This thesis is divided into two parts.Part I describes the organic extraction, separation, and liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of chromophores from human and bovine retinal pigment epithelium. Flurorophores in the retinal pigment epithelium have been implicated in age related macular degeneration. In addition, the synthesis and characterization of a number of bis-retinoid type compounds that may potentially be found in such extracts, or that may be used for insight into pyridinium bis-retinoid reactivity, was accomplished.Part II describes a study of pyridinium bis-retinoid-folic acid coupling with respect to linker type, linker length, and nature of the linkage. Folic acid has been used as a targeting compound for a variety of cancer types. Development of HPLC and UV-Vis conditions suitable for the analysis of this new type of macromolecule was performed.

Supramolecular host-guest chemistry is a topic of great current interest. However, the further development of host-guest chemistry is still limited by the number of available host-guest recognition motifs. This makes it necessary and valuable to find new host-guest recognition motifs and apply known host-guest recognition motifs in the preparation of novel supramolecular systems. By comparing the crystal structures of the host and its taco complex, we proved that folding is a necessary step during the formation of taco complexes. Based on the known bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10/paraquat recognition motif, the first solid-state supramolecular poly(taco complex) was prepared. We demonstrate not only that bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based cryptands are powerful hosts for paraquat derivatives compared with the simple crown ether, but also that cooperative complexation can be obtained with the cryptand structure. It was shown that the significant improvement in complexation was the result of the combination of the preorganization of the cryptand hosts and the introduction of additional and optimized binding sites. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that improved complexation of bis(secondary ammonium) and bisparaquat salts could also be achieved by the formation of the pseudocryptand structure. We also prepared two dimers of inclusion cryptand/paraquat complexes driven by dipole-dipole and face-to-face p-stacking interactions. An interesting complex based on dibenzo-24-crown-10 and diquat was prepared. In its crystal structure the diquat guest lies in the concave cavity provided by two dibenzo-24-crown-8 hosts. Monopyridinium-based [2]- and [3]-pseudorotaxanes were prepared based on the newly discovered bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10/monopyridinium salt and cryptand/monopyridinium salt recognition motifs. Inspired by the formation of solid-state taco complexes between bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 and paraquat derivatives, we designed and synthesized the first cylindrical bis(crown ether) host for paraquat derivatives and studied its complexation with paraquat. We prepared three slow-exchange C3-symmetric inclusion complexes based on a newly discovered cryptand/trispyridinium recognition motif, in which 1,3,5-trispyridiniumbenzene salts act as guests. Finally the application of several new and known recognition motifs in the preparation of a supramolecular poly[3]pseudrotaxane, and the first pseudorotaxane-type supramolecular star-shaped polymer, and the first supramolecular hyperbranched polymer was discussed. / Ph. D.

A proteína de ligação a maltose (MBP) é amplamente conhecida na literatura como um marcador para métodos de purificação de afinidade e é freqüentemente fusionada a proteínas relevantes para melhorar seu rendimento, facilitando sua purificação e aumentando sua estabilidade e solubilidade. Por outro lado, foi relatado que o nitrogênio piridínico não quaternizado do filme eletropolimerizado com N-(3-pirrol-1-ilpropil)-4,4\'-bipiridínio (PPB) desempenhou um papel importante na imobilização da proteína de ligação da maltose (MBP). Neste trabalho relatamos a modificação do eletrodo de carbono vítreo (CV) pela redução eletroquímica do derivado de arildiazônio piridínico gerado in situ e seu uso na imobilização da proteína MBP fusionada à galectina-1 (MBP-Gal-1). Resultados de voltametria cíclica mostraram formação de monocamadas com carga positiva sobre CV e que o nitrogênio não quaternizado da piridina estava disponível após a modificação. Os resultados da Espectroscopia de Capacitância Eletroquímica (ECC) indicaram que o domínio do MBP foi importante para a interação do eletrodo modificado. O tempo de imobilização e a concentração de proteína fusionada também foram relevantes para a cinética e os resultados sugeriram uma saturação em 40 minutos de interação, utilizando 5 mol L-1 de MBP-Gal-1. Experimentos de detecção de lactose indicaram que a atividade da galectina-1 foi preservada após a imobilização. A reação click realizada para promover a inclusão da maltose na superfície desse eletrodo modificado gerou resultados significativamente melhores quando comparados aos do eletrodo sem a maltose ligada em sua superfície: a proteína fusionada MBP-Gal-1 demonstrou um aumento de 62% na imobilização. Também foram observados aumentos na sensibilidade para detecção de lactose (72%) e na especificidade de interação com este mesmo carboidrato (77%) / Maltose Binding Protein (MBP) is widely known in the literature as a tag for affinity purification methods and it is often fused to relevant proteins to improve its yield, facilitating its purification and enhance its stability and solubility. On the other hand, it was reported that the nonquaternized pyridine nitrogen from N-(3-pyrrol-1-ylpropyl)-4,4-bipyridinium electropolymerized film (PPB) played an important role for the immobilization of maltose binding protein (MBP). In this work we reported the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modification by electrochemical reduction of pyridinium diazonium salt derivative generated in situ and its use on MBP fused to Galectin-1 protein (MBP-Gal-1) immobilization. Cyclic voltammetry results showed a positively charged monolayer formation onto GCE and that nonquaternized pyridine nitrogen was available after modification. Electrochemical Capacitance Spectroscopy (ECS) results indicated that the MBP domain was important for the modified electrode interaction. Immobilization time and the fused protein concentration were also relevant to the kinetics and the results suggested a monolayer saturation in 40 minutes of interaction, using 5 mol L-1 MBP-Gal-1. The click reaction performed to promote the inclusion of maltose on the surface of this modified electrode generated better results when compared to those of the electrode without maltose bounded to its surface: the MBP-Gal-1 fused protein demonstrated a 62% increase in immobilization. Increases in sensitivity for lactose detection (72%) and specificity of interaction with this same carbohydrate (77%) were also observed

Neste trabalho foi preparada uma série de sais de piridínio, com subsequente investigação da sua atividade catalítica e indução assimétrica em reações de adição de Michael e alquilações de metilenas ativas. Os sais de piridínio foram preparados pela reação de tetrafluorborato de 2,4,6-trifenilpirílio e 2,4,6-trimetilpirílio com aminas, aminoálcoois e/ou aminoácidos. As reações em que se efetuou o teste catalítico destes sais foram: a) adição de cianoacetato de etila, N-acetamidomalonato de dietila e nitrometano à chalcona e de tiofenol à 2-ciclohexenona; b) alquilação de cianoacetato de etila e de fenilcianoacetato de etila com cloreto de benzila. Os sais de piridínio testados atuaram como catalisadores nas alquilações de metilenas ativas e nas adições de Michael, com exceção da reação de N-acetamidomalonato de dietila com chalcona. No que tange à eficiência como indutores de assimetria, foram feitas reações comparativas entre os sais de piridínio quirais, o brometo de N-benzil-N-metilefedrínio ou o cloreto de N-benzilquinínio, sendo que os catalisadores por nós sintetizados se mostraram menos eficientes. A conformação preferencial de três sais de piridínio, em que a cadeia alquílica ligada ao átomo de nitrogênio possue um substituinte aromático, foi determinada através de experimentos de NOE-diff. Para dois destes sais há evidências da formação de complexos de transferência de carga intramolecular. A atividade catalítica e a indução assimétrica destes três catalisadores foi interpretada com base no estudo conformacional acima mencionado. / In the presente work, a series of pyridinium salts was prepared and their catalytic activity evaluated, as well as their ability to induce asymmetry in Michael additions and alkylation of organic carbon acids. Such pyridinium salts were prepared by reacting 2,4,6-triphenyl or 2,4,6-trimethylpyrilium tetrafluoroborates with amines, α-aminoalcohols or α-aminoacids. The catalytic activity of the prepared salts was evaluated in the folIowing PTC reactions: a) Michael addition of ethylcyanoacetate, diethyl N-acetamidomalonate or nitromethane to chalcone and of thiophenol to 2-cyclohexenone; b) alkylation of ethylcyanoacetate or ethyl phenylcyanoacetate, using benzyl chloride as eletrophile. In alI cases, except 1,4-addition of diethyl N-acetamidomalonate to chalcone, the prepared pyridinium salts displayed catalytic activity although with inferior asymmetric induction efficiency as compared to the classicalIy used efedrinium and quininium salts. The preferencial conformation of three pyridinium salts bearing aromatic rings in the nitrogen substituent aliphatic chain was determined by NOE diff experiments. In two cases some evidences for charge transfer was provided by uv measurements. The catalytic result and the asymmetric induction were interpreted on the basis of the well accepted substrate/catalyst interaction model and conformational analysis data.

Cette dernière décennie a montré que les cellules solaires à colorants étaient une technologie photovoltaïque économiquement viable. Malgré les nombreuses études réalisées dans ce domaine, force est de constater que les rendements de photoconversion n'ont toujours pas dépassé 12% avec ce type de cellule. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse s'inscrivent dans une optique d'optimisation des cellules solaires à colorants. Pour y parvenir, une approche joignant la théorie et l'expérience a été développée. Par des calculs basés sur la Théorie de la Fonctionnelle de la Densité (DFT), une nouvelle famille de colorants, caractérisée par la présence d'un groupement pyridinium, a été étudiée afin d'en choisir les membres les plus aptes à générer un photocourant. En combinant une approche moléculaire et périodique, les calculs ont permis de comprendre différents mécanismes intervenant dans le fonctionnement de la cellule solaire conduisant à une optimisation théorique de certains constituants de la cellule comme la composition de l'électrolyte ou le colorant. Parallèlement aux calculs, une méthodologie de construction et de caractérisation des cellules basée sur l'utilisation de ZnO comme semiconducteur a été mise en place au sein du laboratoire. La synthèse de ces nouveaux colorants a aussi été réalisée au cours de ce travail de doctorat. La conception et la caractérisation expérimentales de cellules utilisant ces colorants a permis de valider le protocole théorique développé ouvrant la voie à une optimisation ab initio des cellules solaires à colorants.

Sulfur amino acids have critical function as intracellular redox buffers and maintain homeostasis in the external milieu by combating oxidative stress. Synthesis of glutathione (GSH) is regulated at a substrate level by cysteine, which is synthesized by homocysteine via the transsulfuration pathway. Oxidative stress and diminished glutathione pools play a sustained role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. One of the aims of this study was to experimentally address the temporal relationship between plasma sulfur amino acid levels in patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. The data indicated low concentration of cysteine initially, at levels similar to those of healthy controls. Glutathione was found reduced whilst cysteinyl-glycine and γ- glutamyl transpeptidase activity were increased in both mild and severe attacks. As the disease progressed, glutathione and cysteinyl-glycine were further increased in mild attacks and cysteine levels correlated with homocysteine and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The progress of severe attacks was associated with glutathione depletion, reduced γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and increased cysteinyl-glycine, that correlated with glutathione depletion. The corollary that ample supply of cysteine and cysteinly-glycine does not contribute towards glutathione synthesis in acute pancreatitis poses an important issue that merits resolution. Heightened oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione rationalized the progression of disease in severe attacks. An upsurge that reactive oxygen species can shift redox state of cells is determined by the ratio of the abundant redox couples reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH: GSSG) in cell. The study reported a novel methodology for quantification of total oxidized glutathione (tGSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) in whole blood using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The novelty of the method is ascertained by the use of a mercaptan scavenger 1, methyl-2-vinyl-pyridinium trifluromethanesulfonate for the total oxidized glutathione determination. The results reported permit quantitation of tGSSG and tGSH and was applied to a control group. Finally, the study was also focussed in developing a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method to evaluate free and conjugated bile acids in patients suffering from various degrees of cholestatic-hepatobiliary disorders. The study reported low levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and slightly high levels of lithocholic acid (LCA). All the primary bile acids seem to be conjugated with glycine and taurine amino acid.

Neste trabalho foi preparada uma série de sais de piridínio, com subsequente investigação da sua atividade catalítica e indução assimétrica em reações de adição de Michael e alquilações de metilenas ativas. Os sais de piridínio foram preparados pela reação de tetrafluorborato de 2,4,6-trifenilpirílio e 2,4,6-trimetilpirílio com aminas, aminoálcoois e/ou aminoácidos. As reações em que se efetuou o teste catalítico destes sais foram: a) adição de cianoacetato de etila, N-acetamidomalonato de dietila e nitrometano à chalcona e de tiofenol à 2-ciclohexenona; b) alquilação de cianoacetato de etila e de fenilcianoacetato de etila com cloreto de benzila. Os sais de piridínio testados atuaram como catalisadores nas alquilações de metilenas ativas e nas adições de Michael, com exceção da reação de N-acetamidomalonato de dietila com chalcona. No que tange à eficiência como indutores de assimetria, foram feitas reações comparativas entre os sais de piridínio quirais, o brometo de N-benzil-N-metilefedrínio ou o cloreto de N-benzilquinínio, sendo que os catalisadores por nós sintetizados se mostraram menos eficientes. A conformação preferencial de três sais de piridínio, em que a cadeia alquílica ligada ao átomo de nitrogênio possue um substituinte aromático, foi determinada através de experimentos de NOE-diff. Para dois destes sais há evidências da formação de complexos de transferência de carga intramolecular. A atividade catalítica e a indução assimétrica destes três catalisadores foi interpretada com base no estudo conformacional acima mencionado. / In the presente work, a series of pyridinium salts was prepared and their catalytic activity evaluated, as well as their ability to induce asymmetry in Michael additions and alkylation of organic carbon acids. Such pyridinium salts were prepared by reacting 2,4,6-triphenyl or 2,4,6-trimethylpyrilium tetrafluoroborates with amines, α-aminoalcohols or α-aminoacids. The catalytic activity of the prepared salts was evaluated in the folIowing PTC reactions: a) Michael addition of ethylcyanoacetate, diethyl N-acetamidomalonate or nitromethane to chalcone and of thiophenol to 2-cyclohexenone; b) alkylation of ethylcyanoacetate or ethyl phenylcyanoacetate, using benzyl chloride as eletrophile. In alI cases, except 1,4-addition of diethyl N-acetamidomalonate to chalcone, the prepared pyridinium salts displayed catalytic activity although with inferior asymmetric induction efficiency as compared to the classicalIy used efedrinium and quininium salts. The preferencial conformation of three pyridinium salts bearing aromatic rings in the nitrogen substituent aliphatic chain was determined by NOE diff experiments. In two cases some evidences for charge transfer was provided by uv measurements. The catalytic result and the asymmetric induction were interpreted on the basis of the well accepted substrate/catalyst interaction model and conformational analysis data.

No description available.

Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is a recessive connective tissue disorder of Quarter Horse lineages. This study correlates previously identified decreases in skin tensile strength in HERDA with abnormal dermal collagen cross linking patterns that are also identified in urine from HERDA horses. Dermal collagen from HERDA horses has significantly less pyridinoline and significantly more deoxypyridinoline than control or carriers. Concentrations of hydroxylysine, the rate limiting substrate for these crosslinks were significantly lower in HERDA versus control and carriers. These characteristics of HERDA skin parallel humans with a similar syndrome of skin fragility, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome TypeVIA. This is the first biochemical evidence explaining the clinical skin fragility that characterizes HERDA and suggests that altered collagen lysine metabolism may be physiologically relevant to the clinical manifestation of HERDA. Evaluations of mature scars indicate that lesion and nonlesioned skin should not be viewed as biologically equivalent in HERDA investigations.

Sulfur amino acids have critical function as intracellular redox buffers and maintain homeostasis in the external milieu by combating oxidative stress. Synthesis of glutathione (GSH) is regulated at a substrate level by cysteine, which is synthesized by homocysteine via the transsulfuration pathway. Oxidative stress and diminished glutathione pools play a sustained role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. One of the aims of this study was to experimentally address the temporal relationship between plasma sulfur amino acid levels in patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. The data indicated low concentration of cysteine initially, at levels similar to those of healthy controls. Glutathione was found reduced whilst cysteinyl-glycine and ¿- glutamyl transpeptidase activity were increased in both mild and severe attacks. As the disease progressed, glutathione and cysteinyl-glycine were further increased in mild attacks and cysteine levels correlated with homocysteine and ¿-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The progress of severe attacks was associated with glutathione depletion, reduced ¿-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and increased cysteinyl-glycine, that correlated with glutathione depletion. The corollary that ample supply of cysteine and cysteinly-glycine does not contribute towards glutathione synthesis in acute pancreatitis poses an important issue that merits resolution. Heightened oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione rationalized the progression of disease in severe attacks. An upsurge that reactive oxygen species can shift redox state of cells is determined by the ratio of the abundant redox couples reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH: GSSG) in cell. The study reported a novel methodology for quantification of total oxidized glutathione (tGSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) in whole blood using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The novelty of the method is ascertained by the use of a mercaptan scavenger 1, methyl-2-vinyl-pyridinium trifluromethanesulfonate for the total oxidized glutathione determination. The results reported permit quantitation of tGSSG and tGSH and was applied to a control group. Finally, the study was also focussed in developing a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method to evaluate free and conjugated bile acids in patients suffering from various degrees of cholestatic-hepatobiliary disorders. The study reported low levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and slightly high levels of lithocholic acid (LCA). All the primary bile acids seem to be conjugated with glycine and taurine amino acid.