O trabalho ora apresentado foi concebido como tendo dois objetivos. O primeiro, mais geral, foi implementar uma nova metodologia para o estudo de mudanças conformacionais em proteínas, ou seja, de sua dinâmica estrutural. A técnica de marcação de spin sítio dirigida aliada à ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (SDSL-RPE) são os pilares desse novo método que faz, agora, parte do conjunto de técnicas disponíveis no Grupo de Biofísica Molecular Sérgio Mascarenhas do Instituto de Física de São Carlos (USP). O segundo objetivo, mais específico, representou o caminho efetivamente tomado para que se alcançasse o objetivo geral. Para isso, foi proposto o estudo da correlação estrutura e função de dois sistemas biológicos muito interessantes. O primeiro deles envolveu o estudo do movimento das hélices que compõem a estrutura da proteína ligante de cálcio S100A12 humana (HS100A12) induzido pelos íons cálcio e zinco. Sabendo que a proteína S100A12 humana além de ligar íons Ca+2, apresenta afinidade por outros metais divalentes, como os íons Zn+2 e Cu+2, e que a formação de diferentes oligômeros da proteína é governada pela concentração dos íons Ca+2 e Zn+2, realizamos estudos espectroscópicos utilizando a técnica de dicroísmo circular a fim de investigarmos a estabilidade térmica da proteína HS100A12 na presença e ausência dos íons cálcio e zinco. Mudanças conformacionais na estrutura da HS100A12 foram monitoradas através da construção de uma série de mutantes (simples e duplos) em que resíduos nas hélices B, C e D foram trocados por cisteínas, subsequentemente marcadas com a sonda magnética MTSSL e submetidas às análises de SDSL-RPE. Estas consistiram na medida do espectro de RPE dos vários mutantes em temperatura ambiente para estudarmos os efeitos da presença dos íons sobre a dinâmica experimentada pela sonda nas diversas posições. Além disso, efetuamos medidas de distância entre duas sondas seletivamente inseridas na estrutura protéica, procurando assim complementar o entendimento acerca do efeito da presença dos íons sobre a proteína. Por fim, devido ao fato da proteína HS100A12 estar envolvida em alguns eventos de sinalização celular e interação com o receptor para produtos de glicosilação (RAGE), decidimos também, estudar a interação da proteína com modelos de biomembranas, utilizando monocamadas de Langmuir. O outro problema de interesse utilizou a lizosima do fago T4, uma proteína padrão, da qual uma variedade de mutantes é produzida rotineiramente a fim de obtermos mais detalhes a respeito da sua correlação estrutura e função e tornar mais sólido o entendimento da técnica SDSL. Inicialmente, realizamos um estudo com a suposta criação de uma cavidade no \"core\" hidrofóbico da porção C-terminal da enzima, quando mutamos a Leu 133 por Ala e/ou Gly, ou seja, quando trocamos um resíduo grande por um de menor volume, pois se acredita que a proteína sofra um reajuste estrutural com o intuito de preencher o espaço vazio criado por essa substituição. Para isso, propusemos estudar por SDSL o movimento da α-hélice H inserindo o marcador de spin na posição vizinha ao resíduo mutado. Adicionalmente, realizamos um experimento de \"transmutação\" com a enzima T4L, a fim de investigar a natureza das contribuições para os diferentes modos dinâmicos experimentados pelo marcador de spin quando introduzido em sítios topologicamente semelhantes. / The work presented here was conceived with two main objectives. The first one, more general, involved the implementation of a new methodology for the study of conformational changes in proteins, i.e., its structural dynamics. The technique of Site-directed Spin Labeling combined with Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (SDSL-EPR) are the pillars of this new method, which is now part of the set of techniques available at the Grupo de Biofísica Molecular Sérgio Mascarenhas, Instituto de Física de São Carlos (USP). The second objective, more specific, represented the path actually taken to achieve the overall goal. Therefore, it was proposed to study the structure-function correlation in two interesting biological systems. The first involved the study of the movement of the helices that form the structure of the human calcium binding protein S100A12 (HS100A12) induced by calcium and zinc ions. Knowing that, besides Ca+2, human S100A12 has also affinity for other divalent metals, such as Zn+2 and Cu+2 ions, and that the formation of different protein oligomers is governed by the concentration of Ca+2 and Zn+2, we performed spectroscopic studies using circular dichroism (CD) to investigate the thermal stability of protein HS100A12 in the presence and absence of calcium and zinc. Conformational changes in the structure of HS100A12 were monitored by producing a series of mutants (singles and doubles) in which residues in helices B, C and D were replaced by cysteine and subsequently labeled with a magnetic probe MTSSL and then analyzed via SDSL-EPR. The latter consisted of the EPR spectra measurement of many mutants at room temperature to study the effects of the presence of ions on the dynamics experienced by the probe in different positions. In addition, we performed measurements of the distance between two probes inserted in the protein structure, thereby, seeking to improve the understanding of the effect of the ions presence on the protein. Finally, due to the fact that HS100A12 is involved in some events of cell signaling and interaction with the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE), we also decided to study the interaction of protein with models of biomembranes using Langmuir monolayers. In the other problem of interest, we used a variety of mutants of the enzyme T4 lysozyme, a protein standard, in order to obtain more details about its structure-function correlation and make more solid the understanding of SDSL technique. Initially, we conducted a study about the alleged creation of a cavity in the hydrophobic C-terminal portion of the enzyme, when we replaced the Leu 133 by Ala and/or Gly, or when we changed a large residue for a smaller one, because it is believed that the protein undergoes a structural adjustment in order to fill the gap created by this substitution. For this, we studied by SDSL the α-helix H motion, inserting the spin label in a neighbor position of the mutated residue. Additionally, we performed an experiment of \"transmutation\" with the enzyme T4L in order to investigate the nature of contributions for different dynamic modes experienced by the spin label when it is introduced in topologically similar sites.

L’utilisation des ultrasons dans l’industrie agro-alimentaire présente de nombreux avantages, tels que l’augmentation de la productivité et la diminution des coûts et des impacts environnementaux. Dans la première partie de ce travail, une brève introduction sur la théorie des ultrasons et ses applications en agro-alimentaire et l’utilisation de ces derniers pour l’extraction des polyphénols de marc de pomme en solution aqueuse seront présentés. Cette étude a été optimisée et présente d’excellents résultats aussi bien à l’échelle du laboratoire qu’à l’échelle pilote. Ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence le potentiel des ultrasons en termes d’extraction de métabolites secondaires de sous-produits. Une autre utilisation des ultrasons a été également mise en évidence en utilisant ces derniers pour la préparation de plats cuisinés. Bien que cette technique a présenté des nombreux avantages, une odeur de rance est apparue à l’issue de la préparation de produits riches en lipides. Ces aliments semblent présenter des altérations lors d’un traitement par ultrasons. Par conséquent, dans la deuxième partie, une étude fondamentale sur les effets des ultrasons sur les produits alimentaires a été réalisée avec notamment une étude plus détaillée sur les huiles comestibles soumises aux ultrasons. Des analyses physicochimiques, sensorielles et par résonance paramagnétique électronique ont été réalisés afin de proposer un mécanisme de dégradation des lipides par ultrasons / The use of ultrasound in the food industry presents numerous advantages, such as the increase of productivity, decrease of costs andenvironmental impact, resulting in the release of better products in the market. In the first part of this work, a brief introduction of ultrasoundtheory and its uses in the food industry are described, followed by the development of an aqueous ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenolsfrom apple pomace, which was optimized with great results both in the laboratory and pilot scales, showing the potential of ultrasound in therecovery of molecules of interest from by-products. A great potential was also evidenced in the development of ultrasound to assist foodpreparation. Although this promising technique has presented innumerous advantages, high lipid content food material seems to presentalterations when treated by ultrasound. Therefore, in the second part, a review on the effects of sonication in food products is presented, andthen a detailed study of edible oils submitted to ultrasounds followed up by physicochemical, sensorial and EPR analysis, allowing theproposition of a mechanism of the lipid degradation by ultrasound

O trabalho ora apresentado foi concebido como tendo dois objetivos. O primeiro, mais geral, foi implementar uma nova metodologia para o estudo de mudanças conformacionais em proteínas, ou seja, de sua dinâmica estrutural. A técnica de marcação de spin sítio dirigida aliada à ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (SDSL-RPE) são os pilares desse novo método que faz, agora, parte do conjunto de técnicas disponíveis no Grupo de Biofísica Molecular Sérgio Mascarenhas do Instituto de Física de São Carlos (USP). O segundo objetivo, mais específico, representou o caminho efetivamente tomado para que se alcançasse o objetivo geral. Para isso, foi proposto o estudo da correlação estrutura e função de dois sistemas biológicos muito interessantes. O primeiro deles envolveu o estudo do movimento das hélices que compõem a estrutura da proteína ligante de cálcio S100A12 humana (HS100A12) induzido pelos íons cálcio e zinco. Sabendo que a proteína S100A12 humana além de ligar íons Ca+2, apresenta afinidade por outros metais divalentes, como os íons Zn+2 e Cu+2, e que a formação de diferentes oligômeros da proteína é governada pela concentração dos íons Ca+2 e Zn+2, realizamos estudos espectroscópicos utilizando a técnica de dicroísmo circular a fim de investigarmos a estabilidade térmica da proteína HS100A12 na presença e ausência dos íons cálcio e zinco. Mudanças conformacionais na estrutura da HS100A12 foram monitoradas através da construção de uma série de mutantes (simples e duplos) em que resíduos nas hélices B, C e D foram trocados por cisteínas, subsequentemente marcadas com a sonda magnética MTSSL e submetidas às análises de SDSL-RPE. Estas consistiram na medida do espectro de RPE dos vários mutantes em temperatura ambiente para estudarmos os efeitos da presença dos íons sobre a dinâmica experimentada pela sonda nas diversas posições. Além disso, efetuamos medidas de distância entre duas sondas seletivamente inseridas na estrutura protéica, procurando assim complementar o entendimento acerca do efeito da presença dos íons sobre a proteína. Por fim, devido ao fato da proteína HS100A12 estar envolvida em alguns eventos de sinalização celular e interação com o receptor para produtos de glicosilação (RAGE), decidimos também, estudar a interação da proteína com modelos de biomembranas, utilizando monocamadas de Langmuir. O outro problema de interesse utilizou a lizosima do fago T4, uma proteína padrão, da qual uma variedade de mutantes é produzida rotineiramente a fim de obtermos mais detalhes a respeito da sua correlação estrutura e função e tornar mais sólido o entendimento da técnica SDSL. Inicialmente, realizamos um estudo com a suposta criação de uma cavidade no \"core\" hidrofóbico da porção C-terminal da enzima, quando mutamos a Leu 133 por Ala e/ou Gly, ou seja, quando trocamos um resíduo grande por um de menor volume, pois se acredita que a proteína sofra um reajuste estrutural com o intuito de preencher o espaço vazio criado por essa substituição. Para isso, propusemos estudar por SDSL o movimento da α-hélice H inserindo o marcador de spin na posição vizinha ao resíduo mutado. Adicionalmente, realizamos um experimento de \"transmutação\" com a enzima T4L, a fim de investigar a natureza das contribuições para os diferentes modos dinâmicos experimentados pelo marcador de spin quando introduzido em sítios topologicamente semelhantes. / The work presented here was conceived with two main objectives. The first one, more general, involved the implementation of a new methodology for the study of conformational changes in proteins, i.e., its structural dynamics. The technique of Site-directed Spin Labeling combined with Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (SDSL-EPR) are the pillars of this new method, which is now part of the set of techniques available at the Grupo de Biofísica Molecular Sérgio Mascarenhas, Instituto de Física de São Carlos (USP). The second objective, more specific, represented the path actually taken to achieve the overall goal. Therefore, it was proposed to study the structure-function correlation in two interesting biological systems. The first involved the study of the movement of the helices that form the structure of the human calcium binding protein S100A12 (HS100A12) induced by calcium and zinc ions. Knowing that, besides Ca+2, human S100A12 has also affinity for other divalent metals, such as Zn+2 and Cu+2 ions, and that the formation of different protein oligomers is governed by the concentration of Ca+2 and Zn+2, we performed spectroscopic studies using circular dichroism (CD) to investigate the thermal stability of protein HS100A12 in the presence and absence of calcium and zinc. Conformational changes in the structure of HS100A12 were monitored by producing a series of mutants (singles and doubles) in which residues in helices B, C and D were replaced by cysteine and subsequently labeled with a magnetic probe MTSSL and then analyzed via SDSL-EPR. The latter consisted of the EPR spectra measurement of many mutants at room temperature to study the effects of the presence of ions on the dynamics experienced by the probe in different positions. In addition, we performed measurements of the distance between two probes inserted in the protein structure, thereby, seeking to improve the understanding of the effect of the ions presence on the protein. Finally, due to the fact that HS100A12 is involved in some events of cell signaling and interaction with the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE), we also decided to study the interaction of protein with models of biomembranes using Langmuir monolayers. In the other problem of interest, we used a variety of mutants of the enzyme T4 lysozyme, a protein standard, in order to obtain more details about its structure-function correlation and make more solid the understanding of SDSL technique. Initially, we conducted a study about the alleged creation of a cavity in the hydrophobic C-terminal portion of the enzyme, when we replaced the Leu 133 by Ala and/or Gly, or when we changed a large residue for a smaller one, because it is believed that the protein undergoes a structural adjustment in order to fill the gap created by this substitution. For this, we studied by SDSL the α-helix H motion, inserting the spin label in a neighbor position of the mutated residue. Additionally, we performed an experiment of \"transmutation\" with the enzyme T4L in order to investigate the nature of contributions for different dynamic modes experienced by the spin label when it is introduced in topologically similar sites.

[ES] La presente tesis doctoral se sitúa en el marco de la síntesis de óxidos metálicos con aplicaciones en Catálisis Heterogénea para la obtención de productos de Química Fina de alto interés industrial. En este caso concreto se han estudiado los óxidos de manganeso de tipo criptomelana K-OMS2, los cuales resultan muy útiles para la fabricación de dispositivos electrónicos y como catalizadores, debido a sus propiedades redox, a su inocuidad a nivel medioambiental y a su bajo coste. En la primera parte de este trabajo se ha estudiado la síntesis de g - valerolactona mediante la carboesterificación de estireno y anhídrido acético empleando el óxido de manganeso dopado con cobre como catalizador, CuOx/K-OMS2. Los resultados catalíticos obtenidos en este trabajo mejoran los descritos previamente en la bibliografía con catalizadores homogéneos relacionados; y en definitiva presentan una mejora de las condiciones experimentales de trabajo. Al mismo tiempo, se ha conseguido dilucidar el mecanismo de reacción. Paralelamente se ha logrado demostrar la existencia de un efecto sinérgico - a nivel superficial - entre el Mn de la estructura y las especies de Cu(II) dispersas sobre la superficie de K-OMS2 que tiene su origen en los cambios a nivel electrónico que experimentan los átomos de Mn. A continuación, se presenta la síntesis de un nuevo material basado en la incorporación de centros de Ru(III) en la estructura del óxido de Mn de tipo criptomelana K-OMS2 a través de la sustitución isomórfica de los cationes Mn(III) originales. A partir de distintas técnicas de caracterización se ha logrado demostrar que el nuevo material está constituido exclusivamente por una monofase pura de K-OMS2, en la que el Ru(III) se ha incorporado perfectamente en la estructura de la red dando lugar a [Ru]-K-OMS2. Las consecuencias catalíticas de esta sustitución han sido estudiadas a partir de la reacción modelo de oxidación de alcoholes a aldehídos. Ello ha permitido constatar que la consecuencia principal de la incorporación de Ru(III) en la estructura es el debilitamiento del enlace Mn - O, lo cual facilita en gran medida la reducibilidad del óxido. Esto se traduce en una notable mejoría de los resultados catalíticos respecto del óxido de Mn original K-OMS2 e incluso de otros óxidos de Mn relacionados donde el Ru(III) se sitúa exclusivamente a nivel superficial. En una tercera parte de esta tesis, se describe el estudio teórico mediante técnicas electroquímicas de un efecto catalítico importante como es el spillover. De esta forma, mediante la técnica electroquímica de VIMP se han estudiado los procesos de spillover que tienen lugar en el óxido K-OMS2 cuando éste es depositado sobre un electrodo de Au. El proceso de spillover es clave para entender los procesos catalíticos que transcurren con difusión de oxígeno entre las distintas fases que conforman un catalizador metal/óxido (actuando este último como soporte). Además, el estudio de los fenómenos interfaciales relacionados con el movimiento de los átomos de oxígeno en un medio alcalino confirman el control por difusión del del proceso estudiado. Por último, estudios de resonancia paramagnética electrónica (EPR) del material de manganeso no dopado, K-OMS2; y del mismo óxido dopado con distintos elementos metálicos ([M]-K-OMS2 donde M= Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Fe3+ y Ru3+) han demostrado la elevada concentración magnética de estos materiales fruto de la variedad de estados de oxidación del Mn (+2, +3 y +4) a nivel estructural y de los propios cationes metálicos incorporados en cada caso. Finalmente, la cinética de la reacción de oxidación de alcohol bencílico a benzaldehído en presencia de [Ru(2%)]-K - OMS2 se ha podido estudiar por EPR confirmando la formación de especies paramagnéticas de Mn y Ru en el transcurso de la misma. / [CA] La present tesi doctoral es situa en el marc de la síntesi d'òxids metàl·lics amb aplicacions en Catàlisis Heterogènia per a l'obtenció de productes de Química Fina d'alt interés industrial. En aquest cas concret s'han estudiat els òxids de manganès de tipus criptomelana, K -OMS2. En la primera part d'aquest treball s'ha tractat la síntesis de g - valerolactona a través de la reacció de carboesterificació entre l'estirè i l'anhídrid acètic utilitzant com a catalitzador l'òxid de manganès dopat amb coure, CuOx/K-OMS2. Els resultats catalítics obtinguts en aquest treball milloren els descrits en la bibliografia que utilitzen catalitzadors homogenis de la mateixa índole; y globalment presenten una millora de les condicions experimentals generals de treball. Al mateix temps, s'ha aconseguit dilucidar el mecanisme de reacció, el qual ha permès establir la coexistència de dos rutes de ciclació per a l'obtenció del producte. Paral·lelament s'ha aconseguit demostrar l'existència d'un efecte sinèrgic - a nivell superficial - entre el manganès de l'estructura i les espècies de Cu(II) disperses sobre la superfície de K - OMS2. Aquest efecte té com a origen els canvis que es produeixen a nivell electrònic en els àtoms de Mn i que milloren la reactivitat gràcies a la millor difusió dels àtoms d'oxigen estructural. A continuació, es presenta la síntesi d'un nou material basat en la incorporació de centres de Ru(III) en l'estructura de l'òxid de Mn de tipus criptomelana K - OMS2 a través de la substitució isomòrfica dels cations Mn(III) originals. A partir de diferents tècniques de caracterització s'ha aconseguit demostrar que el nou material està constituït exclusivament per una única fase pura de K - OMS2, on el Ru(III) s'ha incorporat perfectament en l'estructura de la xarxa constituint d'aquesta forma el material [Ru] - K - OMS2. Les conseqüències catalítiques d'aquesta substitució han estat estudiades a partir d'una reacció model: l'oxidació d'alcohols a aldehids. Això ha permès constatar que la conseqüència principal de la incorporació de Ru(III) és el debilitament de l'enllaç Mn - O, la qual facilita en gran mesura la reductibilitat de l'òxid. Això es tradueix en una millora substancial dels resultats catalítics respecte l'òxid de manganès original (K - OMS2) i també a altres òxids de manganès dopats superficialment amb Ru(III). En la tercera part d'aquesta tesis, es descriu l'estudi teòric mitjançant tècniques electroquímiques del spillover, un efecte catalític de gran importància i que s'origina en determinats suports metàl·lics. D'aquesta manera, a través de la tècnica electroquímica de (VIMP) s'han estudiat dits processos de spillover que tenen lloc en l'òxid de K - OMS2 quan es troba depositat sobre un elèctrode d'Au. El procés de spillover és clau per a poder entendre els processos catalítics que impliquen la difusió d'àtoms d'oxígens entre les diferents fases que constitueixen un catalitzador tipus metall - òxid, on aquest últim actua com a suport. A més a més, l'estudi dels fenòmens entre fases relacionats amb el moviment dels àtoms d'oxigen en un medi alcalí confirmen el control per difusió del procés d'estudi. Finalment, els estudis de ressonància paramagnètica electrònica (EPR) del material de manganès no dopat, K - OMS2; y del mateix òxid dopat amb diferents elements metàl·lics ([M] - K - OMS2 on M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Fe3+ i Ru3+) han demostrat l'elevada concentració magnètica d'aquests materials degut a la gran varietat d'estats d'oxidació que presenta el Mn (+2, +3 i +4) a nivell estructural i dels propis cations metàl·lics incorporats en cadascun dels casos. Per altra banda, l'elevada conductivitat elèctrica que presenten aquests materials dopats isomòrficament. Finalment, s'ha estudiat per mitjà d'aquesta tècnica la reacció d'oxidació de l'alcohol benzílic en presència de [Ru(2%) - K - OMS2. L'est / [EN] The present doctoral thesis is set within the synthesis of metallic oxides which can be used as heterogeneous catalyst for different purposes, as the of fine chemicals in the industry. We have studied the manganese oxides (IV) - type, cryptomelane (K - OMS2) that present numerous applications such as electronic devices, chemical sensors, for chemical separations and catalysts. It is due to the redox properties, benign for the environment and low cost. In the first part of this work, the synthesis of g - valerolactones have been obtained by a carboesterification reaction between styrene and anhydride acetic. Copper doped catalyst, CuOx/K-OMS2, has been used for this reaction. It has been able to improve the results obtained by homogeneous catalysts and the experimental conditions could also be smoothed. By the same token, reaction accounts for two possible reaction mechanisms. Moreover, a clear synergistic effect between copper and manganese - dispersed along the K - OMS2 surface - has been devised for CuOx/K-OMS2. This effect seems to come from electronic changes that are produced in the manganese atoms. Then, a new material was synthesized. It consisted on the insertion of ruthenium(III) species, Ru3+, into the manganese - oxygen framework (K - OMS2). This process was carried on trough an isomorphic substitution of structural manganese(III) cations for Ru3+. By combining X-ray diffraction, Raman, IR, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, differential and gravimetric thermal analysis and H2-temperature programmed¿ it can be said that the new material is a pure monophasic material containing ruthenium species isomorphically incorporated into the lattice. The most important consequence of the isomorphic substitution of Ru is the weakening of the Mn - O bond, a fact that has clear catalytic implications. In order to prove it, the oxidation of alcohols was taken as a model reaction, showing a complete selectivity towards the aldehyde and a clear improvement of the catalytic properties with respect the undoped catalyst (K-OMS2). Results obtained are better than other Ru(III) doped cryptomelane materials in which ruthenium species are deposited exclusively on the surface. The heterogeneity of the process has been confirmed and the catalyst has been recovered and reused without a significant loss of activity and catalytic properties. In another part of this thesis includes the theoretical study, using interface electrochemical techniques, of the spillover phenomena very common in catalytic reactions where metal supported catalysts are used. So, the voltammetry of immobilized particle methodology (VIMP) has been used in order to study spillover in K - OMS2 materials deposited on Au electrodes. The comprehension of this process has a huge importance in order to explain the interfacial oxygen atoms mobility in a metal - oxide type catalyst, where the oxide acts as a support. Also, the study of interfacial phenomena in alkaline media shows that are controlled by diffusion. Finally, electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies for the undoped (K - OMS2) and for doped materials [M] - K - OMS2 (where M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Fe3+ and Ru3+) showed a high magnetic concentration due to several manganese species, i.e. Mn2+, Mn3+ and Mn4+, as well as, the metallic species incorporated. For the case of doped materials [M] - K - OMS2 (M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+), we have not been able to elucidate the individual contribution of the cation respect to the Mn - O framework signal. But, despite this, we could detect that different ruthenium content into the K - OMS2 structure could induce the creation of different magnetic domains along the lattice. Lastly, EPR ex situ studies on the oxidation reaction of alcohol to benzaldehyde using [Ru(2%)]-K-OMS2 could confirm that Mn and Ru paramagnetic species are involved in the reaction mechanism. / Sabaté Fornons, F. (2021). Estudio, síntesis y caracterización de óxidos de manganeso de tipo criptomelana y aplicaciones catalíticas [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/167054 / TESIS

Le monoxyde d'azote est exclusivement synthétisé chez les mammifères par une famille d’hémoprotéines, les NO-Synthases. Le cœur de l’activité des NO-Synthases est l’activation de l’oxygène c'est-à-dire l’activation de l’intermédiaire réactionnel FeIIO2. Cette étape est contrôlée par la réactivité intrinsèque du fer, par les transferts de proton et les transferts d’électron. Elle doit être parfaitement maîtrisée car elle contrôle le chemin catalytique emprunté et la nature du produit final. Comprendre l’étape d’activation de l’oxygène est essentiel à la compréhension du rôle biologique et/ou pathologique de la NO-Synthase de mammifère. Cette question s'étend aux NO-Synthases bactériennes pour lesquelles on ne connait ni le mécanisme moléculaire ni la fonction biologique. Ce manuscrit propose une analyse approfondie de l’étape d’activation de l’oxygène de la NO-Synthase. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié l’influence de l’environnement proximal sur la réactivité intrinsèque du fer et l’activation de l’oxygène. Nous avons généré des protéines mutées qui modifient les propriétés électroniques de la liaison proximale de l’hème. Ces protéines mutées ont été caractérisées par différentes spectroscopies (résonance paramagnétique électronique, Raman de résonance). Dans un second temps nous avons directement étudié le complexe FeIIO2, en présence d’analogues de substrat, grâce à des analyses de cinétique rapide en flux continu et en flux arrêté (stopped-flow). Dans un troisième temps, le rôle du cofacteur tetrahydrobioptérine dans le transfert de proton et d’électron a été étudié par une méthode de piégeage à des temps très courts : le freeze-quench. L'ensemble de nos résultats montrent que l’activation de l’oxygène est régulée par les propriétés électro-donneuses du ligand proximal et par le réseau de liaisons H distal. Nous mettons en évidence des différences dans le rôle redox du cofacteur tetrahydrobioptérine entre la NO-Synthase de mammifère et la NO-Synthase bactérienne. La difficulté majeure pour comprendre l’étape d’activation de l’oxygène de la NO-Synthase réside dans la complexité et la rapidité de la réaction catalytique. Dans ce contexte, nous avons cherché à adapter une méthodologie qui a prouvé son efficacité dans le cas des cytochromes P450 : la cryo-réduction couplée à des sauts en température. / Nitric oxide is exclusively synthesized by NO-Synthases in mammals. The heart of the NO-synthase activity is oxygen activation, which corresponds to the activation of the FeIIO2 intermediate. This step depends on the heme electronic properties and on the electron and proton transfers. Oxygen activation has to be well mastered to control exactly the nature of the end-product. Understanding the oxygen activation step is necessary to better understand the biological/pathological role of the mammalian NO-Synthases. Furthermore, bacterial NO-Synthases function and oxygen activation mechanism are unknown. This PhD work proposes a deep analysis of the oxygen activation step in NO-Synthases. First, proximal environment has been studied with mutated proteins. These mutations impact the electronic properties of the heme proximal bond. Spectroscopic analyses of these mutants have been done by electron paramagnetic resonance and resonance Raman. Then, we have studied the FeIIO2 intermediate with substrate analogs which has necessitated continuous flow and stopped-flow analyses. Finally, the role of the tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor in the electron and proton transfer has been studied and clarified thanks to a very fast trapping method : the freeze-quench. Our results show that the oxygen activation step is elaborately controlled by the proximal bond electron donation and the distal H bond network. At the same time we show some differences between mammalian and bacterial NO-Synthases concerning the redox role of the tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor. The major obstacle to understand the oxygen activation step resides in the complexity of the active site chemistry and the rate of catalytic reactions. For this reason, we propose to adapt an already successful protocol to trap some intermediates in the cytochromes P450 mechanism : cryo-reduction coupled with temperature jumps.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Junaine Vasques da Silva - 2002.pdf: 3727327 bytes, checksum: 4cb8c1db4d3fb95798779f39aae78673 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-12-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The main function of the most superficial layer of the epidermis, the Stratum Corneum (SC), is to provide a physical barrier that controls the transepidermal water loss as well as the permeation of another substances in both directions across the skin. The SC is formed by anabolically dead cells, the terminally differentiated corneocyte, and its function is essentially accomplished by forming a highly insoluble protein structure on the surface of the corneocytes, termed the cornified cell envelope, and by impeding water diffusion across the SC by mortaring the corneocytes together by layers of skin-specific lipids, essentially ceramide, cholesterol and fatty acid. In this work the cell envelope of the SC was spin labeled with a sulfhydryl-specific nitroxide reagent to investigate the water content effects upon the protein dynamics directly in the intact tissue. A two-state model for the nitroxide side chain described the coexistence of two spectral components in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. The so-called strongly immobilized component, S, is associated with the EPR signal of a motionally restricted nitroxide fraction having its N-O group hydrogen bonded to protein (rigid structure) while the weakly immobilized component, W, corresponds to the signal provided by the spin labels with higher mobility (~10 times greater) exposed to the aqueous environment. The relative populations between these two mobility states, S and W, are in thermodynamic equilibrium. The standard Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes for transferring the nitroxide side chain from the state contacting the solvent, W, to the one contacting protein, S, indicated that the reduction of the SC water content to below ~h 0.69, g H2O per g dry SC, stabilizes the protein interacting state, S. Upon decreasing the SC hydration level below ~h 0.69 the segmental motion of the polypeptide chains and the rotational motion of the spin-labeled side chain were also constrained. To test our methodology in a pure and very well known protein, we also studied the effects of two types of detergents on the bovine serum albumin (BSA). Both detergents, the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the zwitterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonium-1-propanesulfonate (HPS) increase the mobility of the protein backbone and of the nitroxide side chain. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that these detergents destabilize the protein favoring less compact conformations. This work can also be useful to improve the spectral analysis of site-directed spin labeling, especially for a more quantitative description in terms of thermodynamic parameters. / A camada mais superficial da epiderme, o Estrato Córneo (EC), tem como função principal a formação de uma barreira física que controla a perda de água do corpo bem como a permeação de outras substâncias em ambas as direções da pele. O EC é formado por células anabolicamente mortas, os corneócitos, os quais sofreram diferenciação celular terminal, e sua função é realizada formando uma estrutura de proteínas altamente insolúveis na superfície do corneócito, chamada de envelope celular, e também uma matriz lipídica, essencialmente ceramídios, colesterol e ácidos graxos, que dificultam a difusão da água. Neste trabalho, o EC foi marcado com marcadores de spin específicos para reagir com os grupos sulfidrilas das proteínas, para investigar os efeitos do conteúdo de água na dinâmica de proteínas diretamente no tecido intacto. Um modelo de dois estados para a cadeia lateral do nitróxido descreveu a coexistência de duas componentes espectrais de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (RPE). A componente denominada fortemente imobilizada (S), surge de uma fração de marcadores com o átomo de oxigênio do nitróxido ligado à proteína (estrutura rígida) enquanto a componente fracamente imobilizada é gerada pelos marcadores com mobilidade mais alta (~10 vezes maior) e expostos ao ambiente aquoso. As populações relativas entre estes dois estados de mobilidade, S e W, estão em equilíbrio termodinâmico. Os parâmetros da termodinâmica: energia livre padrão de Gibbs, entalpia e entropia, envolvidos na transferência da cadeia lateral do nitróxido do estado W, contatando ao solvente, para o estado S, contatando a proteína, indicaram que a redução do conteúdo de água para abaixo de ~0.69g de H2O por g de EC seco, estabiliza o estado S (cadeia lateral do nitróxido dobrada sobre a cadeia principal da proteína). Ao diminuir o nível de hidratação para abaixo de ~ h 0.69 (g H2o/g EC seco) o movimento local da cadeia polipeptídica e o movimento rotacional da cadeia lateral do marcador de spin foram ambos reduzidos. Para testar nossa metodologia em uma proteína pura e bem conhecida, estudamos os efeitos de dois tipos de detergentes sobre a albumina do soro bovino (BSA). Ambos os detergentes, o aniônico dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) e o ziteriônico N-hexadecil-N,N-dimetil-3-amônio-1-propanosulfonato (HPS) aumentaram a mobilidade da cadeia principal da proteína e da cadeia lateral do nitróxido. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos indicaram que estes detergentes desestabilizam a proteína favorecendo conformações menos compactas. Os resultados do presente trabalho também podem contribuir para aprimorar a

Polycrystalline Zn1-xCrxO (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.09) samples synthesized by solid state reaction technique were sintered at different temperatures following slow step sintering schedule. Structural, micro-structural, optical, magnetic properties and homogeneity were investigated using suitable characterisation techniques. Cr2O3 and CrO2 phases have been detected in the XRD patterns and Raman spectra of Zn1-xCrxO samples with x ≥ 0.05. Photoluminescence study has indicated improved optical property of the samples compared to undoped ZnO. While low percentage Cr doped samples showed diamagnetic behaviour, higher percentage doped samples (≥ 5%) exhibited ferromagnetic, paramagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic behaviours depending upon the sintering temperatures. The magnetic properties have been analysed through Electron Spin Resonance study. A g-value of 1.97 indicates Cr in +3 valence state in doped ZnO system. Presence of Cr3+ and Cr4+ in ZnO is understood to facilitate super exchange interactions to promote ferromagnetism at room temperature. ESR study shows improved magnetic homogeneity achieved by slow step sintering process. / Physics / M. Sc. (Physics)

Le principal objectif de ce travail est le développement, l'application et la validation de nouveaux traceurs hydrogéologiques sur la base de signatures spectrales spécifiques des matières organiques dissoutes (MOD) et du suivi de leur évolution dans les hydrosystèmes karstiques méditerranéens. Pour cela, de nombreuses analyses hydrodynamiques et hydrochimiques ont été réalisées, et plusieurs méthodes de caractérisation de la MOD ont été utilisées. Le travail s'est alors fondé sur l'étude de différents niveaux du bassin expérimental de la Fontaine de Vaucluse (sol, épikarst et zone non saturée), grâce à un accès privilégié rendu possible par le Laboratoire Souterrain à Bas Bruit de Rustrel-Pays d'Apt (Vaucluse, France). Un bon traceur hydrogéologique requiert des caractéristiques particulières (solubilité dans l'eau, stabilité, tendance faible à l'adsorption, limite de détection faible et des variations bien identifiables). Les composés organiques correspondant le mieux à ces critères sont des substances dérivées de la décomposition de la lignine. Leurs différentes caractéristiques et leurs faibles concentrations dans l'hydrosystème poussent à utiliser des modes de détection suffisamment sensibles tels que la spectrométrie de fluorescence et la Résonance Paramagnétique Électronique (RPE). L’application conjointe des analyses en RPE et en spectrofluorimétrie sur les lixiviats de sols et les eaux souterraines du LSBB permet de proposer deux protocoles de traçages hydrogéologiques. Le premier concerne la détermination des zones superficielles de sol appartenant au bassin d’alimentation des écoulements suivis. Le second, s'appuyant notamment sur l'évolution et la dynamique des MOD dans l'hydrosystème, correspond au développement de traceurs quantitatifs du temps de transit de l'eau pouvant s’appliquer de manière évènementielle par le marquage d’une période particulière de leur variation, ou en continu permettant ainsi le suivi des variations du temps de transit. Enfin, le rapprochement des résultats obtenus par ces nouveaux traceurs organiques avec ceux d'un traceur isotopique (l'oxygène 18) a permis de tester la validité des calculs du temps de transit, mais aussi de démontrer leur complémentarité / The aim of this study is to develop, apply and validate new hydrogeological tracers, based on specific spectral fingerprints of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM), and a monitoring of their evolution in Mediterranean karstic hydrosystems. Many hydrodynamic and hydrochemical analyses were made, and several DOM characterization methods were used. The basis of this work is therefore the study of different levels of Fontaine de Vaucluse experimental basin (soil, epikarst and unsaturated zone), thanks to a privileged access : the Low-Noise Underground Laboratory of Rustrel - Pays d’Apt (Vaucluse, France). Good hydrogeological tracers require specific characteristics (water solubility, stability, a low tendency to adsorption, a low detection limit and identifiable variations). Organic compounds, corresponding to these criterions at best, are lignin-derived compounds. Their different characteristics and their low concentrations in the hydrosystem drive us to use sensitive enough detection methods, such as fluorescence spectrometry and Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). Linked application of EPR and spectrofluorimetric analyses of leachate soil and LSBB groundwater allow to develop two hydrogeological tracing protocols. The first one concerns the determination of upper soil zone, which belongs to monitoring flow catchment area. The second one, using the evolution and the dynamics of DOM in the hydrosystem, corresponds to the development of transit time qualitative tracers, which apply either in an event-driven way by the marking of specific period of their variations, or continuously allowing the monitoring of transit time variations. Finally, the comparison between the results obtained by these new organic tracers and by an isotopic tracer (18 Oxygen) allows to validate transit time calculations and prove their complementarity