@phdthesis{Axtner2012,
  author    = {Axtner, Jan},
  title     = {Immune gene expression and diversity in relation to gastrointestinal parasite burden in small mammals},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-65639},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {MHC genes encode proteins that are responsible for the recognition of foreign antigens and the triggering of a subsequent, adequate immune response of the organism. Thus they hold a key position in the immune system of vertebrates. It is believed that the extraordinary genetic diversity of MHC genes is shaped by adaptive selectional processes in response to the reoccurring adaptations of parasites and pathogens. A large number of MHC studies were performed in a wide range of wildlife species aiming to understand the role of immune gene diversity in parasite resistance under natural selection conditions. Methodically, most of this work with very few exceptions has focussed only upon the structural, i.e. sequence diversity of regions responsible for antigen binding and presentation. Most of these studies found evidence that MHC gene variation did indeed underlie adaptive processes and that an individual's allelic diversity explains parasite and pathogen resistance to a large extent. Nevertheless, our understanding of the effective mechanisms is incomplete. A neglected, but potentially highly relevant component concerns the transcriptional differences of MHC alleles. Indeed, differences in the expression levels MHC alleles and their potential functional importance have remained unstudied. The idea that also transcriptional differences might play an important role relies on the fact that lower MHC gene expression is tantamount with reduced induction of CD4+ T helper cells and thus with a reduced immune response. Hence, I studied the expression of MHC genes and of immune regulative cytokines as additional factors to reveal the functional importance of MHC diversity in two free-ranging rodent species (Delomys sublineatus, Apodemus flavicollis) in association with their gastrointestinal helminths under natural selection conditions. I established the method of relative quantification of mRNA on liver and spleen samples of both species in our laboratory. As there was no available information on nucleic sequences of potential reference genes in both species, PCR primer systems that were established in laboratory mice have to be tested and adapted for both non-model organisms. In the due course, sets of stable reference genes for both species were found and thus the preconditions for reliable measurements of mRNA levels established. For D. sublineatus it could be demonstrated that helminth infection elicits aspects of a typical Th2 immune response. Whereas mRNA levels of the cytokine interleukin Il4 increased with infection intensity by strongyle nematodes neither MHC nor cytokine expression played a significant role in D. sublineatus. For A. flavicollis I found a negative association between the parasitic nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus and hepatic MHC mRNA levels. As a lower MHC expression entails a lower immune response, this could be evidence for an immune evasive strategy of the nematode, as it has been suggested for many micro-parasites. This implies that H. polygyrus is capable to interfere actively with the MHC transcription. Indeed, this parasite species has long been suspected to be immunosuppressive, e.g. by induction of regulatory T-helper cells that respond with a higher interleukin Il10 and tumor necrosis factor Tgfb production. Both cytokines in turn cause an abated MHC expression. By disabling recognition by the MHC molecule H. polygyrus might be able to prevent an activation of the immune system. Indeed, I found a strong tendency in animals carrying the allele Apfl-DRB*23 to have an increased infection intensity with H. polygyrus. Furthermore, I found positive and negative associations between specific MHC alleles and other helminth species, as well as typical signs of positive selection acting on the nucleic sequences of the MHC. The latter was evident by an elevated rate of non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions in the MHC sequences of exon 2 encoding the functionally important antigen binding sites whereas the first and third exons of the MHC DRB gene were highly conserved. In conclusion, the studies in this thesis demonstrate that valid procedures to quantify expression of immune relevant genes are also feasible in non-model wildlife organisms. In addition to structural MHC diversity, also MHC gene expression should be considered to obtain a more complete picture on host-pathogen coevolutionary selection processes. This is especially true if parasites are able to interfere with systemic MHC expression. In this case advantageous or disadvantageous effects of allelic binding motifs are abated. The studies could not define the role of MHC gene expression in antagonistic coevolution as such but the results suggest that it depends strongly on the specific parasite species that is involved.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Born2012,
  author    = {Born, Stephan},
  title     = {Kartierung der Bindungstasche des humanen Bittergeschmacksrezeptors hTAS2R10},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-61392},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Die Bittergeschmacksrezeptoren stellen in der Superfamilie der G-Protein-gekoppelten Rezeptoren eine besondere Gruppe dar. Im Menschen k{\"o}nnen die 25 Rezeptoren eine große Anzahl unterschiedlichster Bittergeschmacksstoffe detektieren. Diese Substanzen k{\"o}nnen sowohl sch{\"a}dlich, wie etwa Strychnin, als auch der Gesundheit f{\"o}rderliche Arzneistoffe, wie etwa Chloramphenicol sein. Unter den Bittergeschmacksrezeptoren des Menschen gibt es eine Gruppe von drei Rezeptoren, die besonders viele Bitterstoffe detektieren k{\"o}nnen. Einer von ihnen ist der Rezeptor hTAS2R10. In dieser Arbeit konnte sowohl experimentell als auch durch computergest{\"u}tzte Modellierung gezeigt werden, dass der hTAS2R10 nur eine Bindungstasche besitzt. Das stimmt mit den bisher ausf{\"u}hrlich experimentell und in silico untersuchten Rezeptoren hTAS2R1, -R16, -R38 und -R46 {\"u}berein. Die f{\"u}r die Agonisteninteraktionen nachweislich wichtigen Transmembrandom{\"a}nen sind in den bisher untersuchten Bittergeschmacksrezeptoren, wie auch im hTAS2R10, die Transmembrandom{\"a}nen 3, 5, 6 und 7. Die Untersuchungen zeigten, dass die Bindungstasche des hTAS2R10 in der oberen H{\"a}lfte des zum extrazellul{\"a}ren Raum gerichteten Bereichs lokalisiert ist. Insbesondere konnte f{\"u}r die untersuchten Agonisten Strychnin, Parthenolid und Denatoniumbenzoat gezeigt werden, dass die Seitenketten der Aminos{\"a}uren in Position 3.29 und 5.40 ausgepr{\"a}gte agonistenselektive Wechselwirkungen eingehen. Weitere Untersuchungen haben ergeben, dass das weitgef{\"a}cherte Agonistenspektrum des hTAS2R10 zu Lasten der Sensitivit{\"a}t f{\"u}r einzelne Bitterstoffe geht. Der Vergleich wichtiger Positionen im hTAS2R10, hTAS2R46 und mTas2r105 hat deutlich gemacht, dass sich die Bindungsmodi zwischen diesen Rezeptoren unterscheiden. Dies deutet auf eine getrennte evolution{\"a}re Entwicklung der Bindungseigenschaften dieser Rezeptoren hin. Gleichfalls zeigten die Untersuchungen, dass einige Positionen wie z.B. 7.39 die Funktion aller untersuchten Bittergeschmacksrezeptoren pr{\"a}gen, sich jedoch die genaue Bedeutung im jeweiligen Rezeptor unterscheiden kann. Einzelne dieser Positionen konnten auch bei der Agonisteninteraktion des Rhodopsins und des β2-adrenergen Rezeptors beobachtet werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit helfen dabei die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Bitterstoffen und den Bittergeschmacksrezeptoren zu verstehen und geben erste Einblicke in die Entwicklung der Rezeptoren in Hinblick auf ihren Funktionsmechanismus. Diese Erkenntnisse k{\"o}nnen genutzt werden, um Inhibitoren zu entwickeln, die sowohl ein wichtiges Werkzeug in der Rezeptoranalytik w{\"a}ren, als auch dazu genutzt werden k{\"o}nnten, den unerw{\"u}nschten bitteren Geschmack von Medikamenten oder gesundheitsf{\"o}rdernden sekund{\"a}ren Pflanzenstoffen zu mindern. Damit k{\"o}nnte ein Beitrag zur Gesundheit der Menschen geleistet werden.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Basler2012,
  author    = {Basler, Georg},
  title     = {Mass-balanced randomization : a significance measure for metabolic networks},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-62037},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Complex networks have been successfully employed to represent different levels of biological systems, ranging from gene regulation to protein-protein interactions and metabolism. Network-based research has mainly focused on identifying unifying structural properties, including small average path length, large clustering coefficient, heavy-tail degree distribution, and hierarchical organization, viewed as requirements for efficient and robust system architectures. Existing studies estimate the significance of network properties using a generic randomization scheme - a Markov-chain switching algorithm - which generates unrealistic reactions in metabolic networks, as it does not account for the physical principles underlying metabolism. Therefore, it is unclear whether the properties identified with this generic approach are related to the functions of metabolic networks. Within this doctoral thesis, I have developed an algorithm for mass-balanced randomization of metabolic networks, which runs in polynomial time and samples networks almost uniformly at random. The properties of biological systems result from two fundamental origins: ubiquitous physical principles and a complex history of evolutionary pressure. The latter determines the cellular functions and abilities required for an organism's survival. Consequently, the functionally important properties of biological systems result from evolutionary pressure. By employing randomization under physical constraints, the salient structural properties, i.e., the smallworld property, degree distributions, and biosynthetic capabilities of six metabolic networks from all kingdoms of life are shown to be independent of physical constraints, and thus likely to be related to evolution and functional organization of metabolism. This stands in stark contrast to the results obtained from the commonly applied switching algorithm. In addition, a novel network property is devised to quantify the importance of reactions by simulating the impact of their knockout. The relevance of the identified reactions is verified by the findings of existing experimental studies demonstrating the severity of the respective knockouts. The results suggest that the novel property may be used to determine the reactions important for viability of organisms. Next, the algorithm is employed to analyze the dependence between mass balance and thermodynamic properties of Escherichia coli metabolism. The thermodynamic landscape in the vicinity of the metabolic network reveals two regimes of randomized networks: those with thermodynamically favorable reactions, similar to the original network, and those with less favorable reactions. The results suggest that there is an intrinsic dependency between thermodynamic favorability and evolutionary optimization. The method is further extended to optimizing metabolic pathways by introducing novel chemically feasibly reactions. The results suggest that, in three organisms of biotechnological importance, introduction of the identified reactions may allow for optimizing their growth. The approach is general and allows identifying chemical reactions which modulate the performance with respect to any given objective function, such as the production of valuable compounds or the targeted suppression of pathway activity. These theoretical developments can find applications in metabolic engineering or disease treatment. The developed randomization method proposes a novel approach to measuring the significance of biological network properties, and establishes a connection between large-scale approaches and biological function. The results may provide important insights into the functional principles of metabolic networks, and open up new possibilities for their engineering.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Lerm2012,
  author    = {Lerm, Stephanie},
  title     = {Mikroorganismen in geothermischen Aquiferen : Einfluss mikrobieller Prozesse auf den Anlagenbetrieb},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-63705},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {In Fluid-, Filter- und Sedimentproben von vier geothermischen Anlagen des Norddeutschen Beckens wurden mit molekulargenetischen Verfahren unterschiedliche mikrobielle Gemeinschaften nachgewiesen. Die mikrobielle Zusammensetzung in den Prozessw{\"a}ssern wurde dabei durch die Aquiferteufe, die Salinit{\"a}t, die Temperatur und den verf{\"u}gbaren Elektronendonatoren und -akzeptoren beeinflusst. Die in den anoxischen Prozessw{\"a}ssern identifizierten Organismen zeichneten sich durch einen chemoheterotrophen oder chemoautotrophen Stoffwechsel aus, wobei Nitrat, Sulfat, Eisen (III) oder Bikarbonat als terminale Elektronenakzeptoren fungierten. Mikroorganismen beeinflussten den Betrieb von zwei Anlagen negativ. So reduzierten im Prozesswasser des K{\"a}ltespeichers am Berliner Reichstag vorhandene Eisenoxidierer, nahe verwandt zu der Gattung Gallionella, die Injektivit{\"a}t der Bohrungen durch Eisenhydroxidausf{\"a}llungen in den Filterschlitzen. Biofilme, die von schwefeloxidierenden Bakterien der Gattung Thiothrix in den Filtern der obert{\"a}gigen Anlage gebildet wurden, f{\"u}hrten ebenfalls zu Betriebsst{\"o}rungen, indem sie die Injektion des Fluids in den Aquifer behinderten. Beim W{\"a}rmespeicher in Neubrandenburg waren Sulfatreduzierer vermutlich an der Bildung von Eisensulfidausf{\"a}llungen in den obert{\"a}gigen Filtern und im bohrlochnahen Bereich beteiligt und verst{\"a}rkten Korrosionsprozesse an der Pumpe im Bohrloch der kalten Aquiferseite. Organische S{\"a}uren in den Fluiden sowie mineralische Ausf{\"a}llungen in den Filtern der obert{\"a}gigen Anlagen waren Belege f{\"u}r die Aktivit{\"a}t der in den verschiedenen Anlagen vorhandenen Mikroorganismen. Es wurde zudem deutlich, dass Mikroorganismen auf Grund der hohen Durchflussraten in den Anlagen chemische Ver{\"a}nderungen in den Prozessw{\"a}ssern deutlich sensitiver anzeigen als chemische Analyseverfahren. So deuteten {\"A}nderungen in der Zusammensetzung der mikrobiellen Bioz{\"o}nosen und speziell die Identifikation von Indikatororganismen wie Eisen- und Schwefeloxidierern, fermentativen Bakterien und Sulfatreduzierern auf eine erh{\"o}hte Verf{\"u}gbarkeit von Elektronendonatoren oder akzeptoren in den Prozessw{\"a}ssern hin. Die Ursachen f{\"u}r die an den Geothermieanlagen auftretenden Betriebsst{\"o}rungen konnten dadurch erkannt werden.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Buchmann2012,
  author    = {Buchmann, Carsten M.},
  title     = {Modelling the structuring of animal communities in heterogeneous landscapes : the role of individual home range formation, foraging movement, competition and habitat configuration},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-59031},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {This thesis aims at a better mechanistic understanding of animal communities. Therefore, an allometry- and individual-based model has been developed which was used to simulate mammal and bird communities in heterogeneous landscapes, and to to better understand their response to landscape changes (habitat loss and fragmentation).},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Breitenstein2012,
  author    = {Breitenstein, Michael},
  title     = {Ortsaufgel{\"o}ster Aufbau von DNA-Nanostrukturen auf Glasoberfl{\"a}chen},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-61857},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand der Aufbau einer auf DNA basierenden Nanostruktur. Der universelle Vier-Buchstaben-Code der DNA erm{\"o}glicht es, Bindungen auf molekularer Ebene zu adressieren. Die chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der DNA pr{\"a}destinieren dieses Makromolek{\"u}l f{\"u}r den Einsatz und die Verwendung als Konstruktionselement zum Aufbau von Nanostrukturen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war das Aufspannen eines DNA-Stranges zwischen zwei Fixpunkten. Hierf{\"u}r war es notwendig, eine Methode zu entwickeln, welche es erm{\"o}glicht, Funktionsmolek{\"u}le als Ankerelemente ortsaufgel{\"o}st auf eine Oberfl{\"a}che zu deponieren. Das Deponieren dieser Molek{\"u}le sollte dabei im unteren Mikrometermaßstab erfolgen, um den Abmaßen der DNA und der angestrebten Nanostruktur gerecht zu werden. Das eigens f{\"u}r diese Aufgabe entwickelte Verfahren zum ortsaufgel{\"o}sten Deponieren von Funktionsmolek{\"u}len nutzt das Bindungspaar Biotin-Neutravidin. Mit Hilfe eines Rasterkraftmikroskops (AFM) wurde eine zu einem „Stift" umfunktionierte Rasterkraftmikroskopspitze so mit der zu deponierenden „Tinte" beladen, dass das Absetzen von Neutravidin im unteren Mikrometermaßstab m{\"o}glich war. Dieses Neutravidinmolek{\"u}l {\"u}bernahm die Funktion als Bindeglied zwischen der biotinylierten Glasoberfl{\"a}che und dem eigentlichen Adressmolek{\"u}l. Das somit generierte Neutravidin-Feld konnte dann mit einem biotinylierten Adressmolek{\"u}l durch Inkubation funktionalisiert werden. Namensgebend f{\"u}r dieses Verfahren war die M{\"o}glichkeit, Neutravidin mehrmals zu deponieren und zu adressieren. Somit ließ sich sequenziell ein Mehrkomponenten-Feld aufbauen. Die Einschr{\"a}nkung, mit einem AFM nur eine Substanz deponieren zu k{\"o}nnen, wurde so umgangen. Ferner mußten Ankerelemente geschaffen werden, um die DNA an definierten Punkten immobilisieren zu k{\"o}nnen. Die Bearbeitung der DNA erfolgte mit molekularbiologischen Methoden und zielte darauf ab, einen DNA-Strang zu generieren, welcher an seinen beiden Enden komplement{\"a}re Adressequenzen enth{\"a}lt, um gezielt mit den oberfl{\"a}chenst{\"a}ndigen Ankerelementen binden zu k{\"o}nnen. Entsprechend der Geometrie der mit dem AFM erzeugten Fixpunkte und den oligonukleotidvermittelten Adressen kommt es zur Ausbildung einer definierten DNA-Struktur. Mit Hilfe von fluoreszenzmikroskopischen Methoden wurde die aufgebaute DNA-Nanostruktur nachgewiesen. Der Nachweis der nanoskaligen Interaktion von DNA-bindenden Molek{\"u}len mit der generierten DNA-Struktur wurde durch die Bindung von PNA (peptide nucleic acid) an den DNA-Doppelstrang erbracht. Diese PNA-Bindung stellt ihrerseits ein funktionales Strukturelement im Nanometermaßstab dar und wird als Nanostrukturbaustein verstanden.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Branscheid2012,
  author    = {Branscheid, Anja},
  title     = {Phosphate homeostasis and posttranscriptional gene regulation during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Medicago truncatula},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-62106},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Since available phosphate (Pi) resources in soil are limited, symbiotic interactions between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a widespread strategy to improve plant phosphate nutrition. The repression of AM symbiosis by a high plant Pi-status indicates a link between Pi homeostasis signalling and AM symbiosis development. This assumption is supported by the systemic induction of several microRNA399 (miR399) primary transcripts in shoots and a simultaneous accumulation of mature miR399 in roots of mycorrhizal plants. However, the physiological role of this miR399 expression pattern is still elusive and offers the question whether other miRNAs are also involved in AM symbiosis. Therefore, a deep sequencing approach was applied to investigate miRNA-mediated posttranscriptional gene regulation in M. truncatula mycorrhizal roots. Degradome analysis revealed that 185 transcripts were cleaved by miRNAs, of which the majority encoded transcription factors and disease resistance genes, suggesting a tight control of transcriptional reprogramming and a downregulation of defence responses by several miRNAs in mycorrhizal roots. Interestingly, 45 of the miRNA-cleaved transcripts showed a significant differentially regulated between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots. In addition, key components of the Pi homeostasis signalling pathway were analyzed concerning their expression during AM symbiosis development. MtPhr1 overexpression and time course expression data suggested a strong interrelation between the components of the PHR1-miR399-PHO2 signalling pathway and AM symbiosis, predominantly during later stages of symbiosis. In situ hybridizations confirmed accumulation of mature miR399 in the phloem and in arbuscule-containing cortex cells of mycorrhizal roots. Moreover, a novel target of the miR399 family, named as MtPt8, was identified by the above mentioned degradome analysis. MtPt8 encodes a Pi-transporter exclusively transcribed in mycorrhizal roots and its promoter activity was restricted to arbuscule-containing cells. At a low Pi-status, MtPt8 transcript abundance inversely correlated with a mature miR399 expression pattern. Increased MtPt8 transcript levels were accompanied by elevated symbiotic Pi-uptake efficiency, indicating its impact on balancing plant and fungal Pi-acquisition. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a direct link of the regulatory mechanisms of plant Pi-homeostasis and AM symbiosis at a cell-specific level. The results of this study, especially the interaction of miR399 and MtPt8 provide a fundamental step for future studies of plant-microbe-interactions with regard to agricultural and ecological aspects.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Lohmann2012,
  author    = {Lohmann, Dirk},
  title     = {Sustainable management of semi-arid African savannas under environmental and political change},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-65069},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Drylands cover about 40\% of the earth's land surface and provide the basis for the livelihoods of 38\% of the global human population. Worldwide, these ecosystems are prone to heavy degradation. Increasing levels of dryland degradation result a strong decline of ecosystem services. In addition, in highly variable semi-arid environments changing future environmental conditions will potentially have severe consequences for productivity and ecosystem dynamics. Hence, global efforts have to be made to understand the particular causes and consequences of dryland degradation and to promote sustainable management options for semi-arid and arid ecosystems in a changing world. Here I particularly address the problem of semi-arid savanna degradation, which mostly occurs in form of woody plant encroachment. At this, I aim at finding viable sustainable management strategies and improving the general understanding of semi-arid savanna vegetation dynamics under conditions of extensive livestock production. Moreover, the influence of external forces, i.e. environmental change and land reform, on the use of savanna vegetation and on the ecosystem response to this land use is assessed. Based on this I identify conditions and strategies that facilitate a sustainable use of semi-arid savanna rangelands in a changing world. I extended an eco-hydrological model to simulate rangeland vegetation dynamics for a typical semi-arid savanna in eastern Namibia. In particular, I identified the response of semi-arid savanna vegetation to different land use strategies (including fire management) also with regard to different predicted precipitation, temperature and CO2 regimes. Not only environmental but also economic and political constraints like e.g. land reform programmes are shaping rangeland management strategies. Hence, I aimed at understanding the effects of the ongoing process of land reform in southern Africa on land use and the semi-arid savanna vegetation. Therefore, I developed and implemented an agent-based ecological-economic modelling tool for interactive role plays with land users. This tool was applied in an interdisciplinary empirical study to identify general patterns of management decisions and the between-farm cooperation of land reform beneficiaries in eastern Namibia. The eco-hydrological simulations revealed that the future dynamics of semi-arid savanna vegetation strongly depend on the respective climate change scenario. In particular, I found that the capacity of the system to sustain domestic livestock production will strongly depend on changes in the amount and temporal distribution of precipitation. In addition, my simulations revealed that shrub encroachment will become less likely under future climatic conditions although positive effects of CO2 on woody plant growth and transpiration have been considered. While earlier studies predicted a further increase in shrub encroachment due to increased levels of atmospheric CO2, my contrary finding is based on the negative impacts of temperature increase on the drought sensitive seedling germination and establishment of woody plant species. Further simulation experiments revealed that prescribed fires are an efficient tool for semi-arid rangeland management, since they suppress woody plant seedling establishment. The strategies tested have increased the long term productivity of the savanna in terms of livestock production and decreased the risk for shrub encroachment (i.e. savanna degradation). This finding refutes the views promoted by existing studies, which state that fires are of minor importance for the vegetation dynamics of semi-arid and arid savannas. Again, the difference in predictions is related to the bottleneck at the seedling establishment stage of woody plants, which has not been sufficiently considered in earlier studies. The ecological-economic role plays with Namibian land reform beneficiaries showed that the farmers made their decisions with regard to herd size adjustments according to economic but not according to environmental variables. Hence, they do not manage opportunistically by tracking grass biomass availability but rather apply conservative management strategies with low stocking rates. This implies that under the given circumstances the management of these farmers will not per se cause (or further worsen) the problem of savanna degradation and shrub encroachment due to overgrazing. However, as my results indicate that this management strategy is rather based on high financial pressure, it is not an indicator for successful rangeland management. Rather, farmers struggle hard to make any positive revenue from their farming business and the success of the Namibian land reform is currently disputable. The role-plays also revealed that cooperation between farmers is difficult even though obligatory due to the often small farm sizes. I thus propose that cooperation needs to be facilitated to improve the success of land reform beneficiaries.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hammer2012,
  author    = {Hammer, Paul},
  title     = {Transkriptomweite Untersuchungen von Prostata-Krebszelllinien im Kontext medizinischer Strahlentherapie},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-63190},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Die Strahlentherapie ist neben der Chemotherapie und einer operativen Entfernung die st{\"a}rkste Waffe f{\"u}r die Bek{\"a}mpfung b{\"o}sartiger Tumore in der Krebsmedizin. Nach Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen ist Krebs die zweith{\"a}ufigste Todesursache in der westlichen Welt, wobei Prostatakrebs heutzutage die h{\"a}ufigste, m{\"a}nnliche Krebserkrankung darstellt. Trotz technologischer Fortschritte der radiologischen Verfahren kann es noch viele Jahre nach einer Radiotherapie zu einem Rezidiv kommen, was zum Teil auf die hohe Resistenzf{\"a}higkeit einzelner, entarteter Zellen des lokal vorkommenden Tumors zur{\"u}ckgef{\"u}hrt werden kann. Obwohl die moderne Strahlenbiologie viele Aspekte der Resistenzmechanismen n{\"a}her beleuchtet hat, bleiben Fragestellungen, speziell {\"u}ber das zeitliche Ansprechen eines Tumors auf ionisierende Strahlung, gr{\"o}ßtenteils unbeantwortet, da systemweite Untersuchungen nur begrenzt vorliegen. Als Zellmodelle wurden vier Prostata-Krebszelllinien (PC3, DuCaP, DU-145, RWPE-1) mit unterschiedlichen Strahlungsempfindlichkeiten kultiviert und auf ihre {\"U}berlebensf{\"a}higkeit nach ionisierender Bestrahlung durch einen Trypanblau- und MTT-Vitalit{\"a}tstest gepr{\"u}ft. Die proliferative Kapazit{\"a}t wurde mit einem Koloniebildungstest bestimmt. Die PC3 Zelllinie, als Strahlungsresistente, und die DuCaP Zelllinie, als Strahlungssensitive, zeigten dabei die gr{\"o}ßten Differenzen bez{\"u}glich der Strahlungsempfindlichkeit. Auf Grundlage dieser Ergebnisse wurden die beiden Zelllinien ausgew{\"a}hlt, um anhand ihrer transkriptomweiten Genexpressionen, eine Identifizierung potentieller Marker f{\"u}r die Prognose der Effizienz einer Strahlentherapie zu erm{\"o}glichen. Weiterhin wurde mit der PC3 Zelllinie ein Zeitreihenexperiment durchgef{\"u}hrt, wobei zu 8 verschiedenen Zeitpunkten nach Bestrahlung mit 1 Gy die mRNA mittels einer Hochdurchsatz-Sequenzierung quantifiziert wurde, um das dynamisch zeitversetzte Genexpressionsverhalten auf Resistenzmechanismen untersuchen zu k{\"o}nnen. Durch das Setzen eines Fold Change Grenzwertes in Verbindung mit einem P-Wert < 0,01 konnten aus 10.966 aktiven Genen 730 signifikant differentiell exprimierte Gene bestimmt werden, von denen 305 st{\"a}rker in der PC3 und 425 st{\"a}rker in der DuCaP Zelllinie exprimiert werden. Innerhalb dieser 730 Gene sind viele stressassoziierte Gene wiederzufinden, wie bspw. die beiden Transmembranproteingene CA9 und CA12. Durch Berechnung eines Netzwerk-Scores konnten aus den GO- und KEGG-Datenbanken interessante Kategorien und Netzwerke abgeleitet werden, wobei insbesondere die GO-Kategorien Aldehyd-Dehydrogenase [NAD(P)+] Aktivit{\"a}t (GO:0004030) und der KEGG-Stoffwechselweg der O-Glykan Biosynthese (hsa00512) als relevante Netzwerke auff{\"a}llig wurden. Durch eine weitere Interaktionsanalyse konnten zwei vielversprechende Netzwerke mit den Transkriptionsfaktoren JUN und FOS als zentrale Elemente identifiziert werden. Zum besseren Verst{\"a}ndnis des dynamisch zeitversetzten Ansprechens der strahlungsresistenten PC3 Zelllinie auf ionisierende Strahlung, konnten anhand der 10.840 exprimierten Gene und ihrer Expressionsprofile {\"u}ber 8 Zeitpunkte interessante Einblicke erzielt werden. W{\"a}hrend es innerhalb von 30 min (00:00 - 00:30) nach Bestrahlung zu einer schnellen Runterregulierung der globalen Genexpression kommt, folgen in den drei darauffolgenden Zeitabschnitten (00:30 - 01:03; 01:03 - 02:12; 02:12 - 04:38) spezifische Expressionserh{\"o}hungen, die eine Aktivierung sch{\"u}tzender Netzwerke, wie die Hochregulierung der DNA-Reparatursysteme oder die Arretierung des Zellzyklus, ausl{\"o}sen. In den abschließenden drei Zeitbereichen (04:38 - 09:43; 09:43 - 20:25; 20:25 - 42:35) liegt wiederum eine Ausgewogenheit zwischen Induzierung und Supprimierung vor, wobei die absoluten Genexpressionsver{\"a}nderungen ansteigen. Beim Vergleich der Genexpressionen kurz vor der Bestrahlung mit dem letzten Zeitpunkt (00:00 - 42:53) liegen mit 2.670 die meisten ver{\"a}ndert exprimierten Gene vor, was einer massiven, systemweiten Genexpressions{\"a}nderung entspricht. Signalwege wie die ATM-Regulierung des Zellzyklus und der Apoptose, des NRF2-Signalwegs nach oxidativer Stresseinwirkung und die DNA-Reparaturmechanismen der homologen Rekombination, des nicht-homologen End Joinings, der MisMatch-, der Basen-Exzision- und der Strang-Exzision-Reparatur spielen bei der zellul{\"a}ren Antwort eine tragende Rolle. {\"A}ußerst interessant sind weiterhin die hohen Aktivit{\"a}ten RNA-gesteuerter Ereignisse, insbesondere von small nucleolar RNAs und Pseudouridin-Prozessen. Demnach scheinen diese RNA-modifizierenden Netzwerke einen bisher unbekannten funktionalen und sch{\"u}tzenden Einfluss auf das Zell{\"u}berleben nach ionisierender Bestrahlung zu haben. All diese sch{\"u}tzenden Netzwerke mit ihren zeitspezifischen Interaktionen sind essentiell f{\"u}r das Zell{\"u}berleben nach Einwirkung von oxidativem Stress und zeigen ein komplexes aber im Einklang befindliches Zusammenspiel vieler Einzelkomponenten zu einem systemweit ablaufenden Programm.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{MatallanaRamirez2012,
  author    = {Matallana-Ram{\´i}rez, Lilian Paola},
  title     = {Unraveling the ORE1 regulon in Arabidopsis thaliana : molecular and functional characterization of up- and down-stream components},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-62646},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Leaf senescence is an active process required for plant survival, and it is flexibly controlled, allowing plant adaptation to environmental conditions. Although senescence is largely an age-dependent process, it can be triggered by environmental signals and stresses. Leaf senescence coordinates the breakdown and turnover of many cellular components, allowing a massive remobilization and recycling of nutrients from senescing tissues to other organs (e.g., young leaves, roots, and seeds), thus enhancing the fitness of the plant. Such metabolic coordination requires a tight regulation of gene expression. One important mechanism for the regulation of gene expression is at the transcriptional level via transcription factors (TFs). The NAC TF family (NAM, ATAF, CUC) includes various members that show elevated expression during senescence, including ORE1 (ANAC092/AtNAC2) among others. ORE1 was first reported in a screen for mutants with delayed senescence (oresara1, 2, 3, and 11). It was named after the Korean word "oresara," meaning "long-living," and abbreviated to ORE1, 2, 3, and 11, respectively. Although the pivotal role of ORE1 in controlling leaf senescence has recently been demonstrated, the underlying molecular mechanisms and the pathways it regulates are still poorly understood. To unravel the signaling cascade through which ORE1 exerts its function, we analyzed particular features of regulatory pathways up-stream and down-stream of ORE1. We identified characteristic spatial and temporal expression patterns of ORE1 that are conserved in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum and that link ORE1 expression to senescence as well as to salt stress. We proved that ORE1 positively regulates natural and dark-induced senescence. Molecular characterization of the ORE1 promoter in silico and experimentally suggested a role of the 5'UTR in mediating ORE1 expression. ORE1 is a putative substrate of a calcium-dependent protein kinase named CKOR (unpublished data). Promising data revealed a positive regulation of putative ORE1 targets by CKOR, suggesting the phosphorylation of ORE1 as a requirement for its regulation. Additionally, as part of the ORE1 up-stream regulatory pathway, we identified the NAC TF ATAF1 which was able to transactivate the ORE1 promoter in vivo. Expression studies using chemically inducible ORE1 overexpression lines and transactivation assays employing leaf mesophyll cell protoplasts provided information on target genes whose expression was rapidly induced upon ORE1 induction. First, a set of target genes was established and referred to as early responding in the ORE1 regulatory network. The consensus binding site (BS) of ORE1 was characterized. Analysis of some putative targets revealed the presence of ORE1 BSs in their promoters and the in vitro and in vivo binding of ORE1 to their promoters. Among these putative target genes, BIFUNCTIONAL NUCLEASE I (BFN1) and VND-Interacting2 (VNI2) were further characterized. The expression of BFN1 was found to be dependent on the presence of ORE1. Our results provide convincing data which support a role for BFN1 as a direct target of ORE1. Characterization of VNI2 in age-dependent and stress-induced senescence revealed ORE1 as a key up-stream regulator since it can bind and activate VNI2 expression in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, VNI2 was able to promote or delay senescence depending on the presence of an activation domain located in its C-terminal region. The plasticity of this gene might include alternative splicing (AS) to regulate its function in different organs and at different developmental stages, particularly during senescence. A model is proposed on the molecular mechanism governing the dual role of VNI2 during senescence.},
  language  = {en}
}