Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemistry, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Agnes Van Langenhove. / Ph.D.

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A transferência de oxigênio para o meio, durante o cultivo de Candida kefyr DSM 70106, mostrou ter grandE influência na produção de inulinase extracelular. O KLa (coeficiente volumétrico de transferência de oxigênio) de 43 h-1 foi o que proporcionou a obtenção de atividade enzimática mais elevada (37,5 U.mL-1). Este parâmetro foi utilizado como critério para ampliação de escala do cultivo em biorreator de 15 litros para 300 litros. O volume de meio obtido foi congelado para utilização nos processos seguintes de separação de células e purificação da inulinase. Para isto foram utilizados três processos diferentes, a saber, filtração (microfiltração, diafiltração e ultrafiltração), extração líquido-líquido por micela reversa e cromatografia de troca iônica em leito fluidizado. Durante a separação de células, a membrana de microfiltração tipo HVLP com 0,45 µm de diâmetro de poro foi a que possibilitou a passagem de maior fluxo de filtrado (324 L.h-1.m-2) quando comparada com outras membranas de poros e materiais diferentes. Associado a este fluxo obteve-se ainda a passagem pela membrana de 99% da enzima presente. Foram também estudados diferentes tipos de módulos de filtração. Os filtros rotativos foram os que apresentaram melhores desempenhos, com destaque para o tipo \"Biodruckfilter\". Fluxo de filtrado de 300 L.h-1.m-2 e transmissão de 99% da enzima foram obtidos neste filtro. Os filtros tipo cassete e os tubulares apresentaram desempenhos, em geral, inferior a 50% quando comparados em termos de fluxo de filtrado. O processo de filtração em escala ampliada, realizada no filtro cassete, apresentou fluxo de filtrado 45% inferior ao obtido na pequena escala. Os estudos de extração líquido-líquido por micela reversa foram feitos utilizando um agente tensoativo catiônico (BDBAC- [N-Benzyl-N-Dodecyl-N bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride] e um aniônico (AOT- sodium-di-2ethyl-hexyl-sulphosuccinate). O BDBAC proporcionou recuperação de 91 % da enzima presente inicialmente. Na ampliação de escala do processo foi verificado um rendimento de 77%, e o aumento da atividade enzimática específica, nos dois casos, foi de aproximadamente 2,8 vezes. Em comparação com os dois processos anteriores, o processo de purificação da inulinase com separação simultânea de células por cromatografia de trocaiônica em leito fluidizado foi o que proporcionou maior aumento da atividade enzimática específica (da ordem de 4,3 vezes). Após adsorção e eluição do leito cromatográfico, 93,1% da enzima foi recuperada. / It has been observed that the production of extracellular inulinase by Candida kefyr DSM 70106 was markedly affected by the rate of oxygen transfer to the medium. The highest inulinase activity (37,5 U.Ml-1) was attained at a KLa value (volumetric coefficient of oxygen transfer) equal to 43 h-1. As such, KLa was chosen as a criterion for scaling-up the bioreactor capacity from 15 L to 300 L. Once the fermentation ended, the whole fermented broth was frozen for further cell separation and inulinase purification. For that, three different processes were used, namely filtration (microfiltration, diafiltration and ultrafiltration), liquid-liquid extraction by reversed micelles and ion-exchange chromatography in fluidized bed. Microfiltration membranes differing in the chemical nature and on the pores diameter were used in cell separations. The highest filtrate flow (FF = 324 L.h-1.m-2) occurred when HVLP type membrane (0,45 µm pore diameter) was employed. Moreover, 99% of inulinase passed through the membrane. Several types of filtration modules were also studied. The rotatory filter, such as the \"Biodruckfilter\" (FF=300 L.h-1.m-2 and 99% of inulinase transmission), presented remarkable performance when compared with cassette and tubulartype filters, in which FF was lower than 50%. Furthermore, filtration carried out with a scaled-up cassette module presented a FF 45% lower than that observed on a smaller scale. Studies on liquid-liquid extraction by reverse micelles were made utilizing a cationic surfactant (BDBAC- [N-Benzyl-N-Dodecyl-N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride] and an anionic surfactant (AOT-sodium-di-2-ethyl-hexylsulphosuccinate). The use of BDBAC resulted in a recuperation of 91 % of the enzyme initially present, which decreased about 77% when the process was scaled-up. Neverthless, in both cases the increase in specific enzymatic activity was about 2.8 times. In comparison with the aforementioned processes, the ion-exchange chromatography in fluidized bed, in which inulinase purification and cell separation take place simultaneously, provided. an increase in specific enzymatic activity of about 4.3 times. After adsorption and elution of the chromatographic bed about 93% of the inulinase was recovered.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear polysaccharides found on most animal cell surfaces and in extracellular matrices. Their key biological roles include cell signalling, cell-to-cell recognition, bacterial and viral adhesion, and antibody production. They are composed of disaccharide repeating units, containing uronic acid and amino sugar residues, and may be highly heterogeneously sulfated. Protein-GAG complexes are thought to play an important role in a number of aspects of cancer development, but are an under-studied area due to a lack of enabling tools to facilitate their analysis as discussed in Chapter 1. To obtain homogenous GAG structures, a range of conditions for the separation of GAG oligosaccharides by Zwitterionic Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (ZIC-HILIC) were developed using commercial chondroitin sulfate standards; these are discussed in Chapter 2. Mixed-modal separation mechanisms were explored across a different buffer compositions and elution programs to optimise the conditions to suit individual classes of native and modified glycosaminoglycans. These methods were then applied to the separation of chondroitin sulfate mixtures and heparin oligosaccharides. ZIC-HILIC may also be coupled to Mass Spectrometry to produce an online analytical method for GAG mixtures. A range of optimised conditions for the analysis of low molecular weight glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry were developed using commercial chondroitin sulfate disaccharide standards; as discussed in Chapter 3. These conditions were then employed in the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of chondroitin sulfate to identify diagnostic fragmentation patterns and this was applied in the characterisation of chondroitin sulfate disaccharides derived from enzymatic cleavage. The position of ring substituents can also be identified using this methodology, which is desirable in the analysis of chemically-labelled GAG structures. To allow for high resolution EPR and NMR studies of protein-GAG interactions, synthetic procedures for the incorporation of paramagnetic centres into GAG oligosaccharides and proteins were developed and these are discussed in Chapter 4. A propargyl-modified lysine was synthesised for recombinant expression into myoglobin. Copper-Catalysed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC) was employed in the spin labelling of myoglobin, however traditional experimental conditions were found to reduce the TEMPO-based spin labels used. Alternative conditions were developed using glutathione to stabilise the copper (II) catalyst without reducing the spin label. Spin labelling of the modified lysine was monitored by EPR. Modification of the non-reducing end was explored for the spin labelling of GAG oligosaccharides, to avoid the ring opening that typically occurs in reducing end labelling, and make use of the unsaturated uronic acid that is derived when obtaining GAGs through enzymatic depolymerisation. A hydrazide labelling of uronic acids was initially adopted, however due to concerns regarding selectivity and availability of hydrazide spin labels, an alternative Thiol-Ene Click (TEC) method was developed. TEC labelling of monosaccharides and unnatural amino acids was found to proceed efficiently under aqueous conditions and was monitored by NMR and HPLC. Preliminary studies in the TEC labelling of chondroitin sulfate disaccharides proved promising, however further optimisation is required for this method to be utilised in the study of protein-GAG interactions by NMR.

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In this work cis-inositol, epi-inositol and myo-inositol carbonate were successfully synthesised and used for coordination studies. The preparation of cis-inositol was achieved by reduction of tetrahydroxybenzoquinone via hydrogenation with palladium hydroxide as the catalyst and was purified by chromatographic separation using Dowex resin. The synthesis of epi-inositol was achieved by the nitric acid oxidation of myo-inositol to form epi-inosose which was subsequently reduced by hydrogenation using palladium hydroxide as the catalyst. myo-Inositol was converted into its mono-orthoformate derivative and the equatorial hydroxy group was then protected as a tertiary-butyldimethylsilyl ether. The carbonate group was introduced onto this protected inositol and then the protecting groups were removed by acid hydrolysis. The coordination characteristics of four inositols, viz cis-inositol, epi-inositol, myo-inositol and myo-inositol carbonate with calcium, aluminium, gallium, lanthanum and samarium ions have been investigated. Interactions of the aluminate anion with epi-inositol and myo-inositol in deuterated sodium hydroxide were also investigated. Three methods were used in the study of complexation behaviour of these systems. namely, [superscript]13C NMR spectroscopy, HPLC and ion exchange chromatography. [superscript]13C NMR spectroscopy was found to be most useful for determining possible complexation behaviour of the inositols. Chemical shift changes of the resonance signals in the [superscript]13C NMR spectra on sequential addition of cations to solutions of the inositols at near neutral pH, have led to determination of possible coordination sites of the inositols. In general, large induced chemical shift changes have been interpreted to signify strong cation-inositol interaction at specific hydroxy groups. / Triaxial sites of the inositols have shown a preference to coordinate small ions with ionic size of at least 60 pin, smaller ions than this displayed very weak interactions. Likewise large ions (90-100 pm) imparted weak interactions on triaxial sites of the inositols. These large ions coordinated well with the axial-equatorial-axial sites of the inositols although it was observed that calcium ions appeared to form a 2:1 ligand:cation complex with cis-inositol at the triaxial site despite being a large cation (100 pm). The detection of complex formation by HPLC showed a possible formation of very stable complexes of epi-inositol complexes with calcium ions. However, a change of refractive index of the solution on sequential addition of the cation may have caused an interference in the results such that direct interpretation was not possible. Ion exchange chromatography provided the quickest guide on how strongly the inositols interact with a particular cation. However, determination of complex stoichiometry and or structure was not possible using this technique.

Polystyrene behaviour in reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was influenced mainly by the solvent system, but secondary affects were observed depending on the stationary phase. A variety of reversed phase columns were investigated using mobile phase combinations of dichlorom ethane-methanol, dichloromethane-acetonitrile, ethyl acetate-methanol and ethyl acetate-acetonitrile. Several different modes of behaviour were observed depending on the polymer solubility in the solvent system. In the dichloromethane-methanol solvent system, polymer-stationary phase interactions only occurred when the molecules had pore access. Retention of excluded polystyrene depended on the kinetics of precipitation and redissolution of the polymer. Peak splitting and band broadening occurred when the kinetics were slow and molecular weight separations were limited !o oligomers and polystyrenes lower than 5-10(4) dalton. Excellent molecular weight separations of polystyrenes were obtained using gradient elution reversed phase chromatography with a dichloromethane-acetonitrile mobile phase on C18 columns. The retention was based on polymer-stationary phase interactions regardless of the column pore size. Separations were obtained on large diameter pellicular adsorbents that were almost as good as those obtained on porous adsorbents, showing that pore access was not essential for the retention of high molecular weight polystyrenes. In the best example, the separation ranged from the monomer to 10(6) dalton in a single analysis. Very little adsorption of excluded polymers was observed on C8 or phenyl columns. Polystyrene molecular weight separations to 7-10(5) dalton were obtained in an ethyl acetate-acetonitrile solvent system on C18 columns. Adsorption was responsible for retention. When an ethyl acetate-methanol solvent system was used, no molecular weight separations were obtained because of complex peak splitting. Reversed phase chromatography was compared to size exclusion chromatography for the analysis of polydisperse polystyrenes. Similar results were obtained using both methods. However, the reversed phase method was less sensitive to concentration effects and gave better resolution.