As transições eletrônicas que apresenta as energias mais baixas no retinal e em quatro retinais sintéticos foram analisadas em dois diferentes ambientes: no vácuo e ligados à proteína bacterioopsina por uma base de Schiff protonada, utilizando diversos métodos de química teórica. Os resultados aqui apresentados fornecem indicativos de que três estados eletrônicos estão envolvidos na formação da primeira banda de absorção dos aldeídos, enquanto que, no caso dos compostos ligados à proteína apenas dois estados estariam envolvidos. As análises discutidas neste trabalho também sugerem uma possível explicação para o envolvimento de dois estados eletrônicos excitados no processo de fotoisomerização do retinal ligado à bacterioopsina. / Low-lying electronic transitions of retinal and of four synthetic retinals were analyzed in two different environments: in vacuum and linked to bacterioopsin through a protonated Schiff base, employing several methods of theoretical chemistry. The results here reported suggest that the first absorption band of the aldehydes involves three electronic states, while for the case of protein linked compounds, two states would be embraced. Our discussions also provided a possible explanation about the involvement of two electronic excited states in the photoisomerization process of retinal linked to bacterioopsin.

Células pluripotentes são aquelas que possuem a capacidade de dar origem às células dos três folhetos embrionários (ectoderma, mesoderma e endoderma), bem como também às células germinativas. As células-tronco embrionárias (CTE) são as células pluripotentes mais conhecidas, as quais apresentam uma elevada capacidade de diferenciação celular e autorenovação. Estas propriedades tornam as CTE potenciais ferramentas para a medicina regenerativa, porém seu uso na prática clínica enfrenta várias barreiras. Neste sentido, o acúmulo de conhecimento a respeito dos mecanismos envolvidos na manutenção da pluripotência, levou ao desenvolvimento de técnicas capazes de induzir a pluripotência em células somáticas adultas. Na maioria das abordagens, isto se dá pela expressão ectópica de fatores de transcrição envolvidos na pluripotência (como Oct4 e Nanog). Com isto em vista, torna-se evidente que estudos que levem a um melhor entendimento destas propriedades biológicas, podem levar ao desenvolvimento desta importante área. Apesar destas inovações, os mecanismos responsáveis pela manutenção ou indução da pluripotência e da autorenovação, continuam largamente inexplorados. Neste sentido, o conjunto de técnicas referidas como High Content Screening (HCS) apresenta características fundamentais que permitiriam a interrogação sistemática e em larga-escala de fatores que possam estar influenciando nestes processos. A técnica de HCS se baseia no uso de microscopia de fluorescência em placas de 96 ou mais poços, permitindo a aquisição e a análise automatizada das imagens, de forma a quantificar alterações fenotípicas nas células. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer um modelo experimental para a avaliação funcional e em larga escala de fatores que possam influenciar a diferenciação celular. Tendo em vista a facilidade de cultivo e manuseio, a linhagem humana de células pluripotentes de carcinoma embrionário (CCE) NTera-2, foi utilizada. Para a padronização do modelo, o processo de diferenciação foi avaliado ao longo do tempo (em 2, 4 e 8 dias) na presença ou ausência de ácido transretinóico (atRA), utilizado como indutor de diferenciação celular. Para isso, os níveis transcricionais de Oct4, Nanog (marcadores da pluripotência) e de N-Caderina foram avaliados por PCR em tempo real. Finalmente, a expressão e a distribuição celular de Oct4, Nanog e da alfa-actina foi avaliada por meio de microscopia de fluorescência automatizada, com o uso de anticorpos ou faloidina marcada, utilizando um sistema de HCS (Operetta, Perkin Elmer) para a análise dos resultados. A proliferação celular das células submetidas à diferenciação foi avaliada pelo ensaio do XTT. O atRA inibiu a proliferação e induziu a diferenciação; como demonstrado, respectivamente, pelos resultados do ensaio do XTT, decaimento dos níveis de Oct4 e Nanog e, concomitante aumento de N-Caderina, ao longo do tempo. Também foi observada a diferenciação espontânea da linhagem, na ausência de atRA, porém, de forma reduzida. Finalmente, as avaliações de HCS evidenciaram que, durante o processo de diferenciação, a perda da expressão nuclear de Oct4 e Nanog está associada à alteração do fenótipo celular, com a redistribuição da actina cortical e a formação das stress fibers, caracterizando o processo de transição epitélio-mesenquima (EMT), um importante mecanismo envolvido na diferenciação celular. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demonstram a viabilidade do uso da linhagem NTera-2 como modelo para estudos futuros de HCS visando a identificação de moléculas que atuem na modulação de propriedades fundamentais das células tronco pluripotentes. / Pluripotent stem cells are those that possess the ability to generate cells from the three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm), as well as the germ cells. The embryonic stem cells (ESC) are the best known pluripotent cells that present a high capacity of cell differentiation and self renewal. These properties of the ESC make them potential tools for the regenerative medicine, but their use in clinical practice faces several barriers. In this sense, the accumulation of knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of pluripotency led to the development of techniques capable of inducing pluripotency in adult somatic cells. In most approaches, this is achieved by the ectopic expression of transcription factors involved in pluripotency (such as Oct4 and Nanog). With this in mind, it becomes clear that studies that provide a better understanding of these biological properties can lead to the development of this important area. Despite these innovations, the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance or induction of pluripotency and self-renewal remain largely unexplored. In this sense, the set of techniques such as High Content Screening (HCS) has fundamental characteristics that allow systematic and large-scale interrogation of factors that may be influencing these processes. The HCS technique is based on the use of fluorescence microscopy in 96-well or larger plates, allowing the automated acquisition and analysis of images, so as to measure phenotypic changes in the cells. This study aimed to establish an experimental model for functional and large-scale assessment of factors that may influence cellular differentiation. Due its simple cultivation and handling characteristics, a human lineage of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cell (ECC) NTERA-2 was used. To standardize the model, the process of differentiation was evaluated over time (at 2, 4 and 8 days) in the presence or absence of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), used as an inducer of cellular differentiation. The transcriptional levels of Oct4, Nanog (pluripotency markers) and Ncadherin were assessed by real time PCR. Finally, the expression and cellular distribution of Oct4, Nanog and alpha-actin was assessed by fluorescence microscopy, using antibodies or labelled phalloidin, using a HCS platform (Operetta, Perkin Elmer) for the analysis of the results. The proliferation of cells undergoing differentiation was assessed by XTT assay. atRA inhibited proliferation and induced differentiation, as shown by the XTT assay results, and the decay of Oct4 and Nanog, and concomitant increase of N-cadherin levels over time, respectively. It was also observed spontaneous differentiation in the absence of atRA although in less extent. Finally, the HCS results showed that during the differentiation process, the loss of nuclear expression of Oct4 and Nanog is associated with alteration of cell phenotype, with redistribution of cortical actin and formation of stress fibers, characterizing the epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), an important mechanism involved in cell differentiation. The results of this study therefore demonstrate the feasibility of using the NTERA-2 cell line as a model for future HCS studies aiming identification of molecules that act in the modulation of fundamental properties of pluripotent stem cells.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-05-09T13:54:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 brendaleesimasporto.pdf: 2937738 bytes, checksum: 5bab0afa2d60b1556e96b14ca4858ece (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-17T14:14:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 brendaleesimasporto.pdf: 2937738 bytes, checksum: 5bab0afa2d60b1556e96b14ca4858ece (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T14:14:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 brendaleesimasporto.pdf: 2937738 bytes, checksum: 5bab0afa2d60b1556e96b14ca4858ece (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-16 / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Foi proposto um método alternativo para a determinação de ácidos graxos trans expressos em ácido elaídico por CZE com detecção direta no UV. A solução de eletrólito consistiu de 12,0 mmol L-1 de tetraborato de sódio, 12,0 mmol L-1 de brij 35 e MeOH/ACN na proporção de 33:17 v:v. Os ácidos graxos trans foram quantificados com sucesso em amostras de bala de caramelo, mistura para bolo, waffer recheado, chocolate e mistura para pão de queijo em 13 minutos de análise com a estatística baseada no cálculo de uma fator de resposta usando o ácido cis-nonadecaenóico como padrão interno. A comparação estatística entre CZE-UV e o método clássico de análise por GC-FID não apresentou diferenças significativas no intervalo de 95% de confiança. Também foi proposto um método alternativo para análise target de CLA por fast GC usando a coluna SLB-IL111 com 15 m de comprimento e 0,10 mm de diâmetro interno. A separação ocorreu em isoterma a 168 º C e os isômeros de CLA cis-9, trans-11 e trans-10, cis-12 eluiram em 4,6 e 4,7 minutos, respectivamente. Duas amostras de leite com diferentes teores de CLA em sua composição foram analisadas e quantificadas por adição de padrão. A comparação estatística entre o método proposto com a coluna SLB-IL11 e o método clássico de análise por GC-FID com a coluna CPSil-88 não apresentou diferenças significativas no intervalo de 95% de confiança. O terceiro foco deste trabalho envolve a busca de biomarcadores para aterosclerose instável, utilizando a abordagem de fingerprint em metabolomica. Foi selecionado um grupo de 38 pacientes, entre homens e mulheres, metade diagnosticada com aterosclerose instável e metade com aterosclerose estável. A partir da análise do plasma deses pacientes, por LC-MS e GC-MS, foi possível selecionar 25 metabólitos como candidatos a biomarcadores para a enfermidade. Destes, apenas 18 puderam ser identificados e classificados como ácidos graxos, aminoácidos e carnitinas. Sua variação entre as amostras testadas sugere que a alimentação humana pode estar relacionada com as diferenças no metabolismo de pacientes diagnosticados com aterosclerose estável e instável. / An alternative method for determination of trans fatty acids expressed as elaidic acid in CZE-UV with direct detection was proposed. The background electrolyte used consisted of 12,0 mmol L-1 of sodium tetraborate buffer, 12,0 mmol L-1 of brij 35 and MeOH/ACN in ratio 33:17 v:v. Trans fatty acids in different samples such as butter toffee, cake mix, stuffed wafers, chocolate and a mix for brazilian cheese bread were successfully quantified within an analysis time of 13 min, considering the statistical approach based on response factor calculation using cis-nonadecaenoic acid as internal standard. The statistical comparison between CZE-UV and the classical GC method for the analyzed samples did not present significant differences within the 95% confidence interval. Also was proposed an alternative method for the target analysis of CLA by fast GC using the SLB-IL111 column with 15 m length and 0.10 mm in internal diameter. The separation occurred with isotherm at 168 ° C and the CLA isomers cis-9, trans-11 and trans10, cis-12 eluting at 4.6 and 4.7 minutes, respectively. Two samples of milk with different CLA content in its composition was analyzed and quantified by standard addiction. The statistical comparison between the proposed method with the column SLB-IL111 and the classical GC method with the column CPSil-88 did not present significant differences within the 95% confidence interval. The third focus of this work involves the search of biomarkers for unstable atherosclerosis, using fingerprint approach in metabolomics. It selected a group of 38 patients, men and women, half diagnosed with unstable atherosclerosis and half with stable atherosclerosis. From the plasma analysis of these patients, by LC-MS and GC-MS, 25 metabolites as biomarkers candidate for this disease were selected. In which, only 18 could be identified and classified as fatty acids, amino acids, and carnitines. Its variation between samples suggests that human food may be related to the differences in the metabolism of patients diagnosed with stable and unstable atherosclerosis.

Résumé en français confidentiel / Résumé en anglais confidentiel

Le khroskyabs de Wobzi (rgyalronguique, sino-tibétain), avec environ 350 locuteurs, est parlé au canton de Wobzi, comté de Chuchen, préfecture tibétaine et qiang de Rngaba, au Sichuan, en Chine. Notre thèse, une description linguistique du khroskyabs de Wobzi, est la première grammaire de référence du khroskyabs basée sur un corpus de textes recueillis au cours de neuf terrains depuis 2010. Elle comporte cinq parties principales.D’abord, un chapitre introductif, le chapitre 1, présente la situation sociolinguistique du khroskyabs, et le chapitre 2 la phonétique et la phonologique. Parmi toutes les langues de la famille sino-tibétaine décrites jusqu’à maintenant, le khroskyabs est celle qui a le plus grand nombre de groupes de consonnes initiaux, avec 715 groupes distincts ; par ailleurs, c’est également une langue à deux tons (haut et descendant), qui ne s’assigne qu’à l’une des syllabes dans une unité prosodique. Au chapitre 3, une introduction aux différentes parties de discours en khroskyabs de Wobzi est proposée, suivie de trois chapitres sur la morphologie nominale (le chapitre 4), les adverbes (le chapitre 5) et les autres parties de discours fermées (le chapitre 6).Ensuite, nous consacrons sept chapitres, du chapitre 7 au chapitre 13, aux constructions verbales, qui forment la partie centrale de la langue khroskyabs. Manifestant une morphologie verbale gabaritique, le wobzi est principalement préfixant, avec 11 positions préfixales et 2 positions suffixales. De plus, les affixes, surtout le préfixe causatif s-, subissent des processus morphophonologiques complexes : assimilation, dissimilation et métathèse, etc. Les propriétés de TAME se réalisent avec des opérations morphologiques, des auxiliaires ou des constructions phrastiques spécifiques.Ensuite, nous présentons les constructions phrastiques à travers quatre chapitres, du chapitre 14 au chapitre 17 : les phrases simples, la complémentation propositionnelle, la relativisation et les constructions comparatives, respectivement. Ces constructions présentent des propriétés distinctes des langues rgyalrong, en faisant usage des enclitiques nominalisateurs pour les complétives et les relatives, et possédant une formation du discours semi-direct unique et innovée, impliquant des changements de point de vue spécifiques. Enfin, dans l’annexe de la thèse, nous fournissons deux textes glosés, un index du vocabulaire et un dictionnaire. / Wobzi Khroskyabs (Rgyalrongic, Sino-tibetan), with around 350 speakers, is spoken in the Commune of Wobzi, Chuchen County, Rgnaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. This dissertation, a linguistic description of Wobzi Khroskyabs, is the first reference grammar of the Khroskyabs language, based on text corpora collected from nine fieldworks since 2010. It consists of five major parts.Firstly, an introductive chapter (Chapter 1) presents the socio-linguistic situation of Khroskyabs, and secondly, in Chapter 2, the phonetics and the phonology are treated. Khroskyabs is so far the language exhibiting the largest number of initial consonant clusters amongst all Sino-Tibetan languages, with 715 distinctive clusters ; it is also a two-tone language (high and falling) that assigns one single tone to each prosodic unit.In the third place, Chapter 3 is an introduction to different parts of speech in Wobzi khroskyabs, followed by three chapters on nominal morphology (Chapter 4), adverbs (Chapter 5) and other closed parts of speech (Chapter 6).Then, seven chapters, from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13, are dedicated to verbal constructions, forming the main part of the dissertation. Exhibiting a templatic morphology, Wobzi is mainly prefixing, with 11 prefix slots and 2 suffix slots. Moreover, the affixes, especially the causative prefix -s, undergoes complex morphophonological processes: assimilation, dissimilation, metathesis, etc. Wobzi also presents TAME phenomena related to morphological operations, auxiliaries and specific sentential constructions.The chapters on verbs are followed by four chapters on sentential constructions, from Chapter 14 to Chapter 17, in which we will discuss simple sentences, complementation, relativisation and comparative constructions. These constructions present different properties compared to Rgyalrong languages, on the one hand, making use of nominalising enclitics for complementation and relativisation, and on the other, exhibiting a unique and innovated formation of semi-direct speech, with specific point of view changes.In the end, in the appendices, two glossed texts, a vocabulary index and a dictionary are provided.

Contrairement aux maladies génétiques mendéliennes, qui dépendent d’un seul gène causal, les traits quantitatifs complexes sont des caractéristiques mesurables d’organismes vivants, qui résultent de l’interaction entre plusieurs gènes et les facteurs environnementaux. La génomique fonctionnelle nous a permis d’identifier de nombreux locus génétiques liés aux caractères complexes, qui sont appelés «locus de traits quantitatifs» (QTL). Cependant, de telles études ne permettent pas une caractérisation précise de l'architecture génétique des traits complexes. Plus récemment, il est devenu possible d’identifier des locus génétiques associés aux niveaux d'expression de gènes, appelés«locus de traits quantitatifs d’expression» (eQTLs). Dans de tels cas, les variants génétiques peuvent affecter l'expression soit des gènes qui se situent dans leur voisinage (cis-eQTLs), soit de ceux qui résident plus loin (trans-eQTLs). Dans des cas particuliers, un même locus peut affecter l’expression de plusieurs gènes situés dans différents chromosomes, formant ce qu’on appelle des ‘trans-eQTLs hotspots’. Ceux-ci peuvent avoir d’importants intérêts biologiques, car ils sont généralement enrichis en gènes fonctionnellement apparentés qui peuvent influencer le même trait phénotypique. Dans cette thèse, en analysant l'expression des gènes dans des échantillons de cœurs obtenus à partir d'un panel de souches consanguines recombinantes de souris AxB / BxA, nous avons détecté un QTL lié en trans- à l'expression de 190 transcrits, dont la majorité est connue pour être sensible aux interférons de type I. Le même locus correspondait également à celui d'un cis-eQTL pour le gène Ypel5, ce qui suggère que ce dernier peut être un régulateur commun des gènes trans-eQTL. Donc, le but principale de cette thèse fut de valider biologiquement le rôle du gène cis-eQTL dans la régulation du ‘trans-eQTLs hotspots’. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont montrés que la réduction de l'expression de Ypel5 dans des macrophages de souris a stimulée l'expression de plusieurs gènes qui appartiennent au ‘trans-eQTL hotspot’, et ce d’une manière dépendante d’IFNB1. Le knockdown de YPEL5 a également augmenté l’induction d’IFNB1 dans les cellules humaines HEK293T. Lorsque ces dernières ont été soumis à des stimuli qui activent les kinases TBK1 / IKBKE, nous avons détecté des interactions fonctionnelles de YPEL5 avec l'activité de ces kinases, ainsi que des interactions physiques avec IKBKE. Nos résultats préliminaires (présentés dans le chapitre3) suggèrent aussi l’implication de YPEL5 dans la régulation du cycle cellulaire et /ou de la sénescence. En conclusion, nous sommes parmi les premiers groupes à fournir des preuves biologiques montrant le rôle d'un gène cis-eQTL en tant que régulateur commun de gènes appartenant à un ‘hotspot de trans-eQTL’. La validation biologique des analyses génomiques a ainsi permis de découvrir Ypel5 comme un nouveau régulateur négatif de la réponse antivirale innée qui agit (au moins en partie) au niveau des kinases TBK1 / IKBKE. / Unlike Mendelian genetic diseases, which depend on a single causal gene, complex quantitative traits are measurable characteristics of living organisms, which result from the interaction between several genes and environmental factors. Functional genomics has allowed us to identify many genetic loci linked to complex traits, which are called "quantitative trait loci" (QTL). However, such studies do not allow an accurate characterization of the genetic architecture of complex traits. More recently, it has become possible to identify genetic loci associated with gene expression levels, called "expression quantitative trait locus" (eQTLs). In such cases, the genetic variants can affect the expression of genes that are either located in their vicinity (cis-eQTLs) or that reside further away (trans-eQTLs). In particular cases, the same locus can affect the expression of several genes located on different chromosomes, forming so-called ‘trans-eQTLs hotspots’. These may have important biological interests, as they are generally enriched in functionally related genes, which may influence the same phenotypic trait. In this thesis, by analyzing the expression of genes in hearts from a panel of AxB / BxA mouse recombinant inbred strains, we detected a QTL linked in trans- to the expression of 190 transcripts, the majority of which are known to be sensitive to type I interferon. The same locus also corresponded to that of a cis-eQTL for the Ypel5 gene, suggesting that it could be a common regulator of the trans-eQTL genes. Therefore, the main purpose of this thesis was to biologically validate the role of the cis-eQTL gene in the regulation of the ‘trans-eQTL hotspot’. The work presented in this thesis showed that the silencing of Ypel5 expression in mouse macrophages stimulated the expression of several genes that belong to the ‘trans-eQTL hotspot’ in an IFNB1-dependent manner. YPEL5 knockdown also increased IFNB1 induction in human HEK293T cells. When the latter were subjected to stimuli that activate the TBK1/IKBKE kinases, we detected functional interactions of YPEL5 with the activity of these kinases and physical interactions with IKBKE. Our preliminary results (presented in Chapter 3) suggest also the involvement of YPEL5 in the regulation of cell cycle progression and / or senescence. In conclusion, we are among the first groups to provide biological evidence showing the role of a cis-eQTL gene as a common regulator of genes belonging to a ‘trans-eQTL hotspot’. The biological validation of genomic analysis thus revealed Ypel5 as a new negative regulator of the innate antiviral response that acts (at least in part) at the level of the TBK1 / IKBKE kinases.

Stilbene phytoalexins such as resveratrol, 1, and the arachidins, including arachidin-1,2, are naturally synthesised by peanut (Arachis hypogaea) plants. The peanut phytoalexins are polyphenolic compounds consisting of a stilbene backbone, with a number of derivatives also possessing a prenyl moiety. These distinctive phytoalexins have gained attention, as they exhibit various biological activities, for instance arachidin-1, 2, has been reported to be more potent than resveratrol, 1, in the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and COX-2 mRNA, in vitro at doses that were low in cytotoxicity. Additionally the various arachidins have recently been shown to exhibit their anti-inflammatory properties, through the inhibition of a number of inflammatory mediator pathways. In this work, various routes into the synthesis of arachidin-1, 2, are described, via use of the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction. Three different methodologies were explored, the first approach involving silyl ether (TIPS or TBDMS) protected benzaldehydes, proved unsuccessful due to cleavage of the silyl ether protecting groups, in basic and/or acidic conditions. This led to an alternative approach, whereby formation of the stilbene backbone proceeded via the regioselective demethylation of an acetal in the presence of sodium metal, subsequent electrophilic substitution using iodomethane and finally acetal hydrolysis of the acetal, gave the isolated aldehyde in moderate yield (52 %). Coupling of the aldehyde with the substituted benzylphosphonate, via the HWE reaction gave the desired trans-stilbene in good yield (86 %), however incorporation of the prenyl side chain proved to be challenging via the Wohl-Ziegler bromination. Further adaptation of the aforementioned route, whereby alkylation using diethyl iodomethylphosphonate, enabled the incorporation of the prenyl moiety and the subsequent construction of the trans-stilbene backbone, gave the 4-(3-methyl-but-1- enyl)-3,5,3',4'-tetramethoxystilbene, 3, albeit in poor yield (47 %). The final step involving demethylation using BBr3 gave arachidin-1, 2, also in poor yield (30 %), nevertheless this approach has been proved to be a successful route for the total synthesis of arachidin-1, 2, however optimised studies are required in order to obtain the desired compound in quantitative yields. Synthetic analogues of resveratrol, 1, are also known for their biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and chemopreventative properties. Recently, the anti-proliferative activity of a number of stilbenesulfonamides, against the National Cancer Institute's 60 (NCI-60) human tumour cell line has been reported. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of novel heterocyclic methylsulfone and sulfonamide analogues, via inhibition of the COX-2 protein have also been published, however both synthetic routes described require a total of six or seven steps, from the sulfanilamide and are limited to the synthesis of primary sulphonamides (SO2NH2). In this work, an efficient three step synthesis has been designed and successfully implemented, proceeding via chlorosulfonation of diethyl benzylphosphonate, to form the sulfonyl chloride intermediate. Aminolysis of the sulfonyl chloride intermediate was then performed, using a range of primary, secondary and cyclic alkyl amines, as well as aromatic amines; including ammonia, dimethylamine, morpholine and diphenylamine. Finally, formation of the stilbene backbone with various substituted aldehydes, via the HWE reaction offered a short, versatile and alternative route to the synthesis of novel primary, secondary and tertiary trans-stilbene benzenesulfonamides and heterocyclic analogues, in yields of 42 - 100 %. The activity of a selection of the synthesised stilbene benzenesulfonamides was evaluated against the human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (A549). Amongst the compounds tested, analysis of the data showed that the novel analogue, 4, was found to be the most potent compound, with a GI50 of 0.1 μM. Comparison with the previously published data found analogue, 4, to be approximately 500-fold more potent than the lead compound resveratrol, 1, (GI50 = 51.64 μM) and approximately twice as potent than 5-fluorouracil (GI50 = 0.189μM), a chemotherapy drug used to treat various forms of cancer 8. Overall, these results demonstrate that the total synthesis of trans-arachidin-1, 2, can be achieved via a five step methodology. A versatile route to the synthesis of novel stilbene benzenesulfonamides has also been successfully achieved, amongst the compounds synthesised one appears to show promising anticancer activity, and warrants further investigation (i.e. in vitro studies using other cancer cell lines, and the synthesis of additional compounds using analogue, 4, as a lead compound).

La biohydrogénation (BH) ruminale des acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) est à l’origine de la production d’AG trans pouvant se retrouver dans les productions de ruminants, dont le lait. Parmi ceux-ci, les isomères t11 auraient des effets bénéfiques pour la santé des consommateurs alors que les isomères t10 sont potentiellement défavorables. En élevage, l’apport de graines oléagineuses dans la ration des vaches permet d’augmenter la teneur du lait en ces acides gras. Or ces graines sont souvent distribuées chauffées pour améliorer leur valeur nutritionnelle. Expérimentalement, les effets des graines chauffées sur les teneurs en isomères t11 dans le rumen ou le lait sont variables, mais généralement elles permettent une augmentation des isomères t11 et une protection des AGPI. Au contraire, des huiles très oxydées par chauffage diminuent fortement les isomères t11 et augmentent parfois les isomères t10. Les produits d’oxydation des lipides générés pendant le chauffage des graines ou des huiles pourraient être incriminés. Les objectifs de la présente étude étaient d’explorer les éventuels effets des produits d’oxydation du c9,c12-C18:2 sur sa BH ruminale. In vitro, la protection des AGPI dans des graines de soja chauffées a été liée aux aldéhydes et en particulier à l’hexanal. L’augmentation des isomères t11 a été observée avec un aldéhyde long et insaturé, le t2,t4-décadiénal, suite à une inhibition de la dernière étape de la BH. Cet effet était concomitant à une modification marquée de la communauté bactérienne du rumen induite par cet aldéhyde. Les hydroperoxydes issus du c9,c12-C18:2 sont le 13HPOD et le 9HPOD. L’augmentation des isomères t10 a systématiquement été reliée au 13HPOD dans nos différentes expérimentations. Aucun mécanisme d’action n’a pu être formellement démontré mais l’effet du 13HPOD s’exercerait plutôt sur le microbiote, car il ne module pas l’activité de la Δ9-isomérase. Quant à la diminution des isomères t11 observée avec les huiles chauffées, elle n’a pas pu être expliquée. Elle pourrait également être liée, au moins partiellement, aux 13HPOD et 9HPOD, capables d’inhiber la Δ12-isomérase. Des modifications des fermentations ruminales, sans altération mesurable de l’abondance, de la diversité ou de la structure de la communauté bactérienne, suggèrent aussi un effet des AGPI chauffés sur l’activité des bactéries. / Ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) produces some trans FA which can be found in ruminant products. Among them, t11 isomers would be beneficial for human health while t10 isomers are potentially deleterious. In farms, addition of oilseeds to the diet of dairy cows increases these fatty acids in milk. Oilseeds are often heated before incorporation to cow’s diets, to enhance their nutritional value. Experiments investigating effects on t11 isomers content in rumen and milk of cows receiving heated oilseeds provided variable results, but they usually increased t11 isomers and protected PUFA from BH. On the contrary, highly oxidized oil decrease t11 isomers and sometimes increase t10 isomers. Lipid oxidation products generated during heating of oilseeds and oils could be incriminated. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of c9,c12-C18:2 oxidation products on its BH. Protection of PUFA in heated soybeans was linked to aldehydes, mainly hexanal. An increase of t11 isomers was observed with a long and unsaturated aldehyde, the t2,t4-decadienal, due to an inhibition of the last BH step. This effect was concomitant with a modification of bacterial community by t2,t4-decadienal. Hydroperoxides formed during c9,c12-C18:2 heating are 13HPOD and 9HPOD. The increase of t10 isomers in all of our experimentations was systematically linked with 13HPOD. No definitive explanation about the mechanism of action could be proposed, but 13HPOD would most probably act on microbiote since it had no effect on Δ9-isomerase. Our experiments did not explain the decrease of t11 isomers observed with heated oils, which could, at least in part, be due to 13HPOD and 9HPOD, which were able to inhibit Δ12-isomerase Some modifications of ruminal fermentation without measurable alteration of bacterial community abundance, diversity or structure also suggest an action of heated PUFA on bacterial activity.

Les switches multimodulables sont des systèmes qui, sous l'action d'un ou de plusieurs stimuli extérieurs, donnent naissance à un ensemble d'états aux propriétés physico-chimiques différentes. Au cours de cette thèse, plusieurs voies de synthèse permettant l'obtention d'une nouvelle famille de biphotochromes organiques constitués d'un dithiényléthène relié à une indolino[2,1-b]oxazolidine ont été mises au point. Les dithiényléthènes préparés présentent d'excellentes performances photochromiques et s'interconvertissent de façon réversible entre deux états stables thermiquement. Les 10-styryl-indolino[2,1-b]oxazolidines sont des molécules acidochromiques et doublement photochromiques par ouverture du cycle oxazolidine ou isomérisation de la double liaison. Ce système moléculaire compte jusqu'à huit états multicolores aux propriétés physico-chimiques différentes, accessibles par irradiations lumineuses et variation de l'acidité. Les propriétés ont été étudiées en solution et en matrice polymère, tous les états des biphotochromes étant caractérisés par spectroscopie d'absorption électronique et RMN. Cette thèse a été l'occasion de développer le premier système multimodulable incorporant huit états différents au sein d'une même molécule. / Multi-addressable switches are systems that give rise to a set of states with different physical-chemical properties upon the effect at least one external stimulus. During this thesis, several synthetic routes to a new family of organic biphotochromes composed of a dithienylethene linked to an indolino[2,1-b]oxazolidine have been developed. Synthesized dithienylethenes exhibit excellent photochromic properties and can be reversibly photoswitched between two thermally stable states. 10-styryl-indolino[2,1-b]oxazolidines are acidochromic molecules and photochromic by opening of the oxazolidine ring or cis/trans isomerization of the double bond. This molecular system exhibits up to eight multicoloured states with different physical-chemical properties, interchangeable by different sequences of light irradiation and pH variation steps. Properties were studied in solution and in a polymer matrix and all biphotochromes states have been characterised by electronic absorption spectroscopy and NMR. Additionally, the first multi-addressable system incorporating eight different states within the same molecule is described.

This Master Thesis is focused on the fleet of road haulier and its renewal process. The aim of this thesis is to find the optimal vehicle for fleet with respect to specified criteria. The theoretical part is focused on vehicles in general, the relevant legislative frameworks and technologies used in road freight transport. Furthermore it presents the most important producers of road freight vehicles and the methods of multi-criterial analysis. The practical part focuses on the process of fleet renewal in the Kouba Trans, s.r.o company and particularly on the implementation of author's own analysis leading to the selection of optimal vehicle for this company. The most optimal vehicle is truck Scania R 450 Highline.