Oxidative stress is a natural consequence of photosynthetic oxygen evolution and redox enzyme processes. Trp oxidation to N-formylkynurenine (NFK) is a specific, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated reaction. This thesis work describes the identification and functional characterization of NFK in oxygen evolving Photosystem II (PSII). Although proteomics studies have confirmed NFK modifications in many types of proteins, limited knowledge on the biochemical significance exists. In vitro studies in thylakoids and PSII membranes were used to establish a correlation between oxidative stress, NFK formation, and photoinhibition. The in vivo effect of preventing Trp oxidation to NFK was assessed by site-directed mutation in the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This work provides insight into the role of NFK in photosynthetic oxygen evolution and photoinhibition. Based on the current knowledge of NFK, ROS, and repair, a new model is described. In this modified model for photoinhibition and repair, NFK plays a role in signaling for turnover of damaged proteins. NFK may play a similar role in replacement of damaged proteins in other systems.

L-serine, a non-essential amino acid, plays a role in the biosynthesis of the amino acids, proteins, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. It is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It has been considered in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and psychomotor retardation, and of the seizures encountered in patients with rare inborn errors of L-serine biosynthesis. However, there are no reports in the literature of the direct cardiovascular effects of L-serine. Using normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats, Sprague-Dawley rats rendered hypertensive by chronic treatment with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitior NG nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the present study examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of L-serine. In vitro studies focused on L-serine induced changes in phenylephrine constricted third order branches of rat mesenteric arterioles while the in vivo studies examined the effects of intravenous infusion of L-serine on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in intact anaesthetized rats. L-serine (10 to 200 µmol/L) evoked concentration-dependent vasodilatation in phenylephrine constricted endothelium-intact, but not in endothelium-denuded, rat mesenteric arterioles. The vasodilator responses to L-serine were absent in the combined presence of apamin, a calcium activated small conductance potassium (SKCa) channel inhibitor, and TRAM-34, a calcium activated intermediate conductance potassium (IKCa) channel inhibitor, or ouabain, a sodium pump inhibitor and barium (Ba2+), an inward rectifying potassium (Kir) channel inhibitor, or when the vessels were depolarized by potassium chloride. The maximal vasodilatation response (Emax) to L-serine was higher in vessels from L-NAME treated rats (40%) than from control rats (20%). In anesthetized rats, L-serine evoked a rapid, reversible, dose-dependent fall in MAP (without a significant change in HR), which was more pronounced in L-NAME treated rats (> 60 mmHg) than in normotensive control rats (25 mmHg). The fall in MAP was inhibited (p<0.01) by apamin plus charybdotoxin pretreatment. Charybdotoxin was used in place of Tram-34 in in vivo studies since Tram-34 is not soluble in water or saline. In age matched Sprague-Dawley, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and SHR strains, D-serine had the same effects on MAP and HR as L-serine; however, L-serine evoked a greater maximal fall in MAP in all strains, and the effect was more pronounced in hypertensive rats. In contrast, the infusion of glycine, a metabolite of L-serine led to a dose-dependent fall in MAP in normotensive rats but a dose-dependent increase in MAP in both SHR and L-NAME treated hypertensive WKY rats. Both the depressor and pressor responses to glycine were abolished by pretreatment with the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonist, MK-801. Regional hemodynamic studies performed using the fluorescent tagged microsphere distribution technique revealed that the fall in MAP and profound decrease in total peripheral resistance (TPR) evoked by acute L-serine infusion is due to increased blood flow in the splanchnic region and more particularly in the small intestinal vascular beds. This effect is blocked by the combined treatment with the KCa channel inhibitors, apamin plus charybdotoxin. Although resting MAP and TPR are higher, and cardiac output (CO) is lower both in SHR and in WKY rats rendered hypertensive by L-NAME treatment compared to normotensive WKY rats, L-serine infusion leads to a rapid fall in TPR and MAP, and an increase in CO in all models. This effect was more profound in the hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that L-serine could be helpful in overcoming splanchnic organ failure observed in patients with cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, L-serine, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive medications, could be considered in the management of endothelial dysfunctional states with reduced NO bioavailability such as hypertension and diabetes.

Although some physiological effects of toxic metal poisoning have been known for centuries, the specific chemical interactions between biological molecules and mercury(I), mercury(II) or lead(II) are not well understood. To date, only thirteen crystal structures of inorganic mercury-amino acid complexes and six crystal structures of lead-amino acid complexes have been reported with varying degrees of characterization. In order to improve our understanding of the coordination chemistry of mercury and lead in biological environments, a systematic method for the isolation of inorganic metal-amino acid complexes from acidic aqueous solutions has been developed. With this method we have prepared five new lead-amino acid complexes (with L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanine, and L-arginine) and four new mercury-amino acid complexes (with L-alanine, D-alanine, L-proline, and N-methyl-L-alanine). These metal-amino acid complexes have been comprehensively characterized in the solid state, solution state and gas phase. The development of this isolation technique in conjunction with the exploration of a number of characterization techniques for studying metal-amino acid interactions greatly enhances the known methods by which metal-biological molecule systems are studied.

Biofouling is a major issue in applying nanofiltration and reverse osmosis technologies for wastewater treatment. Biofilm formed on the surface of membranes will severely decline the flux and cause energy waste. In this study, a novel biofouling control method that applies D-amino acids to inhibit biofilm formation was investigated. The D-amino acids previously reported to inhibit biofilm formation and disrupt existing biofilm – D-tyrosine and the mixture of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, D-leucine and D-methionine were tested. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis were used as model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. D-amino acids have little effect and some effect on inhibition of biofilm formation and disruption of exiting biofilm to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but have good effect to Bacillus subtilis. A commonly used microtiter plate assay for quantitative biofilm measurement was systematically evaluated and optimized for screening biofilm control agents. The effect of D-tyrosine on inhibition of organic fouling and P. aeruginosa biofouling on NF90 membrane surface in bench scale dead end filtration experiment was examined, which shows that D-tyrosine can effectively inhibit organic fouling and P. aeruginosa biofouling on NF90 membrane surface.

The honeybee is one of the model species in insect olfaction and its sense of smell is well studied. However, knowledge about the spectrum of odorants detectable to honeybees is limited. One class of odorants that has never been tested so far are the amino acids, which are important constituents of floral nectar. The experiments reported here were conducted in order to (1) determine if the odor of amino acids is detectable to honeybees (Apis mellifera), and (2) determine olfactory detection thresholds in honeybees for detectable amino acid odors. To this end, the proboscis extension reflex, a classical conditioning paradigm that takes advantage of the honeybee’s ability to build a robust association between an odor stimulus and a nectar reward, was used. The results demonstrate that five out of 20 amino acids presented at 100 mM were detectable. The honeybees’ median olfactory detection thresholds for these five amino acids are 12 mM for L-tyrosine and L-cysteine, 50 mM for L-asparagine and L-tryptophan, and 100 mM for L-proline. These threshold values are high in comparison to naturally occurring concentrations in floral nectar, and compared to threshold values obtained in vertebrate species. One possible explanation for these findings is that the size of the olfactory receptor repertoire of honeybees limits their olfactory capabilities in terms of detectability and sensitivity for the odor of amino acids

L-serine, a non-essential amino acid, plays a role in the biosynthesis of the amino acids, proteins, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. It is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It has been considered in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and psychomotor retardation, and of the seizures encountered in patients with rare inborn errors of L-serine biosynthesis. However, there are no reports in the literature of the direct cardiovascular effects of L-serine. Using normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats, Sprague-Dawley rats rendered hypertensive by chronic treatment with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitior NG nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the present study examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of L-serine. In vitro studies focused on L-serine induced changes in phenylephrine constricted third order branches of rat mesenteric arterioles while the in vivo studies examined the effects of intravenous infusion of L-serine on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in intact anaesthetized rats. L-serine (10 to 200 µmol/L) evoked concentration-dependent vasodilatation in phenylephrine constricted endothelium-intact, but not in endothelium-denuded, rat mesenteric arterioles. The vasodilator responses to L-serine were absent in the combined presence of apamin, a calcium activated small conductance potassium (SKCa) channel inhibitor, and TRAM-34, a calcium activated intermediate conductance potassium (IKCa) channel inhibitor, or ouabain, a sodium pump inhibitor and barium (Ba2+), an inward rectifying potassium (Kir) channel inhibitor, or when the vessels were depolarized by potassium chloride. The maximal vasodilatation response (Emax) to L-serine was higher in vessels from L-NAME treated rats (40%) than from control rats (20%). In anesthetized rats, L-serine evoked a rapid, reversible, dose-dependent fall in MAP (without a significant change in HR), which was more pronounced in L-NAME treated rats (> 60 mmHg) than in normotensive control rats (25 mmHg). The fall in MAP was inhibited (p<0.01) by apamin plus charybdotoxin pretreatment. Charybdotoxin was used in place of Tram-34 in in vivo studies since Tram-34 is not soluble in water or saline. In age matched Sprague-Dawley, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and SHR strains, D-serine had the same effects on MAP and HR as L-serine; however, L-serine evoked a greater maximal fall in MAP in all strains, and the effect was more pronounced in hypertensive rats. In contrast, the infusion of glycine, a metabolite of L-serine led to a dose-dependent fall in MAP in normotensive rats but a dose-dependent increase in MAP in both SHR and L-NAME treated hypertensive WKY rats. Both the depressor and pressor responses to glycine were abolished by pretreatment with the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor antagonist, MK-801. Regional hemodynamic studies performed using the fluorescent tagged microsphere distribution technique revealed that the fall in MAP and profound decrease in total peripheral resistance (TPR) evoked by acute L-serine infusion is due to increased blood flow in the splanchnic region and more particularly in the small intestinal vascular beds. This effect is blocked by the combined treatment with the KCa channel inhibitors, apamin plus charybdotoxin. Although resting MAP and TPR are higher, and cardiac output (CO) is lower both in SHR and in WKY rats rendered hypertensive by L-NAME treatment compared to normotensive WKY rats, L-serine infusion leads to a rapid fall in TPR and MAP, and an increase in CO in all models. This effect was more profound in the hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that L-serine could be helpful in overcoming splanchnic organ failure observed in patients with cardiopulmonary bypass. In addition, L-serine, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensive medications, could be considered in the management of endothelial dysfunctional states with reduced NO bioavailability such as hypertension and diabetes.

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive and nondestructive technique and ideally suited for applications in clinical studies. In addition to the information of human anatomy provided by MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) also provided a noninvasive method to investigate the metabolites in the body and is therefore regarded as a valuable method to examine tumors and disorders especially for the brain applications. To diagnose pyogenic brain abscess from other diseases is very important for clinic treatment. Cytosolic amino acids, lactate, alanine and acetate have been recognized as potential abscess markers, especially amino acids. LCModel is a well-known and reliable post-processing tool for MRS which can provide objectively quantitative of metabolite concentration. In this thesis, we would use LCModel to analyze the spectra of amino acids and further to identify and quantitate these metabolites. And we hope that the method would benefit more precisely noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of pyogenic brain abscess. However, due to the possibly poor SNR of in vivo proton MR spectroscopy, it might be difficult to identify these metabolites. In this study, we would validate the accuracy of LCModel in the analysis of amino acids. We used GAVA-simulated resonance spectra with different level noise as our input signals and analyzed by LCModel to understand the influence of concentrations and SNR caused by different level noise. Our goal is to find an optimally reliable method to help the clinic diagnosis of abscess patients.

The field of ecological stoichiometry has been dominated by studies focusing on aquatic & benthic microinvertabrates with less attention given to herbivorous insects. These organisms rely on their food source(s) to supply all of the building blocks (elements) they need in order to complete their life cycle. Since insect herbivores do not have the same elemental composition as the plants they use for food the question arises; of how they go about building themselves. We investigated what happened when grasshoppers were fed diets with various macronutrient profiles, their total amounts, and when the protein quality varied. We discovered that under controlled conditions when using a high quality protein source that grasshoppers are able to maintain a strict level of elemental homeostasis, but that the elements directly related to manipulations made in the food seem to vary (carbon, which is associated with carbohydrates and nitrogen, associated with protein). We also discovered that when the quality of protein changes an immature grasshoppers elemental stoichiometry loses some of this strict homeostatic regulation.

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In this study, the aim was to investigate the effects of pH on therapeutically important protein, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), production by Pichia pastoris considering the expression levels of regulatory genes. In this frame, firstly the host microorganism was selected between two different methanol utilization phenotypes of P. pastoris, Mut+ and MutS on media containing glycerol/methanol or sorbitol/methanol. The highest rhGH production, 120 g L-1, and hGH gene expression, 9.84x109 copies mg-1 CDW, were achieved in the medium containing 30 g L-1 sorbitol and 1% (v/v) methanol by P. pastoris hGH-Mut+ strain. Thereafter, effects of pH on rhGH production and stability were investigated in laboratory scale bioreactors. RhGH was more stable at pH 5.0. Throughout the production, it is seen that medium of pH decreased. Thereafter, effects of pH on rhGH were investigated in pH controlled pilot-scale bioreactor. In addition to rhGH concentration, AOX intracellular enzyme activity, extracellular proteases concentrations / expression levels of hGH, AOX, pep4, prb1 and prc1 genes were determined. The highest cell concentration was obtained as 53 g L-1 at pH 6.0 but hGH concentration was found as 24 mg L-1 at t=24 h. The highest rhGH concentration was obtained as 271 g L-1 with 42 g L-1 cell density at pH 5.0 in medium containing sorbitol at t=24 h. At this condition, the overall product and cell yield on total substrate were found as 2.08 mg g-1 and 0.15 g g-1. Furthermore, the highest expression levels of hGH and AOX were attained at pH 5.0. Moreover, by keeping pH at 5.0, expression levels of three types of vacuolar proteases were minimized.