Thesis (MScMedSc (Biomedical Sciences. Molecular Biology and Human Genetics. Medical Biochemistry))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Connexins (Cx) are major proteins of gap junctions, dynamic pores mediating the relay of ions and metabolites between cells. Cxs 40, 43 and 45 are the predominant cardiac isoforms and their distinct distribution raises questions about their functional differences. Their cytoplasmic (C)-terminal domains are involved in protein-protein interactions. Furthermore, mutations in the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK)-causative gene are associated with disruptions in cardiac conduction similar to that described for Cx knock-out mice. DMPK is a Cx43 ligand, raising the possibility that defects in Cx40 ligands may be involved in the development of cardiac conduction disturbances. We hypothesised that delineation of the protein ligands of the C-termini of Cx40 and of Cx45 (parallel study conducted by N Nxumalo) would help elucidate their functional roles. Yeast-two-hybrid methodology was used to identify putative Cx40 ligands. Primers were designed to amplify the C-terminus-encoding domain of the human Cx40 gene (Cx40), the DNA product was cloned into the pGBKT7 vector which was used to screen a cardiac cDNA library in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Successive selection stages reduced the number of putative Cx40 ligand-containing colonies (preys) from 324 to 33. The DNA sequences of the 33 ligands were subjected to BLAST-searches and internet database literature searches to assign identity and function and to exclude false positive ligands based on subcellular location and function. Eleven plausible ligands were identified: cysteine-rich protein 2 (CRP2), beta-actin (ACTB), creatine kinase, muscle type (CKM), myosin, heavy polypeptide 7 (MYH7), mucolipin1 (MCOLN1), voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2), aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), DEAH box polypeptide 30 (DHX30), NADH dehydrogenase, 6, (NDUFA6), prosaposin (PSAP) and filamin A (FLNA). Cxs 40 and 45 showed differences in the classes of proteins with which they interacted; the majority of putative Cx40 interactors were cytoplasmic proteins, while Cx45 interactors were mitochondrial proteins. These results suggest that Cxs 40 and 45 are not only functionally different, but may also have different cellular distributions. Further analyses of these protein interactions will shed light on the independent roles of Cxs 40 and 45.

Thesis (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) modulate many physiological functions in the human body and synthetic GCs are the most effective therapy in the treatment of inflammation, autoimmune and endocrine disorders. However, the long-term usage of synthetic GCs is associated with severe side-effects. GCs mediate their effects through the ligand-dependent transcription factor, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), either by causing an increase (transactivation) or a decrease (transrepression) in gene transcription. The bioactivity of a ligand in GR-mediated transcriptional regulation is established by a transcriptional doseresponse curve, where the potency (EC50 value) and the efficacy (maximal response) of the ligand are determined. A central question is how different GR ligands elicit their differential physiological responses for the same gene in the same cell. The main aim of this thesis is to investigate if the phosphorylation of GR at serine 211 (Ser211) correlates with the potency and/or efficacy of a particular ligand in transactivation and transrepression of gene expression.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Please refer to full text for abstract

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / A comprehensive, comparative structural study of gold(I), gold(II) and gold(III) compounds with the general formula [Aux(C6F5)y(tht)z] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) was performed. The series of compounds included the unprecedented dinucleur gold(II) compound, tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)bis(tetrahydrothiophene)digold(II), which could be prepared in a rational manner. This very unique compound represents the first example of an unbridged dinucleur gold(II) compound in which the gold(II) centres are not stabilised by chelating ligands. Formation of this compound was postulated to have taken place by radical pentafluorophenyl (pfp) ligand migration along with AuII–AuII bond formation. It may therefore be regarded as a rare example of labile behaviour by a generally inert pfp ligand. In addition to this compound, the crystal and molecular structures of the wellknown gold(I) and gold(III) precursor compounds, (pentafluorophenyl)(tetrahydrothiophene) gold(I) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)(tetrahydrothiophene)gold(III) were carried out and are described for the first time. The latter underwent a unique mononuclear ligand rearrangement (metathesis or disproportionation) reaction in solution to yield the novel rearrangement product, bis(pentafluorophenyl)bis(tetrahydrothiophene)gold(III)tetrakis- (pentafluorophenyl)gold(III). In all the complexes, the Au–C and Au–S bond lengths displayed a variation which appears to be dependent on the oxidation state of the central gold atom. Both of these bond types were found to descrease in the order Au(II) > Au(III) > Au(I)...

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / In this study the coordination of ligands with several coordination sites, 2-aminoazoles (2- amino-4-methylthiazole), 2-aminobenzothiazole, 2-aminobenzoimidazole and 2- aminothiazoline and a biguanidine (N-(2-methylphenyl)imidodicarbonimidic diamide) to soft metal centres [gold(I) (group 11), chromium(0) (group 6) and tungsten (0) (group 6)] was investigated. The aminoazoles have three coordination sites, an exocyclic amine nitrogen, an endocyclic imine nitrogen and an endocyclic thioether sulphur. The biguanidine ligand has three sites for deprotonation, one central amine and two imine nitrogens, and at least five sites available for nitrogen coordination.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / In this study, the coordination of certain Group 6 and Group 10 & 11 metals to Odonor and S-donor ligands were investigated. For the most part, this involved the isolation of new Mo(VI) and W(VI) complexes. By using a distribution diagram that shows the dependence of the type of species in solution with pH, we attempted to crystallize new polyoxoanion species of the two metals. It was found that the products that crystallize are not necessarily dependant upon the relative concentrations of the species in solution, but rather on the effective packing of the crystal types that are prepared. During this study a unique W(VI) polyanion, [(CH3CH2)4N]2[W6O19] (4), was isolated. The Mo(VI) analogue of this compound as well as the dinuclear Mo(VI)-W(VI) complex have been reported previously, but a pure W(VI) compound of this type has not been successfully isolated yet. A new polymorph of a known dimolybdate, K2Mo2O7·H2O (1), was also crystallized, even though dimolybdate species do not generally occur in solution. This structure, although previously reported, shows some differences with the one in the literature, in particular large deviations in unit cell dimensions. Subsequently, as a second component of this study, a variety of carboxylates were coordinated to Mo(VI) and W(VI) species in an acidic medium. Two new complexes of Mo(VI) with these carboxylate ligands were isolated: [(CH3CH2)4N][MoO3(mal)]·H2O (5) (mal = malate) and Na6[Mo2O5(cit)2] (6) (cit = citrate). The ligands are two- and threefold deprotonated respectively and coordinate in a polydentate manner to the metal centra. The formation of compound 5 in solution has been known for many years, but the structure of this complex has not been determined in the solid state until now. Also, the tungsten analogue of compound 6 was reported years ago, but the Mo(VI) complex has not been crystallized before. Compounds 5 and 6 exhibit a 1:1 and 2:2 metal to ligand ratio respectively, and these ratios are quite rare in Mo(VI) crystal chemistry. Finally, the dimolybdate complex, [CH3)3N(CH2)6N(CH3)3][Mo2O7(cit)] (7), was isolated, and its structure determined and compared to the one in the literature. In the third part of this study, our attention shifted to the group 10 and 11 metals, platinum and gold. Attempts were made to coordinate unusual ligands with donor atoms P, Se and/or S to these metal centers. During this investigation, we isolated a unique Pt(IV) complex, PtCl2(S3C8H7)2 (9). The structure of this compound that was determined crystallographically involves the coordination of two identical R-SCS2 fragments to the metal ion forming four-membered chelate rings. No compounds of Pt and Au with the P-Se ligand, P3Se3(C(C6H5)3)3, could be isolated. However, a mixed valence compound of Au(I,III), [Au(I)Cl(S(CH2C6H5)2)][Au(III)Cl3(S(CH2C6H5)2] (8), could be isolated and characterized. In this compound Au exhibits two oxidation states, +1 and +3. Although the complex has been reported previously, the structure was not described fully, and we now unequivocally determined its crystal structure. The extended structure shows the formation of chains of alternating Au(I) and Au(III) centers with a separation of 5.610 Å.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The number of coordination complexes utilizing bis-pyridyl diamide ligands has increased significantly over the past decade. This is attributed to the relatively easy synthetic procedure of the ligands and interesting structural features such as helicity, water clusters and porosity that the coordination complexes possess. In the first part of this study, the following eight structurally related bis-pyridyl diamide ligands: • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)isophthalamide (ISO); • N,N'-bis(pyridyl-4-ylmethyl)terephthalamide (TER); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)hexanediamide (ADI); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)butanediamide (SUC); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)biphenyl-4,4'-dicarbonyl dicarboxamide (DIP); • N,N'-dipyridin-2-ylpentanediamide (GLUT); • (2E)-N,N'-bis(2-pyridin-4-ylmethyl)but-2-enediamide (FUM); • 4-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)aminocarbonyl benzoic acid (TER-A). were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FTIR, MS and SCD. In the second part, the synthesized ligands were reacted with a variety of transition metal salts to yield fifteen novel coordination polymers and one discrete complex. SCD analysis showed that of the sixteen complexes thirteen formed 1-D chains, two formed 2-D networks, and one formed a discrete unit. Hydrogen bonding interactions between water molecules, the counterions and the amide groups resulted in connection of the lower dimension entities into higher dimension networks. The synthesized ligands were co-crystallized with trimesic acid and a novel co-crystal consisting of ADI and trimesic acid was obtained. SCD analysis showed that the co-crystal featured the amide homosynthon as well as the pyridine/carboxylic acid heterosynthon. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aantal koördinasie komplekse met dipiridieldiamied ligande het noemenswaardig vermeerder oor die afgelope dekade. Hierdie groei kan toegeskryf word aan die eenvoudige sintetiese prosedure en interessante strukturele eienskappe van dié koördinasie komplekse, wat o.a. helikse, waterbondels en poreuse materiale vorm. In die eerste deel van hierdie studie is die agt onderstaande struktureel verwante dipiridieldiamied ligande se sintese en karakterisering deur kernmagnetieseresonansie, Fourier transform infrarooi, massaspektrometrie en enkel kristal X-straal diffraksie (SCD) beskryf: • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)isoftalamied (ISO); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)tereftalamied (TER); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)heksaandiamied (ADI); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)butaandiamied (SUC); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)bifeniel-4,4'-dikarbonieldikarboksamied (DIP); • N,N'-dipiridien-2-ielpentaandiamied (GLUT); • (2E)-N,N'-bis(2-piridien-4-ielmetiel)but-2-eendiamied (FUM); • 4-(piridien-4-ielmetiel)aminokarboniel bensoësuur (TER-A). In die tweede gedeelte is bg. ligande met 'n reeks oorgangsmetaalsoute gereageer om vyftien nuwe koördinasiepolimere, asook een diskrete kompleks, te lewer. SCD analise toon dat van hierdie sestien komplekse vorm dertien 1-D kettings, twee vorm 2-D netwerke en slegs een vorm 'n diskrete eenheid. Waterstofbindings tussen die water molekules, die teen-ione en die amied groepe het laer dimensie (1-D) eenhede verbind om hoër dimensionele netwerke (2-D) te vorm. Mede-kristallisasie van die gesintetiseerde ligande met trimesielsuur het 'n nuwe mede-kristal tussen ADI en triemesielsuur opgelewer. Enkelkristal diffraksie toon dat die mede-kristal beide die amied homosinton en die piridien/karboksielsuur heterosinton bevat.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Resorcinarenes are macrocyclic products formed from the condensation of aldehydes (aliphatic or aromatic) and resorcinol and have been used in a wide range of applications since their first synthesis. Applications include: HPLC stationary phases for the separation of pyrimidine bases, racemic drugs and isomers, the selective extractions of lanthanides and actinides, as molecular receptors, catalysis, NMR chiral shift agents, GC separations and as starting materials for the synthesis of macrocyclic compounds (e.g. cavitands and carcerands) to name but a few. The use of resorcinarenes in catalysis is still quite new and unexplored, while catalysis using calix[4]arenes, a related macrocycle, has been widely studied. In this thesis it was attempted to synthesise a C2v symmetric resorcinarene precursor that could be further functionalised to form distal bidentate ligands for coordination to transition metals. These compounds would then ultimately be used in catalytic testing, especially for Pd catalysed C-C bond formation. A dibromo resorcinarene precursor was synthesised starting from resorcinarene, using methodology developed by Shivanyuk. This molecule was functionalised with a small range of different electrophiles using lithium halogen exchange methodology, although low yields were returned for the expected distal resorcinarene compounds. Other methods of functionalisation of the resorcinarene, using an anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement and the reduction of a dinitrile resorcinarene to amine and aldehyde functionalities proved unsuccessful. Using a dithioether resorcinarene a di-nuclear coordination compound was formed with Pd(II). This compound was tested for catalytic activity with a Heck reaction, showing low yields for the coupling of styrene with bromobenzene. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Resorsinarene is makrosikliese produkte wat gevorm word deur die kondensasie van aldehiede (alifaties of aromaties) met resorsinol en word in ‘n verskeidenheid van toepassings gebruik sedert hulle eerste sintese. Tipiese voorbeelde sluit in: stationêre fases vir die HPLC-skeiding van pirimidien-basisse, rasemiese farmaseutiese middels en isomere, die selektiwe ekstraksie van lantaniede en aktiniede, molekulêre reseptore, katalise, chirale verskuiwingsreagense vir KMR spektrometrie, GC-skeidings en as uitgangverbindings vir die sintese van ander makrosikliese verbindings (bv. kavitande en karserande). Die gebruik van resorsinarene in katalise is ’n splinternuwe onontginde veld. In teenstelling hiermee is calix[4]areen, ’n verwante makrosikliese verbinding, baie meer bestudeer en vir katalise gebruik. Die doel van hierdie tesis was om ’n C2v simmetriese uitgangstof te sintetiseer wat verder gefunksionaliseer kan word om distale, bidentate ligande vir koordinasie met oorgangsmetale te lewer. Daar is beplan om die katalitiese eienskappe van die komplekse te toets, veral vir Pd-gekataliseerde C–C-koppelings reaksies. Deur gebruik te maak van ’n protokol wat deur Shivanyuk ontwikkel is, is ’n dibromo-resorsinareen gesintetiseer uit resorsinareen. Verskillende elektrofiele is in ’n litium-halogeen uitruilreaksie gebruik om ’n beperkte verskeidenheid nuwe ligande te sintetiseer wat verskillende funksionele groepe besit. Ongelukkig was die opbrengste aan distale ligande baie laag en ander metodes is dus ook ondersoek om die funksionalisering te bewerkstellig. ’n Anioniese orto-Fries herrangskikkingsreaksie en die reduksie van ’n dinitriel-resorsinareen om amien- en aldehiedfunksies te lewer, was ook onsuksesvol. Die reaksie tussen ‘n Pd(II) sout en ‘n ditioeter-gederivatiseerde resorsinareen het ‘n koordinasie verbinding met twee metaalkerne gelewer. Hierdie kompleks is deur middel van ‘n Heck-koppelingsreaksie vir katalitiese aktiwiteit getoets, maar het lae opbrengste gelewer in die koppeling van stireen en bromobenseen.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis we describe the synthesis of several new N-(n-propyl)-1-(2-pyridyl and quinolyl)-imine ligands (ML1-ML4) as well as peripheral functionalised iminopyridyl and iminoquinolyl poly(propylene-imine) dendrimeric ligands (DL1-DL8) with a 1,4- diaminobutane core. The dendrimeric ligands were obtained by modification of the peripheral groups of Generation 1 and Generation 2 poly(propylene-imine) dendrimers, (DAB-(NH2)n which are commercially available, with a series of aldehydes. All the ligands were fully characterised by ESI-mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, 1H&13C{1H}-NMR, FT-IR and UV/Vis spectroscopies. These ligands were utilised to synthesise Pd(II) and Cu(I) complexes using appropriate metal precursors. Some of mononuclear complexes, [N-(n-propyl)-(2-pyridyl and quinolyl) methanimine] dichloro Pd(II) complexes (C1-C4) and bis[N-(n-propyl)-(2-pyridyl and quinolyl) methanimine] copper(I) tetrafluoroborate complexes (C14) were structurally characterised. Pd(II) complexes adopted a distorted square-planar geometry around the metal centre while Cu(I) complex exhibit a distorted tetrahedral arrangement around the metal centre. Both Pd(II) and Cu(I) multinuclear complexes (metallodendrimers) were characterised using a range of analytical techniques. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die sintese van verskeie nuwe N-(n-propiel)-1-(2-piridiel) en kinolielimien ligande (ML1-ML4) sowel as gefunksioneerde imienopiridiel en imienokinoliel poli(propilien-imien) dendrimeriese ligande (DL1-DL8) beskryf. Die dendrimeriese ligande was behaal deur die modifikasie van perifere groepe van Generasie 1 en Generasie 2 poli(propilien-imien) dendrimere met ‘n reeks aldehiede. Alle ligande was volledig deur ESI-massaspektrometrie, elementele analiese, 1H en 13C{1H} – KMR, FT-IR en UV/Sigbare spektroskopie gekarakteriseerd. Hierdie ligande was gebruik om Pd(II) en Cu(I) komplekse te berei om van die gepaste metaal voorlopers te gebruik te maak. Sommige van die mono-kern komplekse, [N-(npropiel)-( 2-piridiel) en kinoliel metanimien] dikloor Pd(II), komplekse (C1-C4) en bis[N-(npropiel)-( 2-piridiel) metanimien] koper(I) tetrafloorboraat, kompleks (C14) was struktureël gekarakteriseerd. Pd(II) komplekse neem ‘n versteurde vierkant valk geometrie om die metaal senter aan, terwyl die Cu(I) kompleks, ‘n versteurde tetrahedriese opset rondom die metaal toon. Beide Pd(II) en Cu(I) multikern komplekse (metaaldendrimere) was deur ‘n verskeidenheid van analitiese tegnieke gekarakteriseerd.