Thesis advisor: Mary F. Roberts / Crystallization studies in presence of organic osmolytes were conducted to better understand the specific mechanism of compatible solute binding to the inositol monophosphatase of Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The synthesis of a-diglycerol phosphate, one of the natural osmolytes of A. fulgidus, was also completed for kinetic testing of its I-1-Pase thermoprotective properties and for crystallization trials. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.