Poly-aryl, also known as polyphenylene compounds are a class of dendrimer, which contain a large number of aromatic rings. They are of interest because they display restricted rotation of their stearically congested aromatic rings. These extended structures have the potential to act as precursors for even larger aromatic systems and have many applications including electronic devices, drug delivery and catalysis. A total of 23 novel poly-aryl compounds have been examined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and a number of structural patterns have emerged. Six of the compounds contain alkynes and it has been observed that their conformation is governed by a combination of conjugation between the alkyne and aryl groups and inter-molecular interactions. In the more extended poly-aryl compounds steric congestion rules out any possibility of conjugation between the rings and their conformation is governed by intra-molecular non-bonded interactions in the core of the molecules and by inter-molecular interactions in their periphery. Where possible, solution NMR measurements were carried out on the poly-aryl compounds and confirmed that the solution structures are in agreement with those obtained from individual crystal.

CTG repeat is one of the most common triplet repeat sequences that have been found to form slipped-strand structures leading to self-expansion during DNA replication. The lengthening of these repeats causes the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as myotonic dystrophy. Through designing a series of CTG repeat sequences with high hairpin populations, systematic analysis of imino and methyl proton spectra study has been carried out to investigate the length and structural roles of CTG repeats in affecting the propensity of hairpin formation. Direct NMR evidence has been obtained to support three types of hairpin structures in sequences containing one to ten CTG repeats. The differences in loop structures and extent of interactions observed in the hairpins account for the differences in hairpin formation propensity and explain how slippage occurs that lead to triplet repeat expansion. / DNA has been found to adopt unusual structures leading to different types of mutations, which can ultimately cause genetic diseases and cancers. In this thesis, investigations on (i) structural role of CTG repeats in trinucleotide repeat expansion, (ii) primer-template structures in strand slippage during low fidelity replication and (iii) sequence effect of nucleotide downstream of thymine templates on primer-template structures have been carried out using NMR spectroscopy. / In addition, NMR structural investigations have also been carried out to determine solution structures of primer-template models. NMR evidence confirms misalignment can occur in primer-templates upon misincorporation of dNTP opposite a template sequence, leading to bulge formation in the primer-template. Depending on the template sequence, further incorporation of dNTP can bring about either realignment or further stabilization of the primer-template structure. Consequently, either mismatch or deletion errors will occur, leading to base substitution or frameshift mutation. These results imply that DNA sequences do not only play a passive role to store genetic information in the replication process, they also play an active structural role in governing the types of mutation during low-fidelity DNA replication. / Some of the results in this thesis have been reported in the following peer-reviewed journals: (1) Chi, L. M. and Lam, S. L. (2005) Structural roles of CTG repeats in slippage expansion during DNA replication. Nucleic Acids Res, 33, 1604-1617. (2) Chi, L. M. and Lam, S. L. (2006) NMR investigation of DNA primer-template models: structural insights into dislocation mutagenesis in DNA replication. FEBS Lett. , 580, 6496-6500. (3) Chi, L. M. and Lam, S. L. (2007) NMR investigation of primer-template models: structural effect of sequence downstream of a thymine template on mutagenesis in DNA replication. Biochemistry, 46, 9292-9300. / Chi, Lai Man. / "August 2007." / Adviser: Lam Sik Lok. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0877. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-112). / 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, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

The sirtuins are a family of NAD⁺-dependent deacetylase enzymes which are implicated in various illnesses including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Part I of this thesis describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of inhibitors of the SIRT1 and SIRT2 isoforms of this important family of enzymes. Chapter 1 gives an overview of sirtuin biology and the physiological roles of these enzymes. In particular the link between SIRT1 and cancer and SIRT2 and its role in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases is discussed. A review of the most potent and selective inhibitors of SIRT1 and SIRT2 is given including an introduction to the tenovin and cambinol classes of inhibitor. Chapter 2 describes various issues relating to the structure of the important chemical tool tenovin-6. The synthesis of analogues to improve the solubility, determine the preferred conformation and verify the products of metabolism of tenovin-6 is presented including their evaluation by in vitro and in cell methods. Part II of this chapter reports the design and use of a ¹H NMR method used to monitor the sirtuin-mediated deacetylation reaction. This was particularly relevant due to concerns raised about the possibility of false positive results obtained with the commercially available assay kit commonly used by the sirtuin community. This new ¹H NMR method was used to validate the inhibition of SIRT2 by tenovin-6. Chapter 3 describes the parallel synthesis and evaluation of tenovin analogues as inhibitors of SIRT1 and SIRT2. This study identified that replacement of the t-butyl substituent of tenovin-6 with the 3,5-dihalogen-4-alkoxy substitution pattern led to a variety of analogues having SIRT2 selectivity. As well as the collection of valuable SAR data, in cell data is also presented for the analogues. Chapter 4 provides attempts to rationalise the SAR data collected in Chapters 2 and 3 through a computational study. The molecular docking software GOLD was used to predict the binding site of the tenovin scaffold and hence rationalise the observed potencies of various analogues. Chapter 5 reports the synthesis and biological evaluation of triazole and cambinol analogues as SIRT1 and SIRT2 inhibitors. Part I details the synthesis and in vitro testing of a series of ring constrained tenovin analogues based on the 1,4-disubstituted triazole using click chemistry. A series of 1,5-disubstituted analogues were also synthesised. Part II describes the synthesis of S-alkylated cambinol analogues and the effect of N3-methylation upon activity and selectivity towards SIRT1. Part II of this thesis details the synthesis and biological testing of novel potent allosteric inhibitors of RmlA. RmlA is the first enzyme in the L-rhamnose biosynthetic pathway in bacteria. L-rhamnose is an important component of the bacterial cell wall and as such RmlA is therefore an important target in the discovery of novel anti-bacterial compounds. Chapter 7 provides an overview of the RmlA enzyme including its role in L-rhamnose biosynthesis and why it is an attractive target for anti-bacterial drug discovery. No small molecule inhibitors of RmlA have been reported previously. Chapter 8 describes the design and synthesis of pyrimidine-2,4-dione analogues as novel allosteric inhibitors of RmlA. SAR data is generated and rationalised by X-ray crystallographic techniques to study the structures of complexes of RmlA with various analogues. Analogues were also tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of the important human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Laminados compósitos com matrizes poliméricas foram submetidos à danificação mecânica por ensaios de flexão em três pontos e imersão prolongada em solução simuladora de fluido corporal (SBF). Uma das matrizes era composta de resina termorrígida epóxi reforçada com fibras de vidro (EPX-V) e fibras de carbono (EPX-C), enquanto que a outra era constituída por resina termoplástica poli sulfeto de fenileno reforçada com fibras de carbono (PPS-C). A absorção da solução pelos laminados compósitos e os danos neles inferidos foram avaliados pela técnica de imageamento por ressonância magnética nuclear (IRMN). A técnica mostrou-se eficaz na detecção de vários tipos de danos, como entalhes, delaminações, fissuras e deformações, e no controle de qualidade de biomateriais compósitos, desde que seus eventuais danos estivessem preenchidos por líquidos. A diferença na condutibilidade elétrica das fibras, isto é, baixa condutividade elétrica das fibras de vidro, em comparação com as fibras de carbono influenciou significativamente a qualidade das imagens. As imagens obtidas tinham menos artefatos no CDP EPX-V do que nos CDP de EPX-C e PPS-C. A diferença nos processos de manufatura também influenciou os resultados, para os CDP de EPX-V, oriundos de processo de manufatura menos criterioso, foi possível notar espaços vazios que foram preenchidos pela solução SBF e identificados nas imagens obtidas, por sua vez, nos CDP de EPX-C e PPS-C, que são produto de um processo de manufatura mais criterioso, o que lhes confere qualidade superior e menos defeitos, não foi possível identificar espaços vazios, ou pela sua inexistência ou talvez porque a resolução do equipamento não era alta o suficiente para capturar as imagens dos espaços vazios. Os resultados permitiram concluir que o imageamento via ressonância magnética nuclear é um método de inspeção eficiente e confiável para detecção de danos, in vitro, em laminados compósitos poliméricos reforçados tanto com fibras de vidro quanto com fibras de carbono. / Laminated composites with polymeric matrices were subjected to mechanical damage by bending tests at three points and prolonged immersion in a simulated body fluid solution (SBF). One of the matrices was composed of thermoset epoxy reinforced with glass fibers (EPX-V) and carbon fibers (EPX-C), whereas the other was constituted by polyphenylene sulfide thermoplastic reinforced with carbon fibers (PPS-C) The absorption of the solution by the composite laminates and the damage inflicted on them were evaluated by imaging technique via nuclear magnetic resonance. The technique showed efficient in the detection of various types of damage, as notches, delaminations, cracks and deformations, and control of the quality of composite biomaterials, as their damage was filled with liquid. The difference in the electrical conductivity of the fibers, i.e., lower electrical conductivity of the glass fibers in comparison to the carbon fibers significantly influenced the quality of the images. The images obtained had fewer artifacts in CDP EPX-V than those of CDP EPX-C and PPS-C. The difference in the manufacturing processes also influenced the results, as the voids of EPX-V CDP manufactured by a less careful process were filled with an SBF solution identified in the images. On the other hand, CDP EPX-C and PPS-C, which were the product of a higher quality manufacturing process showed no gaps, because the resolution of the equipment was not high enough to capture the images of the voids. The results show imaging via nuclear magnetic resonance is an efficient and reliable method for the detection of damage of in vitro polymeric composite laminates with glass fibers and carbon fibers.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-03-15T12:50:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Julyanna Filgueiras Gonçalves de Farias.pdf: 1207347 bytes, checksum: ecae15313133e6eb017eb49149f584d2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-07-21T21:04:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Julyanna Filgueiras Gonçalves de Farias.pdf: 1207347 bytes, checksum: ecae15313133e6eb017eb49149f584d2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-07-21T21:04:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Julyanna Filgueiras Gonçalves de Farias.pdf: 1207347 bytes, checksum: ecae15313133e6eb017eb49149f584d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-21T21:04:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Julyanna Filgueiras Gonçalves de Farias.pdf: 1207347 bytes, checksum: ecae15313133e6eb017eb49149f584d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-16 / The displacement of articular disc is one of the commonest disorders of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and it may cause pain, articular noise and functional limitation. Little is known, nowadays, about its etiology, however it is assumed that the articulation morphology is related to the development of this pathology. Therefore, the current study aimed at evaluating the morphology of the articular disc and the mandibular head and its relation with the TMJ disc displacement in magnetic resonance images (MRI). Hence, the magnetic resonance exams of 95 patients and 190 TMJs were evaluated. Each articulation was evaluated in regard to the morphology of the mandibular head in axial and coronal scans, to the morphology of articular disc and to the disc position. The mandibular head was divided, according to Alomar´s et al (2007) classification, into: flattened, convex, angled and rounded, in the coronal position, and A, B, C, D and E in the axial position. The disc shape was classified into biconcave, biplanar, biconvex, hemiconvex and folded. The results pointed out an average age of 39 years, being most of them female. The most prevalent displacement type was the anterior displacement with reduction. Statistical association between morphology of the mandibular head and the disc position was not observed, but association between the disc morphology and the articular disc position was. It was concluded that there is no correlation between the morphology of the mandibular head, both in axial and coronal scans, and the TMJ disk displacement. However, the morphology of the articular disc is related to its displacement. / O deslocamento de disco articular é uma das mais comuns disfunções da articulação temporomandibular e pode provocar dor, ruído articular e limitação funcional. Pouco se sabe atualmente sobre a sua etiologia, todavia, supõe-se que a morfologia da articulação esteja relacionada ao desenvolvimento dessa patologia. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a morfologia do disco articular e da cabeça da mandíbula e a sua relação com o deslocamento de disco da ATM em imagens de ressonância magnética. Para tanto, foram avaliados os exames de ressonância magnéticas de 95 pacientes e 190 ATMs. Cada articulação foi avaliada quanto à morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula em corte axial e coronal, à morfologia do disco articular e à posição do disco. A cabeça da mandíbula foi classificada de acordo com a classificação de ALOMAR (2007) em: achatada, convexa, angulada e arredondada, no sentido coronal, e A, B, C, D e E, no sentido axial. A forma do disco foi classificada em bicôncava, biplanar, biconvexa, hemiconvexa e dobrada. Os resultados apontaram uma média de idade de 39 anos, a maioria do gênero feminino. O tipo de deslocamento mais prevalente foi o deslocamento anterior com redução. Não foi observada associação estatística entre morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula e a posição do disco, mas foi observado associação entre a morfologia do disco e a posição do disco articular. Concluiu-se que não há correlação entre a morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula, tanto em corte coronal como axial, e o deslocamento de disco da ATM. Entretanto, a morfologia do disco articular está relacionada ao deslocamento do mesmo.

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-02-12T13:39:06Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Leonardo Bruno Assis Oliveira - 2015.pdf: 2535407 bytes, checksum: 9ceeaccfc6fcaae7855e1a6bba20b039 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-02-16T06:45:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Leonardo Bruno Assis Oliveira - 2015.pdf: 2535407 bytes, checksum: 9ceeaccfc6fcaae7855e1a6bba20b039 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-16T06:45:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Leonardo Bruno Assis Oliveira - 2015.pdf: 2535407 bytes, checksum: 9ceeaccfc6fcaae7855e1a6bba20b039 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-02 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / We present in this work a theoretical study of structural and spectroscopic properties of vitamin E models in chloroform and water solutions, of eumelanin oligomers in water and also of eumelanin constituents in mixtures of methanol and water. The in uence of solvent e ects in molecular properties was included using an iterative process based on sequential methodology Monte Carlo/Quantum Mechanics. Optical absorption spectra were obtained from TD-DFT calculations with B3LYP, PBE1PBE, BHandHLYP and CAMB3LYP functionals whereas the magnetic shielding constants were calculated employing the gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) approach through B3LYP functional. We analyze four homologous forms of vitamin E models, which di er in the number and position of methyl groups on the chromanol ring. The inclusion of solvent e ects in the rst electronic transition indicates solvatochromic shifts ranging between 1 and 3 nm in chloroform, and between 7 and 11 nm in water. The results also show that these e ects on the magnetic shielding constants (13C) and (17O) are small, but an appropriate description of the solvent shift for (17O) of the hydroxyl group in water requires the inclusion of explicit molecules that make hydrogen bonds. Our results for the chemical shifts (13C) of the carbon atoms of the chromanol ring in chloroform solution are in good agreement with the experimental results, although overestimated between 3 and 9 ppm. The analysis of the con gurations obtained from Monte Carlo simulations shows that for eumelanin oligomers of increasing size, monomers, dimers, tetramers and a layer, there is an increase in the average total number of hydrogen bonds. Solvent e ects are particularly relevant for the NMR spectroscopy of nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The shielding constant (17O) may change up to 98% for the monomers, when we consider the presence of explicit water molecules, and up to 41% for the tetramers from calculations with ASEC (Average Solvent Eletrostatic Con guration). In general, the oligomerization of eumelanin constituents extends the region of the electromagnetic spectrum which occurs the optical absorption and also shows a shift of the absorption peak of the HOMO!LUMO transitions for longer wavelength regions. We also present a superposition of the absorption spectra of eumelanin constituents that shows the trend of experimental results. We select some eumelanin constituents to analyze the e ects of mixtures of methanol and water on the spectroscopic properties. The results indicate that the concentration of water in the mixture can in uence the magnetic shielding constants of more electronegative atoms, as well as the position of the absorption spectrum peaks. The results show that the values of can present variations up to 34% while the location of the absorption peak can change up to 73 nm in going from pure methanol to pure water. We also analyze the distribution of the methanol and water molecules around the eumelanin constituents studied in order to determine the preferential solvation. / Apresentamos neste trabalho um estudo te órico das propriedades eletrônicas, estruturais e espectrosc opicas (1) de modelos de vitamina E em solu ções de clorof ormio e água, (2) de constituintes da eumelanina em solução de água e (3) tamb em de algumas dessas mol éculas da eumelanina em misturas de metanol e água. A inuência dos efeitos de solvente nas propriedades de interesse foi inclu da com simulações cl ássicas num processo iterativo baseado na metodologia sequencial Monte Carlo/Mecânica Quântica. Os espectros de absor ção óptica foram obtidos a partir de c álculos TD-DFT com os funcionais B3LYP, PBE1PBE, BHandHLYP e CAM-B3LYP em fase isolada e em solu ção de água e as constantes de blindagem magn ética foram calculadas com a aproxima ção GIAO (Gauge-Included Atomic Orbitals) e o funcional B3LYP. Analisamos quatro formas hom ologas que modelam a vitamina E, as quais diferem entre si no n úmero e na posição dos grupos metil no anel cromanol. A inclusão dos efeitos de solvente na primeira transi ção eletrônica indica desvios solvatocrômicos variando entre 1 e 3 nm em clorof ormio, e entre 7 e 11 nm para a água. Os resultados tamb em mostram que esses efeitos nas constantes de blindagem magn etica (13C) e (17O) são pequenos, mas uma descri ção apropriada do deslocamento de solvente para a constante de blindagem para o (17O) do grupo hidroxila em agua requer a inclusão de mol eculas expl citas que realizam liga ções de hidrogênio. Nossos resultados para os desvios qu micos (13C) para os atomos de carbono do anel cromanol em solu ção de clorof ormio estão em bom acordo com os resultados experimentais, embora superestimados entre 3 e 9 ppm. Para as mol eculas constituintes da eumelanina, selecionamos quatro monômeros para formar dois d meros, dois tetrâmeros e um layer. A an alise das con gura ções obtidas com o ASEC mostra que o processo de oligomeriza ção leva a um aumento do n umero total m edio das liga ções de hidrogênio. A presen ça do solvente e particularmente relevante para a espectroscopia de NMR dos atomos de nitrogênio e oxigênio. As constantes de blindagem (17O) podem sofrer altera ções de at e 98% para os monômeros, quando consideramos a inclusão de mol éculas expl citas de água, e de at e 41% para os tetrâmeros a partir de c alculos com o ASEC (Con gura ção Eletrost atica M edia do Solvente). De modo geral, a oligomeriza ção amplia a região do espectro eletromagn etico onde ocorre a absor ção óptica para os prov aveis constituintes da eumelanina e tamb em mostra um deslocamento do pico de absor ção da transi ção HOMO!LUMO para regiões de maiores comprimentos de onda. Mostramos tamb em que a superposição dos espectros de absorção das mol eculas que compõem cada um dos tetrâmeros reproduz a tendência dos resultados obtidos experimentalmente para a mol ecula de melanina. Selecionamos algumas mol eculas da eumelanina para analisar os efeitos das misturas de metanol e agua nas suas propriedades espectrosc opicas. Os resultados indicam que a concentração de agua na mistura pode in uenciar as constantes de blindagem magn etica de atomos mais eletronegativos, assim como a posi c~ao dos picos do espectro de absor c~ao. Dependendo da mol ecula, os valores de podem sofrer varia c~ao de at e 34% enquanto a localiza c~ao do pico de absor c~ao pode mudar em at e 73 nm quando passamos do metanol puro para a agua pura. Analisamos tamb em a distribui c~ao dos dois tipos de solvente ao redor das mol eculas estudadas com o intuito de determinar a solvata c~ao preferencial tendo em vista a natureza das intera c~oes envolvidas: soluto-solvente e solvente-solvente.

O ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA), um grupo de isômeros do ácido linoleico, é encontrado no leite e na carne de animais ruminantes, e apresenta propriedades anticarcinogênica, antidiabética, antiadipogênica e antiaterogênica. Neste trabalho de doutorado estudou-se o efeito do CLA (cis-9, trans-11) em duas linhagens de células de câncer de mama, MCF-7 e MDA-MB-231, com a técnica de RMN denominada HR-MAS (High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning). O HR-MAS foi usado para identificar e quantificar os principais metabólitos das linhagens e também foi eficiente para observar mudanças significativas na variação dos metabólitos em função da adição de CLA ao meio de cultura. As células de câncer de mama, MCF-7 submetidas a 100 µM CLA tiveram aumento significativo do sinal de acetona. Esse padrão não foi observado para a MDA-MB-231. Também se observou que o teor de fosfocolina decresceu em ambas as linhagens celulares quando tratadas com 100 µM CLA. Mediante esses resultados e simulação por modelagem molecular propôs-se que o CLA pode atuar inibindo a ação da enzima HMG-CoA redutase (HMGR), de maneira similar as estatinas. Ao se ligar a HMGR, o CLA impede a ligação do HMG-CoA (substrato), impedindo a sua conversão para mevalonato e consequentemente a biossíntese do colesterol. O HMG-CoA é então convertido para acetoacetato e posteriormente a acetona. Esse mecanismo pode explicar tanto o aumento da acetona quanto a redução da fosfocolina, uma vez que há controle positivo mútuo entre o colesterol e os fosfolipídios. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que a inibição da HMGR pelo CLA pode ser uma demonstração do mecanismo bioquímico tanto de sua ação anticarcinogênica quando das atividades antidiabética, antiadipogênica e antiaterogênica, relatadas na literatura. Neste trabalho também foi demonstrada a potencialidade do processamento dos sinais de HR-MAS no domínio do tempo pelo método de diagonalização filtrada. Essa técnica foi capaz de obter espectros de alta resolução, sem necessidade de supressão do sinal da água e filtro de T2, para suprimir linhas largas. / Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a group of isomers of linoleic acid,is found in milk and meat of ruminant animals, which have anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antiatherogenic and anthiadipogenic properties. In this thesis the effect of CLA (cis-9, trans-11) in two cell lines of breast cancer, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 was studied High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) NMR technique. HR-MAS was used to identify and quantify the metabolites of the two cells and was effective to observe significant changes in metabolites due to the addition of CLA to the culture medium. The breast cancer cells, MCF-7 subjected to 100 µM CLA had a significantly higher acetone signal. This pattern was not observed for MDA-MB-231. It was noted that the content of phosphocholine decreased in both cell lines treated with 100 µM CLA. Given these results and simulation with molecular modeling we are suggesting that CLA inhibits the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR), similar to statins. By binding to HMGR, CLA prevents binding of the HMG-CoA (substrate), preventing their conversion to mevalonate, and consequently the cholesterol biosynthesis. The HMG-CoA is then converted to acetoacetate and then acetone. This mechanism explains the increase of acetone and decreased of phosphocholine, since there is mutual positive control with cholesterol and phospholipids. Therefore, the inhibition of HMGR by CLA may be the biochemical explanation for its anticarcinogenic activities as well as antidiabetic, antiatherogenic and antiadipogenic properties reported in the literature. It was also demonstrated the capability of Filter Diagonalization Method (FDM) to process time domain HR-MAS signals. FDM was able to obtain high-resolution spectra without the water suppression and T2 filter.

A reação álcali-silica (RAS) ocorre entre certas formas de sílica, estruturalmente distorcidas ou amorfas, e soluções de hidróxido alcalino, como KOH e NaOH. O produto da RAS é um gel de silicato e álcalis, susceptível de expansão pela absorção de água. Quando a RAS ocorre nos agregados minerais utilizados no concreto, o processo de reação e expansão do gel compromete a resistência mecânica da estrutura. Neste trabalho, foram estudados os efeitos sobre o gel de dois processos propostos respectivamente para mitigar a expansão e prevenir a ocorrência da RAS: o tratamento do gel com LiNO3 e a aplicação de metiltrimetoxisilano (MTMS, Si(OCH3)3CH3). Também foi analisada a reatividade de minerais utilizados como agregados (basalto, granito e quartzito), simulando a RAS em condições de laboratório. Utilizando técnicas de ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) de 29Si, 7Li, 23Na, 13C e 1H, foi analisada a estrutura do gel, dos minerais e dos produtos resultantes dos tratamentos e de ataques com soluções alcalinas. Os resultados mostram que a estrutura de silicatos no gel é lamelar formada principalmente por silicatos do tipo Q3 e a aplicação de soluções de LiNO3 provoca uma transformação para um silicato de tipo linear. Esta alteração, eliminado os espaços interlamelares capazes de absorver água e causar expansão coletiva da estrutura, explica o efeito observado de redução da expansão pelos tratamentos com Li. Por outro lado, após exposição ao MTMS não foi detectada interação dos silicatos pertencentes ao gel com os grupos SiCH3, indicando autocondensaçao dos silanos. Com relação ao ataque dos minerais reativos, foram detectadas mudanças na distribuição de espécie de silicatos Qn nas três rochas. No basalto e no granito existe um aumento da fração de espécies Q1 e Q4 com relação ao mineral original. No quartzito as diferenças são maiores em magnitude e dependem dos parâmetros do ataque: temperatura e tempo de ataque. O aumento da temperatura dissolve os silicatos amorfos de conectividade baixa e média (Q0, Q1 e Q2) e produz um silicato altamente conexo formado por espécies Q3 e Q4. O aumento do tempo de ataque à temperatura ambiente não produz transformações apreciáveis na parte amorfa, mas sim dissolução de silicatos Q4 pertencentes a grãos de quartzo de maior tamanho. / The alkali-silica reaction (ASR) occurs between structurally distorted or disordered silica and aqueous solutions of alkaline hydroxides, as KOH or NaOH. The product of the ASR is an alkali-silicate gel, which may expand upon water absorption. When the ASR occurs in mineral aggregate used in concrete, the process of reaction and expansion cause the decrease in the mechanical resistance of the structure. In this work, a structural study was carried out to analyze the effect on the gel of two processes proposed respectively to mitigate the expansion and prevent the ASR: the treatment with LiNO3 and the application of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTSM, Si(OCH3)3CH3). Also, the reactivity of three minerals (basalt, granite and quartzite) commonly used as aggregates was analyzed, simulating the ASR in laboratory conditions. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques of 29Si, 7Li, 23Na, 13C e 1H in the solid state were applied to analyze the structure of the gel, the minerals and the products resulting from treatments and the attack with alkaline solutions (KOH). The results show that the silicate network in the gel is a lamellar structure, composed mainly by Q3 silicates, which is transformed into a linear structure upon the treatment with LiNO3 solutions. This modification, eliminating the inter-lamellar spaces capable to host water and cause the collective expansion of the structure, explain the reduction in the expansion observed in mortar or concrete structures treated with Li. On the other hand, after exposing gel samples to MTMS aqueous solutions, no interaction of the silicate groups in the gel with SiCH3 groups were detected, indicating auto-condensation of silane in these samples. With respect to the attack of the reactive minerals, some changes were detected in the distribution of Qn silicate species in the three rocks. In attacked basalt and granite there is an increase in the fraction of Q1 and Q4with respect to the original minerals. In attacked quartzite the differences are mores strong and depend on the reaction parameters: temperature and time of attack. The increment in temperature dissolve the amorphous silicates of low and medium connectivity (Q0, Q1 and Q2) resulting in a highly connected silicate with Q3 and Q4. Conversely, no appreciable transformation in the amorphous silicates were observed during longer attack times at room temperature, but the dissolution of bigger silica particles with well defined Q4 species was observed.

Over the past few decades, amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) have been of great interest to pharmaceutical scientists to address bioavailability issues associated with poorly water-soluble drugs. ASDs consist of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that is typically dispersed in an inert polymeric matrix. Despite promising advantages, a major concern that has resulted in limited marketed formulations is the physical instability of these complex formulations. Physical instability is often manifested as phase heterogeneity, where the drug and carrier migrate and generate distinct phases, which can be a prelude to recrystallization. One important factor that dictates the physical stability of ASDs is the spatial distribution of API in the polymeric matrix. It is generally agreed that intimate mixing of the drug and polymer is necessary to achieve maximum stabilization, and thus understanding the factors controlling phase mixing and nano-domain structure of ASDs is crucial to rational formulation design. The focus of this thesis work is to better understand the factors involved in phase mixing on the nanometric level and get insights on the role of excipients on overall stabilization of these systems. The central hypothesis of this research is that an intimately mixed ASD will have better physical stability as compared to a partially homogeneous or a non-homogeneous system. Our approach is to probe and correlate phase homogeneity and intermolecular drug-excipient interactions to better understand the physical stability of ASDs primarily using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy and other solid-state characterization tools. A detailed investigation was carried out to understand the role of hydrogen bonding on compositional homogeneity on different model systems. A comprehensive characterization of ternary ASDs in terms of molecular interactions and physical stability was studied. Finally, long-term physical stability studies were conducted in order to understand the impact of different grades of a cellulosic polymer on phase homogeneity for two sets of samples prepared via different methods. Overall, through this research an attempt has been made to address some relevant questions pertaining to nano-phase heterogeneity in ASDs and provide a molecular level understanding of these complex systems to enable rational formulation design.

Les protéines intrinsèquement désordonnées sont des hétéropolymères très flexibles, impliqués dans des activités cellulaires importantes (transduction du signal, reconnaissance moléculaire, traduction etc.), représentant des cibles potentielles de médicaments contre les maladies neurodégénératives et cancers, et dont les modes dynamiques définissent leur fonction biologique. Même si les états conformationnels qu'elles échantillonnent sont relativement bien connus, ce n'est pas le cas des échelles de temps de la dynamique associée. Dans ce travail nous étudions le comportement conformationnel du domaine C-terminal intrinsèquement désordonné de la nucléoprotéine de virus de Sendai (NTAIL), qui interagit avec le domaine PX de la phosphoprotéine. Des études précédentes montrent que le site d'interaction échantillonne un équilibre entre trois hélices discrètes dans l’état libre, et que l’interaction avec PX passe d’abord par la formation d'un pré-complexe, où l’une des conformation hélicoïdales de NTAIL est stabilisée, puis par sa diffusion sur la surface de PX, et enfin sa rétention sur le site de liaison. Cependant, aucun renseignement n'existe sur les échelles de temps de mouvements de la chaine de NTAIL, qui influencent certainement la cinétique de cette interaction, en particulier sa constante de vitesse d’association. Cette protéine de 124 acides aminés représente aussi un système modèle pertinent contenant à la fois de longs domaines dépliés et des régions de structure résiduelle. La mesure d’un vaste et cohérent ensemble de taux de relaxation à différents champs magnétiques et différentes températures nous a permis de caractériser la dynamique de NTAIL à un niveau de détail sans précèdent. A l’aide d’analyse « model-free » étendu, nous avons montré que les composants rapides de la fonction de corrélation nous informent sur les librations. Le mode dominant se situe à des échelles de temps autour d’une nanoseconde et est lié à l’échantillonnage de l’espace de Ramachandran par le squelette peptidique. Enfin, le composant lent (5-25 ns) nous informe sur les mouvements de segments de la chaine peptidique. La description des mouvements intrinsèques des protéines désordonnées et leurs échelles de temps contribuera à notre compréhension du comportement et des fonctions de ces protéines. / Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are highly flexible heteropolymers, implicated in important cellular activities (signal transduction, molecular recognition, transcription, translation, etc.) and representing potential drug targets against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, whose dynamic modes define their biological function. Although the conformational states sampled by IDPs are relatively well understood, essentially nothing is known about the associated dynamic timescales. In this study we investigate the conformational behavior of the intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain of the nucleoprotein of Sendai virus (NTAIL), which interacts with the PX domain of the phosphoprotein. The interaction site has been shown to sample an equilibrium of discrete helices in the free state, which forms an encounter complex implicating the stabilization of one of the helical conformers upon interaction with PX, prior to diffusing on the surface of PX and engaging in the actual binding site. However, very little is known about the timescales of chain motions, which surely play a role in the interaction kinetics, in particular in terms of the on-rate of the interaction. This 124 amino acid protein also provides a good model system, containing long unfolded domains with chain-like dynamics and regions with residual structure. The measurement of extensive set of coherent relaxation rates at multiple magnetic fields, multiple temperatures and in three different length constructs of the same IDP has allowed us to characterize the dynamic nature of NTAIL in unprecedented detail. By analyzing the relaxation data using extended model-free approach, we show that fast (≤ 50 ps) components of the correlation function report on librational motions. A dominant mode occurs on timescales around one nanosecond, apparently reporting on backbone sampling within Ramachandran sub-states, while a slower component (5-25 ns) reports on segmental dynamics dominated by the chain-like nature of the protein. The ability to delineate intrinsic modes and timescales will improve our understanding of the behavior and function of IDPs.