Chemistry Commons^™

Probing Proteasome Inhibition By Metal Copmplexes As A New Route For Anticancer Therapy, Dajena Tomco

Wayne State University Dissertations

The scope of this thesis is focused towards the development of metal-containing coordination compounds as potential therapeutic agents. Efforts of this research involve the design, synthesis, and purification of these complexes, as well as their evaluation by spectroscopic, spectrometric, and electrochemical characterization. The antineoplastic properties of these metal-containing pro-drugs are tested against the inhibition activity of the 26S proteasome. Selected metal ions ranging from transition to main group elements have been incorporated in various ligand systems containing phenolate and pyridyl donor sets. The mechanistic behavior of these complexes in solution has been thoroughly investigated along with their in vitro anticancer …

Alterations In The Mouse Striatum Following Acute And Repeated Ethanol Exposure, Brooke D. Newman

Wayne State University Dissertations

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important neuromodulator that has implicated in regard to several neurological disorders, including alcohol addiction. BDNF is also an important modulator of dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter that is heavily implicated in addiction with one of the DA rich brain regions being referred to as the reward center of the brain. One of the focuses in alcohol dependence research includes determining risk factors that make an individual more susceptible to becoming dependent. BDNF has been of interest as a risk factor due to its involvement in ethanol consumption and addiction evidenced in a vast number of …

Investigation Into The Binding Interactions Of Klenow Fragment To Dna Modified With Carcinogens Af And Aaf Using Surface Plasmon Resonance, Ashley M. Floyd

Wayne State University Dissertations

The two major forms of DNA adducts from the carcinogen N-acetoxyacetyl-2-aminofluorene, N-(deoxygunanonsin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-C8-AAF) and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF), are both known to impede replication, though in different ways. AAF is a strong block to replication leading to frameshift mutations, while the AF adduct is more easily bypassed, causing base substitutions. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to study the binding of exonuclease deficient E. coli polymerase I, Klenow fragment (KF), to DNA modified with AF or AAF at two locations: as a templating base or in the last formed base pair. KF binding to the modified DNA bases was also monitored to …

New Carbohydrate-Based Anti-Cancer And Anti-Bacterial Vaccines, Zhifang Zhou

Wayne State University Dissertations

The unique carbohydrates expressed on the surface of cancer, bacterial, viral and fungal cells are excellent target antigens for the design of therapeutic or preventive vaccines. However, as antigens carbohydrates have problems. First, carbohydrates usually have low immunogenicity. Second, even if immunogenic, carbohydrates typically elicit T cell-independent immune responses. To overcome these problems and design useful vaccines based on carbohydrate antigens, they are usually coupled with carrier proteins to form conjugates to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigens. However, there are still some issues existing in glycoprotein vaccines, such as poor reproducibility of the conjugates, difficulties in quality control and …

Lanthanide-Based Precatalysts For Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions In Aqueous Media, Derek James Averill

Wayne State University Dissertations

The formation of carbon-carbon bonds is of great interest to synthetic chemists because these bonds make up the majority of biologically active compounds. The Mukaiyama aldol reaction is a Lewis-acid-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction that has the ability to produce optically active β-hydroxy carbonyls which can be found in many pharmaceuticals and natural products. Because of precatalyst instability towards hydrolysis, anhydrous solvents are commonly used. Recent efforts have focused on water-tolerant versions of enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reactions because of the financial and environmental benefits of using aqueous media. Consequently, the Lewis-acidic and water-tolerant features of Ln³⁺ ions have aroused great …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Discrete Fexni2-Xp Nanoparticles; Assembly Of Phosphide Nanoparticles Into Porous Networks, Asha Hitihami Mudiyanselage

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation research is focused on synthesis, characterization and assembly of metal phosphide nanoparticles of relevance to catalysis, magnetism, and optoelectronic applications. These include (1) synthesis of discrete FexNi2-xP ternary nanocrystals of relevance to hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysis and magnetism, and (2) 3-dimensional nanostructures (gels and aerogels) of InP and Ni2P.

A three-step solution-phase arrested precipitation method was employed for bimetallic nanocrystal synthesis. The synthesis of nanocrystals involves preparation of amorphous NixPy amorphous particles, introduction of the Fe precursor to form amorphous Fe-Ni-P particles, and high temperature conversion of Fe-Ni-P particles into crystalline ternary phosphide nanocrystals. Ternary FexNi2-xP nanocrystals crystalize in …

Redox-Active Trivalent Metallosurfactants With Low Global Symmetry For Molecule-Based Electronics: Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, And Amphiphilic Properties Of New Molecular Materials For Current-Voltage Measurements In M|Lb-Monolayer|M Devices, Lanka Dilruksi Wickramasinghe Wickramasinghe Arachchilage

Wayne State University Dissertations

LANKA D. W. WICKRAMASINGHE ARACHCHILAGE

August 2014

Advisor: Professor Cláudio N. Verani

Major: Chemistry (Inorganic)

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The silicon-based microelectronic industry has made remarkable technological advancements. Among these, new generation consumer electronics, telecommunication devices, and high performance data processing smart devices are of special interest. At present, electronic components existing on a single silicon chip grow rapidly, and soon the miniaturization process of electrical components will face limitations due to heat dissipation. Therefore, as an advanced alternative for silicon-based electronic components, the investigation of nanoscale molecular electronic devices is of great importance. This dissertation research is focused on …

Rydberg Time-Of-Flight And Imaging Probes Of The Velocity-Dependent Hydrogen Atom Spin Polarization, Bernadette Michlewicz Broderick

Wayne State University Dissertations

Insights into electron spin and nuclei are central to the field of chemical reaction dynamics. Of particular note is the study of spin-polarized hydrogen (SPH) atoms, which result from photodissociation of molecules. Examination of the detailed H-atom spin polarization is achieved by determining the projection of the electron spin onto the probe laser direction. In doing so, its angular distribution, complex dissociation pathways, and coherent excitation mechanisms may be revealed. Approaches to detect SPH atoms are experimentally challenging due to the difficulty associated with probing ground-state H atoms through isolated fine structure levels, which is the only direct way to …

Development Of Elisa-Based Hdac Activity Assay For Identification Of Isoform Selective Hdac Inhibitors, Geetha Padige

Wayne State University Dissertations

Cancers are one of the leading causes of death in United States, effecting roughly 20% of the population. To develop effective anti-cancer agents, vast research is in progress that targets various factors leading to cancer. One such area of cancer research is developing drugs that inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins. HDACs are histone modifying enzymes that regulate transcription of genes. Aberrant recruitment of HDACs to the transcription factors leads to tumor onset and growth. Because of their potential anti-cancer therapeutic interest, several HDAC inhibitors are in various stages of clinical trials. SAHA and Romidepsin are FDA-approved drugs for the treatment …

Hiv-1 Rna Dimerization At Single Molecule Level, Hansini R. Mundigala

Wayne State University Dissertations

The Dimerization Initiation Sequence (DIS) is a conserved hairpin-loop motif on the 5' UTR of the HIV-1 genome. It plays an important role in genome dimerization through formation of a "kissing complex" intermediate between two homologous DIS sequences. This bimolecular kissing complex ultimately leads to the formation of an extended RNA duplex. Understanding the kinetics of this interaction is key to exploiting DIS as a possible drug target against HIV. We wish to report a novel study that makes an important contribution to understanding the dimerization mechanism of HIV-1 RNA in vitro. Our work has employed single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy …

Characterization Of Initial Iron Binding Location And The Structure/Iron Binding Site On S.Cerevisiae Isu And On D.Melanogaster Frataxin, Andria V. Rodrigues

Wayne State University Dissertations

Iron-induced free radical damage has been implicated in the pathology of diseases of iron overload such as Friedreich's Ataxia, a genetic disorder characterized by an accumulation of iron in actively metabolizing tissues ultimately leading to cardio- and neuro- degeneration and cell death. It is caused by an inability to synthesize the mitochondrial protein, frataxin. Frataxin has been shown by numerous groups to be a part of the iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) multicomplex, where it functions in the capacity of a potential iron provider and an allosteric modulator of both the cysteine desulfurase and scaffold protein ISU. My research has been focused …

Single-Molecule Studies Of Local And Global Nucleic-Acid Dynamics, Eric Muthuri Patrick

Wayne State University Dissertations

Nucleic acids undergo both global and local conformational changes that are important for their function. Structural studies have over the decades been invaluable in elucidation of various biomolecular mechanisms, hence contributing significantly to the understanding of biological events. However, a clear understanding of how molecules function in the cellular context requires investigation of their interconversion between multiple conformations, including mapping the folding landscape and any coupled changes in conformation. Work in this thesis focuses on fluorescence experiments, mainly at a single-molecule level to investigate such processes.

First, a novel single-molecule approach is described focusing on local dynamics within nucleic acids …

Design, Synthesis, And Luminescence Properties Of Bridged Dimetallic Lanthanide Coordination Compounds, Jeremiah David Moore

Wayne State University Dissertations

I synthesized and characterized new homo- and heterodimetallic Eu3+- and Tb3+-containing complexes. Solution-phase luminescence measurements and density functional theory (DFT)-optimized structures indicated that all complexes were nearly isostructural and contained a dimetallic lanthanide core bridged by three oxygen atoms that are covalently bound to the ligand backbone. The homodimetallic Eu3+ complex behaved as a concentration-independent pH sensor that correlates the luminescence-decay rate of the complex to pH. The probable mechanism of pH sensing was attributed to the modulation of a hydroxyl oscillator in the Eu3+ coordination sphere, which was a previously unreported method to sense pH. The heterodimetallic Tb3+/Eu3+ complex …

Methodologies For Attaching Polypyridyl Ligands Into Amino Acids And Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Light Activated Peptidomimetic Cysteine Protease Inhibitors Caged By Ruii(Bpy)2, Tomasz Respondek

Wayne State University Dissertations

Two separate subjects are described in this dissertation. The first part describes novel methodologies for attaching polypyridyl ligands into unnatural amino acids. The first chapter describes the different possibilities for attaching metal ligands to peptides and their applications as potential imaging and therapeutic agents covered so far in the literature. It is followed in the second chapter by the description of a new method for the construction of metal-peptide conjugates through the use of three unnatural amino acids, and their adaptation to solid phase synthesis. The third chapter describes the synthesis of a novel, "optimal" substrate for the enantioselective alkylation …

Investigating Hfq-Mrna Interactions In Bacteria, Martha Audra Faner

Wayne State University Dissertations

Regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are essential for bacteria to thrive in diverse environments and they also play a key role in virulence [11]. Trans-sRNAs affect the stability and/or translation of their target mRNAs through complementary base-pairing. The base-pairing interaction is not perfect and requires the action of an RNA binding protein, Hfq. Hfq facilitates these RNA-RNA interactions by stabilizing duplex formation, aiding in structural rearrangements, increasing the rate of structural opening, and/or by increasing the rate of annealing [18-21]. Hfq has two well characterized binding surfaces: the proximal surface, which binds AU rich stretches typical of sRNAs, and the distal surface, …

Exergetic Analysis Of Hydrogen Combustion Involving Electronically Excited Species, Devon Alan Washington

Wayne State University Dissertations

Plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) is a growing field of research that involves using nonthermal plasma (NTP) to enhance combustion. PAC research involves modeling reaction mechanisms and chemical kinetics. Exergy analysis of combustion devices focuses on combustion irreversibility, including mixing, internal heat transfer, and oxidation. This novel research project merges these two branches of research.

The focus of this work is the application of exergy analysis to PAC systems, to analyze the effect introducing NTP has on trends in exergy destruction associated with oxidation during hydrogen combustion. This was accomplished by developing a plug flow reactor model using the chemical simulation tool …

Development Of Matrix Assisted Ionization Methods For Characterization Of Soluble And Insoluble Proteins From Native Environments By Mass Spectrometry, Ellen Dela Victoria Inutan

Wayne State University Dissertations

Matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) have made a huge impact in the analysis of biological materials. ESI has gained its popularity involving liquid based analysis, efficient fragmentation, chromatographic and electrophoretic separations but has a limitation for solubility restricted materials and surface analysis. MALDI is applicable to large biomolecule analysis and for surface methods useful for tissue imaging but is limited for structural characterization due to poor fragmentation and is ill suited for liquid based separation methods. The research presented here relates to new ionization methods that encompass the benefits of ESI and MALDI. These novel ionization methods …

Development Of Ruthenium/Terpyridine Complexes For Water Oxidation, Dakshika Chandrashani Wanniarachchi

Wayne State University Dissertations

The work presented in the dissertation is focused on developing catalysts for water oxidation. In this regard, a series of unsysmmetrical ruthenium complexes of type [Ru(terpy-R)(phen-X)Cl]PF6 where terpy-R= 4'-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-2,2':6'2"-terpyridine and phen-X=H (1), X= 5-nitro (2), X=5,6-dimethyl (3), and X= 3,4,7,8-tretramethyl (4) was synthesized as precursors for self-assembled monolayers. Water oxidation properties of these complexes were evaluated in the presence of (NH4)2[Ce(NO3)6] as the sacrificial oxidant by measuring catalytic turnover number (TON) after 24 h of reaction time and rate of dioxygen evolution in solution during early stages of catalysis. The results revealed that all complexes 1 - 4 are catalytic …

Studies On The Physicochemical Properties Of Eu2+ Cryptates: Implications To Contrast Agents For Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Joel Garcia

Wayne State University Dissertations

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful medical imaging technique that can be enhanced using metal complexes called contrast agents. Most clinically approved contrast agents contain Gd³⁺. However, the efficiency (also known as relaxivity) of these Gd³⁺-containing complexes decreases as field strength increases, and in the ultra-high field strength regime, the relaxivity of these complexes is decreased considerably. Because of the slow water-exchange rate of most Gd³⁺-containing complexes (∼;10⁶ s^-1), I used Eu²⁺ instead of Gd³⁺ and adapted the ligand modification strategies that have been used for Gd^{3+ …}

Development Of Kinase Catalyzed Biotinylation To Study Phosphoproteomics, Kona Arachchilage Chamara Indunil Bandara Senevirathne

Wayne State University Dissertations

Kinase-catalyzed protein phosphorylation is involved in a wide variety of cellular events. Development of methods to identify phosphoproteins in normal and diseased states is critical to fully characterize cell biology. Our lab recently discovered kinase-catalyzed biotinylation, where ATP-biotin is utilized by kinases to label phosphopeptides or phosphoproteins with a biotin tag. To explore kinase-catalyzed biotinylation, kinetic measurements were obtained with various kinases and the data indicated that kinase-catalyzed biotinylation occurs with catalytic efficiency appropriate for phosphoproteomics application. Next, the susceptibility of the biotin tag to phosphatases was characterized and found that the phosphorylbiotin group was relatively insensitive to protein phosphatases. …

Exploring Molecular Systems From Chemical Physics To Biochemistry Using Classical And Quantum Mechanics, Brian Thomas Psciuk

Wayne State University Dissertations

Six topic are considered in this dissertation. Chapter 2 is an investigation into the role of ultra-fast hydrogen dynamics in determining fragmentation products of C3H4 following exposure to intense laser fields. Classical dynamics simulations were performed starting from C3H4 isomers with 190 - 240 kcal/mol excess energy distributed randomly as nuclear momenta. Deprotonation events were seen in ca. 50 - 75 % of all trajectories. Roughly one third of all trajectories showed fragmentation involving internal isomerization prior to dissociation. Chapter 3 is a survey of currently popular density functional methods and their ability to calculate accurate excitation energies and intensities …

Fundamental Studies And Applications Of Strong Field Ionization, Lu Yan

Wayne State University Dissertations

In an intense laser field, atoms and molecules experience tunneling ionization directly to the continuum. We used this method to study several aspects and applications of strong field ionization (SFI) in atoms and molecules. One study used SFI to probe the photofragments produced by photodissociation using DC sliced imaging. The photodissociation mechanism of two polyatomic molecules (sulfur dioxide and nitromethane) were investigated. In a second study, we show the strong field ionization rate depends on the sign of the magnetic number distribution. We detect the signal of sequential double ionization of argon dications by a pump-probe method to investigate the …

Investigation Of Dopamine Dynamics In Bdnf+/- Mice Using In Vivo Microdialysis And Electrochemical Analysis Of Purine And Monoamine Molecules Using A Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode, Johnna A. Birbeck

Wayne State University Dissertations

The goal of the first study was to determine if a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in female mice lead to a dysregulation in their dopaminergic system. Through a series of in vivo microdialysis and slice voltammetry experiments, we have discerned that female BDNF^+/- mice are hyperdopaminergic similar to their male BDNF^+/- counterparts. The in vivo microdialysis method zero-net flux highlighted that female BDNF^+/- mice had increased extracellular dopamine (DA) levels, while stimulated regional release by high potassium potentiated DA release from vesicular mediated depolarization. Using the complementary technique of fast scan cyclic voltammetry, electrical …

Striatal Dopamine Dynamics Upon Manganese Accumulation, Madiha Khalid

Wayne State University Dissertations

STRIATAL DOPAMINE DYNAMICS UPON MANGANESE ACCUMULATION

by MADIHA KHALID

August 2013

Advisor: Dr. Tiffany Mathews

Major: Chemistry (Analytical)

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Although manganese (Mn) is fundamental for many biological processes, exposure to excess amounts leads to a neurological disorder termed manganism. Due to its symptomatic similarity to Parkinson's disease, as well its preferential accumulation in dopamine rich brain regions, alterations in the dopamine system are implicated in the onset of manganism. In my research, Mn overexposure is mimicked via subcutaneous administration of manganese chloride to C57BL/6 mice over the course of seven days using a protocol that has been …

Synthesis And Application Of Atp Analogs For Phosphorylation-Dependent Kinase-Substrate Crosslinking, Satish Kumar Garre Venkata Raghavendra

Wayne State University Dissertations

Phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that plays a key role in a variety of signaling cascades and cellular functions. Kinases phosphorylate protein substrates in a highly regulated manner and are promiscuous. Understanding kinase-substrate specificity has been challenging and there is a need for new chemical tools. To this end we developed -phosphate modified ATP photocrosslinking analogs ATP-ArN3 and ATP-BP, that crosslink substrate and kinase in a phosphorylation dependent manner. We have successfully demonstrated that ATP-ArN3 and ATP-BP can be used with natural kinase and substrates using cell lysates in vitro. We used our approach to identify novel kinases of …

Unveiling Dna Polymerase Synthesis And Proofreading Activities - One Molecule At A Time, Kyle Vrtis

Wayne State University Dissertations

DNA polymerases maintain the genome integrity from one generation to the next by faithfully synthesizing new DNA and by participating in DNA repair processes. The Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I has served as a model polymerase for decades because it is straightforward to purify, well-characterized kinetically, and it is able to carry out DNA synthesis and proofreading. In 2009, Christian, et al. developed a single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) approach to monitor the polymerase position on the DNA with single base pair resolution.

We have worked to optimize nearly every aspect of that approach and …

1. Chromium(0)- Promoted Higher Order Cycloaddition Reactions: Studies Toward The Total Synthesis Of The Cyclocitrinols And Echinopines A And B 2. Total Synthesis Of (±)-Debromoflustramine B Via [4+1] Cyclization Of An Indole Isocyanate And A Bis(Alkylthio)Carbene, Saptarshi De

Wayne State University Dissertations

A facile and short stereoselective synthesis of the functionalized tetracyclic core structure of the cyclocitrinols, a family of unusual C25 steroid isomers, has been accomplished. The key structural unit, the bicyclo[4.4.1]A/B ring system, was constructed by a regioselective Cr(0)-promoted [6π + 4π] photochemical cycloaddition reaction.

A Bronsted acid catalyzed rearrangement of the 11-trimethylsilyl-tetracyclo[8.1.0.03,7.04,11]undeca-5,8-diene ring system to the unusual homotriquinacene ring system. The trimethylsilyl substitution on the cyclopropane moiety was found to be crucial for the rapid transformation which is believed to proceed via carbocation intermediates.

A short concise formal synthesis of Echinopines A and B is reported. The key [5.5.7] …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Metal Complexes Containing Tetrazolate, Poly(Tetrazolyl)Borate, And Poly(Azolyl)Aluminate Ligands As High Energy Density Materials, Christopher James Snyder

Wayne State University Dissertations

A series of heavy alkaline earth metal tetrazolate complexes has been synthesized that contain metal ions saturated by aqua ligands. Tetrazolates with small ring-core carbon substituents favor formation of two dimensional polymers with u3-coordination of the tetrazolate to the metal centers. Tetrazolates with bulkier groups block coordination to the 1- and 4-nitrogen atoms, resulting in monomer formation. The first example of a trihydro(tetrazolyl)borate was prepared, and its bonding is heavily influenced by the basic BH3 moiety. 18-Crown-6 adducts of dihydrobis(tetrazolyl)borate complexes have been prepared that contain B-N bonding to the 2-nitrogen atoms, due to bulky ring-core atom substituents. A series …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Transition Metal Arsenide Nanocrystals And The Metastability And Magneto-Structural Phase Transition Behavior Of Mnas Nanocrystals, Yanhua Zhang

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation study focuses on (1) probing the magneto-structural phase transformation in nanoscale MnAs; (2) evaluation of the size-dependent phase stability of type-B MnAs (prepared by rapid injection); and (3) developing a general synthetic method for transition metal arsenide nanoparticles.

Discrete MnAs nanoparticles that adopt different structures at room temperature (type-A, α-structure and type-B, β-structure) have been prepared by the solution-phase arrested precipitation method. Atomic pair distribution and Rietveld refinement were employed on synchrotron data to explore the structural transitions of the bulk and nanoparticle samples, and these results were compared to AC magnetic susceptibility measurements of the samples. The …

Development And Optimization Of The First High Throughput In Vitro Fret Assay To Characterize The Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Gpi-T, Sandamali Amarasingha Ekanayaka

Wayne State University Dissertations

DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF AN IN VITRO FRET ASSAY TO CHARACTERIZE THE SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE GPI TRANSAMIDASE

By

SANDAMALI AMARASINGHA EKANAYAKA

December 2013

Advisor: Dr. Tamara L. Hendrickson

Major: Biochemistry

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The enzyme glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase (GPI-T) mediates the attachment of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor to the C-terminus of specific proteins to produce GPI anchored proteins. This post-translational modification is essential for viability of eukaryotic organisms. However, very little is known about GPI-T and its catalytic activity. Thus, the research described in this abstract was conducted to develop an in vitro assay to monitor GPI-T. A high-throughput assay for …