Alginate is an exopolysaccharide secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is a major component of biofilms that infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Ten proteins have been implicated in alginate polymerization, modification and export, and are believed to assemble into a multi-protein complex that spans the cell envelope and coordinates the synthesis and secretion of alginate. AlgK is a protein encoded in the alginate biosynthetic operon, which is required for the secretion of high-molecular weight alginate. This study describes structural and functional studies of AlgK to improve our understanding of AlgK’s role in alginate biosynthesis. To shed light on the function of AlgK, C14-palmitic acid labeling and sucrose gradient fractionation studies confirmed that AlgK is an outer membrane lipoprotein. Cellular fractionation experiments also found that AlgK is involved in the proper localization of AlgE, the alginate secretion pore in the outer membrane. The structure of AlgK was determined to 2.5 Å resolution by X-ray crystallography and revealed that the protein folds into 22 alpha-helices that pack into a flexible right-handed solenoid. Closer examination of the amino acid sequence revealed that AlgK carries 9.5 tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-like elements. Given the role that TPR motifs generally play in protein-protein interaction and the assembly of multi-protein complexes, the presence of these motifs in AlgK suggests that it can bind to one or more proteins. Based on the results presented in this study, we propose that AlgK acts as a scaffold for the assembly of the alginate secretion complex. By mapping highly conserved residues onto the surface of our model, three putative sites of protein-protein interaction were identified. We hypothesize that the N-terminus of AlgK binds to AlgE in the outer membrane, and the C-terminus of AlgK binds to periplasmic and/or inner membrane Alg proteins, thereby acting as a linker between the inner and outer membrane components of the alginate biosynthetic complex. We further hypothesize that together AlgE and AlgK constitute a novel exopolysaccharide secretin. The alginate biosynthetic complex appears to be distinct from the canonical capsular polysaccharide systems currently described.

Ph.D.

The use of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as ligands in catalysis is one of the most significant developments in modern catalysis and organometallic chemistry. One way to extend the scope of NHC ligand tuning is by means of annulation of carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings to the NHC backbone. The bis(imino)acenaphthene-supported N-heterocyclic carbene [IPr(BIAN)] has been synthesized and can be regarded as originating from the fusion of a naphthalene ring to an NHC. Several metal complexes of IPr(BIAN), including those incorporating copper(I), silver(I), gold(I), or iridium(I) have been synthesized and characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The doncity of IPr(BIAN) was investigated using the Tolmen Electronic Parameter (TEP) method. A TEP value of 2042 cm-1 was calculated for the IPr(BIAN) ligand using the Ir(CO)2Cl complex which indicates that IPr(BIAN) is a relatively strong electron donating NHC ligand. The well-behaved redox chemistry of the BIAN ligand class rendered IPr(BIAN) an excellent candidate for exploration of the relationship between ligand charge and carbene donicity. The electrochemical reduction of IPr(BIAN) was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a THF solution and a reversible reduction wave was detected at - 1.79 V vs SCE. Spectroelectrochemical IR studies were also undertaken to further characterize the nature of the reduced state. IPr(BIAN) was found to be a stronger electron donating ligand in the reduced state in comparison with the neutral state of the ligand. IPr(BIAN) was also chemically reduced using potassium graphite and the resulting radical anion was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. An isotropic EPR signal was observed at a g value of 2.0112. Due to the known antimicrobial activities of silver and gold NHCs, the activities of the silver and gold complexes of IPr(BIAN) and the imidazolium salts of several BIAN ligands were investigated using the minimum inhibitory concentration test. The silver(I) and gold(I) complexes of IPr(BIAN) were found to be moderately active. The most active compounds were found to be the imidazolium salts, with MIC values ranging between < 0.6 μg/mL and 78 μg/mL for the diisopropylphenyl(BIAN) and the mesityl(BIAN) imidazolium chlorides against S. aureas, B. subtilis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. The preparation of nanofibers impregnated with IPr(BIAN)AuCl by the process of electrospinning was also explored. The antimicrobial activities of the resulting nanofiber mats were determined on the basis of the inhibition zone test, and a localized antimicrobial activity was observed for the Gram-positive bacteria M. leuteus. / text

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No description available.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex of proteins and carbohydrates that not only provides a structural support between tissues but also functions in a wide variety of cellular activities. ECM proteins are large, complex proteins with many repeating domains. Individual domains can be analyzed for the investigation of structure-function relationships. This thesis focuses on two ECM proteins of interest: N-terminal agrin (NtA) and the coiled-coil domain of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMPcc). Agrin is an important ECM protein involved in postsynaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction, mediated by binding in the NtA domain. In agrin, the NtA domain is followed by nine follistatin-like (FS) domains. Structural studies showed a novel interdomain disulfide bridge between the NtA and first FS domain in agrin. This disulfide bridge compensates for a seven residue splice insert in the C-terminus of NtA, suggesting that the interdomain disulfide bond may be necessary for the proper folding of agrin. COMP is another important ECM protein that is found in cartilage, tendon, and ligament. It is a homopentamer held together by disulfide bonds in the central coiled-coil oligomerization domain. Previous structural studies demonstrated that COMPcc forms a pentameric α-helical coiled-coil structure containing a 73Å-long cavity with a diameter of 2–6Å that is capable of binding hydrophobic compounds. This binding capacity of COMPcc was investigated and the high-resolution crystal structures of COMPcc in complex with five naturally-occurring fatty acids were solved. Additionally, the binding properties of COMPcc in solution were investigated through the use of fluorescence spectroscopy. Both the x-ray crystallographic and solution data reveal that binding favourability of fatty acids to COMPcc is driven by length of the methylene tail and degree of unsaturation. These results suggest the possibility of COMPcc to be used in targeted drug delivery systems.

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of titanium bis(diimine) complexes supported by 1,2-alternate dimethylsilyl-bridged p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene dianion and 2,2' methylene-bridged 4-methyl, 6-tertbutyl phenol ligands is reported. The molecular structure of [(DMSC)Ti(bpy)2] (28) and [(MBMP)Ti(bpy)2] (55) was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complexes [(DMSC)Ti(bpy)2] (28), [(DMSC)Ti(dmbpy)2] (29), and [(DMSC)Ti(phen)2] (30) undergoes light-assisted reactions with two or more equivalents of (C6H5)2CO or (p-MeC6H4)2CO to give the corresponding 1-aza-5-oxa-titanacyclopentene complexes 37-42. Similar reactivity was observed with [(MBMP)Ti(bpy)2] (55), [(MBMP)Ti(dmbpy)2] (56), and [(MBMP)Ti(phen)2] (57). The molecular structure of [(MBMP)Ti{kappa-3-OC(C6H5)2C10H7N2}{OCH(C6H5)2}] (58) was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR as well as X-Ray crystallography.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex of proteins and carbohydrates that not only provides a structural support between tissues but also functions in a wide variety of cellular activities. ECM proteins are large, complex proteins with many repeating domains. Individual domains can be analyzed for the investigation of structure-function relationships. This thesis focuses on two ECM proteins of interest: N-terminal agrin (NtA) and the coiled-coil domain of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMPcc). Agrin is an important ECM protein involved in postsynaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction, mediated by binding in the NtA domain. In agrin, the NtA domain is followed by nine follistatin-like (FS) domains. Structural studies showed a novel interdomain disulfide bridge between the NtA and first FS domain in agrin. This disulfide bridge compensates for a seven residue splice insert in the C-terminus of NtA, suggesting that the interdomain disulfide bond may be necessary for the proper folding of agrin. COMP is another important ECM protein that is found in cartilage, tendon, and ligament. It is a homopentamer held together by disulfide bonds in the central coiled-coil oligomerization domain. Previous structural studies demonstrated that COMPcc forms a pentameric α-helical coiled-coil structure containing a 73Å-long cavity with a diameter of 2–6Å that is capable of binding hydrophobic compounds. This binding capacity of COMPcc was investigated and the high-resolution crystal structures of COMPcc in complex with five naturally-occurring fatty acids were solved. Additionally, the binding properties of COMPcc in solution were investigated through the use of fluorescence spectroscopy. Both the x-ray crystallographic and solution data reveal that binding favourability of fatty acids to COMPcc is driven by length of the methylene tail and degree of unsaturation. These results suggest the possibility of COMPcc to be used in targeted drug delivery systems.

Cholera, an acute diarrheal diseases caused by the intestinal infection of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae, continues to be a global killer in the world today. PrtV, a secreted zinc metalloprotease, is a potent cytotoxic virulence factor of V. cholerae. The 102 kDa full length multi-domain PrtV protein undergoes several N and C terminal modifications before being secreted as a 81 kDa pro-protein. The activation of the pro-protein is calcium dependent. The removal of calcium triggers auto-proteolysis to give a stable active protease with the catalytic zinc binding domain. The aim of the thesis was to study the structure and function of the PrtV protein. The results from paper I, identified the end product of the maturation of PrtV as the stable 37 kDa M6 active domain, and not a 55 kDa complex as reported earlier. Results also showed the this 37 kDa active M6 domain alone was sufficient for catalytic activity. A revised model for the maturation of PrtV was proposed. Individual domains were isolated from the PrtV protein by domain phasing methods. This included the N-terminal domain (residues 23-103), the PKD1 domain (residues 755-839), and a 25 kDa fragment (residues 589-839). The isolated domains were recombinantly over expressed as fusion proteins to increase expression and solubility. The PKD1 domain was purified to homogeneity and crystallized. The structure of the PKD1 domain reported in paper II, was solved by X-ray crystallography at an atomic resolution of 1.1 Å. From the structure, a previously unknown calcium binding site was identified at the N-terminal of the PKD1 domain. The structure also revealed two conformations for the PKD1 domain depending on free or bound calcium. From the structure, a function of the PKD1 domain as a protector of the cleavage site in the linker region between the M6 domain and the PKD1 domain in the presence of calcium was elucidated. A new model for the activation of PrtV was given. In paper III, the structure of the N-terminal domain solved by NMR spectroscopy was reported. The structure revealed two well defined helices but a third predicted helix was found to be unstructured.