Les Technosols issus de l’arrêt des activités industriels présentent des propriétés physico-chimiques très contrastées de celles de sols naturels et peuvent renfermer de fortes teneurs en polluants organiques (e.g. composés aromatiques polycycliques (CAP)). Leur abandon pendant des décennies a entrainé l’apparition d’une pédogenèse, particulièrement sous l’influence de facteurs climatiques et supposé entrainer un phénomène d’atténuation naturelle des polluants organiques bien que ces effets ne soient rarement identifiés. Nous proposons ainsi de modéliser l’évolution de la disponibilité des CAP au cours du temps et sous l’influence du facteur climatique. La première étape a été de transcrire des données climatiques atmosphériques en conditions pédoclimatiques et ce, selon les effets de la localisation à l’échelle mondiale, de scénarios de changements climatiques (GIEC), des propriétés des sols et de la profondeur. L’effet de modalités pédoclimatiques sur la disponibilité des CAP a ensuite été testée en conditions contrôlées et sur 11 terres industrielles contrastées (cokeries, usines à gaz). Les conséquences de ces variations de disponibilité des CAP sur la toxicité des sols ont ensuite été validées par un test de croissance de Zea mays L sur les terres vieillies. Les résultats ont été incrémentés dans les modélisations des pédoclimats permettant ainsi de prédire l’évolution de la disponibilité des CAP. Si les conditions climatiques actuelles participent à une diminution de la disponibilité des CAP, le phénomène inverse se produit suite à un réchauffement climatique, que nous définirons comme amplification naturelle, soulignant à nouveau les risques potentiels liés aux changements climatiques sur les sols / Technosols linked with the end of industrial activities depict contrasted properties from those of natural soils and may contain high concentration of organic pollutants (e.g. polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC)). Their neglect led to the apparition of pedogenetic processes particularly under the influence of climate which potentially contribute to the natural attenuation phenomenon. Hence, we suggest a new method to predict the evolution of PACs’ availability over time and under the influence of climate. The first step was to build a transcription model to predict the pedoclimate evolution derived from weather datasets and under the influence of climate location, climate change scenarios (IPCC), soil properties and depth. The effect of pedoclimatic events on the evolution of PAC availability was then tested in controlled conditions and on 11 contrasted industrial soils (coking plant and gas plant). This allowed predicting the frequency and occurrence of major pedoclimatic events (e.g. freeze-thaw, wetting-drying cycles and periods of high temperature) that drive pedogenesis. The consequence of these availability variation on toxicity were then tested using a growth test of Zea mays L. on aged soils, confirming that PAC availability and soil phytotoxicity are linked. The aging results were then incremented into the pedoclimate model to predict the evolution of PAC availability over time. As the current climatic conditions lead to a decrease in PAC availability (natural attenuation), the opposite effect is observed under the warmer climate of 2100. We described this phenomenon as natural amplification which underlines the upcoming threat of climate change on soils

Neste trabalho foi estudada a oxidação eletroquímica da seguinte série de substratos: (Ver no arquivo PDF). Para tanto foram empregadas a voltametria cíclica e eletrólises preparativas (diretas e indiretas), a potencial ou corrente controlados, em celas de um ou dois compartimentos. Os estudos voltamétricos foram realizados em MeCN/0,1M NaClO4 ou MeOH/0,2M NaClO4/0,2M NaOMe com anodo de platina, utilizando Ag/AgI (0,04M TBAI) ou Ag/Ag+ (0,01M AgNO3) respectivamente como sistemas de referência. Os experimentos eletrolíticos foram conduzidos em MeCN/0,1M NaClO4 ou MeOH/0,2M NaClO4/0,2M NaOMe utilizando anodo de platina, catodo de platina ou tungstênio e os mesmos sistemas de referência citados acima. Nas eletrólises a potencial controlado, efetuadas em acetonitrila, foram obtidos os 4,4\' ,5,5\' -tetrametóxi-bifenilos-2,2\' -substituídos correspondentes dos substratos 3 e 5-12, na faixa de 50-74% de rendimento e do substrato (13) em 12%. Este processo é sensível à concentração de base, sendo dificultado à medida que a concentração de 2,6-lutidina aumenta. Na eletrólise indireta, realizada em MeCN contendo piridina, com o substrato 2, mediada por Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2 foi obtida acetona (1) em 70%; nas realizadas com o substrato 3, mediadas por Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2, [Fe(dafipy)2](PF6)2 ou (4-Br-C6H4)3N, foi obtido o dímero correspondente na faixa de 26-53%, em ausência de base. Na presença de base e do mediador Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2, a eletrólise de 3 em acetonitrila levou à mistura de cetona 1 - 6,6% e álcool 2 - 28,2%. Nas eletrólises a corrente controlada, em MeOH/NaOMe, realizadas com os substratos 1, 3, 4 e 14 foram obtidos produtos resultantes da metoxilação do anel aromático como por exemplo o 1 -acetil-4,5,5,6-tetrametóxi-cicloexa-1,3-dieno, isolado em 71 % na eletrólise do substrato 1. Com base nos tipos de produtos obtidos, em exemplos da literatura e em cálculos semi-empíricos, foram formuladas propostas mecanísticas para explicação dos resultados eletrolíticos. / In the present work the electrochemical oxidation of the following 4-substituted-1,2-dimethoxybenzenes was investigated: (See file PDF). The compounds listed above were studied using cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolyses, carried out under potential or current control, in divided or undivided cells. The voltammetric experiments were performed in MeCN/0.1M NaClO4 or MeOH/0.2M NaClO4/0.2M NaOMe using platinum anode; as reference systems Ag/AgI (0,04M TBAI) or Ag/Ag+ (0,01M AgNO3) were employed. The electrolytic experiments were carried out in MeCN/0.1M NaClO4 or MeOH/0.2M NaClO4/0.2M NaOMe using platinum anode and platinum or tungsten cathodes and the same reference systems mentioned above. Current controlled electro1yses of substrates 3, 5-13 in MeCN afforded 2,2\' disubstituted-4,4\'-5,5\' - tetramethoxy-biphenyls in 50-74% yields except 13 (12%). This process showed to be base sensitive, and, increasing 2,6-lutidine concentration dimerization was progressively suppressed. Indirect electrolysis of substrate 2 in MeCN containing pyridine, mediated by Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2, afforded ketone (1) in 70% yield. Under similar conditions but absence of base, in the presence of Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2, [Fe(dafipy)2](PF6)2 or (4-Br-C6H4)3N the corresponding dimeric product was isolated in 26-53% yields. Using Fe(bpy)3(PF6)2 as mediator and 2,6-lutidine as base, the electrolysis of 3 in acetonitrile led to a ketone 1/ alcohol 2 mixture (6.6 and 28.2%). Current controlled electrolyses carried out in MeOH/NaOMe, with substrates 1, 3, 4 and 14 afforded only nuclear methoxylation products, e.g. l-acetyl-4,5,5,6-tetramethoxy-cyclohexa-1,3-diene, isolated in 71 % yield from the electrolysis of substrate 1. Mechanistic proposals for the electrochemical oxidation of the examined substrates were made based on electrochemical methods, product analysis and semi-empirical molecular orbital ca1culations.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho descreve a investigaÃÃo fitoquÃmica da espÃcie vegetal Caesalpinia ferrea (Leguminosae), conhecida como âjucÃâ e usada popularmente no nordeste do Brasil como antirreumÃtico, antimicrobiano e entre outros usos. Os extratos de C. ferrea atravÃs da cromatografia em coluna tendo como fase estacionÃria gel de sÃlica e Sephadex LH-20 levaram ao isolamento de quatro substancias do tipo polifenÃis {Ãcido gÃlico (Ãcido-3,4,5-tri-hidrÃxi-benzÃico), Ãcido elÃgico (4,4â,5,5â,6,6â-hexahidroxidifÃnico-2,6,2â,6â-dilactona), amentoflavona (8-[5-(5,7-dihidroxi-4-oxo-cromeno-2-il)-2-hidroxi-fenil]-5,7-dihidroxi-2-(4-hidroxifenil) cromeno-4-one) e resveratrol (trans-3,5,4â-trihidroxiestilbeno)}; uma mistura constituÃda de um esterÃide {β-sitosterol (24-etilcolest-5-en-3β-ol) e de dois Ãcidos graxos [Ãcido palmÃtico (n-hexadecanÃico) e esteÃrico (n-octadecanÃico)]}; uma outra mistura constituÃda dos triterpenos [Lupeol (Lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol) e β-amirina (olean-12-en-3β-ol), do esterÃide 24-metilenocicloartanol (3β-9,19-Ciclolanostan-3-ol-24-metileno) e do Ãlcool lignocÃrico (n-tetracosonol). A caracterizaÃÃo dos compostos envolveu o uso das tÃcnicas de RMN 1H e 13C (1D e 2D), IV, CG-EM-IE e CLAE-EM-IES. Os extratos brutos das vagens e algumas de suas fraÃÃes foram submetidos a testes de atividades antiacetilcolinesterase e antioxidante com resultados promissores. O bi-flavonÃide, a fitoalexina e os constituintes das misturas mencionadas sÃo relatados pela primeira vez na literatura em C. ferrea. / This work describe the phytochemical investigation of pods and stems of specie Caesalpinia ferrea (Leguminosae) known as âjucÃâ. Popularly, this plant is used as antirheumatic, antimicrobial and among other uses. The hexane and ethanol extracts to pods and stems of C. ferrea were submitted to column chromatography having silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 as stationary phase that led to the isolation of four compounds of the type polyphenol: {gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxy-benzoic acid), ellagic acid (4,4', 5,5', 6,6'-hexahydroxydifÃnico-2,6,2',6'-dilactone), amentoflavone (8-[5-(5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-chromene-2-yl)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)) chromen-4-one and resveratrol (trans-3,5,4â trihydroxystilbene)}; a mixture consisting of a steroid {-sitosterol(24-etilcolest-5-en-3-ol) and two fatty acids [palmitic acid (nhexadecanoic) and stearic acid (n-octadecanoic acid)]}; another mixture consisting of the triterpenes [Lupeol (Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol) and -amyrin (olean-12-en-3-ol), steroid 24-metilenocicloartanol (3-9,19 Ciclolanostan-3-ol-24-methylene) and lignoceric alcohol (n-tetracosonol). The characterization of the chemical components involved the use 1H and 13C NMR (1D and 2D), IR, GC-MS-EI e HPLC-MS-ESI. The extracts of pods and some of its fractions were submitted in test of the antioxidant activities and antiacetylcholinesterase with promising results. The bi-flavonoid, phytoalexin and components of mixtures mentioned are first reported in the literature to C. ferrea.

Este projeto teve como objetivo a construção de biosensores para a detecção de compostos monoaromáticos do grupo BTEX a partir dos componentes da via de degradação de compostos monoaromáticos codificada no plasmídeo TOL de Pseudomonas putida, mais precisamente: o promotor Pu e a proteína reguladora XylR, que ativa o promotor Pu após a ligação ao efetor monoaromático. Um objetivo secundário foi a verificação da existência de sequências reguladoras desconhecidas a montante do promotor Pu, construindo três variantes com fragmentos de Pu que se estendem por diferentes comprimentos a montante do promotor (Pu202 pb, Pu396 pb e Pu802 pb), cuja existência foi sugerida em trabalho anterior do laboratório. O promotor Pu foi ligado ao gene indicador para fosfatase alcalina isolado de E. coli. Todos os componentes das três variantes de biossensores foram clonados com sucesso. A construção de um dos plasmídeos de biossensoramento com a variante mais curta de Pu (Pu202) foi concluída. / Monoaromatic compounds are mainly responsible for the contamination of areas, this is because they are components of gas and the fuel stations most of accidents sites. Such compounds are highly toxic and, in between non-polar compounds, present high solubility and vapor pressure which assists them in dispersion at groundwaters and soil. This work aim to develop a biosensor based on alkaline phosphatase indicator gene under the regulation of the Pu promoter and its regulatory protein, XylR, that is activated by monoaromatic. Moreover, this work will continue a previous project of the research group that indicated a possible regulatory region not described for Pu, that hypothesis will be tested by producing different plasmids biosensors with varying sizes of Pu (202 bp, 396 bp and 802 bp). All biosensor fragments were purified and cloned on pGem T Easy and biosensor with Pu 202 pb was produced. Next goals are finishing others biosensors assemble and perform induction tests.

O cancro cítrico é uma doença que afeta diversas espécies de Citrus, cujo agente causal é Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (XAC). O genoma desta fitobactéria consiste de um cromossomo de ~5 Mpb e dois plasmídeos, que juntos codificam 4313 CDS (seqüências codificadoras), das quais 2710 apresentam similaridade com proteínas conhecidas. Neste trabalho realizamos uma análise comparativa detalhada do genoma de XAC com genomas de três fitopatógenos, Xanthomonas campestris campestris, Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c e Xylella fastidiosa temecula. Com esta análise identificamos genes espécie e gênero-específicos, potencialmente relevantes para adaptação aos seus respectivos nichos ou hospedeiros, além de ilhas de inserção e deleção genômica putativas. Também identificamos vias metabólicas relacionadas com osmoproteção/osmorregulação e com degradação de compostos aromáticos em XAC, que possivelmente são determinantes na eficácia de sua interação com o hospedeiro. Analisamos o nível de expressão de 9 CDS após crescimento de XAC em diferentes concentrações de glicose e verificamos que este açúcar modula positivamente a expressão de CDS relacionadas à síntese de goma e ao sistema de osmoproteção. Além disso, descrevemos a construção de microarranjos de DNA representando 2760 CDS de XAC, constituindo-se uma nova ferramenta para estudos de genômica comparativa e expressão gênica deste fitopatógeno. / Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (XAC) is the bacterial pathogen that causes citrus canker disease in several species of Citrus plants. XAC genome consists of a main cromosome of ~5 Mpb and two plasmids that together encode 4313 CDS (coding sequences). Approximately 63% of the CDS have assigned biological functions. In this work, we present a detailed genomic comparison between the genomes of XAC and of three other phytopathogens, X. campestris campestris, Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c and X. fastidiosa Temecula. Based on this analysis, we identified species and genus-specific genes that might be relevant for adaptation to their niches and hosts. We mapped putative insertion/deletion regions in the XAC genome possibly related to gene gains and losses during the divergence of the four bacterial lineages. We have identified the metabolic pathways related to osmoprotection/osmoregulation and aromatic compound degradation important for XAC efficient host colonization and interaction. Expression levels of 9 CDS were analyzed after XAC growth under different glucose concentrations revealing that this sugar upregulates the expression of CDS related to gum synthesis and to osmoregulation. In addition, we describe here the construction of a DNA microarray representing 2760 CDS of XAC as a new tool for comparative genomic and gene expression studies in this phytopathogen.

Canadian bitumen is mainly transported in a diluted form via pipeline and train, all posing a risk as they can lead to the release of diluted bitumen (dilbit) in the environment. In the summer of 2018, a collaborative large-scale field experiment was conducted at the International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), a world-renowned aquatic research facility. The research objectives of the Boreal lake Oil Release Experiment by Additions to Limnocorrals (BOREAL) project were to understand the fate, behaviour, and potential toxic effects of dilbit in a freshwater Boreal lake to inform evidence-based management strategies for the transport of dilbit. A range of controlled dilbit spills was performed in seven 10 m diameter limnocorrals (~100,000 L of water) resulting in environmentally realistic dilbit:water dilutions ranging from 1:69,200 to 1:504, representing the upper half of the distribution of oil spill sizes in North America in the last decade. Additionally, two limnocorrals not treated with dilbit were studied as controls. This thesis identifies the bioaccumulating compounds derived from naturally weathered dilbit in adult giant floater mussels (Pyganodon grandis), to determine the rates at which they were accumulated and excreted. More specifically, the bioaccumulation potential and toxicokinetic parameters of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and various metals were assessed in mussels exposed ex situ for 41 days (25 days of exposure and 16 days of depuration) to water from the limnocorrals. These compounds have shown to be toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic to aquatic organisms. Mussels exposed to dilbit-contaminated water experienced significantly greater TPACs concentrations (0.40 – 0.90 µg L-1, n=12) compared to mussels from the Control (0.017 µg L-1, n=4). Furthermore, dilbit-contaminated water had a higher proportion of alkylated PACs compared to their parent counterpart, demonstrating petrogenic PAC profiles. We detected significantly greater TPACs concentrations in mussels exposed to dilbit-contaminated water (25.92 – 27.79 µg g-1, ww Lipid, n=9, at day 25 of the uptake phase) compared to mussels from the Control (average of 2.62 ± 1.95 µg g-1, ww Lipid; ±SD, n=17). Alkylated PACs represented 96.4 ± 1.8%, ±SD, n=12 of TPACs in mussels from dilbit-contaminated treatments at day 25 of the uptake phase, indicating the importance of conducting a more inclusive assessment of petrochemical mixtures as most studies only focus on parent PACs. From first-order one-compartment models derived from nonlinear curve fitting of the accumulation phase or sequential modelling method, uptake (0.66 – 24.65 L g-1 day-1, n=87) and depuration (0.012 – 0.37 day-1, n=87) kinetic rate constants, as well as bioconcentration factors (log values from 3.85 – 6.12 L kg-1, n=87) for the 29 PACs that bioaccumulated in mussels suggested that alkylated PACs have greater bioaccumulation potential compared to their parent PAC counterpart. Results from this study also demonstrated that giant floater mussels could be used to biomonitor PAC contamination following oil spills as PACs accumulated in mussel tissue and were still present following the 16 day depuration phase. The results of this study are the largest, most comprehensive set of toxicokinetic and bioaccumulation information of PACs (44 analytes) in freshwater mussels obtained to date. Metal contamination following the controlled dilbit spill was minimal, but mussels exposed to water contaminated with naturally weathered dilbit experienced elevated concentrations of dissolved zinc (30.26 – 38.26 µg L-1, n=12) compared to the mussels in the uncontaminated water (6.75 ± 3.31 µg L-1, n=4), surpassing the Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. However, it is not clear if dilbit contamination caused elevated zinc concentrations in the water as other factors, such as limnocorral building materials and/or galvanized minnow traps used in the limnocorrals, could have contributed to zinc contamination. Nonetheless, giant floater mussels did not accumulate zinc in their tissues.

Background: The heme enzyme lactoperoxidase is found in body secretions where it significantly contributes to the humoral immune response against pathogens. After activation the peroxidase oxidizes thiocyanate to hypothiocyanite which is known for its microbicidal properties. Yet several pathologies are accompanied by a disturbed hypothiocyanite production which results in a reduced immune defense. Methods: The results were obtained by measuring enzyme-kinetic parameters using UV–vis spectroscopy and a standardized enzyme-kinetic test system as well as by the determination of second order rate constants using stopped-flow spectroscopy. Results: In this study we systematically tested thirty aromatic substrates for their efficiency to promote the lactoperoxidase-mediated hypothiocyanite production by restoring the native ferric enzyme state. Thereby hydrophobic compounds with a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl partial structure such ashydroxytyrosol and selected flavonoids emerged as highly efficient promotors of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. Conclusions: This study discusses important structure-function relationships of efficient aromatic LPO substrates and may contribute to the development of new agents to promote lactoperoxidase activity in secretory fluids of patients. Significance: This study may contribute to a better understanding of the (patho-)physiological importance of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. The presented results may in future lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies which, by reactivating lactoperoxidase-derived hypothiocyanite production, promote the immunological activity of this enzyme.

Les nanorubans de carbone présentent aujourd’hui un grand intérêt en tant que segments de graphène aux propriétés électroniques modulables. Alors que des techniques de synthèse destructives top down donnent des rubans de très grande taille, d’autres techniques constructives bottom up, par synthèse organique, pourraient former des nanorubans bien définis de géométries contrôlées. Dans cette optique, la réaction de Scholl est un outil chimique précieux car elle permet la graphénisation de longs précurseurs flexibles de type polyphénylène.Etonnamment, des structures distordues peuvent être obtenues majoritairement même si des isomères plans moins encombrés sont a priori favorisés. Nous avons ainsi montré que contre toute attente même un encombrement stérique important n’a aucun effet notoire sur la régiosélectivité et que des composés aromatiques polycycliques courbés sont préférentiellement formés. Ainsi, des structures particulièrement tordues, tel que l’hexabenzotriphénylène (HBTP) peuvent être facilement obtenues à partir de précurseurs de type polyphénylène.Après avoir découvert cette régiosélectivité inattendue, nous en avons tiré parti pour former des composés de type polyhélicène. Plusieurs tentatives de formation de l’hexaphénanthrotriphénylène (HPTP) furent infructueuses à cause de problèmes de réactivité lors des synthèses des précurseurs flexibles correspondants. En mettant au point une stratégie de synthèse versatile fondée sur un précurseur commun, plusieurs substrats flexibles de symétrie C3 ont été synthétisés puis soumis à la réaction de Scholl. Des produits de réarrangement ont cependant été obtenus au détriment des [6]hélicènes attendus. Toutefois, un HBTP fonctionnalisé par des groupements TMS a pu être efficacement préparé, ainsi qu’un hexabenzocoronène (HBC) dont l’exceptionnelle solubilité est due à la distorsion du coeur aromatique sous l’effet des groupements encombrants situés dans les régions baie.Ce fragment [5]hélicène favorisé a enfin été incorporé dans la formulation de nanorubans de carbone tordus, alors composés d’une succession de ce motif. En tant que réactions test, les synthèses du monomère et du dimère correspondants ont été effectuées avec d’excellents rendements et les deux composés entièrement caractérisés. Leurs structures ont été déterminée par diffraction de rayons X sur monocristaux et ont fourni d’intéressantes informations complémentaires quant à leurs configurations. Une stratégie plus générale a enfin été développée et optimisée pour la synthèse systématique d’oligomères plus longs de nanorubans de carbone tordus. En utilisant cette technique les trimère et tétramère correspondants ont été synthétisés et caractérisés par spectrométrie de masse. / Carbon nanoribbons are today of great interest as graphene segments with modulable electronic properties. Whilst top down techniques give giant ribbons, bottom-up organic synthesis may lead to exactly designed nanoribbons of controlled geometries. The Scholl reaction is a precious chemical tool for that purpose since it yields efficiently to the graphitization of long and flexible polyphenylene precursors.Surprisingly, twisted structures may be obtained preferentially even if less crowded isomers are also feasible. It has been shown that, against all expectation, even a strong steric hindrance has no marked effect on regioselectivity and highly twisted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are sometimes preferentially formed, whereas their flat and more symmetrical isomers are only obtained in minority. Highly twisted structures such as hexabenzotriphenylene (HBTP) may then be obtained very easily from flexible polyphenylene precursors.After discovering this unexpected regioselectivity, we used it on purpose to form polyhelicenic species. Attempts to prepared hexaphenanthrotriphenylene (HPTP) were unsuccessful due to reactivity issues when synthesizing the corresponding flexible precursors. By using a new versatile strategy leading to an advanced common precursor, several C3-symmetrical flexible substrates have been synthesized and submitted to Scholl reaction. The expected [6]helicenes were not obtained and rearranged products were formed instead, but TMS-bearing HBTP could be prepared, as well as a hexabenzocoronene (HBC) which exceptionnal solubility is due to the distortion of the aromatic core under the effect of bulky tert-butyl substituents in bay regions.The easily formed [5]helicene fragment has been incorporated in the design of twisted carbon nanoribbons that would be composed of a succession of such motifs. As a test reaction, the corresponding monomer and dimer have been synthesized with an excellent yield and fully characterized. Their X-ray structures have even been determined, giving interesting information about their configuration. A more general strategy has then been developed and optimized for the systematic synthesis of longer oligomers of twisted nanoribbons. Using this technique, the trimer and tetramer have been synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry.

L'azote est essentiel au développement de toutes les cellules vivantes. Il est un des facteurs limitant de la croissance végétale. La seule source d'azote abondante est l'atmosphère contenant 80 % de diazote mais cette forme n'est assimilable que par certains procaryotes. Ces microorganismes sont capables de fixer l'azote atmosphérique sous leur forme libre ou en symbiose avec des plantes. Ainsi, ils fournissent à leur plante partenaire des substrats azotés, sous forme d'ammoniaque, tandis qu'en retour celle-ci fournit à la bactérie des substrats carbonés issus de sa photosynthèse. Il s'agit d'une association à bénéfices réciproques. Il existe deux grands types de symbiose fixatrice d'azote : la symbiose rhizobienne, impliquant diverses Protéobactéries et la symbiose actinorhizienne impliquant une Actinobactérie, Frankia. Les bactéries pénètrent les cellules des plantes pour former un nouvel organe, la nodosité dans laquelle va avoir lieu la fixation d'azote. Les bases moléculaires à l'origine de la symbiose rhizobienne sont très bien caractérisées tandis que celles de la symbiose actinorhizienne restent en grande partie inconnue, de par l'absence d'outils génétiques. Toutefois, les premières étapes de mise en place de la symbiose présentent des similarités. Les deux bactéries sont capables d'induire la déformation du poil racinaire en sécrétant un facteur déformant, le facteur Nod pour la plupart des symbioses rhizobiennes et un facteur encore non caractérisé dans le cas de la symbiose actinorhizienne. La problématique de mes travaux de thèse est de savoir si le dialogue moléculaire s'établissant entre la plante et la bactérie est basé sur des composants universels. Ce travail a utilisé deux approches. Une approche ciblée visait à mettre en évidence la fonction. Une approche non-ciblée par le biais des puces transcriptomiques chez Frankia a permis de comparer l'expression génétique entre des conditions de vie libre et des conditions de vie symbiotique. Enfin, une dernière approche a concerné les composés aromatiques chez Frankia. Il s'agissait d'établir si Frankia était capable de cataboliser différents composés aromatiques. En effet, beaucoup d'entre eux sont impliqués dans les interactions plante-bactérie, notamment dans les réactions de défense de la plante / Nitrogen is essential for cells development. It's one of the limiting factors of plant growth. The only abundant source of this component is the atmosphere which contains 80 % of dinitrogen, but this form can only be assimilated by some prokaryotes. These microorganisms are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen under freeliving condition or in symbiosis with some plants. Thus, they provide nitrogen substrates to the plant in the form of ammonium, and in return the plant provides carbon substrates from photosynthesis. It is an association with reciprocal profits for both partners. There are two major nitrogen-fixing symbioses: rhizobial symbiosis, which involves various Proteobacteria and actinorhizal symbiosis, which involves the Actinobacterium, Frankia. Bacteria enter plant root cells and develop a new organ, the nodule where nitrogen fixation takes place. Molecular bases are well characterized for rhizobial symbiosis, whereas little is known about the actinorhizal symbiosis. This fact is in part due to absence of genetic tools for Frankia. However, early steps of the interaction show some similarities. These two bacteria are able to induce root hair deformation by secreting a deforming factor, Nod factor in most rhizobial symbioses and a noncharacterized factor in the actinorhizal symbiosis. The aim of this thesis was to determine if molecular dialogue between plant and bacteria is based on universal components. This work used two approaches. One was targeted on nodC-like gene from Frankia alni ACN14a. We tried to characterize their function. Another used trancriptomic microarrays in Frankia. This technique allowed us to compare transcripts from 2 conditions: free-living cells and symbiosis. A last approach focused on aromatic compounds in Frankia. We wanted to determine if Frankia was able to use different aromatic compounds to grow. Indeed, a lot of aromatic compounds are involved in plant-bacteria interaction such as plant defense

Die Toluol-Dioxygenase von Pseudomonas putida F1 ist eine Rieske-Dioxygenase und besteht aus Reduktase-, Ferredoxin- und Oxygenase-Komponente. Sie katalysiert den ersten Schritt im aeroben Abbau von Toluol. Ein effizienter Elektronentransfer zur terminalen Oxygenase-Komponente - an der die Sauerstoffaktivierung und Umwandlung von Toluol zum cis-Toluol-Dihydrodiol stattfindet - setzt eine reibungslose Interaktion aller Komponenten voraus. Die Ergebnisse der Stopped-flow-Messungen in der reduktiven Halbreaktion zeigen, dass NADH die Reduktase mittels Hydridtransfer reduziert, wodurch ein stabiler Ladungstransfer-Komplex zwischen NAD+ und FADH- entsteht. In der oxidativen Halbreaktion wird dieser dann durch einen Elektronenakzeptor über das blaue Semichinon zum Chinon oxidiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Ladungstransfer-Komplex die Reaktion der Reduktase mit Sauerstoff unterdrückt. Eine Erklärung hierfür liefert die Kristallstruktur des Ladungstransfer-Komplexes. Die Reaktion mit Sauerstoff wird dadurch unterdrückt, dass das NAD+ koplanar mit dem Isoalloxazinring ist und den reaktiven N5-C4a Teil des FADs schützt und zudem den Isoalloxazinring in eine planare, weniger sauerstoffempfindliche Konformation zwängt. Durch die Bildung des Reduktase-Ferredoxin-Komplexes wird ein effizienter Elektronentransfer folgendermaßen ermöglicht: a) das Ferredoxin bindet an die Reduktase aufgrund elektrostatischer Anziehung entgegengesetzter Oberflächenladungen beider Proteine, b) die hydrophobe Region, die die beiden Redoxzentren umgibt, fungiert als Ein- und Ausgang für Elektronen und c) die geringe Entfernung von 11.7 Å zwischen beiden Kofaktoren erlaubt einen schnellen Elektronentransfer. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass der Elektronentransfer zwischen Reduktase und Ferredoxin durch die Bildung eines stabilen Ladungstransfer- und Reduktase- Ferredoxin-Komplexes beeinflusst wird und dadurch das Problem einer ungewollten Reaktion mit Sauerstoff umgangen wird. / The toluene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida F1 is a three-component Rieske non-heme iron dioxygenase comprising of a reductase, ferredoxin and an oxygenase component. It catalyzes the initial step in the aerobic degradation of toluene to cis-toluene dihydrodiol. A smooth interaction between all three components needs to be ensured to efficiently transfer the electrons derived from NADH oxidation to the terminal oxygenase component where molecular oxygen is activated and used for the hydroxylation of toluene. The results of the kinetic studies of the reductive half reaction of reductase reveal that NADH reduces the reductase, resulting in the formation of a stable charge transfer complex between NAD+ and FADH-. Oxidation of the charge transfer complex by an electron acceptor proceeds via the neutral semiquinone to the quinone state of FAD. It is shown that the charge transfer complex suppresses the reaction of the reductase with dioxygen. An explanation for this change in reactivity can be deduced from the structure of the charge transfer complex. Its slower reaction with dioxygen results from NAD+ lying coplanar with the FAD shielding its reactive N5-C4a locus and the forced planarity of the isoalloxazine ring. The formation of the reductase-ferredoxin complex allows efficient electron transfer from reductase to ferredoxin because a) the oppositely charged interacting surfaces of both proteins facilitate the pre-orientation of the ferredoxin on the reductase, b) a hydrophobic region surrounding the two redox centers in the complex acts as an exit/entrance port for electrons and c) the short edge-to-edge distance between both cofactors of 11.7 Å guarantees a fast electron transfer. The results demonstrate that the electron transfer between reductase and ferredoxin is governed by the formation of a stable charge transfer and of a reductase-ferredoxin complex with which the problem of an unwanted side reaction with dioxygen is obviated.