JOAO EZEQUIEL DE OLIVEIRA

JOAO EZEQUIEL DE OLIVEIRA

Página do item completo

Resultados de Busca

Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 23

Isolation and characterization of the Arapaima gigas growth hormone (ag-GH) cDNA and three-dimensional modeling of this hormone in comparison with the human hormone (hGH)
2023 - LIMA, ELIANA R.; FREIRE, RENAN P.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; YOSIDAKI, VANESSA L.; PERONI, CIBELE N.; SEVILHANO, THAIS; ZORZETO, MOISES; TORATI, LUCAS S.; SOARES, CARLOS R.J.; LIMA, IGOR D. de M.; KRONENBERGER, THALES; MALTAROLLO, VINICIUS G.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO
In a previous work, the common gonadotrophic hormone α-subunit (ag-GTHα), the ag-FSH β- and ag-LH β-subunit cDNAs, were isolated and characterized by our research group from A. gigas pituitaries, while a preliminary synthesis of ag-FSH was also carried out in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. In the present work, the cDNA sequence encoding the ag-growth hormone (ag-GH) has also been isolated from the same giant Arapaimidae Amazonian fish. The ag-GH consists of 208 amino acids with a putative 23 amino acid signal peptide and a 185 amino acid mature peptide. The highest identity, based on the amino acid sequences, was found with the Elopiformes (82.0%), followed by Anguilliformes (79.7%) and Acipenseriformes (74.5%). The identity with the corresponding human GH (hGH) amino acid sequence is remarkable (44.8%), and the two disulfide bonds present in both sequences were perfectly conserved. Three-dimensional (3D) models of ag-GH, in comparison with hGH, were generated using the threading modeling method followed by molecular dynamics. Our simulations suggest that the two proteins have similar structural properties without major conformational changes under the simulated conditions, even though they are separated from each other by a >100 Myr evolutionary period (1 Myr = 1 million years). The sequence found will be used for the biotechnological synthesis of ag-GH while the ag-GH cDNA obtained will be utilized for preliminary Gene Therapy studies.
Molecular cloning and AlphaFold modeling of thyrotropin (ag-TSH) from the Amazonian fish Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas)
2023 - FREIRE, RENAN P.; HERNANDEZ-GONZALEZ, JORGE E.; LIMA, ELIANA R.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E. de; TORATI, LUCAS S.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO; SOARES, CARLOS R.J.
Arapaima gigas, known as Pirarucu in Brazil, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Some individuals could reach 3 m in length and weight up to 200 kg. Due to extinction risks and its economic value, the species has been a focus for preservation and reproduction studies. Thyrotropin (TSH) is a glycoprotein hormone formed by 2 subunits α and β whose main activity is related to the synthesis of thyroid hormones (THs)—T3 and T4. In this work, we present a combination of bioinformatics tools to identify Arapaima gigas βTSH (ag-βTSH), modeling its molecular structure and express the recombinant heterodimer form in mammalian cells. Using the combination of computational biology, based on genome-related information, in silico molecular cloning and modeling led to confirm results of the ag-βTSH sequence by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and transient expression in human embryonic kidney (HEK293F) cells. Molecular cloning of ag-βTSH retrieved 146 amino acids with a signal peptide of 21 amino acid residues and 6 disulfide bonds. The sequence has a similarity to 39 fish species, ranging between 43.1% and 81.6%, whose domains are extremely conserved, such as cystine knot motif and N-glycosylation site. The Arapaima gigas thyrotropin (ag-TSH) model, solved by AlphaFold, was used in molecular dynamics simulations with Scleropages formosus receptor, providing similar values of free energy ΔGbind and ΔGPMF in comparison with Homo sapiens model. The recombinant expression in HEK293F cells reached a yield of 25 mg/L, characterized via chromatographic and physical-chemical techniques. This work shows that other Arapaima gigas proteins could be studied in a similar way, using the combination of these techniques, recovering more information from its genome and improving the reproduction and preservation of this prehistoric fish.
Synthesis of human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (hBMP-2) in E. coli periplasmic space
2021 - OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; DAMIANI, RENATA; LIMA, ELIANA R.; AMARAL, KLEICY C.; SANTOS, ANDERSON M.S.; MAGALHAES, GERALDO S.; FAVERANI, LEONARDO P.; PEREIRA, LUIS A.V.D.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO
Human BMP-2, a homodimeric protein that belongs to the TGF- family, is a recognized osteoinductor due to its capacity of inducing bone regeneration and ectopic bone formation. The administration of its recombinant form is an alternative to autologous bone grafting. A variety of E. coli-derived hBMP-2 has been synthesized through refolding of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The present work reports the synthesis, purification, and characterization of periplasmic hBMP-2, obtained directly in its correctly folded and authentic form, i.e., without the initial methionine typical of the cytoplasmic product that can induce undesired immunoreactivity. A bacterial expression vector was constructed including the DsbA signal peptide and the cDNA of hBMP-2. The periplasmic fluid was extracted by osmotic shock and analyzed via SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The purification was carried out by heparin affinity chromatography, followed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). HPSEC was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the final product, which showed >95% purity. The classical in vitro bioassay based on the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in myoblastic murine C2C12 cells and the in vivo bioassay consisting of treating calvarial critical-size defects in rats confirmed its bioactivity, which matched the analogous literature data for hBMP-2.
Periplasmic synthesis and purification of the human prolactin antagonist Δ1‑11‑G129R‑hPRL
2021 - SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; ALMEIDA, LARISSA A.; POMIN, STEPHANIE A.; SILVA, FELIPE D.; FREIRE, RENAN P.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; AFFONSO, REGINA; SOARES, CARLOS R.J.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO
The human prolactin antagonist Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL is a 21.9 kDa recombinant protein with 188 amino acids that downregulates the proliferation of a variety of cells expressing prolactin receptors. Periplasmic expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli has been considered an option for obtaining a soluble and correctly folded protein, as an alternative to cytoplasmic production. The aim of this work was, therefore, to synthesize for the first time, the Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL antagonist, testing different activation temperatures and purifying it by classical chromatographic techniques. E. coli BL21(DE3) strain was transformed with a plasmid based on the pET25b( +) vector, DsbA signal sequence and the antagonist cDNA sequence. Different doses of IPTG were added, activating under different temperatures, and extracting the periplasmic fluid via osmotic shock. The best conditions were achieved by activating at 35 °C for 5 h using 0.4 mM IPTG, which gave a specific expression of 0.157 ± 0.015 μg/mL/A600 at a final optical density of 3.43 ± 0.13 A600. Purification was carried out by nickel-affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography, quantification being performed via high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The prolactin antagonist was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MALDI-TOF–MS. The final product presented > 95% purity and its antagonistic effects were evaluated in vitro in view of potential clinical applications, including inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells overexpressing the prolactin receptor and specific antidiabetic properties, taking also advantage of the fact that this antagonist was obtained in a soluble and correctly folded form and without an initial methionine.
Variations in essential elements after malignant transformation of kidney epithelial tubular cells
2020 - BELLINI, MARIA H.; SOUZA, ALEXANDRE L. de; SILVA, FABIO F. da; GUILHEN, SABINE N.; FERREIRA, RAFAEL V. de P.; ARAUJO, LEANDRO G. de; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E. de; MARUMO, JULIO T.
Cell line-based research is a valuable tool for the study of cancer physiopathology and the discovery of new drugs for use in clinical practice. In this study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to estimate Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Se, and Zn in epithelial tubular cells (HK-2) and kidney tumor cells (Caki-1 cells). The most relevant difference was a decrease in the contents of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, and Zn. A significant accumulation of Co was also detected in Caki-1 cells. The fold change variation of each element concentration between HK-2 and Caki-1 cells was Ca (‒0.40), Co (1.37), Cu (‒0.68), Fe (‒0.56), K (‒0.40), Mg (‒0.41), Mn (-0.54), Na (‒0.33), P (‒0.31), S (‒0.26), and Zn (‒0.73). These findings indicate that the elements mainly affect the metabolic pathways of epithelial kidney cells. Thus, our findings open a new avenue for RCC target therapy
Human bone morphogenetic protein‑2 (hBMP‑2) characterization by physical–chemical, immunological and biological assays
2020 - SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; DAMIANI, RENATA; LIMA, ELIANA R.; AMARAL, KLEICY C.; SANTOS, ANDERSON M. de S.; MAGALHÃES, GERALDO S.; FAVERANI, LEONARDO P.; PEREIRA, LUIS A.V.D.; SILVA, FABIANA M.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO
Commercially available preparations of methionyl-human BMP-2 and CHO-derived hBMP-2, which belongs to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, were used for a complete characterization. This protein is an extremely efficient osteoinductor that plays an important role during bone regeneration and embryonic development. Characterization was carried out via SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, followed by reversed-phase HPLC, sizeexclusion HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. The classical in vitro bioassay, based on the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells, confirmed that hBMP-2 biological activity is mostly related to the dimeric form, being ~ 4-fold higher for the CHO-derived glycosylated form when compared with the E. coli counterpart. The E. coli-derived methBMP- 2 has shown, by MALDI-TOF-MS, a large presence of the bioactive dimer. A more complex molecular mass (MM) distribution was found for the CHO-derived product, whose exact MM has never been reported because of its variable glycosylation. A method based on RP-HPLC was set up, allowing a quantitative and qualitative hBMP-2 determination even directly on ongoing culture media. Considering that hBMP-2 is highly unstable, presenting moreover an extremely high aggregate value, we believe that these data pave the way to a necessary characterization of this important factor when synthesized by DNA recombinant techniques in different types of hosts.
Expression of glycosylated human prolactin in HEK293 cells and related N‑glycan composition analysis
2019 - SILVA, FELIPE D.; OLIVEIRA, JOÃO E.; FREIRE, RENAN P.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; SOARES, CARLOS R.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO
Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland with innumerable functions, such as lactation, reproduction, osmotic and immune regulation. The present work describes the synthesis of hPRL in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, transiently transfected with the pcDNA-3.4-TOPO® vector carrying the hPRL cDNA. A concentration of ~ 20 mg/L, including glycosylated (G-hPRL) and non-glycosylated (NG-hPRL) human prolactin, was obtained, with ~ 19% of G-hPRL, which is higher than that observed in CHO-derived hPRL (~ 10%) and falling within the wide range of 5–30% reported for pituitary-derived hPRL. N-Glycoprofiling analysis of G-hPRL provided: (i) identification of each N-glycan structure and relative intensity; (ii) average N-glycan mass; (iii) molecular mass of the whole glycoprotein and relative carbohydrate mass fraction; (iv) mass fraction of each monosaccharide. The data obtained were compared to pituitary- and CHO-derived G-hPRL. The whole MM of HEK-derived G-hPRL, determined via MALDI–TOF-MS, was 25,123 Da, which is 0.88% higher than pit- and 0.61% higher than CHO-derived G-hPRL. The main difference with the latter was due to sialylation, which was ~ sevenfold lower, but slightly higher than that observed in native G-hPRL. The “in vitro” bioactivity of HEK-G-hPRL was ~ fourfold lower than that of native G-hPRL, with which it had in common also the number of N-glycan structures.
Suppression of prolactin secretion partially explains the antidiabetic effect of bromocriptine in ob/ob mice
2019 - FURIGO, ISADORA C.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; RAMOS-LOBO, ANGELA M.; TEIXEIRA, PRYSCILA D.S.; PEDROSO, JOAO A.; ALENCAR, AMANDA de; ZAMPIERI, THAIS T.; BUONFIGLIO, DANIELLA C.; QUARESMA, PAULA G.F.; PRADA, PATRICIA O.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO; SOARES, CARLOS R.J.; DONATO JUNIOR, JOSE
Previous studies have shown that bromocriptine mesylate (Bromo) lowers blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, the mechanism of action of the antidiabetic effects of Bromo is unclear. As a dopamine receptor agonist, Bromo can alter brain dopamine activity affecting glucose control, but it also suppresses prolactin (Prl) secretion, and Prl levels modulate glucose homeostasis. Thus, the objective of the current study was to investigate whether Bromo improves insulin sensitivity via inhibition of Prl secretion. Male and female ob/ob animals (a mouse model of obesity and insulin resistance) were treated with Bromo and/or Prl. Bromo-treated ob/ob mice exhibited lower serum Prl concentration, improved glucose and insulin tolerance, and increased insulin sensitivity in the liver and skeletal muscle compared with vehicle-treated mice. Prl replacement in Bromo-treated mice normalized serum Prl concentration without inducing hyperprolactinemia. Importantly, Prl replacement partially reversed the improvements in glucose homeostasis caused by Bromo treatment. The effects of the Prl receptor antagonist G129R-hPrl on glucose homeostasis were also investigated. We found that central G129R-hPrl infusion increased insulin tolerance of male ob/ob mice. In summary, our findings indicate that part of Bromo effects on glucose homeostasis are associated with decrease in serum Prl levels. Because G129R-hPrl treatment also improved the insulin sensitivity of ob/ob mice, pharmacological compounds that inhibit Prl signaling may represent a promising therapeutic approach to control blood glucose levels in individuals with insulin resistance.
Human thyroid-stimulating hormone synthesis in human embryonic kidney cells and related N-glycoprofiling analysis for carbohydrate composition determination
2018 - SANTANA, P.M.; OLIVEIRA, J.E.; LIMA, E.R.; SOARES, C.R.J.; PERONI, C.N.; BARTOLINI, P.; RIBELA, MARIA T.C.P.
A strain of embryonic human kidney cells (HEK293) was transiently co-transfected with the expression vectors coding for the α- and β-subunits of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH), and, for the first time, a human cell-derived recombinant hTSH was synthesized and extensively characterized. The purification strategy involving two steps provided an overall yield of 55% and a purity level > 90%. The purified material (hTSH-HEK) was analyzed and compared to a CHO-derived recombinant preparation (hTSH-CHO) and to a pituitary-derived (hTSH-Pit) preparation. The three preparations showed an equivalent purity (> 95%) with a hTSH-HEK molecular mass 2.1% lower than that of hTSH-CHO and 2.7% higher than that of hTSH-Pit. Remarkable differences were found in the carbohydrate moiety, the lowest sialic acid content and highest fucose content being observed in hTSH-HEK. In vivo biological activity was confirmed for the three preparations, the hTSH-HEK bioactivity being 39 and 16% lower than those of hTSH-CHO and hTSH-Pit, respectively. The hTSH-HEK circulatory half-life (t1/2) was also shorter than those of hTSH-CHO (1.5-fold) and hTSH-Pit (1.2-fold). According to these findings, HEK-293-derived hTSH can be considered to be useful for clinical applications, in view as well of its human origin and particular carbohydrate composition.
Determination of recombinant Interferon-α2 in E. coli periplasmic extracts by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography
2018 - DIAS, PAULO V.S.; ARTHUSO, FERNANDA S.; OLIVEIRA, JOAO E.; SUZUKI, MIRIAM F.; SOUSA, JOSE M.; RIBELA, MARIA T.C.P.; BARTOLINI, PAOLO; SOARES, CARLOS R.J.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been used to analyze Interferon α-2 (IFN-α2) as a pure protein or as a pharmaceutical preparation: a method for analyzing periplasmic IFN-α2 directly in osmotic shock extract has, however, never been reported. This work describes an RP-HPLC methodology for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of human IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b directly in bacterial periplasmic extracts or in purified preparations. The analytical method has been set up and validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, sensitivity and specificity. A recovery test indicated an average bias of ∼1%, intra-day and inter-day quantitative determinations presented relative standard deviations always ≤ 5%, while the working sensitivity was of ∼0.3 μg of IFN-α2 (RSD =5%). The method proved to be suitable for detecting and quantifying also glycosylated and oxidized forms and N-methionylated IFN-α2 molecules, it was, however, not able to distinguish between IFN-α2a and IFN-α2b. This rapid methodology allows the application of RP-HPLC as a powerful tool to monitor the production yield and quality of IFN-α2 in osmotic shock fluids, right after, or even during the fermentation process.