Annual Report of Activities CNC 2011 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2011 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2011 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
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Molecular Biotechnology <strong>and</strong> HeathAreaCoordinator: Euclides Pires33The research activity per<strong>for</strong>med by the groups <strong>of</strong> this scientific Area aims at the elucidation <strong>of</strong> the function <strong>of</strong> macromolecules either as single entities or as a part <strong>of</strong> complex systems. This research involves genomic, proteomic, metabolic <strong>and</strong> structural biology approaches; purification <strong>and</strong> characterization <strong>of</strong> new proteins, production <strong>of</strong> recombinant proteins <strong>and</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> system biology strategies to predict <strong>and</strong> integrate metabolic pathways. Relevant in<strong>for</strong>mation obtained is then incorporated into translational projects aiming at new biotechnological or biomedical applications, in particular, development <strong>and</strong> pharmacokinetic characterization <strong>of</strong> new drugs, development <strong>of</strong> new drugs carriers <strong>and</strong> development <strong>of</strong> new biomaterials. Each group had developed a deep know-‐how <strong>and</strong> expertise in a defined set <strong>of</strong> approaches <strong>and</strong> techniques, mentioned above, mainly the techniques they use extensively in their own specific projects. Currently the groups make available <strong>and</strong> share their expertise with other <strong>CNC</strong> researchers interested in using those techniques. Fundamental <strong>and</strong> Technological know-‐how <strong>of</strong> this research line is being widened by incorporation <strong>of</strong> two coming groups: 1) The Pharmacometrics group, with strong expertise in quantitative Pharmacology; 2) The Bioorganic <strong>and</strong> Medical Chemistry group, with expertise in chemo-enzymatic syntheses, an emerging group whose members where previously in the Vectors <strong>and</strong> Gene Therapy group. The main achievements <strong>of</strong> <strong>2011</strong> are: Pollens from 10 common trees were shown to contain serine or amino peptidases that increase transepithelial permeability through disruption <strong>of</strong> transmembrane proteins <strong>and</strong> degrade airways bioactive peptides that can disturb the balance between the anti-‐ <strong>and</strong> pro-‐inflammatory effects in the lung. Synthetic niches to potentiate in vivo stem cell engraftment <strong>and</strong> therapeutic effect were developed. Silence <strong>of</strong> tumour-‐specific protein surviving was shown to sensitize tumour cells to citotoxic action <strong>of</strong> conventional chemotherapeutic agents.Characterization <strong>of</strong> the molecular mechanisms <strong>of</strong> amyloid <strong>for</strong>mation by transthyretin, in particular the refolding kinetics <strong>of</strong> TTR <strong>and</strong> the kinetics <strong>of</strong> the early stages <strong>of</strong> oligomerization were carried out. A method <strong>for</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iling mitotic-‐cycle dependent metabolism without having to synchronize cells was devised. A method <strong>for</strong> simultaneous determination <strong>of</strong> norfloxacin, lomefloxacin <strong>and</strong> cipr<strong>of</strong>loxacin by fast isocratic liquid chromatography was developed <strong>and</strong> validate.
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