Crystal structure of dihydroneopterin aldolase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with 8-mercaptoguanine, and development of novel S8-functionalized analogues as inhibitors: Synthesis, enzyme inhibition, in vitro toxicity and antitubercular activity.

The crystallographic structure of the FolB enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtFolB), complexed with its inhibitor 8-mercaptoguanine (8-MG), was elucidated at a resolution of 1.95 Å. A novel series of S8-functionalized 8-MG derivatives were synthesised and evaluated as in vitro inhibitors of dihydroneopterin aldolase (DHNA, EC 4.1.2.25) activity of MtFolB. These compounds exhibited IC50 values in the submicromolar range. Evaluation of the activity for five compounds indicated their inhibition mode and inhibition constants. Molecular docking analyses were performed to determine the enzyme-inhibitor intermolecular interactions and ligand conformations upon complex formation. The inhibitory activities of all compounds against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain were evaluated. Compound 3e exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration in the micromolar range. Finally, Compound 3e showed no apparent toxicity in both HepG2 and Vero cells. The findings presented herein will advance the quest for novel, specific inhibitors targeting MtFolB, an attractive molecular target for TB drug development.

Fructose biphosphate aldolase: A new cassava allergen.

Background: Food allergy has considerably increased in recent years and this situation has been aggravated mainly by the consumption of more processed and complex foods, since minor or potentially allergenic foods are not required to be labeled. Manihot esculenta (cassava) is a widely consumed food in South America, Africa, and Asia and can be used in the production of flour and starch, as well as several other products. This root can cause allergic reactions with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Methods: Thus, the aim of this study was the characterization of the immunogenic cassava proteins responsible for sensitizing patients allergic to it. Using a 2D-SDS-PAGE based proteomic approach, six proteins were identified, including Fructose Bisphosphate Aldolase (FBA). Recombinant FBA was produced in Expi293 cells and evaluated by immunoblotting with the serum of 10 individual study subjects. Results: Our results showed six cassava IgE-reactive proteins. From those, recombinant fructose bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) showed a positivity of 80% among tested sera, proving to be a highly sensitizing protein. Conclusion: The recombinant FBA molecule obtained in this study can be important for in vivo diagnostic assays, by producing more accurate results, and for desensitization protocols, in which the use of the isolated molecule produces more precise results by avoiding secondary sensitization. Trial registration: All patients signed a consent form approved by the internal ethics committee CAPPesq, Comissão de Ética para Análise de Projetos de Pesquisa do HC FMUSP (CAAE: 10420619.6.0000.0068).

Synthetic Activity of Recombinant Whole Cell Biocatalysts Containing 2-Deoxy-D-ribose-5-phosphate Aldolase from Pectobacterium atrosepticum.

In nature 2-deoxy-D-ribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) catalyses the reversible formation of 2-deoxyribose 5-phosphate from D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and acetaldehyde. In addition, this enzyme can use acetaldehyde as the sole substrate, resulting in a tandem aldol reaction, yielding 2,4,6-trideoxy-D-erythro-hexapyranose, which spontaneously cyclizes. This reaction is very useful for the synthesis of the side chain of statin-type drugs used to decrease cholesterol levels in blood. One of the main challenges in the use of DERA in industrial processes, where high substrate loads are needed to achieve the desired productivity, is its inactivation by high acetaldehyde concentration. In this work, the utility of different variants of Pectobacterium atrosepticum DERA (PaDERA) as whole cell biocatalysts to synthesize 2-deoxyribose 5-phosphate and 2,4,6-trideoxy-D-erythro-hexapyranose was analysed. Under optimized conditions, E. coli BL21 (PaDERA C-His AA C49M) whole cells yields 99 % of both products. Furthermore, this enzyme is able to tolerate 500 mM acetaldehyde in a whole-cell experiment which makes it suitable for industrial applications.

Applying biochemical and structural characterization of hydroxycinnamate catabolic enzymes from soil metagenome for lignin valorization strategies.

The biocatalytic production of fuels and chemicals from plant biomass represents an attractive alternative to fossil fuel-based refineries. In this context, the mining and characterization of novel biocatalysts can promote disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of lignocellulose conversion and valorization. In the present work, we conducted the biochemical and structural characterization of two novel hydroxycinnamic acid catabolic enzymes, isolated from a lignin-degrading microbial consortium, a feruloyl-CoA synthetase, and a feruloyl-CoA hydratase-lyase, named LM-FCS2 and LM-FCHL2, respectively. Besides establishing the homology model structures for novel FCS and FCHL members with unique characteristics, the enzymes presented interesting biochemical features: LM-FCS2 showed stability in alkaline pHs and was able to convert a wide array of p-hydroxycinnamic acids to their respective CoA-thioesters, including sinapic acid; LM-FCHL2 efficiently converted feruloyl-CoA and p-coumaroyl-CoA into vanillin and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, respectively, and could produce vanillin directly from ferulic acid. The coupled reaction of LM-FCS2 and LM-FCHL2 produced vanillin, not only from commercial ferulic acid but also from a crude lignocellulosic hydrolysate. Collectively, this work illuminates the structure and function of two critical enzymes involved in converting ferulic acid into high-value molecules, thus providing valuable concepts applied to the development of plant biomass biorefineries. KEY POINTS: • Comprehensive characterization of feruloyl-CoA synthetase from metagenomic origin. • Novel low-resolution structures of hydroxycinnamate catabolic enzymes. • Production of vanillin via enzymatic reaction using lignocellulosic hydrolysates.

8-Mercaptoguanine-based inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis dihydroneopterin aldolase: synthesis, in vitro inhibition and docking studies.

The dihydroneopterin aldolase (DHNA, EC 4.1.2.25) activity of FolB protein is required for the conversion of 7,8-dihydroneopterin (DHNP) to 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin (HP) and glycolaldehyde (GA) in the folate pathway. FolB protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtFolB) is essential for bacilli survival and represents an important molecular target for drug development. S8-functionalized 8-mercaptoguanine derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for inhibitory activity against MtFolB. The compounds showed IC50 values in the submicromolar range. The inhibition mode and inhibition constants were determined for compounds that exhibited the strongest inhibition. Additionally, molecular docking analyses were performed to suggest enzyme-inhibitor interactions and ligand conformations. To the best of our knowledge, this study describes the first class of MtFolB inhibitors.

Effect of lysine acetylation on the regulation of Trypanosoma brucei glycosomal aldolase activity.

Post-translational modifications provide suitable mechanisms for cellular adaptation to environmental changes. Lysine acetylation is one of these modifications and occurs with the addition of an acetyl group to Nε-amino chain of this residue, eliminating its positive charge. Recently, we found distinct acetylation profiles of procyclic and bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei, the agent of African Trypanosomiasis. Interestingly, glycolytic enzymes were more acetylated in the procyclic, which develops in insects and uses oxidative phosphorylation to obtain energy, compared with the bloodstream form, whose main source of energy is glycolysis. Here, we investigated whether acetylation regulates the T. brucei fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. We found that aldolase activity was reduced in procyclic parasites cultivated in the absence of glucose and partial recovered by in vitro deacetylation. Similarly, acetylation of protein extracts from procyclics cultivated in glucose-rich medium, caused a reduction in the aldolase activity. In addition, aldolase acetylation levels were higher in procyclics cultivated in the absence of glucose compared with those cultivated in the presence of glucose. To further confirm the role of acetylation, lysine residues near the catalytic site were substituted by glutamine in recombinant T. brucei aldolase. These replacements, especially K157, inhibited enzymatic activity, changed the electrostatic surface potential, decrease substrate binding and modify the catalytic pocket structure of the enzyme, as predicted by in silico analysis. Taken together, these data confirm the role of acetylation in regulating the activity of an enzyme from the glycolytic pathway of T. brucei, expanding the factors responsible for regulating important pathways in this parasite.

Multiplex malaria antigen detection by bead-based assay and molecular confirmation by PCR shows no evidence of Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 deletion in Haiti.

BACKGROUND: The Plasmodium falciparum parasite is the only human malaria that produces the histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 (HRP2/3) antigens. Currently, HRP2/3 are widely used in malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), but several global reports have recently emerged showing genetic deletion of one or both of these antigens in parasites. Deletion of these antigens could pose a major concern for P. falciparum diagnosis in Haiti which currently uses RDTs based solely on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens. METHODS: From September 2012 through February 2014, dried blood spots (DBS) were collected in Haiti from 9317 febrile patients presenting to 17 health facilities in 5 departments throughout the country as part of a bed net intervention study. All DBS from RDT positive persons and a random sampling of DBS from RDT negative persons were assayed for P. falciparum DNA by nested and PET-PCR (n = 2695 total). All PCR positive samples (n = 331) and a subset of PCR negative samples (n = 95) were assayed for three malaria antigens by a multiplex bead assay: pan-Plasmodium aldolase (pAldo), pan-Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), and HRP2/3. Any samples positive for P. falciparum DNA, but negative for HRP2/3 antigens were tested by nested PCR for Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 gene deletions. RESULTS: Of 2695 DBS tested for Plasmodium DNA, 345 (12.8%) were originally found to be positive for P. falciparum DNA; 331 of these had DBS available for antigen detection. Of these, 266 (80.4%) were positive for pAldo, 221 (66.8%) positive for pLDH, and 324 (97.9%) were positive for HRP2/3 antigens. Seven samples (2.1%) positive for P. falciparum DNA were not positive for any of the three antigens by the bead assay, and were investigated for potential Pfhrp2/3 gene deletion by PCR. These samples either successfully amplified Pfhrp2/3 genes or were at an estimated parasite density too low for sufficient DNA to perform successful genotyping. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria positive samples in multiple Haitian sites were found to contain the HRP2/3 antigens, and no evidence was found of Pfhrp2/3 deletions. Malaria RDTs based on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens remain a reliable P. falciparum diagnostic tool as Haiti works towards malaria elimination.

Fructosuria and recurrent hypoglycemia in a patient with a novel c.1693T>A variant in the 3' untranslated region of the aldolase B gene.

Hereditary fructose intolerance, caused by mutations in the ALDOB gene, is an unusual cause of hypoglycemia. ALDOB encodes the enzyme aldolase B, responsible for the hydrolysis of fructose 1-phosphate in the liver. Here, we report the case of a 33-year-old female patient who consulted due to repetitive episodes of weakness, dizziness and headache after food ingestion. An ambulatory 72-h continuous glucose monitoring revealed multiple short hypoglycemic episodes over the day. After biochemical exclusion of other endocrine causes of hypoglycemia, hereditary fructose intolerance seemed a plausible diagnosis. Repeated measurements of urinary fructose revealed pathologic fructosuria, but genetic testing for the three most common mutations in ALDOB resulted negative. We decided to perform complete Sanger sequencing of the ALDOB gene and encountered a variant consisting of a T>A substitution in position 1963 of the ALDOB transcript (c.1693T>A). This position is located within the 3' untranslated region of exon 9, 515 nucleotides downstream the stop codon. After complete withdrawal of dietary fructose and sucrose, the patient presented no new hypoglycemic episodes.

Molecular And 3D-Structural Characterization Of Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate Aldolase Derived From Metroxylon Sagu

ABSTRACT Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBAld) is an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of D-fructose-1,6-phosphate (FBP) to D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), and plays vital role in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. However, molecular characterization and functional roles of FBAld remain unknown in sago palm. Here we report a modified CTAB-RNA extraction method was developed for the isolation of good quality RNA (RIN>8) from sago leaves and the isolation of FBAld cDNA from sago palm. The isolated sago FBAld (msFBAld) cDNA has total length of 1288 bp with an open reading frame of 1020 bp and a predicted to encode for a protein of 340 amino acid resides. The predicted protein shared a high degree of homology with Class-I FBAld from other plants. Meanwhile, the msFBAld gene spanned 2322 bp and consisted of five exons. Conserved domain search identified fifteen catalytically important amino acids at the active site and phylogenetic tree revealed localization of msFBAld in the chloroplast. A molecular 3D-structure of msFBAld was generated by homology modeling and a Ramachandran plot with 86.7% of the residues in the core region, 13.4% in the allowed region with no residues in the disallowed region. The modeled structure is a homotetramer containing an (/(-TIM-barrel at the center. Superimposition of the model with Class-I aldolases identified a catalytic dyad, Lys209-Glu167, which could be involved in the Schiff's base formation and aldol condensation. Apart from that, overproduction of the recombinant msFBAld in Escherichia coli resulted in increased tolerance towards salinity.

A new level of regulation in gluconeogenesis: metabolic state modulates the intracellular localization of aldolase B and its interaction with liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

Understanding how glucose metabolism is finely regulated at molecular and cellular levels in the liver is critical for knowing its relationship to related pathologies, such as diabetes. In order to gain insight into the regulation of glucose metabolism, we studied the liver-expressed isoforms aldolase B and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase-1 (FBPase-1), key enzymes in gluconeogenesis, analysing their cellular localization in hepatocytes under different metabolic conditions and their protein-protein interaction in vitro and in vivo. We observed that glucose, insulin, glucagon and adrenaline differentially modulate the intracellular distribution of aldolase B and FBPase-1. Interestingly, the in vitro protein-protein interaction analysis between aldolase B and FBPase-1 showed a specific and regulable interaction between them, whereas aldolase A (muscle isozyme) and FBPase-1 showed no interaction. The affinity of the aldolase B and FBPase-1 complex was modulated by intermediate metabolites, but only in the presence of K(+). We observed a decreased association constant in the presence of adenosine monophosphate, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, fructose-6-phosphate and inhibitory concentrations of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Conversely, the association constant of the complex increased in the presence of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and non-inhibitory concentrations of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Notably, in vivo FRET studies confirmed the interaction between aldolase B and FBPase-1. Also, the co-expression of aldolase B and FBPase-1 in cultured cells suggested that FBPase-1 guides the cellular localization of aldolase B. Our results provide further evidence that metabolic conditions modulate aldolase B and FBPase-1 activity at the cellular level through the regulation of their interaction, suggesting that their association confers a catalytic advantage for both enzymes.

Variabilidad biológica de aldolasa sérica: su utilidad en la interpretación de los resultados / Biological variation of serum aldolase: its use for interpretation of the results / Variabilidade biológica de aldolase sérica: sua utilidade na interpretagáo dos resultados

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la variabilidad biológica (VB) de Aldolasa (ALD) en individuos sanos, el índice de individualidad (II) del analito y evaluar la utilidad del intervalo de referencia poblacional (IRP) considerando al IRP de los analitos útil cuando el II es > 1,4 y de poca utilidad si es <0,6. También se evaluó el valor de referencia para el cambio (VRC) en la interpretación de dos determinaciones seriadas del mismo individuo, especialmente en el seguimiento de enfermedades músculo-esqueléticas en las que los niveles de creatinquinasa (CK) permanecen dentro del intervalo de referencia, mientras que los de ALD están elevados. Se obtuvieron 8 muestras de sangre de 10 individuos aparentemente sanos en días diferentes según protocolo preestablecido. Se determinó la actividad de ALD por método enzimático UV y se calcularon los parámetros de VB, II y VRC. Se obtuvo una VB intraindividual: 31%; VB interindividual: 21%, II 1.47 y VRC 90%. De acuerdo a los coeficientes de VB y el II obtenidos, los IRP son útiles para la interpretación de los resultados de ALD. Un resultado seriado será estadísticamente diferente del dato previo cuando el mismo tenga una diferencia mayor al 90% en relación al valor previo. El VRC entre dos determinaciones seriadas debe ser calculado en cada laboratorio con su propia variabilidad analítica para una correcta interpretación de los resultados.(AU)

The aim of this study was to determine the Biological Variation (BV) of Aldolase (ALD) in healthy patients, the individuality index (II) of the analyte and to assess how useful the population reference interval (PRI) is for the interpretation of the results, considering PRI useful when the II is >1.40 and useless when it is <0.6. Reference change values (RCV) were also assessed in the interpretation of two serial measurements of the same individual, specially in the monitoring of patients in which the serum level of Creatine Kinase (CK) remain within the reference range while ALD values are increased. Eight bloodsam-ples were obtained from ten apparently healthy subjects in different days according to a predetermined protocol. ALD activity was measured by an enzymatic UV method and BV, II and RCV were calculated. Intraindividual BV was 31 %, interindividual BV 21 %, II 1.47 and RCV 90%. Based on the results obtained for BV and II, PRIs are useful for the interpretation of ADL results. A serial result will be statistically different from the previous one when the variability between both results is higher than 90%. RCV must be determined in each laboratory using their own analytical variability in order to obtain a correct interpretation of the results.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a variabilidade biológica (VB) de Aldolase (ALD) em individuos saudáveis, o índice de individualidade (II) do analito e avaliar a utilidade do intervalo de referencia populacional (IRP) considerando o IRP dos analitos útil quando o II é > 1,4 e de pouca utilidade se é <0,6. Também foi avaliado o valor de referencia da variagáo (VRV) na interpretagáo de duas determinagóes seriadas do mesmo individuo, especialmente no seguimento de doengas músculo-esqueléticas nas quais os níveis de creatinoquinase (CK) permanecem dentro do intervalo de referencia, enquanto que os de ALD estáo elevados. Foram obtidas 8 amostras de sangue de 10 individuos aparentemente saudáveis em dias diferentes conforme protocolo preestabelecido. Determinou-se a atividade de ALD por método enzimático UV e se calcularam os parámetros de VB, II e VRC. Foi obtida uma VB intra-individual: 31 %; VB interindividual: 21 %, II 1.47 e VRV 90%. De acordo com os coeficientes de VB e o II obtidos, os IRP sáo úteis para a interpretagáo dos resultados de ALD. Um resultado seriado será estatisticamente diferente do dado prévio quando o mesmo tenha uma diferenga maior a 90% em relagáo ao valor prévio. O VRV entre duas determinagóes seriadas deve ser calculado em cada laboratório com sua própria variabilidade analítica para uma correta interpretagáo dos resultados.(AU)

Variabilidad biológica de aldolasa sérica: su utilidad en la interpretación de los resultados / Biological variation of serum aldolase: its use for interpretation of the results / Variabilidade biológica de aldolase sérica: sua utilidade na interpretagáo dos resultados

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la variabilidad biológica (VB) de Aldolasa (ALD) en individuos sanos, el índice de individualidad (II) del analito y evaluar la utilidad del intervalo de referencia poblacional (IRP) considerando al IRP de los analitos útil cuando el II es > 1,4 y de poca utilidad si es <0,6. También se evaluó el valor de referencia para el cambio (VRC) en la interpretación de dos determinaciones seriadas del mismo individuo, especialmente en el seguimiento de enfermedades músculo-esqueléticas en las que los niveles de creatinquinasa (CK) permanecen dentro del intervalo de referencia, mientras que los de ALD están elevados. Se obtuvieron 8 muestras de sangre de 10 individuos aparentemente sanos en días diferentes según protocolo preestablecido. Se determinó la actividad de ALD por método enzimático UV y se calcularon los parámetros de VB, II y VRC. Se obtuvo una VB intraindividual: 31%; VB interindividual: 21%, II 1.47 y VRC 90%. De acuerdo a los coeficientes de VB y el II obtenidos, los IRP son útiles para la interpretación de los resultados de ALD. Un resultado seriado será estadísticamente diferente del dato previo cuando el mismo tenga una diferencia mayor al 90% en relación al valor previo. El VRC entre dos determinaciones seriadas debe ser calculado en cada laboratorio con su propia variabilidad analítica para una correcta interpretación de los resultados.(AU)

The aim of this study was to determine the Biological Variation (BV) of Aldolase (ALD) in healthy patients, the individuality index (II) of the analyte and to assess how useful the population reference interval (PRI) is for the interpretation of the results, considering PRI useful when the II is >1.40 and useless when it is <0.6. Reference change values (RCV) were also assessed in the interpretation of two serial measurements of the same individual, specially in the monitoring of patients in which the serum level of Creatine Kinase (CK) remain within the reference range while ALD values are increased. Eight bloodsam-ples were obtained from ten apparently healthy subjects in different days according to a predetermined protocol. ALD activity was measured by an enzymatic UV method and BV, II and RCV were calculated. Intraindividual BV was 31 %, interindividual BV 21 %, II 1.47 and RCV 90%. Based on the results obtained for BV and II, PRIs are useful for the interpretation of ADL results. A serial result will be statistically different from the previous one when the variability between both results is higher than 90%. RCV must be determined in each laboratory using their own analytical variability in order to obtain a correct interpretation of the results.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a variabilidade biológica (VB) de Aldolase (ALD) em individuos saudáveis, o índice de individualidade (II) do analito e avaliar a utilidade do intervalo de referencia populacional (IRP) considerando o IRP dos analitos útil quando o II é > 1,4 e de pouca utilidade se é <0,6. Também foi avaliado o valor de referencia da variagáo (VRV) na interpretagáo de duas determinagóes seriadas do mesmo individuo, especialmente no seguimento de doengas músculo-esqueléticas nas quais os níveis de creatinoquinase (CK) permanecem dentro do intervalo de referencia, enquanto que os de ALD estáo elevados. Foram obtidas 8 amostras de sangue de 10 individuos aparentemente saudáveis em dias diferentes conforme protocolo preestabelecido. Determinou-se a atividade de ALD por método enzimático UV e se calcularam os parámetros de VB, II e VRC. Foi obtida uma VB intra-individual: 31 %; VB interindividual: 21 %, II 1.47 e VRV 90%. De acordo com os coeficientes de VB e o II obtidos, os IRP sáo úteis para a interpretagáo dos resultados de ALD. Um resultado seriado será estatisticamente diferente do dado prévio quando o mesmo tenha uma diferenga maior a 90% em relagáo ao valor prévio. O VRV entre duas determinagóes seriadas deve ser calculado em cada laboratório com sua própria variabilidade analítica para uma correta interpretagáo dos resultados.(AU)

Variabilidad biológica de aldolasa sérica: su utilidad en la interpretación de los resultados / Biological variation of serum aldolase: its use for interpretation of the results / Variabilidade biológica de aldolase sérica: sua utilidade na interpretagáo dos resultados

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la variabilidad biológica (VB) de Aldolasa (ALD) en individuos sanos, el índice de individualidad (II) del analito y evaluar la utilidad del intervalo de referencia poblacional (IRP) considerando al IRP de los analitos útil cuando el II es > 1,4 y de poca utilidad si es <0,6. También se evaluó el valor de referencia para el cambio (VRC) en la interpretación de dos determinaciones seriadas del mismo individuo, especialmente en el seguimiento de enfermedades músculo-esqueléticas en las que los niveles de creatinquinasa (CK) permanecen dentro del intervalo de referencia, mientras que los de ALD están elevados. Se obtuvieron 8 muestras de sangre de 10 individuos aparentemente sanos en días diferentes según protocolo preestablecido. Se determinó la actividad de ALD por método enzimático UV y se calcularon los parámetros de VB, II y VRC. Se obtuvo una VB intraindividual: 31%; VB interindividual: 21%, II 1.47 y VRC 90%. De acuerdo a los coeficientes de VB y el II obtenidos, los IRP son útiles para la interpretación de los resultados de ALD. Un resultado seriado será estadísticamente diferente del dato previo cuando el mismo tenga una diferencia mayor al 90% en relación al valor previo. El VRC entre dos determinaciones seriadas debe ser calculado en cada laboratorio con su propia variabilidad analítica para una correcta interpretación de los resultados.

The aim of this study was to determine the Biological Variation (BV) of Aldolase (ALD) in healthy patients, the individuality index (II) of the analyte and to assess how useful the population reference interval (PRI) is for the interpretation of the results, considering PRI useful when the II is >1.40 and useless when it is <0.6. Reference change values (RCV) were also assessed in the interpretation of two serial measurements of the same individual, specially in the monitoring of patients in which the serum level of Creatine Kinase (CK) remain within the reference range while ALD values are increased. Eight bloodsam-ples were obtained from ten apparently healthy subjects in different days according to a predetermined protocol. ALD activity was measured by an enzymatic UV method and BV, II and RCV were calculated. Intraindividual BV was 31 %, interindividual BV 21 %, II 1.47 and RCV 90%. Based on the results obtained for BV and II, PRIs are useful for the interpretation of ADL results. A serial result will be statistically different from the previous one when the variability between both results is higher than 90%. RCV must be determined in each laboratory using their own analytical variability in order to obtain a correct interpretation of the results.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a variabilidade biológica (VB) de Aldolase (ALD) em individuos saudáveis, o índice de individualidade (II) do analito e avaliar a utilidade do intervalo de referencia populacional (IRP) considerando o IRP dos analitos útil quando o II é > 1,4 e de pouca utilidade se é <0,6. Também foi avaliado o valor de referencia da variagáo (VRV) na interpretagáo de duas determinagóes seriadas do mesmo individuo, especialmente no seguimento de doengas músculo-esqueléticas nas quais os níveis de creatinoquinase (CK) permanecem dentro do intervalo de referencia, enquanto que os de ALD estáo elevados. Foram obtidas 8 amostras de sangue de 10 individuos aparentemente saudáveis em dias diferentes conforme protocolo preestabelecido. Determinou-se a atividade de ALD por método enzimático UV e se calcularam os parámetros de VB, II e VRC. Foi obtida uma VB intra-individual: 31 %; VB interindividual: 21 %, II 1.47 e VRV 90%. De acordo com os coeficientes de VB e o II obtidos, os IRP sáo úteis para a interpretagáo dos resultados de ALD. Um resultado seriado será estatisticamente diferente do dado prévio quando o mesmo tenha uma diferenga maior a 90% em relagáo ao valor prévio. O VRV entre duas determinagóes seriadas deve ser calculado em cada laboratório com sua própria variabilidade analítica para uma correta interpretagáo dos resultados.

Isolamento, diferenciação e aspectos bioquímicos de células-tronco de líquido amniótico / Isolation, differentiation and biochemical aspects of amniotic fluid stem cell

As células-tronco mesenquimais (MSCs) são células com grande potencial de diferenciação e estão sendo recentemente introduzidas na clínica para tratamento de várias doenças. Possuem várias vantagens incluindo sua estabilidade fenotípica in vitro. OBJETIVO: isolamento das MSCs de líquido amniótico, sua expansão e a demonstração da sua capacidade de se diferenciar em células miogênicas e adipogênicas, sem alterar a estabilidade cromossomal em meio de cultura. MÉTODOS: a fim de avaliar a mudança funcional destas células, foram avaliados parâmetros bioquímicos nas células adipogênicas já diferenciadas e antes da diferenciação através da dosagem de triglicérides. A diferenciação em células musculares foi avaliada comparando os níveis de creatinofosfoquinase - CK, desidrogenase lática - LDH e aldolase produzidas por estas células antes e após diferenciação. RESULTADOS: os níveis de triglicérides foram significativamente maiores nas células diferenciadas, mostrando ainda a formação de grânulos intracitoplasmáticos. Todos os outros valores obtidos foram significativamente maiores nas células miogênicas diferenciadas quando comparadas às não diferenciadas. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados sugerem que estes protocolos podem ser usados para avaliar diferenciação de células-tronco em células adipogênicas e miogênicas, e que o líquido amniótico pode ser uma fonte para obtenção destas células.

The mesenchymals stem cells (MSCs) are cells with the great potential of differentiation are being introduced in the clinic for treatment of several diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells have several advantages including the stability of their phenotype in vitro. BACKGROUND: isolation of MSCs in amniotic fluid, its expansion and the demonstration of the capacity of these cells to differentiate in adipogenic and miogenic cells, without to change the chromosomal stability of the MSCs in culture. METHODS: in order to evaluate the functional change of these cells, were gotten values of the differentiated adipogenic cells and not differentiated through the dosage of triglycerides. The miogenic nature of the differentiated cells was analyzed comparing the creatine kinase - CK, lactic dehydrogenase - LDH and aldolase produced by the cells. RESULTS: the values of triglycerides were significantly higher in differentiated cells, showing intracitoplasmatic granule form after differentiation. All the biochemical characters were significantly higher in differentiated miogenic cells. CONCLUSIONS: this study suggests that the standardized protocol of differentiation can be used in the attainment of cells with characteristics of adipogenic and muscular cells, from amniotic fluid.