Almost all therapeutic proteins contain disulfide bonds to stabilize their native structure. Recombinant DNA technology enables many therapeutic proteins to be produced in bacteria, but the expression of native proteins is not always efficient due to the limited ability of bacteria to form disulfide bonds in vivo. It is often necessary to employ in vitro oxidative folding process to form the native disulfide bonds to obtain the native structure of disulfide-containing proteins. Aromatic disulfides are small molecules designed to match some of the physical properties of the active site of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which catalyzes the folding process of disulfide-containing proteins in eukaryotes. Three aromatic thiols with varying charges, PA, SA and QAS thiol, were used to fold reduced BPTI in vitro. Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) is positively charged (pI = 10.5) at pH 7.3, and we hypothesized that mixed disulfide intermediates formed between BPTI and negatively charged small molecule thiols were more likely to precipitate due to their minimized net charge. Protein precipitation was observed during folding with negatively charged thiols, PA and SA, but not positively charged thiol QAS. At the folding pH of 7.3, almost 90% of native BPTI was produced in 2 h with the conditions of 0.25 mM QAS disulfide and 10 mM QAS thiol. Only 25% of native BPTI was produced in 2 h with the best conditions for glutathione and glutathione disulfide. Aromatic thiols with an elongated alkyl group on the aromatic ring, butyl, hexyl and octyl thiol, were hypothesized to increased interactions with the hydrophobic core of disulfide-containing proteins during folding, allowing more facile access to buried disulfide bonds. However, the longer the hydrocarbon chain, the more likely protein precipitation was to occur. About 90% native BPTI was formed in 1 h with 0.25 mM hexyl disulfide and 10 mM hexyl thiol. A method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) to analysis the oxidative folding process of reduced BPTI with small molecule thiols and disulfides was also developed. Folding of reduced BPTI with QAS disulfide was analyzed using CE in a shorter run time. The consumption of protein samples and solvent solutions was minimized.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Chemical Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-38). / Thiol substances can form stable complexes with metals (especially copper and mercury) in the surface ocean that can impact cycling and bioavailability of those elements. In this study, I present seven concentration profiles of cysteine and glutathione, two low-molecular weight thiols, from the coastal northwest Atlantic Ocean and the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) sampling site in the Sargasso Sea, a first for these regions. These two thiols were found in the upper 200 meters of the ocean at all sites, and the total thiol concentration varied from 0.2 to 3.2 nM. The highest concentration of both thiols was found at the deep chlorophyll maximum in most samples. Thiol concentrations were higher on the continental shelf than in the open ocean. The observed distribution of cysteine and glutathione and thermodynamic stability of copper complexes suggests that Cu(I)-dithiol complexes may be the dominant surface ocean copper and thiol species. Mercury-thiol complexes were also present in thermodynamically modeled seawater, which may provide a vector for mercury uptake in the surface ocean. / by Tristan Kading. / Ph.D.

No description available.

Adsorption mechanisms of modified thiol collectors on gold, silver, and gold-silver alloys have been studied and compared with those of ethyl xanthate (EX). The modified thiol collectors include dicresyl monothiophosphate (DCMTP), dialkyl dithiophosphinate (DTPI) and monothiophosphinate (MTPI). In general, the adsorption mechanisms on silver and gold-silver alloys can be explained by the EC-mechanism involving an electron transfer step and a chemical reaction step. Thus, the adsorption should be controlled by the Eh of the electrochemical oxidation of the electrode involved and the pK of the metal collector complex. According to this mechanism, DCMTP should adsorb on silver and gold-silver alloys at a lower potential than DTPI and MTPI since the pK of silver-DCMTP complex is larger than those of silver-DTPI and silver-MTPI. This has been verified to be the case by voltammetry, FTIR and contact angle studies. Likewise, EX adsorbs on silver at a lower potential than the modified thiol collectors because the pK of silver-EX is larger than those of the silver-modified thiol collectors. Both EX and the modified thiol collectors adsorb on silver at lower potentials than on the gold-silver alloys, which can be attributed to the lower activity of silver on the alloy surface. For the same reason, the potential for the onset of collector adsorption on alloys decreases with increasing silver content. / Ph. D.

À ce jour, le miroir liquide le mieux connu est certainement celui composé du mercure qui possède conjointement les propriétés des liquides et des métaux à température ambiante. Cependant, ce métal possède de nombreux inconvénients qui limitent l'utilisation des miroirs liquides dans une multitude d'applications, tels les télescopes géants ou l'optique adaptative. Voilà pourquoi les MELLFs (MEtal Liquid-Like Films), découverts par Efrima en 1988, sont d'un intérêt grandissant dans le monde scientifique. Ceux-ci possèdent les mêmes propriétés réfléchissantes que le mercure, mais sans ses désavantages. Le MELLF est une suspension colloïdale d'argent métallique concentrée à l'interface air-liquide. Les particules de la suspension sont protégées par un ligand qui empêche leur agrégation et qui influence l'organisation structurale du film. Depuis la découverte des MELLFs, les voies de synthèse pour leur formation ont grandement été améliorées par divers groupes de recherche et les travaux se poursuivent. L'objectif du présent projet est donc d'améliorer les propriétés (autant physiques que chimiques) de ces films en utilisant pour la première fois des thiols comme agent ligand. Le principal intérêt de ces ligands réside dans le fait qu'ils s'adsorbent très fortement à la surface des nanoparticules d'argent métallique comparativement aux ligands préalablement employés pour la fabrication de MELLFs (les aminés aromatiques). Dans ce projet de maîtrise, des analyses en UV-visible ont également été menées pour étudier la capacité qu'ont ces ligands à former des films. De plus, les phénomènes subséquents à l'adsorption des thiols, dont l'organisation 2D du film, ont été analysés par diffusion dynamique de la lumière (DLS), et par microscopie électronique à balayage (SEM) et à transmission (TEM). Finalement, l'étude des propriétés réfléchissantes des films et d'un nombre de paramètres influençant la réflectivité a également été réalisée.

H2S peut être un gaz dominant dans les réservoirs pétroliers carbonatés. Cependant, les recherches sur l'influence de H2S sur la composition et la stabilité thermique du pétrole restent limitées. Dans cette thèse, les interactions entre les hydrocarbures et H2S ont été étudiées de 310 à 350°C, à 700 bar, par pyrolyse confinée en tubes d'or scellés. La pyrolyse d'une huile non soufrée en présence de H2S ont permis de mettre en évidence une nouvelle voie de formation des composés organiques soufrés dans les pétroles. Les pyrolyses des mélanges n-octane/H2S et alkylbenzène/H2S ont permis de proposer les différentes réactions radicalaires pour la formation des produits soufrés principaux : les thiophène, thiols, thiacycloalcanes, alkyl-thiophènes dans le premier cas ; les thiols aromatiques, alkyl-benzothiophènes dans le second. Les résultats obtenus dans le mélange n-octane/H2S ont permis d'établir et valider un modèle cinétique détaillé. Ce mécanisme a permis de montrer que la pyrolyse n-octane/H2S se déroule en chaînes longues et que H2S a un effet inhibiteur sur la consommation du n-octane aux températures supérieures à 320°C, mais accélère fortement la réaction aux basses températures. Des extrapolations du modèle aux conditions géologiques (150-200°C, 700 bar) montrent que H2S a un effet important sur la composition chimique et la stabilité thermique des hydrocarbures. Le modèle permet aussi d'explorer la réactivité de H2S aux conditions de récupération assistée d'huiles lourdes soufrées (injection vapeur, pyrolyse) ou aux conditions de stockages en réservoir pétroliers déplétés / H2S can be a dominant gas in carbonate petroleum reservoirs. However, researches on the influence of H2S on the oil stability are limited in literature. In this thesis, interactions between hydrocarbons (oils, model compounds) and H2S were studied by confined pyrolysis in gold cells from 310 to 350°C under 700 bar. Results of pyrolysis of oil (free of sulfur) in presence of H2S lead to highlight a new pathway of formation of organic sulfur compounds in oils. Pyrolysis of binary mixtures n-octane/H2S and alkylbenzène/H2S allowed to propose different radical reactions for the generation of main sulfur products, namely, thiophene, thiols, thiacycloalkanes, alkyl-thiophenes in the first case ; thiol-aromatics, alkyl-benzothiophenes in the second. Results obtained in the mixture n-octane/H2S led to construct and validate a detailed mechanistic model. The mechanism shows that pyrolysis of n-octane/H2S occurs in long chain and H2S has an inhibition effect on the consumption of n-octane at temperatures above of 320°C, but accelerate the reaction rate strongly at low temperatures. Extrapolation of the kinetic model to geological temperatures and pressures (150-200°C, 700 bar) shows that H2S can significantly influence the composition and stability of hydrocarbons. It is also proposed to apply the model to study the reactivity of H2S under conditions of enhanced recovery (steam injection, pyrolysis) or of geological storage in depleted petroleum reservoirs

La mise au point de techniques de fractionnement des moûts de Sauvignon blanc par chromatographie de partage centrifuge et par chromatographie Flash, a permis de mettre en évidence la présence de deux « nouvelles » formes précurseurs du 3SH (le S-3-(hexan-1-al)-glutathion et l'acide S-3-glutathionyl-hydroxyhexanesulfonique). L’ensemble de ces résultats a permis de confirmer la contribution majeure des S-conjugués au potentiel en 3SH des moûts. Le S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cystéine, le S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-glutathion ainsi que les deux nouvelles formes identifiées, permettent d’expliquer près de 65% du 3SH libéré dans les vins. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré que l’ensemble des formes précurseurs appartenait à la même voie d’assimilation de la levure et que le S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cystéine est un intermédiaire indispensable à la biotransformation des S-conjugués au glutathion, précurseurs du 3-sulfanylhexanol. De plus, le pourcentage de biotransformation des différents S-conjugués en 3SH semble directement lié à leur position dans le flux métabolique. / The development of fractionation techniques in Sauvignon Blanc musts such as centrifugal partition chromatography and flash chromatography, permitted to identify two precursor forms of 3-sulfanylhexanol : the S-3-(hexan-1-al)-glutathione, and the S-3-glutathionyl-hydroxy hexanesulfonic acid. These results confirmed the major contribution of S-conjugates in the potential liberation of 3-sulfanylhexanol in musts. The two newly identified forms along with S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cysteine and S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-glutathione, explain up to 65% of the total release of 3-sulfanylhexanol. Futhermore, we showed that all precursor forms belonged to the same assimilation pathway of yeast and the S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cysteine is an essential intermediate in the metabolism of S-glutathione conjugates, which is a precursor of 3-sulfanylhexanol . Finally, the biotransformation percentage of different S-conjugates of 3-sulfanylhexanol seems directly related to their position in the metabolic flow.

Thesis (PhD (Chemistry and Polymer Science)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The work presented in this dissertation describes the development of self-healing coatings based on thiol-ene chemistry. The approach was to synthesize capsules with thiol and ene compounds separately encapsulated. These capsules were embedded in various coating formulations and upon the formation of a crack with a razor blade, these capsules ruptured. This caused the healing agent to flow into the crack via capillary action and the thiol-ene healing mechanism was initiated. This resulted in recovery of the damaged coating and provided continued protection to the substrate. Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (TetraThiol), 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (DiAcrylate) and 1,6-hexanediol di-(endo, exo-norborn-2-ene-5-carboxylate) (DiNorbornene) are the thiol and ene compounds used in this study. Kinetic experiments indicated that both TetraThiol-DiAcrylate and TetraThiol-DiNorbornene monomer pairs undergo rapid polymerization and form a network within minutes upon exposure to UV radiation and with the addition of a photoinitiator. The TetraThiol-DiNorbornene monomer pair also showed a high rate of polymerization without the addition of a photoinitiator and/or exposure to UV radiation. Styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers and chain-extended block copolymers with styrene (P[(Sty-alt-MAh)-b-Sty]) were synthesized via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)- mediated polymerization. These copolymers were used as surfactant in miniemulsification for the synthesis of core-shell particles with TetraThiol as the core material. It appeared that P[(Sty-alt-MAh)-b-Sty] block copolymers, sterically stabilized via the addition of formaldehyde, provide optimal stability to the core-shell particles. DiNorbornene is encapsulated via miniemulsion homopolymerization of styrene and well-defined, stable nanocapsules were obtained. TetraThiol and DiAcrylate microcapsules were synthesized via in-situ polymerization of urea and formaldehyde. Microcapsules with a particle size of one to ten micrometers and with a very smooth surface were obtained. These microcapsules and nanocapsules were embedded in poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), styrene-acrylate and pure acrylic films and the self-healing ability of these coatings, after introduction of a crack with a razor blade, was assessed.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:38:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosana Mossanha.pdf: 1591695 bytes, checksum: aac2e3d256b391dd0e8f113bb72eb620 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-03 / In this work were studied investigated different types of modifiers for the formation of self-assembled monolayers on the gold surface. The monolayers used were formed by different structural arrangements, alkyl chains and functional groups. The thiols groups used were: 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), thiolactic acid (TLA), cystamine (CYS) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. The electroactivity of films of different thiols was assessed by the probe molecule, Fe(CN)63-/4-. It was possible to observe through the cyclic voltammetry technique, the formation and organization of the films, monitoring the behavior of the redox couple. The voltammograms showed a decrease in the faradaic current response with the increase of immersion time of the gold substrate in ethanolic solution of thiols, suggesting that the process of electron transfer occurs through the pinholes of the electrodes surface and tunneling. The monolayers of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and thiolactic acid (TLA) had a better coating of the surface in immersion time of 3 hours. While the 11-mercaptopropionic acid (MUA) and cystamine (CYS) needed more time to organize the monolayer, 24 hours, because the MUA is a long chain molecule and CYS because the cleavage of S-S. The size of thiol chain influenced the surface organization, short-chain thiols tend to form monolayers with a considerable amount of defects, leading to a lower coating on the electrode surface. Indeed, the MUA that contains a high number of carbons in the chain showed a higher surface coverage, which caused loss of voltammetric response. The electrode surface roughness and the active area, calculated by the voltammetric data, showed a decrease with the formation of the monolayers on gold surface. Aiming to estimate the amount of molecules immobilized on the surface, it was calculated the superficial excess ) by voltammetric charge obtained from the reductive desorption. The obtained values were of 1.88x10-10 for Au-CYS, 5.03x10-10 to Au-MPA, 1.06x10-8 for Au-MUA and 1.35x10-10 mol.cm-2 for the Au-TLA, demonstrating an almost complete coverage of active sites on the surface. By the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique, it was possible to determine the kinetic parameters of the SAMs, which were consistent with those obtained by cyclic voltammetry. Analyzing the performance of sensors for dopamine determination through the VC, it was found that the SAM formed by TLA presented the most satisfactory results regarding the sensitivity and selectivity compared to the analyte DA. Studies at different scan rates for the electrodes, Au-MPA, Au-TLA and Au-CYS in the presence of the analite showed that the anodic peak current linearly increases with the square root of scan rate, indicating that the electron transfer process is controlled by diffusion of species to the electrode surface. Dopamine was quantified by CV and SWV technique, in the linear range from 1.1 to 6.6x10-7 mol L-1 with detection limits of 1,42x10-7 mol L-1 and 4,77x10-8 mol L-1, respectively. Using the technique of VOQ, TLA-Au electrode was able to distinguish between AA and DA, when present in the same solution, with a potential difference of approximately 340 mV. / Neste trabalho foram investigados diferentes tipos de modificadores para a formação de monocamadas auto-organizadas sobre a superfície do ouro. As monocamadas utilizadas foram formadas por diferentes arranjos estruturais, tamanho da cadeia carbônica e grupos funcionais. Os tióis utilizados foram: ácido 3- mercaptopropiônico (MPA), ácido tioláctico (TLA), cistamina (CYS) e o ácido 11-mercaptoundecanóico. A eletroatividade dos filmes dos diferentes tióis foi avaliada pela molécula sonda, Fe(CN)6]3-/4-. Foi possível constatar através da técnica de voltametria cíclica, a formação e a organização dos filmes, monitorando o comportamento do par redox. Os voltamogramas mostraram um decréscimo nas respostas da corrente faradaica com o aumento do tempo de imersão do substrato ouro na solução etanólica dos tióis, sugerindo que o processo de transferência de elétrons ocorre através dos pinholes da superfície e por tunelamento. Os eletrodos com as monocamadas de ácido 3-mercaptopropiônico (MPA) e o ácido tioláctico (TLA) obtiveram melhor recobrimento da superfície no tempo de imersão de 3 horas. Enquanto que o ácido 11-mercaptopropiônico (MUA) e a cistamina (CYS) necessitaram de maior tempo de imersão para organização da monocamada, de 24 horas, devido o MUA ser uma molécula de cadeia longa e a CYS devido a quebra da ligação S-S. O tamanho da cadeia do tiol influenciou no empacotamento da superfície, tióis de cadeia curtas tendem a formar monocamadas com uma quantidade de defeitos considerável, levando ao um menor recobrimento na superfície eletródica. O MUA que contém um número elevado de carbonos na cadeia apresentou um maior recobrimento da superfície, o que ocasionou perda da resposta voltamétrica. A rugosidade e a área ativa dos diferentes eletrodos, calculadas a partir dos voltamogramas, diminuíram com a formação das monocamadas sobre a superfície do ouro. Com o objetivo de estimar a quantidade de moléculas imobilizadas sobre a superfície, foram calculados os excessos superficiais por meio da carga voltamétrica obtida da dessorção redutiva. Os valores obtidos foram de = 1,88x10-10 para Au-CYS, 5,03x10-10 para Au-MPA, 1,06x10-8 para Au-MUA e 1,35x10-10 mol.cm-2 para o Au-TLA, demonstrando uma cobertura quase completa dos sítios ativos da superfície. Pela técnica de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica foi possível determinar os parâmetros cinéticos das SAMs, os quais foram consistentes com os obtidos pelos voltamogramas cíclicos. Analisando o desempenho dos sensores para a determinação de dopamina (DA) através da VC, verificou que a SAM formada pelo TLA foi a que apresentou resultados mais satisfatórios quanto a sensibilidade e seletividade em relação a este analito. Estudos em diferentes velocidades de varredura para os eletrodos Au-MPA, Au-TLA e Au-CYS na presença do analito mostraram que a corrente de pico anódica aumenta linearmente com a raiz quadrada da velocidade de varredura, indicando que o processo de transferência de elétrons é controlado pela difusão das espécies à superfície do eletrodo. A dopamina foi quantificada pela técnica de VC e VOQ, na faixa linear de 1,1 a 6,6x10-7 mol L-1 com limites de detecção de 1,42x10-7 mol L-1e 4,77x10-8 mol L-1, respectivamente. Utilizando-se a técnica de VOQ, o eletrodo Au-TLA foi capaz de distinguir o ácido ascórbico (AA) e DA quando presentes na mesma solução, com uma diferença de potencial de aproximadamente 340 mV.

Este trabalho consistiu de estudos da viabilidade da geração e identificação de radicais livres envolvidos em processos oxidativos avançados por via eletroquímica. Para a geração e identificação de radicais livres em eletrodos modificados com organotióis via eletroquímica, escolheu-se uma técnica pouco aplicada para este fim; a espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica, e o ajuste dos dados experimentais pela proposta de modelos de circuitos equivalentes. O eletrodo de trabalho utilizado (Au) foi caracterizado em meio ácido e básico e diversas monocamadas auto-organizadas conhecidas foram adsorvidas sobre o mesmo e também caracterizadas por esta técnica. Parâmetros importantes como constante dielétrica, capacitância de uma monocamada livre de defeitos e grau de recobrimento foram determinados com êxito. Também foram empregadas moléculas menos utilizadas como modificadoras de eletrodos (fenotiazinas e derivados). As mesmas foram caracterizadas no sistema Au/adsorvente/NaOH, pois, o pH alto garante a formação do radical superóxido e do ânion hidroperóxido. Os mesmos modelos de circuitos equivalentes puderam ser empregados na obtenção dos parâmetros físicos relativos a essas moléculas no sistema eletroquímico utilizado. Em uma etapa subsequente obteve-se a valiosa informação, se as moléculas adsorvidas sobre Au poderiam ser usadas para a geração de superóxido e outros radicais. As monocamadas de tióis, quando utilizadas para gerar radicais livres, se mostraram aptas a gerar superóxido em meio alcalino saturado com oxigênio molecular. Como se demonstrou na etapa de caracterização, as SAM-3 e SAM-6 não formaram um empacotamento totalmente hidrofóbico. Por este motivo, mesmo que superóxido tenha sido gerado, não pôde ser detectado. Já para a fenotiazina e seu metil-derivado, a cinética de adsorção e a utilização de soluções aquosas impediram a formação de um filme completo e homogêneo, imprescindível para a constituição de uma interface hidrofóbica e isolante. Além disso, possíveis reações de complexação entre as moléculas e superóxido, reações entre a fenotiazina cátion-radical e superóxido fazem necessários mais estudos acerca da natureza eletroquímica do sistema, que já é bastante conhecido fotoquimicamente. Posterior a modificação, todos os eletrodos se mostraram ser bastante sensíveis ao pH e aos eletrólitos utlizados, alterando-se a estrutura interna muito facilmente, o qual implica uma limitação no tempo de uso e reprodutibilidade quando da geração de um radical tão reativo quanto superóxido. / This work consisted in testing the viability of investigations into the electrochemical generation and identification of free radicals involved in advanced oxidative processes. In these studies, a technique which is rarely used for the electrochemical generation and identification of free radicals at organothiole-modified electrodes, electrochemical impedancy spectroscopy, was chosen and the experimental data obtained were fitted by equivalent circuit models. A working electrode (Au) was characterized in both acidic and basic media and several known self-assembled monolayers were adsorbed over this electrode and also characterized using this technique. Important parameters such as dielectric constants, capacitance of the monolayers free of defects and coverage were determined with success. Other lesser-known molecules such as phenothiazines and their derivatives were also used .The modified electrodes were characterized in NaOH solution, since the high pH assures the production of superoxide radicals and hydroperoxylate anions. The equivalent circuit model was employed to obtain physical parameters for these molecules in the electrochemical systems studied. In a subsequent step, a valuable piece of information was obtained; it was noted that the molecules adsorbed over Au could be used in order to generate superoxide and other radicals. The ability of thiol monolayers used in the generation of free radicals, to produce superoxides in alkaline media saturated with molecular oxygen was demonstrated. However, characterization of the self-assembled monolayers, SAM-3 and SAM-6, revealed that these were not able to pack in a completely hydrophobic manner. This may account for the fact that the superoxide could not be detected even when it was believed to have formed. For the phenothiazine-modified electrodes, the adsorption kinetics and the utilization of aqueous solutions prevented the formation of an intact and homogeneous film, which is essential in establishing a hydrophobic and isolating interface. Furthermore, possible complexation reactions between the molecules and the superoxide and reactions between the phenothiazine cation-radical and superoxide, point to the need for further studies regarding the electrochemical nature of this system, whose photochemical properties are very well known. Following modification, all the electrodes were shown to be too sensitive to pH and to the electrolytes used, since the inner structure was easily modified, which implies that they would have a limited time of use and in addition that the reproducibility of the rate of generation of reactive radical species such as superoxides could be compromised.