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Rhomboids are intramembrane serine proteases that belong to the evolutionarily widespread rhomboid superfamily. Rhomboids developed a slightly different catalytic mechanism compared to classical serine proteases; they utilise a catalytic dyad (Ser/His) instead of the common triad (Ser/His/Asp), and the rhomboid active site is buried in the membrane. This, coupled with their hydrophobicity, makes them quite difficult to study. Therefore, even though they are known to be involved in several important biological processes it is still not clear how exactly most of them are involved in the regulation of or in the pathologies of diseases related to these processes (such as malaria, Parkinson's disease or cancer). Our understanding is hindered by the lack of tools for their characterisation both in vitro and in vivo. In my thesis I present new fluorogenic substrates based on the LacYTM2 sequence, which is hydrolysed by several different rhomboid proteases. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based methods, these substrates are suitable for continuous monitoring of rhomboid activity in vitro. Modifications in the P5-P1 residues can improve selectivity for a specific rhomboid, the choice of FRET pair of fluorophores that absorbes light of longer wavelengths makes them suitable for high throughput...

GaN-based High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT) are appealing because of their large breakdown field, high saturation velocity, and superior thermal conductivity. They work at high temperature without much degradation. HEMTs have a few drawbacks despite many positives. The cost of developing GaN HEMTs on a native substrate is high. It would be cost effective to fabricate HEMTs on an alternative substrate without affecting their performance. The goal of this project is to characterise GaN HEMTs on various substrates like Si, SiC and Sapphire. This thesis focuses mainly on DC measurements for threshold voltage, leakage current, and breakdown voltage of these transistors. It is observed that HEMT devices grown on Si substrate provides maximum saturation current, however, the breakdown voltage is about 650 V. The breakdown voltage for HEMTs grown on SiC is superior showing about 1410 V with saturation drain current of 0.49 A/mm making it a good fit for power electronic applications. The threshold voltage for the devices on SiC substrate is -8.5 V. Additionally, different device architectures with different gate lengths, gate widths, and gate to drain distances are also evaluated and compared. It is noticed that the gate length of 1.5 μm and gate-drain length of 20 μm showed the best results for devices on all the substrates. / Hög elektronmobilitetstransistorer (HEMT) baserade på galliumnitrid (GaN) är mycket aktuella på grund av materialets höga genombrottsfält, hög mättnadshastighet för elektroner och bra termisk ledningsförmåga. Dessutom kan komponenter också användas vid höga temperaturer, men det finns även nackdelar. En nackdel är att kostnaden för GaN-substrat är mycket stor och man letar därför efter mer kostnadseffektiva substratmaterial. I detta projekt jämförs därför prestanda för HEMT-komponenter tillverkade på tre olika alternativa substrat som bedöms vara mer kostnadseffektiva än GaN, kisel (Si), kiselkarbid (SiC) och safir (Al2O3). Projektet fokuseras på DC mätningar av tröskelspänning, läckströmmar och genombrottsspänning för att utröna om komponenternas elektriska prestanda påverkas av dessa substratmaterial. Resultaten visar att HEMT-komponenter på Si-substrat uppvisar något högre mättnadsström, men genombrottsspänningar på bara ca 650 V. Genombrottsspänningar på HEMT-komponenter tillverkade på SiC-substrat ligger däremot på över 1400 V och har mättnadströmmar på omkring 0.50A/mm, vilket gör dom klart bättre än komponenter på Si och safir. Tröskelspänningen för HEMT-komponenter på SiC uppmäts till -8.5 V. Ytterligare mätningar gjordes också av komponenter med olika gemoetrier, som grindbredd och längd, samt olika avstånd mellan grind och utlopp (drain), och det kan konstateras att en grindlängd på 1.5 μm och ett avstånd mellan grind och utlopp på 20 μm uppvisar de bästa resultaten oberoende av substratmaterial.

<p> InxGa1_xAs (0.00</= x </= 0.42) metamorphic pseudosubstrate layers (MSLs) were studied as a means to change the lattice constant of the substrates and to modify the growth conditions of InAs quantum dots (QDs) by varying the strain. The MSLs showed symmetrical mosaicity about the 110 axes but the spread was different in the two orthogonal [110] and [110] directions. The anisotropy in the mosaic spread in two < 11 O > directions was correlated to asymmetry of kinks and multilevel-terrace growth front during the growth of InxGa1_xAs buffer layers. X-ray and electron diffraction along with the least squares criterion can interchangeably be employed to determine the lattice constant of the MS Ls. It is possible to grow a defect free MSL with employing a compositional undershoot relative to the terminating buffer layer. Asymmetric tilt was found in an In0.42Ga0.58As MSL grown on a singular (001) GaAs substrate with an initial layer of a low temperature ( < 300 °C) grown InGaP prior to the growth of step-graded InxGa1-xAs (x = 0.02 to 0.42) buffer layers. The tilt around [110] axis was correlated with the imbalance of the tilt component of the Burgers vector (BV) of the 60° α-dislocations. Climb and jog formation of β-dislocations in the presence of P-interstitials were considered as a plausible mechanism for multiplication of the like-sign BV α-dislocations. These results show that an asymmetric tilt boundary can be induced in mismatched heterointerfaces grown on singular substrates. The evolution of InAs QDs on InxGa1-xAs(0.0</= x </= 0.3) MSLs on GaAs substrates was studied. The results indicate that the ratio of the height (h) over lateral diameter (d) of the QDs decreases with decreasing strain (i.e. the morphology of the coherent islands evolve toward a uniform film morphology (h/d=0) with deceasing strain). This evolution is analogous to the current </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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No description available.

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is highly promising analytical technique for trace detection of analytes. It is particularly well suited for environmental analyses due to its high sensitivity, specificity, ease of operation and rapidity. The detection and characterization of environmental contaminants, using SERS is highly related to the uniformity, activity and reproducibility of the SERS substrate. In this thesis, SERS substrates were produced by gold nanoparticle formation on wax patterned chromatography paper. In situ reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (gold precursor) by trisodium citrate dihydrate (reducing agent) was used to produce gold nanoparticles within a paper matrix. These gold nanoparticle based SERS substrates were analyzed by FE-SEM, UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy. This work discusses the SERS signal enhancements for Raman active MGITC dye for a series of substrates prepared by in situ reduction of gold salt and pre-produced gold nanoparticles. UV-Vis analysis was performed to understand the effect of different molar ratio (reducing agent to gold precursor) and reaction time on the size and shape of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band that dictates the SERS enhancements. It was concluded that lower molar ratio (1:1 and 2:1) of citrate-to gold produced better SERS signal enhancements and broader LSPR band. Therefore, use of lower molar ratio (MR) was recommended for paper-based substrates using in situ-based reduction approach. / Master of Science

Yes / Protein quality control mechanisms are essential for cell health and involve delivery of proteins to specific cellular compartments for recycling or degradation. In particular, stray hydrophobic proteins are captured in the aqueous cytosol by a co-chaperone, the small glutamine-rich, tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein alpha (SGTA), which facilitates the correct targeting of tail-anchored membrane proteins, as well as the sorting of membrane and secretory proteins that mislocalize to the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation. Full-length SGTA has an unusual elongated dimeric structure that has, until now, evaded detailed structural analysis. The Cterminal region of SGTA plays a key role in binding a broad range of hydrophobic substrates, yet in contrast to the well-characterized N-terminal and TPR domains, there is a lack of structural information on the C-terminal domain. In this study, we present new insights into the conformation and organization of distinct domains of SGTA and show that the C-terminal domain possesses a conserved region essential for substrate processing in vivo. We show that the C-terminal domain region is characterized by α-helical propensity and an intrinsic ability to dimerize independently of the N-terminal domain. Based on the properties of different regions of SGTA that are revealed using cell biology, NMR, SAXS, Native MS, and EPR, we observe that its C-terminal domain can dimerize in the full-length protein and propose that this reflects a closed conformation of the substrate-binding domain. Our results provide novel insights into the structural complexity of SGTA and provide a new basis for mechanistic studies of substrate binding and release at the C-terminal region. / MRC New Investigator Research Grant: G0900936; BBSRC grants: BB/L006952/1 and BB/L006510/1; BBSRC grant: BB/N006267/1; Wellcome Trust Investigator Award in Science: 204957/Z/16/Z; BBSRC grant: BB/J014567/1

Glucose and ketones are important energy substrates in the human body and brain. Their use is highly regulated depending on energy status which can vary according to multiple factors such as type of cell, fed or fasted state, type of diet, or health state. Use of either substrate is also subject to multiple homeostatic feedback loops. Energy substrate availability has implications in several disorders including declining cognitive function in the elderly. While glucose availability is known to decrease in elderly with cognitive deficits, it is unclear whether this also occurs in healthy elderly, either in the body or brain. Also unknown is whether, in healthy elderly, the use of ketones as energy substrates is affected, and whether ketones could be used as an alternative energy substrate in situations of a decline in glucose availability. A clearer understanding of the use of glucose and ketones in aging is necessary to determine whether declining energy substrate availability that may occur in the elderly is a contributing factor to cognitive deficits, a result of cognitive pathology, or simply a feature of the physiological aging process. Objective. The overall goal of the laboratory where this research was carried out is to ascertain whether alternate energy sources to glucose, i.e. ketones, may help alleviate the risk of declining cognitive function during aging. The specific objective of the research project presented in this thesis was to evaluate the metabolism of glucose and ketones in the healthy elderly compared to young or middle age subjects during mild, short-term ketosis induced by a ketogenic breakfast. Results. Elderly people in relatively good health have a similar capacity to produce ketones and to oxidize [superscript 13]C-glucose and [superscript 13]C-β-hydroxybutyrate as middle-aged or young adults. Discussion. The results of this project encourage further exploration of whether ketones could be used as and alternative energy substrate to glucose as, at least in healthy elderly, there is no impedance of raising plasma ketones in response to a ketogenic intervention. // Résumé : Introduction. Le glucose et les cétones sont des substrats énergétiques importants pour le corps et le cerveau humain. Leur utilisation est spécifiquement régulée selon I'état énergétique qui varie en fonction du type de cellule, de I'état nourrie ou à jeun, du type de diète, de I'état de la santé. L'utilisation est également régulée par des voies de rétrocontrôle homéostatique. La disponibilité des substrats énergétiques est impliquée dans plusieurs désordres, dont le déclin des fonctions cognitives, chez les personnes âgées où une diminution de la disponibilité du glucose est démontrée. Cependant, il n'est pas encore connu si cette diminution est présente chez les personnes âgées en bonne santé ; soit dans le corps ou le cerveau. La capacité d'utiliser les cétones comme substrats énergétiques chez les personnes âgées saines et la possibilité d'utiliser les cétones comme substrat énergétique alternatif dans le cas d'un déclin de la disponibilité de glucose sont inconnues. Une meilleure compréhension de I'utilisation du glucose et des cétones sera nécessaire pour clarifier si une diminution de la disponibilité des substrats énergétique contribue au déclin cognitif, se manifeste à la suite des pathologies cognitives, ou encore est simplement une caractéristique du processus physiologique du vieillissement. Objectif. L'objectif principal du laboratoire est de déterminer si les sources d'énergie alternatives au glucose, c'est-à-dire les cétones, pourraient ralentir le déclin cognitif chez les personnes âgées. L'objectif du projet de recherche de ce mémoire était d'évaluer le métabolisme du glucose et des cétones chez les sujets âgés, d'âge moyen, et jeune après la prise d'un déjeuner induisant une faible cétogénèse de courte durée. Résultats. Les personnes âgées en santé ont une capacité similaire au sujet d'âge moyen et jeune à produire des cétones et à oxyder le [indice supérieur 13]C-glucose et le [indice supérieur 13]C-β- hydroxybutyrate. Perspectives. Les résultats de ce projet incitent à continuer à explorer si les cétones pourraient être utilisés comme substrats énergétiques afin de contourner le problème d'un déclin de I'utilisation du glucose, car il n'y a aucun obstacle dans la production des cétones suite a une intervention cétonique chez des sujets âgées en bonne santé.

The overall objective of this thesis was to examine mechanisms involved in the acute regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-handling properties by second messenger signaling pathways in skeletal and cardiac muscle. The aim of the first study (Chapter Two) was to characterize changes in the kinetic properties of sarco(endo)-plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) proteins in cardiac and skeletal muscles in response to b-adrenergic, Ca2+-dependent calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling. The aim of the second study (Chapter Three) was to determine if insulin signaling could acutely regulate SERCA kinetic properties in cardiac and skeletal muscle. The aim of the final study (Chapter Four) was to determine if alterations in plasma glucose, epinephrine and insulin concentrations during exercise are able to influence SR Ca2+-handling properties in contracting human skeletal muscle. Data collected in Chapter Two and Chapter Three were obtained using tissue prepared from a group of 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats (9 weeks of age; mass = 280 ?? 4 g: X ?? S.E). Crude muscle homogenates (11:1 dilution) were prepared from selected hind limb muscles (soleus, SOL; extensor digitorum longus, EDL; the red portion of gastrocnemius, RG; and the white portion of gastrocnemius, WG) and the left ventricle (LV). Enriched SR membrane fractions, prepared from WG and LV, were also analyzed. A spectrophotometric assay was used to measure kinetic properties of SERCA, namely, maximal SERCA activity (Vmax), and Ca2+-sensitivity was characterized by both the Ca50, which is defined as the free Ca2+-concentration needed to elicit 50% Vmax, and the Hill coefficient (nH), which is defined as the relationship between SERCA activity and Ca2+f for 10 to 90% Vmax. The observations made in Chapter Two indicated that b-adrenergic signaling, activated by epinephrine, increased (P<0.05) Ca2+-sensitivity, as shown by a left-shift in Ca50 (i.e. reduced Ca50), without altering Vmax in LV and SOL but had no effect (P<0.05) on EDL, RG, or WG. Further analysis using a combination of cAMP, the PKA activator forskolin, and/or the PKA inhibitor KT5270 indicated that the reduced Ca50 in LV was activated by cAMP- and PKA-signaling mechanisms. However, although the reduced Ca50 in SOL was cAMP-dependent, it was not influenced by a PKA-dependent mechanism. In contrast to the effects of b-adrenergic signaling, CaMKII activation increased SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity, as shown by a left-shift in Ca50 and increased nh, without altering SERCA Vmax in LV but was without effect in any of the skeletal muscles examined. The PKC activator PMA significantly reduced SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity, by inducing a right-shift in Ca50 and decreased nH in the LV and all skeletal muscles examined. PKC activation also reduced Vmax in the fast-twitch skeletal muscles (i.e. EDL, RG and WG), but did not alter Vmax in LV or SOL. The results of Chapter Three indicated that insulin signaling increased SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity, as shown by a left-shift in Ca50 (i.e. reduced Ca50) and an increased nH, without altering SERCA Vmax in crude muscle homogenates prepared from LV, SOL, EDL, RG, and WG. An increase in SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity was also observed in enriched SERCA1a and SERCA2a vesicles when an activated form of the insulin receptor (A-INS-R) was included during biochemical analyses. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted and indicated that IRS-1 and IRS-2 proteins bind SERCA1a and SERCA2a in an insulin-dependent manner. However, the binding of IRS proteins with SERCA does not appear to alter the structural integrity of the SERCA Ca2+-binding site since no changes in NCD-4 fluorescence were observed in response to insulin or A-INS-R. Moreover, the increase in SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity due to insulin signaling was not associated with changes in the phosphorylation status of phospholamban (PLN) since Ser16 or Thr17 phosphorylation was not altered by insulin or A-INS-R in LV tissue. The data described in Chapter Four was collected from 15 untrained human participants (peak O2 consumption, VO2peak= 3.45 ?? 0.17 L/min) who completed a standardized cycle test (~60% VO2peak) on two occasions during which they were provided either an artificially sweetened placebo (PLAC) or a 6% glucose (GLUC) beverage (~1.00 g CHO per kg body mass). Muscle biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis at rest, after 30 min and 90 min of exercise and at fatigue in both conditions to allow assessment of metabolic and SR data. Glucose supplementation increased exercise ride time by ~19% (137 ?? 7 min) compared to PLAC (115 ?? 6 min). This performance increase was associated with elevated plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and reduced catecholamine concentrations during GLUC compared to PLAC. Prolonged exercise reduced (p<0.05) SR Ca2+-uptake, Vmax, Phase 1 and Phase 2 Ca2+-release rates during both PLAC and GLUC. However, no differences in SR Ca2+-handling properties were observed between conditions when direct comparisons were made at matched time points between PLAC and GLUC. In summary, the results of the first study (Chapter Two) indicate that b-adrenergic and CaMKII signaling increases SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity in the LV and SOL; while PKC signaling reduces SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity in all tissues. PKC activation also reduces Vmax in the fast-twitch skeletal muscles (i.e. EDL, RG, and WG) but has no effect on Vmax in the LV and SOL. The results of the second study (Chapter Three) indicate that insulin signaling acutely increases the Ca2+-sensitivity of SERCA1a and SERCA2a in all tissues examined, without altering the Vmax. Based on our observations, it appears that the increase in SERCA Ca2+-sensitivity may be regulated, in part, through the interaction of IRS proteins with SERCA1a and SERCA2a. The results of the final study (Chapter Four) indicate that alterations in plasma glucose, epinephrine and insulin concentrations associated with glucose supplementation during exercise, do not alter the time course or magnitude of reductions in SERCA or Ca2+-release channel (CRC) function in working human skeletal muscle. Although glucose supplementation did increase exercise ride time to fatigue in this study, our data does not reveal an association with SR Ca2+-cycling measured in vitro. It is possible that the strength of exercise signal overrides the hormonal influences observed in resting muscles. Additionally, these data do not rule out the possibility that glucose supplementation may influence E-C coupling processes or SR Ca2+-cycling properties in vivo.