OleTJE (CYP152L1) is a P450 peroxygenase that was first isolated from Jeotgalicoccus sp. 8456 in 2011. OleTJE is primarily a fatty acid decarboxylase, converting mid-chain fatty acids (C10:0 to C22:0) to terminal alkenes, which are industrially useful petrochemicals. Terminal alkenes are hydrophobic with high energy density, and are compatible with existing transportation infrastructure. Thus OleTJE has attracted considerable interest due to potential applications for generating "drop-in" biofuels. As a P450 peroxygenase, OleTJE is able to utilise H2O2 as a sole oxygen and hydrogen donor. This is atypical of P450s, which usually require electron transfer from redox partners to perform substrate oxidation. Other P450 peroxygenases have previously been characterised, including fatty acid hydroxylases P450 Spalpha (CYP152B1) from Sphingomonas paucimobilis and P450 BSβ (CYP152A1) from Bacillus subtilis. In addition to decarboxylation, OleTJE also hydroxylates fatty acids, generating 2-OH and 3-OH fatty acids as minor products. P450 BSβ has also been reported to perform low levels of decarboxylation. However, OleTJE has superior decarboxylase activity, posing questions about the mechanism of OleTJE. This thesis describes initial structural and biochemical characterisation of OleTJE. These data highlighted three amino acid residues thought to be key for effective catalysis: His85, Phe79 and Arg245. We hypothesised that the active site His85 could act as a proton donor to thereactive ferryl-oxo species compound I, allowing homolytic scission of the substrate C-Calpha bond to form the alkene product. Phe79 sandwiches His85 between the heme, and Arg245 co-ordinates the fatty acid carboxylate moiety. I performed mutagenesis studies to probe the roles of these residues, creating H85Q, F79A, F79W, F79Y, R245L and R245E OleTJE mutants, and characterised them by a combination of spectroscopic, analytical and structural methods. I also developed a novel system, where OleTJE was fused to alditol oxidase (AldO) from Streptomyces coelicolor, creating a fusion protein where addition of glycerol drives hydrogen peroxide production and the decarboxylation of fatty acids. Finally, studies showed that OleTJE is capable of performing secondary oxidation of hydroxylated products, which has expanded our knowledge of OleTJE's catalytic repertoire. This thesis also describes the initial characterisation of the OleTJE orthologue P450 KR from Kocuria rhizophila, which is also a terminal alkene-forming fatty acid decarboxylase. The crystal structure of P450 KR revealed an unusual dimeric state, with structural interactions unprecedented for a P450 enzyme. These data thus provide characterisation of two P450 peroxygenases involved in the production of terminal alkenes and which are of great interest as tools for the development of alternative sources of advanced biofuels.

[pt] Este trabalho teve como objetivo fabricar e caracterizar Transistores Orgânicos Emissores de Luz (OLETs, Organic light-Emitting Transistors). Os OLETs combinam em um único dispositivo a funcionalidade elétrica de um transistor de efeito de campo orgânico e a capacidade de geração de luz, representando uma nova classe de dispositivos orgânicos com alto potencial de inovação em aplicações, como sistemas ópticos de comunicação, tecnologia de displays avançada, lasers orgânicos, fontes de luz em nanoescala e optoeletrônica orgânica integrada. Portanto, esta tese possui um caráter pioneiro, tanto para grupo de pesquisa quanto para o país, uma vez que ocorre a junção dos conhecimentos e domínio adquiridos sobre OFETs e OLEDs. Efetivamente, este trabalho de doutorado consistiu na fabricação e caracterização sistemática de diversos dispositivos OLET utilizando variadas arquiteturas e diversos materiais, comerciais e não comerciais, como o NT4N, o P13 e uma bicamada de C8-BTBT com TcTa:Ir(ppy)3. Os dispositivos foram caracterizados através de medidas elétricas e óticas, obtendo-se as curvas características. Também foram determinados seus parâmetros e propriedades de funcionamento, com destaque para as mobilidades de carga e para as eficiências obtidas. Houve também o entendimento e a implementação de um tratamento térmico na camada dielétrica, sendo parte fundamental da fabricação dos dispositivos. Os dispositivos fabricados apresentaram diferentes graus de desempenho, com destaque para a arquitetura bicamada, por apresentar a maior potência luminosa (4 microwatt) e a maior eficiência (0,5 por cento), sendo suficientes para inserir os dispositivos fabricados na categoria de dispositivos orgânicos altamente eficientes. Tal fato demonstra que o domínio da fabricação e da caracterização desta nova classe de dispositivos foi alcançado. / [en] The aim of this work was to achieve the knowledge of the fabrication and the characterization of Organic Light Emitting Transistors, OLETs, considered as one of the innovative technologies nowadays. The OLETs combine in a single device the electrical functionality of an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) and the light-generating capability. They represent a promising new class of organic devices with high potential for innovation in applications such as communication systems, advanced display technology, organic lasers, nanoscale light sources and integrated organic optoelectronics. In some way, this thesis has a pioneer character, both for our research group and for the country, since it combines different knowledge and skills about OFETs and OLEDs to achieve a new device. Actually, this work involved the systematic manufacture and characterization of several OLETs using different architectures employing commercial and noncommercial materials, such NT4N, P13 and a bilayer of C8-BTBT with TcTa:Ir(ppy)3. The devices were then characterized by electrical and optical measurements. The working parameters and properties were determined as well, highlighting the charge carrier mobilities and efficiencies obtained. The understanding and the implementation of a specific heat treatment in the dielectric layer was a fundamental part of this work for the manufacture of the devices which have different degrees of performance. With emphasis on the bilayer architecture, that presented the highest luminous power (4 microwatt) and efficiency (0,5 percent), inserting the devices manufactured in the category of highly efficient organic devices. Such fact shows that the fabrication and characterization of this new class of devices has been achieved.

Abstract This thesis reports the investigation of color tuning of two types of organic light emitting devices, transistors (OLETs) and diodes (OLEDs). Voltage tunable two color light emission was demonstrated for OLETs. For OLEDs, two kinds of color tuning methods were presented. For these, color tuning was realized using thermal annealing which changes the light emission color of the devices permanently. The two color light emission of the OLETs, employing a three-layer heterostructure device configuration, occurs in red and green. The device structure was first utilized for producing red light emission originating from a light emission layer made of Alq3:DCM that was deposited between the hole and electron transport layers made of DH-4T and DFH-4T, respectively. After modifying the fabrication process in order to raise the device performance by acquiring smoother active layers green light could also be produced by the devices. Green light emission originated from the electron transport layer. This took place during the electron transport mode, while the red emission was apparent while hole transport was active. The color of the light emission was therefore demonstrated as being tunable by voltage. For OLEDs, devices with one active polymeric layer, undoped and doped, were investigated. The undoped OLEDs had the light emission layer made of blue light emitting polyfluorene PFO. The OLEDs suffered from keto-defects shifting their light emission color from blue to greenish shade, a common problem occurring in widely used blue light emitting polyfluorenes. The work conducted and reported in this thesis demonstrated that thermal annealing can be used for diminishing this undesired green emission. For the doped OLEDs with the light emission layer made of a PFO:F8BT blend, color tuning was realized using thermal annealing as well. As a result of exposure to thermal treatment, the light emission color of these devices which was green as fabricated was converted to white. The phenomenon behind this effect was explained by phase separation between the host and dopant polymers of the light emission layer. / Tiivistelmä Tässä väitöskirjatyössä tutkitaan orgaanisten valoa emittoivien transistoreiden (OLET) ja diodien (OLED) värinsäätöä. Työssä tehtiin kolmikerrosrakenteisia OLETeja, jotka kykenevät emittoimaan valoa kahdella värillä ja joiden emittointiväri on jännitesäädettävissä. OLEDien osalta toteutettiin kaksi erilaista värinsäätömenetelmää, joissa molemmissa hyödynnettiin kuumennusta pysyvän värinvaihdon aikaansaamiseksi. Tutkitut OLETit emittoivat punaista ja vihreää valoa. Aluksi tutkittiin vastaavia komponentteja, jotka emittoivat vain punaista valoa. Näissä komponenteissa punaisen valon tuotti keskimmäinen valoemitterinä toiminut kerros (Alq3:DCM), jonka ala- ja yläpuolella olivat aukko- ja elektronijohtavat kerrokset (DH-4T ja DFH-4T). Komponenteilla saatiin tuotettua myös vihreää valoa, kun valmistusprosessia kehitettiin tasaisempien aktiivisten materiaalikerrosten valmistamiseksi. Vihreän valon todettiin olevan elektronijohtavan kerroksen tuottamaa. Kaksiväriemittoiva OLET tuotti vihreää valoa ollessaan elektronijohtavassa tilassa, ja punaista valoa aukkojohtavassa tilassa, emittointivärin ollessa näin jännitesäädettävissä. Työssä tutkittujen OLEDien valon emittointi perustui polymeerikerrokseen, joka oli toisissa OLEDeissa seostamaton ja toisissa seostettu. Seostamattomien OLEDien aktiivinen kerros oli tehty sinistä valoa tuottavasta polyfluoreenista (PFO), jossa usein ilmenee keto-virheitä, joiden vuoksi PFO:sta tehtyjen OLEDien valo muuttuu sinisestä vihertäväksi. Työssä osoitettiin, että kuumennusta voidaan käyttää sinisen emittointivärin palauttamiseen. Seostettujen OLEDien (PFO:F8BT) osalta kuumennusta käytettiin komponenttien emittointivärin muuttamiseksi alkuperäisestä emittointiväristä vihreästä valkoiseksi. Tämä ilmiö selitettiin valoa emittoivan kerroksen polymeerien välisellä faasierkaantumisella.

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude d'un diélectrique de type ferroélectrique pour une application aux transistors organiques. La configuration adoptée est de type bottom-gate top- contact. Le matériau semi-conducteur utilisé est un transporteur d'électrons. Dans la première partie de ce projet, nous avons réalisé des transistors organiques à effet de champ (OFETs) avec une couche de PMMA comme diélectrique de grille. Ce matériau, très étudié et connu, permet d'avoir un composant servant de référence. Nous avons également mené une étude sur la longueur de canal, la vitesse de dépôt du semi-conducteur organique et l'épaisseur du diélectrique, en vue d'en déduire l'influence de ces grandeurs sur les performances électriques des OFETs. Après l'optimisation de ces paramètres, nous avons démontré une amélioration de la mobilité des porteurs, une augmentation du rapport Ion/Ioff, une amélioration de la capacité et une diminution des tensions d'alimentation et de seuil. Ces résultats ont été interprétés à l'aide de caractérisations électriques. Dans un second temps, le diélectrique ferroélectrique poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) a été ajouté au composant, afin de réaliser un diélectrique hybride avec le PMMA. Ce dernier permet de combiner les avantages de la haute permittivité relative du P(VDF-TrFE), et de la faible rugosité du film de PMMA en contact avec le semiconducteur. Une étude comparative a été effectuée avec les transistors de référence. Il en ressort, pour une épaisseur identique de diélectrique, une diminution des tensions d'alimentation et de seuil, et une amélioration de la mobilité des charges avec l'OFET implémentant le matériau ferroélectrique. La discussion de ces résultats est appuyée par des caractérisations électriques et morphologiques. / This thesis deals with the study of a ferroelectric material as gate dielectric for organic transistor applications. The configuration adopted is bottom-gate top-contact. The semiconductor used is an electron transport material. In a first part, we made organic field effect transistors (OFETs) with a layer of PMMA as a gate dielectric. This material, very studied and well known, serves as reference. We also carried out a study on the channel length, the organic semiconductor deposition rate and the dielectric thickness, in order to deduce the impact of these parameters on OFETs performances. After optimization, we have demonstrated an improvement of the mobility, on/off current ratio, capacitance and a reduction of supply and threshold voltages. These results have been interpreted using electrical characterizations. In a second step, the poly (vinylidenefluoride-co- trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) ferroelectric material was added to provide a hybrid dielectric with PMMA. This OFET combine the advantages of high permittivity of P(VDF-TrFE) and low roughness of PMMA. A comparative study was carried out with reference transistors. For same dielectric thickness, a reduction of the supply and threshold voltages and an improvement of the mobility is obtained for the OFET implementing ferroelectric material. The discussion of these results is supported by electrical and morphological characterizations.

The proven ability to ferment Saccharomyces cerevisiae on a large scale presents an attractive target for producing chemicals and fuels from sustainable sources. Efficient and predominant carbon flux through to ethanol is a significant engineering issue in the development of this yeast as a multi-product cell chassis used in biorefineries. In order to evaluate diversion of carbon flux away from ethanol, combinatorial deletions were investigated in genes encoding the six isozymes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which catalyse the terminal step in ethanol production. The scarless, dominant and counter- selectable amdSYM gene deletion method was optimised for generation of a combinatorial ADH knockout library in an industrially relevant strain of S. cerevisiae. Current understanding of the individual ADH genes fails to fully evaluate genotype-by-genotype and genotype-by-environment interactions: rather, further research of such a complex biological process requires a multivariate mathematical modelling approach. Application of such an approach using the Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology is appraised here as essential for detailed empirical evaluation of complex systems. DoE provided empirical evidence that in S. cerevisiae: i) the ADH2 gene is not associated with producing ethanol under anaerobic culture conditions in combination with 25 g l-1 glucose substrate concentrations; ii) ADH4 is associated with increased ethanol production when the cell is confronted with a zinc-limited [1 μM] environment; and iii) ADH5 is linked with the production of ethanol, predominantly at pH 4.5. A successful metabolic engineering strategy is detailed which increases the product portfolio of S. cerevisiae, currently used for large-scale production of bioethanol. Heterologous expression of the cytochrome P450 fatty acid peroxygenase from Jeotgalicoccus sp., OleTJE, fused to the RhFRED reductase from Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB 978 converted free fatty acid precursors to C13, C15 and C17 alkenes (3.81 ng μl-1 total alkene concentration).