therefore, adefovir uptake was limited to passive diffusion of adefovir dipivoxil, which itself degrades time-dependently under culture conditions. Cisplatinum kinetics, studied in RPTEC/TERT1 cells, indicated intracellular enrichment of platinum, while significant bioaccumulation was not noted. This could be due to cisplatinum not reaching steady state levels within 14 days repeated exposure. As shown in vivo, active transport occurred from the basolateral to apical side, but with lower velocity. Hence, obtained data need to be modeled to estimate cellular processes, which can be scaled and compared to in vivo. Repeated daily exposure to two different drug concentrations makes it possible to account for bioaccumulation at toxic concentrations or biotransformation/extrusion at non-toxic concentrations. Potential errors leading to misinterpretation of data were reduced by analyses of the vehicles as the applied drug concentrations do not necessarily correspond to the nominal concentrations. Finally, analyses of separate compartments (medium, cells, plastic) give insights into a compound's distribution, reduce misprediction of cellular processes, e.g. biotransformation, and help to interpret kinetic data. On the other hand, the limits of in vitro approaches have also been pointed out. For correct extrapolation to in vivo, it is essential that the studied in vitro system exhibits the functionality of proteins, which play a key role in the specific drug induced toxicity. Considering the benefits and limitations, it is worth to validate this long-term treatment experimental set-up and expand it on co-culture systems and on organs-on-chips with regard to alternative toxicity testing strategies for repeated dose toxicity studies.}, subject = {Zellkultur}, language = {en} }