The bacterial ribosome is an important target for many antimicrobial agents. Aminoglycoside antibiotics bind to both 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits, inhibiting translation and subunit formation. During ribosomal subunit biogenesis, ribonucleases (RNases) play an important role in rRNA processing. E. coli cells deficient for specific processing RNases are predicted to have an increased sensitivity to neomycin and paromomycin. Four RNase mutant strains showed an increased growth sensitivity to both aminoglycoside antibiotics. E. coli strains deficient for the rRNA processing enzymes RNase III, RNase E, RNase G or RNase PH showed significantly reduced subunit amounts after antibiotic treatment. A substantial increase in a 16S RNA precursor molecule was observed as well. Ribosomal RNA turnover was stimulated, and an enhancement of 16S and 23S rRNA fragmentation was detected in E. coli cells deficient for these enzymes. This work indicates that bacterial RNases may be novel antimicrobial targets.

Antibacterial agents specific for the 50S ribosomal subunit not only inhibit translation but also prevent assembly of that subunit. I examined the 30S ribosomal subunit in growing Escherichia coli cells to see if antibiotics specific for that subunit also had a second inhibitory effect. I used the aminoglycoside antibiotics paromomycin and neomycin, which bind specifically to the 30S ribosomal subunit. Both antibiotics inhibited the growth rate, viable cell number, and protein synthesis. I used a 3H-uridine pulse and chase assay to examine the kinetics of ribosome subunit assembly in the presence and absence of each antibiotic. Analysis revealed a concentration dependent inhibition of 30S subunit formation in the presence of each antibiotic. Sucrose gradient profiles of cell lysates showed the accumulation of an intermediate 21S translational particle. Taken together this data gives the first demonstration that 30S ribosomal subunit inhibitors can also prevent assembly of the small subunit.

A RMN é uma das principais técnicas usadas no estudo de perfis metabólicos pois é uma técnica quantitativa, altamente reprodutível e não-seletiva. Desta forma, o objetivo desta tese foi a aplicação da RMN no estudo metabólico em diferentes processos biológicos. A primeira aplicação foi na análise do perfil metabolômico e metabonômico dos agentes causadores da leishmaniose. Para tal, foram analisados extratos celulares das espécies Leishmania major e Leishmania donovani e extratos destas espécies crescidas com os fármacos miltefosina e paromomicina. Os espectros de RMN de 1H foram analisados pelo programa ChenoMX e os espectros de RMN 2D pelo software TopSpin e as bases de dados HMDB e BMRB. Cerca de 50 metabólitos foram identificados, como a adenina, arginina, glutamina, glutamato, manose, isoleucina, leucina e tirosina. Técnicas quimiométricas como PCA, PLS-DA e heatmaps foram utilizadas para investigar os metabólitos responsáveis pela diferenciação das duas espécies bem como entre as culturas com e sem fármacos. O segundo estudo foi com o composto metilglioxal. A presença de metilglioxal em queijos contribui com o escurecimento e deterioração do sabor, mesmo em baixas temperaturas. Por esta razão, foram estudados os produtos da adição de metilglioxal em extrato de queijo parmesão e o comportamento de diferentes espécies de lactobacilos na presença e na ausência de metilglioxal em extrato de queijo parmesão. Os resultados permitiram um entendimento maior das reações envolvidas entre esta molécula e os componentes do queijo, o que ajudará encontrar alternativas para a resolução do problema e aumentar o tempo de prateleira do queijo. O terceiro estudo realizado foi sobre a produção de etanol a partir de biomassa lignocelulósica. O objetivo deste estudo foi modificar geneticamente uma espécie de lactobacilo para a produção de etanol e analisar a vinhaça de planta de etanol pós-fermentação com levedura. Os espectros de RMN de 1H e 1H-13C mostraram que as bactérias modificadas são eficientes na produção de etanol e que dois açucares foram erroneamente identificados por cromatografia como maltose e maltotriose quando na verdade eram trealose e arabinose.  Por meio destes destes estudos mostrou-se parte das inúmeras aplicações que a RMN tem na metabolômica e que existem diversas ferramentas estatísticas disponíveis para auxiliar no estudo metabolômico. / NMR is one of the main techniques used in metabolic profile studies because it is a quantitative, highly reproducible and non-selective technique. Thus, the aim of this thesis was the application of NMR in metabolic studies of different biological processes. The first application was the analysis of the metabolomic and metabonomic profile of the causative agents of leishmaniasis. Cell extracts of the species Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani and extracts of these species grown with miltefosine and paromomycin drugs were analyzed. 1H spectra were analyzed by ChenoMX software and 2D spectra by TopSpin software and HMDB and BMRB databases. About 50 metabolites were identified, such as adenine, arginine, glutamine, glutamate, mannose, isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine. Chemometric techniques were used to investigate the metabolites responsible for the differentiation of the two species and between cultures with and without drugs. The second study was with methylglyoxal molecule. The presence of methylglyoxal in cheese contributes to browning and deterioration of flavor, even at low temperatures. For this reason, products of the addition of methylglyoxal in Parmesan cheese extract and the behavior of different species of lactobacilli in the presence and absence of methylglyoxal in Parmesan cheese extract were studied. The results allowed a better understanding of the reactions involved between this molecule and the components of the cheese, which will help find alternatives to solve the problem and increase the shelf life of the cheese. The third study was about the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The objective of this study was to genetically modify a lactobacillus species to produce ethanol and analyze the post-fermentation thin stillage. NMR spectra showed that the modified bacteria are efficient in production of ethanol and that two sugars were erroneously being identified by chromatography as maltose and maltotriose when they actually were trehalose and arabinose. These studies showed part of the numerous applications that NMR has in metabolomics and that there are several statistical tools available to assist in metabolomic studies.

A RMN é uma das principais técnicas usadas no estudo de perfis metabólicos pois é uma técnica quantitativa, altamente reprodutível e não-seletiva. Desta forma, o objetivo desta tese foi a aplicação da RMN no estudo metabólico em diferentes processos biológicos. A primeira aplicação foi na análise do perfil metabolômico e metabonômico dos agentes causadores da leishmaniose. Para tal, foram analisados extratos celulares das espécies Leishmania major e Leishmania donovani e extratos destas espécies crescidas com os fármacos miltefosina e paromomicina. Os espectros de RMN de 1H foram analisados pelo programa ChenoMX e os espectros de RMN 2D pelo software TopSpin e as bases de dados HMDB e BMRB. Cerca de 50 metabólitos foram identificados, como a adenina, arginina, glutamina, glutamato, manose, isoleucina, leucina e tirosina. Técnicas quimiométricas como PCA, PLS-DA e heatmaps foram utilizadas para investigar os metabólitos responsáveis pela diferenciação das duas espécies bem como entre as culturas com e sem fármacos. O segundo estudo foi com o composto metilglioxal. A presença de metilglioxal em queijos contribui com o escurecimento e deterioração do sabor, mesmo em baixas temperaturas. Por esta razão, foram estudados os produtos da adição de metilglioxal em extrato de queijo parmesão e o comportamento de diferentes espécies de lactobacilos na presença e na ausência de metilglioxal em extrato de queijo parmesão. Os resultados permitiram um entendimento maior das reações envolvidas entre esta molécula e os componentes do queijo, o que ajudará encontrar alternativas para a resolução do problema e aumentar o tempo de prateleira do queijo. O terceiro estudo realizado foi sobre a produção de etanol a partir de biomassa lignocelulósica. O objetivo deste estudo foi modificar geneticamente uma espécie de lactobacilo para a produção de etanol e analisar a vinhaça de planta de etanol pós-fermentação com levedura. Os espectros de RMN de 1H e 1H-13C mostraram que as bactérias modificadas são eficientes na produção de etanol e que dois açucares foram erroneamente identificados por cromatografia como maltose e maltotriose quando na verdade eram trealose e arabinose.  Por meio destes destes estudos mostrou-se parte das inúmeras aplicações que a RMN tem na metabolômica e que existem diversas ferramentas estatísticas disponíveis para auxiliar no estudo metabolômico. / NMR is one of the main techniques used in metabolic profile studies because it is a quantitative, highly reproducible and non-selective technique. Thus, the aim of this thesis was the application of NMR in metabolic studies of different biological processes. The first application was the analysis of the metabolomic and metabonomic profile of the causative agents of leishmaniasis. Cell extracts of the species Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani and extracts of these species grown with miltefosine and paromomycin drugs were analyzed. 1H spectra were analyzed by ChenoMX software and 2D spectra by TopSpin software and HMDB and BMRB databases. About 50 metabolites were identified, such as adenine, arginine, glutamine, glutamate, mannose, isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine. Chemometric techniques were used to investigate the metabolites responsible for the differentiation of the two species and between cultures with and without drugs. The second study was with methylglyoxal molecule. The presence of methylglyoxal in cheese contributes to browning and deterioration of flavor, even at low temperatures. For this reason, products of the addition of methylglyoxal in Parmesan cheese extract and the behavior of different species of lactobacilli in the presence and absence of methylglyoxal in Parmesan cheese extract were studied. The results allowed a better understanding of the reactions involved between this molecule and the components of the cheese, which will help find alternatives to solve the problem and increase the shelf life of the cheese. The third study was about the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The objective of this study was to genetically modify a lactobacillus species to produce ethanol and analyze the post-fermentation thin stillage. NMR spectra showed that the modified bacteria are efficient in production of ethanol and that two sugars were erroneously being identified by chromatography as maltose and maltotriose when they actually were trehalose and arabinose. These studies showed part of the numerous applications that NMR has in metabolomics and that there are several statistical tools available to assist in metabolomic studies.

Plusieurs aminoglycosides font partie d’une famille d’antibiotiques à large spectre d’action. Les aminoglycosides ayant une activité antibiotique viennent interférer dans la synthèse protéique effectuée par les bactéries. Les protéines mal codées entraineront la mort cellulaire. Au fil des années, de nombreux cas de résistance ont émergé après une utilisation soutenue des aminoglycosides. De nombreux aminoglycosides semi-synthétiques ont été synthétisés avec comme objectif de restaurer leur activité antimicrobienne. Parmi les modifications ayant connu du succès, notons la didésoxygénation d’un diol et l’introduction de la chaine latérale HABA. Des études précédentes ont montré l’efficacité de ces modifications sur les aminoglycosides. Les présents travaux portent sur l’installation de la chaine latérale HABA et la didésoxygénation d’un diol sur la paromomycine et la néomycine. La didésoxygénation sélective des diols a été effectuée en utilisant la méthodologie développée par Garegg et Samuelsson, une variation de la réaction de Tipson-Cohen. Cette méthode a permis l’obtention du motif didésoxygéné sur les cycles A et D dans des rendements jamais égalés pour ce motif synthétique. La chaîne latérale a été introduite en tirant profit de la réactivité et de la sélectivité d’un carbamate cyclique. Ces méthodes combinées ont permis la synthèse efficace de nombreux analogues semi-synthétiques nouveaux. La 3',4'-didéhydro-N-1-HABA-néomycine et la 3',4',3''',4'''-tétradésoxy-N-1-HABA-néomycine montrent une activité impressionnante contre des souches de bactéries résistantes aux aminoglycosides. Des tests de toxicité effectués en collaboration avec Achaogen Inc. ont démontré que ces composés sont relativement toxiques sur les cellules rénales de type H2K, ce qui réduit de façon importante leur index thérapeutique. Afin d’abaisser la toxicité des composés, la relation entre toxicité et basicité a été explorée. Des substitutions de l’amine en 6''' ont été effectuées afin d’abaisser la basicité de l’amine. Les résultats de toxicité et d’activité antimicrobienne démontrent une corrélation importante entre la basicité des amines et la toxicité/activité des aminoglycosides antibiotiques. L’effet d’une modulation du pKa a aussi été exploré en installant des chaines fluorées sur l’amine en 6''' de la paromomycine et de la néomycine. Une séquence synthtétique pour isoler l’amine en 6''' de la néomycine a aussi été développée. / Some aminoglycosides are part of a broad-spectrum family of antibiotics used in the clinic. They interfere in protein synthesis in bacterium cell by interfering with the transcription of proteins leading to cellular death. After an intense usage of aminoglycosides in the clinic, numerous cases of resistance have been encountered which render aminoglycosides less effective. Semi-synthetic aminoglycosides have been synthesized with the objective of restoring their original antimicrobial activity. Deoxygenation of the diol on ring A and introduction of the lateral chain HABA at N-1 had a significant impact on their antimicrobial activity against resistant strains. The present work will focus on deoxygenation of the diol at 3', 4' and on the introduction of the lateral HABA chain on aminoglycoside, more specificaly on paromomycin and neomycin. The selective dideoxygenation of the A ring diol was done using a methodology developed by Garegg and Samuelsson, which is a modification of the original Tipson-Cohen reaction. This method allows the dideoxygenation on ring A and D with unprecedented yields. The lateral HABA chain was introduced via the ring opening of a cyclic carbamate. These methods were combined to produce very potent analogs such as 3',4'-didehydro-N-1-HABA-neomycin and 3',4',3''',4'''-tetradeoxy-N-1-HABA-neomycin. Toxicity tests done in collaboration with Achaogen Inc. showed that these analogs were toxic to H2K renal cells, which reduced significantly their therapeutic index. In order to lower the toxicity of those compounds, the relation between toxicity and basicity was explored. Substitution of the amine at 6''' was done in order to lower the basicity of this amine. The results showed a strong correlation beetween the basicity of this amine and toxicity/activity. The pKa of this amine was modulated by installing fluorinated alkyl chain on the amine at 6''' in order to see the effect of the pKa on the activity/toxicity on paromomycin and neomycin. A synthetic sequence was also developed to allow the 6''' amine on neomycin to be modified selectively.

Plusieurs aminoglycosides font partie d’une famille d’antibiotiques à large spectre d’action. Les aminoglycosides ayant une activité antibiotique viennent interférer dans la synthèse protéique effectuée par les bactéries. Les protéines mal codées entraineront la mort cellulaire. Au fil des années, de nombreux cas de résistance ont émergé après une utilisation soutenue des aminoglycosides. De nombreux aminoglycosides semi-synthétiques ont été synthétisés avec comme objectif de restaurer leur activité antimicrobienne. Parmi les modifications ayant connu du succès, notons la didésoxygénation d’un diol et l’introduction de la chaine latérale HABA. Des études précédentes ont montré l’efficacité de ces modifications sur les aminoglycosides. Les présents travaux portent sur l’installation de la chaine latérale HABA et la didésoxygénation d’un diol sur la paromomycine et la néomycine. La didésoxygénation sélective des diols a été effectuée en utilisant la méthodologie développée par Garegg et Samuelsson, une variation de la réaction de Tipson-Cohen. Cette méthode a permis l’obtention du motif didésoxygéné sur les cycles A et D dans des rendements jamais égalés pour ce motif synthétique. La chaîne latérale a été introduite en tirant profit de la réactivité et de la sélectivité d’un carbamate cyclique. Ces méthodes combinées ont permis la synthèse efficace de nombreux analogues semi-synthétiques nouveaux. La 3',4'-didéhydro-N-1-HABA-néomycine et la 3',4',3''',4'''-tétradésoxy-N-1-HABA-néomycine montrent une activité impressionnante contre des souches de bactéries résistantes aux aminoglycosides. Des tests de toxicité effectués en collaboration avec Achaogen Inc. ont démontré que ces composés sont relativement toxiques sur les cellules rénales de type H2K, ce qui réduit de façon importante leur index thérapeutique. Afin d’abaisser la toxicité des composés, la relation entre toxicité et basicité a été explorée. Des substitutions de l’amine en 6''' ont été effectuées afin d’abaisser la basicité de l’amine. Les résultats de toxicité et d’activité antimicrobienne démontrent une corrélation importante entre la basicité des amines et la toxicité/activité des aminoglycosides antibiotiques. L’effet d’une modulation du pKa a aussi été exploré en installant des chaines fluorées sur l’amine en 6''' de la paromomycine et de la néomycine. Une séquence synthtétique pour isoler l’amine en 6''' de la néomycine a aussi été développée. / Some aminoglycosides are part of a broad-spectrum family of antibiotics used in the clinic. They interfere in protein synthesis in bacterium cell by interfering with the transcription of proteins leading to cellular death. After an intense usage of aminoglycosides in the clinic, numerous cases of resistance have been encountered which render aminoglycosides less effective. Semi-synthetic aminoglycosides have been synthesized with the objective of restoring their original antimicrobial activity. Deoxygenation of the diol on ring A and introduction of the lateral chain HABA at N-1 had a significant impact on their antimicrobial activity against resistant strains. The present work will focus on deoxygenation of the diol at 3', 4' and on the introduction of the lateral HABA chain on aminoglycoside, more specificaly on paromomycin and neomycin. The selective dideoxygenation of the A ring diol was done using a methodology developed by Garegg and Samuelsson, which is a modification of the original Tipson-Cohen reaction. This method allows the dideoxygenation on ring A and D with unprecedented yields. The lateral HABA chain was introduced via the ring opening of a cyclic carbamate. These methods were combined to produce very potent analogs such as 3',4'-didehydro-N-1-HABA-neomycin and 3',4',3''',4'''-tetradeoxy-N-1-HABA-neomycin. Toxicity tests done in collaboration with Achaogen Inc. showed that these analogs were toxic to H2K renal cells, which reduced significantly their therapeutic index. In order to lower the toxicity of those compounds, the relation between toxicity and basicity was explored. Substitution of the amine at 6''' was done in order to lower the basicity of this amine. The results showed a strong correlation beetween the basicity of this amine and toxicity/activity. The pKa of this amine was modulated by installing fluorinated alkyl chain on the amine at 6''' in order to see the effect of the pKa on the activity/toxicity on paromomycin and neomycin. A synthetic sequence was also developed to allow the 6''' amine on neomycin to be modified selectively.