L’homme possède ~400 gènes codant pour des récepteurs aux odorants (ROs) qui sont différentiellement activés par un espace virtuellement infini de molécules. Le code combinatoire qui résulte de cette activation permettrait au nez humain de discriminer plus de mille milliards de stimuli olfactifs différents. Mais comment le percept est-il encodé dans la structure d’une molécule ? Pour comprendre comment notre nez décrypte la structure des molécules odorantes, des modèles numériques ont été utilisés pour étudier les principaux protagonistes de l’olfaction : les ROs et les odorants. Ici, l’apprentissage automatique est utilisé pour explorer et exploiter les données déjà existantes sur les ROs. D’autre part, la modélisation moléculaire est employée pour comprendre les mécanismes qui sous-tendent la reconnaissance moléculaire. Dans cette thèse j’ai passé en revue les relations structure-odeur du point de vue d’un chimiste. J’ai ensuite développé un protocole d’apprentissage automatique, qui a été validé pour prédire de nouveaux ligands pour quatre ROs. La modélisation moléculaire a été utilisée pour comprendre la reconnaissance moléculaire des ROs. Notamment, l’existence d’un site vestibulaire conservé dans une classe de ROs a été mis en évidence et le rôle de la cavité de liaison orthostérique dans les ROs a été étudiée. L’application de ces techniques permet de moderniser la déorphanisation guidée par ordinateur. Dans sa globalité, mes travaux ont aussi permis de préparer le terrain pour tester de façon virtuelle le code combinatoire des odeurs, et pour prédire la réponse physiologique déclenchée par ces molécules. Dans son ensemble, ce travail ancre la relation structure-odeur dans l’ère post-génomique, et souligne la possibilité de combiner différentes approches computationnelles pour étudier l’olfaction. / Humans have ~400 genes encoding odorant receptors (ORs) that get differentially activated by a virtually infinite space of small organic molecules. The combinatorial code resulting from this activation could allow the human nose to discriminate more than one trillion different olfactory stimuli. But how is the percept encoded in the structure of a molecule? To understand how our nose decrypts the structure of molecules, numerical models were used to study the main protagonists of olfaction: ORs and odorants. These approaches included machine-learning methods to explore and exploit existing data on ORs, and molecular modeling to understand the mechanisms behind molecular recognition. In this thesis I first review the structure-odor relationships from a chemist's point of view. Then, I explain how I developed a machine learning protocol which was validated by predicting new ligands for four ORs. In addition, molecular modeling was used to understand how molecular recognition takes place in ORs. In particular, a conserved vestibular binding site in a class of human ORs was discovered, and the role of the orthosteric binding cavity was studied. The application of these techniques allows upgrading computer aided deorphanization of ORs. My thesis also establishes the basis for testing computationally the combinatorial code of smell perception. Finally, it lays the groundwork for predicting the physiological response triggered upon odorant stimulation. Altogether, this work anchors the structure-odor relationship in the post-genomic era, and highlights the possibility to combine different computational approaches to study smell.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins expressed at high levels in the proximity of olfactory receptors. OBPs act as solubilizers and carriers of the lipophilic odorants in the aqueous mucus of mammals and other vertebrates. OBPs have now been studied nearly thirty years, but in comparison to the wealth of data available on their structural chemistry and molecular biology, our knowledge about gene expression and function of these proteins is still insufficient. This work provides new insights into the tissue specificity of OBP and presents several new sequences of genes governing these proteins in selected species of mice.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Tsetse flies are the biological vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis and hence representant medical and veterinary importance. The sense of smell plays a significant role in tsetse and its ecological interaction, such as finding blood meal source, resting, and larvicidal sites and for mating. Tsetse olfactory behaviour can be exploited for their management; however, olfactory studies in tsetse flies are still fragmentary. Here in my PhD thesis, using scanning electron microscopy, electrophysiology, behaviour, bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques, I have investigated tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) olfaction using behaviourally well studied odorants, tsetse repellent by comparing with attractant odour. Insect olfaction is mediated by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), located in olfactory sensilla, which are cuticular structures exposed to the environment through pore and create a platform for chemical communication. In the sensilla shaft the dendrite of OSNs are housed, which are protected by called the sensillum lymph produced by support cells and contains a variety of olfactory proteins, including the odorant binding protein (OBP) and chemosensory proteins (CSP). While on the dendrite of OSNs are expressed olfactory receptors. In my PhD, studies I tried to decipher the sense of smell in tsetse fly. In the second chapter, I demonstrated that G. f. fuscipes is equipped with diverse olfactory sensilla, that various from basiconic, trichoid and coeloconic. I also demonstrated, there is shape, length, number difference between sensilla types and sexual dimorphism. There is a major difference between male and female, while male has the unique basiconic sensilla, club shaped found in the pits, which is absent from female pits. In my third chapter, I investigated the odorant receptors which are expressed on the dendrite of the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). G. f. fuscipes has 42 ORs, which were not functionally characterised. I used behaviourally well studied odorants, tsetse repellents, composed of four components blend. I demonstrated that tsetse repellent is also a strong antifeedant for both G. pallidipes and G. f. fuscipes using feeding bioassays as compared to the attractant odour, adding the value of tsetse repellent. However, the attractant odour enhanced the feeding index. Using DREAM (deorphanization of receptors based on expression alterations of mRNA levels). I found that in G. f. fuscipes, following a short in vivo exposure to the individual tsetse repellent component as well as an attractant volatile chemical, OSNs that respond to these compounds altered their mRNA expression in two opposite direction, significant downregulation and upregulation in their number of transcripts corresponding to the OR that they expressed and interacted with odorant. Also, I found that the odorants with opposite valence already segregate distinctly at the cellular and molecular target at the periphery, which is the reception of odorants by OSNs, which is the basis of sophisticated olfactory behaviour. Deorphanization of ORs in none model insect is a challenge, here by combining DREAM with molecular dynamics, as docking score, physiology and homology modelling with Drosophila a well-studied model insects, I was able to predict putative receptors of the tsetse repellent components and an attractant odour. However, many ORs were neutral, showing they were not activated by the odorants, demonstrating the selectivity of the technique as well as the receptors. In my fourth chapter, I investigated the OBPs structures and their interaction with odorants molecules. I demonstrated that OBPs are expressed both in the antenna, as well as in other tissues, such as legs. I also demonstrated that there are variations in the expression of OBPs between tissues as well as sexes. I also demonstrated that odorants induced a fast alteration in OBP mRNA expression, some odorants induced a decrease in the transcription of genes corresponding to the activated OBP and others increased the expression by many fold in OBPs in live insect, others were neutral after 5 hours of exposure. Moreover, with subsequent behavioural data showed that the behavioural response of G. f. fuscipes toward 1-octen-3-ol decreased significantly when 1-octen-3-ol putative OBPs were silenced with feeding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In summary, our finding whereby odorant exposure affects the OBPs mRNA, their physiochemical properties and the silencing of these OBPs affected the behavioural response demonstrate that the OBPs are involved in odour detection that affect the percept of the given odorant. The expression of OBPs in olfactory tissues, antenna and their interaction with odorant and their effect on behavioural response when silenced shows their direct involvement in odour detection and reception. Furthermore, their expression in other tissues such as legs indicates they might also have role in other physiological functions, such as taste.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Tsetse flies are the biological vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis and hence representant medical and veterinary importance. The sense of smell plays a significant role in tsetse and its ecological interaction, such as finding blood meal source, resting, and larvicidal sites and for mating. Tsetse olfactory behaviour can be exploited for their management; however, olfactory studies in tsetse flies are still fragmentary. Here in my PhD thesis, using scanning electron microscopy, electrophysiology, behaviour, bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques, I have investigated tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) olfaction using behaviourally well studied odorants, tsetse repellent by comparing with attractant odour. Insect olfaction is mediated by olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), located in olfactory sensilla, which are cuticular structures exposed to the environment through pore and create a platform for chemical communication. In the sensilla shaft the dendrite of OSNs are housed, which are protected by called the sensillum lymph produced by support cells and contains a variety of olfactory proteins, including the odorant binding protein (OBP) and chemosensory proteins (CSP). While on the dendrite of OSNs are expressed olfactory receptors. In my PhD, studies I tried to decipher the sense of smell in tsetse fly. In the second chapter, I demonstrated that G. f. fuscipes is equipped with diverse olfactory sensilla, that various from basiconic, trichoid and coeloconic. I also demonstrated, there is shape, length, number difference between sensilla types and sexual dimorphism. There is a major difference between male and female, while male has the unique basiconic sensilla, club shaped found in the pits, which is absent from female pits. In my third chapter, I investigated the odorant receptors which are expressed on the dendrite of the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). G. f. fuscipes has 42 ORs, which were not functionally characterised. I used behaviourally well studied odorants, tsetse repellents, composed of four components blend. I demonstrated that tsetse repellent is also a strong antifeedant for both G. pallidipes and G. f. fuscipes using feeding bioassays as compared to the attractant odour, adding the value of tsetse repellent. However, the attractant odour enhanced the feeding index. Using DREAM (deorphanization of receptors based on expression alterations of mRNA levels). I found that in G. f. fuscipes, following a short in vivo exposure to the individual tsetse repellent component as well as an attractant volatile chemical, OSNs that respond to these compounds altered their mRNA expression in two opposite direction, significant downregulation and upregulation in their number of transcripts corresponding to the OR that they expressed and interacted with odorant. Also, I found that the odorants with opposite valence already segregate distinctly at the cellular and molecular target at the periphery, which is the reception of odorants by OSNs, which is the basis of sophisticated olfactory behaviour. Deorphanization of ORs in none model insect is a challenge, here by combining DREAM with molecular dynamics, as docking score, physiology and homology modelling with Drosophila a well-studied model insects, I was able to predict putative receptors of the tsetse repellent components and an attractant odour. However, many ORs were neutral, showing they were not activated by the odorants, demonstrating the selectivity of the technique as well as the receptors. In my fourth chapter, I investigated the OBPs structures and their interaction with odorants molecules. I demonstrated that OBPs are expressed both in the antenna, as well as in other tissues, such as legs. I also demonstrated that there are variations in the expression of OBPs between tissues as well as sexes. I also demonstrated that odorants induced a fast alteration in OBP mRNA expression, some odorants induced a decrease in the transcription of genes corresponding to the activated OBP and others increased the expression by many fold in OBPs in live insect, others were neutral after 5 hours of exposure. Moreover, with subsequent behavioural data showed that the behavioural response of G. f. fuscipes toward 1-octen-3-ol decreased significantly when 1-octen-3-ol putative OBPs were silenced with feeding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In summary, our finding whereby odorant exposure affects the OBPs mRNA, their physiochemical properties and the silencing of these OBPs affected the behavioural response demonstrate that the OBPs are involved in odour detection that affect the percept of the given odorant. The expression of OBPs in olfactory tissues, antenna and their interaction with odorant and their effect on behavioural response when silenced shows their direct involvement in odour detection and reception. Furthermore, their expression in other tissues such as legs indicates they might also have role in other physiological functions, such as taste.

During embryonic development a variety of tissues and organs such as the lung, eye, and kidney are being formed. The generation of functional organs is regulated by reciprocal cell-cell interactions. Via the secretion of soluble molecules one type of cells affect the fate of their neighboring cells. A central issue in organogenesis is how a cell interprets such extrinsic signals and adopts a specific fate, and how the cell in response to this signal establishes reciprocal signaling. Transcription factors play a critical role in this process and my thesis focuses on the role of the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor, Lhx2, in the development of three different organ systems, the liver, the hematopoietic system and the olfactory system. The liver is formed from endoderm of the ventral foregut and mesenchyme of the septum transversum (st) and its development depends upon signaling interactions between these two tissues. As the liver becomes a distinct organ it is colonized by hematopoietic cells and serves as hematopoietic organ until birth. The fetal liver provides a microenvironment that supports the expansion of the entire hematopoietic system (HS) including the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Liver development in Lhx2-/- embryos is disrupted leading to a lethal anemia due to insufficient support of hematopoiesis. To further investigate the role of Lhx2 in liver development I analyzed gene expression from the Lhx2 locus during liver development in wild-type and Lhx2-/- mice. Lhx2 is expressed in the liver associated st mesenchymal cells that become integrated in the liver and contribute to a subpopulation of hepatic stellate cells in adult liver. Lhx2 is not required for the formation of these mesenchymal cells, suggesting that the phenotype in Lhx2-/- livers is due to the presence of defective mesenchymal cells. The putative role of Lhx2 in the expansion of the HS was examined by introducing Lhx2 cDNA into embryonic stem cells differentiated in vitro. This approach allowed for the generation of immortalized multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) lines that share many characteristics with normal HSCs. The Lhx2-dependent generation of HSC-like cell lines suggests that Lhx2 plays a role in the maintenance and/or expansion of the HS. To isolate genes putatively linked to Lhx2 function, genes differentially expressed in the HPC lines were isolated using a cDNA subtraction approach. This allowed for the identification of a few genes putatively linked to Lhx2 function, as well as several stem cell-specific genes. The antagonist of Wnt signalling, Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), was identified in the former group of genes as it showed a similar expression pattern in the fetal liver, as that of Lhx2 and expression of Dkk-1 in fetal liver and in HPC lines appeared to be regulated by Lhx2. This suggests that Dkk-1 plays a role in liver development and/or HSC physiology during embryonic development. During development of the olfactory epithelium (OE) neuronal progenitors differentiate into mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that are individually specified into over a thousand different subpopulations, each expressing a unique odorant receptor (OR) gene. The expression of Lhx2 in olfactory neurons suggested a potential role for Lhx2 in the development of OSNs. To address this OE from Lhx2-/- and wild-type mice was compared. In the absence of functional Lhx2 neuronal differentiation was arrested prior to onset of OR expression. Lhx2 is thus required for the development of OSN progenitors into functional, individually specified OSNs. Thus, Lhx2 trigger a variety of cellular responses in different organ systems that play important roles in organ development in vivo and stem cell expansion in vitro.

De nouveaux processus de cyclisation d’allènes fonctionnalisés catalysées par des triflates métalliques sont présentés. Deux stratégies ont été développées. Dans un premier temps, une réaction de type carbonyl-ène intramoléculaire à partir de cétones γ-alléniques est développée. Cette réaction se déroule dans des conditions très douces avec une charge catalytique en triflate de bismuth(III) de seulement 1 mol%. Cette stratégie a ensuite été étendue à d’autres dérivés cétones γ-alléniques. Les alcools diéniques résultants ont pu être engagés avec succès dans une réaction de type Diels-Alder menant à la formation de structures polycycliques fonctionnalisées avec de bons rendements et une excellente régio- et diastéréosélectivité. La cyclisation d’éthers d’énol catalysée par les triflates métalliques a été par la suite étudiée. Cette stratégie permet d’obtenir des dérivés cyclopentènes avec de bons rendements en utilisant seulement 0,1 mol% de triflate de bismuth(III). Des dérivés dihydrofuranes peuvent être également formés par cette stratégie. Ces produits résultent de l’attaque nucléophile du carbone central de l’allène sur l’éther d’énol activé. Cette réactivité a pu être inversée en utilisant un complexe d’or(I) comme catalyseur en présence d’un nucléophile externe, donnant ainsi naissance à des produits différents. Dans une dernière partie, des applications dans le domaine de la chimie des arômes et des parfums ont été développées. Des dérivés acétates et alcools alléniques ont été synthétisés et exposés à des tests olfactifs, révélant des tonalités olfactives intéressantes. Des notes fruitées et florales dominantes et des nuances vertes et boisées ont été détectées. / Novel processes of metal triflate-catalyzed cyclizations of functionalized allenes are presented. Two strategies have been developed. In a first part, the intramolecular carbonyl-ene reaction with γ-allenic ketones is described. This reaction proceeds under very mild conditions using only 1 mol% of bismuth(III) triflate. The scope of this reaction was extended to several γ-allenic ketone derivatives, featuring various substitution patterns. The resulting dienols were successfully engaged in a Diels-Alder reaction allowing the formation of polycyclic functionalized frameworks in good yields with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivities. In a second part, the metal triflate-catalyzed cyclization of allenic-enol ethers is described. This reaction gives access to cyclopentene derivatives in good yields using only 0.1 mol% of bismuth(III) triflate. Dihydrofuran derivatives could also be formed using this strategy. This cycloisomerisation reaction proceeds through an initial enol ether activation, followed by the nucleophilic attack of the allene moiety. This reactivity could be inverted using a gold(I) catalyst, in the presence of an exogenous nucleophile, allowing the formation of different products. Within our interest in flavor and fragrance chemistry, allenic acetates and alcohols have been synthesized and subjected to olfactive evaluation, revealing dominant fruity and floral notes. Green and woody undertones have been detected as well.

Although most odorants we encounter in daily life are mixtures of several chemical substances, we still lack significant information on how we perceive and how the brain processes mixtures of odorants. We aimed to investigate the processing of odor mixtures using behavioral measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The odor mixture contained a target odor (ambroxan) in a concentration at which it could be perceived by half of the subjects (sensitive group); the other half could not perceive the odor (insensitive group). In line with previous findings on multi-component odor mixtures, both groups of subjects were not able to distinguish a complex odor mixture containing or not containing the target odor. However, sensitive subjects had stronger activations than insensitive subjects in chemosensory processing areas such as the insula when exposed to the mixture containing the target odor. Furthermore, the sensitive group exhibited larger brain activations when presented with the odor mixture containing the target odor compared to the odor mixture without the target odor; this difference was smaller, though present for the insensitive group. In conclusion, we show that a target odor presented within a mixture of odors can influence brain activations although on a psychophysical level subjects are not able to distinguish the mixture with and without the target. On the practical side these results suggest that the addition of a certain compound to a mixture of odors may not be detected on a cognitive level; however, this additional odor may significantly change the cerebral processing of this mixture. In this context, FMRI offers unique possibilities to look at the subliminal effects of odors.

Dans le contexte actuel, les communautés scientifiques et politiques sont centrées sur les différentes manières de mieux préserver et utiliser les ressources naturelles de notre planète. Dans le but de réduire la consommation des matières issues du pétrole, et de développer de nouveaux produits et procédés industriels plus propres, l’industrie des fragrances et des arômes cherche aujourd’hui à développer de nouveaux matériaux bio-sourcés pour protéger leurs molécules volatiles odorantes. Dans ce travail de thèse, les maltodextrines ont été choisies comme composé majoritaire, les protéines de pois et un amidon modifié ont été sélectionnés comme additifs compatibilisants pour la composition des matrices d’agromatériaux. L’incorporation des molécules volatiles odorantes, ainsi que l’élaboration des matrices encapsulantes ont été réalisées en une seule étape, grâce à la technologie d’extrusion bi-vis à basse température. Les caractéristiques physicochimiques, thermiques et morphologiques de ces nouvelles matrices enrobantes ont été analysées, de même que la détermination de leur efficacité d’encapsulation et du profil de libération du principe actif. Les différentes investigations menées ont permis de mieux comprendre l’impact des formulations et de l’incorporation des molécules volatiles odorantes sur les paramètres opératoires. Les interactions entre la matrice enrobante et le principe actif ont également été étudiées. Les conditions d’extrusion établies, ainsi que les caractéristiques de ces nouvelles matrices encapsulantes, s’avèrent être pertinentes pour le domaine de la parfumerie. / Nowadays, scientific and political communities are focused on ways to better preserve and manage the natural resources of our planet. In order to reduce consumption of fossil resources, and to develop more environmentally friendly industrial processes, the industry of flavors and fragrances became interested in developing new bio-based encapsulating materials. In the present work, maltodextrins have been chosen as main component of the matrix, and pea protein isolate and a modified starch were selected as compatibilizing additives. The incorporation of volatile odorant compounds and the elaboration of the new bio-based delivery systems were performed, all in one single step, by low temperature twin-screw extrusion. The physicochemical, thermal and morphological properties of these matrices were studied, as well as the encapsulation efficiency and the release profile of the active compounds. These investigations have led to a better understanding of the impact of the formulations and of the incorporation of the active compound on the process parameters. The interactions between the wall and the encapsulated materials were also analyzed. The characteristics of the new bio-based delivery systems and the established extrusion process conditions were found to be very promising to be employed in the field of perfumery.

Cette thèse de maîtrise est une analyse thématique des odeurs telles qu’elles se présentent dans les trois premiers romans de l’écrivaine québécoise Lise Tremblay : L’hiver de pluie (1990), La pêche blanche (1994) et La danse juive (1997). Ses principaux objectifs sont d’abord l’analyse du thème de l’olfaction présent dans ces trois romans puis sa mise en relation subséquente avec la progression narrative du texte. Pour le cadre théorique, nous avons recours à l’approche phénoménologique de Gaston Bachelard. Ce travail veut démontrer de quelles manières les manifestations olfactives épousent la trajectoire intime des héros. À partir des résultats obtenus par l’étude des œuvres de Lise Tremblay, nous voulons jeter les bases d’un outil de classification des odeurs pouvant trouver sa mise en application à d’autres corpus littéraires.

Les symbioses bactérie-légumineuse (nodulation) et champignon-plante (mycorhization) présentent un intérêt agrobiologique et écologique majeur ; elles permettent aux plantes de croître naturellement sur un sol aride et peu fertile. Il a été démontré très récemment que les signaux impliqués dans la mise en place de la symbiose endomycorhizienne à arbuscule (facteurs "Myc") sont très proches de ceux de la nodulation. Il s'agit de molécules appartenant à la famille des lipo-chitooligosaccharides. Afin de réaliser la synthèse de ces molécules, deux nouvelles méthodologies ont été développées. L'ouverture oxydante d'acétals de 4,6-O-benzylidène de plusieurs glycopyranosides (en série gluco, galacto et manno) par le diméthyldioxirane (DMDO) a été étudiée. Le contrôle de la régiosélectivité a été effectué grâce au groupement protecteur introduit sur la fonction alcool de la position 3. La formation directe de β-glycosides de la N-acétyl-D-glucosamine par catalyse au triflate de fer (III) a été étudiée. La réaction a été menée sous irradiation micro-ondes ou en flux continu (système minifluidique Vapourtec®). Une nouvelle stratégie pour la synthèse du facteur [Myc-IV (C16:0, S)] a ensuite été établie. Nous avons utilisé un réactif peu toxique et non odorant pour introduire le motif thio nécessaire à la formation de deux liaisons glycosidiques. Le disaccharide précurseur de l'unité réductrice a été obtenu grâce à la première méthodologie développée au cours de cette thèse. / Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a root endosymbiosis between plants and fungi. It has an agrobiological interest and a crucial ecological importance because it allows plants to grow on aride and infertile soil. Recently, the structure of the symbiotic signal "Myc factor" was identified as a mixture of lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs). In order to propose a new synthesis of LCOs, we developed two green methodologies in glycochemistry. We performed the oxidative cleavage of 4,6-O-benzylidene acetals of various glycopyranosides (gluco, manno and galacto series) with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and its regioselective control with a suitable protecting group at position 3. We investigated the formation of β-glycoside of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine using catalytic iron (III) triflate. The reaction can be performed using microwave irradiation or, for scale-up synthesis, flow chemistry using Vapourtec® minifluidic system. We establish a new strategy for the total synthesis of the most abundant Myc factor [Myc-IV (C16:0, S)]. We used odorless and few toxic MbpSH reagent to introduce the activated thio residue involved in two glycosylation reactions. The disaccharide acceptor precursor of the reducing end was obtained after oxidative cleavage of the 4,6-O-benzylidene moiety by DMDO.