The increasing use of non-sustainable materials in technology has led to severe environmental consequences, prompting a global search for more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Clay, with its low cost, non-toxicity, recyclability, natural abundance, and versatile properties, has emerged as a beacon of hope for a greener future. Since prehistoric times, clay has found extensive use in the pharmaceutical, petroleum, biomedical, and energy industries. Its high surface area, cation exchange capacity, intrinsic porosity, and ease of functionalization make it a versatile and sustainable choice for a variety of applications. The dissertation focuses on synthesizing hybrid clays functionalized with zwitterionic molecules for antimicrobial and ionic membrane applications. It also studies the rheological properties of bentonite clay modified with betaines of different carbon chain lengths. The research aims to investigate the flow and stability of these functionalized clays. In addition, it offers valuable insights into how carbon chain length and pH affect the rheological properties of clays. This is followed by engineering pathogen-resistant clay composites embedded with antimicrobial agents like silver ions and terbinafine hydrochloride against pathogens (viz. S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans). Another part of the dissertation focuses on developing and investigating flexible and durable betaine-functionalized clay membranes as ion-conducting separators for batteries and fuel cells. The low-cost membranes exhibit excellent ionic conductivity, chemical-thermal stability, recyclability, and ease of engineering making them an exceptional material for such applications. Overall, this dissertation presents a comprehensive study of the structure-property relationship of hybrid clays, bridging the fields of chemistry, materials engineering, electrochemistry, and biology. The research is poised to inspire the scientific and industrial communities with the potential of novel clay-based materials, encouraging them to embrace cleaner technologies and reduce their carbon footprints.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). "20-July-2006." Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

Homocysteine, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is methylated in the liver via the zinc metalloenzyme betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT). Established assays for BHMT include a radiochemical assay, a colorometric assay, an HPLC assay and an in vivo microbiological assay. These techniques are either unsuitable for substrate specificity studies, or are unable to give kinetic measurements. BHMT was purified from liver and measured directly and kinetically by a novel ¹H-NMR spectroscopic assay. The disappearance of substrates and the formation of products are monitored simultaneously. Using 2 mM glycine betaine and homocysteine as substrates in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH = 7.5) and measuring the production of N,N-dimethylglycine the CV is 6.3% (n = 6) and the detection limit is 6 nkatal. An endpoint assay for BHMT activity was also developed and had CV = 5.3%, n = 6, with a detection limit of 2 nkatal. The NMR spectroscopic assay was used to determine the substrate specificity with a library of alternative substrates. Analysis of betaine analogues with different chain length, α-substitution, substitution of the nitrogen and carboxyl moieties demonstrated that BHMT is inactive if there is any steric crowding of the nitrogen or α-carbon positions. BHMT is capable of using group VI heteroatom betaines as methyl donors, with much faster rates than glycine betaine. For glycine betaine the Km was 0.19 ± 0.03 mM with a Vmax of 17 ± 0.7 nMol min-1 mg-1. The same assay was used to detect and partially characterise a BHMT activity from hagfish liver that is similar to that of the mammalian enzyme. NMR spectroscopy was adapted for measurements of glycine betaine in urine, along with other medically significant methylamines. These were shown to be valid for clinical use and in animal studies. A novel metabolite of the sulfonium analogue of glycine betaine (methylsulfinylmethanoate) was identified in rats.

Homocysteine, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is methylated in the liver via the zinc metalloenzyme betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT). Established assays for BHMT include a radiochemical assay, a colorometric assay, an HPLC assay and an in vivo microbiological assay. These techniques are either unsuitable for substrate specificity studies, or are unable to give kinetic measurements. BHMT was purified from liver and measured directly and kinetically by a novel ¹H-NMR spectroscopic assay. The disappearance of substrates and the formation of products are monitored simultaneously. Using 2 mM glycine betaine and homocysteine as substrates in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH = 7.5) and measuring the production of N,N-dimethylglycine the CV is 6.3% (n = 6) and the detection limit is 6 nkatal. An endpoint assay for BHMT activity was also developed and had CV = 5.3%, n = 6, with a detection limit of 2 nkatal. The NMR spectroscopic assay was used to determine the substrate specificity with a library of alternative substrates. Analysis of betaine analogues with different chain length, α-substitution, substitution of the nitrogen and carboxyl moieties demonstrated that BHMT is inactive if there is any steric crowding of the nitrogen or α-carbon positions. BHMT is capable of using group VI heteroatom betaines as methyl donors, with much faster rates than glycine betaine. For glycine betaine the Km was 0.19 ± 0.03 mM with a Vmax of 17 ± 0.7 nMol min-1 mg-1. The same assay was used to detect and partially characterise a BHMT activity from hagfish liver that is similar to that of the mammalian enzyme. NMR spectroscopy was adapted for measurements of glycine betaine in urine, along with other medically significant methylamines. These were shown to be valid for clinical use and in animal studies. A novel metabolite of the sulfonium analogue of glycine betaine (methylsulfinylmethanoate) was identified in rats.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2002--Berlin.

In the developing mouse oocyte, as well as in the preimplantation embryo, betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) plays an important role first as a mechanism for cell volume regulation and second as a major methyl donor. Thus, the presence of betaine has implications both during development, and throughout the lifespan. It has previously been observed that betaine accumulates in the mouse oocyte as it matures, however its origin in the egg is unknown. Here I explore the enzyme choline dehydrogenase (CHDH; EC 1.199.1) as a method by which the mouse oocyte synthesizes the betaine that we observe prior to initiation transport activity in the preimplantation embryo. I carefully monitored betaine transport throughout meiotic maturation to confirm that no other previously unobserved membrane transport existed in the maturing oocyte. However, no betaine transport into oocytes was detected during meiotic maturation suggesting de novo synthesis. Previous data suggests that the enzyme is expressed (at the transcript level) in the developing oocyte, and becomes active during meiotic maturation. I demonstrated the presence of CHDH protein in the oocyte and preimplantation embryo. I then examined whether the mouse oocyte synthesizes betaine autonomously and addressed whether CHDH is a requirement for this process. Chdh knockout oocytes did not accumulate betaine in vivo, while normal betaine levels were observed in Chdh wildtype oocytes. CHDH-mediated synthesis of betaine was directly confirmed by detection of increased betaine in oocytes matured in vitro in the presence of choline. Chdh-/- oocytes failed to produce betaine when similarly cultured in choline. This establishes the production of betaine as an autonomous process in maturing oocytes. Overall, I have built upon previous data to demonstrate that betaine accumulation is a feature of meiotic maturation that occurs by de novo synthesis of the molecule, a process that requires transient activation of the enzyme choline dehydrogenase.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:53:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 martin_lc_me_botib.pdf: 1513851 bytes, checksum: b337e010131dce6a4e203f7b96730b8f (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Estresses abióticos, como a seca, podem reduzir significativamente os rendimentos no cultivo de espécies comercialmente importantes, tais como o eucalipto na produção de celulose e papel. Quando submetidas às condições de déficit hídrico, as plantas desenvolvem alguns mecanismos de defesa. As betaínas participam destes mecanismos, sendo seu soluto mais comum a glicina betaína. Esta é uma amina quaternária distribuída extensamente em diversas espécies de plantas superiores, sintetizada em elevadas taxas, tendo como função, manter a turgescência celular. A identificação e estudo de genes relacionados à tolerância à seca são importantes para os programas de melhoramento florestal. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) no gene colina monooxigenase relacionado ao metabolismo da glicina betaína em Eucalyptus. A sequência do gene em estudo foi encontrada em genomas de plantas modelos através do banco de dados GenBank, sendo as mesmas, utilizadas para a procura de similaridades no banco de dados de ESTs de eucalipto FORESTs – FAPESP. Após a constatação de homologia no banco de dados de eucalipto, foram confeccionados oito pares de “primers” para flanquear essas regiões, sendo estes, avaliados, amplificando fragmentos únicos. Depois de realizado o seqüenciamento do gene colina monooxigenase, foi utilizado a ferramenta BLAST no GenBank, confirmando com sucesso a identidade da sequência. Em seguida, as sequências foram alinhadas e os SNPs encontrados. No total, foram identificados 49 SNPs, sendo 12 em regiões codificantes e 37 em regiões UTRs e íntrons. Somente os SNPs localizados nas regiões codificantes foram utilizados neste trabalho, sendo 83,3% deles possuindo mutações sinônimas e 16,7% não-sinônimas. Em seguida, foi utilizada uma população mais abrangente composta de E. grandis... / Abiotic stress, such as drought, can reduce significantly the yield in the important commercially species crop, such as the eucalyptus in the cellulose and paper. When submitted to the water stress conditions, the plants develop some defense mechanisms. The betaines are part of these mechanisms , being their solute more common to the glycine betaine. This is a quaternary amine extensively distributed in several species of higher plants synthesized in high taxes with the function of maintaining the cellular turgescence. Identifying and studying the genes related to the drought tolerance are important for the forest improvement programs. This work aimed at identifying SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in choline monooxygenase related to the glycine betaine in Eucalyptus. The gene sequence was found in model plants genomes through the databank GenBank, being used for searching similarities in the databank ESTs of eucalyptus FORESTs – FAPESP. After noticing homology in the eucalyptus databank, eight pairs of primers were made to amplify these regions, being evaluated, amplifying unique fragments. After the choline monooxygenase sequencing was performed, it was used the BLAST in the GenBank, confirming successfully the sequence identity. Then, the sequences were aligned and the SNPs were found. In the total, 49 SNPs were identified, being 12 in coding regions and 37 in UTRs and intron regions. Only the SNPs located in coding regions were used in this work, being 83.3% of the SNPs with synonymous mutation and 16.7% non-synonymous. Following, it was used a wider population made up of de E. grandis, E. Urophylla and the hybrid “Urograndis” to perform the SNPs genotyping, establishing the formation of 18 haplotypes and 16 possible haplotypical combinations which revealed that some genotypes were exclusive for the species E. grandis and E. urophylla. With the objective of decreasing costs... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

A novel technique comprising solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography has been developed to analyse the three methylamines (monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine) at the concentrations expected in seawater. The volatility of the methylamines was exploited and allowed the headspace pre-concentration and gas chromatographic separation of the analytes. This method achieved limits of detection of 0.43 nmol dm-3, 2.50 nmol dm-3 and 0.37 nmol dm-3 for monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine, respectively, which are lower than any previously reported for seawater. This technique was applied to natural samples collected from the Western English Channel (WEC) and the methylamines were successfully quantified. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyse glycine betaine in marine particulates. The volume filtered during sample collection was found to be critical in achieving accurate measurements of glycine betaine. Large filter volumes (1 L) significantly decreased observed concentrations compared to smaller volumes, and 10 mL was the optimised amount filtered. The difference in concentrations was attributed to large water volumes causing cell damage and loss of glycine betaine to the dissolved phase. Cell resilience was thought to play a role in the differences observed; for example, diatoms with their rigid silica cell walls were hypothesised to be more resilient to filtration stress. A seasonal study was carried out in the WEC using both 1 L and 10 mL samples and maximum glycine betaine concentrations were 50 nmol dm-3 and 484 nmol dm-3 in the 1 L and 10 mL samples, respectively. The latter concentrations were more than an order of magnitude higher than all previous measurements. Seasonality was observed and a significant correlation was found with chlorophyll a. Statistics were applied to the phytoplankton biomass data and contributions from specific phytoplankton taxa were identified, including from Prorocentrum minimum and Chaetoceros socialis.

Orientador: Celso Luís Marino / Banca: Rinaldo César de Paula / Banca: Ivan de Godoy Maia / Resumo: Estresses abióticos, como a seca, podem reduzir significativamente os rendimentos no cultivo de espécies comercialmente importantes, tais como o eucalipto na produção de celulose e papel. Quando submetidas às condições de déficit hídrico, as plantas desenvolvem alguns mecanismos de defesa. As betaínas participam destes mecanismos, sendo seu soluto mais comum a glicina betaína. Esta é uma amina quaternária distribuída extensamente em diversas espécies de plantas superiores, sintetizada em elevadas taxas, tendo como função, manter a turgescência celular. A identificação e estudo de genes relacionados à tolerância à seca são importantes para os programas de melhoramento florestal. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) no gene colina monooxigenase relacionado ao metabolismo da glicina betaína em Eucalyptus. A sequência do gene em estudo foi encontrada em genomas de plantas modelos através do banco de dados GenBank, sendo as mesmas, utilizadas para a procura de similaridades no banco de dados de ESTs de eucalipto FORESTs - FAPESP. Após a constatação de homologia no banco de dados de eucalipto, foram confeccionados oito pares de "primers" para flanquear essas regiões, sendo estes, avaliados, amplificando fragmentos únicos. Depois de realizado o seqüenciamento do gene colina monooxigenase, foi utilizado a ferramenta BLAST no GenBank, confirmando com sucesso a identidade da sequência. Em seguida, as sequências foram alinhadas e os SNPs encontrados. No total, foram identificados 49 SNPs, sendo 12 em regiões codificantes e 37 em regiões UTRs e íntrons. Somente os SNPs localizados nas regiões codificantes foram utilizados neste trabalho, sendo 83,3% deles possuindo mutações sinônimas e 16,7% não-sinônimas. Em seguida, foi utilizada uma população mais abrangente composta de E. grandis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Abiotic stress, such as drought, can reduce significantly the yield in the important commercially species crop, such as the eucalyptus in the cellulose and paper. When submitted to the water stress conditions, the plants develop some defense mechanisms. The betaines are part of these mechanisms , being their solute more common to the glycine betaine. This is a quaternary amine extensively distributed in several species of higher plants synthesized in high taxes with the function of maintaining the cellular turgescence. Identifying and studying the genes related to the drought tolerance are important for the forest improvement programs. This work aimed at identifying SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in choline monooxygenase related to the glycine betaine in Eucalyptus. The gene sequence was found in model plants genomes through the databank GenBank, being used for searching similarities in the databank ESTs of eucalyptus FORESTs - FAPESP. After noticing homology in the eucalyptus databank, eight pairs of primers were made to amplify these regions, being evaluated, amplifying unique fragments. After the choline monooxygenase sequencing was performed, it was used the BLAST in the GenBank, confirming successfully the sequence identity. Then, the sequences were aligned and the SNPs were found. In the total, 49 SNPs were identified, being 12 in coding regions and 37 in UTRs and intron regions. Only the SNPs located in coding regions were used in this work, being 83.3% of the SNPs with synonymous mutation and 16.7% non-synonymous. Following, it was used a wider population made up of de E. grandis, E. Urophylla and the hybrid "Urograndis" to perform the SNPs genotyping, establishing the formation of 18 haplotypes and 16 possible haplotypical combinations which revealed that some genotypes were exclusive for the species E. grandis and E. urophylla. With the objective of decreasing costs... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre