<p> The striatum is a key brain region involved in regulating motor output and integration. The dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the striatum work in concert to mediate the reinforcing and motor behavioral outputs of the striatum. Moreover, dysfunction of these striatal regions is involved in various diseases including Parkinson’s disease and drug addiction. Therefore, understanding and characterizing biochemical and molecular changes within the striatum associated with these diseases is key in devolving novel therapeutics to treat these disease states. The main output neurons of the striatum are GABAergic, medium-spiny neurons (MSNs), and striatal functionality is mediated by neuroplastic changes in MSN activity. Within MSNs, dopaminergic receptor activation triggers a cascade of reversable phosphorylation, which is facilitated by the activation of specific protein kinases and inhibition of specific protein phosphatases. In comparison to the 350 serine/threonine protein kinases expressed within the striatum, there are only 40 major serine/threonine protein phosphatases. However, serine/threonine protein phosphatases, such as protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), gain their target specificity by interacting with phosphatase-targeting proteins. Within the striatum, the neurabins, termed neurabin and spinophilin, are the most abundant PP1 targeting proteins in dendritic spines. Spinophilin’s expression in the striatum has been strongly characterized, and spinophilin has been shown to regulate striatal-dependent motor-skill learning and amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization. In contrast to spinophilin, neurabin’s expression within the striatum and its involvement in these striatal-dependent behaviors has not been fully probed. I found that neurabin expression in the striatum is not sex-dependent but is age-dependent. In addition to these data, I also present validation of new global, constitutive and conditional neurabin knock-out mouse lines. Finally, I present data that, unlike previous studies in spinophilin knockout mice, neurabin knockout mice have enhanced striatal-dependent motor-skill learning, but do not impact amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization. Further characterization of neurabin’s expression in the striatum, and its role in these key striatal behaviors could provide a druggable target for therapeutics designed to address striatal dysfunction.   </p>

<p>Hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau is a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Understanding the protein kinases that phosphorylate Tau is critical for the development of new drugs that target Tau phosphorylation. At present, the repertoire of the Tau kinases remains incomplete, and methods to uncover novel upstream protein kinases are still limited. Here, I apply our newly developed proteomic strategy, fluorescence complementation mass spectrometry (FCMS), to identify novel kinase candidates of Tau. By constructing Tau- and kinase-fluorescent fragment library, I detected 59 Tau-associated kinases, including 23 known kinases of Tau and 36 novel candidate kinases. In the validation phase using in vitro phosphorylation, 15 candidate kinases were successfully expressed and purified, and four candidate kinases, OXSR1, DAPK2, CSK, and ZAP70, displayed the ability to phosphorylate Tau. Furthermore, co-expression of these four kinases along with Tau increased the phosphorylation of Tau in human neuroglioma H4 cells. I demonstrate that FCMS is a powerful proteomic strategy to systematically identify potential kinases that can phosphorylate Tau in cells. Our discovery of new candidate kinases of Tau can present new opportunities for developing AD therapeutic strategies.</p>

Yes / The creation of co-crystals as a route to creating new pharmaceutical phases with modified or defined physicochemical properties is an area of intense research. Much of the current research has focused on creating new phases for numerous active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to alter physical properties such as low solubilities, enhancing processability or stability. Such studies have identified suitable co-formers and common bonding motifs to aid with the design of new co-crystals but understanding how the changes in the molecular structure of the components are reflected in the packing and resulting properties is still lacking. This lack of insight means that the design and growth of new co-crystals is still a largely empirical process with co-formers selected and then attempts to grow the different materials undertaken to evaluate the resulting properties. This work will report on the results of a combination of crystal structure database analysis with computational chemistry studies to identify what structural features are retained across a selection of families of co-crystals with common components. The competition between different potential hydrogen bonding motifs was evaluated using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations and this was related to the commonality in the packing motifs when observed. It is found while the stronger local bonding motifs are often retained within systems, the balance of weaker long-range packing forces gives rise to many subtle shifts in packing leading to greater challenges in the prediction of final crystal structures.

No description available.

Neste trabalho realizou-se um estudo espectroscópico vibracional do dissulfeto de carbono, CS2, puro e em misturas binárias com diferentes solventes moleculares, a fim de investigar as interações soluto/soluto e soluto/solvente. Os solventes utilizados para esse estudo foram diclorometano (CH2Cl2), clorofórmio (CHCl3), clorofórmio deuterado (CDCl3), benzeno (C6H6) e tetracloreto de carbono (CCl4); e as técnicas utilizadas foram as espectroscopias Raman e infravermelho (IV). A análise das bandas Raman do CS2 que formam o dubleto de Fermi (v1-2v2) permite determinar uma série de valores empíricos, chamados de parâmetros de ressonância de Fermi, dentre os quais, o coeficiente de acoplamento de Fermi (W) foi o mais utilizado neste trabalho. Os diferentes valores de W nos diferentes meios são consequência das forças das interações intermoleculares existentes entre CS2/CS2 e CS2/solvente. Os experimentos demonstraram que os valores de W em todas as misturas binárias investigadas aumentam à medida que a fração molar de CS2 diminui. Isto sugere que quando o CS2 é solvatado por diferentes moléculas, há um aumento da anarmonicidade, dependendo do tipo de interação. A análise da banda atribuída ao modo de deformação angular do CS2, v2, realizada a partir dos espectros no infravermelho sugere que em misturas binárias existem dois regimes de solvatação na solução, uma referente às interações CS2/ CS2, onde as moléculas de CS2 estão preferencialmente solvatadas por moléculas de CS2 e outro regime de solvatação referente às interações CS2/solvente, onde CS2 está solvatado por moléculas do solvente em questão. / In this work has performed a vibrational spectroscopic investigation of carbon disulphide, CS2, neat and in binary mixtures with different molecular solvents, aiming at understanding the solute/solute and solute/solvent interactions. The solvents considered for this study were dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), deuterated chloroform (CDCl3), benzene (C6H6) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4); and the techniques used were Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The analysis of the Raman bands that compose the Fermi doublet (v1-2v2) allows the determination of a series of empirical values, including the coefficient of Fermi coupling (W), used along this work. The different values of W within the different solvents are consequence of the intermolecular forces between CS2/CS2 and CS2/solvent. The experimental data showed that the W values in all investigated binary mixtures increase as the CS2 molar fraction decreases. It suggests that when CS2 is solvated by different molecules, there is an increase of the anarmonicity, depending on the type of the interaction. The analysis of the band assigned to the CS2 bending mode, v2, performed from infrared spectra, suggests that in the binary mixtures there are two solvation regimes in solution, one related to the CS2/CS2 interactions, where the CS2 molecule is preferentially solvated by CS2 molecules, and one where the CS2 is solvated by the respective solvent molecules.

Neste trabalho realizou-se um estudo espectroscópico vibracional do dissulfeto de carbono, CS2, puro e em misturas binárias com diferentes solventes moleculares, a fim de investigar as interações soluto/soluto e soluto/solvente. Os solventes utilizados para esse estudo foram diclorometano (CH2Cl2), clorofórmio (CHCl3), clorofórmio deuterado (CDCl3), benzeno (C6H6) e tetracloreto de carbono (CCl4); e as técnicas utilizadas foram as espectroscopias Raman e infravermelho (IV). A análise das bandas Raman do CS2 que formam o dubleto de Fermi (v1-2v2) permite determinar uma série de valores empíricos, chamados de parâmetros de ressonância de Fermi, dentre os quais, o coeficiente de acoplamento de Fermi (W) foi o mais utilizado neste trabalho. Os diferentes valores de W nos diferentes meios são consequência das forças das interações intermoleculares existentes entre CS2/CS2 e CS2/solvente. Os experimentos demonstraram que os valores de W em todas as misturas binárias investigadas aumentam à medida que a fração molar de CS2 diminui. Isto sugere que quando o CS2 é solvatado por diferentes moléculas, há um aumento da anarmonicidade, dependendo do tipo de interação. A análise da banda atribuída ao modo de deformação angular do CS2, v2, realizada a partir dos espectros no infravermelho sugere que em misturas binárias existem dois regimes de solvatação na solução, uma referente às interações CS2/ CS2, onde as moléculas de CS2 estão preferencialmente solvatadas por moléculas de CS2 e outro regime de solvatação referente às interações CS2/solvente, onde CS2 está solvatado por moléculas do solvente em questão. / In this work has performed a vibrational spectroscopic investigation of carbon disulphide, CS2, neat and in binary mixtures with different molecular solvents, aiming at understanding the solute/solute and solute/solvent interactions. The solvents considered for this study were dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), chloroform (CHCl3), deuterated chloroform (CDCl3), benzene (C6H6) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4); and the techniques used were Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The analysis of the Raman bands that compose the Fermi doublet (v1-2v2) allows the determination of a series of empirical values, including the coefficient of Fermi coupling (W), used along this work. The different values of W within the different solvents are consequence of the intermolecular forces between CS2/CS2 and CS2/solvent. The experimental data showed that the W values in all investigated binary mixtures increase as the CS2 molar fraction decreases. It suggests that when CS2 is solvated by different molecules, there is an increase of the anarmonicity, depending on the type of the interaction. The analysis of the band assigned to the CS2 bending mode, v2, performed from infrared spectra, suggests that in the binary mixtures there are two solvation regimes in solution, one related to the CS2/CS2 interactions, where the CS2 molecule is preferentially solvated by CS2 molecules, and one where the CS2 is solvated by the respective solvent molecules.

Design and synthesis of novel supramolecular architectures is an interesting area of research in the last two decades. Intermolecular interactions assisted self-assembly of molecular and macromolecular building blocks play an important role in obtaining the desired shape and function of the supramolecular architectures. A combination of the classical covalent synthesis with the self-assembly assisted formation of well-defined architectures (noncovalent synthesis) allows us to develop novel multifunctional materials. Our approach in this area is focused on the design of novel molecular and biomolecular building blocks and the optimization of structure-property relationship of the materials using self-assembly approach. This presentation will focus on our recent efforts on the design and synthesis of polymers and oligopeptides for investigation of the self-assembly and fine-tuning the structure-property relationship. Also, some highlights will be given on our initial investigation on how hard minerals are synthesized by natural molecules through the self-assembly processes. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Cette étude considère des systèmes où non seulement la structure moléculaire, mais les conditions expérimentales sont impliquées. Les structures chimiques ont été codées par des descripteurs locaux ISIDA MA ou ISIDA CGR, ciblant spécifiquement les centres actifs et leur environnement le plus proche. Les descripteurs locaux ont été combinés avec les paramètres spécifiques des conditions expérimentales, codant ainsi un objet chimique particulier. La méthodologie a été appliquée avec succès pour la modélisation QSPR des paramètres thermodynamiques et cinétiques des interactions intermoléculaires (liaisons halogène et hydrogène), des équilibres tautomères et des réactions chimiques (cycloaddition et SN1). La méthode GTM a été appliquée pour la première fois pour la modélisation et la visualisation de données chimiques mixtes. La méthode sépare avec succès les groupes de données à la fois en raison des structures et des conditions. / This work describes original approaches for predictive chemoinformatics modeling of molecular interactions and reactions as a function of the structures of interacting partners and of the chemical environment (experimental conditions). Chemical structures have been encoded by local ISIDA MA-based or CGR-based descriptors, specifically targeting the active centers and their closest environment. The local descriptors have been combined with the specific parameters of experimental conditions, thereby encoding a particular chemical object. The methodology has been successfully applied for QSPR modeling of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of intermolecular interactions (halogen and hydrogen bonds), tautomeric equilibria and chemical reactions (cycloaddition and SN1). GTM method has been applied for the first time for QSPR modeling and visualization of mixed chemical data. This method successfully separates data clusters on account of both chemical structures and experimental conditions.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In this work is described the intermolecular interactions and the molecular topology present in the crystal packing of 3-amine-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles. First was described the obtention of the 3-amine-4-halo-5-methylisoxazoles by halogenations of the compound 3-amine-5-methylisoxazol with N-chlorosuccinimide, N-bromosuccinimide and N-iodoosuccinimide. The crystal packing of the 3-amine-4- halo-5-methylisoxazoles show a great variety of intermolecular interactions such as: hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, π π interactions and C-H π interactions. Further analysis of crystal packing showed that these compounds have a molecular coordination number equal to 14. The correlation between molecule molecule energy contact and the contact area between the molecules showed that, with the exception of dimmers formed by strong hydrogen bonds, all the other interactions have a large dependence of the contact area. The melting enthalpy of the 3-amine-4- halo-5-methylisoxazoles grows with the increases of the total energy of the contacts of the clusters, showing that these physic property depends of the intermolecular interactions present in the crystal. The analysis of theory levels used to determine the molecule molecule energies contact demonstrates that, when is used the method counterpoise for basis set superposition error (BSSE), the level of theory MP2/Augcc- pVDZ show energy values very close to the energy at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level of theory. The functional B97-D and ωB97X-D, based on the DFT theory, also showed satisfactory energy values, very close to those obtained by MP2. / Neste trabalho são descritas as interações intermoleculares e a topologia molecular referente ao empacotamento cristalino de 3-amino-4-halo-5-metilisoxazóis. Primeiramente foi descrita a obtenção dos 3-amino-4-halo-5-metilisoxazóis através da halogenação do composto 3-amino-5-metilizoxazol com N-clorosuccinimida, Nbromosuccinimida e N-iodosuccinimida. O empacotamento cristalino dos 3-amino-4- halo-5-metilisoxazóis apresentou uma grande diversidade de interações intermoleculares incluindo: ligações de hidrogênio, ligações de halogênio, interações π π e C-H π. Uma análise mais detalhada do empacotamento cristalino demonstrou que estes compostos apresentam um número de coordenação molecular igual a 14. A correlação entre a energia de contato molécula molécula e a área de contato entre as moléculas demonstrou que, com exceção dos dímeros formados por ligações de hidrogênio fortes, as demais interações apresentam uma grande dependência da área de contato. A entalpia de fusão dos 3-amino-4-halo-5- metilisoxazol aumenta com o aumento da energia total do cluster demonstrando que esta propriedade física está vinculada as interações intermoleculares presentes no cristal. A análise dos níveis de teoria utilizados para determinar as energias de contato molécula molécula demonstra que ,quando utilizado o método counterpoise para o erro de sobreposição de bases (BSSE), o nível de teoria MP2/Aug-cc-pVDZ apresentou valores de energia muito próximos ao do nível MP2/cc-pVTZ. Os funcionais B97-D E ωB97X-D, baseados na teoria DFT também apresentaram valores de energia satisfatórios, muito próximos aos obtidos pelo MP2.

The thesis entitled “Unravelling the Nature of Halogen and Chalcogen Intermolecular Interactions by Charge Density Analysis" consists of five chapters. A basic introductory section describes the topics relevant to the work and the methods and techniques utilized. The main focus of the present work is to characterize the interaction patterns devoid of strong classical hydrogen bonds. The case studies include halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds involving bromine (as a halogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor), intermolecular chalcogen bond formation involving sulphur, type I Br Br contacts, type II F F and F S interactions and S-H S hydrogen bonds. Chapter 1 discusses experimental and theoretical charge density analyses on 2,2-dibromo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-one which has been carried out to quantify the topological features of a short C Br···O halogen bond with nearly linear geometry (2.922Å, C Br···O=172.7) and to assess the strength of the interactions using the topological features of the electron density. The electrostatic potential map indicates the presence of the “- hole” on bromine while the interaction energy is comparable to that of a moderate O-H O hydrogen bond. In addition, the energetic contribution of C-H···Br interaction is demonstrated to be on par with that of the C-Br···O halogen bond in stabilizing the crystal structure. Chapter 2 discusses an organic solid, 4,7-dibromo-5,6-dinitro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole that has been designed to serve as an illustrative example to quantitatively evaluate the relative merits of halogen and chalcogen bonding in terms of charge density features. The compound displays two polymorphic modifications, one crystall zing in a non-centrosymmetric space group (Z =1) and the other in a centrosymmetric space group with two molecules in the asymmetric unit (=2). Topological analysis based on QTAIM clearly brings out the dominance of chalcogen bond over the halogen bond along with an indication that halogen bonds are more directional compared to chalcogen bonds. The cohesive energies calculated with the absence of both strong and weak hydrogen bonds as well as stacking interaction are indicative of the stabilities associated with the polymorphic forms. Chapter 3 discusses the role of a type I C-Br Br-C contact and what drives the contact i.e. how a dispersive interaction is stabilized by the remaining contacts in the structure. In the process we observe the role the Br2Cl motif which is quite unique in its nature. Also the role of the bromine atoms in stabilizing the stacking interactions has been shown by the electrostatic potentials which are oriented perpendicular to the plane of the benzene ring. Chapter 4 discusses the enigmatic type II C-F F-C and C-FS-C interactions in pentafluorophenyl 2,2- bithiazole. Both the interactions are shown to be realistic “-hole” interactions based on high resolution X-ray charge density analysis. As fluorine is the most electronegative element, its participation in halogen bonding wherein the electrostatic potential around the atom gets redistributed to form regions of electron depletion and accumulation had time and again been speculated but never observed. In this chapter the experimental charge dnsity analysis clearly identifies the “-hole” on fluorine and distinguishes the C-F S-C interaction as a halogen bond rather than the chalcogen bond. Chapter 5 discusses the experimental charge density analysis of the hitherto unexplored S-H S hydrogen bond in crystal structures. The work highlights how relatively small is the number of crystal structures which are constructed by the S-H S hydrogen bond compared to the X-H S hydrogen bond via Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) analysis. The potential S-H S hydrogen bond is studied in three isomeric mercaptobenzoic acids with experimental charge density collected on 2-mercaptobenzoic acid and theoretical estimates made on 3- and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid. The strength and directionality of the S-H S hydrogen bond is demonstrated to be mainly due to the conformation locking potential of intramolecular S O halogen bond.