La contraction cardiaque nécessite un apport énergétique important, dont la source principale est l'oxydation des acides gras dans la mitochondrie. Ces acides gras pénètrent dans la mitochondrie sous la forme d'acyl-carnitine. Lors du couplage excitation-contraction, il y a une communication entre la contraction et le métabolisme assurée par les variations de potentiel et les variations calciques concomitantes. Cette communication permet d'adapter la quantité d'énergie synthétisée en fonction des besoins contractiles. Des observations cliniques et expérimentales indiquent que le métabolisme module également les mécanismes de contraction. En effet de fortes modifications de la balance énergétique observée lors de pathologie comme le syndrome métabolique ou le déficit primaire en carnitine induisent des dysfonctions contractiles et des troubles du rythme cardiaque. L'homéostasie mitochondriale semble tenir un rôle important dans cette communication, mais les mécanismes impliqués restent encore mal connus. Dans ce travail nous nous sommes intéressés à comprendre les comment de fortes variations d'acyl-carnitine influencent l'apparition de troubles du rythme et participent au remodelage ventriculaire. Lors d'une approche intégrative nous avons mis en évidence le rôle central de l'adenine nucleotide transporteur (ANT) dans la genèse des troubles du rythme induit par une forte concentration en palmitoyl-carnitine. De plus des études in vivo sur des animaux déficients en carnitine, ont permis de décrire pour la première fois une relation entre une diminution de l'intervalle QT (QT court) avec un désordre métabolique. / Heart contraction requires a considerable amount of energy. Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation is the major source of energy production in the heart. Fatty acids diffuse through the mitochondrial membrane in the acyl-carnitine form. During excitation-contraction coupling, variations of membrane potential and calcium concentration allow the communication between contraction and metabolism. This communication allows the adaption of energy production into contractile function. Clinical and experimental observations indicate that metabolism modulates contraction mechanisms. In particular, the energetic imbalance observed in metabolic syndrome or primary carnitine deficiency induces a contractile disturbance and arrhythmias. Mitochondrial homeostasis seems to be an important participant though the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon remain to be completely elucidated. In this study, we examined the influence of acylcarnitine concentration variations on cardiac rhythm and ventricular remodeling. Through an integrative approach, we have demonstrated the pivotal role of the adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT) in the apparition of high acylcarnitine concentration associated arrhythmia. Furthermore, in vivo studies with carnitine deficient mice reveal, for the first time, a relationship between the QT interval duration (short QT) and metabolic disturbance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in numerous environments and is an opportunistic pathogen affecting those who are immunocompromised. Its large genome encodes tremendous metabolic and regulatory diversity that enables P. aeruginosa to adapt to various environments. We are interested in how P. aeruginosa senses and responds to the host-derived compounds, carnitine and acylcarnitines. Acylcarnitines can be hydrolyzed to carnitine, where the liberated carnitine and its catabolic product glycine betaine can be used as osmoprotectants, for induction of the virulence factor phospholipase C, and as sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy sources. P. aeruginosa is incapable of de novo synthesis of carnitine and acylcarnitines and therefore imports these compounds from exogenous source. Short-chain acylcarnitines are imported by the ABC transporter CaiX-CbcWV. Medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines are hydrolyzed extracytoplasmically and the liberated carnitine is transported through CaiX-CbcWV. Once in the cytoplasm, short-chain acylcarnitines are hydrolyzed by the L-enantiomer specific hydrolase, HocS. The transcriptional regulator CdhR is divergently transcribed from the carnitine catabolism operon and we have identified the upstream activating region, the binding site sequence, and essential residues required for CdhR binding and induction of the carnitine operon. Carnitine catabolism is repressed by glucose and glycine betaine at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, using two different cdhR translational fusions we show that CdhR enhances its own expression and that GbdR, a related transcription factor, contributes to cdhR expression by enhancing the level of basal expression. These studies are the first to determine the mechanism of O-acylcarnitine transport, metabolism, and the regulation of these processes, which contribute to utilization of these compounds for P. aeruginosa survival in diverse environments.

Newborn screening programs measure analyte levels in neonatal blood spots to identify individuals at high risk of disease. Carnitine and acylcarnitine levels are primary markers used in the detection of fatty acid oxidation disorders. These analytes may be influenced by certain pre/perinatal or newborn screening related factors. The primary objective of this study was to explore the association between these characteristics and levels of blood carnitines and acylcarnitines in the newborn population. The study was composed of two parts: a systematic review and a clinical database analysis of existing newborn screening data. The systematic review results suggested considerable variability across studies in the presence and directionality of associations between analyte levels and birth weight, gestational age, age at time of blood spot collection, type of sample, and storage time. Sex was not significantly associated with carnitine or acylcarnitine levels in neonatal blood. We identified a need to more fully investigate a potential interaction between gestational age and birth weight in regard to analyte levels. The secondary data analyses indicated a statistically significant relationship between analyte levels and all perinatal / infant and newborn screening related factors of interest, but effect sizes were generally small. The interaction between gestational age and birth weight was significant in all models; when further explored through graphical analysis with conditional means, extremely premature neonates stood out as having distinct analyte patterns in relation to birth weight. Variation in the ratio of total acylcarnitine to free carnitine was better accounted for by the perinatal and newborn factors than was variation in any individual carnitine or acylcarnitine, indicating that proportions of carnitine and acylcarnitines may be more important in understanding an individual’s metabolic functioning than individual analyte levels. A low proportion of variation was explained in all multivariate models, supporting the use of universal algorithms in newborn screening and suggesting the need for further large scale empirical research targeted at previously unaccounted for perinatal factors such as birth stress.

Newborn screening programs measure analyte levels in neonatal blood spots to identify individuals at high risk of disease. Carnitine and acylcarnitine levels are primary markers used in the detection of fatty acid oxidation disorders. These analytes may be influenced by certain pre/perinatal or newborn screening related factors. The primary objective of this study was to explore the association between these characteristics and levels of blood carnitines and acylcarnitines in the newborn population. The study was composed of two parts: a systematic review and a clinical database analysis of existing newborn screening data. The systematic review results suggested considerable variability across studies in the presence and directionality of associations between analyte levels and birth weight, gestational age, age at time of blood spot collection, type of sample, and storage time. Sex was not significantly associated with carnitine or acylcarnitine levels in neonatal blood. We identified a need to more fully investigate a potential interaction between gestational age and birth weight in regard to analyte levels. The secondary data analyses indicated a statistically significant relationship between analyte levels and all perinatal / infant and newborn screening related factors of interest, but effect sizes were generally small. The interaction between gestational age and birth weight was significant in all models; when further explored through graphical analysis with conditional means, extremely premature neonates stood out as having distinct analyte patterns in relation to birth weight. Variation in the ratio of total acylcarnitine to free carnitine was better accounted for by the perinatal and newborn factors than was variation in any individual carnitine or acylcarnitine, indicating that proportions of carnitine and acylcarnitines may be more important in understanding an individual’s metabolic functioning than individual analyte levels. A low proportion of variation was explained in all multivariate models, supporting the use of universal algorithms in newborn screening and suggesting the need for further large scale empirical research targeted at previously unaccounted for perinatal factors such as birth stress.

Newborn screening programs measure analyte levels in neonatal blood spots to identify individuals at high risk of disease. Carnitine and acylcarnitine levels are primary markers used in the detection of fatty acid oxidation disorders. These analytes may be influenced by certain pre/perinatal or newborn screening related factors. The primary objective of this study was to explore the association between these characteristics and levels of blood carnitines and acylcarnitines in the newborn population. The study was composed of two parts: a systematic review and a clinical database analysis of existing newborn screening data. The systematic review results suggested considerable variability across studies in the presence and directionality of associations between analyte levels and birth weight, gestational age, age at time of blood spot collection, type of sample, and storage time. Sex was not significantly associated with carnitine or acylcarnitine levels in neonatal blood. We identified a need to more fully investigate a potential interaction between gestational age and birth weight in regard to analyte levels. The secondary data analyses indicated a statistically significant relationship between analyte levels and all perinatal / infant and newborn screening related factors of interest, but effect sizes were generally small. The interaction between gestational age and birth weight was significant in all models; when further explored through graphical analysis with conditional means, extremely premature neonates stood out as having distinct analyte patterns in relation to birth weight. Variation in the ratio of total acylcarnitine to free carnitine was better accounted for by the perinatal and newborn factors than was variation in any individual carnitine or acylcarnitine, indicating that proportions of carnitine and acylcarnitines may be more important in understanding an individual’s metabolic functioning than individual analyte levels. A low proportion of variation was explained in all multivariate models, supporting the use of universal algorithms in newborn screening and suggesting the need for further large scale empirical research targeted at previously unaccounted for perinatal factors such as birth stress.

Dans un contexte d’étude des altérations biologiques survenant après un impact sur le système nerveux central (SNC), ma thèse porte sur l’étude des modifications protéomiques et lipidiques survenant après une lésion du SNC. Une étude spatio-temporelle a été menée sur un modèle TBI de rat afin d'identifier des marqueurs spécifiques de la lésion. En utilisant le MALDI-MSI, nous avons effectués une reconstruction 3D du cerveau lésé 3 jours post-lésion et nous avons représentés les molécules lipidiques spécifiques à la lésion. Après, cette analyse est réalisé avec d’autres délais après l’impact: 1, 3, 7 et 10 jours. En parallèle, une analyse microprotéomique est réalisée sur des coupes de tissus dans une approche visant à corréler les modifications lipidiques et protéiques. Nos résultats ont permis d'identifier une famille de lipides, les acylcarnitines, exprimés dans le cortex lésé avec une intensité maximale à 3 jours post-impact. Les données de protéomiques ont montrés une régulation positive de l’expression de protéines liées à la maladie de Parkinson. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats décrivent un lien entre le TBI léger et la maladie de Parkinson dès 3 jours après l’impact, avec un rôle possible de l’acylcarnitine. Cette même famille de molécules est aussi présente dans les lésions médullaires. Dans une approche thérapeutique, les résultats précédents ont montrés que la protéine RhoA est un candidat majeur dans SCI. Après avoir utilisé un inhibiteur de RhoA, une étude protéomique a été réalisée pour évaluer l’impact sur ces lésions. Les résultats montrent que les traitements in-vivo et in-vitro avec l’inhibiteur stimule la croissance neuritique et la régénération axonale. / In the context of studying biological alterations occurring post impact to the central nervous system, my thesis was focused on studying the proteomic and lipid changes occurring post injury to the brain and spinal cord. A fundamental spatio-temporal study was conducted on an open-head rat TBI model to identify potential injury-specific markers. Using MALDI MSI, we performed 3D reconstruction of the injured brain at 3 days after injury and depicted lesion-specific m/z lipid molecules. After, MALDI MSI was applied on the acute/sub-acute time frame post impact: 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 10 days. In parallel, a microproteomic analysis was carried out on tissue segments directly consecutive to the imaged ones in an approach to correlate both lipid and protein changes. Our results yielded the identification of a family of lipids, acylcarnitines, which are expressed within the injured cortex with maximum intensity 3 days post impact. These lipid molecules also were found to be expressed in the substantia nigra and microproteomics data showed an upregulation in expression of Parkinson’s related proteins. Taken altogether, our results depict a role of link between mild-TBI and Parkinson’s disease as early as 3 days post impact, with a possible role of acylcarnitine. This same family of molecules was also present in SCI. In a therapeutic approach previous results showed RhoA protein as a major candidate post impact in SCI. After using RhoA inhibitor treatment, a proteomic study was carried out to investigate its impact on SCI. The results showed that both in-vivo and in-vitro treatment with RhoA inhibitor stimulated neurite outgrowth and helped in axonal regeneration.

Full grid-search semiempirical calculations (AM1 and AM1/COSMO) on zwitterionic acetylcarnitine and carnitine, cationic acetylcholine and choline, and 3-acetoxypropanoate and 3-hydroxypropanoate in the gas phase and solution were performed. The calculated ΔH_hydr for hydrolyses of acetylcarnitine to carnitine and of acetylcholine to choline show reasonable agreement with the experimental values in unbuffered solution (acetylcarnitine: -4.63 kcal/mol calc. vs. -7.43 kcal/mol exp.; acetylcholine: -3.20 kcal/mol calc. vs. -3.06 kcal/mol exp.) The results suggest that a change in the conformational populations of acetylcarnitine-carnitine upon hydrolysis maintains a nearly constant polarity, which keeps the work of desolvation of the products to a minimum. Acetylcholine-choline and acetoxypropanoate-hydroxypropanoate present a much higher work of desolvation, therefore yielding a lower free enthalpy of hydrolysis. Ab initio calculations at the RHF/6-31G* level for the carnitines and the cholines, and RHF/6-31+G for the propanoates, were done to calibrate the quality of the AM1 results for both the gas phase and in solution. The calculations in the gas phase involved full optimization of the AM1-optimized structures at the RHF/6-31G* level and RHF/6-31+G level, and single points at the MP2//RHF/6-31G* and MP2//RHF/6-31+G level to estimate correlation effects. The ab initio calculations in solution were single points on the AM1-optimized geometries and used the Tomasi solvent model. The ab initio results confirmed the qualitative reliability of the semiempirical results. The conformational behavior of several 4,4-dimethylmorpholinium rings and 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,6-dioxazaphosphacinium rings was examined by molecular mechanics (AMBER* and AMBER*-GB/SA). The contrast between the behavior of these heterocycles and that of the parent saturated hydrocarbon systems formed a picture of the conformational behavior of these six- and eight-membered heterocycles. Influences of factors such as shortened bond lengths, varied bond angles, presence or absence of lone pairs and substituents, and dipolar alignment are described. Morpholinium rings show increased stabilization of the twist-boat with 1,1,3,3-di<i>gem</i> substitution, as compared to the parent cyclohexane systems. In the gas phase, the lowest chair/twist-boat energy gap is found in 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,4-trimethylmorpholinium at 1.14 kcal/mol. The gap in the congruent hydrocarbon system is 5.23 kcal/mol. Differential solvation destabilizes the lowest energy twist-boat found in the gas phase, increasing the energy gap to 2.62 kcal/mol. The lowest chair/twist-boat energy gap in GB/SA water amounts to 1.45 kcal/mol, stabilized by solvation from an initial 2.13 kcal/mol in the gas phase. In the dioxazaphosphacinium rings, the preferred conformation in the gas phase is the boat-chair (BC) and the populations are conformationally heterogeneous. As substituents approach a 1,1,3,3-di<i>gem</i> pattern, the twist-chair (TC) and twist-boat (TB) conformers are stabilized. Solvation favors boat-boat (BB) conformers, with the substituents exerting influence on the conformational preference only to stabilize the TB in two instances (<i>cis</i>-substituted ring and disubstituted ring). Solvation reduces the heterogeneity of the conformational populations. Modeling of phosphonate moieties required development of molecular mechanics parameters for dimethyl methylphosphonate. Dimethyl methylphosphonate conformations were calculated at the RHF/6-31+G* level. Charges were calculated by the CHelpG scheme. The results were used to generate AMBER* parameters for modeling of alkylphosphonates in the gas phase and in solution. Comparison of the results of our AMBER* parameters against three other common force fields (MM2*, MMX and UFF) showed that AMBER* reproduced better the ab initio results when comparing absolute deviations in bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles. The modified AMBER* reproduced better than the other three force fields several X-ray geometries of alkylphosphonates. / Ph. D.

Quantitative Untersuchungen krankheitsspezifischer oder krankheitsassoziierter metabolischer Signaturen in humanen Körperflüssigkeiten („Clinical Metabolomics“) haben zum Ziel neue Ansätze für diagnostische oder therapeutische Konzepte zu entwickeln. Die simultane quantitative Analytik von Aminosäuren (AS) und Acylcarnitinen (AC) mittels Tandem-Massenspektrometrie (MS/MS) ermöglicht die Erfassung wichtiger Stoffwechselwege des humanen Metabolismus. Hierzu zählen der Stoffwechsel der ketogenen AS, des Harnstoffzyklus oder der β-Oxidation langkettiger Fettsäuren. Allerdings wird die Konzentration der verschiedenen metabolischen Parameter in humanen Körperflüssigkeiten durch eine Vielzahl präanalytischer in vitro Störfaktoren und in vivo Einflussgrößen beeinflusst. Diese können zu signifikanten Veränderungen der Laborergebnisse führen. Im Rahmen meiner Promotionsarbeit wurden in vitro Störfaktoren (Probenmaterial, Lagerung u. a.) und in vivo Einflussgrößen (Ernährung, physische Aktivität) untersucht und ein standardisiertes Präanalytik-Protokoll entwickelt. Dazu wurden pro Probe 3 µL Trockenblut (TB), 10 µL Serum oder Plasma nach Butylierung mittels Elektrospray-Ionisations-MS/MS analysiert und jeweils 26 AS und 35 AC in 1,5 Minuten simultan bestimmt. Als Ergebnis der zahlreichen systematischen Präanalytik-Untersuchungen konnten signifikante Konzentrationsunterschiede der Metabolite zwischen kapillärer und venöser Blutentnahme sowie in Abhängigkeit des Hämatokrits gefunden werden. Im Vergleich zu Serum und antikoaguliertem Plasma (EDTA, Citrat, Heparin) waren die Konzentrationen der langkettigen AC im TB 5-fach höher. Nahrungsaufnahme und körperliche Aktivität führten ebenfalls zu signifikanten Veränderungen der AS- und AC-Konzentrationen. Durch Optimierung des Probenaufarbeitungsprotokolls konnte die Variabilität zwischen den Messtagen für 17 AS und 6 AC auf < 20 % gesenkt werden. Die Ergebnisse meiner Promotionsarbeit unterstreichen den Einfluss präanalytischer Faktoren auf die Metabolomanalytik. Durch Etablierung und Einhaltung standardisierter präanalytischer Protokolle kann die präanalytische Varianz der Ergebnisse deutlich verringert werden. Sie stellen somit eine wichtige Voraussetzung für eine qualitativ hochwertige Metabolomanalytik im Rahmen klinischer Studien zur Identifizierung neuer Biomarker dar.

Quantitative Untersuchungen krankheitsspezifischer oder krankheitsassoziierter metabolischer Signaturen in humanen Körperflüssigkeiten („Clinical Metabolomics“) haben zum Ziel neue Ansätze für diagnostische oder therapeutische Konzepte zu entwickeln. Die simultane quantitative Analytik von Aminosäuren (AS) und Acylcarnitinen (AC) mittels Tandem-Massenspektrometrie (MS/MS) ermöglicht die Erfassung wichtiger Stoffwechselwege des humanen Metabolismus. Hierzu zählen der Stoffwechsel der ketogenen AS, des Harnstoffzyklus oder der β-Oxidation langkettiger Fettsäuren. Allerdings wird die Konzentration der verschiedenen metabolischen Parameter in humanen Körperflüssigkeiten durch eine Vielzahl präanalytischer in vitro Störfaktoren und in vivo Einflussgrößen beeinflusst. Diese können zu signifikanten Veränderungen der Laborergebnisse führen. Im Rahmen meiner Promotionsarbeit wurden in vitro Störfaktoren (Probenmaterial, Lagerung u. a.) und in vivo Einflussgrößen (Ernährung, physische Aktivität) untersucht und ein standardisiertes Präanalytik-Protokoll entwickelt. Dazu wurden pro Probe 3 µL Trockenblut (TB), 10 µL Serum oder Plasma nach Butylierung mittels Elektrospray-Ionisations-MS/MS analysiert und jeweils 26 AS und 35 AC in 1,5 Minuten simultan bestimmt. Als Ergebnis der zahlreichen systematischen Präanalytik-Untersuchungen konnten signifikante Konzentrationsunterschiede der Metabolite zwischen kapillärer und venöser Blutentnahme sowie in Abhängigkeit des Hämatokrits gefunden werden. Im Vergleich zu Serum und antikoaguliertem Plasma (EDTA, Citrat, Heparin) waren die Konzentrationen der langkettigen AC im TB 5-fach höher. Nahrungsaufnahme und körperliche Aktivität führten ebenfalls zu signifikanten Veränderungen der AS- und AC-Konzentrationen. Durch Optimierung des Probenaufarbeitungsprotokolls konnte die Variabilität zwischen den Messtagen für 17 AS und 6 AC auf < 20 % gesenkt werden. Die Ergebnisse meiner Promotionsarbeit unterstreichen den Einfluss präanalytischer Faktoren auf die Metabolomanalytik. Durch Etablierung und Einhaltung standardisierter präanalytischer Protokolle kann die präanalytische Varianz der Ergebnisse deutlich verringert werden. Sie stellen somit eine wichtige Voraussetzung für eine qualitativ hochwertige Metabolomanalytik im Rahmen klinischer Studien zur Identifizierung neuer Biomarker dar.