Cellulose is a biopolymer of great relevance in the plant cell walls, where it constitutes the most important skeletal component. Cellulose is also an important raw material in the pulp- and paper, forest, and textile industries, among others. Cellulose biosynthesis in particular, and xylogenesis in general are processes which are currently poorly understood. Yet, research in cellulose synthesis is progressing and different applications of cellulose, mainly cellulose derivatives for e.g. pharmaceuticals and coatings, are constantly emerging. This thesis depicts how cellulose synthase (CesA) genes in Populus were identified and characterized by gene expression- and bioinformatics analyses. Within an EST database of more than 100,000 clones from wood forming tissues of three different Populus taxa, ten CesA genes were identified in Populus tremula x tremuloides. Subsequent gene expression analyses by using microarrays and real-time PCR experiments in woody tissues, revealed distinct regulation patterns among the genes of interest. This enabled proper classification and characterization of the secondary cell wall related CesA genes, in particular. Bioinformatic analyses of the genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa further provided a complete picture of the number of putative CesA genes retained after several duplication events during tree evolution. In contrast to the previously reported set of ten 'true' CesA genes in many other plant species, the genome of P. trichocarpa encodes 18 putative proteins, which could be assembled into nine groups according to their sequence similarities. Interestingly, studies in the EST database suggested that paralogs within at least two groups have corresponding orthologs in P. tremula x tremuloides, which are furthermore transcribed. This implies that at least some of the duplicated genes have remained functional, or may have acquired a modified function. By focusing on the CesA genes associated with secondary cell wall formation, cellulose synthesis was also studied in poplar cell suspension cultures. Selection of CesA enriched material was performed by determining expression intensities of the CesA genes using RT-PCR, whereupon membrane protein extraction was initiated. CesA proteins are part of large cellulose synthesizing complexes in the plasma membrane. Subsequent proteomic approaches comprised partial purification of these cellulose synthesizing complexes from protein enriched culture material and in vitro cellulose synthesis experiments. De novo synthesized material was successfully characterized and the acquired yields were as high as 50% cellulose (compared to previously reported yields of 30% in other plant systems) of the total in vitro synthesized product. Elevated CesA gene expression levels can thus be correlated to increased protein activity in poplar cell suspension cultures. In addition, antibodies raised against CesA antigens were used in Western blot analyses comprising samples along the protein extraction- and purification procedure. Proteins with corresponding molecular weight to the theoretical 120kDa of CesA proteins were recognized by a range of different specific antibodies. The study demonstrates that poplar cell suspension cultures can provide a valuable model system for studies of cellulose synthesis and different aspects of xylogenesis. / QC 20101005

Liquid chromatography is an important separation technique for a vast number of analytes. This thesis mainly focuses on the development of stationary phases for liquid chromatography based on zwitterionic sulfobetaine polymers. In the thesis, various ways to prepare zwitterionic polymers in an aqueous environment using reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization are described. Both telomers, i.e. short soluble polymer chains containing a functional terminal group, as well as graft polymers on various supports have been synthesized. The RAFT polymerization technique provides an increased degree of control of the final polymers, which may aid in the preparation of more specifically tailored separation materials. Sulfobetaine polymers carry both a positive and a negative charge within a single entity, which results in interesting solution properties as well as highly biocompatible features. These unique features make them especially suited for separation of highly polar and/or charged compounds. An example of the successful separation of short peptides using a stationary phase synthesized with the RAFT technique is given. The unusual properties of sulfobetaine-type polymers are believed to be associated with the structure of water close to the polymer. A study of water structure in some silica based stationary phase grafted with zwitterionic sulfobetaine polymers was conducted. The impact of water structure on retention characteristics was investigated.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-86). Also available on the Internet.

abstract: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a Gram-negative enteric pathogen that causes self-limiting gastroenteritis in healthy individuals and can cause systemic infections in those who are immunocompromised. During its natural lifecycle, S. Typhimurium encounters a wide variety of stresses it must sense and respond to in a dynamic and coordinated fashion to induce resistance and ensure survival. Salmonella is subjected to a series of stresses that include temperature shifts, pH variability, detergent-like bile salts, oxidative environments and changes in fluid shear levels. Previously, our lab showed that cultures of S. Typhimurium grown under physiological low fluid shear (LFS) conditions similar to those encountered in the intestinal tract during infection uniquely regulates the virulence, gene expression and pathogenesis-related stress responses of this pathogen during log phase. Interestingly, the log phase Salmonella mechanosensitive responses to LFS were independent of the master stress response sigma factor, RpoS, departing from our conventional understanding of RpoS regulation. Since RpoS is a growth phase dependent regulator with increased stability in stationary phase, the current study investigated the role of RpoS in mediating pathogenesis-related stress responses in stationary phase S. Typhimurium grown under LFS and control conditions. Specifically, stationary phase responses to acid, thermal, bile and oxidative stress were assayed. To our knowledge the results from the current study demonstrate the first report that the mechanical force of LFS globally alters the S. Typhimurium χ3339 stationary phase stress response independently of RpoS to acid and bile stressors but dependently on RpoS to oxidative and thermal stress. This indicates that fluid shear-dependent differences in acid and bile stress responses are regulated by alternative pathway(s) in S. Typhimurium, were the oxidative and thermal stress responses are regulated through RpoS in LFS conditions. Results from this study further highlight how bacterial mechanosensation may be important in promoting niche recognition and adaptation in the mammalian host during infection, and may lead to characterization of previously unidentified pathogenesis strategies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2016

Orientador: Carla Beatriz Grespan Bottoli / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T10:14:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gorzalka_ThaisProenca_M.pdf: 829922 bytes, checksum: f9029b9c9c8227216344c808efc2ffdd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um material baseado em polibutadieno (PBD) e sílica e avaliar seu desempenho como fase estacionária em cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência no modo fase reversa (CLAE-FR) e como sorvente para extração em fase sólida (SPE). O preparo do material consistiu na deposição do PBD na superfície da sílica seguida de imobilização por tratamento térmico na presença de peróxido de dicumila (PDC). Para a aplicação como fase estacionária, algumas variáveis de preparo foram otimizadas, como a pressão de enchimento das colunas cromatográficas (5000 psi), porcentagem de carga de polibutadieno (10 % m/m), porcentagem de peróxido de dicumila (2,5 % m/m PDC/PBD), tempo, temperatura e atmosfera de tratamento térmico (1 h a 120 °C seguida de 4 h a 160 °C, atmosfera oxidante). A fase estacionária preparada nas condições otimizadas proporcionou colunas com eficiência de 81 000 pratos por metro para o acenafteno. Valores típicos de colunas quimicamente ligadas são de 100 000 pratos por metro. No teste de estabilidade, realizado sob condições drásticas, a fase estacionária preparada na presença de peróxido de dicumila se mostrou mais estável que a fase estacionária preparada na ausência do peróxido. Também foi observado que o PBD se altera no frasco de estocagem independente dos cuidados tomados para evitar o contato com o ar durante seu manuseio. Esta alteração resultou em redução da eficiência das colunas, dificuldade de reprodutibilidade no preparo das fases e uma maior atividade silanofílica ao longo do tempo. Para a aplicação do material como sorvente para extração em fase sólida os cartuchos foram avaliados na extração de agrotóxicos em uma amostra de vinho. Pôde-se concluir que o sorvente baseado em polibutadieno é um material promissor, sendo comparável aos cartuchos C18 disponíveis comercialmente, apresentando boas eficiências de extração (95 - 119 %) / Abstract: This study aimed to develop a material based on polybutadiene (PBD) and silica and to evaluate its performance as a stationary phase in Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) and as sorbent for Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE). The preparation of the material consisted of the deposition of PBD onto the surface of porous silica, followed by immobilization by thermal treatment in the presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP). For application as a stationary phase some variables were optimized, such as packing pressure (5000 psi), polybutadiene load (10 % m/m), dicumyl peroxide load (2.5% m/m DCP/PBD), temperature, time and atmosphere of thermal treatment (1 h at 120 °C followed by 4 h at 160 °C, in an oxidizing atmosphere). The stationary phase prepared under these conditions yielded a column with efficiency of 81 000 plates per meter for acenaphthene. Tipical values for chemical-bonded stationary phases are about 100 000 plates per meter. A chemical stability test, carried out under drastic conditions, showed that the stationary phase prepared in presence of dicumyl peroxide was more stable than a stationary phase prepared in the absence of peroxide. It was also observed that PBD is altered during storage, independent of the care taken to avoid contact with air during its handling. This change resulted in reduced efficiency of the columns, difficulty in reproducing preparations and higher silanophilic activity over the time. For application of the material as a sorbent in solid-phase extraction, the prepared cartridges were evaluated for extraction of pesticides from a sample of wine. It can be conclude that a sorbent based on polybutadiene is a promising material, and is comparable to a commercially available C18 cartridge showing good efficiencies of extraction (95 - 119 %) / Mestrado / Quimica Analitica / Mestre em Química

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is an advanced liquid-liquid extraction technique that purifies chemical components from complex mixtures. The Brunel CCC' is a J-type centrifuge based upon this technique. This machine can process 5g quantities of sample every 5 hours [Sutherland 1998]. To process 1 tonne of sample per year would require 200 Brunel CCCs, which is not practical as an industrial process. A practical alternative is to use one machine with 200 times the processing capability. To construct such a machine requires a greater understanding of the stationary phase retention inside a coil (column) and the column efficiency (mass transfer between the mobile and stationary phases). This thesis contains research into stationary phase retention. A hypothesis that all J-type centrifuges act as constant pressure drop pumps is proposed. This hypothesis combined with the Hagan-Poiseuille equation for laminar flow produces a theoretical basis for plotting the stationary phase retention against the square root of the mobile phase flow rate as proposed by Du et al [1999]. Supporting experimental evidence is presented showing that the mobile phase flows in a laminar manner and that the pressure drop across a coil is constant for a given set of operating conditions. It is shown that the pressure drop is the same in both normal and reverse phase modes if specific conditions are met. The pressure drop is shown to be independent of tubing bore for helical coils provided that the same helical pitch is used. The experimental results also show how the pressure drop varies with the phase system and rotational speed. Hopefully this is a significant advance in predicting the stationary phase retention of industrial scale J-type centrifuges.

The method development process in liquid chromatography (LC) involves optimization of a variety of method parameters including stationary phase chemistry, column temperature, initial and final mobile phase compositions, and gradient time when gradient mobile phases are used. Here, a general simulation program to predict the results (i.e., retention time, peak width and peak shape) of LC separations, with the ability to study various complex chromatographic conditions is described. The simulation program is based on the Craig distribution model where the column is divided into discrete distance (Δz) and time (Δt) segments in a grid and is based on parameterization with either the linear solvent strength or Neue-Kuss models for chromatographic retention. This algorithm is relatively simple to understand and produces results that agree well with closed form theory when available. The set of simulation programs allows for the use of any eluent composition profile (linear and nonlinear), any column temperature, any stationary phase composition (constant or non-constant), and any composition and shape of the injected sample profile. The latter addition to our program is particularly useful in characterizing the solvent mismatch effect in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), in which there is a mismatch between the first dimension (1D) effluent and second dimension (2D) initial mobile phase composition. This solvent mismatch causes peak distortion and broadening. The use of simulations can provide a better understanding of this phenomenon and a guide for the method development for 2D-LC. Another development that is proposed to have a great impact on the enhancement of 2D-LC methods is the use of continuous stationary phase gradients. When using rapid mobile phase gradients in the second dimension separation with diode array detection (DAD), refractive index changes cause large backgrounds such as an injection ridge (from solvent mismatch) and sloping baselines which can be problematic for achieving accurate quantitation. Use of a stationary phase gradient may enable the use of an isocratic mobile phase in the 2D, thus minimizing these background signals. Finally, our simulator can be used as an educational tool. Unlike commercially available simulators, our program can capture the evolution of the chromatogram in the form of movies and/or snapshots of the analyte distribution over time and/or distance to facilitate a better understanding of the separation process under complicated circumstances. We plan to make this simulation program publically available to all chromatographers and educators to aid in more efficient method development and chromatographic training.

abstract: The discovery that mechanical forces regulate microbial virulence, stress responses and gene expression was made using log phase cultures of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) grown under low fluid shear (LFS) conditions relevant to those encountered in the intestine. However, there has been limited characterization of LFS on other growth phases. To advance the growth-phase dependent understanding of the effect of LFS on S. Typhimurium pathogenicity, this dissertation characterized the effect of LFS on the transcriptomic and phenotypic responses in both stationary and lag phase cultures. In response to LFS, stationary phase cultures exhibited alterations in gene expression associated with metabolism, transport, secretion and stress responses (acid, bile salts, oxidative, and thermal stressors), motility, and colonization of intestinal epithelium (adherence, invasion and intracellular survival). Many of these characteristics are known to be regulated by the stationary phase general stress response regulator, RNA polymerase sigma factor S (RpoS), when S. Typhimurium is grown under conventional conditions. Surprisingly, the stationary phase phenotypic LFS stress response to acid and bile salts, colonization of human intestinal epithelial cells, and swimming motility was not dependent on RpoS. Lag phase cultures exhibited intriguing differences in their LFS regulated transcriptomic and phenotypic profiles as compared to stationary phase cultures, including LFS-dependent regulation of gene expression, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells, and high thermal stress. Furthermore, the addition of cell-free conditioned supernatants derived from either stationary phase LFS or Control cultures modulated the gene expression of lag phase cultures in a manner that differed from either growth phase, however, these supernatants did not modulate the phenotypic responses of lag phase cultures. Collectively, these results demonstrated that S. Typhimurium can sense and respond to LFS as early as lag phase, albeit in a limited fashion, and that the lag phase transcriptomic and phenotypic responses differ from those in stationary phase, which hold important implications for the lifecycle of this pathogen during the infection process. / Dissertation/Thesis / Transcriptomic Data / Doctoral Dissertation Microbiology 2020

The aim of this diploma thesis was to prepare two new chiral stationary phases by dynamic coating of sulphobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) with varying degrees of substitution onto strong anion-exchange stationary phases. The enantioselective potential and stability of the newly prepared chiral stationary phases were tested using a set of chiral analytes. The set contained structurally diverse analytes, i.e. benzodiazepines (oxazepam, lorazepam), phenothiazines (thioridazine, promethazine), β-blockers (labetalol, pindolol, propranolol, alprenolol), profens (carprofen, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, indoprofen), flavanones (6-hydroxyflavanone, 7-hydroxyflavanone), DL-tryptophan and its derivatives (5-OH-DL-tryptophan, 5-F-DL-tryptophan, DL-tryptophan butylester and blocked aminoacid (t-Boc-DL-tryptophan)), dipeptides (glycyl-DL-phenylalanine, glycyl-DL-tryptophan) and Troger's base. Measurements were carried out in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Mobile phases consisted of methanol/formic acid (pH 2.10) and methanol/10mmol l-1 ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.00) in various volume ratios. The chiral stationary phase containing hexasubstituted SBE-β-CD was suitable for enantioseparation of eleven analytes. Four of them were baseline enantioresolved and seven partially. The chiral...