Power line carrier (PLC) is one of the communication and load control (C&LC) techniques employed in direct load control. A PLC is, within itself, a communication system. It utilizes power transmission line as a medium of transmitting control functions, and relaying. High frequencies, in the order of 30 to 300 kHz, are used. Power line carrier systems are, at present, the most attractive C&LC systems. Recently, dispersed generation - photovoltaics, wind energy, small scale hydro - is introduced to power systems. The introduction of small scale dispersed generation sources degrades the performance of PLC systems by injecting dc-ac inverter related harmonics into the distribution lines. These harmonics interfere with PLC signals. Thus load control functions assigned to PLC systems are affected. It is the purpose of this research to study how a PLC signal propagates through the transmission line and how it is affected by the harmonic interference. An experiment is conducted using a distribution network provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discussions, and conclusions are presented. / M.S.

Yes / Many drug molecules can be directly used as nanomedicine without the requirement of any inorganic or organic carriers such as silica and liposome nanostructures. This new type of carrier-free drug nanoparticles (NPs) has great potential in clinical treatment because of its ultra-high drug loading capacity and biodegradability. For practical applications, it is essential for such nanomedicine to possess robust stability and minimal premature release of therapeutic molecules during circulation in the blood stream. To meet this requirement, herein, we develop GSH-responsive and crosslinkable amphiphilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules to modify carrier-free drug NPs. These PEG molecules can be cross-linked on the surface of the NPs to endow them with greater stability and the cross-link is sensitive to intracellular environment for bio-responsive drug release. With this elegant design, our experimental results show that the liberation of DOX from DOX-cross-linked PEG NPs is dramatically slower than that from DOX-non-cross-linked PEG NPs, and the DOX release profile can be controlled by tuning the concentration of the reducing agent to break the cross-link between PEG molecules. More importantly, in vivo studies reveal that the DOX-cross-linked PEG NPs exhibit favorable blood circulation half-life (>4 h) and intense accumulation in tumor areas, enabling effective anti-cancer therapy. We expect this work will provide a powerful strategy for stabilizing carrier-free nanomedicines and pave the way to their successful clinical applications in the future. / The National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB933500, 2012CB932400), National Natural Science Foundation of China (61422403), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20131162), QingLan Project, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and a Project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

Abstract Amorphous Selenium (a-Se) was first commercialized for use as a photoconductor in xerography during the middle of the twentieth century. Since then the hole transport properties of a-Se have been studied extensively, however the study of electron transport remains relatively limited. Flat panel digital X-ray detectors using a-Se as a photoconductor have been developed and are being used in mammographic screening. The charge transport properties of the photoconductor layer will in part determine the performance of the flat panel detector. X-ray absorption causes electron-hole pair generation in the bulk of the photoconductor, requiring both electrons and holes to drift across the sample and be collected. If these carriers are lost in the many localized trapping states as they cross the sample, they will not contribute to the image signal resulting in unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient. Eleven a-Se samples were deposited at the University of Saskatchewan varying in thickness from 13 μm to 501 μm. Pure a-Se was chosen to ensure uniformity across the thickness of the samples, that is, to ensure the composition of the film did not change across the thickness. Time of flight transient photoconductivity experiments (TOF) and interrupted field time of flight (IFTOF) measurements were performed to measure the electron drift mobility and lifetime respectively. The product of electron drift mobility μ and lifetime τ, hence the carrier range (μτ) at a given applied electric field. The electron range is an important parameter as this places limits on the practical thickness of the photoconducting layer in a detector. This study also includes an investigation into the effect of the definition of transit time on the calculated drift mobility and analysis of the dispersive transport properties of a-Se. It was observed that as sample thickness (L) increased, electron drift mobility (μ) decreased. In addition electron lifetime (τ) decreased dramatically in samples thinner than 50 μm. Electron range (μτ) was 2.26 × 〖10〗^(-6) cm^2/V in the 147μm sample and 5.46 × 〖10〗^(-8) cm^2/V in the 13 μm sample, a difference of almost two orders of magnitude. The comparison of the half current method and inflection point methods to calculate the transit time of the same TOF curve, shows that the calculated mobility can vary by as much as 24%. This illustrates clearly that it is important to use the same point on the TOF curve to define the transit time. Charge packet dispersion (spread) in the time domain in pure a-Se samples was proportional to L^m where L is the photoconductor thickness and m ~ 1.3, measured at both 1 V/μm and 4 V/μm.

Firstly, a cell line derived from the liver of tilapia, Hepa-T1, was used as a model and exposed to two sub-lethal concentrations of waterborne copper for 96 h. The proteins expressed in Hepa T1 were investigated by differential protein profiling using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). It was found that Cu2+ (120 microM and 300 microM) caused differential expression of 93 different proteins, 18 of which were further verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Following analysis with ingenuity pathway software, several proteins were found to be involved in lipid metabolism, tissue connective development and cell cycle control, thus indicating that copper toxicity affects these cellular functions. / Fourthly, to further reveal the mechanism of copper tolerance and sensitivity in tilapia and zebrafish, two important copper transporters (ATP7A & B) and metallothionein (MT) were chosen for studying. Until now, a full length of ATP7A and partial length of ATP7B were obtained in tilapia. Then a real time quantitative PCR was conducted to study the different regulations of these three genes in tilapia and zebrafish. It was found that Cu2+ could induce more MT and ATP7A & B in tilapia than zebrafish both in vivo and in vitro. These results help us to understand that the copper tolerance of tilapia is possibly due to higher expression level of both copper transporters and MT. / Last but not least, I also compared the toxicity and biomarker gene expression in zebrafish exposed to Cu2O nanoparticle (NP) and CuCl2, respectively. It was found that the toxicity of CuCl2 is much higher than that of Cu2O NP. Then seven genes, including MT, ATP7A & B, copper transporter 1 (Ctr1), metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF1), glutathione sulfur transferase (GST), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), were chosen for studying. It was found that both Cu2O NP and CuCl 2 up-regulated the mRNA levels of MT, Cu/Zn SOD, and Ctr1, ATP7A & 7B, but down-regulated the mRNA levels of GST. Interestingly, the inductions of MT, Ctr1, ATP7A & B in the Cu2O NP exposure groups were much higher than that of CuCl2 exposure groups in vivo . Furthermore, as determined by using Ctr1, ATP7A and ATP7B gene expression, the no observable effect levels (NOELs) of CuCl2 and nano-Cu2O were 11 ppb and 50 ppb, whereas the lowest observable effect levels (LOELs) of CuCl2 and nano-Cu2O were 43 ppb and 125 ppb. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Secondly, the high copper contents in the liver of the tilapia make this fish a suitable model for the study of copper binding proteins. Liver was dissected from tilapia injected with Cu2+ and cytosolic fractions were separated by using Superdex 75 column chromatography followed with atomic absorption spectrometry. Fractions containing copper-binding proteins were found in two major peaks, analyzed using differential proteomic approaches, and loaded on a Cu chelating ion-immobilized affinity column (Cu-IMAC). Of the 113 differentially expressed proteins in these two peaks, some well-characterized copper binding proteins were found, including copper transporter ATP7A, cytochrome c oxidase, metallothionein, collagen, catalase, and vitellogenin. These proteins are mainly involved in endocrine disruption, mitochondria dysfunction, ion competition, lipid metabolism, copper transfer, and cytoskeleton disruption. In addition, a more concrete image about copper transportation pathway was hypothesized according to the function of the novel copper binding proteins identified. / The aims of this study are to identify some novel copper binding proteins and proteins related to Cu2+ toxicity or detoxification mechanisms in the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) using a proteomic approach, and to reveal the mechanism of copper tolerance and copper sensitivity by comparing the different biochemical responses to copper exposures between the two model species. / Thirdly, zebrafish liver cell line (ZFL) was also used as a model to study the mechanism of copper toxicity. After processing similar experimental procedures of previous Hepa T1 experiment, 72 different proteins were identified to be regulated by Cu2+ (100 microM and 200 microM). More than 50 % of these proteins were also found differentially expressed in the tilapia. The results suggested that the toxicity mechanism between zebrafish and tilapia was generally conserved. Although, in ZFL, the regulation of several proteins, related to ROS effect, mitochondrion copper transportation, and stress response, was quite different from that in tilapia. / Chen, Dongshi. / Adviser: Chun Ung Ming. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-190). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs) are type I integral membrane family proteins that mediate protein transport from late Golgi or trans-Golgi network (TGN) to vacuole via prevacuolar compartment (PVC) in plant cells. The N-terminus of a VSR is believed to be important for cargo binding while its transmembrane domain (TMD) and cytoplasmic tail (CT) are essential for its correct subcellular localization. In this study, I first developed and tested an expression system using transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells to produce truncated VSR proteins (VSRNT) lacking the TMD/CT into the cultured media. The secreted VSRs bind specifically to the vacuolar sorting determinants (VSDs) of known vacuolar proteins and such binding is calcium dependent in vitro. Thus, VSR cargo proteins are likely secreted into the cultured media along with the truncated VSRs, which enable the identification of various VSR cargo proteins from the cultured media of transgenic cells. I then identified these putative VSR cargo proteins through liquid-chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FT-MS) using transgenic Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures PSB-D expressing these truncated VSRs. Among the 17 unique proteins found in the cultured media of transgenic Arabidopsis PSB-D cell line expressing VSRNT, an Arabidopsis glycosyl hydrolase family 3 protein At5g10560 (GH3) was chosen for further study on VSR-cargo protein interaction. GFP-tagged GH3 fusion protein was found to co-localize with VSR-RFP marker protein in PVC, whereas GH3 was also shown to interact with a VSR protein BP-80. Loss-of-function analysis demonstrated that the GH3 contained a vacuolar sorting determinant (VSD) for PVC targeting. / Suen, Pui Kit. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-84). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Yiu Wai Han. / "June 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-156) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

成人骨量的更新与维持通过骨重塑来实现。骨重塑包括骨吸收与骨形成两个偶联的过程，其中成骨细胞介导骨形成，破骨细胞介导骨吸收，当偶联的骨吸收超过骨吸收就会导致骨量丢失，进而导致发生骨质疏松症的发生。目前，临床治疗骨质疏松的药物如阿仑膦酸盐、雌激素受体调节剂、活性维生素D、雌激素替代治疗、降钙素、骨化三醇等都是基于针对破骨细胞的调控来抑制骨吸收，但是对于已经丢失的骨量无法恢复。唯一被美国FDA批准用来通过刺激新骨形成来恢复丢失的骨量的治疗药物就是甲状旁腺激素。然而，这种药物在刺激新骨形成的同时也刺激了骨吸收，即：在使用18个月后有明显促进骨吸收的副作用。 / 酪蛋白激酶相互作用蛋白-1（CKIP-1）基因是一个新发现的骨形成的负调控基因，CKIP-1基因敲除小鼠在骨发育和正常骨代谢过程中均未发现激活骨吸收。CKIP-1敲除导致小鼠胫骨近端骨量与胫骨皮质骨形成速率显著高于野生型，且这一差异随着小鼠的增龄而显著，而骨外器官没有发现异常表型，提示CKIP-1是潜在相对安全的治疗骨质疏松的靶向基因。特别是我们最近研发的一种天门冬氨酸－丝氨酸－丝氨酸重复三肽修饰的脂质体递送（(Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome）系统能够实现靶向骨形成表面的小干扰核酸的递送，并明显减少了小干扰核酸在非骨组织的分布。因此，提出本课题的研究假设：特异性静默骨内CKIP-1可以促进骨形成而不刺激骨吸收，从而为骨质疏松的临床治疗提供安全有效的治疗手段。 / 为了确定CKIP-1基因表达在老年绝经后妇女骨骼中与骨形成内在联系，首先，我们通过对发生骨折的老年绝经后妇女的骨痂标本中CKIP-1 mRNA和蛋白表达的测定，发现CKIP-1基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平与骨形成能力负相关。并且，这种相关性在骨质疏松动物模型中进一步得到证实。其次，针对我们研究假设，从一组针对大鼠、小鼠、猴和人类的成骨样细胞的CKIP-1 mRNA的跨种属siRNA序列中筛选出体外静默效率最高CKIP-1小干扰核酸序列si-3。接着，体内外实验证实si-3序列在健康动物体内的静默效率和促进成骨的功能。同时，确定尾静脉注射（Asp-Ser-Ser）₆-liposome 包裹的CKIP-1小干扰核酸在 大鼠和小鼠为的最佳剂量分别为3.75mg/kg和7.5mg/kg以及注射周期为每两周一次。最后，为了检验CKIP-1 小干扰核酸是否可通过促进骨形成从而逆转绝经后骨质疏松症中的骨丢失，我们分别以绝经后骨质疏松大鼠和小鼠为实验动物模型，通过测定骨形态计量学参数、骨量和骨结构等来评价骨靶向递送系统（(Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome）递送的CKIP-1 siRNA对老年绝经后骨质疏松症的治疗效果。动态活体CT分析结果表明，与0周未治疗的基础值相比，经6周治疗骨密度（BMD）, 相对骨体积分数（BV/TV）和骨小梁厚度（Tb.Th）在小干扰核酸治疗组显著增加。此外，在治疗6周后小干扰核酸治疗组骨密度，相对骨体积和骨小梁厚度显示较高于模型对照组。0周与其它检测时间点之间的对比分析较显示，小干扰核酸治疗组的新生骨显著高于模型组或假手术组。组织形态学分析结果表明在治疗6周后，无论是股骨远端或中段的矿化沉积率（MAR）、骨形成速率（BFR） 和组的骨形成表面（Ob.S/ BS）在OVX组和siRNA组均显著高于模型对照组，而模型对照组和小干扰核酸治疗组的骨吸收表面（Oc.S/ BS）之间无显著性差异。 / 结论：CKIP-1基因小核酸干扰治疗在老年绝经后骨质疏松中能够显著促进骨形成并不会加剧骨吸收，该药物具有显著逆转骨丢失的作用。 / Osteoporosis is characterized by an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. Therefore, promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption are the two major therapeutic strategies in the treatment of osteoporosis. Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anabolic agent capable of stimulating bone formation is parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, dominant bone resorption after 18-month treatment with PTH is a great concern (Rubin and Bilezikian 2003). Thus, development of alternative bone anabolic agents is highly desirable. / Casein kinase-2 interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1), which is encoded by Plekho1, and thus also known as Plekho1, is a newly discovered negative regulator of bone formation during bone development and subsequent bone maintenance that does not activate bone resorption (Lu, Yin et al. 2008). Specifically, CKIP-1 protein functions as the auxiliary factor of ubiquitin ligase Smad ubiquitylation regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1) to interrupt the bone anabolic BMP-signalling pathway, which has been demonstrated to be a specific suppressor of bone formation (Yamashita, Ying et al. 2005). In a previous study, we found that CKIP-1 expression in female rat bone increases with aging, whereas bone formation decreases with aging (Guo, Zhang et al. 2010). Systemic examination of the tissue distribution of CKIP-1 expression has revealed that is abundantly expressed in the musculoskeletal system but sparingly expressed in the liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and other organs (Zhang, Tang et al. 2007). In addition, an abnormal tissue phenotype in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney tissue has not been observed in CKIP-1 gene knockout mice (KO), even at an advanced age (Lu, Yin et al. 2008). Thus, CKIP-1 gene silencing might be a potential strategy for promoting bone anabolic action in reversing bone loss. / RNA interference (RNAi), a natural cellular process that regulates gene expression by a highly precise mechanism of sequence-directed gene silencing at the stage of translation by degrading specific messenger RNA and then blocking translation of the specific gene, has been employed for gene silencing in vivo (Frank-Kamenetsky, Grefhorst et al. 2008). Accordingly, RNAi should be an appropriate target for CKIP-1 gene silencing in vivo. / We raised the hypothesis that therapeutic RNAi targeting of CKIP-1 might promote bone formation for reversing postmenopausal bone loss. To test the hypothesis, we performed several studies to achieve the following specific aims: (1) To explore the relationship between CKIP-1 expression and bone formation in aged postmenopausal osteoporosis; (2) To Identify a cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA sequence with high knockdown efficiency; (3) To validate of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA in healthy rodents in vivo; (4) To examine the anabolic effect of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on bone in osteoporotic animal models. / The relationship between CKIP-1 gene expression and bone formation in bone specimens from aged postmenopausal women: To explore the association between CKIP-1 gene expression and bone formation in bone specimens from aged postmenopausal women, the gene expression of CKIP-1 and ALP in the bone specimens from aged female patients were examined. We found the protein expression of CKIP-1 increased during aging and negatively correlate to bone formation as indicated by the mRNA expression of ALP (Guo., Zhang. et al. 2011). Further, we also found the decreased bone formation during aging was partly rescued in Ckip-1 KO mice during aging. / A cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA sequence: Recently, we identified a specific CKIP-1 siRNA sequence (CKIP-1 siRNA si-3) with high knockdown efficiency across rat, mouse, rhesus, and human osteoblast-like cells that does not induce immunostimulatory activity and promotes osteoblast differentiation across the species in vitro and bone formation in rats in vivo (Guo, Zheng et al. 2012). / Validation of the CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 capsulated by bone-targeted siRNA delivery system in healthy rodents in vivo: We developed a bone-targeting siRNA delivery system (tripeptide aspartate-serine-serine linked with liposome, i.e. (Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome) that can remarkably reduce the exposure of non-bone tissue to CKIP-1 siRNA (Zhang, Guo et al. 2012). To validate the identified CKIP-1 siRNA in healthy rodents in vivo, the established continuous CKIP-1 gene silencing protocol is optimized in adult rats and mice in vivo by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of 3.75mg/kg for rats and 7.5 mg/kg for mice every 2 weeks (Guo, Zhang et al. 2010). The osteogenic effects of CKIP-1 siRNA in both rats and mice were further validated in vivo. / Anabolic effect of CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 on bone in aged postmenopausal osteoporosis: For evaluation of the anabolic effect of CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 on reversing bone loss due to osteoporosis in an animal model, we intravenously injected ovariectomized (OVX) rats and mice with CKIP-1 siRNA delivered by the (Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome, a liposome linked with six repeated aspartate-serine-serine moiety, every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. In vivo and ex vivo microCT analysis demonstrated a change over time in the variables examined and different change patterns over time among the groups examined after administration. We found that the siRNA group had experienced a significant increase in bone mineral density (BMD), relative bone volume (BV/TV), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) between weeks 0 and 6; had a higher BMD, BV/TV, and Tb.Th compared to the OVX group at week 6; and had a similar Tb.Th to that of the SHAM group at week 6. Registration analysis between week 0 and other time points revealed that the siRNA had a greater number of newly formed bone than the OVX and SHAM groups. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the siRNA group had a significantly higher mineralization rate (MAR), a significantly higher bone-formation rate (BFR), a significantly larger osteoblast surface (Ob.S/BS) at both the distal and mid-shaft femur compared to the OVX group after 6 weeks of treatment but not a significantly different Oc.S/BS. / Significance: Confirmation of our hypothesis by our results helps establish CKIP-1’s role as a pivotal negative regulator of bone formation in the aging skeleton and provides evidence that inhibiting CKIP-1 is a novel anabolic treatment for osteoporosis, indicating great potential for the use of therapeutic RNAi in orthopaedics and traumatology. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Guo, Baosheng. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [132-150]). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / 论文摘要 --- p.vii / Table of Content --- p.ix / Abbreviations --- p.xvii / List of Figures --- p.xix / List of Tables --- p.xxii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Review of recent anabolic therapy for osteoporosis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Epidemiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Definition of osteoporosis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Epidemiology and health challenge of postmenopausal osteoporosis --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2. --- General pathophysiological understanding of osteoporosis and current challenge for osteoporosis treatment --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Bone modeling and remodeling --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Pathophysiological process of osteoporosis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Systemic risk factors in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4. --- Local risk factors in the osteoporosis pathophysiology --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.5. --- Two therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis treatment --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3. --- Current and potential anabolic agents for osteoporosis treatment --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- PTH analogues --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Potential concerns regarding PTH administration --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- Potential PTH alternatives --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.4. --- Modulation of Wnt/β-cateinin pathway --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.5. --- Aptamer-based technology in osteoporosis treatment --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4. --- CKIP-1: A novel negative regulator of bone formation --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- TGF-β/BMP signaling pathways involved in regulating bone formation --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- CKIP-1 interrupts BMP signaling pathway --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- CKIP-1 negatively regulates bone formation without activating bone resorption --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5. --- RNA interference strategy in anabolic therapy of osteoporosis --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- siRNA-mediated gene silencing in osteoporosis treatment --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- MicroRNAs as potential therapeutic targets in the anabolic treatment of osteoporosis --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Bone targeted RNAi-based anabolic-agents delivery --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6. --- Summary --- p.24 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- The relationship between CKIP-1 expression and bone formation in aged postmenopausal osteoporosis --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Bone specimen collection from aged postmenopausal women --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Total RNA extraction, reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Total protein extraction and western blot analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- CKIP-1 expression in bone and other tissues --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Relationship between CKIP-1 expression and bone formation in aged ovariectomized rats --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Role of CKIP-1 in regulating bone formation in aged ovariectomized mice --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Statistics --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Correlation analysis between CKIP-1 expression and bone formation-related gene expression in bone specimens from agedd postmenopausal women across age --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- CKIP-1 gene expression pattern in bone and other tissues --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Correlation between CKIP-1 expression and bone formation in rat bone --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- CKIP-1 negatively regulates bone formation in aged ovariectomized mice by using CKIP-1 knockout mice --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.41 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Identification of a cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA sequence --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Design rationale and modification for cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- In vitro screening for cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA sequences --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Investigation of the effects of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on the expression of osteoblast phenotype genes --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Total RNA extraction, reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Western blot analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Evaluation of calcium deposition --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- BMP-2 reporter activity assay in MC3T3-E1 cells --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Isolation of the primary human blood monocytes and IFN-α and TNF-α measurement --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Statistics --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Bio-informatic analysis of the designed CKIP-1 siRNA sequences --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Identified the cross-species CKIP-1 siRNA sequences by In vitro screening --- p.56 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effects of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on the expression of osteoblast phenotype genes --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effects of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on matrix mineralization --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Effect of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on BMP signaling --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Effects of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on the ratio of RANKL/OPG --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Effects of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on immunostimulatory activity --- p.68 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 as the identified sequence --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 promoted osteoblast differentiation in vitro --- p.72 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Validation of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA in healthy rodents in vivo --- p.74 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Localization of intraosseous siRNA delivered by (Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cell-selective delivery in vivo of CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Dose-response study of CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Time-course study of CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Examination of the effect of the identified siRNA on the expression of osteoblast phenotype genes --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Measurement for serum PINP and urinary DPD --- p.80 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- 5’-RACE Analysis --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Laser captured micro-dissection (LCM) --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Evaluation the anabolic effect of the identified siRNA on healthy rat bone --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Evaluation the anabolic effect of the identified siRNA on healthy mouse bone --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Micro CT analysis --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.12 --- Dynamic bone histomorphometric analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2.13 --- Statistics --- p.86 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Rationale of bone targeted delivery of CKIP-1 siRNA by (Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Intraosseous distribution of siRNA delivered by (Asp-Ser-Ser)₆-liposome --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Optimal dosage and duration for CKIP-1 siRNA administration in vivo --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Knockdown efficiency of CKIP-1 siRNA in osteoblasts by LCM in combination with Q-PCR --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Examination of the effect of the identified siRNA on the expression of osteoblast phenotype genes --- p.96 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- RNAi mechanism of CKIP-1 siRNA action in vivo --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Anabolic effect of the identified siRNA on healthy rat bone --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Anabolic effect of the identified siRNA on healthy mouse bone . --- p.104 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.107 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Intraosseous localization of CKIP-1 siRNA after systemic administration --- p.107 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Evidence of RNAi in bone tissue from systemic administration of CKIP-I siRNA --- p.107 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 promots bone formation in rats and mice in vivo --- p.108 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Anabolic effect of the identified CKIP-1 siRNA on bone in postmenopausal osteoporostic animal models --- p.110 / Chapter 5.1. --- Introduction --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.1. --- Evaluation of anabolic effect of CKIP-1 siRNA on osteoporotic mouse bone --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.2. --- Evaluation of anabolic effect of CKIP-1 siRNA on osteoporotic rat bone --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.3. --- In vivo micro-CT analysis and registration of proximal tibia from osteoporotic rats --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4. --- Ex vivo micro-CT analysis of the distal femur and 5th lumbar vertebrae body of osteoporotic rats --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2.5. --- Ex vivo micro-CT analysis of distal femur from osteoporotic mice --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2.6. --- Bone histomorphometric analysis --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2.7. --- Mechanical testing --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.8. --- Statistics --- p.118 / Chapter 5.3. --- Results --- p.116 / Chapter 5.3.1. --- Anabolic effect of CKIP-1 siRNA si-3 on osteoporotic mouse bone --- p.118 / Chapter 5.3.2. --- In vivo microCT data of proximal tibia from aged osteoporotic rats --- p.121 / Chapter 5.3.3. --- Ex vivo microCT data of distal femur from aged osteoporotic rats --- p.124 / Chapter 5.3.4. --- Ex vivo microCT data of 5th LV body from aged osteoporotic rats --- p.126 / Chapter 5.3.5. --- Bone histomorphometric analysis of aged osteoporotic rats --- p.129 / Chapter 5.3.6. --- Mechanical testing of the mid-shaft femur of aged osteoporotic rats --- p.132 / Chapter 5.4. --- Summary --- p.134 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Discussions --- p.134 / Chapter 6.1 --- CKIP-1 siRNA design rationale and further modification --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Specificity design rationale of the CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Stability enhancing modification of CKIP-1 siRNA --- p.136 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Safety concerns with CKIP-1 siRNA therapy --- p.136 / Chapter 6.2 --- Development of bone-targeted siRNA delivery --- p.136 / Chapter 6.3 --- Prospects for and limitation of application of study findings to clinical therapeutics --- p.137 / References --- p.139 / Publications --- p.159

Weltweit zählt die Tuberkulose zu den tödlichsten und am weitesten verbreiteten Infektionskrankheiten. Missstände in der ohnehin komplexen Therapie einerseits und fehlende Entwicklung neuartiger adäquater Wirkstoffe andererseits, führten zur Entstehung von multi- und sogar total-resistenten Keimen. Der Haupterreger ist das Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Charakteristisch für Mykobakterien ist eine dicke und undurchlässige wachsartige Zellwand mit einem großen Anteil an bestimmten Fettsäuren. Die mykobakterielle Biosynthese dieser Fettsäuren unterscheidet sich stark von eukaryotischen Zellen. Die selektive Beeinflussung dieses Systems führt zu nicht überlebensfähigen Mykobakterien und stellt somit ein idealer Angriffspunkt für Arzneistoffe dar. Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Entwicklung neuartiger direkter Hemmstoffe von InhA, einem für den Zellwandaufbau des Mycobacterium tuberculosis essenziellem Enzym. Es wurden zwei photometrische gekoppelt-enzymatische Assay-Systeme im 96-Well-Format entwickelt, die sich das Absorptions- bzw. Fluoreszenzverhalten des Coenzyms NADH zu Nutze machen. Das hierzu benötigte Enzym InhA wurde überexprimiert und aufgereinigt. Mehrere Synthesemethoden für das im Testverfahren verwendete Substrat 2-trans-Octenoyl-CoA (2toCoA) wurden etabliert. Die etablierten Assay-Systeme wurden mit Hilfe von Positivkontrollen validiert. Grundlegende Experimente zur Errichtung einer substratunabhängigen orthogonalen Methode mittels MST wurden getätigt. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen eines in Vorarbeiten durchgeführten virtuellen Screenings wurden erste potenzielle Inhibitoren kommerziell erworben und getestet. Nachfolgend wurde mit der Synthese von Derivaten begonnen, welche auf iterativem Wege optimiert wurden (Testung – Docking – Synthese neuer Derivate). Hierdurch wurde eine umfassende Substanzbibliothek bestehend aus insgesamt 254 Verbindungen aufgebaut. Diese setzte sich aus unterschiedlich substituierten Thiazolidin-2,4-dionen- und Thiazolin-2-on-Derivaten, Derivaten der ähnlich strukturierten Fünfring-Heterozyklen Rhodanine, Thiohydantoine und Hydantoine und weiteren Strukturklassen bestehend aus Biphenylether-, Pyrrolidoncarboxamid-, Pyridon- und Sulfonamid-Derivaten zusammen. Die Verbindungen wurden entweder selbst synthetisiert, kommerziell erworben oder von Kooperationspartnern bezogen. Neben der Etablierung zuverlässiger und effizienter Syntheserouten stand hierbei ebenso die strukturelle Aufklärung der stereochemischen Verhältnisse der Produkte im Mittelpunkt. Die Verbindungen der aufgebauten Substanzbibliothek wurden mit dem etablierten InhA-Testsystem auf ihre inhibitorischen Eigenschaften gegenüber InhA untersucht. Soweit möglich wurden Struktur-Aktivitätsbeziehungen abgeleitet. Insbesondere einige disubstituierte Thiazolidindione zeigten eine schwache Hemmung von bis zu 25 %. Die zur Aufklärung des Inhibitionsmechanismus durchgeführten Experimente deuten auf eine unkompetitive Hemmung hin. Bei den direkten Testungen an Mykobakterien konnten die inhibitorischen Eigenschaften hingegen nicht bestätigt werden. Weiterhin wurden Testungen an Cystein- und Serin-Proteasen von Erregern anderer Infektionskrankheiten durchgeführt. Das Thiazolinon SV102 wurde hierbei als nicht-kompetitiver Hemmstoff von Cathepsin B mit einem Ki-Wert von 1.3 µM identifiziert. Die Synthese und Testung weiterer Thiazolin-2-on-Derivate sowie Cokristallisationsversuche mit Cathepsin B sind somit in Betracht zu ziehen. Die getesteten Thiazolidindion-Derivate der Substanzbibliothek zeigten hierbei mittelstarke bis gute Hemmeigenschaften, die ebenfalls an den Erregern beobachtbar waren. Relativiert werden diese vielversprechenden Ergebnisse allerdings durch eine ebenfalls zu beobachtende Zytotoxizität. Weiterhin konnte eine antibakterielle Wirkung der untersuchten Verbindungen in zellulären Assay-Systemen nicht gezeigt werden. Abschließend wurde die Eignung der Thiazolidindione und verwandter Fünfringheterozyklen als Leitstruktur für potenzielle InhA-Inhibitoren, aber auch die Eignung dieser Verbindungsklasse als potenzielle Leitstruktur per se diskutiert. / Tuberculosis is one of the most deadly infectious diseases and it is highly prevalent world-wide. The issues arising from the complexity of the current treatments schemes as well as the lacking development of effective new drugs have led to the formation of multi- or even totally drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is known as the major microbial species causing tuberculosis. Mycobacteria are characterized by a unique, thick and waxy cell wall that functions as a nearly impermeable barrier due to its high concentration of mycolic acids. The biosynthesis of these fatty acids requires the presence of a specific set of mycobacterial enzymes that differ markedly from their eukaryotic counterparts. Disturbance in the proper formation of this essential cell wall unvariably interferes with mycobacterial survival. Thus, the mycobacterial fatty acid synthesis pathway is an attractive target for the development of selective new drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this work was the synthesis and optimization of thiazolidindiones and related five membered heterocycles as lead structures for the development of novel, direct inhibitors of InhA, an essential enzyme in the biosynthesis of mycolic acids. Two coupled photometric enzyme assays that monitor the absorption of the involved cofactor NADH were developed in a 96-well-plate format. For this purpose, the enzyme InhA was recombinantly expressed and purified from E.coli. Several routes of synthesis for its substrate 2-trans-octenoyl-CoA were established. Assay systems were validated by characterizing positive controls known from the literature, and an orthogonal analysis method was introduced by using microscale thermophoresis. Thiazolidindiones as lead compound structure were discovered by performing a virtual screening campaign in preliminary works. Several substances were commercially acquired and tested in the established InhA-assay-system. Based on these results the syntheses of further compounds were started and optimized in an iterative manner (testing – docking – synthesis of new derivatives). Thus, a large compound library of 254 substances was built up. It consists of different substituted thiazolidindiones, thiazolinons and related five membered heterocycles such as rhodanines, thiohydantoines and hydantoines as well as further compound classes, namely, derivatives of biphenylethers, pyrrolidoncarboxamides, pyridines and sulfonamides. The compounds were either synthesized, received from collaboration partners, or acquired commercially. Concerning the synthetic work, the focus was on developing effective routes of synthesis, elucidating reaction mechanisms and determining the stereochemical properties of the received products. The compound library was subsequently tested against InhA by using the previously established assay systems. As far as possible, structure-activity relationships were derived. In particular, some disubstitued thiazolidindiones showed moderate inhibitory properties of up to 25 % when tested against the purified enzyme. Kinetic experiments performed to obtain information about the mode of inhibition indicated that thiazolidinediones acted as uncompetitive inhibitors of InhA. However, these results could not be confirmed in direct measurements using mycobacteria. Further measurements against various cysteine- and serine-proteases were performed. The thiazolinone SV102 was identified as non-competitive inhibitor of cathepsin B (Ki = 1.3 µM). Consequently, synthesis of new derivates as well as co-crystallization experiments should be taken into consideration. Thiazolidinedione derivatives also showed proper inhibition of isolated proteases. This inhibitory activity also was also observed in direct measurements against trypanosoma and leishmania but was actually accompanied by a certain extent of cytotoxicity. Finally, the question was addressed of whether thiazolidindiones and related five membered heterocycles should be seen as a privileged scaffold in drug development, or just as promiscuous binders that should be excluded from drug discovery.

\textbf{Molecular Determinants of Drug-Target Residence Times of Bacterial Enoyl-ACP Reductases.} Whereas optimization processes of early drug discovery campaigns are often affinity-driven, the drug-target residence time $t_R$ should also be considered due to an often strong correlation with \textit{in vivo} efficacy of compounds. However, rational optimization of $t_R$ is not straightforward and generally hampered by the lack of structural information about the transition states of ligand association and dissociation. The enoyl-ACP reductase FabI of the fatty acid synthesis (FAS) type II is an important drug-target in antibiotic research. InhA is the FabI enzyme of \textit{Mycobacterium tuberculosis}, which is known to be inhibited by various compound classes. Slow-onset inhibition of InhA is assumed to be associated with the ordering of the most flexible protein region, the substrate binding loop (SBL). Diphenylethers are one class of InhA inhibitors that can promote such SBL ordering, resulting in long drug-target residence times. Although these inhibitors are energetically and kinetically well characterized, it is still unclear how the structural features of a ligand affect $t_R$. Using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, recurring conformational families of InhA protein-ligand complexes were detected and structural determinants of drug-target residence time of diphenyl\-ethers with different kinetic profiles were described. This information was used to deduce guidelines for efficacy improvement of InhA inhibitors, including 5'-substitution on the diphenylether B-ring. The validity of this suggestion was then analyzed by means of MD simulations. Moreover, Steered MD (SMD) simulations were employed to analyze ligand dissociation of diphenylethers from the FabI enzyme of \textit{Staphylococcus aureus}. This approach resulted in a very accurate and quantitative linear regression model of the experimental $ln(t_R)$ of these inhibitors as a function of the calculated maximum free energy change of induced ligand extraction. This model can be used to predict the residence times of new potential inhibitors from crystal structures or valid docking poses. Since correct structural characterization of the intermediate enzyme-inhibitor state (EI) and the final state (EI*) of two-step slow-onset inhibition is crucial for rational residence time optimization, the current view of the EI and EI* states of InhA was revisited by means of crystal structure analysis, MD and SMD simulations. Overall, the analyses affirmed that the EI* state is a conformation resembling the 2X23 crystal structure (with slow-onset inhibitor \textbf{PT70}), whereas a twist of residues Ile202 and Val203 with a further opened helix $\alpha 6$ corresponds to the EI state. Furthermore, MD simulations emphasized the influence of close contacts to symmetry mates in the SBL region on SBL stability, underlined by the observation that an MD simulation of \textbf{PT155} chain A with chain B' of a symmetry mate in close proximity of the SBL region showed significantly more stable loops, than a simulation of the tetrameric assembly. Closing Part I, SMD simulations were employed which allow the delimitation of slow-onset InhA inhibitors from rapid reversible ligands. \textbf{Prediction of \textit{Mycobacterium tuberculosis} Cell Wall Permeability.} The cell wall of \textit{M. tuberculosis} hampers antimycobacterial drug design due to its unique composition, providing intrinsic antibiotic resistance against lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds. To assess the druggability space of this pathogen, a large-scale data mining endeavor was conducted, based on multivariate statistical analysis of differences in the physico-chemical composition of a normally distributed drug-like chemical space and a database of antimycobacterial--and thus very likely permeable--compounds. The approach resulted in the logistic regression model MycPermCheck, which is able to predict the permeability probability of small organic molecules based on their physico-chemical properties. Evaluation of MycPermCheck suggests a high predictive power. The model was implemented as a freely accessible online service and as a local stand-alone command-line version. Methodologies and findings from both parts of this thesis were combined to conduct a virtual screening for antimycobacterial substances. MycPermCheck was employed to screen the chemical permeability space of \textit{M. tuberculosis} from the entire ZINC12 drug-like database. After subsequent filtering steps regarding ADMET properties, InhA was chosen as an exemplary target. Docking to InhA led to a principal hit compound, which was further optimized. The quality of the interaction of selected derivatives with InhA was subsequently evaluated using MD and SMD simulations in terms of protein and ligand stability, as well as maximum free energy change of induced ligand egress. The results of the presented computational experiments suggest that compounds with an indole-3-acethydrazide scaffold might constitute a novel class of InhA inhibitors, worthwhile of further investigation. / \textbf{Molekulare Determinanten von Wirkstoff-Angriffsziel Verweilzeiten bakterieller Enoyl-ACP Reduktasen.} In frühen Phasen der Wirkstoffentwicklung sind Optimierungsprozesse häufig affini\-täts\-geleitet. Darüber hinaus sollte zusätzlich die Wirkstoff-Angriffsziel Verweilzeit $t_R$ berücksichtigt werden, da diese oft eine starke Korrelation zur \textit{in vivo} Wirksamkeit der Substanzen aufweist. Rationale Optimierung von $t_R$ ist jedoch auf Grund eines Mangels an struktureller Information über den Übergangszustand der Ligandbindung und Dissoziierung nicht einfach umsetzbar. Die Enoyl-ACP Reduktase FabI der Fettsäurebio\-synthese (FAS) Typ II ist ein wichtiger Angriffspunkt in der Antibiotikaforschung. InhA ist das FabI Enzym des Organismus \textit{Mycobacterium tuberculosis} und kann durch Substanzen diverser Klassen gehemmt werden. Es wird vermutet, dass Hemmung von InhA durch langsam-bindende (``slow-onset'') Inhibitoren mit der Ordnung der flexibelsten Region des Enzyms assoziiert ist, dem Substratbindungsloop (SBL). Diphenylether sind eine InhA Inhibitorenklasse, die eine solche SBL Ordnung fördern und dadurch lange Verweilzeiten im Angriffsziel aufweisen. Obwohl diese Inhibitoren energetisch und kinetisch gut charakterisiert sind, ist noch immer unklar, wie die strukturellen Eigenschaften eines Liganden $t_R$ beeinflussen. Durch die Verwendung klassischer Molekulardynamik (MD) Simulationen wurden wiederkehrende Konformationsfamilien von InhA Protein-Ligand Komplexen entdeckt und strukturelle Determinanten der Wirkstoff-Angriffsziel Verweilzeit von Diphenylethern mit verschiedenen kinetischen Profilen beschrieben. Anhand dieser Ergebnisse wurden Richtlinien zur Wirksamkeitsoptimierung von InhA Inhibitoren abgeleitet, einschließlich einer 5'-Substitution am Diphenylether B-Ring. Die Validität dieses Vorschlags wurde mittels MD Simulationen nachfolgend analysiert. Darüber hinaus wurden ``Steered MD'' (SMD) Simulationen als MD Technik für umfangreicheres Sampling verwendet um die Liganddissoziation von Diphenylethern aus dem FabI Enzym von \textit{Staphylococcus aureus} zu untersuchen. Dieser Ansatz resultierte in einem sehr akkuraten, quantitativen linearen Regressionsmodell der experimentellen Verweilzeit $ln(t_R)$ dieser Inhibitoren als Funktion der berechneten maximalen freien Energieänderung induzierter Ligandextraktion. Dieses Modell kann genutzt werden um die Verweilzeiten neuer potentieller Inhibitoren aus Kristallstrukturen oder validen Dockingposen vorherzusagen. Die korrekte strukturelle Charakterisierung des intermediären und des finalen Zustandes (EI und EI*-Zustand) eines Enzym-Inhibitor Komplexes bei einem zweistufigen Inhibitionsmechanismus durch langsam-bindende Hemmstoffe ist essentiell für rationale Verweilzeitoptimierung. Daher wurde die gegenwärtige Ansicht des EI und EI*-Zustandes von InhA mittels Kristallstrukturanalyse, MD und SMD Simulationen erneut aufgegriffen. Insgesamt bestätigten die Analysen, dass der EI*-Zustand einer Konformation ähnlich der 2X23 Kristallstruktur (mit langsam-bindenden Inhibitor \textbf{PT70}) gleicht, während eine Drehung der Reste Ile202 und Val203 mit einer weiter geöffneten Helix $\alpha 6$ dem EI-Zustand entspricht. Des Weiteren zeigten MD Simulationen den Einfluss naher Kristallkontakte zu Symmetrie-Nachbarn in der SBL Region auf die SBL Stabilität. Dies wird durch die Beobachtung hervorgehoben, dass die Ketten A und B' eines InhA-\textbf{PT155}-Komplexes und des angrenzenden Symmetrie-Nachbars, welche in engem Kontakt in der SBL Region stehen, signifikant stabilere SBLs aufweisen, als die Ketten A und B in einer Simulation des Tetramers. Zum Abschluss von Teil I wurden SMD Simulationen angewandt, auf deren Basis es möglich war, langsam-bindende InhA Inhibitoren von schnell-reversiblen (``rapid reversible'') Liganden zu unterscheiden. \textbf{Vorhersage von \textit{Mycobacterium tuberculosis} Zellwand Permeabilität.} Die Zellwand von \textit{M.~tuberculosis} erschwert die antimycobakterielle Wirkstofffindung auf Grund ihrer einzigartigen Zusammensetzung und bietet eine intrinsische Antibiotikaresistenz gegenüber lipophilen und hydrophilen Substanzen. Um den chemischen Raum wirkstoffähnlicher Moleküle gegen diesen Erreger (``Druggability Space'') einzugrenzen, wurde eine groß angelegte Dataminingstudie durchgeführt, welche auf multivariater statistischer Analyse der Unterschiede der physikochemischen Zusammensetzung eines normalverteilten wirkstoffähnlichen chemischen Raumes und einer Datenbank von antimycobakteriellen -- und somit höchstwahrscheinlich permeablen -- Substanzen beruht. Dieser Ansatz resultierte in dem logistischen Regressionsmodell MycPermCheck, welches in der Lage ist die Permeabilitätswahrscheinlichkeit kleiner organischer Moleküle anhand ihrer physikochemischen Eigenschaften vorherzusagen. Die Evaluation von MycPermCheck deutet auf eine große Vorhersagekraft hin. Das Modell wurde als frei zugänglicher online Service und als lokale Kommandozeilenversion implementiert. Methodiken und Ergebnisse aus beiden Teilen dieser Dissertation wurden kombiniert um ein virtuelles Screening nach antimycobakteriellen Substanzen durchzuführen. Myc\-PermCheck wurde verwendet um den chemischen Permeabilitätsraum von \textit{M.~tuberculosis} anhand der gesamten ZINC12 Datenbank wirkstoffähnlicher Moleküle abzuschätzen. Nach weiteren Filterschritten mit Bezug auf ADMET Eigenschaften, wurde InhA als exemplarisches Angriffsziel ausgewählt. Docking nach InhA führte schließlich zu einer Treffersubstanz, welche in darauffolgenden Schritten weiter optimiert wurde. Die Interaktionsqualität ausgewählter Derivate mit InhA wurde daraufhin mittels MD und SMD Simulationen in Bezug auf Protein und Ligand Stabilität, sowie auch der maximalen freien Energieänderung induzierter Ligandextraktion, untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der vorgestellten computerbasierten Experimente legen nahe, dass Substanzen mit einem Indol-3-Acethydrazid Gerüst eine neuartige Klasse von InhA Inhibitoren darstellen könnten. Weiterführende Untersuchungen könnten sich somit als lohnenswert erweisen.

InGaN based blue and near-ultraviolet light emitting diodes and laser diodes have been successfully commercialized for many applications such as general lighting, display backlighting and high density optical storage devices. Despite having a comparably high defect density, these devices are known for their efficient operation, which is attributed to localization in potential fluctuations preventing carriers from reaching the centers of nonradiative recombination. Nitride research is currently headed towards improving deep ultraviolet AlGaN and green InGaN emitters with higher Al and In molar fractions. The efficiency of these devices trails behind the blue counterparts as the carrier localization does not seem to aid in supressing nonradiative losses. In addition, the operation of ternary nitride heterostructure based devices is further complicated by the presence of large built-in electric fields. Although the problem can be ameliorated by growing structures in nonpolar or semipolar directions, the step from research to production still awaits. In this thesis, carrier dynamics and localization effects have been studied in three different nitride ternary compounds: AlGaN epitaxial layers and quantum wells with high Al content, nonpolar m-plane InGaN/GaN quantum wells and lattice matched AlInN/GaN heterostructures. The experimental methods of this work mainly consist of spectroscopy techniques such as time-resolved photoluminescence and differential transmission pump-probe measurements as well as spatial photoluminescence mapping by means of scanning near-field microscopy. The comparison of luminescence and differential transmission measurements has allowed estimating the localization depth in AlGaN quantum wells. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the polarization degree of luminescence from m-InGaN quantum wells decreases as carriers diffuse to localization centers.What is more, dual-scale localization potential has been evidenced by near-field measurements in both AlGaN and m-InGaN. Larger scale potential fluctuation have been observed directly and the depth of nanoscopic localization has been estimated theoretically from the recorded linewidth of the near-field spectra. Lastly, efficient carrier transport has been observed through AlInN layer despite large alloy inhomogeneities evidenced by broad luminescence spectra and the huge Stokes shift. Inhomogeneous luminescence from the underlying GaN layer has been linked to the fluctuations of the built-in electric field at the AlInN/GaN interface. / <p>QC 20121101</p>