<p>The present thesis concerns theoretical studies of molecular interactions investigated by infrared and X-ray spectroscopic techniques, with emphasis on using these two techniques combined in pump-probe experiments. Four main types of studies are addressed: the use of near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra (NEXAFS) to manifest through-bond and through-space interactions; the role of hydrogen bonding in the formation of X-ray photoelectron spectra as evidenced by simulations of the water dimer; the development of theory, with sample applications, for infrared X-ray pump-probe spectroscopy; and molecular dynamics simulations of light-induced fragmentation of water clusters.</p><p>Ab initio calculations indicate that NEXAFS spectra give direct information about the through-bond and through-space interactions between vacant non-conjugated π* orbitals. It is found out that the X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the water dimer differs dramatically from the monomer spectrum in that two bands are observed, separated by the chemically shifted ionization potentials of the donor and the acceptor. The hydrogen bond is responsible for the anomalously strong broadening of these two bands. The studies show that X-ray core electron ionization of the water dimer driven by an infrared field is a proper technique to prove the proton transfered state contrary to conventional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. </p><p>The physical aspects of the proposed new X-ray spectroscopic method - phase sensitive Infrared - X-Ray Pump-Probe Spectroscopy - are examined in detail using the wave packet technique in three applications; the NO molecule and the dynamics of proton transfer in core ionized water dimer and glyoxalmonoxime. It is found out that the phase of the infrared pump field strongly influences the trajectory of the nuclear wave packet on the ground state potential, which results in a phase dependence of the X-ray pump-probe spectra. A proper choice of the delay time of the X-ray pulse allows the direct observation of the X-ray transition in the proton transfered well of the core excited potential. It is found out that the glyoxalmonoxime molecule possesses an important feature; proton transfer accompanied by core hole hopping. Special attention is paid to the quantum control of the populations of vibrational level which is of crucial importance to shape the wave packet of desirable size.</p><p>The wave packet technique becomes computationally very expensive when the number of nuclear degrees of freedom is large. Molecular dynamics is used instead in studies of light-induced nuclear kinetics in the water hexamer cluster. We predict a novel mechanism of the mechanical action of light on atoms and molecules. This mechanism is based on the rectification of the Lorentz force, which gives a unique opportunity of direct site selective mechanical action of light on atoms and molecules inside large systems like clusters or biomolecules.</p>

<p>Enzymes are successfully employed in the synthesis of different types of polymers. Candida antarctica lipase B is a highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of polyesters by ring opening polymerization. ω-Pentadecalactone is an interesting lactone due to the unique proprieties of its polymer (poly-pentadecalactone). These polymers have not been applied in any industrial application due to the difficulties to reach them by chemical polymerization. Enzymatically, poly-pentadecalactone macromonomers can be obtained to high conversion.</p><p>In this investigation we synthesized difunctionalized poly-pentadecalactone with different functional groups. Taking advantage of the selectivity of Candida antarctica lipase B, we introduced different functional end groups. α,ω-Difunctionalized poly-pentadecalactone macromonomers with two thiol ends, two (meth)acrylate ends or with one thiol and one acrylate end were obtained with a high degree of functional ends. We have improved the difunctionalization procedure to a single-step route for the synthesis of α,ω-functionalized poly-pentadecalactones. This procedure has a great potential for industrial applications due to the simplicity of the process and the clean products afforded. Macromonomers with functionalized ends can be used to obtain new polymer architectures with novel proprieties.</p><p>We also show how the use of enzymes could have some limitations when using an initiator with a cleavable ester bond. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was used as initiator for the ring opening polymerization (eROP) of ε-caprolactone and ω-pentadecalactone aiming for methacrylate functional polyester. However, the lipase catalyzed not only the ring opening polymerization but also the cleavage of the HEMA moiety resulting in a mixture of polymer products with various end groups. A kinetics study of the eROP and the transesterification processes when using HEMA showed that the transesterification processes occurs at moderate frequency at low monomer concentration, it becomes dominant at longer reaction times. We showed that fully difunctionalized polymers can be obtained when using HEMA as initiator for the eROP of lactones by adding a proper end capper.</p>

<p>The successful genomic era has resulted in a great demand for efficient production and purification of proteins. The main objective of the work described in this thesis was to develop methods to facilitate recovery of target proteins after recombinant production in Escherichia coli.</p><p>A positively charged purification tag, Z_basic, has previously been constructed by protein design of a compact three-helix bundle domain, Z. The charged domain was investigated for general use as a fusion partner. All target proteins investigated could be selectively captured by ion-exchange chromatography under conditions excluding adsorption of the majority of Escherichia coli host proteins. A single cation-exchange chromatography step at physiological pH was sufficient to provide Z_basic fusion proteins of high purity close to homogeneity. Moreover, efficient isolation directly from unclarified <i>Escherichia coli</i> homogenates could also be accomplished using an expanded bed mode. Since the intended use of a recombinant protein sometimes requires removal of the purification tag, a strategy for efficient release of the Z_basic moiety using an immobilised protease was developed. The protease columns were reusable without any measurable decrease in activity. Moreover, subsequent removal of the released tag, Z_basic, was effected by adsorption to a second cation-exchanger. </p><p>Using a similar strategy, a purification tag with a negatively charged surface, denoted Z_acid, was constructed and thoroughly characterised. Contrary to Z_basic, the negatively charged Z_acid was highly unstructured in a low conductivity environment. Despite this, all Z_acid fusion proteins investigated could be efficiently purified from whole cell lysates using anion-exchange chromatography</p><p>Synthesis of polypeptides occurs readily in Escherichia coli providing large amounts of protein in cells of this type, albeit often one finds the recombinant proteins sequestered in inclusion bodies. Therefore, a high throughput method for screening of protein expression was developed. Levels of both soluble and precipitated protein could simultaneously be assessed <i>in vivo</i> by the use of a flow cytometer. </p><p>The positively charged domain, Z_basic, was shown also to be selective under denaturing conditions, providing the possibility to purify proteins solubilised from inclusion bodies. Finally, a flexible process for solid-phase refolding was developed, using Z_basic as a reversible linker to the cation-exchanger resin.</p>

<p>Proteins with highly specific binding properties constitute the basis for many important applications in biotechnology and medicine. Immunoglobulins have so far been the obvious choice but recent advances in protein engineering have provided several novel constructs that indeed challenge antibodies. One class of such binding proteins is based on the 58 residues three-helix bundle Z domain from staphylococcal protein A (SPA). These so-called affibodies are selected from libraries containing Z domain variants with 13 randomised positions at the immunoglobulin Fc-binding surface. This thesis aims to describe the principles for molecular recognition in two protein-protein complexes involving affibody proteins. The first complex is formed by the Z_SPA-1 affibody binding to its own ancestor, the Z domain (Kd ~1 μM). The second complex consists of two affibodies: Z_Taq, originally selected to bind Taq DNA polymerase, and anti-Z_Taq, an anti-idiotypic binder to Z_Taq with a Kd ~0.1 μM. The basis for the study is the determination of the three-dimensional structures using NMR spectroscopy supported by biophysical characterization of the uncomplexed proteins and investigation of binding thermodynamics using isothermal titration calorimetry. The free Z_SPA-1 affibody is a molten globule-like protein with reduced stability compared to the original scaffold. However, upon target binding it folds into a well-defined structure with an interface topology resembling that displayed by the immunoglobulin Fc fragment when bound to the Z domain. At the same time, structural rearrangements occur in the Z domain in a similar way as in the Fc-binding process. The complex interface buries 1632 Ų total surface area and 10 out of 13 varied residues in Z_SPA-1 are directly involved in inter-molecular contacts. Further characterization of the molten globule state of Z_SPA-1 revealed a native-like overall structure with increased dynamics in the randomised regions (helices 1 and 2). These features were reduced when replacing some of the mutated residues with the corresponding wild-type Z domain residues. The nature of the free Z_SPA-1 affects the thermodynamics of the complex formation. The contribution from the unfolding equilibrium of the molten globule was successfully separated from the binding thermodynamics. Further decomposition of the binding entropy suggests that the conformational entropy penalty associated with stabilizing the molten globule state of Z_SPA-1 upon binding seriously reduces the binding affinity. The Z_Taq:anti-Z_Taq complex buries in total 1672 Ų surface area and all varied positions in anti-Z_Taq are directly involved in binding. The main differences between the Z:Z_SPA-1 and the Z_Taq:anti-Z_Taq complexes are the relative subunit orientation and certain specific interactions. However, there are also similarities, such as the hydrophobic interface character and the role of certain key residues, which are also found in the SPA:Fc interaction. Structural rearrangements upon binding are also common features of these complexes. Even though neither Z_Taq nor anti-Z_Taq shows the molten globule behaviour seen for Z_SPA-1, there are indications of dynamic events that might affect the binding affinity. This study provides not only a molecular basis for affibody-target recognition, but also contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms regulating protein stability and protein-protein interactions in general.</p>

<p>Following the completion of the human genome sequence, post-genomic efforts have shifted the focus towards the analysis of the encoded proteome. Several different systematic proteomics approaches have emerged, for instance, antibody-based proteomics initiatives, where antibodies are used to functionally explore the human proteome. One such effort is HPR (the Swedish Human Proteome Resource), where affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies are generated and subsequently used for protein expression and localization studies in normal and diseased tissues. The antibodies are directed towards protein fragments, PrESTs (Protein Epitope Signature Tags), which are selected based on criteria favourable in subsequent laboratory procedures.</p><p>This thesis describes the development of novel software (Bishop) to facilitate the selection of proper protein fragments, as well as ensuring a high-throughput processing of selected target proteins. The majority of proteins were successfully processed by this approach, however, the design strategy resulted in a number ofnfall-outs. These proteins comprised alternative splice variants, as well as proteins exhibiting high sequence similarities to other human proteins. Alternative strategies were developed for processing of these proteins. The strategy for handling of alternative splice variants included the development of additional software and was validated by comparing the immunohistochemical staining patterns obtained with antibodies generated towards the same target protein. Processing of high sequence similarity proteins was enabled by assembling human proteins into clusters according to their pairwise sequence identities. Each cluster was represented by a single PrEST located in the region of the highest sequence similarity among all cluster members, thereby representing the entire cluster. This strategy was validated by identification of all proteins within a cluster using antibodies directed to such cluster specific PrESTs using Western blot analysis. In addition, the PrEST design success rates for more than 4,000 genes were evaluated.</p><p>Several genomes other than human have been finished, currently more than 300 genomes are fully sequenced. Following the release of the tree model organism black cottonwood (<i>Populus trichocarpa</i>), a bioinformatic analysis identified unknown cellulose synthases (CesAs), and revealed a total of 18 CesA family members. These genes are thought to have arisen from several rounds of genome duplication. This number is significantly higher than previous studies performed in other plant genomes, which comprise only ten CesA family members in those genomes. Moreover, identification of corresponding orthologous ESTs belonging to the closely related hybrid aspen (<i>P</i>. <i>tremula x tremuloides</i>) for two pairs of CesAs suggest that they are actively transcribed. This indicates that a number of paralogs have preserved their functionalities following extensive genome duplication events in the tree’s evolutionary history.</p>

<p>Oomycetes have long been considered as a separate class within the kingdom Fungi, but they are in fact closer to brown algae. They are currently classified in the Stramenopile eukaryotic kingdom, which includes heterokont algae and water molds. The major cell wall polysaccharides in Oomycetes are b-(1à3) and b-(1à6)-glucans, as well as cellulose, which has never been reported in any fungal species. Chitin - the major cell wall polysaccharide in fungi - occurs in minor amounts in the walls of some Oomycetes. Some Oomycete species are pathogens of great economical importance. For example, species of the genus <em>Phytophthora </em>are well studied plant pathogens that cause considerable economical losses in agriculture. Saprolegniosis, a fish disease caused by species from the genus <em>Saprolegnia</em>, is a major problem in the aquaculture industry and represents a threat to populations of salmonids in natural habitats. Currently, there are no chemicals available that are at the same time efficient Oomycete inhibitors, environmentally friendly and safe for human consumption of treated fishes. The biosynthesis of cellulose in Oomycetes is poorly understood, even though this biochemical pathway represents a potential target for new Oomycete inhibitors. In this work, cellulose biosynthesis was investigated in two selected Oomycetes, the plant pathogen <em>Phytophthora infestans</em> and the fish pathogen <em>Saprolegnia monoica</em>.</p><p> </p><p>A new Oomycete <em>CesA</em> gene family was identified. It contains four homologues designated as <em>CesA1, CesA2, CesA3</em> and <em>CesA4</em>. The gene products of <em>CesA1, 2</em> and <em>4 </em>contain Pleckstrin Homology domains located at the N-terminus. This represents a novel feature, unique to the Oomycete <em>CesA </em>genes. <em>CesA3</em> is the dominantly expressed <em>CesA </em>homologue in the mycelium of both <em>S. monoica</em> and <em>P. infestans</em>, while <em>CesA1</em> and<em> CesA2</em> are up-regulated in virulent life stages of <em>P. infestans</em>. <em>CesA4</em> was expressed only in minute amounts in all investigated types of cells. Gene silencing by RNA interference of the whole <em>CesA</em> gene family in <em>P. infestans</em> lead to decreased amounts of cellulose in the cell wall. The inhibitors of cellulose synthesis DCB and Congo Red had an up-regulating effect on <em>SmCesA</em> gene expression, which was accompanied by an increased b-glucan synthase activity <em>in vitro</em>. In addition, these inhibitors slowed down the growth of the mycelium from <em>S. monoica</em>. Zoospores from <em>P. infestans</em> treated with DCB were unable to infect potato leaves and showed aberrant cell wall morphologies similar to those obtained by silencing the <em>CesA</em> gene family.</p><p>Altogether these results show that at least some of the <em>CesA1-4</em> genes are involved in cellulose biosynthesis and that the synthesis of cellulose is crucial for infection of potato by <em>P. infestans</em>.</p><p> </p>

<p>Single photon detection has a broad application in the medical, telecommunication, as well as in infrared imaging fields. In this thesis I present my work in studying quantum dot (QD) resonant tunneling diodes (RTD) for single photon detection. The device was processed in the form of a free-standing small-area air bridge. A detailed series of experimental and theoretical characterizations have been performed to understand the electrical properties of the RTDs (without embedding any QDs) and QD-embedded RTDs (QDRTDs). It has been shown that external series and parallel resistances shift the resonant current peak to higher voltage, create the bistability effect observed in I-V characteristics, and reduce the peak-to-valley ratio. For the QDRTD device, three-dimensional wave packet carrier transport simulations show strong influence of the long-range Coulomb potential induced by the hole captured by the embedded InAs QDs, thus demonstrating the fundamental principle of single photon detection.</p><p> </p><p>Two works are planned for the continuation of the graduate study after Lic examination. The optical response of the QDRTD will be experimentally and theoretically characterized in order to optimize the quantum efficiency for single photon detection. I will then concentrate on processing a one-dimensional photodetector array aiming at practical biotechnology applications.</p>

<p> </p><p>The present thesis is based upon two papers concerning the core-valence double onization of molecular oxygen and mutual neutralization of H⁺ and H^- ions at low collision energies.</p><p>The former of these processes has been studied for the first time using a magnetic bottle time-of-ight electron coincidence spectrometer in combination with<em> ab initio</em> electronic structure calculations. The core-valence photoelectron spectra have been interpreted by comparing with the calculated double ionization energies, as well as the conventional valence band spectrum. Based on this comparison, some general features of the process are discussed and assignments for several of the dicationic states proposed.</p><p>The latter process has been studied by means of a molecular close coupling approach in which both the nuclei and the electrons have been treated at a quantum mechanical level of theory. Accurate <em>ab initio</em> potential energy curves and non-adiabatic couplings have been used to calculate the neutralization cross section in the collision energy region 0.001 to 100 eV. Special emphasis has been put on the energy region below a few eV from which the low temperature rate coe_cient is evaluated. In this region, the calculated neutralization cross section is in good agreement with several other theoretical studies, but is a factor of two to three lower than the only published experimental data.</p><p> </p>

No description available.

No description available.