High resolution molecular spectroscopic techniques are useful tools to accurately probe energy differences between quantum states of molecules. These energy levels are inherently dependent on the underlying potential functions, which ultimately govern the structures and dynamics of molecules. Thus, the detailed characterization of potential energy profiles through molecular spectroscopy provides important information about molecular properties. Given the increased structural and dynamic complexity of large molecules, small compounds serve as excellent prototypes to establish quantum mechanical models that accurately characterize quantum states and ultimately potential energy functions of various molecular classes. This thesis describes the use of rotational and rovibrational spectroscopy to probe one such class: four-membered heterocycles. Rotationally-resolved vibrational spectra of four-membered rings including β-propiolactone (c-C3H4O2), 3-oxetanone (c-C3H4O2), azetidine (c-C3H6N) and silacyclobutane (c-C3H8Si) were recorded below 1200 cm-1 using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) with synchrotron light at the far infrared beamline of the Canadian Light Source (CLS). Additionally, Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy was used to study the pure rotational spectra of β-propiolactone and silacyclobutane for the first time. This allowed the accurate characterization of the ground vibrational state and molecular structure in support of the rovibrational analysis. The far infrared vibrational modes of these four molecules were analyzed individually initially and followed by a global fit of all observed transitions of each molecule. Unique spectroscopic signatures arising from Coriolis coupling(β-propiolactone, 3-oxetanone), tunneling motions (azetidine, silacyclobutane) and the large amplitude ring puckering vibration (3-oxetanone, azetidine, silacyclobutane) were revealed and treated. The resultant Hamiltonian models used for each molecule account for the observed spectra as the spectroscopic constants are consistent across the ground state and all vibrationally excited states studied. Collectively, these studies have provided a highly effective working protocol for the treatment of high resolution rovibrational data to model the dynamic behaviour of real molecules.

"Work carried out by the author between March 1953 and January 1957 as a member of the Biophysics Group of the Physics Department of the University of Adelaide."--Pref. / "December 1957." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-135) / vii, 135 leaves : ill. ; 26 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics, 1957

Src Homology 3 (SH3) domains are small protein- protein interaction domains that bind to proline-rich peptides, mediating a range of important biological processes. Because the deregulation of events involving SH3 domains forms the basis of many human diseases, the SH3 domains are appealing targets for the development of potential therapeutics. Previously in the field, no examples of entirely small-molecule ligands for the SH3 domains have been identified. However, in our research group, we have discovered a class of heterocyclic compounds that bind to the Tec SH3 domain at conserved residues in the proline-rich peptide binding site, with weak to moderate affinity. The highest affinity of these was 2- aminoquinoline (Kd = 125 mM). In this thesis, a range of approaches are described, that were intended to contribute towards development of higher affinity small-molecule ligands for the Tec SH3 domain. Preliminary experiments, involving testing a variety of compounds structurally related to 2- aminoquinoline, provided new structure activity information, and led to a better understanding of the 2-aminoquinoline/SH3 domain binding event. The major component of this thesis is a thorough investigation into the synthesis of a range of 2- aminoquinoline derivatives. N-Substituted- 2-aminoquinolines were synthesised, however these compounds bound the SH3 domain with slightly lower affinity than 2-aminoquinoline. 6- Substituted-2-aminoquinolines were subsequently prepared, and ligands were identified with up to six-fold improved affinity relative to 2-aminoquinoline, and enhanced selectivity for the Tec SH3 domain. The techniques used for the ligand binding studies were Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) chemical shift perturbation and Fluorescence Polarisation (FP) peptide displacement assays. As part of the ligand binding studies, it was intended that the 3D tructure of a 2- aminoquinoline ligand/SH3 complex would be obtained using NMR methods, provided that a ligand was identified that bound the SH3 domain in slow exchange on the NMR timescale. However, this goal was not fulfilled. Despite this, the work presented in this thesis provides a solid foundation for the development of potent 2-aminoquinoline ligands for SH3 domains, with engineered specificity. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2005.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "December, 2008." Includes bibliographical references. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 1960. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-163). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Orientador: Rosângela da Silva de Laurentiz / Resumo: Reações multicomponentes são processos sintéticos em que se aplicam três ou mais reagentes em um sistema one-pot com formação de apenas um produto final, o qual possui em sua estrutura todos ou a maioria dos átomos de carbono pertencentes aos reagentes. Esse tipo de reação vem sendo muito explorada em síntese orgânica devido às facilidades do processo, como menor número de etapas, economia de reagentes, maiores rendimentos, menor tempo reacional (em comparação às sínteses tradicionais) e economia de energia. A utilização das reações multicomponentes tem facilitado a obtenção de compostos heterocíclicos de grande complexidade cuja estruturas seriam muito difíceis de serem obtidas por procedimentos multietapas. Desta forma, uma adaptação da reação de Hantzsch foi realizada a partir da reação entre ácido tetrônico (1), aldeído aromático (2) e aminoantraceno (3), sob aquecimento por micro-ondas, para a obtenção de lactonas dihidronaftoquinolínicas 4. Foram utilizados aldeídos aromáticos contendo grupos sacadores e doadores de elétrons que forneceram os compostos 4a-l em rendimentos variando de 67 a 96%. Lactonas naftoquinolínicas 5 foram obtidas por duas diferentes rotas sintéticas: 1) a partir da oxidação de 4 com DDQ/etanol em micro-ondas e 2) a partir do intermediário antracelidenoamino lactona 6 e aldeído aromático em TFA. Ambas as rotas forneceram os compostos 5 em excelentes rendimentos, porém a rota 1 fornece 5 como único produto, enquanto a rota 2 fornece 5 como produto m... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] at their 3'-termini. Although it has been almost two decades since the discovery of these poly(A) tracts, their function(s) have yet to be clarified. Earlier results from our laboratory led us to propose that poly(A) has a role in translation. More specifically, we proposed that an interaction of the cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) with a critical minimum length of poly(A) facilitates the initiation of translation of poly(A)+, but not poly(A)-, mRNAs. The results of several different experimental approaches have provided evidence which indirectly supports this hypothesis. These results include: 1) the correlation of specific changes in mRNA poly(A) tail length with translational efficiency in vivo and in vitro; 2) correlations between the abundance and stability of PABPs and the rate of translational initiation in vivo and in vitro; and 3) the demonstration that exogenous poly(A) is a potent and specific inhibitor of the in vitro translation of poly(A)+, but not poly(A)-mRNAs. To evaluate the hypothesis that the 3'-poly(A) tract of mRNA plays a role in translational initiation, we have constructed derivatives of pSP65 which direct the in vitro synthesis of mRNAs with different poly(A) tail lengths and compared, in reticulocyte extracts, the relative efficiencies with which such mRNAs are translated, degraded, recruited into polysomes, and assembled into mRNPs or intermediates in the translational initiation pathway. Relative to mRNAs which are polyadenylated, we find that poly(A)- mRNAs have a reduced translational capacity which is not due to an increase in their decay rates, but is attributable to a reduction in their efficiency of recruitment into polysomes. The defect in poly(A)- mRNAs affects a late step in translational initiation, is distinct from the phenotype associated with cap-deficient mRNAs, and results in a reduced ability to form 80S initiation complexes. Moreover, poly(A) added in trans inhibits translation from capped poly(A)+ mRNAs, but stimulates translation from capped poly(A)- mRNAs. We suggest that poly(A) is the formal equivalent of a transcriptional enhancer, i.e., that poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) bound at the 3'-end of mRNA may facilitate the binding of an initiation factor or ribosomal subunit at the mRNA 5'-end.