The classical theory of colloids and surface science has universally been applied in modeling and calculations involving solid-liquid interfaces encountered in natural and engineered environments. However, several discrepancies between the observed behavior of charged solid-liquid interfaces and predictions by classical theory have been reported in the past decades. The hypothesis that the mean-field, pseudo-one-component approximation adopted within the framework of the classical theory is responsible for the differences observed is tested in this work via the application of modeling and experimental techniques at a molecular level. Silica and silicon nitride are selected as model charged solid surfaces, and mixtures of symmetric and asymmetric indifferent and non-indifferent electrolytes are used as liquid phases. Canonical Monte Carlo simulations (CMC) of the electrical double layer (EDL) structure of a discretely charged planar silica surface, embedded in solutions of indifferent electrolytes, reveal the presence of a size exclusion effect that is enhanced at larger values of surface charge densities. That effect translates into an unexpected behavior of the interaction forces between a charged planar surface and a spherical particle. CMC simulations of the electrostatic interactions and calculations of the EDL force between a spherical particle and a planar surface, similarly charged, reveal the presence of two attractive force components: a depletion effect almost at contact and a long-range attractive force of electrostatic origin due to ion-ion correlation effects. Those two-force components result from the consideration of discreteness of charge in the interaction of solid-liquid interfaces, and they contradict the classical theory predictions of electrostatic repulsive interaction between similarly charged surfaces. Direct interaction force measurements between a charged planar surface and a colloidal particle, performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), reveal that, when indifferent and non-indifferent electrolytes are present in solution, surface charge modification occurs in addition to the effects on the EDL behavior reported for indifferent electrolytes. Non-uniformity and even heterogeneity of surface charge are detected due to the action of non-indifferent, asymmetric electrolytes. The phenomena observed explain the differences between the classical theory predictions and the experimental observations reported in the open literature, validating the hypothesis of this work.

There is a continuing interest in the subject of arene carbonylation, especially in strong acids and environmentally-benign alternatives are sought to HF/BF3 and to AlCl3 as conversion agents. Ionic liquids offer a powerful solvent for useful conversion agents such as aluminum chloride. The ILs permit AlCl3 to be used at lower HCl partial pressures than with other solvents. The superior reactivity demonstrated by acidic, chloroaluminate ILs is probably due to their enhanced solvation power for HCl and CO. Addition of HCl gas increased reactivity of the system by forming Brnsted acids, and toluene carbonylation is a Brnsted demanding reaction. It was found that reaction is stoichiometric in Al species and only intrinsically acidic ILs are active for toluene carbonylation, therefore it was possible to correlate observed conversion with predicted amounts of Lewis + Brnsted acids. Molecular modeling provided information about the different species present in these ILs and predicted 1H NMR, and 27Al NMR spectrum. Predictions suggested that three types of HCl species are present; and these predictions were confirmed using data of 13C-labeled acetone and its 13C-NMR spectra. These data showed that only one of the three types of HCl in the IL were super acidic. Reactivity towards arene formylation can be tuned by adjusting the ligands R and R in the organic cation and by changing the anion. This reactivity tuning can be exploited in a process where high acidity is required for the conversion of substrate but where separation of product from IL is facilitated by low acidity.

Nanostructured materials are gaining an ongoing demand because of their exceptional chemical and physical properties. Due to complexities and costs of experimental studies at nanoscale, computer simulations are getting more attractive asexperimental alternatives. In this PhD work, we tried to use combination of atomistic simulations and continuum modeling for the evaluation of thermal conductivity and elastic stiffness of nanostructured materials. We used molecular dynamics simulations to probe and investigate the thermal and mechanical response of materials at nanoscale. The finite element and micromechanics methods that are on the basis of continuum mechanics theories were used to evaluate the bulk properties of materials. The predicted properties are then compared with existing experimental results.

L’avancée des infrastructures informatiques a permis l’émergence de la modélisation moléculaire. À cet effet, une multitude de modèles mathématiques sont aujourd’hui disponibles pour simuler différents systèmes chimiques. À l’aide de la modélisation moléculaire, différents types d’interactions chimiques ont été observés. À partir des systèmes les plus simples permettant l’utilisation de modèles quantiques rigoureux, une série d’approximations a été considérée pour rendre envisageable la simulation de systèmes moléculaires de plus en plus complexes. En premier lieu, la théorie de la fonctionnelle de densité dépendante du temps a été utilisée pour simuler les énergies d’excitation de molécules photoactives. De manière similaire, la DFT indépendante du temps a permis la simulation du pont hydrogène intramoléculaire de structures analogues au 1,3,5-triazapentadiène et la rationalisation de la stabilité des états de transition. Par la suite, la dynamique moléculaire et la mécanique moléculaire ont permis de simuler les interactions d’un trimère d’acide cholique et d’un pyrène dans différents solvants. Cette même méthodologie a été utilisée pour simuler les interactions d’un rotaxane-parapluie à l’interface d’un système biphasique. Finalement, l’arrimage moléculaire et les fonctions de score ont été utilisés pour simuler les interactions intermoléculaires entre une protéine et des milliers de candidats moléculaires. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en place une stratégie de développement d’un nouvel inhibiteur enzymatique. / The evolution of computer systems has led to the emergence of molecular modeling. To this end, a variety of mathematical models are now available to simulate various chemical systems. Using molecular modeling, different types of chemical interactions were observed. From the simplest systems allowing the use of rigorous quantum models, a series of approximations were considered in order to make possible the simulation of increasingly complex molecular systems. First, time-dependent density fonctional theory has been used to simulate the excitation energies of photoactive molecules. Similarly, time-independent DFT has enabled the simulation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the 1,3,5-triazapentadiene system and the rationalization of the stability of the transition states. Subsequently, molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics were used to simulate the interactions of a trimer of cholic acid with a pyrene in different solvents. This methodology was then used to simulate the interactions of an umbrella-rotaxane at the interface of a biphasic system. Finally, molecular docking and the concept of scoring functions were used to simulate the intermolecular interactions between a protein molecule and thousands of potential ligands. The results were then used to create a strategy for the development of a new enzyme inhibitor.

Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o comportamento de alguns flavonóides e do adjuvante tecnológico celulose microcristalina (CMCr) no estado sólido, em relação ao tipo de interação e sua intensidade, quando existente, utilizando misturas físicas equiponderais e na proporção ponderal 1:2, respectivamente, através da calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica e espectroscopia no infravermelho (FTIR). A relação estrutura-propriedade de interação dos flavonóides estudados foi determinada nas possíveis interações sólido-sólido com a celulose microcristalina, correlacionando os padrões de hidroxilação nos anéis A, B e C dos flavonóides com: 1) a intensidade de variação (IV - %) entre as entalpias observada e esperada, 2) a energia do sistema conjugado do anel aromático relativa à banda I, 3) o pKa dos flavonóides e 4) os cálculos do campo de força da mecânica molecular 2 (MM2) para a energia de interação do sistema flavonóide-CMCr. Os flavonóides avaliados foram canferol, fisetina, luteolina, miricetina, morina e quercetina. Os resultados da DSC evidenciaram interações de natureza física do tipo ligações de hidrogênio, com variação de entalpia para todas as misturas dos flavonóides com a CMCr, mas que não puderam ser confirmadas por FTIR, devido à sobreposição de bandas com os flavonóides. O potencial de interação (PI) mostrou-se proporcional ao número de hidroxilas e apresentou a ordem de importância de posição e presença das hidroxilas nos anéis: B>C>A. A miricetina apresentou a menor energia do sistema conjugado do anel aromático relativa à banda I, relacionado ao maior PI entre os flavonóides estudados. Na avaliação do pKa dos flavonóides em relação à IV, não foi possível estabelecer uma correlação entre estas variáveis, não apresentando uma tendência de aumento ou diminuição do valor de pKa em relação ao aumento do PI. Os cálculos de MM2 para a energia de interação do sistema flavonóide-CMCr, considerando as dez interações propostas, demonstraram que a CMCr determinou a melhor orientação do flavonóide para obter a conformação de menor energia, não sendo possível estabelecer um padrão de conformação mais estável de interação para estes flavonóides. / In this work was evaluated the behavior of some flavonoids and of technological adjuvant microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in solid state, in relation to the type of interaction and its intensity, when existing, using equiponderal physical mixtures and in 1:2 ratio, respectively, through of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Structure-property of interaction relation was determined to studied flavonoids in possible solid-solid interactions with MCC, correlating standard hydroxylation in A, B and C rings of flavonoids with: 1) intensity variation (IV-%) between observed and hoped enthalpies, 2) energy of the conjugated system of aromatic ring relative to band I, 3) pKa value of flavonoids and 4) molecular mechanics 2 (MM2) force field calculations for interaction energy of system flavonoid-MCC. Evaluated flavonoids were fisetin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, myricetin and quercetin. DSC results evidenced physical interactions hydrogen bonds type, with enthalpy variation for all mixtures of flavonoids with MCC, but could not be confirmed by FTIR, due to overlapping with flavonoids bands. Interaction potential (IP) showed to be proportional to the number of hydroxyls and presented in order of importance of position and presence of hydroxyls in rings: B>C>A. Myricetin presented the lowest energy of the conjugated system of aromatic ring relative to band I, related with the highest IP among studied flavonoids. In the evaluation pKa value of flavonoids in relation to IV, it was not possible to establish a correlation between these variables, not presenting a trend of increase or decrease of pKa value in relation to the increase of IP. MM2 force field calculations for interaction energy of system flavonoid-MCC, considering ten proposed interactions, demonstrated that MCC determined the best orientation of flavonoids to get the lowest energy conformation, not being possible to establish the steadiest standard conformation of interaction for these flavonoids.

Les peptides sont des molécules pouvant posséder une activité biologique intéressante (antibiotique, anti-oxydante, antivirale, anti-hypertensive…). Ce sont cependant des molécules difficiles à utiliser car elles possèdent un faible temps de demi-vie in vivo et sont peu bio-disponibles. Le greffage d’un acide gras permet de les protéger et d’accroître leur potentiel d’action. Cette réaction appelée acylation peut être catalysée par des enzymes. A l’heure actuelle, peu de recherches sont faites sur l’acylation de peptides par voie enzymatique et sur la recherche de nouveaux biocatalyseurs adaptés pour cette réaction. Les objectifs de cette thèse ont été, dans un premier temps, de comprendre les mécanismes de la sélectivité d’acylation de peptides de la lipase B de Candida antarctica par une approche de modélisation moléculaire combinant docking et dynamique moléculaire, couplée à une approche expérimentale. Cette étude a permis d’identifier des interactions enzyme-substrats impliquées dans la sélectivité enzymatique et a permis de construire un modèle expliquant la régio- et chimio-sélectivité de l’acylation peptidique catalysée par cette enzyme. Dans un deuxième temps, une étude préliminaire a été menée afin d’identifier de nouvelles enzymes de type acylases présentes dans des surnageants de culture de différentes espèces de Streptomyces. Ces enzymes sont capables de catalyser des réactions d’acylation de peptides en milieux aqueux. Une méthode de semi-purification a été établie et une étude comparative a été menée sur la sélectivité d’acylation de la lipase B de C. antarctica et celle de nouvelles enzymes de type aminoacylases présentes dans un extrait protéique de surnageant de culture de Streptomyces ambofaciens. Ces nouvelles enzymes présentent une spécificité différente de celle de la lipase B de C. antarctica, permettant notamment, une acylation des acides aminés sur leur fonction amine en position α. Une caractérisation partielle des activités amino-acylase du surnageant de culture de S. ambofaciens a été réalisée. Dans une troisième et dernière partie, une comparaison des séquences génétiques a été réalisée entre treptomyces mobaraensis et S. ambofaciens afin d’identifier les gènes codant pour les acylases découvertes chez S. ambofaciens. Des mutants de S. ambofaciens délétés pour ces gènes ont été construits et la fonctionnalité des enzymes codées par ces gènes a été vérifiée ; enfin, une expression hétérologue de l’ε-lysine acylase a été initiée / Peptides exhibit various beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, neuroprotective, antiviral or antimicrobial activities. However, their use can be limited by their short half-life and their low biological availability. One solution to overcome these drawbacks is the acylation of peptides with fatty acids. This reaction called acylation can be catalyzed using enzymes. To date, very few studies focus on enzymatic acylation of peptides and on finding new enzymes catalyzing this reaction. The objectives of this work were, in a first time, to understand the selectivity mechanisms of the lipase B of Candida antarctica for peptides acylation combining experimental and molecular modeling approaches. This study highlighted enzyme/substrate interactions involved in the enzymatic selectivity and a modelexplaining the chemo- and regio-selectivity of this enzyme for peptide acylation reactions was built. In a second time, a preliminary study was carried out in order to identify new aminoacylase enzymes produced in the culture supernatant of various species of Streptomyces. These enzymes are able to catalyze acylation of peptides in aqueous media. A partial purification method was set and a comparative study was performed on the selectivity of C. antarctica lipase Band that of the new aminoacylases discovered in the culture supernatant of Streptomyces ambofaciens ATCC 23877. These enzymes presented a selectivity different from C. antarctica lipase B allowing the acylation of the N-terminal amino group of amino acids or peptides. A partial description of the aminoacylase activity of the supernatant crude extract of S. ambofaciens was performed. In a third and final part, a comparison of sequences of aminoacylases from Streptomyces mobaraensis with the genome of S.s ambofaciens ATCC 23877 was performed in order to identify genetic sequences encoding the new discovered aminoacylases from S. ambofaciens ATCC 23877. Each identified gene was deleted to correlate it with the aminoacylase activity observed in the crude extract of S. ambofaciens. Lastly, a heterologous expression of the ε-lysine acylase was initiated

A avaliação química das folhas de Psychotria umbellata levou a identificação de quatro alcalóides pertencente ao grupo dos indol monoterpenos glicosilados, sendo psicolatina a substância majoritária. Em estudos subseqüentes, psicolatina apresentou importantes efeitos farmacológicos provavelmente relacionados com a modulação de receptores opióides, serotonérgicos 5-HT2A/C e glutamatérgicos NMDA. Assim, considerando-se a relevância das atividades biológicas descritas para psicolatina e a necessidade do estabelecimento inequívoco das características estruturais e conformacionais de compostos farmacologicamente ativos, os objetivos principais deste trabalho foram a caracterização conformacional de psicolatina e a avaliação do efeito de tratamento agudo e sub-crônico com este composto sobre os níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios e regiões cerebrais de roedores. A avaliação conformacional de psicolatina permitiu a caracterização de quatro confôrmeros caracterizados como mínimos de energia: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. As constantes de acoplamento teóricas (3JH,H) calculadas para esses confôrmeros apresentaram boa correlação com os dados experimentais de RMN, sendo que os melhores resultados foram observados para as conformações obtidas por RM1. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos e ratos submetidos a tratamento agudo com psicolatina 7,5 mg/kg. No entanto, nos córtices pré-frontais dos roedores submetidos a tratamento agudo foram verificados aumentos estatisticamente significativos nos níveis dos aminoácidos excitatórios e de glutamina. Os camundongos submetidos ao tratamento agudo apresentaram elevações de 42,46 %, 50,93 % e 35,18 % nos níveis de aspartato, glutamato e glutamina, respectivamente. Os ratos submetidos ao mesmo esquema de tratamento, por sua vez, apresentaram aumentos de 43,36 % e de 57,11% nas concentrações de glutamato e glutamina. Assim como observado para o tratamento agudo, o tratamento sub-crônico com psicolatina por um período de 18 dias não provocou alterações significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos. Em córtices préfrontais, porém, os animais tratados com psicolatina apresentaram diminuição de 28,86 % nos níveis de glutamina. O presente estudo, corroborando dados anteriores sugere que psicolatina administrada por via intraperitoneal apresenta ação sobre o sistema nervoso central, uma vez que provocou alterações no perfil de aminoácidos excitatórios em córtex pré-frontal. / Phytochemical analyses of Psychotria umbellata leaves identified the presence of four monoterpene indole alkaloids, being psychollatine the main compound. In subsequent pharmacological investigations, psychollatine showed some important biological activities, including analgesic, anxiolytic, antidepressive and amnesic effects in mice models. These data indicate that this compound is able to modulate different neurotransmitter systems, including opioid, 5-HT2A/C and NMDA receptors. This way, considering the relevance of the pharmacological activities showed by psychollatine and the necessity of the unequivocally determination of the conformational and structural features of biologically actives compounds, the goals of this work were the conformational characterization of psychollatine and the evaluation of acute and chronic treatment with this compound on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rodents. From the conformational analyses, four minimum energy conformations were evaluates for psychollatine: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. The theoretical coupling constants calculated for all these conformers (3JH,H) presented a good agreement with the experimental data, mainly for the conformations obtained by RM1. No significant differences were observed on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus of mice and rats submitted to acute treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg. Nevertheless, in prefrontal cortex of rodents submitted to acute treatment with this compound were observed increases on the excitatory amino acids and glutamine levels. Mice submitted to acute treatment with these alkaloid presented increases of 42.46 %, 50.93 % and 35.18 % on the aspartate, glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively, and rats submitted to acute treatment presented increases of 43.36 % and 57.11% on the glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively. Such as verified for the acute treatment, the chronic treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg, during 18 days, did not cause significant alterations on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in mice hippocampus. However, significant decrease on the glutamine levels (28.86 %) was observed in the prefrontal cortex of mice treated with this alkaloid during 18 days. The present work, supporting previous data, suggests that psychollatine presents effects on the central nervous system (CNS), since this compound caused alterations on the amino acids levels on prefrontal cortex.

Neste trabalho, foi avaliado o comportamento de alguns flavonóides e do adjuvante tecnológico celulose microcristalina (CMCr) no estado sólido, em relação ao tipo de interação e sua intensidade, quando existente, utilizando misturas físicas equiponderais e na proporção ponderal 1:2, respectivamente, através da calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica e espectroscopia no infravermelho (FTIR). A relação estrutura-propriedade de interação dos flavonóides estudados foi determinada nas possíveis interações sólido-sólido com a celulose microcristalina, correlacionando os padrões de hidroxilação nos anéis A, B e C dos flavonóides com: 1) a intensidade de variação (IV - %) entre as entalpias observada e esperada, 2) a energia do sistema conjugado do anel aromático relativa à banda I, 3) o pKa dos flavonóides e 4) os cálculos do campo de força da mecânica molecular 2 (MM2) para a energia de interação do sistema flavonóide-CMCr. Os flavonóides avaliados foram canferol, fisetina, luteolina, miricetina, morina e quercetina. Os resultados da DSC evidenciaram interações de natureza física do tipo ligações de hidrogênio, com variação de entalpia para todas as misturas dos flavonóides com a CMCr, mas que não puderam ser confirmadas por FTIR, devido à sobreposição de bandas com os flavonóides. O potencial de interação (PI) mostrou-se proporcional ao número de hidroxilas e apresentou a ordem de importância de posição e presença das hidroxilas nos anéis: B>C>A. A miricetina apresentou a menor energia do sistema conjugado do anel aromático relativa à banda I, relacionado ao maior PI entre os flavonóides estudados. Na avaliação do pKa dos flavonóides em relação à IV, não foi possível estabelecer uma correlação entre estas variáveis, não apresentando uma tendência de aumento ou diminuição do valor de pKa em relação ao aumento do PI. Os cálculos de MM2 para a energia de interação do sistema flavonóide-CMCr, considerando as dez interações propostas, demonstraram que a CMCr determinou a melhor orientação do flavonóide para obter a conformação de menor energia, não sendo possível estabelecer um padrão de conformação mais estável de interação para estes flavonóides. / In this work was evaluated the behavior of some flavonoids and of technological adjuvant microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in solid state, in relation to the type of interaction and its intensity, when existing, using equiponderal physical mixtures and in 1:2 ratio, respectively, through of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Structure-property of interaction relation was determined to studied flavonoids in possible solid-solid interactions with MCC, correlating standard hydroxylation in A, B and C rings of flavonoids with: 1) intensity variation (IV-%) between observed and hoped enthalpies, 2) energy of the conjugated system of aromatic ring relative to band I, 3) pKa value of flavonoids and 4) molecular mechanics 2 (MM2) force field calculations for interaction energy of system flavonoid-MCC. Evaluated flavonoids were fisetin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, myricetin and quercetin. DSC results evidenced physical interactions hydrogen bonds type, with enthalpy variation for all mixtures of flavonoids with MCC, but could not be confirmed by FTIR, due to overlapping with flavonoids bands. Interaction potential (IP) showed to be proportional to the number of hydroxyls and presented in order of importance of position and presence of hydroxyls in rings: B>C>A. Myricetin presented the lowest energy of the conjugated system of aromatic ring relative to band I, related with the highest IP among studied flavonoids. In the evaluation pKa value of flavonoids in relation to IV, it was not possible to establish a correlation between these variables, not presenting a trend of increase or decrease of pKa value in relation to the increase of IP. MM2 force field calculations for interaction energy of system flavonoid-MCC, considering ten proposed interactions, demonstrated that MCC determined the best orientation of flavonoids to get the lowest energy conformation, not being possible to establish the steadiest standard conformation of interaction for these flavonoids.

A avaliação química das folhas de Psychotria umbellata levou a identificação de quatro alcalóides pertencente ao grupo dos indol monoterpenos glicosilados, sendo psicolatina a substância majoritária. Em estudos subseqüentes, psicolatina apresentou importantes efeitos farmacológicos provavelmente relacionados com a modulação de receptores opióides, serotonérgicos 5-HT2A/C e glutamatérgicos NMDA. Assim, considerando-se a relevância das atividades biológicas descritas para psicolatina e a necessidade do estabelecimento inequívoco das características estruturais e conformacionais de compostos farmacologicamente ativos, os objetivos principais deste trabalho foram a caracterização conformacional de psicolatina e a avaliação do efeito de tratamento agudo e sub-crônico com este composto sobre os níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios e regiões cerebrais de roedores. A avaliação conformacional de psicolatina permitiu a caracterização de quatro confôrmeros caracterizados como mínimos de energia: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. As constantes de acoplamento teóricas (3JH,H) calculadas para esses confôrmeros apresentaram boa correlação com os dados experimentais de RMN, sendo que os melhores resultados foram observados para as conformações obtidas por RM1. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos e ratos submetidos a tratamento agudo com psicolatina 7,5 mg/kg. No entanto, nos córtices pré-frontais dos roedores submetidos a tratamento agudo foram verificados aumentos estatisticamente significativos nos níveis dos aminoácidos excitatórios e de glutamina. Os camundongos submetidos ao tratamento agudo apresentaram elevações de 42,46 %, 50,93 % e 35,18 % nos níveis de aspartato, glutamato e glutamina, respectivamente. Os ratos submetidos ao mesmo esquema de tratamento, por sua vez, apresentaram aumentos de 43,36 % e de 57,11% nas concentrações de glutamato e glutamina. Assim como observado para o tratamento agudo, o tratamento sub-crônico com psicolatina por um período de 18 dias não provocou alterações significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos. Em córtices préfrontais, porém, os animais tratados com psicolatina apresentaram diminuição de 28,86 % nos níveis de glutamina. O presente estudo, corroborando dados anteriores sugere que psicolatina administrada por via intraperitoneal apresenta ação sobre o sistema nervoso central, uma vez que provocou alterações no perfil de aminoácidos excitatórios em córtex pré-frontal. / Phytochemical analyses of Psychotria umbellata leaves identified the presence of four monoterpene indole alkaloids, being psychollatine the main compound. In subsequent pharmacological investigations, psychollatine showed some important biological activities, including analgesic, anxiolytic, antidepressive and amnesic effects in mice models. These data indicate that this compound is able to modulate different neurotransmitter systems, including opioid, 5-HT2A/C and NMDA receptors. This way, considering the relevance of the pharmacological activities showed by psychollatine and the necessity of the unequivocally determination of the conformational and structural features of biologically actives compounds, the goals of this work were the conformational characterization of psychollatine and the evaluation of acute and chronic treatment with this compound on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rodents. From the conformational analyses, four minimum energy conformations were evaluates for psychollatine: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. The theoretical coupling constants calculated for all these conformers (3JH,H) presented a good agreement with the experimental data, mainly for the conformations obtained by RM1. No significant differences were observed on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus of mice and rats submitted to acute treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg. Nevertheless, in prefrontal cortex of rodents submitted to acute treatment with this compound were observed increases on the excitatory amino acids and glutamine levels. Mice submitted to acute treatment with these alkaloid presented increases of 42.46 %, 50.93 % and 35.18 % on the aspartate, glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively, and rats submitted to acute treatment presented increases of 43.36 % and 57.11% on the glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively. Such as verified for the acute treatment, the chronic treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg, during 18 days, did not cause significant alterations on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in mice hippocampus. However, significant decrease on the glutamine levels (28.86 %) was observed in the prefrontal cortex of mice treated with this alkaloid during 18 days. The present work, supporting previous data, suggests that psychollatine presents effects on the central nervous system (CNS), since this compound caused alterations on the amino acids levels on prefrontal cortex.

Les minéraux argileux gonflants tels que les smectites sont omniprésents à la surface de la Terre et possèdent d'importantes capacités d'hydratation et d'absorption/rétention de contaminants. Ainsi, ces dernières exercent une influence clé sur les transferts d'éléments dans les environnements de surface. Ces propriétés sont particulièrement importantes quand les smectites sont utilisées comme barrières ouvragées ou géologiques pour les installations de contrôle des déchets. Les molécules d'eau dans l'interfoliaire représentent plus de 80% de l'eau en contact avec les smectites, dans des conditions non saturées. La caractérisation de l'organisation et de la dynamique de l'eau dans les smectites est donc essentielle pour prédire la mobilité des contaminants, dont le principal vecteur est l'eau. Dans ce cadre général, les présents travaux décrivent, dans un premier temps, la structuration interfoliaire eau/cations dans des conditions saturées, jusqu'alors méconnue. Puis, dans un second temps, nous avons examiné l'influence des paramètres structuraux (tels que la quantité et l'emplacement des charges, la composition chimique et plus particulièrement la présence de groupements fluors/hydroxyles) sur les propriétés d'hydratation des smectites. Une série d'échantillons couvrant toute la gamme de composition des smectites a donc été synthétisée et caractérisée structurellement. Une attention particulière a été accordée à la détermination du montant (isothermes vapeur d'eau de sorption) et la distribution (de diffraction des rayons X) de l'eau dans l'espace interfoliaire. La modélisation moléculaire a permis d'aller plus loin dans la compréhension de l'origine des comportements contrastés observés expérimentalement, et de déterminer l'influence des différents paramètres cristallochimiques sur l'hydratation de la smectite. Cette étape est essentielle pour la prédiction de la réactivité des smectites dans l'environnement sur la base d'un nombre limité de paramètres cristallochimiques. / Swelling clay minerals such as smectites are ubiquitous at the Earth surface and possess major hydration ability and contaminant uptake/retention capacity. As a consequence smectites exert a pivotal influence on elemental transfers in surficial environments. These properties are especially relevant also when smectites are used as sealant in engineered or geological barriers for waste disposal facilities. As interlayer H2O molecules account for more than 80% of smectite water in undersaturated conditions, characterization of H2O organization and dynamics in smectites interlayers is essential to determining the geometrical and dynamical properties of clay barriers for waste disposal and to predicting the mobility of contaminant whose principal vector is water. Within this general framework, the present works describe, in a first time, the structuration of interlayer water/cations in saturated conditions. Then, in a second time, review the influence of structural parameters such as the amount and location of layer charge deficit and the chemical composition (and more especially the presence of structural fluorine/hydroxyl) on smectite hydration properties. A set of samples covering the whole compositional range of swelling phyllosilicates has thus been synthesized and characterized chemically and structurally. Special attention was paid to determining the amount (water vapor sorption isotherms) and the distribution (X-ray diffraction) of interlayer water. Molecular modeling allowed unraveling the origin of the contrasting behaviors observed experimentally and to determine the influence of the different crystal-chemical parameters on smectite hydration. This step is essential for the prediction of smectite reactivity in the environment from a limited number of crystal-chemical parameters. Molecular modeling allowed unraveling the origin of the contrasting behaviors observed experimentally and to determine the influence of the different crystal-chemical parameters on smectite hydration. This step is essential for the prediction of smectite reactivity in the environment from a limited number of crystal-chemical parameters.