O estudo da interação de moléculas orgânicas com a água é de grande importância para diversas áreas das ciências, como por exemplo, na compreensão de sistemas biológicos. Uma elevada diversidade de estudos nesta área já foram realizados, no entanto, alguns aspectos do estudo de filmes finos de aminas anfifílicas não foram satisfatoriamente esclarecidos. Este trabalho aborda filmes de Langmuir de octadecilamina em função do pH e da força iônica de subfases aquosas, investigando a estrutura da monocamada orgânica e sua interação com a água, em diversos graus de ionização. Foi utilizada a Espectroscopia Vibracional por Geração de Soma de Frequências (Sum Frequency Generation - SFG), uma técnica que utiliza o princípio da óptica não-linear para estudar superfícies e interfaces, com o objetivo de investigar a conformação molecular dos filmes de Langmuir de aminas anfifílicas de cadeias longas, seu grau de ionização e a estrutura da água interagindo com a monocamada orgânica. Pôde-se acompanhar a ionização da monocamada em função do pH da subfase pela intensidade do modo de estiramento do grupo NH3+, e verificou-se que ela depende do pH local da interface, que por sua vez é alterado pela ionização da monocamada e é sensível à força iônica da subfase. A água interage com a monocamada via ligações de H com os grupos NH2/NH3+ e forma uma camada com alto grau de orientação perpendicular à superfície, mas relativamente desordenada do ponto de vista da rede de ligações de H (como na água líquida). A conformação das cadeias alquila depende da ionização do filme de Langmuir, sendo bastante compacta e ordenada a altos pHs (filme neutro) e mais expandida e desordenada a baixos pHs. Além disso, foram fabricados filmes de Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) de octadecilamina para comparar a estrutura dos filmes na superfície da água e em substratos sólidos. / The study of the interaction of organic molecules with water is of great importance for many areas of science, such as the understanding of biological systems. A large diversity of studies in this area have been performed, however some aspects of the study of thin films of amphiphilic amines have not been satisfactorily clarified. This dissertation focuses on Langmuir films of Octadecylamine as a function of pH and ionic strength of the aqueous subphase, investigating the structure of the organic monolayer and its interaction with water at various degrees of ionization. Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy (SFG spectroscopy), a non-linear optical technique to study surfaces and interfaces, was used in order to investigate the molecular conformation of the Langmuir films, its degree of ionization and the structure of water interacting with the organic monolayer. The monolayer ionization could be monitored by the intensity of the NH3+ group stretch mode, and it was found that it depends on the local pH at the interface, which in turn is changed by the monolayer ionization and is sensitive to the subphase ionic strength. Water interacts with the monolayer by H bonds with NH2/NH3+ groups, forming a layer with a high degree of orientational order along the surface normal, but relatively disordered regarding the H-bonding network (like in the bulk liquid). The conformation of the alkyl chains depends on the monolayer ionization, being compact and all-trans at high pHs, but more expanded and disordered at low pHs. In addition, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of Octadecylamine were fabricated to compare their structure on the solid substrate to those on the water surface

Les cellules à mucus intestinales sécrètent des mucines, principalement MUC2, qui forment un gel protecteur. Malgré la place importante des acides gras à chaîne longue (AGCL) dans l'alimentation et leurs liens avec des pathologies où les cellules à mucus sont altérées il n'existe pas d'étude sur leurs impacts sur ces cellules. Mes travaux ont consisté à mettre en lumière ces interactions et à étudier leurs conséquences. In vitro, nous montrons que les AGCL saturés augmentent l'expression de MUC2 et son relarguage alors que les AGCL insaturés les inhibent et que l'acide palmitique favorise la différenciation cellulaire. In vivo, chez des ratons gavés avec de l'huile de palme, la production de MUC2 est augmentée et la perméabilité paracellulaire colique diminuée. Les huiles de colza ou de tournesol ne modifient pas la production de MUC2 et la perméabilité est identique aux contrôles malgré l'augmentation de l'expression de l'occludine. Dans un modèle de syndrome de l'intestin irritable, nous montrons que le gavage avec l'huile de palme, malgré la diminution de l'occludine, restaure la perméabilité et augmente le nombre de cellules à mucus. L'huile de colza et l'huile de tournesol ne corrigent pas le défaut de perméabilité. Parallèlement, deux études chez la souris ont mis en évidence l'impact de certains régimes sur le nombre des cellules à mucus. Ce travail a permis d'identifier les AGCL comme des nutriments capables de moduler les cellules à mucus, de faire émerger une nouvelle piste thérapeutique pour restaurer les populations de cellules à mucus et la perméabilité et d'ouvrir la réflexion sur les impacts de l'augmentation des populations de cellules à mucus chez l'individu sain / Intestinal goblet cells secrete mucins, mainly MUC2, which form a protective mucus gel. Despite the important place of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) in the diet and their links with pathologies where goblet cells are altered, there is no study dealing with their impact on goblet cells. The aim of my work was to highlight these interactions and to study their consequences. In vitro, we show that saturated LCFA increase MUC2 expression and release whereas unsaturated LCFA inhibit these process and that palmitic acid promotes cellular differentiation. In vivo, rat pups receiving oral administration of palm oil show a decrease of colonic paracellular permeability and an increase of MUC2 production. On the opposite, rapeseed and sunflower oils do not change MUC2 production and, intestinal permeability is the same as controls despite the increase of occludin expression. In an animal model of irritable bowel syndrome, palm oil effects are found again. When subjected rat pups to a maternal deprivation stress a few days after birth, they develop an intestinal hyperpermeability and a goblet cell depletion. We show that oral administration of palm oil concomitantly to the stress is able to, despite a decrease of occludin expression, restore the permeability at the level of non-stressed animals and to increase goblet cell number. Rapeseed oil and sunflower oil are not able to correct the increase of intestinal permeability. In parallel, studies in mice show that some types of diets can be associated with an increase of the number of proximal and distal goblet cells. To conclude, this work (i) helped to identify LCFA as nutrients able to modulate intestinal goblet cell number and physiology, (ii) put forward a new therapeutic track, via palmitic acid use, to restore goblet cell populations and intestinal permeability in pathologies associated with these kind of alterations and finally (iii) offered new tracks of reasoning about physiological and pathophysiological impacts of the increase of intestinal goblet cell number in a healthy subject

La plasticité mitochondriale à l'égard de l'oxydation de substrats, et sa participation à la transition métabolique ont été étudiées dans deux conditions: l'exposition chronique à l'hypoxie et l'entraînement en endurance, connues comme modulatrices de la préférence de substrats. Ainsi l'affinité pour le palmitoyl carnitine est augmentée par l'hypoxie et la restriction calorique alors qu'au contraire le flux maximal de palmitoyl CoA (PCoA) semble freiné par l'hypoxie. Quant aux effets de l'entraînement, malgré une amélioration du temps limite de course à intensité sous-maximale et une augmentation des capacités oxydatives globales, nous ne retrouvons pas de facilitation de l'oxydation du PCoA. Par ailleurs, on observe une augmentation des messagers PPAR-delta et d'UCP-3 en réponse à une exposition aigue à l'hypoxie. Le rôle de PPAR-delta sur la modulation de l'utilisation de substrats par la mitochondrie a aussi été envisagé en utilisant un agoniste pharmacologique de PPAR-delta, le GW 742. Celui-ci, permet d'améliorer l'efficacité catalytique du complexe enzymatique CPT-1 tout en limitant l'oxydation du pyruvate, également diminuée dans les muscles oxydatifs au cours de la restriction calorique. Le traitement par GW 742, s'il limite l'altération de l'efficacité catalytique de CPT-1 observée en hypoxie, ne permet pas de rétablir, un niveau d'oxydation en PCoA similaire à celui observé en situation contrôle. Le GW 742 s'est aussi montré capable de restaurer le flux en PCoA altéré par l'entraînement, même si la fonction du transport CPT-1 reste limitante devant l'augmentation du potentiel oxydatif induit par l'entraînement. Par ailleurs, nous n'avons pas retrouvé de relation étroite entre les variations d'affinité en PCoA et la performance aérobie sous-maximale, pourtant influencée par la capacité à oxyder préférentiellement les lipides. Enfin, la diminution du flux en pyruvate associée à l'augmentation de l'utilisation des acides gras à longue chaîne observée lors du traitement par GW 742 ou au cours de la restriction calorique pose la question du rôle joué par une cible particulière de PPAR-delta sur la mitochondrie, la protéine découplante UCP-3. / Substrate oxidation and its contribution to metabolic shift, as markers of muscle plasticity have been studied under two specific condition, the prolonged exposure to ambient hypoxia, and endurance training, two conditions known as leading to changes in substrate use. Our result show that the affinity for palmitoyl carnitine is increased by both hypoxia and food restriction, whereas in contrast exposure to hypoxia slow down the palmitoyl CoA (PCoA) maximal use. On the other hand, endurance training led to enhanced physical performance and increased muscular oxidative capacities, but failed to enhance PCoA oxidation. The transcripts for PPAR-delta and UCP-3 increased in response to aucte exposure to hypoxia. Moreover, we studied the role played by PPAR-delta on the substrate use modulation, using new PPAR-delta agonist known as GW 742. In the present study, this new pharmacological substance has been shown to enhance the catalytic efficiency of CPT-1 and decrease the pyruvate oxidation. Moreover, GW 742 administration limits the hypoxia-induced decrease of CPT-1 activity, but failed to recover levels of PCoA oxidation similar to those observed in control conditions. GW 742 administration was able to suppress the effects of training on maximal PCoA oxidation, even if the functional CPT-1 activity remains limiting regarding the training-induced increase in oxidative capacity. On the other hand, we failed to show strong relationship between PCoA affinity and physical performance. Finally, the concomitant increase in long chain fatty acid oxidation and decrease in pyruvate oxidation resulting from either GW 742 use or food restriction, addresses the issue of the role played by the uncoupling protein UCP-3 on mitochondrial function

A digestão anaeróbia é uma alternativa para o tratamento de resíduos com altas concentrações de matéria orgânica. Por meio dos processos anaeróbios é possível a produção de biogás, fonte de energia renovável e ambientalmente amigável. Elevadas concentrações de lipídios, todavia, apesar de representarem elevado potencial metanogênico, interferem negativamente nos sistemas de tratamento, podendo inibir a atividade microbiana e, consequentemente, a produção de metano. O presente projeto avaliou o efeito da adição de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia de elevadas concentrações de gorduras advindas de efluentes de laticínio. Para tanto foi utilizado bagaço de cana-de-açúcar in natura e pré-tratadas pelos seguintes métodos: organossolve, hidrotérmico, explosão à vapor e ácido diluído. O uso desse material lignocelulósico teve o objetivo de controlar a inibição causada pelos produtos da hidrólise dos lipídios por meio de sua adsorção e, consequentemente, diminuição das concentrações de tais compostos no meio. Outra hipótese era que o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pudessem agir como co-substrato no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia. Inicialmente realizaram-se ensaios de biodegradabilidade anaeróbia com concentrações crescentes de gordura, que resultaram em relação entre substrato e microrganismo 0,06, 0,1, 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6 g DQO/gSTV. O ensaio com concentração em que foi verificada a inibição severa (0,4 gDQO/gSTV) do processo foi repetido com adição das fibras tratadas e não tratadas. Aos dados de produção acumulada de metano ajustou-se modelo de Gompertz, e parâmetros cinéticos foram inferidos. O bagaço de cana-de-açúcar mostrou potencial como adsorvente de gordura, pois as produções metanogênicas foram superiores à condição inibida sem adição desse material. A adição de fibras pré-tratadas por método organossolve resultou nas maiores produções de metano. / Anaerobic digestion is an alternative for treating waste with high concentrations of organic matter. Through anaerobic processes biogas production is possible, which represents environmentally friendly renewable energy source. High lipid concentrations, however, although having high methanogenic potential, may negatively interfere with the treatment systems causing microbial activity inhibition and, consequently, depleting the production of methane. This project evaluated the effect of addition of cellulosic fibers in the anaerobic digestion process of high concentrations of fatty residues from dairy effluents. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse fibers were used in natura and pretreated by the following methods: organosolve, hydrothermal, steam explosion and dilute acid. The use of the fibers had the objective to control the inhibition caused by the products of the hydrolysis of lipids through adsorption and thus decrease the concentrations of such compounds in the medium. We also had the hypothesis that the cellulosic fibers could act as co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion process. Initially, anaerobic biodegradability tests were set with increasing concentrations of fatty residue, which resulted in relation entity substrate and microorganism of 0.057; 0.12; 0.24; 0.37 and 0.57 g COD / gSTV. The assay in which severe inhibition was verified (0.37 g COD/gSTV) was repeated with addition of treated and untreated fibers. The sugarcane bagasse showed potential as adsorbent because the methanogenic yields in the presence of the fibers were higher than the inhibited condition, without addition of that material. The addition of pretreated fibers by organosolv method resulted in higher methane production.

Dans une stratégie de diversification des apports en acides gras polyinsaturés très longue chaîne n-3 (AGPI TLC n-3), essentiels à la santé de l'Homme et majoritairement apportés par les produits de la mer, l'objectif de la thèse était de mieux comprendre les mécanismes cellulaires pouvant expliquer la faible teneur en AGPI TLC n-3 présente dans le muscle de bovin, ceci en explorant trois voies métaboliques de ces acides gras potentiellement limitantes (biosynthèse, captage facilité et peroxydation non-enzymatique) par des approches de qPCR ou de transcriptomique. Les principaux résultats montrent que le foie et les muscles de bovin possèdent tout le matériel génétique nécessaire à la synthèse des AGPI TLC n-3 et pourraient donc assurer leur synthèse, sauf chez le mâle entier où l'expression du gène de l'élongase 5 est réprimée par la présence d'hormones sexuelles mâles. D'autre part, les teneurs musculaires en AGPI TLC n-3 plus élevées avec un régime base d'herbe par rapport à de l'ensilage de maïs et dans un muscle glycolitique par rapport à un muscle oxydatif ne semblent pas s'expliquer par une modulation de l'expression des gènes impliqués dans leur biosynthèse, ni dans leur captage facilité et dans la régulation endogène de leur lipoperoxydation. En conclusion, ce travail de thèse a permis de considérablement faire progresser la compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans la régulation des dépôts d'AGPITLC n-3 dans les muscles de bovin. Toutefois, ces régulations sont certainement plus complexes et probablement multifactorielles. De nombreuses pistes restent encore à explorer avant d'envisager augmenter la teneur en AGPI TLC n-3 dans la viande bovine. / N-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 VLC PUFA) are essential for human health but are almost exclusively present in seafood. Thus, in a strategy of diversification of n-3 VLC PUFA sources for human, the aim of this thesis was to better understand the cellular mechanisms that may explain the low n-3 VLC PUFA content in bovine muscle, by exploring three potentially limiting metabolic pathways of these fatty acids (biosynthesis, facilited uptake and non-enzymatic peroxidation) by qPCR or transcriptomic approaches. The main results indicate that the liver and muscles of cattle possess all the genetic material necessary for the synthesis of n-3 VLC PUFA and may therefore ensure their synthesis, except in entire males where gene expression of the elongase 5 is suppressed by the presence of male sex hormones. On the other hand, the higher n-3 VLC PUFA content in muscle of cattle with a grass based diet compard to corn silage and in glycolytic muscle compared to oxidative muscle do not seem to be explained by a modulation of gene expression of proteins involved in their biosynthesis or in their facilited uptake or in the endogenous regulation of their lipoperoxidation. In conclusion, this thesis has greatly advance our understanding of mechanisms involved in the regulation of n-3 VLC PUFA deposits in muscles of cattle. However, these regulations are certainly more complex and probably multifactorial. Many tracks remain to be explored before considering increasing n-3 VLC PUFA content in beef.

La digestion anaérobie est un processus biologique dans lequel un consortium microbien complexe fonctionnant en absence d’oxygène transforme la matière organique en biogaz, principalement en méthane et en dioxyde de carbone. Parmi les substrats organiques, les lipides sont les plus productifs de méthane par rapport aux glucides et aux protéines; mais leur dégradation est très difficile, en raison de leur hydrolyse qui peut être l’étape limitante. Les algues peuvent être une source importante pour la production de méthane à cause de leur contenu en lipides potentiellement élevé. L’objectif de cette étude était, par conséquent, d’évaluer la production en méthane des microalgues en utilisant la technique du BMP (Biochemical méthane Potential) et d’identifier les limites de biodégradion des lipides dans la digestion anaérobie. Le plan expérimental a été divisé en plusieurs étapes: 1) Comparer le potentiel énergétique en méthane des macroalgues par rapport aux microalgues. 2) Faire le criblage de différentes espèces de microalgues d’eau douce et marines afin de comparer leur potentiel en méthane. 3) Déterminer l'impact des prétraitements sur la production de méthane de quelques microalgues ciblées. 4) Identifier les limites de biodégradation des lipides algaux dans la digestion anaérobie, en étudiant les étapes limitantes de la cinétique des lipides et de chacun des acides gras à longues chaines. Les résultats ont montré que les microalgues produisent plus de méthane que les macroalgues. Les BMP des microalgues d'eau douce et marines n'ont montré aucune différence en termes de rendement en méthane. Les résultats des prétraitements ont montré que le prétraitement thermique (microonde) semblait être plus efficace que le prétraitement chimique (alcalin). Les tests de contrôle du BMP faits sur l'huile de palme, l’huile de macadamia et l'huile de poisson ont montré que l'hydrolyse des huiles en glycérol et en acides gras à longues chaines n'était pas l'étape limitante dans la production de méthane. L'ajout de gras dans les échantillons de Phaeodactylum dégraissée a augmenté le rendement de méthane et cette augmentation a été corrélée à la quantité de matières grasses ajoutées. / Anaerobic digestion is a biological process in which an anaerobic microbial consortium converts organic matter into biogas, primarily methane and carbon dioxide. Among the organic substrates, lipids are the most productive of methane in comparison to carbohydrates and proteins; but their degradation is very difficult, due to their hydrolysis which can be the limiting step. Algae can be an important source for methane production because of their potentially high content of lipids. The objective of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the methane production of microalgae using the Biochemical methane Potential (BMP) technique and to identify the limit of biodegradation of lipids in the anaerobic digestion. The experimentation plan was divided into the following stages: 1) Compare the energy potential in methane of macroalgae versus microalgae. 2) Screen different species of freshwater and marine microalgae to compare their methane potential. 3) Determine the impact of mild pretreatment of targeted microalgae on the methane production. 4) Identify the limits of biodegradation of algal lipids in the anaerobic digestion by studying kinetics limiting steps of lipids and individual LCFA (Long Chain Fatty Acids). The results showed that microalgae produce more methane than macroalgae. The BMP of freshwater and marine microalgae showed no difference in terms of methane yield. The results of pretreatment showed that the thermal (microwave) pretreatment seemed to be more effective than the chemical (alkaline) pretreatment. A BMP control test done on palm oil, macadamia oil and fish oil showed that the hydrolysis of oils in glycerol and LCFA was not the limiting step in the production of methane. The addition of fat in the samples of defatted Phaeodactylum increased the methane yield and this augmentation was correlated to the quantity of fat added.

Very long chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) is the rate-limiting step in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. VLCAD deficient mice and patients’ clinical symptoms stem from not only an energy deficiency but also long-chain metabolite accumulations. VLCAD deficient mice were treated systemically with 1x10 12 vector genomes of rAAV9-VLCAD. Expression was detected in the liver, heart and muscle. Also substantial expression of VLCAD was noted in the brain, where it was expressed across different sections of the brain and in different cell types with different morphologies. Biochemical correction was observed in vector-treated mice beginning two weeks post-injection, as characterized by a significant drop in long chain fatty acyl accumulates in whole blood after an overnight fast. Changes persisted through the termination point around 20 weeks post injection. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) revealed normalization of intramuscular lipids in treated animals. Correction was not observed in liver tissue extracts, but cardiac muscle extracts showed significant reduction of long chain metabolites. Disease-specific phenotypes were characterized, including thermoregulation and maintenance of euglycemia after a fasting cold challenge. Internal body temperatures of untreated VLCAD-/- mice dropped below 20°C and the mice became lethargic, requiring euthanasia. In contrast all rAAV9-treated VLCAD-/- mice and the wild-type controls maintained body temperatures. rAAV9-treated VLCAD-/- mice maintained euglycemia, whereas untreated VLCAD-/- mice suffered hypoglycemia following a fasting cold challenge. These promising results suggest rAAV9 gene therapy as a potential treatment for VLCAD deficiency in humans.

A digestão anaeróbia é uma alternativa para o tratamento de resíduos com altas concentrações de matéria orgânica. Por meio dos processos anaeróbios é possível a produção de biogás, fonte de energia renovável e ambientalmente amigável. Elevadas concentrações de lipídios, todavia, apesar de representarem elevado potencial metanogênico, interferem negativamente nos sistemas de tratamento, podendo inibir a atividade microbiana e, consequentemente, a produção de metano. O presente projeto avaliou o efeito da adição de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia de elevadas concentrações de gorduras advindas de efluentes de laticínio. Para tanto foi utilizado bagaço de cana-de-açúcar in natura e pré-tratadas pelos seguintes métodos: organossolve, hidrotérmico, explosão à vapor e ácido diluído. O uso desse material lignocelulósico teve o objetivo de controlar a inibição causada pelos produtos da hidrólise dos lipídios por meio de sua adsorção e, consequentemente, diminuição das concentrações de tais compostos no meio. Outra hipótese era que o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pudessem agir como co-substrato no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia. Inicialmente realizaram-se ensaios de biodegradabilidade anaeróbia com concentrações crescentes de gordura, que resultaram em relação entre substrato e microrganismo 0,06, 0,1, 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6 g DQO/gSTV. O ensaio com concentração em que foi verificada a inibição severa (0,4 gDQO/gSTV) do processo foi repetido com adição das fibras tratadas e não tratadas. Aos dados de produção acumulada de metano ajustou-se modelo de Gompertz, e parâmetros cinéticos foram inferidos. O bagaço de cana-de-açúcar mostrou potencial como adsorvente de gordura, pois as produções metanogênicas foram superiores à condição inibida sem adição desse material. A adição de fibras pré-tratadas por método organossolve resultou nas maiores produções de metano. / Anaerobic digestion is an alternative for treating waste with high concentrations of organic matter. Through anaerobic processes biogas production is possible, which represents environmentally friendly renewable energy source. High lipid concentrations, however, although having high methanogenic potential, may negatively interfere with the treatment systems causing microbial activity inhibition and, consequently, depleting the production of methane. This project evaluated the effect of addition of cellulosic fibers in the anaerobic digestion process of high concentrations of fatty residues from dairy effluents. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse fibers were used in natura and pretreated by the following methods: organosolve, hydrothermal, steam explosion and dilute acid. The use of the fibers had the objective to control the inhibition caused by the products of the hydrolysis of lipids through adsorption and thus decrease the concentrations of such compounds in the medium. We also had the hypothesis that the cellulosic fibers could act as co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion process. Initially, anaerobic biodegradability tests were set with increasing concentrations of fatty residue, which resulted in relation entity substrate and microorganism of 0.057; 0.12; 0.24; 0.37 and 0.57 g COD / gSTV. The assay in which severe inhibition was verified (0.37 g COD/gSTV) was repeated with addition of treated and untreated fibers. The sugarcane bagasse showed potential as adsorbent because the methanogenic yields in the presence of the fibers were higher than the inhibited condition, without addition of that material. The addition of pretreated fibers by organosolv method resulted in higher methane production.

O estudo da interação de moléculas orgânicas com a água é de grande importância para diversas áreas das ciências, como por exemplo, na compreensão de sistemas biológicos. Uma elevada diversidade de estudos nesta área já foram realizados, no entanto, alguns aspectos do estudo de filmes finos de aminas anfifílicas não foram satisfatoriamente esclarecidos. Este trabalho aborda filmes de Langmuir de octadecilamina em função do pH e da força iônica de subfases aquosas, investigando a estrutura da monocamada orgânica e sua interação com a água, em diversos graus de ionização. Foi utilizada a Espectroscopia Vibracional por Geração de Soma de Frequências (Sum Frequency Generation - SFG), uma técnica que utiliza o princípio da óptica não-linear para estudar superfícies e interfaces, com o objetivo de investigar a conformação molecular dos filmes de Langmuir de aminas anfifílicas de cadeias longas, seu grau de ionização e a estrutura da água interagindo com a monocamada orgânica. Pôde-se acompanhar a ionização da monocamada em função do pH da subfase pela intensidade do modo de estiramento do grupo NH3+, e verificou-se que ela depende do pH local da interface, que por sua vez é alterado pela ionização da monocamada e é sensível à força iônica da subfase. A água interage com a monocamada via ligações de H com os grupos NH2/NH3+ e forma uma camada com alto grau de orientação perpendicular à superfície, mas relativamente desordenada do ponto de vista da rede de ligações de H (como na água líquida). A conformação das cadeias alquila depende da ionização do filme de Langmuir, sendo bastante compacta e ordenada a altos pHs (filme neutro) e mais expandida e desordenada a baixos pHs. Além disso, foram fabricados filmes de Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) de octadecilamina para comparar a estrutura dos filmes na superfície da água e em substratos sólidos. / The study of the interaction of organic molecules with water is of great importance for many areas of science, such as the understanding of biological systems. A large diversity of studies in this area have been performed, however some aspects of the study of thin films of amphiphilic amines have not been satisfactorily clarified. This dissertation focuses on Langmuir films of Octadecylamine as a function of pH and ionic strength of the aqueous subphase, investigating the structure of the organic monolayer and its interaction with water at various degrees of ionization. Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy (SFG spectroscopy), a non-linear optical technique to study surfaces and interfaces, was used in order to investigate the molecular conformation of the Langmuir films, its degree of ionization and the structure of water interacting with the organic monolayer. The monolayer ionization could be monitored by the intensity of the NH3+ group stretch mode, and it was found that it depends on the local pH at the interface, which in turn is changed by the monolayer ionization and is sensitive to the subphase ionic strength. Water interacts with the monolayer by H bonds with NH2/NH3+ groups, forming a layer with a high degree of orientational order along the surface normal, but relatively disordered regarding the H-bonding network (like in the bulk liquid). The conformation of the alkyl chains depends on the monolayer ionization, being compact and all-trans at high pHs, but more expanded and disordered at low pHs. In addition, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of Octadecylamine were fabricated to compare their structure on the solid substrate to those on the water surface

Les acides gras à très longues chaine (VLCFA) sont essentiels dans le développement, particulièrement dans les mécanismes de trafic vésiculaires, de différenciation et division cellulaire. Cependant, le rôle de ces VLCFA dans ces différents processus chez les plantes n’est pas encore bien compris. Afin d’identifier de nouveaux acteurs associés à la biosynthèse ou la fonction des VLCFA, un crible suppresseur multicopies a été réalisé dans un mutant d’élongation des VLCFA de levure. La perte de l’activité déshydratase PHS1 chez la levure et de PASTICCINO2 chez les plantes perturbe la croissance et induit des défauts de cytokinèse. La PROTEIN TYROSIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE (PTPLA) historiquement caractérisée comme une déshydratase inactive est capable de restaurer les défauts de croissance et d’élongation de phs1 mais non de pas2. PTPLA interagit avec plusieurs membres du complexe élongase dans le RE et son absence conduit à l’accumulation 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA, signature des déshydratases impliquées dans l’élongation des acides gras. Cependant, la perte de PTPLA conduit à une augmentation des VLCFA, probablement dépendante de PAS2 montrant que PTPLA serait un répresseur potentiel de l’élongation. Les deux déshydratases ont des profils d’expression divergents dans la racine. PAS2 est majoritairement exprimé dans l’endoderme tandis que PTPLA s’exprime uniquement dans les tissus vasculaires et le péricycle. La comparaison de l’expression ectopique de PAS2 et PTPLA dans leur tissus respectif confirme l’existence de deux complexe élongase indépendant associé à PAS2 ou PTPLA et interagissant de manière non cellule autonome. Les cytokinines pourraient constituer le signal entre les deux complexes élongase du fait que la biosynthèse de ces hormones est réprimée par les VLCFA. Les VLCFA répriment ainsi l'expression d'IPT3 dans les racines comme observées pour la partie apicale. Les cytokinines semblent aussi réguler la teneur en VLCFA dans la racine suggérant la présence de boucles de rétrocontrôles entre ces hormones et les VLCFA / Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are involved in plant development and particularly in several cellular processes such as membrane trafficking, cell division and cell differentiation. However, the precise role of VLCFA in these different cellular processes is still poorly understood in plants. In order to identify new factors associated with the biosynthesis or function of VLCFA, a yeast multicopy suppressor screen was carried out in a yeast mutant strain defective for fatty acid elongation. Loss of function of the elongase dehydratase PHS1 in yeast and PASTICCINO2 in plants prevents growth and induces cytokinesis defects. PROTEIN TYROSIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE (PTPLA) previously characterized as an inactive dehydratase was able to restore yeast phs1 growth and VLCFA elongation but not the plant pas2 defects. PTPLA interacted with elongase members in the ER and its absence induced the accumulation of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA as expected from a dehydratase involved in fatty acid (FA) elongation. However, loss of PTPLA function led to increased VLCFA levels, effect that was dependent of the presence of PAS2 indicating that PTPLA activity repressed FA elongation. The two dehydratases have specific expression profiles in the root with PAS2, mostly restricted in the endodermis, while PTPLA was confined in the vascular tissue and pericycle cells. Comparative ectopic expression of PTPLA and PAS2 in their respective domains confirmed the existence of two independent elongase complexes comprising PAS2 or PTPLA that were functionally interacting in a non-cell autonomous manner. A putative regulating signal could involve cytokinins that were described to be regulated by VLCFA. VLCFA were indeed found to repress IPT3 expression in roots like in leaves. Cytokinins were also found to regulate VLCFA levels suggesting the existence of regulatory feedback loops between cytokinins and VLCFA