Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

For centuries people have used plants as medicine or food additives with varying success to cure and prevent diseases. Written records about medicinal plants date back at least 5 000 years to the Sumerians. According to World Health Organization (WHO) around 80 % of the population in developing countries is dependent on herbal medicine for basic healthcare needs. Even at the dawn of the twenty-first century, 11 % of the 252 drugs considered as basic and essential by WHO were exclusively of flowering plant origin. The genus Helichrysum, belongs to the family Asteraceae and is represented by approximately 600 species in Africa, of which 244 species are indigenous in South Africa. In Helichrysum aureonitens, galangin is one of the flavonol compounds with good medicinal properties. H. aureonitens was targeted to be enhanced via cell suspension culture to potentially produce valuable natural products. In ethanol extracts of cell suspension cultures, galangin was not detected even though it was present in the leaves of the intact plants. Some other compounds were induced in higher amounts in the cells of H. aureonitens suspension cultures when compared to that produced in the intact plants. To find out the reasons for the absence of galangin in the cells of H. aureonitens suspension cultures, some of the intermediates of the 4’-OH biosynthetic pathway for production of flavonols were analyzed by GC-MS, including cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, naringenin and kaempferol. None of these were detected in the H. aureonitens cell suspension cultures. The major compound from H. aureonitens cell suspension cultures was isolated and identified as a new chlorophenol compound named 4-chloro-2-(hepta-1,3,5-triyne-1-yl)-phenol (a triyne). This triyne has previously been proposed as being an intermediate in the acetylene biosynthetic pathway in Helichrysum spp., however only the methyl ether form had previously been isolated from the roots of H. coriaceum. The triyne isolated from the H. aureonitens cell suspension cultures in the present study was detected in intact plant extracts, but at very low concentrations. Results of the anti-tuberculosis assay of the cell suspension culture extracts and the triyne showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ethanol extract of cell suspension cultures against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv were found to be 1.0 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml respectively and the triyne was not active at 200 µg/ml. The ethanol extract of the cell suspension cultures and the triyne were also evaluated for their cytotoxicity against monkey kidney Vero cells and human prostate epithelial carcinoma (DU145) cell lines. The inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the crude extract and the triyne was found to be 12.11 and 1.51 µg/ml against the Vero cells respectively. The crude extract and the triyne showed similar activity in the prostate cancer cell lines by exhibiting IC50 values of 3.52 and 2.14 µg/ml respectively. The triyne therefore warrants further investigation for its potential as an anticancer drug. Flavonoids represent the major phenolic compounds which are responsible for the medicinal properties in the Helichrysum genus. Some of flavonols, including kaempferol, quercetin, and galangin are also present in H. aureonitens. In this study both galangin and kaempferol (containing a 4’-OH group) were detected in leaf samples of H. aureonitens. But GC-MS analysis of the leaf samples of H. aureonitens did not show the existence of biosynthetic intermediates such as p-coumaric acid and naringenin (compounds having a 4’-OH) while cinnamic acid and some other compounds with no OH at the 4’ position on the B ring, were detected. The chemical structure analysis of the isolated compounds showed that they are pinocembrin chalcone, pinocembrin, pinobanksin and galangin, all containing no OH group at the 4’ position. This indicates that some part of the 4’-OH biosynthetic pathway for 4’-OH flavonoids is not functional in H. aureonitens. Since the only (yet identified) enzyme responsible for hydroxylation at the 4’ position on the B ring is cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), it can be postulated that C4H might be able to hydroxylate other substrates in H. aureonitens plants. One copy of C4H was isolated and cloned from H. aureonitens. It has 1518-base pairs (including stop codon, TAA) and an open reading frame encoding a 506-amino-acid polypeptide. It showed the highest homologies to Echinacea angustifolia (Asteraceae) C4H with 83.6 % identity on the nucleotide level but 93 % identity on the amino acid level. The genomic DNA sequence of the isolated C4H from H. aureonitens indicates the presence of three introns with a longer size compared to the Arabidopsis thaliana C4H gene structure. The presence of the first intron has not been reported before in the C4H gene from other plants and it is therefore a new finding from the isolated C4H in H. aureonitens. To check the putative isolated C4H, the full length cDNA of C4H was isolated from H. aureonitens and for the first time integrated in a secreted expression vector, pPICZáC, and transformed into Pichia pastoris. After the 48 hrs induction protein was collected, precipitated by ammonium sulphate and finally column purified. The results of SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blot showed the expression of a protein with a size of 50-60 kDa. The calculated mass of C4H with regarding to a polyhistidine tag is about 60.5 kDa. The secreted expression was found as an effective system for the production of a soluble C4H protein with easy purification. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Science / unrestricted

No description available.

Neste trabalho são descritas a síntese e a redução eletroquímica em DMF de alguns cinamatos de metila substituídos no anel aromático. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência de vários substituintes sobre o curso da reação de eletro-hidrodimerização (EHD). Os substratos utilizados foram os o-metil- (1), o-cloro- (2), o-nitro- (3), m,p-dicloro- (4), m-cloro- (5) e p-cloro- (6), m-nitro- (7), o-metoxicarbonil- (8) cinamatos de metila. As técnicas empregadas foram a voltametria cíclica (verificação dos potenciais de redução) e eletrólises preparativas a potencial controlado. Quando o substrato 1 foi eletrolisado, uma mistura de dois estereoisômeros do 4,5-bis-(o-metilfenil)-2-oxo-ciclopentanocarboxila-to de metila, ainda não descritos na literatura, foi obtida, um resultado diferente das EHD de cinamatos descritas que conduzem a um único estereoisômero com elevada diastereosseletividade. O o-clorocinamato de metila (2) investigado em dois potenciais diferentes, sofreu uma desalogenação e forneceu o cinamato de metila (-1,25 V vs. Ag/AgI) e este foi transformado em seu hidrodímero cíclico em –1,45 V vs. Ag/AgI. Nos substratos 4 e 6 ocorreu uma competição entre a desalogenação e a dimerização enquanto que no caso de 5 somente foi observada a EHD. Foi sugerido um mecanismo para a desalogenação. Após eletrólises em vários potenciais, os nitroderivados 3 e 7 conduziram a misturas dos reagentes de partida e os ácidos carboxílicos correspondentes, mas não foram observados produtos de EHD. As eletrólises do o-metoxicinamato de metila (8) não forneceram o dímero esperado na redução de cinamatos, mas compostos policíclicos inéditos cuja formação pode ser convenientemente explicada por meio de ciclizações de Dieckmann que envolvem o grupo metoxicarbonílico do anel aromático. / The synthesis and electrochemical reduction in DMF of some ring substituted cinnamic esters are described. The main objective if this work is to verify the influence of the substituents on the electrohydrodimerization (EHD). The substrates studied were the methyl esters of o-methyl- (1), o-chloro- (2), o-nitro- (3), m,p-dichloro- (4), m-chloro- (5), p-chloro- (6), m-nitro- (7) and o-methoxycarbonyl- (8) cinnamic acids. Their electrochemistry was investigated employing cyclic voltammetry (determination of the reduction potentials) and preparative electrolysis at controlled potential. When substrate 1 was electrolyzed, a mixture of two stereoisomers of methyl 4,5-bis-(o-methylphenyl)-2-oxo-cyclopentane-carboxylate, not yet described in literature, was obtained, a result which differs from the usual EHD of cinnamates, which lead to only one stereoisomer with high diastereoselectivity. Methyl o-chlorocinnamate (2) electrolysed at –1,25 V vs Ag/AgI was dehalogenated and afforded methyl cinnamate. When the electrolysis was performed at –1,45 V, the main product was the cyclic expected hydrodimer of methyl cinnamate. In the case of substrates 4 and 6 a competition of dehalogenation and cimerization was observed whereas for 5 only the EHD occurred. A mechanism for the dehalogenation is suggested. Several electrolysis at different potentials, of the nitro-derivatives 3 and 7 yielded mixtures of starting material and the corresponding carboxylic acids. In this no EHD products were observed. The electrochemical reduction of methyl o methoxycarbonyl-cinnamate (8) did not lead to the expected EHD dimer, but new polycyclic compounds were isolated. Their formation is conventiently explained by Dieckmann cyclization which involve the methoxycarbonyl group of the aromatic ring.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Clausthal.

Neste trabalho são descritas a síntese e a redução eletroquímica em DMF de alguns cinamatos de metila substituídos no anel aromático. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência de vários substituintes sobre o curso da reação de eletro-hidrodimerização (EHD). Os substratos utilizados foram os o-metil- (1), o-cloro- (2), o-nitro- (3), m,p-dicloro- (4), m-cloro- (5) e p-cloro- (6), m-nitro- (7), o-metoxicarbonil- (8) cinamatos de metila. As técnicas empregadas foram a voltametria cíclica (verificação dos potenciais de redução) e eletrólises preparativas a potencial controlado. Quando o substrato 1 foi eletrolisado, uma mistura de dois estereoisômeros do 4,5-bis-(o-metilfenil)-2-oxo-ciclopentanocarboxila-to de metila, ainda não descritos na literatura, foi obtida, um resultado diferente das EHD de cinamatos descritas que conduzem a um único estereoisômero com elevada diastereosseletividade. O o-clorocinamato de metila (2) investigado em dois potenciais diferentes, sofreu uma desalogenação e forneceu o cinamato de metila (-1,25 V vs. Ag/AgI) e este foi transformado em seu hidrodímero cíclico em –1,45 V vs. Ag/AgI. Nos substratos 4 e 6 ocorreu uma competição entre a desalogenação e a dimerização enquanto que no caso de 5 somente foi observada a EHD. Foi sugerido um mecanismo para a desalogenação. Após eletrólises em vários potenciais, os nitroderivados 3 e 7 conduziram a misturas dos reagentes de partida e os ácidos carboxílicos correspondentes, mas não foram observados produtos de EHD. As eletrólises do o-metoxicinamato de metila (8) não forneceram o dímero esperado na redução de cinamatos, mas compostos policíclicos inéditos cuja formação pode ser convenientemente explicada por meio de ciclizações de Dieckmann que envolvem o grupo metoxicarbonílico do anel aromático. / The synthesis and electrochemical reduction in DMF of some ring substituted cinnamic esters are described. The main objective if this work is to verify the influence of the substituents on the electrohydrodimerization (EHD). The substrates studied were the methyl esters of o-methyl- (1), o-chloro- (2), o-nitro- (3), m,p-dichloro- (4), m-chloro- (5), p-chloro- (6), m-nitro- (7) and o-methoxycarbonyl- (8) cinnamic acids. Their electrochemistry was investigated employing cyclic voltammetry (determination of the reduction potentials) and preparative electrolysis at controlled potential. When substrate 1 was electrolyzed, a mixture of two stereoisomers of methyl 4,5-bis-(o-methylphenyl)-2-oxo-cyclopentane-carboxylate, not yet described in literature, was obtained, a result which differs from the usual EHD of cinnamates, which lead to only one stereoisomer with high diastereoselectivity. Methyl o-chlorocinnamate (2) electrolysed at –1,25 V vs Ag/AgI was dehalogenated and afforded methyl cinnamate. When the electrolysis was performed at –1,45 V, the main product was the cyclic expected hydrodimer of methyl cinnamate. In the case of substrates 4 and 6 a competition of dehalogenation and cimerization was observed whereas for 5 only the EHD occurred. A mechanism for the dehalogenation is suggested. Several electrolysis at different potentials, of the nitro-derivatives 3 and 7 yielded mixtures of starting material and the corresponding carboxylic acids. In this no EHD products were observed. The electrochemical reduction of methyl o methoxycarbonyl-cinnamate (8) did not lead to the expected EHD dimer, but new polycyclic compounds were isolated. Their formation is conventiently explained by Dieckmann cyclization which involve the methoxycarbonyl group of the aromatic ring.

For the first time nonwoven fibrous scaffolds were electrospun from a low molar mass gemini ammonium surfactant, N,N–-didodecyl-N,N,N–,N–-tetramethyl-N,N–-ethanediyl-di-ammonium dibromide (12-2-12). Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and solution rheological experiments revealed micellar morphological transitions of 12-2-12 in water and water:methanol (1:1 vol). Electrospinning efforts of 12-2-12 from water did not produce fibers at any concentration, however, electrospinning 12-2-12 in water:methanol at concentrations greater than 2C* produced, hydrophilic continuous fibers with diameters between 0.9 and 7 μM. Photo-reactive surfactants were synthesized to electrospin robust surfactant membranes. Before electrospinning it was important to fundamentally understand the structure-property relationship of gemini surfactants. The thermal and solution properties were explored for a series of ammonium gemini surfactants using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and conductivity experiments. The Kraft temperature (Tk) was measured in water and water:methanol (1:1 vol) to investigate the influence of solvent on the surfactant solution properties. Other experiments investigate how associated photo-curable architectures are applicable in macromolecular architectures, to gain a fundamental understanding of how hydrogen bonding associations influence the photo-reactivity of functionalized acrylic copolymers. Novel hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives (HMPSAs) were developed from acrylic terpolymers of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and methyl acrylate (MA) functionalized with hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive functionalities. The synergy of hydrogen bonding and photo-reactivity resulted in higher peel values and rates of cinnamate photo-reactivity with increasing urethane concentration. Random copolymers of poly(n-butyl acrylate (nBA)-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)) were functionalized with hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive groups to explore the photo-curing of associated macromolecular architectures. The influence of urethane hydrogen bonding on the photo-reactivity of cinnamate-functionalized acrylics was investigated with photo-rheology and UV-vis spectroscopy. Cinnamate-functionalized samples displayed an increase in modulus with exposure time, and the percentage increase in modulus decreased as the urethane content increased. The synergy of hydrogen bonding and photo-reactive groups resulted in higher rates of cinnamate photo-reactivity with increasing urethane concentration. Electrospun fibers were in situ photo-crosslinked to develop fibrous membranes from cinnamate functionalized low Tg acrylics. Electrospinning was conducted approximately 55 °C above the Tg of the cinnamate acrylate and the electrospun fibers did not retain their fibrous morphology without photo-curing. However, electrospun fibers were collected that retained their fibrous morphology and resisted flow when in situ photo-cured during electrospinning. The intermolecular photo-dimerization of cinnamates resulted in a network formation that prevented the low Tg cinnamate acrylate from flowing. / Ph. D.

L’espace sensoriel des vins secs de Riesling a été établi en utilisant diverses méthodologies d’analyse sensorielle. Cela a été possible grâce à la comparaison avec des vins blancs secs de styles différents, en particulier avec des vins blancs secs de Bordeaux montrant une caractéristique aromatique forte du Sauvignon blanc. Deux panels d’experts, l’un en France, l’autre en Allemagne ont démontré que la typicité aromatique des vins Riesling est particulièrement associée à des descripteurs fruités comme les notes d’agrume et de fruits jaunes. Des corrélations ont aussi été établies entre les données sensorielles et l’analyse quantitative des composés volatils déterminés par chromatographie en phase gazeuse couplée à la spectrométrie de masse (CG-SM). En particulier, pour la première fois, il a été possible de démontrer que les teneurs en 3 sulfanylhexan 1-ol (3SH) sont significativement corrélées avec le jugement de typicité des vins de Riesling. Ensuite, l’impact de conditions viticoles (régime hydrique de la vigne, pratique de l’effeuillage) pendant la période végétative a été mesuré vis à vis des teneurs en précurseurs d’arômes des raisins et des moûts ainsi que pour des composants aromatiques des vins. Ainsi, les concentrations en composés volatils tels que le 3SH, le linalol et le 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) dans les vins sont évidemment influencées par des facteurs viticoles. Par ailleurs, dans une démarche de caractérisation de composés de l’arôme des vins de Riesling, un composé bien connu, le trans-cinnamate d’éthyle, a été identifié comme étant susceptible d’influencer l’arôme des vins et d’être impliqué dans la perception de leur typicité aromatique. La méthodologie appliquée pour arriver à ce résultat, a intégré à la fois le fractionnement par chromatographie en phase liquide de haute performance (CLHP) en associant une approche sensorielle comparative entre les extraits de vins Riesling et ceux de vins blancs secs de Bordeaux, puis la chromatographie en phase gazeuse en deux dimensions en mode de détection par olfactométrie et spectrométrie de masse de haute résolution (2D-CG-O-HRMS). Le couplage de ces deux approches a permis de constituer des outils suffisamment pertinents pour décrypter l’arôme du Riesling. L’ensemble de ces résultats a permis d’accroitre nos connaissances sur l’expression aromatique des vins de Riesling et les composés aromatiques impliqués ainsi que sur l’impact des conditions viticoles. / The sensory concept of typicality of dry Riesling wines was demonstrated using different sensory analysis methodologies. This was achieved by comparison to other styles of dry white wines especially from Bordeaux, which showed strong Sauvignon blanc character. ‘Fruity’ descriptors like ‘citrus fruit’ and ‘yellow fruit’ were shown to be related to dry Riesling wines’ typicality independently by two panels of wine experts. Analysis of volatiles by means of gas chromatography coupled to mass selective detection (GC-MSD) was realised in order to link sensory data to aroma compounds’ concentrations. For the first time, concentrations of the high potent aroma compound 3 sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) were shown to correlate with typicality ratings for Riesling wines. The impact of viticultural conditions during the grape vine growing period on finished wines’ aroma was studied with respect to grape vine water status and leaf removal practices including precursor studies in berries and must. It was clearly shown that changing viticultural conditions influenced volatile aroma compounds’ concentrations in finished wines, especially for 3SH, linalool and 1,1,6 trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN). Additionally the well-known aroma compound trans-ethyl cinnamate was identified to be a possible impacting aroma compound implicated in Riesling wines’ aromatic typicality. The applied methodology using two-dimensional gas chromatography with olfactometric and high resolution mass spectrometric detection (2D-GC-O/HRMS) after a sensory guided fractionation using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a comparative approach to dry white wines from Bordeaux, showed to be a powerful tool to decrypt Riesling wines’ aroma. The totality of results allowed improving the knowledge on aromatic typicality of Riesling wines and the imparted aroma compounds and how those concentrations could be influenced by changing viticultural conditions. / Das eigene sensorische Konzept der Typizität von trockenen Rieslingweinen wurde mittels unterschiedlicher sensorischer Methoden nachgewiesen. Dies wurde insbesondere durch den Vergleich mit trockenen Weißweinen anderer Stile, vornehmlich mit trockenen Weißweinen aus Bordeaux, welche eine ausgeprägte Sauvignon blanc Stilistik aufwiesen, erzielt. Es konnte mithilfe von zwei unabhängigen sensorischen Panels, bestehend aus Weinexperten, gezeigt werden, dass die aromatische Typizität von trockenen Rieslingweinen mit „fruchtigen“ Deskriptoren, wie „Zitrus“ oder „gelbe Früchte“ zusammenhängt. Die mittels Gaschromatographie, gekoppelt mit massenspektrometrischer Detektion, (GC-MSD) gemessenen Konzentrationen flüchtiger Verbindungen wurden mit den sensorischen Daten korreliert. Hierbei wurde zum ersten Mal gezeigt, dass die Konzentrationen des hoch potenten Aromastoffes 3 Sulfanylhexanol (3SH) mit der wahrgenommenen Typizität von Rieslingweinen im engen Zusammenhang stehen. Der Einfluss weinbaulicher Bedingungen während der vegetativen Phase auf das Aroma von Weinen, einschließlich der Aromastoffvorstufen in Beeren und Most, wurde hinsichtlich der Wasserversorgung der Rebe und verschiedener Entblätterungspraktiken untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich ändernde weinbauliche Bedingungen die Gehalte von Aromastoffen in den Weinen beeinflussen, insbesondere die von 3SH, Linalool und 1,1,6 Trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN). Zusätzlich hierzu wurde der Aromastoff trans-Zimtsäureethylester als möglicher beteiligter Aromastoff in der Wahrnehmung der aromatischen Typizität in Rieslingweinen identifiziert. Der hierzu angewandte vergleichende Ansatz mit trockenen Weißweinen aus Bordeaux unter Verwendung einer sensorisch geleiteten Fraktionierung mittels Hochdruck-Flüssigkeits-Chromatographie (HPLC) und anschließender zweidimensionalen Gaschromatographie gekoppelt mit olfaktorischer und hochauflösender massenspektrometrischer Detektion erwies sich als sehr gut geeignetes Werkzeug zur Dechiffrierung des Aromas von Rieslingweinen. Die Gesamtheit der Ergebnisse ermöglichte es das Wissen über die aromatische Typizität von Rieslingweinen und die beteiligten Aromastoffe zu erweitern, und einen Einblick zu bekommen wie diese Konzentrationen durch weinbauliche Faktoren beeinflusst werden.

La rue officinale (Ruta graveolens L) est une plante connue comme étant particulièrement riche en métabolites secondaires et produisant notamment des molécules d’intérêt pharmaceutique comme les furocoumarines. Nous avons tenté par une approche de génie métabolique d’augmenter la teneur en furocoumarines produites dans les plantes. La mise en place de telles approches nous a également permis de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de régulation de la voie de biosynthèse des phénylpropanoïdes. Pour atteindre ces objectifs nous avons transformé la rue avec différents gènes placés sous le contrôle d’un promoteur constitutif fort, le promoteur 35S du CaMV. Pour chaque série de transformants nous avons étudié la teneur en furocoumarines et analysé les variations de composés phénylpropanoïdes (rutine, umbelliférone, ferulate, scopolétine). Parallèlement à cette analyse métabolique, une corrélation a été réalisée avec le niveau d’expression des transgènes et de certains endogènes par l’utilisation d’approche de PCR quantitative. Les séries de plantes transgéniques surexprimant les gènes codants pour la Coumaroyl ester 3’-Hydroxylase de rue (CYP98A22) et d’A. thaliana (CYP98A3) présentent toutes les deux une augmentation significative d’une facteur 3 de la teneur en furocoumarines. Par contre si les premières sont caractérisées par une diminution de la production en rutine et en umbelliférone, les secondes présentent une augmentation importante de la teneur en Scopolétine et en umbelliférone. Ces résultats suggèrent la coexistence de deux C3’H chez R. graveolens ayant des fonctions différentes, l’une d’entre elles étant impliquée directement ou non dans la synthèse de scopolétine. Si la transformation génétique de rues avec des gènes de la famille CYP98A induit des modifications du métabolisme secondaire, la surexpression d’un gène spécifique à la voie de biosynthèse des furocoumarines (gène cyp71AJ1, codant pour la psoralène synthase d’A. majus) permet d’augmenter uniquement la teneur en furocoumarines (X4). L’ensemble de ces travaux a permis de montrer l’intérêt d’une approche de génie métabolique pour générer des plantes présentant un intérêt potentiel pour la production de molécules d’intérêts pharmaceutiques / Garden Rue (Ruta graveolens L.) is a plant known as being particularly rich in secondary metabolites and in particular producing molecules of pharmaceutical interest like furocoumarines. By the use of a metabolic engineering approach, we tried to increase the content of furocoumarines produced in these plants but also to better understand the regulation mechanisms of the phenylpropanoïd biosynthesis pathway. To achieve these goals we transformed Ruta plants with various genes placed under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, CaMV 35S promoter. The plants we obtained were analyzed for their ability to overproduce furocoumarines but also other phenylpropanoïds like ferulate, umbelliferone, scopoletine or rutin. Using Real Time PCR experiments, a correlation was carried out with the level of expression of each transgene and several endogenous genes. Plants overexpressing either the Ruta or the Arabidopsis Coumaroyl ester 3 '-Hydroxylase (CYP98A22 and CYP98A3 respectively) display both a significant increase (3 time level) of the furocoumarin. However if the S-98A22 plants are characterized by a reduction in the production of rutin and umbelliferone, S-98A3 transgenic plants display a significant increase scopoletine and umbelliferone content. These results suggest the coexistence of two C3'H having different functions in Ruta. One of them might be involved more specifically in the synthesis of scopoletine. If the transformation of Ruta with genes belonging to the CYP98A family generates an enlarged of the secondary metabolism, we also showed that the overexpression of a gene belonging to the furocoumarins biosynthesis pathway (CYP71AJ1, the psoralen synthase) allowed a specific stimulation. Indeed a 4 time increase of the content of furocouramins was noticed in these transgenic plant lines. This work made it possible to make evidence of the interest of a metabolic engineering approach to generate plants of interest for the production of pharmaceutical molecules

Les furocoumarines sont des phytoalexines offrant un potentiel thérapeutique important. Les travaux présentés ici portent sur les cytochromes P450 participant à leur voie de biosynthèse. Une étude «structure-fonction» de la cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H) a été réalisée pour identifier les déterminants de la faible sensibilité de la C4H de Ruta graveolens (CYP73A32) au psoralène. Deux régions protéiques semblent impliquées dans l’inactivation différentielle entre CYP73A32 et CYP73A1. L’une, entre les résidus 31 et 58, est responsable de l’affinité pour le psoralène. L’autre, entre les résidus 229 et 379, contrôle la vitesse d’inactivation. La caractérisation de nouveaux P450 de la biosynthèse des furocoumarines a été entreprise. D’une part, plusieurs ADNc partiels ont été clonés chez Ruta graveolens. D’autre part, CYP71AJ1 isolé chez Ammi majus, a été caractérisé comme étant une psoralène synthase. La spécificité de CYP71AJ1 pour la marmésine a été approchée par l’étude d’un modèle 3D. Mots clés : cytochrome P450, psoralène synthase, cinnamate-4-Hydroxylase, C4H, métabolite secondaire, Ruta graveolens, Ammi majus, inactivation autocatalytique, furocoumarines, psoralène, (+)-marmésine, Modélisation 3D, (+)-columbianetine / Furocoumarins are phytoalexins known as efficient therapeutic agents. The work reported here focuses on cytochromes P450 involved in their biosynthesis pathway. A “structure-function” study was realized to understand how C4H from Ruta graveolens (CYP73A32) can resist to psoralen mechanism-based inactivation. Two parts of the protein seems involved in the differential susceptibility of CYP73A32 and CYP73A1 to psoralen. The first, between amino acids 31 and 58, defines differential affinity to psoralen. The second between residues 229 and 379 controls inactivation kinetic. The second part of this work was devoted to cloning and identification of new P450 involved in furocoumarin biosynthesis. On the one hand, several partial cDNA were cloned from Ruta graveolens. On the other hand, CYP71AJ1, cloned from Ammi majus, was identified as a psoralen synthase. The specificity of CYP71AJ1 for marmesin was approached by the study of a 3D model.