<p>In the research presented in this licentiate thesis the surface specific technique Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy, VSFS, combined with the Langmuir trough has been utilized to investigate Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposited mono- and bilayers of phospholipids. Their molecular structure, stability, and hydration were probed to gain additional understanding of important properties aiming at facilitating the use of such layers as model systems for biological membranes.</p><p>VSFS was applied to <em>in situ</em> studies of the degradation of Langmuir monolayers of 1,2-diacyl-phosphocholines with identical C-18 chains having various degrees of unsaturation. The time-dependent change of the monolayer area at constant surface pressure as well as the sum frequency intensity of the vinyl-CH stretch at the C=C double bonds were measured to monitor the degradation. It was shown that a rapid degradation of the monolayers of unsaturated phospholipids occurred when exposed to the laboratory air compared to the fully saturated lipid, and that the degradation could be inhibited by purging the ambient air with nitrogen. The degradation was attributed to oxidation mediated by reactive species in the air.</p><p>The molecular structure and order of Langmuir monolayers of 1,2-distearoyl-phosphocholine (18:0 PC) and their hydrating water were investigated at different surface pressures using VSFS. The spectroscopic data indicated a well ordered monolayer at all surface pressures with a more intense signal at higher pressures attributed to the subsequent increase of the number density and more ordered lipid molecules due to the tighter packing. Water molecules hydrating the headgroups or being in contact with the hydrophobic parts were observed and distinguished by their vibrational frequencies, and found to have different average orientations.</p><p>Additionally, monolayers of 18:0 PC, its fully deuterated analogue, and 1,2-distearoyl-phosphoserine (18:0 PS) were Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposited on CaF₂ substrates and VSFS was used to investigate the structure and order of the films as well as the hydrating water. The CH-region, water region, and lower wavenumber region containing phosphate, ester, carboxylic acid, and amine signals were probed to obtain a complete picture of the molecule. The data indicates that all deposited monolayers formed a well ordered and stable film and the average orientation of the aliphatic chains was determined using the antisymmetric methyl stretch.</p> / <p>I forskningen som presenteras i denna licentiatavhandling har den ytspecifika vibrationssumfrekvensspektroskopin, VSFS, använts tillsammans med Langmuirtråget för att studera Langmuir-monolager och Langmuir-Blod-gett (LB) deponerade monolager och bilager av fosfolipider. För att utvidga förståelsen av egenskaper som är viktiga för att underlätta användandet av dem som modellsystem för biologiska membran undersöktes såväl deras molekylära struktur som stabilitet och hydratisering.</p><p>VSFS användes för att genomföra <em>in situ</em>-studier av nedbrytningen av Langmuir-monolager av 1,2-diacyl-fosfokoliner med identiska 18 kolatomer långa sidokedjor med varierande antal omättade kol-kol-bindningar. För att övervaka nedbrytningen mättes såväl den tidsberoende förändringen av monolagernas area vid konstant yttryck som sumfrekevensintensiteten från dubbelbindningarnas CH-vibration. När monolagerna bestående av omättade fosfolipider utsattes för laboratorieluften bröts de ner hastigt jämfört med det helt mättade monolagret. Denna nedbrytning som sannolikt orsakades av reaktiva ämnen i luften kunde inhiberas fullständigt genom att ersätta den omgivande luften med kvävgas.</p><p>Den molekylära strukturen och ordningen hos Langmuir-monolager av 1,2-distearoyl-fosfokolin (18:0 PC) och deras hydratiseringsvatten undersöktes vid olika yttryck med VSFS. Den spektroskopiska datan visar att monolagerna är välordnade vid alla yttryck samt att sumfrekvenssignalens styrka ökar med ökande yttryck på grund av såväl det större antalet molekyler per ytenhet som den högre ordningen då molekylerna packas tätare. Vattenmolekyler som hydratiserar huvudgrupperna eller är i kontakt med hydrofoba delar och har olika medelorientering observerades och kunde identifieras genom sina vibrationsfrekvenser.</p><p>Vidare deponerades monolager av 18:0 PC, dess fullt deuterade analog och 1,2-distearoyl-fofsfoserin (18:0 PS) på substrat av CaF₂ och VSFS användes för att undersöka filmernas struktur och ordning såväl som hydratiseringsvattnet. CH- och vattenregionerna samt lågvågtalsområdet som innehåller fosfat-, ester-, karboxylsyra- och aminsignaler undersöktes för att få en fullständig bild av den molekylära strukturen. Data visar att alla deponerade monolager bildade en välordnad och stabil film och kolvätekedjornas medelorientering bestämdes med hjälp av signalen från den antisymmetriska metylvibrationen.</p> / QC 20100924

The cyto-protective compositions and effects of antiviral Maillard reaction products (MRPs) derived from roots of Isatis indigotica F. were examined using biochemical and biophysical methods. The Maillard reaction was identified as the main source of compounds with antiviral activity, an observation which has led to the proposal of a new class of active compounds that protect cells from influenza virus infection. In the roots, arginine and glucose were revealed to be the predominant reactants for the Maillard reaction. Significant anti-influenza virus effects were demonstrated in the RIE MRPs derived from the roots (RIE refers to the ‘radix Isatidis extracts’), and in Arg-Glc MRPs which are synthesised with arginine and glucose. Arg-Glc MRPs were confirmed as suitable models for the study of the antiviral effects of the root extracts. Furthermore, RIE MRPs and Arg-Glc MRPs were found to bind to the plasma membranes of erythrocytes and MDCK cells, and altered their properties. A novel antiviral mechanism was proposed: that MRPs achieve their cyto-protective effects by binding to the cell membrane rather than by direct action on viral particles. To validate the proposed mechanism, the interaction between MRPs and membrane lipids was investigated by biophysical experiments with phospholipids bilayers. Arg-Glc MRPs affected the rigidity of lipid packing in monolayers and bilayers, while RIE MRPs enhanced the fluidity. Both types of MRPs inserted into the hydrophobic core of bilayers, to differing extents, and induced the stabilisation or destabilisation of bilayers in a concentrationdependent manner. At certain concentrations, MRPs prevented the lamellar structure of bilayers from being destabilised by a viral fusion peptide, improved the lipid order and thereby inhibited cell-virus membrane fusion. The mechanism of the anti-influenza virus activity of RIE was therefore correlated to the interaction between MRPs and phospholipid bilayers, an integral component of the plasma membrane.

The objective of this thesis was to advance understanding in the field of biolubrication, finding inspiration from the human synovial joints. This was addressed by investigating the association of key biolubricants and the resulting lubrication performance. Techniques employed during the course of this work were Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), X-ray reflectivity (XRR). Key synovial fluid and cartilage components like dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), hyaluronan (HA), lubricin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) have been used in the investigations. Focus was towards two lubrication couples; DPPC-hyaluronan and COMP-lubricin. DPPC-hyaluronan mixtures were probed on hydrophilic silica surfaces and COMP-lubricin association structures were explored on weakly hydrophobic poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces. Investigations of the COMP-lubricin pair revealed that individually these components are unable to reach desired lubrication. However in combination, COMP facilitates firm attachment of lubricin to the PMMA surface in a favourable confirmation that imparts low friction coefficient. DPPC and hyaluronan combined impart lubrication advantage over lone DPPC bilayers. Hyaluronan provides a reservoir of DPPC on the surface and consequently self-healing ability. Other factors like temperature, presence of calcium ions, molecular weight of hyaluronan, and pressure were also explored. DPPC bilayers at higher temperature had higher load bearing capacity. Association between DPPC Langmuir layers and hyaluronan was enhanced in the presence of calcium ions, and lower molecular weight hyaluronan had a stronger tendency to bind to DPPC. At high pressures, DPPC-hyaluronan layers were more stable compared to lone DPPC bilayers. / <p>QC 20170210</p>

The muscarinic agonist carbachol stimulates a rapid increase in ^32Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) in calcium tolerant myocytes prepared from heart tissue. The density of muscarinic receptors, determined by [^3H]-QNB binding, is greater in the atria than in the ventricles. 250 uM carbachol decreased specific [^3H]-QNB binding to muscarinic receptors on myocyte membranes by fifty percent. Trifluoperazine, also a phospholipase C inhibitor, inhibited the carbachol stimulated increase in ^32Pi incorporation into PA and PI and did not interfere with muscarinic receptor binding. Therefore, isolated canine myocytes provide a suitable model system to further study the muscarinic receptor stimulated phospholipid effect, and its role in mediating biochemical processes and physiological function in the heart.

Le lait maternel est considéré comme l’aliment de référence pour le développement des nouveau-nés. Cependant dans le cas des grands prématurés qui ont des besoins nutritionnels particulièrement élevés, le lait maternel ne permet pas toujours d’apporter des quantités optimales pour certaines molécules, en raison de déficiences intrinsèques ou des conditions d’administration.Nous avons étudié les relations entre l’alimentation actuelle des mères et la composition en acides gras polyinsaturés de leur lait. Les laits maternels du Sud de la France et de la région Nord/Ouest présentent un déséquilibre de la composition en défaveur des acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) n-3 du lait, notamment en acide docosahexaénoïque (DHA). Ceci est en relation avec une consommation faible en poissons et produits de la mer, ainsi qu’une consommation importante d’AGPI n-6. Une deuxième partie du travail a porté sur la relation entre certaines molécules bioactives du lait et le développement intestinal des nouveau-nés. Le protocole de prise en charge nutritionnelle des nouveau-nés prématurés conduit à l’administration d’une faible quantité de molécules bioactives (AGPI n-3, phospholipides et plasmalogènes, sCD14, sphingomyélinase acide) ne permettant pas de couvrir les besoins, notamment en DHA, et probablement pas d’assurer une santé intestinale optimale pendant les premières semaines de vie. Un délai nécessaire pour atteindre la maturité digestive plus court est associé à la consommation d’AGPI pendant les deux premières semaines de vie, et de phospholipides (sphingomyéline et plasmalogènes) à partir de la deuxième semaine de vie. La consommation de sCD14 chez les enfants ne consommant que du lait de don est inversement corrélée au délai de maturité digestive. Nous avons constaté que cette molécule influence la réponse inflammatoire de cellules intestinales fœtales à une stimulation bactérienne chronique.Nous avons aussi étudié certaines propriétés physico-chimiques de laits d’espèces animales potentiellement intéressantes pour l’amélioration de la qualité des substituts ou des suppléments de lait et il apparait que le lait de chamelle présente des teneurs en sphingomyéline et plasmalogènes comparables à celles du lait humain. L’utilisation des traitements technologiques, comme la pasteurisation et l’homogénéisation, altère les propriétés du lait au niveau des teneurs en molécules bioactives (sCD14, sphingomyélinase acide) ainsi qu’au niveau de la structure du globule lipidique.En conclusion, ce travail ouvre la voie à une réflexion sur la formulation de nouveaux substituts et de suppléments de lait maternel à élaborer pour une meilleure prise en charge des nouveau-nés. / Human milk is considered as the gold standard to newborn development. However, in case of very preterm infants who have particularly high nutrients needs, it does not always provide optimal quantities of several bioactive molecules, due to composition or supply conditions.We investigated the relationship between current maternal nutrition and polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA) composition of human milk. Human milk from mothers of South and North-West of France had imbalance PUFA composition to the detriment of n-3 PUFA, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This was linked to low consumption of fish and seafood products, and to an important n-6 PUFA intake.A second part of our work was focused on bioactive compounds of human milk and newborn intestinal development. Nutritional care of preterm infants leads to low intake of bioactive compounds (PUFA n-3, phospholipids and plasmalogens, sCD14, acid sphingomylinase), insufficient to cover the needs of HAD and to ensure optimal intestinal health during the first weeks of life. A shorter time to reach digestive maturity was associated with PUFA consumption during the first two weeks of life, and with phospholipids (sphingomyelin and plasmalogens) from the second week. sCD14 intake by preterm fed only with donor human milk was inversely correlated with digestive maturity time. This molecule influences the inflammatory response of fœtal intestinal cells to chronic bacterial stimulation.We had also investigated the physicochemical properties of milk from different animal species potentially interesting for improving infant formula or milk fortifier. Camel milk showed sphingomyelin and plasmalogen contents close to human milk. Technological treatments, such as pasteurisation or homogenisation, lead to alteration of milk properties, either in bioactive molecules content (sCD14, acid sphingomyelinase) or in fat globule structure.In conclusion, this work provides new possibilities for the conception of infant formula and fortifier to improve newborn care.

Quitosana é um polissacarídeo usado em diversas aplicações biológicas, por exemplo, em liberação controlada de drogas, transfecção, aceleração da cicatrização de feridas e como agente bactericida, entre outras. Em todas essas aplicações, o polímero interage com tecidos e células. Entretanto, embora sua ação seja comprovada, os mecanismos de ação e a interação do polímero com células e biomembranas no nível molecular ainda não são conhecidos. Nesta tese de doutorado, filmes de Langmuir e Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) de lipídios foram usados como modelos de membrana celular para estudar em nanoescala a interação e os efeitos causados pela quitosana. Primeiramente, observou-se que a quitosana, um polieletrólito solúvel em pH ácidos, possui atividade superficial induzida na presença de um filme interfacial de lipídio, demonstrando que o polímero possui interação favorável com membranas. Após adsorver sobre as monocamadas, a quitosana expande as mesmas, o que ocorre apenas até uma determinada concentração de polímero, denominada concentração de saturação. A magnitude dessa expansão é menor para filmes compactos, o que sugere que a quitosana é parcialmente expulsa da interface, localizando-se na subsuperfície. Isso foi comprovado com o uso de filmes LB, que mostraram que filmes mistos com quitosana têm rugosidade cerca de 10 vezes a de filmes puros de ácido dimiristoil fosfatídico (DMPA). Foi possível confirmar que a quitosana penetra na monocamada, formando agregados com até 150 nm de altura. Além disso, a maior orientação das moléculas de fosfolipídios, sugerida por isotermas de potencial de superfície (V-A) para filmes de Langmuir, também foi comprovada para os filmes LB por medidas de espectroscopia de geração de soma de freqüências (SFG). Filmes mistos de DMPA e colesterol também foram estudados, sendo que o colesterol provoca condensação nos filmes de DMPA a baixas pressões, mas expande as monocamadas em altos estágios de compactação. Quando a quitosana interage com os filmes mistos, ela provoca a mesma expansão para todas as monocamadas independentemente da proporção de colesterol na mistura. Embora esse comportamento possa sugerir um papel inerte do colesterol, ele é explicado pela modulação da penetração da quitosana nos filmes pelo colesterol. Isso ocorre porque há um número fixo de pontos de interações eletrostáticas entre os grupos NH3+ da quitosana e PO2- do DMPA, o que foi comprovado por medidas de espectroscopia de reflexão-absorção na região do infravermelho com modulação da polarização (PM-IRRAS). Com esta técnica para filmes de Langmuir, e espectroscopia SFG para filmes LB, pôde ser traçado um panorama dos efeitos da inserção de colesterol na membrana de DMPA, seguido da interação da quitosana com a membrana mista. A adição do colesterol ao filme de fosfolipídio acarreta em diminuição da ordem das cadeias de DMPA, detectado por variações nas bandas de s(CH2) e ass(PO2-) do fosfolipídio no espectro de PM-IRRAS, e pela razão s(CH3)/s(CH2) nos espectros de SFG. Por outro lado, a interação da quitosana com esse filme misto causa recuperação da orientação das caudas polares do fosfolipídio, verificada pela análise das mesmas bandas de PM-IRRAS e pela razão s(CH3)/s(CH2), que diminui de 6,62 para 4,58 com a adição de colesterol, mas volta a 5,97 após a interação com o polímero. De forma geral, a ação da quitosana sobre biomembranas é governada principalmente por interações eletrostáticas com lipídios carregados negativamente, na superfície externa das mesmas. Dentre os principais efeitos causados pelo polímero, destaca-se a diminuição da elasticidade da membrana e o aumento da orientação das moléculas de lipídio, que podem ter importantes implicações biológicas. A observação de uma concentração de saturação dos efeitos, na maioria dos casos, sugere que a dosagem e a estrutura química da quitosana devem ser bem controladas para alcançar o efeito biológico desejado. / Chitosan is a polyssaccharide with many biological applications, as in drug delivery, transfection, wound healing and as bactericidal agent, for instance. In all these applications the polymer interacts with tissues and cells. The efficacy of chitosan has been proven, but the mechanisms of action and the interactions with cells and biomembranes are still unknown. In this thesis, Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films made of lipids were employed as cell membrane models, in order to investigate the interactions and modulations caused by chitosan at the molecular level. Firstly, the soluble polyelectrolyte chitosan was found to induce surface activity when a lipid monolayer is at the air/water interface, demonstrating that the interaction of chitosan with membranes is favorable. Upon chitosan adsorption, the monolayers were increasingly expanded with increasing chitosan concentration in the subphase up to a saturation concentration. The extension of this expansion was lower for highly packed films, suggesting that chitosan was partially expelled from the interface after the compression, being located at the sub-monolayer region. This was confirmed by the 10-fold increase in film roughness observed for the areas without aggregates in LB films. Also, we could observe aggregates as high as 150 nm on the film surface, thus confirming chitosan penetration in the dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA) monolayer. Mixed DMPA-cholesterol Langmuir monolayers were also produced, with cholesterol inducing condensation of the DMPA films at low pressures, and film expansion at high pressures. Regardless of the cholesterol proportion in the film, chitosan always induced the same degree of expansion on the DMPA mixed monolayers as for a neat DMPA monolayer. Although this behaviour may suggest an inert role for cholesterol, it can only be explained if the sterol is assumed to regulate the extension of chitosan penetration into the monolayer. This occurs because there is a fixed number of sites for electrostatic interactions between NH3+ groups from chitosan and PO2- from DMPA, probed by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) measurements. Indeed, with PM-IRRAS measurements for Langmuir monolayers and sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) measurements for LB films, we could establish an overview of the effects from cholesterol on DMPA films upon interaction with chitosan. The addition of cholesterol to the DMPA monolayer caused a decrease in the chain order, which was detected by changes in the s(CH2) and ass(PO2-) bands from the phospholipid in the PM-IRRAS spectrum, and by the s(CH3)/s(CH2) intensity ratio in SFG measurements. On the other hand, the interaction of chitosan with these mixed monolayers restored chain order, as observed from the analysis of PM-IRRAS bands and the s(CH3)/s(CH2) in SFG. The latter dropped from 6.62 to 4.58 with cholesterol addition, but further increased to 5.97 with the chitosan interaction. Overall, the chitosan action on biomembranes is mainly governed by electrostatic interactions with negatively charged lipids at the external leaflet of the membrane. The main effects from chitosan to the membrane models are the decrease in membrane elasticity and the increase in molecular ordering, which can lead to important biological implications. Moreover, the existence of the so-called concentration of saturation for most systems suggests that the dosage and chemical structure of chitosan must be well controlled to obtain the desired biological effect.

Concentração de apolipoproteína A-1 (1.5±0.3; 1.5±0.2g/l). O tamanho da HDL também foi igual entre os dois grupos (8.8±0.8; 9.0±0.5 nm, respectivamente). A menopausa também não afetou a transferência de lípides da LDE para a HDL (em % total de radioatividade/10mg HDL/h), CE (0.5±0.3; 0.5±0.2, respectivamente), CL (0.9±0.2; 0.9±0.2), TG (0.6±0.2;0.6±0.2) e PL (3.0±0.7; 3.3±1.0). Conclusão: A menopausa não Introdução: A concentração plasmática da HDL é um fator de risco importante e independente para a prevenção da doença aterosclerótica, principalmente na mulher. Seu metabolismo e suas características estruturais e funcionais também têm sido estudados como fatores de risco. Neste estudo, foram comparadas mulheres de mesma faixa etária na pré e na pós-menopausa, para determinar a influência da menopausa sobre o tamanho da HDL e sobre a habilidade desta lipoproteína em receber lipídios de lipoproteínas doadoras, um processo que depende de proteínas de transferência e da composição e estrutura da HDL. Métodos: Vinte e duas mulheres saudáveis, normolipidêmicas na pré e dezoito na pós-menopausa, de idades entre 40-50 anos foram estudadas. Os grupos não diferiam em IMC, glicemia, colesterol total, LDL, triglicérides, apo A1 e apo B. Uma nanoemulsão artificial foi usada como modelo de LDL (LDE) para doar lípides para a HDL. LDE marcada radioativamente com 3 H-triglicérides (TG) e 14 C-colesterol livre (CL) ou 3 H- ésteres colesterol (CE) e 14 C-fosfolipídios (PL) foram incubados com as amostras de plasma por 1 hora. Após a precipitação química do sobrenadante contendo HDL, foi contada a radioatividade. O tamanho da HDL foi medido por espalhamento da luz laser. Resultados: A concentração da HDL nos dois grupos não diferiu, demonstrada pela concentração de HDL colesterol (61±12; 61±14 mg/dl respectivamente) e influenciou o tamanho das partículas HDL e um importante parâmetro funcional que é a habilidade da HDL de receber lipídios. / Objective: HDL levels are important for atherosclerosis prevention especially in the female gender, but functional aspects of the lipoprotein are also important. In this study, post-menopausal were compared to pre-menopausal women in the same age range to determine the influence of menopause upon the HDL size and ability of the lipoprotein to receive lipids from donor lipoproteins, a process that depends on transfer proteins and on HDL composition and structure. Methods: Twenty-two pre and eighteen postmenopausal, healthy and normolipidemic women, aged 40-50 yr. Both groups did not differ in BMI and plasma glucose, total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apo B concentration. An artificial nanoemulsion (LDE) was used as a model of LDL to donate lipids to HDL. LDE labeled with 3 H-triglicerides (TG) and 14 C-free cholesterol (FC) or 3 H-cholesteryl esters (CE) and 14 C-phospholipids (PL) incubated with plasma samples for 1h. After chemical precipitation, the supernatant containing HDL was counted for radioactivity. HDL size was measured by laser-light-scattering. Results: HDL concentration of pre and post menopausal women did not differ as estimated by HDL cholesterol (61±12; 61±14 mg/dl respectively) and apo A1 concentration (1.5±0.3; 1.5±0.2g/l). HDL size also did not differ (8.8±0.8; 9.0±0.5 nm, respectively). Menopause also did not affect the transfer of lipids from LDE to HDL (in % of total radioactivity/10mg HDL/h), namely CE (0.5±0.3; 0.5±0.2, respectively), FC (0.9±0.2; 0.9±0.2), TG (0.6±0.2;0.6±0.2) and PL (3.0±0.7; 3.3±1.0). Conclusion: The menopause does not affect the size and an important functional parameter that is the ability of HDL to receive lipids.

INTRODUÇÃO: As malformações do desenvolvimento cortical (MDC) resultam de distúrbios no dinâmico processo de corticogênese cerebral e são importante causa de epilepsia grave, atraso do desenvolvimento, déficits motores e cognitivos. O papel do metabolismo na epilepsia humana tem sido extensamente debatido, e há inúmeras evidências que apontam para disfunções bioenergéticas como fatores-chave na ictogênese. Distúrbios metabólicos foram identificados nas malformações corticais com outras modalidades de neuroimagem, tais como a espectroscopia de prótons por ressonância magnética. Para o nosso conhecimento, entretanto, o metabolismo de fósforo em pacientes com epilepsia secundária a MDC não foi extensamente investigado até o momento. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o metabolismo de fosfolipídios in vivo em uma série de pacientes com epilepsia e MDC. MÉTODO: Trinta e sete pacientes com MDC e 31 voluntários foram estudados usando espectroscopia de fósforo por ressonância magnética (31P-ERM) tridimensional em aparelho de 3,0 Tesla. Os voxels nas lesões foram comparados ao córtex frontoparietal dos controles (volumes efetivos de 12,5 cm3). O parênquima aparentemente normal foi avaliado em voxels homólogos de pacientes e controles, abrangendo cinco regiões cerebrais: regiões nucleocapsulares direita e esquerda, córtex frontoparietal parassagital, e centros semiovais direito e esquerdo. Foram utilizados métodos de quantificação para ajustar os dados no domínio do tempo para as seguintes ressonâncias: fosfoetanolamina (PE), fosfocolina (PC), glicerofosfoetanolamina (GPE), glicerofosfocolina (GPC), fosfato inorgânico (Pi), fosfocreatina (PCr), e a-, b- e g-adenosina trifosfato (ATP). Também foram calculados o ATP total (ATPt=a-+b-+g-ATP), fosfodiésteres (PDE=GPC+GPE), fosfomonoésteres (PME=PE+PC), e as razões PME/PDE, PCr/ATPt, e PCr/Pi. O magnésio (Mg2+) e os níveis de pH foram calculados com base nos desvios químicos da PCr, Pi, e -ATP. RESULTADOS: Comparativamente aos controles, e assumindo um valor de p < 0,05 estatisticamente significativo, as lesões apresentaram redução dos valores de pH e aumento de Mg2+. Também foram encontrados redução significativa de GPC e PDE, e aumento da relação PME/PDE nas MDC. O parênquima aparentemente normal também demonstrou redução dos valores de pH no córtex frontoparietal e no centro semioval bilateral. As diferenças nos valores de pH, tanto nas lesões como no parênquima aparentemente normal, permaneceram estatisticamente significativas nos subgrupos individuais de MDC (displasia cortical ou hemimegalencefalia; heterotopia; polimicrogiria e/ou esquizencefalia). Não houve correlação entre o tempo da última convulsão e as alterações do pH. CONCLUSÕES: O Mg2+ e o pH são parâmetros muito importantes na regulação bioenergética e estão envolvidos em múltiplas vias da atividade elétrica cerebral. Nossos dados corroboram a ideia de que distúrbios metabólicos ocorrem nas lesões focais de MDC, com propagação para áreas remotas aparentemente normais. As anormalidades de GPC, PDE, e da razão PME/PDE sugerem que há deficiências na renovação das membranas celulares nas lesões dos pacientes com epilepsia e MDC. / INTRODUCTION: Malformations of cortical development (MCD) result from disruptions in the dynamic process of cerebral corticogenesis and are important causes of severe epilepsy, neurodevelopmental delay, motor deficits and cognitive impairment. Metabolism in human epilepsy has been intensely debated, and there are several evidences pointing to brain bioenergetic disturbances as key factors in ictogenesis. Metabolic impairments in cortical malformations have been identified with other neuroimaging tools, such as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To our knowledge, however, phosphorus metabolism in epilepsy caused by MCD has not been thoroughly investigated hitherto. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate phospholipids metabolism in vivo in a series of patients with epilepsy and MCD. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with MCD and 31 control subjects were studied using three-dimensional phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) at a 3.0 T scanner. The voxels in the lesions were compared to the frontoparietal cortex of the control subjects (the effective volumes were 12.5 cm3). Normal appearing parenchyma was evaluated in homologous voxels of patients and controls encompassing five cerebral regions: right and left nucleocapsular regions, midline frontoparietal cortex and right and left semioval centers. Quantification methods were applied to fit the time-domain data to the following resonances: phosphoethanolamine (PE), phosphocholine (PC), glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), and a-, b-, and g-adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We also estimated the total ATP (ATPt=a-+b-+g-ATP), phosphodiesters (PDE=GPC+ GPE), phosphomonoesters (PME=PE+PC), and the PME/PDE, PCr/ATPt, and PCr/Pi ratios. The magnesium (Mg2+) levels and pH were calculated based on PCr, Pi, and -ATP chemical shifts. RESULTS: Compared to controls and assuming that a p-value < 0.05 indicates significance, the MCD lesions exhibited lower pH values and higher Mg2+ levels. The lesions also presented significant reduction of GPC and PDE, and an increased PME/PDE ratio. The otherwise normal appearing parenchyma also demonstrated lower pH values in the frontoparietal cortex and bilateral centrum semiovale. The differences in pH values, both in the lesions and in the normal appearing parenchyma, remained statistically significant in individual subgroups of MCD (hemimegalencephaly or cortical dysplasia; heterotopia; polymicrogyria and/or schizencephaly). There was no correlation between the time of the last seizure and the pH abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Mg2+ and pH are very important in the regulation of bioenergetics and are involved in many electrical activity pathways in the brain. Our data support the idea that metabolic impairments occur in the lesions of MCD, with propagation to remote normal appearing parenchyma. The GPC, PDE, and PME/PDE abnormalities suggest that there are membrane turnover disturbances in MCD lesions.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit den molekularen Prozessen der Lipidanreicherung in der Gallenflüssigkeit. Leberzellen (Hepatozyten) sind polare Zellen, die für die Sekretion der Gallenflüssigkeit verantwortlich sind. Die Anbindung an den Blutkreislauf besteht über die basolaterale Membran. Durch die gegenüberliegende, sogenannte apikale Membran werden zwischen benachbarten Leberzellen tubuläre Stukturen (bile canaliculi, BC) gebildet, in die die Gallenflüssigkeit abgesondert wird. Daher wird diese Membran auch als Canalicularmembran (CM) bezeichnet. Die Gallenflüssigkeit besitzt hinsichtlich ihrer Lipidzusammensetzung eine bemerkenswerte Spezifität. Obwohl der Anteil von Phosphatidylcholin (PC) an den Phospholipiden der CM nur 35% beträgt, macht es 95% der Phospholipide der Gallenflüssigkeit aus. Mögliche Mechanismen, die zur Spezifität der Lipidsekretion in die Gallenflüssigkeit führen, werden untersucht und diskutiert. Phospholipide werden aus der äußeren Lamelle der CM durch Gallensalze herausgelöst. Die Wechselwirkung von Gallensalzen mit Phospholipiden ist kopfgruppenunspezifisch. Eine Solubilisierung von Phosphatidylserin (PS) und Phosphatidylethanolamin (PE) durch Gallensalze könnte durch die Wirkung einer Aminophospholipidtranslokase (APLT) verhindert werden, die diese Lipide aktiv auf die zytoplasmatische Seite der Membran pumpt. Zur Überprüfung dieser Hypothese wurden Versuche durchgeführt, um die Aktivität einer APLT in der CM nachzuweisen. Dabei wurde die Hepatomazelllinie HepG2 eingesetzt, die in der Lage ist, Canalicularvakuolen (BC) zu bilden. Zunächst wurde die Einwärtsbewegung einer Reihe fluoreszierender Lipidanaloga mit unterschiedlicher Affinität zur APLT charakterisiert. Dies geschah an der basolateralen Membran von HepG2 Zellen, wo eine APLT-Aktivität bereits bekannt ist. Die Aufnahme geeigneter APLT-Substrate konnte durch den APLT-Inhibitor Suramin reduziert werden. Ebenso wurde die Affinität eines Paares von PS-Analoga bestätigt, von denen Diether PS ein "schlechtes" und Diacyl PS ein "gutes" APLT-Substrat darstellt. Im zweiten Schritt wurde die Anreicherung der gleichen Analoga in BC von HepG2 Zellen untersucht. Es ergab sich eine auffallende Korrelation zwischen einer APLT vermittelten Aufnahme von Phospholipidanaloga an der basolateralen Membran und dem Fehlen dieser Analoga im Lumen der BC. Wenn Zellen mit Phospholipiden markiert wurden, die keine oder nur "schlechte" APLT-Substrate darstellen, erschienen die BC stark fluoreszierend. Diese Beobachtungen zeigen, dass eine APLT-Aktivität in der CM von Hepatozyten vorhanden ist, welche das Fehlen der Aminophospholipide in der Gallenflüssigkeit erklärt. Ein zweiter Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Rolle von MDR-Proteinen (wie MDR3) bei der Lipidsekretion in die Gallenflüssigkeit. Aufgrund bisheriger Arbeiten wird vermutet, dass MDR3 daran als spezifischer Membrantransporter für PC beteiligt ist. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte jedoch gezeigt werden, dass verschiedene MDR-Inhibitoren die Anreicherung fluoreszierender Phospholipidanaloga in den BC von HepG2 Zellen nur wenig reduzieren. Diese Beobachtung kann unter der Annahme erklärt werden, dass MDR3 eher für die Exposition von PC an der lumenalen Seite der CM verantwortlich ist, als für den Tranport von PC über die Membran. Solche "Liftase"-Aktivität von MDR3 könnte endogenes PC der Detergenzwirkung von Gallensalzen zugänglich machen, ein Prozess, der für die hydrophileren fluoreszierenden PC-Analoga nicht nötig ist. Im dritten Teil wird die Rolle von Sphingolipiden und die Bildung von "Rafts" in der CM behandelt. Solche Membrandomänen sollten die Solubilisierung von Spingolipiden in die Gallenflüssigkeit verhindern. Eine Anreicherung fluoreszierender Sphingolipidanaloga in den BC wurde jedoch nachgewiesen, was darauf hindeutet, dass die verwendeten Analoga das Verhalten endogener Sphingolipide in der CM nicht korrekt wiederspiegeln. Im abschließenden Teil dieser Arbeit wurden die Grundlagen für eine Methode zur Aufklärung der physikochemischen Prozesse der Lipidsekretion an der Canalicularmembran gelegt. Die starke Umgebungsabhängigkeit der Fluoreszenzlebensdauer für verschiedene fluoreszierende Lipidanaloga wurde in einer Reihe von Modellumgebungen analysiert und deren Nutzbarkeit für die Vorhersage der Lipidorganisation geprüft. Insbesondere wurde die Wechselwirkung verschiedener Gallensalze mit Lipidanaloga und der Fluoreszenzresonanzenergietransfer zwischen verschiedenen Lipidanaloga charakterisiert. Diese Daten sind Ausgangsbasis für die mikroskopische Charakterisierung der Organisation von Lipidanaloga in den BC in vivo. / This thesis addresses the molecular processes which are important in the formation of bile fluid. The polar liver cells (hepatocytes) secrete the bile fluid at their apical (canalicular) membrane into tubular bile canaliculi (BC) which are formed between adjacent cells. The basolateral membrane of hepatocytes faces the blood vessel. Bile fluid possesses a remarkable specificity regarding its lipid composition. Even though phosphatidylcholine (PC) contributes to only 35% of the phospholipids in the canalicular membrane, it constitutes 95% of biliary phospholipids. In this thesis possible mechanism that might lead to the specificity in biliary lipid secretion are analysed and discussed. Phospholipids are secreted from the outer leaflet of the canalicular membrane into bile by the effect of bile salts. The interaction of bile salts with phospholipids was shown to be independent of the phospholipid headgroup. Solubilisation of phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) by bile salts could be prevented by the action of an aminophospholipid translocase (APLT) which actively pumps these lipids to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the membrane. Experiments to demonstrate a canalicular APLT activity were performed to proof this hypothesis. For this, the hepatoma cell line HepG2 which is able to polarise and to form a canalicular vacuole (BC) was utilised. A panel of fluorescent lipid analogues with different affinities to this transporter was used and first characterised at the basolateral membrane of HepG2 cells, where an APLT activity was already demonstrated. The rapid APLT mediated uptake of aminophospholipid analogues representing appropriate substrates of APLT was reduced by applying the inhibitor suramin. The affinity of a pair of PS analogues with diether NBD-PS as a poor APLT substrate and diacyl NBD-PS representing a suitable substrate was confirmed. In a next step the enrichment of the same phospholipid analogues in the BC was investigated. There was a striking correlation between APLT mediated uptake of phospholipid analogues at the basolateral membrane and absence of these analogues from the BC. In the case of phospholipid analogues that were no or poor substrates of APLT the BC appeared highly fluorescent, indicating that indeed a canalicular APLT is responsible and sufficient for biliary absence of aminophospholipids. Further experiments were aimed on the investigation of the role of MDR proteins (as MDR3) in biliary lipid secretion. It has been proposed that MDR3, which is crucial for biliary phospholipid secretion, acts as a specific flippase for PC. However, different MDR inhibitors did not completely abolish the enrichment of fluorescent phospholipid analogues in the BC in this study. This observation can be explained assuming that MDR3 is responsible for the exposure of PC at the lumenal side of the canalicular membrane rather than for its transport across the membrane. Such a "liftase" activity of MDR could make endogenous PC accessible to the detergent bile salts which is not necessary for its more hydrophilic fluorescent analogues. The third part of this thesis addressed the role of sphingolipids and the formation of detergent resistant rafts in the canalicular membrane. Rafts are thought to prevent sphingolipid solubilisation into bile. Fluorescent sphingolipid analogues were found to enrich in the BC even at low temperatures, however. These experiments suggest that the applied analogues might not suitably represent the majority of sphingolipids in the canalicular membrane. The final part of this study provides the basis for a method to investigate the physico-chemical processes occurring during lipid secretion at the canalicular membrane. The sensitivity of fluorescence life times on environmental changes was analysed using fluorescent lipid analogues in a set of model environments and its utility for predicting biliary lipid organisation is discussed. Especially the interaction of different bile salts with lipid analogues and fluorescence energy transfer between distinct lipid analogues was characterised. These data can be utilised for characterisation of the organisation of biliary enriched lipid analogues in vivo at a microscopic level in future.

Actively proliferating cells constantly monitor and re-adjust their metabolic pathways to ensure the replenishment of phospholipids necessary for membrane biogenesis and intracellular trafficking. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, multiple studies have suggested that lysine acetylation has a role in coordinating phospholipid metabolism, yet its contribution towards phospholipid homeostasis remains uncharacterized. In this study we undertook a genetic screen to explore the connection between lysine acetylation and phospholipid homeostasis. We found that mutants of the lysine acetyltransferase complex, NuA4, shared a negative genetic interaction with a mutant of Sec14, a lipid-binding protein that regulates Golgi phospholipid composition. Through transcriptome, genetic, cell biology, and chemical analysis, we discovered that the growth defects between NuA4 and Sec14 mutants is likely derived from impaired fatty acid biosynthesis suggesting a role for NuA4 as a positive regulator of fatty acid biosynthesis. Secondly, we discovered that acetylation on the conserved lysine residue K109 inhibits the localization and function of the Oxysterol-Binding Protein Osh4- a lipid-binding protein that antagonizes the function of Sec14 at the Golgi. Furthermore, regulation of Oxysterol-Binding Proteins by acetylation may be a conserved mechanism as we found that Osh1, a homologue of Osh4, was also acetylated on the equivalent lysine residue. Altogether, we have demonstrated that lysine acetylation can target multiple different phospholipid metabolic pathways which implies that it has a very important role for the regulation of phospholipid homeostasis.