This study is a report of the results of a series of experiments, the purposes of which were to determine: (1) what natural pigments are available in Denton County, Texas, (2) the variety, quality, and quantity of the native pigments as compared with standard commercial pigments, and (3) the suitability of these native pigments for use in the preparation of artists' colors. Since the chief interest was in the specific hues, their quality and variety, the factor of commercial possibilities was not investigated.

No description available.

No / A prototype instrument, under development at the University of Leicester, for the future European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars mission, was used for the analysis of microbial pigments within a stratified gypsum crust from a hypersaline saltern evaporation pond at Eilat (Israel). Additionally, the same samples were analysed using a miniaturized Raman spectrometer, featuring the same 532 nm excitation. The differences in the position of the specific bands, attributed to carotenoid pigments from different coloured layers, were minor when analysed by the ESA prototype instrument; therefore, making it difficult to distinguish among the different pigments. The portable Delta Nu Advantage instrument allowed for the discrimination of microbial carotenoids from the orange/green and purple layers. The purpose of this study was to complement previous laboratory results with new data and experience with portable or handheld Raman systems, even with a dedicated prototype Raman system for the exploration of Mars. The latter is equipped with an excitation wavelength falling within the carotenoid polyene resonance region. The ESA prototype Raman instrument detected the carotenoid pigments (biomarkers) with ease, although further detailed distinctions among them were not achieved.

No / This study is primarily focused on proving the potential of miniaturized Raman systems to detect any biomolecular and mineral signal in natural geobiological samples that are relevant for future application of the technique within astrobiologically aimed missions on Mars. A series of evaporites of varying composition and origin from two extremely dry deserts were studied, namely Atacama and Mojave. The samples represent both dry evaporitic deposits and recent evaporitic efflorescences from hypersaline brines. The samples comprise halite and different types of sulfates and carbonates. The samples were analysed in two different ways: (i) directly as untreated rocks and (ii) as homogenized powders. Two excitation wavelengths of miniaturized Raman spectrometers were compared: 532 and 785 nm. The potential to detect carotenoids as biomarkers on Mars compared with the potential detection of carbonaceous matter using miniaturized instrumentation is discussed.

Ce travail porte sur la synthèse et la caractérisation de nouveaux pigments thermochromes irréversibles avec le cobalt divalent pour chromophore principal en vue de les intégrer à une peinture thermosensible commerciale.Le travail a été réalisé en suivant trois phases. La première phase a consisté en l’identification de matrices thermosensibles présentant des évolutions structurales irréversibles en température dues à des transitions de phase du premier ordre ou des dégradations chimiques. Puis la synthèse de ces matrices a été effectuée par des voies compatibles avec les méthodes d’élaboration industrielle et permettant un dopage au cobalt. Enfin la troisième et dernière étape est l’étude in-situ et ex-situ des propriétés thermosensibles des pigments synthétisés à l’aide de techniques comme la diffraction des rayons X et des neutrons en température, l’analyse thermogravimétrique et la réflexion diffuse en température.À l’issue de ce travail de recherche, les solutions les plus efficaces ont été synthétisées à l’échelle industrielle puis intégrées à une peinture commerciale en phase aqueuse. / This work deals with the development of new thermochromic pigment which will be the active part of an irreversible thermochromic paint.The studies moved towards three steps. Firstly, an identification of crystalline matrix offering structural rearrangement in temperature because of first order phase transition or chemical degradation were performed. Then the identified matrix were synthesised thanks to synthesis routes compatible with industrial procedures. The third and last step consisted in the in-situ and ex-situ characterization of thermochromic properties of the synthesized compounds with technics like temperature coupled X-ray and neutrons diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and temperature coupled diffuse reflectance analysis.The most efficient compounds were then industrially synthesized and integrated to a commercial aqueous paint.

Le but de ce doctorat était de comprendre les bases génétiques de la diversification de la pigmentation extra-oculaire chez les embryons des Gerromorphes. La plupart des punaises semi-aquatiques présentent une variabilité de pattern de couleur jaune ou/et rouge dans les pattes et les antennes au stade embryonnaire. La couleur rouge observée dans les appendices étant similaire à celle présente dans les yeux, nous avons émis l'hypothèse que les couleurs extra-oculaires pouvaient être produites par la co-option des voies de synthèse des pigments des yeux. Nous avons d'abord déterminé l'histoire évolutive de ce trait à partir de sa présence ou de son absence dans les embryons de 34 espèces. Grâce à l'analyse génétique par interférence ARN et hybridation in situ, nous avons identifié les voies impliquées dans la pigmentation des yeux et des organes extra-oculaires dans l'espèce Limnogonus franciscanus. Nous avons ensuite testé par interférence ARN et hybridation in situ trois gènes de la voie ptéridine dans cinq autres espèces de Gerromorphes présentant des colorations extra-oculaires différentes. Les résultats suggèrent que la même voie a été recrutée une seule fois pour produire la diversité de pattern. De plus, grâce à une analyse chimique par ultra-chromatographie couplée à de la spectrométrie de masse, nous avons identifié que la xanthopterin et l’erythropterin sont les deux pigments responsables de la couleur chez différentes espèces. Nous nous sommes aussi demandé comment le recrutement d'une seule et même voie conservée pouvait produire une telle diversité de pattern. En utilisant la technologie de transcriptomique du RNA-seq, nous avons identifié 167 facteurs de transcription co-exprimés dans les yeux, les antennes et les pattes des embryons de Limnogonus franciscanus. Ces protéines pourraient intervenir dans la régulation des gènes impliqués dans la formation des patterns de couleur embryonnaire. Nous avons initié un crible ARNi de ces facteurs de transcription. En conclusion, la pigmentation des punaises semi-aquatiques au stade embryonnaire est un bon modèle pour comprendre la co-option des voies génétiques et la question sous-jacente de la façon dont une voie conservée pourrait être réglementée pour produire divers phénotypes. / The principal aim of this doctoral thesis was to understand the genetic basis for the diversification of the extra-ocular pigmentation in Gerromorpha embryos. Most of the semi-aquatic bugs develop a variability of yellow or red colours patterns in legs and antennas during the embryonic stage. Since the red colour in appendages was similar to the one present in eyes, we hypothesized that the extra-ocular colours could be produced by the co-option of the eye pigments biosynthesis pathway. First we inferred the evolutionary history of this trait based on its presence or absence in embryos of 34 species. We found that the ancestral state of the trait in Gerromorpha was yellow and that six independent lineages evolved bright red colour, while two lineages lost the colour. Using RNAi and in situ hybridisation on homologous genes from the pteridine and ommochrome biosynthesis pathways, we described the genetic pathway involved in the production of pigments in eyes and extra-ocular tissues in Limnogonus franciscanus embryos. After that, we performed a screening of three genes from this pathway in five other species with different extra-ocular colours and patterns. We discovered that the same pathway was recruited once to produce the diversity of patterns in Gerromorpha. Furthermore, we identified by UPLC-HRMS that xanthopterin and erythropterin pigments produce the variability of colours and patterns in different species. Our next step aimed to understand how the recruitment of a conserved pathway could produce this striking diversity of colour patterns. Using RNA-Seq technology and bioinformatics tools, we identified 167 transcription factors that are co-expressed in eyes, antennas and legs of embryos in Limnogonus franciscanus. These proteins might be involved in the regulation of genes responsible for the different colour patterns. We have started an RNAi screen of these transcription factors. This project is still ongoing but in this thesis I will present the preliminary results and conclusions.In conclusion, the pigmentation of semi-aquatic bugs during the embryonic stage is a good model to understand the co-option of pre-existing genetic pathways and underlying the question of how a conserved pathway could be regulated to produce diverse morphological phenotypes.

Little is known concerning the production and significance of bacterial pigments. There is seemingly an open field for studying the effects produced by varying the nutritive content of culture media upon which organisms are grown. This has led to an especial interest in, and the purpose of this investigation.

Corynebacterium poinsettiae mutant strains blocked in carotenoid biosynthesis were obtained by treatment with the mutagen N-methyl-N1-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Additional carotenoid (Crt) mutant strains were obtained from a previous study conducted in our laboratory. Fifty-nine Crt mutants affected in carotenoid biosynthesis were examined by a normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Pigment extracts of Crt mutants and C. poinsettiae wild type strains were resolved by an isocratic system with hexane:acetone:dicholoromethane, 11.35:1.73:1.00 (by vol.) as the eluting solvent. In addition to the five major peaks, twelve minor peaks were observed in the wild type C. poinsettiae strain used in this study. Crt mutant and wild type strain peak heights were measured from the individual chromatograms and the peak height data set created was analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System program to perform a cluster analysis. The cluster analysis revealed five carotenoid mutant groups. Carotenoid pigments which accumulated or were absent in each of the cluster groups are reported. Cluster group 1 mutants (CrtA) are blocked in the dehydrogenase(s) which is(are) responsible for the dehydrogenations between phytoene and lycopene. Cluster group 2 mutants (CrtB) appear to be blocked at a second dehydrogenase specific for the dehydrogenation from C.p. 470 to C.p. 496. Cluster group 3 mutants (CrtC) are blocked at a cyclization step in the pathway which involves cyclization of C.p. 496 to C.p. 470 and which may cyclize C.p. 473 to C.p. 450. The genes CrtA and CrtB map only 0.5 map units from each other while CrtA and CrtC map 2.1 map units from one another. Mutants which accumulate end products but which lack certain precursors indicate a branched pathway for pigment biosynthesis exists in this organism. Media for the formation, fusion and regeneration of C. poinsettiae protoplasts are reported and a protocol for the use of these media in genetic crosses of strains blocked in carotenoid biosynthesis is described. While isolating antibiotic resistant mutants useful in genetic analyses, novobiocin resistant mutants were observed to have a distinctly different colony pigment phenotype as compared to the wild type strain. HPLC chromatograms of a novobiocin resistant strain showed a distinctly different carotenoid pigment profile. The results provide evidence for differential gene expression in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway when these mutants are grown in the presence of novobiocin.

The objectives of this project were to develop a high performance liquid chromatographic method for separating the pigment esters mixture, to determine the locations of the pigment moiety in the isolated esters using pholosiphases, and to characterize the pigment-protein complex and determine its distribution in other bacteria. Saponification of the two pigment esters 1 and 2 with aqueous KOH yielded two free pigments on TLC plates developed by two solvent systems. The fasters moving of these two free pigments co-chromatographed with the one free pigment produced from each pigment ester by phospholipase A2 treatment. This suggests that the pigment molecule is a methoxy derivative of xanthomonadin and is esterified to the 2-position of the glycerol moiety of each pigment ester. No free pigment was released from phospholipases C and D treatment of the two pigment esters, indicating that pigment is not esterified to the sorbitol or phosphate moiety of pigment esters 1 or 2.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Various types of anionic, non-ionic, cationic and zwitterionic additives are used in the coatings industry for the production of paints and colourants. These additives are added to enhance properties such as stabilization of pigment dispersions, wetting of pigments and improvement of open time and freeze/thaw stability. Very often the exact chemistry of these commercial additives is unknown and this is a limitation for new product developments. The identification and characterization of these multi-component polymeric materials continues to be a challenging task. This research presents the use of various advanced analytical techniques to identify and characterize commercial additives that are used in a multi-component colourant formulation. The focus of the present study is on additives that are based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The molar mass distribution of PEG-based additives was determined with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using solvent gradient elution and at critical conditions of adsorption (LCCC) of PEG. Using the combination of LC-MS, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), pyrolysis gas chromatography (py-GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), different additives were identified in terms of the number and type of polymer end groups. The efficiency of the extraction and identification protocol was demonstrated for a blend of additives in a colourant formulation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskeie tipes anioniese, nie-ioniese, kationiese en zwitterioniese bymiddels word gebruik in die bedekking nywerheid vir die vervaardiging van verwe en kleurmiddels. Hierdie bymiddels word bygevoeg om sekere eienskappe, soos die stabilisering van pigment dispersie, benatting van pigmente en die verbetering van ope tyd en vries/dooi stabiliteit te versterk. Dikwels is die presiese chemie van hierdie kommersiële bymiddels onbekend en het dit ʼn beperking vir nuwe produk ontwikkeling tot gevolg. Die identifisering en karakterisering van hierdie meer-komponent polimeriese materiaal duur voort om ʼn uitdagings te wees. Hierdie navorsingstudie stel voor die gebruik van verskeie tegnieke om kommersiële bymiddels te identifiseer en karakteriseer wat in meer-komponent kleurmiddel formulasies gebruik word. Die fokus is geplaas op bymiddels wat gebaseer is op poli(etileen glikol) (PEG). The molêre massa verdeling van PEG-gebaseerde bymiddels was bepaal met vloeistofchromatografie gekoppel tot massaspektrometrie (VC-MS) met die gebruik van oplosmiddel gradient eluasie en by kritiese toestande van adsorpsie (VCKT) van PEG. Deur die kombinasie van VC-MS, proton kern magnetiese resonansie spektroskopie (1H KMR), pirolisegaschromatografie (pir-GC-MS) en Fourier-transformasie infrarooi spektroskopie in verswakking totale refleksie modus (FTIR-VTR), is verskillende bymiddels geïdentifiseer in terme van die hoeveelheid en tipe polimeer eindgroep teenwoordig. Die doeltreffendheid van die ekstrahering en identifisering protokol is gedemonstreer vir ʼn mengel van bymiddels in ʼn kleurmiddel formulering.