The role of metals in biological processes has been discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of chelation. Furst has suggested that many anticancer drugs may owe their activity to their chelating properties. A number of new amidoximes and hydroxylamine have been made from the appropriate imidoyl chloride and a hydroxylaqine. The spectral and chelating properties of these compounds are discussed. All the compounds have been submitted to the anticancer screening programme of the National Cancer Institute. The results available so far are presented and indicate that the compounds are toxic but inactive against experimental tumours. Sodium sulphide reduces a-phenyl-o-nitro-cinnamonitrile (106) to 2-amino-3-phenylquinoline-1-oxide (107) in good yield. Extension of the reduction to other o-nitrocinnamonitriles gives very poor results. The spectral properties, configurations and conformations of the o-nitrocinnamonitriles are discussed. The 12-aminoquinoline-1-oxide group is shown to form solid metal complexes. That from 2-amino-3-phenylquinoline-1-oxide (107) with nickel has been prepared. Antitumour screening results are presented for several 2-aminoquinoline derivatives. None of these compounds appears to be active.

The role of metals in biological processes has been discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of chelation. Furst has suggested that many anticancer drugs may owe their activity to their chelating properties. A number of new amidoximes and hydroxylamine have been made from the appropriate imidoyl chloride and a hydroxylaqine. The spectral and chelating properties of these compounds are discussed. All the compounds have been submitted to the anticancer screening programme of the National Cancer Institute. The results available so far are presented and indicate that the compounds are toxic but inactive against experimental tumours. Sodium sulphide reduces a-phenyl-o-nitro-cinnamonitrile (106) to 2-amino-3-phenylquinoline-1-oxide (107) in good yield. Extension of the reduction to other o-nitrocinnamonitriles gives very poor results. The spectral properties, configurations and conformations of the o-nitrocinnamonitriles are discussed. The 12-aminoquinoline-1-oxide group is shown to form solid metal complexes. That from 2-amino-3-phenylquinoline-1-oxide (107) with nickel has been prepared. Antitumour screening results are presented for several 2-aminoquinoline derivatives. None of these compounds appears to be active.

This thesis describes Further studies on the utilisation of the diterpenoid natural product , 12-hydrxypodocarpa-8,11,13-trim 19-oic acid* (podocarpic acid) (1) . In particular it describes transformations of the C-ring to give suitable intermediates for the synthesis of optically active steroids and terpenoids. An investigation has been carried out on the Birch reduction of 12-methoxypodocarpa-8,11,13-trien-19-ol (8), and conditions for the optimum formation of the ketonic products (10) and (12) are suggested. The enones (25) and (26) have been synthesised from 12-hydroxypodocarpa-8,11,13-trien-19-oic acid (1) by sequences involving reduction of the aromatic ring followed by ring C transformations. Methyl 12-hydroxypodocarpa-8,11,13-trien-19-oate (3) has been converted in ca. 60% yield to the dextrorotatory C 13 methyl ether which has then been reduced in good yield to the enone (163). Potential routes for conversion of the enones (25), (26), and (163)into steroidal analogues are described. Initial steps in the transformation of the C 13 methyl ether(62) into an intermediate (176) suitable for the synthesis of (+)-a-onocerin (80) have been investigated. A preliminary study on the synthesis of the C 14 phenol (190) or its methyl ether (191) is also reported. * The numbering system used throughout this thesis is that proposed by J.W. Rowe (personal communication to Professor R. C. Cambie) in "The Common and Systematic Nomenclature of Cyclic Diterpenes", 3rd Revision, Oct. 1966, to be submitted to the IUPAC Commission on Organic Nomenclature (see page 144)

The immune system often recognises tumour cells and infectious agents from the unique peptides found on their surfaces therefore, synthetic peptides of similar structure can be used as vaccines to stimulate the immune system. Despite the problems associated with proteolysis and delivery to the immune system, peptide-based vaccines have enormous potential due to their ease of synthesis and purification. The aim of this research was to synthesise ligands for mannose receptors (MRs) that are found on human Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), for use in synthetic vaccines. Carbohydrate bearing antigens are recognised by MRs which play an important role in binding antigens, migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and interaction of DCs with lymphocytes. Hence, incorporation of a sugar residue into a peptide chain can be used to enhance antigen presentation. This thesis describes the synthesis of fluorescein labelled O-mannosylated peptides using either manual or microwave assisted solid phase glycopeptide synthesis (SPGS) on pre-loaded WANG resin. The mannosylated peptides thus prepared can be tested for their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. In order to prepare compounds that could be analysed in biological screens, a fluorescent label (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) was introduced into the glycopeptides via the Nα- or the Nε-amino group of the lysine residue. It was found that preparation of the glycopeptide was more facile when the peptide chain was built onto the Nε of Lys (label into Nα) rather than onto the Nα of Lys (label into Nε). In order to overcome problems experienced when introducing more than one glycosylated building block into the peptide chain, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker was employed as a sugar carrier. It was found that mono- and dimannosylated building blocks attached to PEG carrier were incorporated more easily into the peptide chain compared to mono- and dimannosylated serine units. Importantly, microwave technology (CEM Liberty microwave peptide synthesiser) was used for SPGS which resulted in improved purity and yields of the glycopeptides thus prepared with a significant reduction in reaction times. The first fifteen glycopeptides prepared in the present study were tested for binding to mannose receptors. Several compounds have shown improved binding to monocytes (bear MRs) in comparison to lymphocytes (do not bear MRs), in the presence of calcium ions. Calcium dependent binding is specific for C type lectin receptor family that MRs belong to. Five remaining glycopeptides are currently undergoing biological evaluation.

The immune system often recognises tumour cells and infectious agents from the unique peptides found on their surfaces therefore, synthetic peptides of similar structure can be used as vaccines to stimulate the immune system. Despite the problems associated with proteolysis and delivery to the immune system, peptide-based vaccines have enormous potential due to their ease of synthesis and purification. The aim of this research was to synthesise ligands for mannose receptors (MRs) that are found on human Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), for use in synthetic vaccines. Carbohydrate bearing antigens are recognised by MRs which play an important role in binding antigens, migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and interaction of DCs with lymphocytes. Hence, incorporation of a sugar residue into a peptide chain can be used to enhance antigen presentation. This thesis describes the synthesis of fluorescein labelled O-mannosylated peptides using either manual or microwave assisted solid phase glycopeptide synthesis (SPGS) on pre-loaded WANG resin. The mannosylated peptides thus prepared can be tested for their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. In order to prepare compounds that could be analysed in biological screens, a fluorescent label (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) was introduced into the glycopeptides via the Nα- or the Nε-amino group of the lysine residue. It was found that preparation of the glycopeptide was more facile when the peptide chain was built onto the Nε of Lys (label into Nα) rather than onto the Nα of Lys (label into Nε). In order to overcome problems experienced when introducing more than one glycosylated building block into the peptide chain, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker was employed as a sugar carrier. It was found that mono- and dimannosylated building blocks attached to PEG carrier were incorporated more easily into the peptide chain compared to mono- and dimannosylated serine units. Importantly, microwave technology (CEM Liberty microwave peptide synthesiser) was used for SPGS which resulted in improved purity and yields of the glycopeptides thus prepared with a significant reduction in reaction times. The first fifteen glycopeptides prepared in the present study were tested for binding to mannose receptors. Several compounds have shown improved binding to monocytes (bear MRs) in comparison to lymphocytes (do not bear MRs), in the presence of calcium ions. Calcium dependent binding is specific for C type lectin receptor family that MRs belong to. Five remaining glycopeptides are currently undergoing biological evaluation.

The immune system often recognises tumour cells and infectious agents from the unique peptides found on their surfaces therefore, synthetic peptides of similar structure can be used as vaccines to stimulate the immune system. Despite the problems associated with proteolysis and delivery to the immune system, peptide-based vaccines have enormous potential due to their ease of synthesis and purification. The aim of this research was to synthesise ligands for mannose receptors (MRs) that are found on human Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), for use in synthetic vaccines. Carbohydrate bearing antigens are recognised by MRs which play an important role in binding antigens, migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and interaction of DCs with lymphocytes. Hence, incorporation of a sugar residue into a peptide chain can be used to enhance antigen presentation. This thesis describes the synthesis of fluorescein labelled O-mannosylated peptides using either manual or microwave assisted solid phase glycopeptide synthesis (SPGS) on pre-loaded WANG resin. The mannosylated peptides thus prepared can be tested for their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. In order to prepare compounds that could be analysed in biological screens, a fluorescent label (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) was introduced into the glycopeptides via the Nα- or the Nε-amino group of the lysine residue. It was found that preparation of the glycopeptide was more facile when the peptide chain was built onto the Nε of Lys (label into Nα) rather than onto the Nα of Lys (label into Nε). In order to overcome problems experienced when introducing more than one glycosylated building block into the peptide chain, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker was employed as a sugar carrier. It was found that mono- and dimannosylated building blocks attached to PEG carrier were incorporated more easily into the peptide chain compared to mono- and dimannosylated serine units. Importantly, microwave technology (CEM Liberty microwave peptide synthesiser) was used for SPGS which resulted in improved purity and yields of the glycopeptides thus prepared with a significant reduction in reaction times. The first fifteen glycopeptides prepared in the present study were tested for binding to mannose receptors. Several compounds have shown improved binding to monocytes (bear MRs) in comparison to lymphocytes (do not bear MRs), in the presence of calcium ions. Calcium dependent binding is specific for C type lectin receptor family that MRs belong to. Five remaining glycopeptides are currently undergoing biological evaluation.

The immune system often recognises tumour cells and infectious agents from the unique peptides found on their surfaces therefore, synthetic peptides of similar structure can be used as vaccines to stimulate the immune system. Despite the problems associated with proteolysis and delivery to the immune system, peptide-based vaccines have enormous potential due to their ease of synthesis and purification. The aim of this research was to synthesise ligands for mannose receptors (MRs) that are found on human Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), for use in synthetic vaccines. Carbohydrate bearing antigens are recognised by MRs which play an important role in binding antigens, migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and interaction of DCs with lymphocytes. Hence, incorporation of a sugar residue into a peptide chain can be used to enhance antigen presentation. This thesis describes the synthesis of fluorescein labelled O-mannosylated peptides using either manual or microwave assisted solid phase glycopeptide synthesis (SPGS) on pre-loaded WANG resin. The mannosylated peptides thus prepared can be tested for their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. In order to prepare compounds that could be analysed in biological screens, a fluorescent label (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) was introduced into the glycopeptides via the Nα- or the Nε-amino group of the lysine residue. It was found that preparation of the glycopeptide was more facile when the peptide chain was built onto the Nε of Lys (label into Nα) rather than onto the Nα of Lys (label into Nε). In order to overcome problems experienced when introducing more than one glycosylated building block into the peptide chain, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker was employed as a sugar carrier. It was found that mono- and dimannosylated building blocks attached to PEG carrier were incorporated more easily into the peptide chain compared to mono- and dimannosylated serine units. Importantly, microwave technology (CEM Liberty microwave peptide synthesiser) was used for SPGS which resulted in improved purity and yields of the glycopeptides thus prepared with a significant reduction in reaction times. The first fifteen glycopeptides prepared in the present study were tested for binding to mannose receptors. Several compounds have shown improved binding to monocytes (bear MRs) in comparison to lymphocytes (do not bear MRs), in the presence of calcium ions. Calcium dependent binding is specific for C type lectin receptor family that MRs belong to. Five remaining glycopeptides are currently undergoing biological evaluation.

Downstream purification and analysis of a model biopharmaceutical protein (recombinant human myelin basic protein) is described. The recombinant protein was expressed in the milk of transgenic cows and was found exclusively associated with the casein micellar phase. Binding of milk calcium to the active sites of a cation exchanger resin was used beneficially in this study in order to gently disrupt the casein micelles and liberate the recombinant protein. This approach was found superior to the conventional micelle disruption procedures with respect to product recovery, resin fouling due to milk components and column hydrodynamic properties. Further purification was carried out using Ni2+ affinity chromatography and resulted in purity more than 90% and a total recovery of 78%. A capillary electrophoresis total protein assay employing large volume sample stacking and a microsphere-based, sandwich-type immunoassay were developed and validated. Both methods were successfully integrated with the downstream purification protocol in order to evaluate various quality attributes of the recombinant protein. A onestep capillary isoelectric focusing protocol was developed in order to monitor the recombinant protein in milk samples. The results showed extra protein bands in the transgenic milk that had isoelectric points significantly lower than the theoretically calculated one which indicated that the protein had been modified during expression. The association between the recombinant protein and bovine milk caseins was explored at the molecular level using the surface plasmon resonance technique. Results showed a calciummediated interaction between the recombinant protein and the phosphorylated caseins. This selective interaction was not noted between the human myelin basic protein and milk caseins which indicated mammary gland-related posttranslational modifications, most likely phosphorylation. The co-expression of the recombinant protein and caseins in the mammary gland, along with the ability of the recombinant protein to form calcium bridges with caseins explained its association with the casein micellar phase in the transgenic milk. Despite this and owing to the low expression levels of the recombinant protein in milk, light scattering investigations using diffusing wave spectroscopy showed no significant differences between the transgenic and the non-transgenic milk samples with respect to the average micelle size and the micelle surface charges.

Milk is provided to new borns as their first food source and it contains essential nutrients, vitamins and other beneficial components, such as enzymes and antibodies that are required for rapid growth and development of the new born and for sustained growth over time. Milk contains two main types of proteins; casein proteins and whey proteins. Although casein proteins account for up to 80% of the proteins found in bovine milk, it is the whey protein that has become of high interest because of its bioactive content. Whey, a very watery mixture of lactose, proteins, minerals and trace amounts of fat, is formed from milk when the milk is coagulated and/or the casein proteins are removed from the milk. Bovine whey protein, including both the acidic and basic fractions (low and high isoelectric point, respectively), has previously been studied in vitro (cell based) and in vivo (using rats) for its impact on bone to determine if it can help improve bone mineral density and help reduce the risk of developing bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. Bone is constantly undergoing a remodelling process of being dissolved and reformed and the two main cell types responsible for this bone remodelling process are mature osteoclasts, which dissolve (resorb) bone, and osteoblasts, which reform the bone. Prior work has shown that acidic protein fractions derived from different sources of whey protein concentrate (WPC) have both in vivo and in vitro activity on bone, particularly anti-resorptive properties. However, the component(s) which confer activity have not yet been identified. In this thesis, work was undertaken to better understand the analytical composition of three types of WPC (cheese, mineral acid and lactic acid) and their associated acidic protein fractions and relate this to bone activity in the hope of identifying where the activity lies. Bone activity was assessed using in vitro screening with osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) and osteoclast cells (RAW 264.7). Comparison of the cell-based bone activity of the parent WPCs and corresponding acidic fractions indicated that the acidic fractions derived from both mineral acid and lactic WPC were superior in their ability to inhibit osteoclast development. Although compositional data was complex and definitive correlations with both bone bioactivities could not be made, it appeared that elements common to both the acidic fractions were a higher proportion of GLYCAM-1 and bone sialoprotein-1 (osteopontin). Further studies to more closely investigate the bone bioactivity of the acidic fractions are warranted.

Milk is provided to new borns as their first food source and it contains essential nutrients, vitamins and other beneficial components, such as enzymes and antibodies that are required for rapid growth and development of the new born and for sustained growth over time. Milk contains two main types of proteins; casein proteins and whey proteins. Although casein proteins account for up to 80% of the proteins found in bovine milk, it is the whey protein that has become of high interest because of its bioactive content. Whey, a very watery mixture of lactose, proteins, minerals and trace amounts of fat, is formed from milk when the milk is coagulated and/or the casein proteins are removed from the milk. Bovine whey protein, including both the acidic and basic fractions (low and high isoelectric point, respectively), has previously been studied in vitro (cell based) and in vivo (using rats) for its impact on bone to determine if it can help improve bone mineral density and help reduce the risk of developing bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. Bone is constantly undergoing a remodelling process of being dissolved and reformed and the two main cell types responsible for this bone remodelling process are mature osteoclasts, which dissolve (resorb) bone, and osteoblasts, which reform the bone. Prior work has shown that acidic protein fractions derived from different sources of whey protein concentrate (WPC) have both in vivo and in vitro activity on bone, particularly anti-resorptive properties. However, the component(s) which confer activity have not yet been identified. In this thesis, work was undertaken to better understand the analytical composition of three types of WPC (cheese, mineral acid and lactic acid) and their associated acidic protein fractions and relate this to bone activity in the hope of identifying where the activity lies. Bone activity was assessed using in vitro screening with osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) and osteoclast cells (RAW 264.7). Comparison of the cell-based bone activity of the parent WPCs and corresponding acidic fractions indicated that the acidic fractions derived from both mineral acid and lactic WPC were superior in their ability to inhibit osteoclast development. Although compositional data was complex and definitive correlations with both bone bioactivities could not be made, it appeared that elements common to both the acidic fractions were a higher proportion of GLYCAM-1 and bone sialoprotein-1 (osteopontin). Further studies to more closely investigate the bone bioactivity of the acidic fractions are warranted.