Chromosome analysis of species of the tripunctata radiation of Drosophila

Orientador: Louis Bernard KlaczkoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Acredita-se que no gênero Drosophila, o subgênero Drosophila é procedente do subgênero Sophophora e deu origem a outros gêneros e subgêneros e, particularmente, a duas radiações: virilis-repleta e immigrans-Hirtodrosophila. Esta última teve uma origem paleotropical, onde inicialmente se diversificou e se expandiu, enviando a radiação tripunctata aos Neotrópicos. A radiação tripunctata sofreu uma diversificação neotropical importante e atualmente é composta por 9 grupos de espécies adaptadas a áreas florestais. Este projeto se insere num amplo contexto de compreender a evolução da radiação tripunctata de Drosophila. Para isso foram usadas duas abordagens: a) analisamos a posição do rDNA nos cromossomos mitóticos de 16 espécies da radiação tripunctata; b) e, com cromossomos politênicos, focalizamos nossa atenção no estudo detalhado de um agrupamento monofilético dentro do grupo tripuntata - o agrupamento de espécies relacionadas com D. mediopunctata (D. mediopunctata, D. unipunctata e D. roehrae) - usando métodos de citogenética clássica e molecular. Deste modo os objetivos deste trabalho foram: - Examinar a variação da posição dos genes codificantes do RNA ribossomal (rDNA) em espécies da radiação tripunctata. - Produzir fotomapas de cromossomos politênicos de D. roehrae e D. unipunctata. - Caracterizar as inversões cromossômicas (pontos de quebra) que ocorrem em populações de D. roehrae e D. unipunctata - Identificar os elementos cromossômicos de Muller pela localização, através de hibridação in situ, de genes de cópia única de D. melanogaster em cromossomos politênicos das espécies D. mediopunctata, D. roehrae e D. unipunctata. As conclusões gerais foram: - A presença de uma NOR em cada cromossomo sexual é uma condição ancestral no gênero Drosophila e este caráter é bem conservado neste gênero. - Os cromossomos politênicos das três espécies são bem similares, sendo possível determinar com relativa facilidade a homologia dos cromossomos menos polimórficos. - Existe um padrão de polimorfismo de inversões entres os elementos de Muller nestas espécies: o elemento E é o mais polimórfico, com muitas inversões em cada espécie; o elemento C é o segundo mais polimórfico, enquanto B e D são os menos polimórficos. - Drosophila unipunctata apresenta uma conformação cariotípica singular, a despeito das espécies D. mediopunctata e D. unipunctata serem consideradas filogeneticamente mais próximas que D. roehrae, o que sugere uma rápida evolução cromossômicaAbstract: In the genus Drosophila, the subgenus Drosophila arose from the subgenus Sophophora and subsequently gave rise to various subgenera and genera, and to two particularly important radiations: virilis-repleta and immigrans-Hirtodrosophila. The latter originated in the Paleotropics, where it initially diversified and expanded, taking the tripunctata radiation to the Neotropics. The tripunctata radiation suffered significant Neotropical diversification and, at present, is composed of nine species groups adapted to forest habitats. The ultimate aim underlying this project is to understand the evolution of the tripunctata radiation of Drosophila. To address this matter, two approaches were used: a) we investigated the rDNA position, on mitotic chromosomes, in 16 species of the tripunctata radiation; b) and, with polytene chromosomes, we focused our attention in the detailed study of three closely related species of the tripunctata group. (d. mediopunctata, D. unipunctata and D. roehrae) - using classical and molecular cytogenetic analysis. More specifically, we aimed to: - investigate the rDNA position in species of tripunctata radiation through in situ hybridization on mitotic chromosomes. - prepare photomaps of the polytene chromosome of D. roehrae and D. unipunctata, locating the breaking points of the inversions. - identify Muller's elements, in polytene chromosomes of D. mediopunctata, D. roehrae and D. unipunctata through in situ hybridization using genes of D. melanogaster as probes. Our conclusions were: - The presence of a single nucleolus organizer region (NOR) on each sex chromosome is an ancestral and conserved state in the genus Drosophila. - Drosophila mediopunctata, D. roehrae and D. unipunctata have similar polytene chromosomes, which allowed us to establish the homology of chromosomal elements through the comparison of banding patterns. - In these species, the distribution of breaking points through the Muller's elements is non-random: element E is the most polymorphic, with many inversions in each species; and element C is the second most polymorphic; while B and D are the least polymorphic. - With the help of molecular genetic markers it has been previously established that D. mediopunctata is more closely related to D. unipunctata than to D. roehrae. However, D. unipunctata shows a notably different karyotype configuration, which suggests rapid chromosomal evolutionDoutoradoGenetica Animal e EvoluçãoDoutor em Genetica e Biologi

Estudo da frequencia de mutações mitocondriais em brasileiros portadores de deficiencia auditiva neurossensorial não sindromica de etiologia não esclarecida

Orientadores: Edi Lucia Sartorato, Andrea T. Maciel GuerraDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaMestrad

Differential Occurrence Of Chromosome Inversion Polymorphisms Among Muller's Elements In Three Species Of The Tripunctata Group Of Drosophila, Including A Species With Fast Chromosomal Evolution.

Detailed chromosome maps with reliable homologies among chromosomes of different species are the first step to study the evolution of the genetic architecture in any set of species. Here, we present detailed photo maps of the polytene chromosomes of three closely related species of the tripunctata group (subgenus Drosophila): Drosophila mediopunctata, D. roehrae, and D. unipunctata. We identified Muller's elements in each species, using FISH, establishing reliable chromosome homologies among species and D. melanogaster. The simultaneous analysis of chromosome inversions revealed a distribution pattern for the inversion polymorphisms among Muller's elements in the three species. Element E is the most polymorphic, with many inversions in each species. Element C follows; while the least polymorphic elements are B and D. While interesting, it remains to be determined how general this pattern is among species of the tripunctata group. Despite previous studies showing that D. mediopunctata and D. unipunctata are phylogenetically closer to each other than to D. roehrae, D. unipunctata shows rare karyotypic changes. It has two chromosome fusions: an additional heterochromatic chromosome pair and a pericentric inversion in the X chromosome. This especial conformation suggests a fast chromosomal evolution that deserves further study.5617-2

Effects of Yerba maté, a Plant Extract Formulation (“YGD”) and Resveratrol in 3T3-L1 Adipogenesis

We aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of yerba maté, YGD (a herbal preparation containing yerba maté, guarana and damiana), and resveratrol on adipogenesis. The anti-adipogenic effects of yerba mate, YGD, resveratrol and YGD + resveratrol and yerba mate + resveratrol combinations were evaluated in 3T3-L1 cells by Oil Red staining, cellular triglyceride content, and PCR quantitative array. The results demonstrated that all of the tested compounds inhibited adipogenesis. Yerba maté extract significantly down-regulated the expression of genes that play an important role in regulating adipogenesis, such as Adig, Axin, Cebpa, Fgf10, Lep, Lpl, and Pparγ2. In addition, these genes, YGD also repressed Bmp2, Ccnd1, Fasn, and Srebf1. Resveratrol also modulated the expression of Adig, Bmp2, Ccnd1, C/EBPα, Fasn, Fgf10, Lep, Lpl, and Pparγ2. Moreover, resveratrol repressed Cebpb, Cdk4, Fgf2, and Klf15. The yerba maté extract and YGD up-regulated the expression of genes involved in inhibiting adipogenesis, such as Dlk-1, Klf2, and Ucp1. Resveratrol also induced the expression of Klf2 and Ucp1. In addition resveratrol modulated the Ddit3, Foxo1, Sirt1, and Sirt2. The combined effects of these compounds on gene expression showed similar results observed from individual treatments. Our data indicates that the synergy between the compounds favors the inhibition of adipogenesis

Helicobacter pylori infection modulates the expression of miRNAs associated with DNA mismatch repair pathway

Genetic and epigenetic inactivation of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes might lead to modifications in cancer-related gene expression and cancer development. Recently, it has been shown that the infection by Helicobacter pylori, the major causative agent of gastric cancer, induces DNA damage and inhibits MMR DNA repair. Also, it has been reported that microRNAs (miRs) have an important role in regulating genomic stability and MMR DNA repair. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify miRs regulating MMR pathway in H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis. To address this question, a gastric epithelial cell line and AGS cancer gastric cells were infected with several H. pylori strains. MMR gene expression and miRs correlating with H. pylori strain infection were evaluated. The results showed that H. pylori infection significantly down-regulated the expression of all selected MMR genes. Also, H. pylori infection modulated the expression of several miRs (including miR-150-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-3163), after 4, 8, and 12 h of infection. Computational prediction of candidate miRs and their predicted MMR targeting sites were obtained from TargetScan, mirDB, and MetaCore. The generated data indicated that the selected miRs (miR-150-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-3163) could possibly target and modulate MMR genes (POLD3, MSH2, and MSH3, respectively). The target validation was performed using mimics and luciferase gene reporter assays. Briefly, this study shows that H. pylori impairs MMR DNA repair pathway and identifies miRs that regulate MMR gene expression in gastric cancer.56413721379CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP300975/2014-72014/11862-