Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder and the characteristic symptoms (re-experiencing, avoidance as well as numbing of general responsiveness and hyperarousal) of this disorder develop in response to a traumatic event. The disorder is characterised by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities linked with changes in cortisol moreover, the hippocampus and cortex also play a role in the neurobiology. With regard to the neurochemistry of this disorder it is known that gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is involved however, the precise role of GABA in PTSD and how stress changes GABA concentrations in the brain are still not fully understood. Another aspect regarding PTSD that has not been clearly defined is the treatment of PTSD. Classic anxiolytics such as diazepam is expected to relieve the anxiety linked with PTSD. Studies with this group of drugs have however not produced the concrete evidence needed to establish it as a treatment of choice for PTSD and subsequently other classes of drugs have been investigated as possible treatment options for PTSD. Among these is lamotrigine, which in a clinical study was found to be effective in alleviating symptoms of PTSD. Moreover, a possible pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship for each of these drugs has also not been elucidated. In order to elude on some of these uncertainties, an animal model of PTSD, time dependent sensitisation (TDS), was used. GABA levels in the rat hippocampus and frontal cortex were determined at two different time intervals following the TDS procedure (1 day and 7 days post re-stress). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical (EC) detection was used to determine gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) concentrations. To investigate the possible anxiolytic effects of diazepam and lamotrigine in this model, as well as a possible pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship for each drug, pharmacokinetic profiles for both drugs were established in order to find the times of peak and trough levels of each drug. Blood samples were collected at different time intervals after drug administration either from the tail vein of rats (lamotrigine) or directly from the heart (diazepam). Subsequently, drug concentrations at each time interval were determined by means of HPLC with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The behaviour of rats was analysed using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) at peak or trough concentrations of the drugs and this was performed after either acute administration of the drug, or after a 14 day chronic treatment regime. GABA levels in the hippocampus were not found to change statistically significantly in response to stress at either 1 day or 7 days post re-stress. In the frontal cortex, however, GABA levels increased in response to stress at 1 day post re-stress, with a statistically insignificant, but strong trend towards an increase, at 7 days post re-stress. With regard to the pharmacokinetic profiles, the peak concentration of diazepam was found to occur at 60 minutes, with lamotrigine's peak at 120 minutes. The behavioural studies indicated that acute treatment with diazepam 3 mg/kg resulted in a statistically significant increase in both ratio open arm entries and ratio time spent in the open arms at peak level of the drug. After acute treatment with diazepam 3 mg/kg a statistically significant decrease in ratio time spent in open arms was also found when the ratio time spent in open arms at peak level of the drug and the ratio time spent in open arms at trough level of the drug was compared. In response to chronic treatment with diazepam 3 mg/kg for 14 days, test animals exhibited an increase in the ratio open arm entries at trough level of the drug, with a statistically insignificant yet definite trend towards an increase at peak level. Acute treatment with lamotrigine 10 mg/kg resulted in no statistically significant change in EPM parameters. In response to chronic treatment, however, a statistically significant increase was found in ratio time spent in open arms at peak level of the drug, with a statistically insignificant trend towards an increase at trough level. From the results of this study, we may therefore conclude that GABA-levels in the brain are definitely affected, but in different ways, following TDS-stress. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship between the drugs' levels and aversive behaviour could also be established. Furthermore it appears that more sustained anxiolytic effects are evident following chronic treatment with both drugs than with acute administration of these drugs. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

Myopia is a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces images focused in front of the retina. Myopia can be artificially induced in animal models by form deprivation (form deprivation myopia, FDM) or by application of negative lenses (lens induced myopia, LIM). In this study myopia was induced using diffusers. The project had two main aims: 1. To determine if there is an interaction between the GABAergic system and dopaminergic system in the retina in terms of myopia? 2. To determine if there is an interaction between the GABAergic system and cholinergic system in the retina in terms of myopia? Firstly, an experiment focusing on the interaction between dopaminergic receptors antagonists and GABAC receptor antagonist was developed. Comparison of the different drug treated eye with the control was found and the effects of combination injections were compared to individual drug injections. Use of different blockers for various subtype of receptors simplified the understandings the underlying pharmacological interventions for GABAC receptor antagonist TPMPA. The D1 subtype of receptors was found to be involved in transmission of signals from GABAC receptors. Our results showed that D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 antagonizes the actions of TPMPA. In addition to this it was also found that possibly 5HT receptor may also play an important role in modulation of signaling from GABA receptor to dopaminergic receptors in the retina. These results were consistent with the drug combination effects for agonists. GABA A/C receptor agonist muscimol negativate the efficacy of D1 receptor agonist SKF-38393 but the activity of D2/4 receptor agonist quinpirole was not affected by muscimol. Although dopaminergic receptors are found to interact with GABAergic signaling, but an alternative interaction with anticholinergic (most widely studied antimyopic agents) could not be ruled out. This problem led to a follow-up experiment, in which GABA receptors intervention in anticholinergic agents was studied. The GABAergic receptor agonist muscimol when injected with anticholinergics (atropine and pirenzepine) showed a moderate interaction. As muscimol interacted with atropine to a lesser extent a more specific M1/5 receptor antagonist pirenzepine (earlier found to inhibit myopia) was used under these circumstances. The second aim to study the interaction between muscimol and pirenzepine showed more interaction with GABAA/C receptor agonist. There were data suggesting that there is a muscarinic and GABAergic interaction in retina, such that each modulation of each receptor had an effect on FDM. However, a drug combination treatment helped in understanding the underlying mechanism. Several previous studies have indicated that there exist a strong interaction between excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine and inhibitory transmitter GABA in retina. The results of this study indicate a similar finding. Thus results of this study may be summarized as: 1. D1 antagonists and not D2 antagonists blocks the antimyopic effects of GABAC antagonist TPMPA 2. GABA A/C agonist muscimol partially blocks the antimyopic activity of anticholinergics (e.g. atropine and pirenzepine).

The rescue of selected adult plants and the renewing of explants constitute the greatest challenge to enable the clonal propagation of mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.). The objectives of this study were to identify and separate clones of the clonal garden by RAPD markers and to evaluate the effect of different doses of indol butyric acid (IBA) on rooting of cuttings and minicuttings of different clones of mate. Three experiments were carried out. The first, young leaves of ten clones had the DNA extracted for testing RAPD markers. The second, new shoots of stump of four clones were used to set up one bud cuttings with one half leaf. The third experiment, rooted cuttings of 20 year-old-trees were used to set up a clonal minigarden to collect minicuttings of one bud and one half leaf. All cuttings and minicuttings were treated with different doses of IBA. The RAPD technique is successful for clone separation and identification, being the primers OPP-03, OPP-06, OPP-15 and OPP-16 the most polymorphic. Single bud cuttings of new sprouts from stumps of some mate clones are capable of rooting, without the need of indole butyric acid. The clones FO10 and FO52 have different capability for rooting. Minicuttings of the clone FO10 root without indol butyric acid. / O resgate de plantas adultas selecionadas e o rejuvenescimento dos propágulos se constituem no maior desafio para viabilizar a clonagem massal da erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.). Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar e separar clones que compõem o jardim clonal por meio de marcadores RAPD e avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de ácido indol butírico (AIB) no enraizamento de estacas e miniestacas de diferentes clones de erva-mate. Para tanto foram realizados três experimentos. No primeiro, folhas jovens de dez clones tiveram o DNA extraído para testar marcadores RAPD. No segundo, brotações de cepas de quatro clones foram utilizadas para preparar estacas de gema única, com folha cortada pela metade. No terceiro experimento, estacas enraizadas de árvores com 20 anos de idade foram utilizadas para a formação de um minijardim clonal e produção de miniestacas com gema única e uma folha cortada pela metade. Para o enraizamento, tanto as estacas quanto as miniestacas foram tratadas com diferentes doses de AIB. A técnica RAPD é eficaz para a separação de clones de erva-mate, sendo que os iniciadores OPP-03, OPP-06, OPP-15 e OPP-16 foram os mais polimórficos. Estacas de gema única de brotações oriundas da decepa de alguns clones de erva-mate são competentes para o enraizamento, o que dispensa o uso de ácido indol butírico. Os clones FO10 e FO52 diferem quanto a competência ao enraizamento das miniestacas. O enraizamento de miniestacas do clone FO10 ocorre sem a aplicação de ácido indol butírico.

Orientador: Sandra Imaculada Maintinguer / Resumo: A bioconversão de diferentes materiais orgânicos em hidrogênio é uma tecnologia sustentável. Inóculos de climas tropicais, como o Brasil, com temperaturas médias de 25°C podem favorecer o crescimento bacteriano. A geração de hidrogênio com consórcios bacterianos têm vantagens sobre culturas puras quanto aplicado no tratamento de águas residuárias. O hidrogênio pode ser gerado em duas fases durante os processos anaeróbios. Em primeiro lugar, hidrogênio e ácidos orgânicos podem ser produzidos por processos fermentativos. Esses ácidos gerados podem ser usados por bactérias fotoheterotróficas na segunda fase, durante a operação dos reatores anaeróbios na presença de luz. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial de produção hidrogênio a partir de resíduos orgânicos por consórcios de bactérias fotoheterotróficas. Foram feitos 12 ensaios (I-XII) separadamente, em triplicatas de reatores anaeróbios em batelada, em meio de cultivo Rhodospirillaceae, headspace N2 (100%), pH 7.0+1, a 37ºC. Foram comprovados os efeitos com duas potências de intensidade de luz (8,8±1 e 18,5±1 W/m2) e diferentes concentrações de ácidos butírico, acético, além de efluentes de processos fermentativos procedentes de glicerol bruto e águas residuárias citrícolas. As condições ótimas para a produção de hidrogênio foram de 18.5±1 W/m2 de intensidade de luz e 1.7 g/L para o ácido acético (II), 1.0 g/L para o ácido butírico (V), 1.0 g de COD/L de glicerol efluente (IX), e 0.5 g de DQO/L para o efluente de á... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The bioconversion of different organic materials to hydrogen is a sustainable technology. Inocula from tropical climates such as Brazil which average temperatures around 25°C may favour the bacterial growth. Hydrogen generation with bacterial consortia have advantages over pure cultures regarding application to wastewater treatment. The hydrogen can be generates in two stages during the anaerobic processes. Firstly, hydrogen and organic acids can be produced by dark fermentation. The acids generated during the first stage of the fermentation process can be used by phototrophic bacteria in the second stage during the operation of anaerobic batch reactors on the light presence. The aim of this study was evaluate the hydrogen producing potential from organic wastes by phototrophic bacterial consortia. Assays (I - XII) were made separately in triplicates of anaerobic batch reactors, Rhodospirillaceae medium (Chi Mei Lee, 2005), headspace with N2 (100%), pH 7.0+1, at 37oC. Effects with two potencies of light intensity (8.8±1 and 18.5±1 W/m2 ) and different concentrations of butyric acid, acetic acid and dark fermentation effluents from crude glycerol and citrus wastewaters were optimized. The optimal conditions for hydrogen production from phototrophic consortia were 18.5±1 W/m2 of light intensity and 1.7 g/L for acetic acid (II), 1.0 g/L for butyric acid (V), 1.0 g COD/L for Glycerol effluent (IX), and 0.5 g COD/L for citrus wastewater effluent (XII). Under the optimum conditions... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The paper analyzes the factors affecting the quality and nutritive value of wilted grasssilage. Grass silage sample were collected in the operating conditions for the firstmowing. Three groups were formed after 12 samples. The first group was the controlwithout using preservatives. The sekond group were included in the silage treated withbacterial agents. The third group included the bacterial-enzymetreated silage additives. There were no statistically signifiant differences in lactic acid kontent (P < 0.05) andvalues of thedegree of proteolysis (P < 0.05) between the kontrol group without the useof silage additives and the group, which was used for bacterial and bacterial-enzyme additives.

O câncer de mama é a principal causa de morte por neoplasias em mulheres no mundo. Nutrientes, como vitamina A (VA) e ácido butírico (AB) podem modular a carcinogênese por meio de mecanismos epigenéticos, como acetilação de histonas e metilação do DNA. A associação de agentes desmetilantes do DNA e inibidores de desacetilases de histonas representa estratégia promissora para controle do câncer, inclusive de mama. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da administração de vitamina A e ácido butírico, isolados ou em associação, em células de adenocarcinoma mamário humano da linhagem MCF-7. Para tanto, em células MCF-7, tratadas com VA (10 &#181;M) e/ou AB (1mM) durante diferentes períodos, foram avaliados: crescimento celular, padrão de acetilação de histonas e de metilação global do DNA; expressão dos genes RAR&#946; e CRBP-I, padrão de metilação da região promotora do gene RAR&#946; e concentração celular de retinóides. Em comparação ao controle, representado por células MCF-7 não tratadas com as substâncias, o tratamento com VA e AB associados, mas não isolados, resultou em inibição significativa do crescimento de células MCF-7 (p>0,05) após período de 120hs. Nesse caso, observaram-se inibições do crescimento de 10%, 34% e 46% para os tratamentos com VA, AB e VA+AB, respectivamente. Em comparação ao controle, AB e associação de VA+AB, mas não VA isolada, aumentaram (p<0,05) o nível de acetilação de H3K9, mas não de H4K16, após 96hs de tratamento, não se verificando diferenças (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos com AB e VA+AB. VA e AB, isolados ou em associação, não alteraram (p>0,05) o padrão de metilação global do DNA e nem a expressão do gene CRBP-I, em comparação ao controle. AB e associação de VA+AB, mas não VA isolada, aumentaram (p<0,05) a expressão do gene RAR&#946; após 120hs de tratamento, em comparação ao controle, não se verificando diferenças (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos com AB e VA+AB. Células MCF-7 tratadas ou não com VA e AB, isolados ou em associação, apresentaram promotor do gene RAR&#946; predominantemente metilado e níveis não detectáveis de palmitato de retinila. Em comparação ao controle, apenas o tratamento com VA isolada aumentou (p<0,05) da concentração de retinol após 120hs. Com base nos resultados, a associação de VA e AB resultou em efeito inibitório aditivo do crescimento de células MCF-7. Acetilação de histonas H3K9, mas não de H4K16 e metilação do DNA, parece representar alvo epigenético do AB. Aumento da expressão do gene supressor de tumor RAR&#946; parece estar envolvido na inibição do crescimento de células MCF-7 pelo AB. O gene CRBP-I não parece estar envolvido na inibição do crescimento de células MCF-7 pela VA e AB, isolados ou em associação. Ausência de esterificação do retinol em células MCF-7 tratadas ou não com VA e AB, isolados ou em associação, parece se relacionar à expressão reduzida do gene CRBP-1. / Breast cancer is the leading cause of deaths among women diagnosed with neoplasia worldwide. Nutrients such as vitamin A (VA) and butyric acid (BA) may modulate carcinogenesis through epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone acetylation and DNA methylation. The combination of DNA demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors represent a promising strategy for cancer control, including breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of administration of vitamin A and butyric acid, isolated or combined, on MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. For this, the following parameters were evaluated in MCF-7 cells treated for different periods with VA (10 &#181;M) and/or BA (1 mM): cell growth, histone acetylation status, global DNA methylation pattern, RAR&#946; and CRBP-I gene expression, RAR&#946; promoter methylation status, and cellular concentration of retinoids. Compared to controls, represented by untreated MCF-7 cells, treatment with VA and BA combined, but not isolated, significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells after 120hs. In this case, 10%, 34% and 46% growth inhibitions were observed after treatment with VA, BA and VA+BA, respectively. Compared to controls, BA and its association with VA, but not VA isolated, increased (p<0.05) acetylation level of H3K9, but not of H4K16, after 96hs; no differences were observed between treatments with BA and VA+BA. VA and BA, isolated or combined, did not alter (p>0.05) global DNA methylation pattern and CRBP-I gene expression, compared to controls. BA and its association with VA, but not VA isolated, increased RAR&#946; gene expression after 120hs, compared to controls; no differences were observed between treatments with BA and VA+BA. MCF-7 cells, treated or not with VA and BA, isolated or combined, presented RAR&#946; promoter predominantly methylated and undetectable levels of retinyl palmitate. Compared to controls, only treatment with VA isolated increased (p<0.05) cellular retinol concentration after 120hs. Based on these data, association between VA and BA resulted in additive inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell growth. Acetylation of H3K9, but not of H4K16, seems to represent a BA epigenetic target. Increased expression of tumor suppressor gene RAR&#946; seems to be involved in BA inhibitory action on MCF-7 cell growth. Neither CRBP-I gene nor global DNA methylation seem to be involved in VA and/or BA inhibitory actions on MCF-7 cell growth. Lack of retinol esterification in MCF-7 cells treated or not with VA and BA, isolated or combined, could be related to reduced CRBP-I gene expression.

Nessa pesquisa avaliou-se a produção fermentativa de hidrogênio e ácidos orgânicos a partir do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (BCA) usado como substrato em reatores em batelada. Três condições de pré-tratamento (hidrotérmico, autoclave e hidrotérmico mais autoclave) do BCA e condição in natura foram avaliadas a fim de favorecer a produção de hidrogênio. Verificou-se produção molar de hidrogênio de 3,79 mmol/L, 3,47 mmol/L, 1,67 mmol/L e 1,01 mmol/L para BCA autoclavado, BCA in natura, BCA pré-tratado em sistema hidrotérmico e BCA pré-tratado em sistema hidrotérmico seguido de autoclave, respectivamente. A partir desses valores, optou-se por usar o BCA autoclavado como substrato para otimização da produção de hidrogênio e ácidos orgânicos a partir de metodologias de delineamento do composto central e superfície de resposta. Foram monitorados 10 reatores em batelada (R1 a R10), em triplicatas, com diferentes concentrações de substrato (0,8 a 9,2 g/L) e pH (de 4,6 a 7,4). A maior produção de hidrogênio (24,1 mmol/L) e 6,4 g/L de ácidos orgânicos foram obtidos em R4 (8,0 g BCA/L e pH 7,0). Os açúcares glicose, arabinose, xilose, manose e galactose foram observados ao longo do tempo de operação em todos os reatores, sendo arabinose observado em maior concentração nas condições dos reatores R3 (8,0 g BCA/L e pH 5,0) e R8 (5,0 g BCA/L e pH 7,4), respectivamente, 1.415,3 e 1.372,5 mg/L. A produção de hidrogênio foi concomitante à formação de ácidos orgânicos, principalmente butírico (de 14,6 a 33,8% em R1 e R6, respectivamente) e succínico (de 19,5 a 26,4% em R3 e R9, respectivamente). Os dois fatores analisados, concentração de substrato e pH, exerceram efeitos significativos na produção de hidrogênio, ácido butírico e succínico. A partir dos resultados obtidos com o planejamento fatorial, foi possível verificar que o valor máximo de produção de hidrogênio estimado pelo modelo foi de 23,10 mmol/L, para 7,0 g BCA/L e pH 7,2. O valor obtido no experimento de otimização (Rotm) foi de 19,84 mmol/L, com grau de precisão do modelo de 85,9% para produção de hidrogênio a partir de BCA autoclavado. Sequenciamento massivo via plataforma Illumina (Miseq) foi realizado para a identificação de bactérias do reator do ponto central, (R9, 5,0 g BCA/L e pH 6,0), do reator otimizado (Rotm, 7,0 g BCA/L e pH 7,2), de amostras do BCA autoclavado e inóculo. No inóculo foram identificadas principalmente bactérias semelhantes a Clostridium bifermentans (62,69% de abundância relativa), Bacillus coagulans (31,67%) e Enterobacter aerogenes (2,72%). No BCA foram identificadas bactérias semelhantes a C. bifermentans (31,91%), C. cellobioparum (32,29%), C. cellulolyticum (5,69%), C. sartagoforme (14,63%) e Paenibacillus spp. (11,67%). Estas bactérias não foram favorecidas sob as condições impostas em R9 (5,0 g BCA/L e pH 6,0) e Rotm (7,0 g BCA/L e pH 7,2), uma vez que a abundância relativa das bactérias nas amostras dos reatores foram completamente diferentes. Em R9, bactérias semelhantes a Lactobacillus paracasei e Escherichia hermannii foram as principais identificas com 37,50 e 34,32% de abundância relativa, respectivamente. Em Rotm, as principais bactérias identificadas foram semelhantes a Bacteroides sp. e Enterobacter aerogenes, com 37,35 e 27,72% de abundância relativa, respectivamente. Assim, as populações bacterianas, bem como a produção de metabólitos, foram alteradas em função das condições impostas; ou seja, concentração de BCA, pH em reatores em batelada com BCA autoclavado como substrato. / This study evaluated the hydrogen and organic acids fermentative productions from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as substrate in batch reactors. Three pre-treatment conditions (hydrothermal, autoclave and hydrothermal plus autoclave) of BCA and the in natura condition were evaluated in order to favor the hydrogen production. Hydrogen molar productions of 3.79 mmol/L, 3.47 mmol/L, 1.67 mmol/L and 1.01 mmol/L was found for SCB pretreated in autoclave, BCA in natura, SCB pretreated in hydrothermal system and SCB pretreated in hydrothermal system followed by autoclaving, respectively. From these values, it was decided to use autoclaved BCA as a substrate for optimization of hydrogen and organic acids productions from the design methodologies of the central compound and response surface. Ten batch reactors (R1 to R10) were monitored in triplicates with different substrate concentrations (0.8 to 9.2 g/L) and pH (4.6 to 7.4). The highest production of hydrogen (24.06 mmol/L) and 6.42 g/L of organic acids were obtained in R4 (8.0 g BCA/L and pH 7.0). Glucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose and galactose were produced and consumed throughout the operating time of all reactors, and arabinose was observed at higher concentration, 1,415.26 and 1,372.45 mg/L in R3 (8.0 g BCA/L and pH 5.0) and R8 (5.0 g BCA/L and pH 7.4), respectively. The production of hydrogen was concomitant to the formation of organic acids, mainly butyric (from 14.6 to 33.8% in R1 and R6, respectively) and succinic (from 19.5 to 26.4% in R3 and R9, respectively). The two factors analyzed, substrate concentration and pH, had significant effects on the production of hydrogen, butyric acid and succinic acid. From the results obtained with the factorial design, it was possible to verify that the maximum value of hydrogen production estimated by the model was 23.10 mmol/L, to 7.0 g BCA L and pH 7.2. The value obtained in the optimization experiment (Rotm) was 19.84 mmol/L, with an accuracy of 85.9% for hydrogen production from autoclaved BCA. Sequencing by the Illumina platform (Miseq) was performed for the identification of bacteria from the central point reactor (R9, 5.0 g BCA/L and pH 6.0), optimized reactor (Rotm, 7.0 g BCA/L and pH 7.2), autoclaved BCA and inoculum samples. In the inoculum were identified mainly bacteria similar to Clostridium bifermentans (62,69% of relative abundance), Bacillus coagulans (31,67%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (2,72%). Bacteria similar to C. bifermentans (31.91%), C. cellobioparum (32.29%), C. cellulolyticum (5.69%), C. sartagoforme (14.63%) and Paenibacillus spp. (11.67%). These bacteria were not favored under the conditions imposed on R9 (5.0 g BCA/L and pH 6.0) and Rotm (7.0 g BCA/L and pH 7.2), since the relative abundance of the bacteria in the reactor samples were completely different. In R9, bacteria similar to Lactobacillus paracasei and Escherichia hermannii were the main identified with 37.50 and 34.32% of relative abundance, respectively. In Rotm, the main bacteria identified were similar to Bacteroides sp. and Enterobacter aerogenes, with 37.35 and 27.72% relative abundance, respectively. Thus, bacterial populations, as well as the production of metabolites, were altered as a function of the imposed conditions; ie, BCA concentration, pH in batch reactors with autoclaved BCA as substrate.

Le système ternaire eau-acide butyrique- pentan-2-ol est utilisé comme système modèle pour l’étude de système plus complexe. Ce système est utilisé pour étudier les couplages diffusifs quand les constituants sont distribués sur plusieurs phases. Ses molécules simples permettent de ne pas mettre en avant les effets stériques dus à de longues chaines carbonées ou entropiques dus à des importantes différences de masse moléculaire. <p>Les couplages de la diffusion avec la solubilité permettent d’observer toute une gamme de phénomènes allant de présence de turbidité ou de gouttelettes au sein de la phase aqueuse jusqu’au maintien de gradient de concentration bien au-delà du temps caractéristique de diffusion. Ces différents phénomènes ont été observés grâce à une expérience où l’on superpose deux phases de liquide, l’une de pentan-2-ol pur et l’autre d’un mélange d’eau et d’acide butyrique.<p>La solubilité du système est déterminée par une méthode RMN. Cette technique permet également d’obtenir les variations de l’environnement intermoléculaire avec la composition de la solution et de mettre en évidence des structures au sein du liquide. <p>Enfin les coefficients de self diffusion a été mesuré par méthode DOSY pour les liquides purs, les mélanges binaires et ternaires.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Dans ce mémoire, je présente mes études sur une stratégie efficace développée pour la synthèse de cétones homoallyliques substituées à partir de l’addition en cascade de réactifs de Grignard vinyliques substitués sur des α-amino esters catalysée par des sels de cuivre. L’utilisation de ces cétones homoallyliques a permis d’obtenir des mimes peptidiques comprenant un isostère de type hydroxyéthylène du lien amide. L’étape clé de cette stratégie repose sur la synthèse de cétones homoallyliques substituées intermédiaires à partir de la réaction d’additions en cascade catalysée au cuivre, de bromure de β,β-diméthylevinyle magnésium sur des analogues d’esters de la phénylalanine et de la sérine. Les cétones homoallyliques résultantes sont réduites sélectivement en alcool, la liaison double est clivée oxydativement et l’acide carboxylique résultant est couplé à un acide aminé. Afin d’évaluer l’effet qu’ont le remplacement du lien amide central dans un coude β par un hydroxyéthylène et de la présence d’un gem diméthyle sur la chaîne carbonée sur la conformation tridimensionnelle adoptée par les tripeptides générés, des analyses à l’état solide par diffraction aux rayons X, des analyses en solution par la spectroscopie RMN et des expériences de type NOESY ont été réalisées. Ces études ont permis de définir un nouveau type de coude β. La présence de pont hydrogène intramoléculaire et l’effet de restriction de conformation induit par le gem diméthyle, généralement appelé effet Thorpe-Ingold, favorisent la formation d’un coude β. / In this thesis, I discuss my studies toward the synthesis of substituted homoallylic ketones from the copper-catalyzed cascade addition of substitued vinyl Grignard reagents to carboxylic esters. The homoallylic ketones were used to provide different peptidomimetics containing a hydroxyethylene isostere instead of an amide bond. The methyl ester of phenylalanine and serine derivatives were reacted in copper-catalyzed cascade additions of substitued vinylmagnesium bromide to provide substitued homoallylic ketone intermediates. Selective reduction of the ketone to an alcohol, oxidative cleavage of the double bond, followed by peptide coupling with amino acid lead to the desired peptidomimic. The influence of changing the central amide bond for a hydroxyethylene isostere in a β-turn and the effect of a gem dimethyl group on the backbone conformation adopted by the newly synthesized tripeptides, were studied by X-ray diffraction and solution NMR spectroscopy using NOESY experiments. From these studies, it was revealed that the iso-butyric acid hydroxyethylene isomer induced a β-turn-like conformation, and may serve as a novel scaffold for peptide mimicry.

Butanol production by four different Clostridium sp. strains was investigated using glucoseP2-medium supplemented with increasing concentrations of butyric acid, added as cosubstrate.Batch fermentations were carried out in serum bottles (freely-suspended cellcultures) and fibrous-bed bioreactor (FBB) with medium recirculation (immobilized cells).Butyric acid clearly revealed to inhibit cellular growth with all specific growth rates decliningupon the increase of butyrate concentrations. However, the presence of low and moderatelevels in the medium can readily enhance the ABE-fermentation and increase butanolproduction through a shift induction towards the solventogenic phase controlled by themedium pH. In all cases it was found that 4.0 g⋅l-1 is the optimal concentration of butyratethat maximizes the yields for all ABE-solvents and butanol productivities. The non-mutant C.acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was singled out as the most efficient butanol productive strainamong all bacteria tested (10.3 g⋅l-1 butanol versus 0.72 g⋅l-1 with and without 4.0 g⋅l-1butyrate, respectively) showing a productivity augment in the order of 0.078 g⋅l-1⋅h-1 (78.5%)and yields of 0.3 g⋅g-1 from substrate and 7.6 g⋅g-1 from biomass versus 0.072 g⋅g-1 and 0.41g⋅g-1 with and without the optimal butyrate concentration, respectively. This strain alsorevealed the best overall tolerance over increasing butyrate concentrations up to ∼6.0 g⋅l-1 andthe highest glucose uptake (65.5%) among all bacteria. Furthermore, the beneficial effects ofbutyric acid were also observed through the use of a fibrous bed-bioreactor when the mutatedstrains of C. beijerinckii ATCC 55025 and BA 101 were tested. The use of this immobilizedcell system effectively improved butanol production over the free system with butanol titersin the fermentation broth around 11.5 g⋅l-1 and 9.4 g⋅l-1 for the two bacteria, respectively,roughly doubling the values attained with the corresponding suspended cell cultures when themedia were supplemented with 4.0 g⋅l-1 of butyrate. All these results confirm theenhancement of butanol formation using either free or immobilized cell culturessupplemented with butyric acid concentrations up to 4.0 g⋅l-1 in the media.