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Photolumineszenz-Techniken spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Charakterisierung verschiedener funktionaler Fluorophore in den Lebens- und Materialwissenschaften, in der Biologie und bis hin zu den Quantentechnologien. Ein entscheidender und wichtiger Parameter für den Vergleich von Fluorophoren ist die Quanteneffizienz, die ein direktes Maß für die Umwandlungseffizienz von absorbierten Photonen in emittierte Photonen darstellt. Diese Größe charakterisiert die Nutzbarkeit von Emittern für Anwendungen in optischen Geräten, Einzelphotonenquellen und im biomedizinischen Bereich. Mehrere Techniken wie optische und photothermische Methoden werden verwendet, um die photolumineszente Quanteneffizienz zu messen, und so die Eignung von Fluorophoren für verschiedene Anwendungen zu bewerten. Quanteneffizienz-Messungen können jedoch eine Herausforderung für hochverdünnte Fluorophore sein, die in dünne Schichten eingebettet sind. Die in dieser Arbeit beschriebene Forschung überwindet die Herausforderungen der Quanteneffizienzmessung durch eine Modifikation der Wechselwirkung zwischen Licht und Umgebung. / Photoluminescence techniques play an important role for characterization of various functional fluorophores in the life and material sciences from biology to quantum technologies. A crucial and key parameter for comparing the performance of fluorophores is the photoluminescence quantum efficiency or quantum yield, which presents a direct measure of conversion efficiency of absorbed photons into emitted photons. This quantity characterizes the performance of emitters for applications in optical devices as single photon sources and in the biomedical sector. Several techniques such as optical and photothermal methods are used to measure the photoluminescence quantum efficiency of emitters in various environments and aggregation states. Quantum efficiency measurements can be challenging for fluorophores in solid matrix, in scattering systems and for highly diluted fluorophores embedded to thin films. The research described in this thesis overcomes these challenges by performing quantum efficiency measurement via modifying the spontaneous emission as a fundamental process of light-matter interaction.

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Le concept de composés appelés FFS, pour faux substrats fluorescents (ou FFN pour les neurotransmetteurs), a été introduit par le groupe du Dr Sames qui a conçu et optimisé des molécules fluorescentes reconnues comme substrats par le Transporteur Vésiculaire de Monoamine (VMAT2). Ces composés, une fois accumulés dans des vésicules synaptiques, ont permis la visualisation de l’activité neuronale monoaminergique en temps réel. Ce concept a servi d’hypothèse pour ce travail de thèse. En effet, nous avons conçu, synthétisé et évalué la potentialité de deux familles chimiques comme substrats fluorescents de transporteurs de la famille SLC17 : VNUT (transporteur vésiculaire de nucléotides) et la Sialine (transporteur d’acide sialique). Les molécules fluorescentes synthétisées devront être capables de remplacer/mimer les substrats naturels de VNUT et de la Sialine (respectivement l’ATP et le Neu-5-Ac) et de couvrir une large gamme de longueurs d’ondes d’émission pour nous adapter aux problématiques biologiques. L’élaboration de tels composés a été effectuée par conception rationnelle en synergie avec les résultats des tests d’inhibition et de transport et à partir de touches issues du criblage virtuel. Deux composés ont été plus particulièrement étudiés. D’une part, l’ATP a été modifiée en remplaçant le motif adénine par un fluorophore (éthéno, coumarines, quinoléines…). D’autre part, une touche virtuelle (Fmoc-Lys(Cbz)-OH) issue d’un vHTS sur la Sialine a été sélectionnée pour sa structure facilement modifiable, qui a permis l’incorporation aisée de motifs fluorescents. Une cinquantaine de composés a donc été synthétisée et évaluée pour leur capacité d’inhibition ou de substrat sur les cibles sélectionnées. Les résultats prometteurs de plusieurs composés en tant qu’inhibiteur laissent de nombreuses perspectives pour la compréhension de la machinerie vésiculaire. / The concept of compounds called FFSs for false fluorescent substrates (or FFNs for neurotransmitters) was introduced by the group of Dr Sames who designed and optimized fluorescent molecules recognized as substrates by the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter (VMAT2). Once accumulated in synaptic vesicules, these compounds have allowed visualization of the monoaminergic neuronal activity in real time. This concept has been used as hypothesis for this thesis work. Indeed, we have designed, synthesized and evaluated the potential of two chemical families as fluorescent substrates of SLC17 transporter family: VNUT (Vesicular Nucleotide Transporter) and Sialin (sialic acid transporter). The synthesized fluorescent molecules must be able to replace/mimic the natural substrates of VNUT and Sialin ( ATP and Neu-5-Ac, respectively) and to cover a wide range of emission wavelengths to deal with biological problems. The development of such compounds was performed by rational design in synergy with the results of inhibition and transport tests and by virtual screening. Two compounds have been specifically studied. On one hand, ATP was modified by replacing the adenine pattern by a fluorophore (etheno, coumarins, quinolines…). On the other hand, a virtual hit (Fmoc-Lys(Cbz)-OH), derived from vHTS targeted to Sialin, was selected for the ease to incorporate fluorescent patterns. Therefore, fifty compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory or substrate ability on selected targets. The promising results of several compounds as inhibitors give rise to perspectives for understanding vesicular machinery.

<p>The aims of this study are to first immobilize positively charged gold nanorods to negatively charged cell culture surfaces. Second, to use polyelectrolytes for controlling the distance between gold nanorods and fluorophores. This is used to optimally determine the distance, of which maximum fluorescence enhancement is achieved, between gold nanorods and fluorophores. In order to approach these aims, we use UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometry. The results show that we could control the immobilization of gold nanorods on plastic microwell plates and create reproducible polyelectrolyte layers, in order to control the distance between the gold nanorods and fluorophores. In addition, the localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength red shifted as the PELs increased. In conclusion, we found that the maximum fluorescence enhancement of the fluorophores (Cy7) is about 2.3 times at a fluorophores-nanoparticles separation of approximately 9-12 nm. This work contributes some research information towards the design of optical biochip platforms based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence.</p>

The aims of this study are to first immobilize positively charged gold nanorods to negatively charged cell culture surfaces. Second, to use polyelectrolytes for controlling the distance between gold nanorods and fluorophores. This is used to optimally determine the distance, of which maximum fluorescence enhancement is achieved, between gold nanorods and fluorophores. In order to approach these aims, we use UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometry. The results show that we could control the immobilization of gold nanorods on plastic microwell plates and create reproducible polyelectrolyte layers, in order to control the distance between the gold nanorods and fluorophores. In addition, the localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength red shifted as the PELs increased. In conclusion, we found that the maximum fluorescence enhancement of the fluorophores (Cy7) is about 2.3 times at a fluorophores-nanoparticles separation of approximately 9-12 nm. This work contributes some research information towards the design of optical biochip platforms based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence.

Rice starch contains two types of glucose polymers, mainly linear amylose and hyper-branched amylopectin. Waxy rice has been characterised by the lack of amylose, the proportion of which being one of the most important parameters measured for rice quality. Germplasm collection work conducted in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has previously demonstrated the diversity of this type of rice in terms of quality. The definition of a waxy rice variety is dependent on the meaning of amylose. The conventional method for determining amylose content has shown that waxy rice could have up to 5% amylose. However, including a 0% amylose standard in the standard curve causes the amylose content of these varieties to become 0-2%. In this work, the absence of amylose in waxy rice has been determined through three different approaches. Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSS1), the enzyme which synthesises amylose, was not detected in waxy rice. Long linear chains associated with amylose were also not detected by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The absence of these long chains affected functional properties of waxy rice, as indicated by the differences in viscosity curves between waxy and non-waxy rice. Moreover, these waxy varieties themselves exhibit differences in their viscosity curves, another indication of the diversity in coking properties in these varieties. A new approach, the ‘lnP(N) technique’, in analysing chain length distributions was applied to varieties with known mutations in two of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of amylopectin, and in determining gelatinisation temperature. It was determined that the presence of a novel feature, an interruption to linearity at DP 18-24, of the lnP(N) plot was found in rice samples with mutations in the alk gene, which codes for starch synthase (SS) IIa, and in samples with inactive branching enzyme (BE) IIb. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene coding for SSIIa have been associated with lowered gelatinisation temperature. On the other hand, non-functionality of BEIIb changes the amylopectin structure such that gelatinisation temperature is increased. The novel feature of the lnP(N) plot is found when either or both SSIIa and BEIIb are non-functional. Waxy rice starch has hot-water-soluble (HWS) and insoluble (HWI) components. It has been confirmed that the soluble polysaccharides are structurally different from phytoglycogen, and are similar to amylopectin. Structural differences between the two fractions, which can account for their differences in solubility, were determined. At the level of the chain length distribution, the HWI fraction contained long chains not found in the HWS fraction. Considerable amounts of sucrose and glucose were found in the HWS fraction. At another level of structure, the degree of branching of the HWS components was higher than in the HWI fraction. On the other hand, the whole molecules of the HWS fraction were smaller than those of the HWI fraction. These structural differences between the two fractions potentially affected their physical behaviour, particularly solubility. The amount of leached material appears to be a property of the method, as varying cooking conditions changed the amount of HWS components. This amount reaches equilibrium at certain conditions, indicating the limited amount of the HWS material. On the other hand, the HWI component contains molecules that are insoluble in water, rather than molecules that solubilise slowly. Given the stability of the HWS fraction in solution, the ratio of the HWS fraction to the HWI fraction could potentially be used in measuring quality if the amount of the HWS fraction is variety-specific. However, the quantity of the HWS fraction appears to be a feature of the starch, rather than of the variety. Nevertheless, the fact that the soluble fraction is structurally and thermodynamically different from the insoluble fraction could presumably be grounds to classify the soluble component as a group of molecules distinct from amylopectin.

Platinum-based chemotherapeutics are used for the treatment of a wide range of cancers and a number of attempts have been made toward developing compounds with better cellular stability and similar or enhanced cytotoxicity as compared to their predecessors. The first part of the work reported here focuses on the cellular effects of the metabolically stable dinuclear platinum compound, BBR3610-DACH. Comet assay showed this compound to form interstrand crosslinks, a highly toxic DNA lesion in HCT116 cells, at equimolar concentrations to its parental compound, BBR3610. Cell cycle studies showed that BBR3610-DACH causes G1/S and G2/M cell cycle arrest with S phase depletion, which was p21 dependent and partially p53 dependent in contrast to BBR3610 which showed initial S phase accumulation followed by a classical G2/M arrest. BBR3610-DACH-induced G1/S and G2/M cell cycle arrest interestingly was found to be independent of the DNA damage response mediated via the activation of ATM and ATR kinases. Also, the cell cycle arrest culminated in apoptosis, although apparently through a non-canonical pathway. The second project explores the cellular effects of trans-4-NBD which is a fluorescent derivative of transplatin. Like cisplatin, trans-4-NBD induced interstrand crosslinks in HCT116 cells as detected by the comet assay. Treatment with trans-4-NBD showed a G2/M arrest in HCT116 cells and a transient S phase accumulation in A2780 cells, with a marked increase in p53 and p21 protein levels. A robust apoptotic response is also seen via caspase activation and PARP cleavage in both the cell lines. Finally, the focus is shifted toward the nucleolar targeting platinum complex, TriplatinNC. Confocal studies in TriplatinNC-treated HCT116 and A2780 cells showed disruption of rRNA transcription as an early event followed by a robust G1 cell cycle arrest. Apoptotic induction was observed with the onset of cellular morphological changes and apparent caspase activation which was independent of the p53 status of the cells. Overall, these studies explore novel platinum based compounds that show promising anti-cancer activities by affecting various facets of cellular signaling.

Neste trabalho foi sintetizado o corante (E)-2-[3-[4-(difenilamina)-fenil]-1-(p-tolil)- alilideno]-malononitrila (DFTAM), a partir da reação de condensação entre 4- (difenilamino)-benzaldeído e 2- [1- (4- metilfenil)-etilideno]-malononitrila, com catálise básica de piperidina. O produto obtido foi purificado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC) e caracterizado pelas técnicas de espectrometria de massas, ressonância magnética nuclear de 13C e 1H e espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier. Para estudar suas propriedades fotofísicas, espectros de absorção e emissão de fluorescência, decaimento de fluorescência e espectro de absorção de transientes foram feitos em diferentes solventes, variando-se a polaridade e viscosidade do meio. Duas bandas de absorção foram observadas, uma em 303 nm e outra em cerca de 490 nm, a qual apresentou deslocamento batocrômico com o aumento da polaridade do solvente. Para essa região de excitação a banda de emissão variou entre 517 e 630 nm, com o aumento da polaridade do meio. Os decaimentos de fluorescência mostraram duas componentes, uma na ordem de picossegundos e a outra de nanossegundos. Os experimentos de absorção de transientes apresentaram três espécies, uma mais longa (maior que 10 ms) e duas outras de cerca 2 e 22 &mu;s. Surfactantes catiônicos, não iônico, e aniônico também foram usados para produzir micelas e fazer os experimentos já citados. Pôde-se observar que o corante interagiu com as micelas, melhorando sua fluorescência e aumentando o tempo de vida do estado singleto. Por fim, acompanhou-se in situ, através da técnica de microscopia TIRF, a reação de formação de DFTAM a nível single molecule com catalise básica de nanopartículas de MgO e lamínulas de vidro funcionalizadas com piperazina. Através da intermitência de fluorescência dos filmes feitos de ambas as amostras, observou-se a formação de moléculas do corante através de ciclos de catálise da piperazina. / In this project the synthesis of (E) -2- [3- [4- (diphenylamine) phenyl] -1- (p-tolyl) - allylidene] -malononitrile (DFTAM) dye, from the condensation reaction between 4- (diphenylamino) benzaldehyde and 2- [1- (4-methylphenyl) ethylidene]-malononitrile using piperidine basic catalysis has been achieved. The dye was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and characterized by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance 13C and 1H and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. To study DFTAM photophysical properties, absorption and fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence decay and transient absorption spectrum were recorded in solvents with different polarity and viscosity. Two absorption bands of DFTAM were observed, the first one at 303 nm was solvent independent while the second one at about 490 nm, had bathochromic shift with increasing polarity of the medium. In the visible region of excitation the maximum of the dye emission band observed varied between 517 and 630 nm, upon increasing solvent polarity. Fluorescence decays showed two distinct components, a fast one in picosecond time scale and a slow one in nanoseconds. Transient absorption experiments indicated the presence of three species with different lifetimes, one longer than 10 ms and the other two with lifetimes about 2 and 22 &mu;s. Cationic, nonionic, anionic surfactants were also used to produce micelles for easy solubilization of DFTAM. It was observed that the dye interacted with the micelles, improving its fluorescence yield and lifetime. Finally, the DFTAM formation reaction was monitored in situby TIRF wide field microscopy technique at single molecule level. The basic catalysis was tested for MgO nanoparticles and glass surface functionalized with bound piperazine. Through the fluorescence intermittency time trace obtained from TIRF movies, the discrete formation of dye molecules was only observed in the case of piperazine catalytic cycles.

Mittels NMR-Spektroskopie werden Störungen in Struktur und Dynamik von DNA untersucht, die durch den Einbau jeweils eines der beiden Fluorophore 2- Aminopurin (2AP) und 2-Hydroxy-7-nitrofluoren (HNF) hervorgerufen werden. Zu diesem Zweck werden die NMR-Strukturen der modifizierten Duplexe mit der Sequenz 5’-GCTGCAXACGTCG-3’ berechnet. Im Fall X=2AP (13mer2AP) ist die Partnerbase im Komplementärstrang ein T, während gegenüber X=HNF (13mer- HNF) eine abasische Stelle eingeführt wird. Durch den Vergleich der Ergebnisse zum 13mer2AP mit denjenigen des entsprechenden unmodifizierten DNA Doppelstranges (13merRef, X=A) konnte jegliche Änderung eindeutig dem Einbau von 2AP zugordnet werden. Für die NMR-Strukturen von 13merRef und 13mer2AP können kleine aber signifikante, über die gesamte Helix verteilte Strukturstörungen nachgewiesen werden. Experimente zum Iminoprotonenaustausch mit Wasser ergeben, daß der Einbau von 2AP die Basenpaarlebensdauern der 7 zentralen Basenpaare erniedrigt. Die kürzere Lebensdauer des 2AP:T Basenpaares kann jedoch nicht den schnellen Wasseraustausch im Sättigungstransfer- Experiment ohne Zugabe von Basenkatalysator erklären. Als Erklärung für diese Diskrepanz wird eine effizientere intrinsische Katalyse vermutet. Als mögliche, katalytisch aktive Stelle wird das T O4 Atom diskutiert, welches über die große Furche leicht zugänglich ist und das keine Wasserstoffbrückenbindung innerhalb des Basenpaares ausbilden kann. Die übergeordnete Struktur des 13merHNF ist eine B-Form DNA Helix. Die NOE Kreuzpeaks zu den Protonen im HNF können jedoch nur durch zwei verschiedene Orientierungen des HNFs in der helikalen Anordnung beschrieben werden. Das Verhältnis der beiden Orientierungen untereinander wird als 1:1 abgeschätzt. Störungen in der Basenpaardynamik werden durch die höhere Linienbreite und die starke Hochfeldverschiebung des T auf der 5’-Seite ausgehend von der abasischen Stelle angedeutet. / Structural and dynamic perturbations in DNA upon incorporation of either fluorophore, 2-Aminopurine (2AP) or 2-Hydroxy-7-nitrofluorene (HNF), are characterized by NMR spectroscopy. For this purpose the NMR solution structures of the modified DNA duplexes with the sequence 5’-GCTGCAXACGTCG-3’ are solved. For X=2AP (13mer2AP) the partner base in the complementary strand is T, while for X=HNF (13merHNF) an abasic site is introduced to avoid steric strain. By comparing results on 13mer2AP with the corresponding unmodified DNA duplex (13merRef, X=A), any perturbation can be unambiguously assigned to 2AP incorporation. For the NMR solution structure of 13merRef and 13mer2AP small but significant changes in helical parameters are found throughout the helix. Imino proton exchange measurements reveal an extended, distributed effect of 2AP incorporation on the lifetimes of the central seven base pair. However, the reduced base pair lifetime of 2AP:T cannot fully account for the rapid water exchange observed with saturation transfer experiments in the absence of base catalyst. This indicates enhanced intrinsic catalysis. As a possible catalytic site the T O4 atom opposite 2AP is discussed, which is easily accessible through the major groove and lacks a hydrogen bonding partner within the base pair. The overall NMR solution structure is found to be B-DNA. However the NOE cross-peaks involving the HNF residue can only be accounted for by two different orientations of the HNF inside the DNA helical stack. Their population ratio is estimated to be 1:1. Dynamical perturbation is indicated by the increased linewidth and strong upfield shift of the T residue to the 5’-side of the abasic site.