Memorial descritivo

O presente Memorial apresenta-se como um dos requisitos ao processo avaliativo para a promoção de professor titular da carreira do magistério superior. Neste documento apresento uma autobiografia que traz um breve histórico de minha infância, juventude e uma descrição mais detalhada das etapas acadêmica e profissional. Destaco principalmente minha trajetória desde o ingresso no curso de Licenciatura e Bacharelado em Ciências Biológicas, na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia até o momento atual, em que atuo como Professora Associada IV na mesma Instituição. Também apresento um relato minucioso e analítico dos trabalhos de ensino, pesquisa, extensão e gestão ao longo da minha carreira de magistério de ensino superior como professora de Bioquímica, em regime de dedicação exclusiva, lotada no Instituto de Biotecnologia da UFU. Este documento possui inestimável valor afetivo, uma vez que pude reviver e contar minhas experiências, anseios, conquistas e grandes vitórias e, sobretudo, relembrar as oportunidades de convivências com pessoas que tanto influenciaram o meu crescimento e desenvolvimento intelectual e pessoal

Biocompatible Magic Sized Quantum Dots: Luminescent Markers and Probes

Nanoscience and nanobiotechnology have aroused great academic and technological interest. Works relating biomaterials at the nanoscale can reach new biotechnologies and help in the development and use of tools for bioimage and diagnosis applications. In this work we demonstrated the advantages of magic sized quantum dots as luminescent markers and probes to bioimage applications. The visualization of MSQDs bioconjugated with biological probes in cells were performed at periods greater than 2 h, and visualization with no commercial dye would not be possible. Therefore, we demonstrated that theses biocompatible nanocrystals are luminescent markers and probes to diagnosis

Biocompatibility of Doped Semiconductors Nanocrystals and Nanocomposites

Exposure of humans and environment to nanocrystals are inevitable, and nanotoxicological analyses are a requirement. The wide variety of nanocrystals with different applications is increasing, and characterization of their effects after exposure includes their potential toxicity and uses. This review summarizes the characterization of doped nanocrystals and nanocomposites, Ca-doped ZnO, Ag- and Eu-doped ZnO and Ni-doped ZnO NCs, their biocompatibility and applications. This review uncovers how these nanocrystals present desirable biocompatible properties, which can be useful as antitumoral and antimicrobial inducing agents, which differ markedly from toxic properties observed in other general nanocrystals

Who is the carbohydrate?

Biochemistry is a complex science that studies biomolecules and their interactions in metabolic pathways in living beings. Due to the large amount of contents against the short period to apply them, only expositive classes are not enough to arouse the interest of students and solve questions. In this perspective, is very important to develop new educational tools to improve the understanding of these contents. “Who is the carbohydrate?” It is a didactic game created to review the structural and functional relationship of carbohydrates. Based on the classic “Guess who?” The objective of the player or group is to first find out the opponent's carbohydrate name

APPROACHING CARBOHYDRATES AND ITS METABOLISM: AN EXPERIENCE FOR EDUCATIONAL GAMES

INTRODUCTION: The study of carbohydrates, its metabolism and many other fields of biochemistry are often understood by students as a junction of chemical structures and reactions of difficult compression. However, Biochemistry should no longer be seen as an abstruse field, but a way to know the human body and its components, including molecular, structural and functional aspects. Therefore, some alternatives are being evaluated in order to assist and improve the dissemination of knowledge among them highlights are the educational games. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is the production of two educational games able to include the contents of carbohydrates and its metabolism in higher education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The educational games produced were made from available materials and low cost. The games were tested in courses of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology of the Federal University of Uberlândia and the response of the students towards the activities was analyzed. The application, had the presence of trained students to instruct on the activity and correcting. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS: "What is the Carbohydrate?" and "Mastering the metabolism" are two educational games covering the content of structure and function carbohydrates and basal metabolism, respectively. "What is the Carbohydrate?" consists in unravel amid several options the carbohydrate in the hands of the others players. For this, several questions with two possible answers, “yes” or “not”, are accepted each round, and if the player find difficulty in formulating questions, there are cards tips. “Mastering the metabolism” consists in a combination of cards that simulate pieces of a domino that must be mounted following the metabolic pathway of carbohydrates, and as the game progresses, the main points of regulation of the pathway will be accompanied by surprise questions. The games showed great acceptance by students. CONCLUSION: “What is the Carbohydrate?” and “Mastering the Metabolism” are productive methodological alternatives for teaching Biochemistry

FROM AMINO ACIDS TO ENZYMES: A PROPOSAL USING DIDACTIC GAMES TO REVIEW THE CONTENT OF PROTEINS

INTRODUCTION: Biochemistry is a discipline offered in graduation courses. In general, the students define Biochemistry as “complex and extensive”, since, in most cases, a broad content is ministered in a short period of time. The consequences of this context may be reflected in the lack of interest by the students. Thus, the use of alternative methodologies presents potential to improve this situation. OBJECTIVES: Develop and implement educational games about protein content to review and arouse students' interest in the discipline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The educational games were made from available materials and low cost. The games were applied in extracurricular schedules in Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine and Agronomy courses of the Federal University of Uberlândia in the second half of 2015. All of this games count with the presence of a mediator to solve questions and correct mistakes that can appear. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS: Three educational games were created: "Amino Game 2.0", "Memo Protein" and "Race of Enzymes" which addressing the content of amino acid ionization, structure and function of proteins and enzymes, respectively. "AminoGame 2.0" is based on the correct assembly of structures of amino acids, dipeptides or tripeptides in according to conditions described on card game randomly selected by the player. "Memoprotein" is a memory game in which the player must correctly answer a question about protein to have the right to turn the cards of the game. Finally, "Race of Enzymes" is a board game in which the player must correctly answer questions about enzymes to have the right to advancing squares on the board. The application of three games showed good acceptance among students. CONCLUSION: “Amino Game 2.0", "Memo Protein" and "Race of Enzymes" were considered to be effective tools in the teaching of Biochemistry

A New Approach to Inhibiting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In Vivo Antiangiogenic Effect of BthTx-II, a PLA₂-Asp-49 from <i>Bothrops jararacussu</i> Venom

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) represent a superfamily of enzymes widely distributed in living organisms, with a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities and therapeutic potential. Anti-angiogenic strategies have become one of the main tools in fighting cancer. In this sense, the present work reports the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis induced by Asp-49 BthTX-II using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches. We demonstrate that BthTx-II inhibited cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), as well as caused a reduction in the levels of endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during in vitro angiogenesis assays. BthTx-II was also able to inhibit the sprouting angiogenic process, by the ex vivo germination assay of the aortic ring; in addition, this toxin inhibited the migration and proliferation of HUVEC in co-culture with triple-negative breast cancer cells (e.g., MDA-MB-231 cells). Finally, in vivo tumor suppression and anti-angiogenic activities were analyzed using MDA-MB-231 cells with Matrigel injected into the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryo (CAM) for 7 days treatment with BthTx-II, showing a considerable reduction in vessel caliber, on the size and weight of tumors. Together, these results suggest an important antiangiogenic and antitumor role for BthTx-II, as a potential prototype for the development of new tools and antitumor drugs in cancer therapy

Inhibition of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Aggressiveness by Cathepsin D Blockage: Role of Annexin A1

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are more aggressive than other breast cancer (BC) subtypes and lack effective therapeutic options. Unraveling marker events of TNBCs may provide new directions for development of strategies for targeted TNBC therapy. Herein, we reported that Annexin A1 (AnxA1) and Cathepsin D (CatD) are highly expressed in MDA-MB-231 (TNBC lineage), compared to MCF-10A and MCF-7. Since the proposed concept was that CatD has protumorigenic activity associated with its ability to cleave AnxA1 (generating a 35.5 KDa fragment), we investigated this mechanism more deeply using the inhibitor of CatD, Pepstatin A (PepA). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated that PepA inhibits CatD activity by occupying its active site; the OH bond from PepA interacts with a CO bond from carboxylic acids of CatD catalytic aspartate dyad, favoring the deprotonation of Asp33 and consequently inhibiting CatD. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with PepA induced apoptosis and autophagy processes while reducing the proliferation, invasion, and migration. Finally, in silico molecular docking demonstrated that the catalytic inhibition comprises Asp231 protonated and Asp33 deprotonated, proving all functional results obtained. Our findings elucidated critical CatD activity in TNBC cell trough AnxA1 cleavage, indicating the inhibition of CatD as a possible strategy for TNBC treatment