The quaternary status of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is important, unknown and controversial. Estimates of size from numerous pharmacological, biochemical and biophysical studies range from monomers to octamers. Accounts of stability vary from constitutive oligomers to a spontaneous, ligand-regulated interconversion between monomers and dimers. In the present investigation, the oligomeric size of GPCRs in live Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been examined by two methods. Both are based on the efficiency of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorophore-tagged receptors, as determined from emission spectra via spectral deconvolution. In the first, the apparent FRET efficiency (Eapp) was measured for cells expressing eGFP- and eYFP-tagged M2 muscarinic receptors at different ratios of acceptor to donor. Eapp then was related to the pair-wise efficiency (Ep) according to a model that enumerates all pathways for the transfer of energy between single donors and acceptors within an oligomer of given size (n). Each value n returned a distinct and well-defined value of Ep. Fluorescence lifetime imaging provided an independent estimate of Ep that was in close agreement with the model-based value when n = 4, identifying the M2 receptor as a tetramer. In the second approach, the M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors and the β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors were tagged with GFP2 and eYFP, and the value of Eapp was estimated for each pixel in the image of a cell. The distributions of Eapp from 34–40 cells expressing each receptor were compared with those predicted for populations of dimers, trimers and tetramers, the latter configured as a square and a rhombus. In each case, the combined data were well described in terms of a rhombus. Distributions obtained for the M2 and β2 receptors were not affected by agonists or inverse agonists, nor was there evidence for appreciable numbers of dimers or larger oligomers. Taken together, the results suggest that GPCRs of Family 1 exist largely or wholly as constitutive tetramers.

This dissertation presents results of a project bringing Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) into a regime of unlimited operational time at cryogenic conditions. Freedom from liquid helium consumption was achieved and technical characteristics of the instrument are reported, including record low noise for a scanning probe instrument coupled to a close-cycle cryostat, which allows for atomically resolved imaging, and record low thermal drift. Subsequent studies showed that the new STM opened new prospects in nanoscience research by enabling Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopic (STS) spatial mapping to reveal details of the electronic structure in real space for molecules and low-dimensional nanomaterials, for which this depth of investigation was previously prohibitively expensive. Quantum-confined electronic states were studied in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) deposited on the Au(111) surface. Localization on the nanometer-scale was discovered to produce a local vibronic manifold resulting from the localization-enhanced electron-vibrational coupling. STS showed the vibrational overtones, identified as D-band Kekulé vibrational modes and K-point transverse out-of plane phonons. This study experimentally connected the properties of well-defined localized electronic states to the properties of associated vibronic states. Electronic structures of alkyl-substituted oligothiophenes with different backbone lengths were studied and correlated with torsional conformations assumed on the Au(111) surface. The molecules adopted distinct planar conformations with alkyl ligands forming cis- or trans- mutual orientations and at higher coverage self-assembled into ordered structures, binding to each other via interdigitated alkyl ligands. STS maps visualized, in real space, particle-in-a-box-like molecular orbitals. Shorter quaterthiophenes have substantially varying orbital energies because of local variations in surface reactivity. Different conformers of longer oligothiophenes with significant geometrical distortions of the oligothiophene backbones surprisingly exhibited similar electronic structures, indicating insensitivity of interaction with the surface to molecular conformation. Electronic states for annealed ligand-free lead sulfide nanocrystals were investigated, as well as hydrogen-passivated silicon nanocrystals, supported on the Au(111) surface. Delocalized quantum-confined states and localized defect-related states were identified, for the first time, via STS spatial mapping. Physical mechanisms, involving surface reconstruction or single-atom defects, were proposed for surface state formation to explain the observed spatial behavior of the electronic density of states. This dissertation includes previously published co-authored material.

L’objectif de ce travail a consisté à développer un revêtement polyuréthane (PU) ignifugeant à partir de caoutchouc naturel. Pour ce faire, deux types de diols ont été utilisés. Un oligoisoprène hydroxytéléchélique a été tout d’abord synthétisé et utilisé comme segment souple. Par ailleurs, un second oligomère phosphorylé, dont les groupements phosphonate ou phosphate sont connus pour offrir des propriétés retardatrices de flamme, et possédant une extrémité diol a été réalisé afin de servir d’extenseur de chaine au cours du procédé one shot d’obtention des revêtements. Ces oligophosphonates ou phosphates ont été obtenus quant à eux selon un procédé de polymérisation radicalaire contrôlé de type RAFT à partir de monomères diethyl (acryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate (DEAMP) et 2-acryloyloxyethyldiethylphosphate (ADEP) afin d'accéder à deux gammes de masses strictes (n~13 and n~21 ) et des dispersités étroites (Ð<1.2). Ces polymères ont été entièrementcaractérisés par RMN 1H, 31P, SEC et spectrométrie Maldi TOF et utilisés en synthèse de polyuréthanes selon deux procédés appelés additif et réactif. Les propriétés physicochimiques et mécaniques des matériaux PU synthétisés ont été comparés à ceux de matériaux PU incorporant selon les mêmes approches une petite molécule phosphorylée, afin de traduire les effets spécifiques de ces oligomères. Les revêtements polyuréthane synthétisés ont été caractérisés par FTIR et spectroscopie Raman afin de mesurer la dispersion des oligomères phosphorés au sein de la matrice polymère. En outre, les propriétés physicochimiques et notamment les propriétés ignifugeante ont été évaluées par TGA, DSC et LOI. En complément, les propriétés mécaniques ont été elles aussi évaluées (élongation à rupture, module, dureté et scratch test). Une étude de mapping par spectroscopie Raman a révélé une meilleure dispersion des additifs dans un matériau obtenu selon l’approche réactive, où l’oligomère phosphorylé est lié de manière covalente au squelette du Polyuréthane. De la même façon, cette dispersion apparaîtplus homogène pour l’utilisation d’un oligomère de chaine plus courte (n=13). Les propriétés ignifugeantes ont été démontrées grâce aux caractérisations TGA et DSC où la première étape de décomposition est retardée quels que soient les pourcentages d’oligomères incorporés à la matrice (1, 5 ou 8%). En outre, il s’avère que les mesures LOI démontrent un maximum proche de 30% pour un pourcentage d’oligomère de 8%, valeur très notablement supérieure à celle de l’additif de comparaison. Concernant les propriétés mécaniques, l’incorporation d’oligomères phosphorylés entraîne une augmentation du module et de la dureté et une diminution de la résistance à l’abrasion. Les valeurs d’élongation à rupture sont cependant très similaires, quelles que soient les formulations testées. Néanmoins, ces propriétés apparaissent très supérieures à celles de la matrice standard, démontrant une plus grande efficacité d’oligomères phosphorylés par comparaison avec une petite molécule de type phosphate ou phosphonate. Ces résultats encourageant laissent entrevoir une perspective d’application industrielle de cette méthodologie vers la production de caoutchoucs ignifugeants. / The aim of this research was to develop polyurethane (PU) coating from Natural Rubber (NR) presenting Flame Retardant (FR) properties. For this purpose, two kinds of diols were used. Hydroxytelechelic oligoisoprenes were firstly synthesized from Natural Rubber (NR) and used as softsegment. Secondly, diol chain end phosphorylated oligophosphonates or oligophosphates were synthesised that would cater as chain extender during the polyurethane synthesis one shot process. Such Phosphorylated oligomer was synthesized by RAFT polymerization of diethyl (acryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate (DEAMP) and 2-acryloyloxyethyl diethylphosphate (ADEP) monomer. A new trithiocarbonate based RAFT agent was synthesized (2-(dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)carbonyl trithiocarbonate). This RAFT agent was used to polymerize each monomer with welldefinedmolecular weight and narrow dispersities (Đ<1.2). The polymer was well characterised by 1H, 31PNMR, SEC and Maldi TOF. The oligomers were synthesised with two different chain lengths, n≈13 andn≈21 to be used as additive and reactive FR in polyurethane films. As a reference molecule, a phosphatediol was synthesized to be used as a pendent group in polyurethane synthesis.Polyurethane films were fully characterised using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, DSC and LOI.The mechanical properties were furthermore evaluated such as elongation at break, modulus, hardnessand scratch test. Polyurethanes with 1, 5, and 8% w/w of the phosphorylated oligomer were preparedaccording two different pathways so called additive or reactive. The main difference consists in thecovalent attachment of the phosphorylated oligomer to the PU backbone in the reactive pathway whilein the additive process, the oligomers are only physically incorporated in the PU. Raman mappingcharacterizations on the different films reveal a better homogeneous distribution of shortphosphorylated oligomer chains using a reactive pathways compared to the additive pathway as well asthe use of longer chains. Moreover TGA Analysis showed lower decomposition temperature on the firststep and an increased decomposition temperature on the second step of all phosphorylated treatedPUs. This indicates char formation from FR oligomer at lower temperature increases the decompositiontemperature on the second step. LOI measurements showed a maximum of 28.2% with shorterphosphate based oligomers added via reactive pathway at 8%w/w ratio.The mechanical properties of PU with phosphorylated oligomer gave similar elongation at breakbetween additive and reactive pathway. Compared to standard PU, the incorporation of the phosphorylated oligomer showed a decrease in scratch resistance and an increase in modulus and hardness. However, these oligomers (additive and reactive) performed better when compared withsmall molecule added as additive fillers. As a perspective, these phosphorylated oligomers on its own,with low Tg values (≈ -30oC), could be used in dry rubber FR application.

No presente trabalho, realizado conjuntamente na Universidade e na Indústria, foi feita a investigação dos catalisadores isopropóxido de alumínio e Aliso B na reação de etoxilação de álcool laurílico, com o objetivo de obter produtos com distribuição estreita de oligômeros. Os experimentos foram realizados em escala piloto e foram investigadas a influência da temperatura, da concentração de catalisador e da relação molar entre ácido (promotor) e catalisador no processo. Todos os estudos tiveram caráter comparativo, tomando como base a reação e os produtos gerados a partir do uso de hidróxido de potássio que é o catalisador mais amplamente empregado para esse tipo de preparação industrial. Primeiramente foi estudada a forma de carregamento do reator, determinando e otimizando seu modo de operação. A partir desses dados, avaliou-se a influência da temperatura na taxa de consumo de óxido de etileno, na distribuição de oligômeros do produto e na formação de glicol como subproduto. Também foi avaliada a influência da concentração de catalisador e relação molar promotor:catalisador na taxa de consumo de óxido de etileno e formação de glicoI. As avaliaçãoes foram feitas para as reações de etoxilação gerando produtos com grau de etoxilação 2, 3, 4 e 6 mols de óxido de etileno. Através dos resultados foram estabelecidas as melhores condições de processo, considerando as limitações de processo dos reatores industriais para gerar o produto desejado. / In the present work, developed in an association between University and Industry, different catalysts were evaluated, such as aluminum isopropoxide and Aliso B, for ethoxylation of laurilic alcohol, aiming to obtain narrowly distributed oligomers. The experiments were carried out in a pilot plant and the influence of temperature, catalyst concentration and molar relationship between acid (promoter of the reaction) and catalyst were evaluated. All the evaluations made were comparative, using for comparison the reaction and the products generated when potassium hydroxide is used as catalyst, which is commonly the case in industry. Initially we studied the charging of the reactional vessel in order to determine and optimize operational procedures. Then, we evaluated the influence of temperature on the ethylene oxide consumption rate, the oligomer distribution and the generation of glycol as a byproduct. We also evaluated the influence of catalyst concentration and molar relation of promoter : catalyst on the ethylene oxide consumption rate and on the generation of glycol. The evaluations were made for the ethoxylation reactions generating products with ethoxylation grades of 2, 3, 4 and 6 moles of ethylene oxide. Through the results, we have optimized processing conditions, considering the process limitations of industrial vessels for the generation of the desired product.

Les cellules solaires organiques sont une technologie très prometteuse grâce à leur faible-coût de fabrication, leur flexibilité et leur légèreté. Actuellement, elles ne sont qu’au stade du prototype à cause de leurs faibles rendements et leur courte durée de vie. L’une des voies les plus étudiées pour améliorer le rendement est la conception de nouveaux matériaux photo-actifs. Lors de cette thèse, deux séries de semi-conducteurs donneurs d’électrons. La première série comprend trois oligomères, chacun composé de trois unités de diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) qui est un chromophore très étudié dans la littérature. Ces oligomères ont la particularité d’absorber dans le proche infra-rouge. En intercalant différents groupements donneurs d’électrons entre les DPPs, différentes torsions sont obtenues le long de leur squelette. Ceci a permis d’établir qu’un oligomère plan a une plus grande cristallinité et par conséquent transporte mieux les charges, atteignant une mobilité de trou de 10-3 cm². V-1.s-1. Cependant, cette forte cristallinité entraîne une hétérojonction volumique défavorable et un faible rendement photovoltaïque (<1%). La deuxième série est composée de quatre petites molécules combinant une unité 3,3’-(ethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(indolin-2-one) (EBI) avec différents groupements donneurs d’électrons: thiophène (EBI-T), benzofurane (EBI-BF) and bithiophène (EBI-2T)). Les dérivés EBI ont été testés dans les transistors à effet de champ et dans les cellules solaires en tant que semi-conducteurs donneurs. La meilleure mobilité de trou de 0,021 cm².V-1.s-1 a été mesurée avec EBI-BF grâce à sa conformation plane alors que le PCE maximal de 1.92% est obtenu avec EBI-2T grâce à son large spectre d’absorption et une morphologie adéquate. / Organic solar cells appear as a promising technology within photovoltaic field owing to their low-cost fabrication and their great flexibility enabling a widespread distribution. For now, they are still at the prototype stage due to their limited efficiency and lifetimes. Many efforts were realized in designing new materials as they are involved in every steps of the photovoltaic process and thus they dictate the cell efficiency. Along this thesis, two series of electron-donating semi-conductors were designed and synthesized. The first series consist in three oligomers containing three diketopyrrolopyrrole units, a well-studied chromophore. Those oligomers absorb up to the near infra-red region, a very interesting feature for light harvesting. Through the engineering of electron-rich spacers, various twists were generated in the oligomers backbone. The oligomer showing a coplanar conformation appears to be the most crystalline and thus exhibits the best charge transport properties with a hole mobility of 10-3 cm².V-1.s-1.iiiHowever, bulk heterojunction organic solar cells, this high crystallinity results in an unfavorable morphology and a PCE inferior to 1%. As for the second series, the four small molecules combined 3,3’-(ethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(indolin-2-one) (EBI), an electron deficient unit, and various electron-rich units such as thiophene (EBI-T), benzofuran (EBI-BF) and bithiophene (EBI-2T). Among EBI derivatives, EBI-BF demonstrated the highest hole mobility of 0.021 cm².V-1.s-1 in field effect transistors due to its coplanar conformation. Meanwhile, in bulk heterojunction solar cells, the highest PCE of 1.92% was obtained with EBI-2T:PC61BM blend owing to a more appropriate morphology and the broadest absorption spectrum of EBI-2T.

Industriellement, les problématiques d‘adhésion polymère/métal se rencontrent dans de nombreux secteurs tels que l'industrie automobile, ou les applications aéronautiques et électroniques. Les polyuréthanes (PU) sont fréquemment utilisés comme adhésifs structuraux, et sont obtenus à partir de polyols provenant de la pétrochimie (polyester et polyéther polyols). Cependant, ces produits ont des inconvénients notables sur le plan écologique car ils sont produits à partir de ressources non renouvelables, ils peuvent également générer une pollution de l'environnement, et leurs matières premières de départ sont d‘une part de plus en plus coûteuses et d‘autres part amenées à se raréfier dans les années à venir. Le caoutchouc naturel (NR) est une alternative intéressante aux polyols de synthèse car il est issu d‘une ressource végétale (hévéa), renouvelable et abondante, et également car il présente des propriétés mécaniques intéressantes. De plus, il peut être facilement modifié chimiquement, afin notamment d‘apporter des groupements hydroxyle capables de réagir ensuite avec des fonctions isocyanate pour former un polyuréthane. Dans ce travail, le polyisoprène hydroxytéléchélique (HTPI) ayant une fonctionnalité en hydroxyle de 2 a été synthétisé avec succès par époxydation contrôlée suivie de coupure oxydante de polyisoprène de hautes masses, puis réduction sélective des oligoisoprènes carbonyltéléchéliques obtenus. Ces HTPI de différentes masses molaires (1000-8000 g mol-1) ont été obtenus de façon reproductible. Des modifications chimiques ont été effectuées par époxydation à différents taux (10-60% EHTPI). Les différentes microstructures de ces oligomères ont été mises en évidence par FT-IR, RMN and SEC. Leurs propriétés thermiques ont été déterminées par ATG et DSC. Les propriétés de surface (énergie de surface, microscopie optique) et les propriétés d‘adhésion (test de clivage) de différents matériaux ont été caractérisées. Les échantillons à base de HTPI pur (sans époxyde) présentent un niveau d‘adhésion élevé. Des taux d‘époxydation proches de 30-40% permettent d‘obtenir des performances adhésives intéressantes. D‘autre part, l‘effet de la masse molaire est faible(cependant, une masse molaire plus élevée entraîne globalement une meilleure adhérence). Le niveau d‘adhérence observé est similaire à ceux mesurés pour des adhésifs structuraux utilisés dans l‘industrie automobile ou aéronautique. Le test de clivage est un test d‘adhérence sévère pour un joint adhésif, et les faibles propagations de fissures observées pour certaines formulations permettent d‘escompter des développements industriels prometteurs pour ces nouveaux polymères. / Industrially, metal/polymer adhesion is involved in a wide range of industries such as automotive industry, or aeronautic and electronic applications. Polyurethanes (PU) are frequently used as structural adhesives, and are based from polyols obtained from petrochemical products (polyester and polyether polyols). However, these products have some disadvantages as they are non-renewable resources, they may cause environmental pollution, and they tend to be exhausted in the near future. Natural rubber (NR) is an interesting choice to use as a starting material in PU synthesis, due to the fact that they are renewable source, abundant polymer and they have interesting mechanical properties and can be chemically modified. In this work, hydroxytelechelic polyisoprene (HTPI) having a hydroxyl functionality of 2 was successfully performed via controlled epoxidation and cleavage of high molecular weight polyisoprene, following by a selective reduction reaction of the obtained carbonyltelechelicoligoisoprenes. These HTPI with different molecular weights (1000-8000 g mol-1) were reproducible obtained. Chemical modifications on HTPI were performed by various percentage of epoxidation (10-60%, EHTPI). The different microstructures of these oligomers were evidenced by the characterization techniques FT-IR, NMR, SEC. Their thermal properties were also investigated by TGA and DSC.Surface properties (surface energy, optical microscopy) and adhesion properties (wedge test) of different materials have been characterized. To resume adherence results, pure HTPI samples (without any epoxy group) present a very high adhesion level. Epoxidation degrees close to 30-40% allow to obtain interesting adhesive performance. Elsewhere, the effect of molecular weight is slight (nevertheless, a higher Mn of HTPI induces globally a better adherence). The adherence level is similar to whose measured for structural adhesive used in car or aeronautic industry. The wedge test is a severe adherence test, and the low crack propagation observed for some formulations underlines promising industrial developments for this new polymers.

Les récepteurs métabotropes du glutamate (mGluR) sont des récepteurs couplés aux protéines G qui régulent la transmission synaptique. Ce sont des cibles de choix pour le traitement de maladies neurologiques et psychiatriques telles que la maladie de Parkinson et la schizophrénie.J'ai développé une stratégie d'étude de l'assemblage multimérique des protéines membranaires dans des cellules vivantes, à l'aide de techniques de marquage orthogonal et de FRET en temps-résolu. De façon inattendue, j'ai montré que certaines sous-unités de mGluR, en plus de former des récepteurs homodimériques, peuvent former des récepteurs hétérodimériques fonctionnels. D'autre part, j'ai appliqué ces techniques à l'étude du mécanisme d'activation des mGluR et de leur régulation allostérique. J'ai démontré qu'un mouvement relatif des domaines extracellulaires au sein du dimère était responsable de l'action du glutamate.Ce travail a permis de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement des mGluR, et permet la conception de nouveaux tests de criblage. / Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G protein-coupled receptors that regulate synaptic transmission. They are relevant therapeutic targets for neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Parkinson disease and schizophrenia.I developed a strategy to study the multimeric assembly of membrane proteins in living cells, through a combination of orthogonal labeling and time-resolved FRET. Unexpectedly, some subunits of mGluRs, in addition to forming homodimeric receptors, were found capable of forming functional heterodimeric receptors. Then, I applied these techniques to study the activation mechanism of mGluRs and their allosteric regulation. I demonstrated that a conformational change of the dimeric extracellular domain is responsible for the action of glutamate.In addition to increase our understandings of how mGluRs function, this work opens new avenues for the design of drug screening tests.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22505号 / 農博第2409号 / 新制||農||1077(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R2||N5285(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 保川 清, 教授 宮川 恒, 教授 入江 一浩 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

No description available.

Final publication is available at http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(13)00012-X / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第19622号 / 医博第4129号 / 新制||医||1015(附属図書館) / 32658 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 高橋 淳, 教授 伊佐 正, 教授 YOUSSEFIAN Shohab / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM