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Institute
- Graduate School of Life Sciences (102)
- Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (21)
- Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie (14)
- Physikalisches Institut (11)
- Institut für Psychologie (10)
- Institut für Organische Chemie (9)
- Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften (9)
- Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum (9)
- Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik (8)
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie (8)
Sonstige beteiligte Institutionen
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) (2)
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg (2)
- Anthropology Department University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1)
- Carl-Ludwig-Institut für Physiologie, Universität Leipzig (1)
- Chair of Experimental Biomedicine I (1)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) (1)
- EMBL Heidelberg (1)
- Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. (1)
- Fachgebiet für Populationsgenomik bei Nutztieren, Universität Hohenheim (1)
- Forschungsverbund ForChange des Bayrischen Kultusministeriums (1)
Studies on the role of cytoskeletal-regulatory and -crosslinking proteins in platelet function
(2023)
Cytoskeletal reorganization in platelets is highly regulated and important for proper platelet function during activation and aggregation at sites of vascular injury. In this thesis, the role of three different cytoskeletal-regulatory and -crosslinking proteins was studied in platelet physiology using megakaryocyte- and platelet-specific knockout mice. The generation of branched actin filaments is regulated by nucleation promoting factors (NPF) and the Arp2/3 complex.
(1.) The WAVE complex is a NPF, which upregulates the Arp2/3 complex activity at the plasma membrane. As shown in this thesis, the loss of the WAVE complex subunit Cyfip1 in mice did not alter platelet production and had only a minor impact on platelet activation. However, Cyfip1 played an essential role for branching of actin filaments and consequently for lamellipodia formation in vitro. The importance of lamellipodia for thrombus formation and stability has been controversially discussed. Cyfip1-deficient platelets were able to form a stable thrombus ex vivo and in vivo and a hemostatic plug comparable to controls. Moreover, Cyfip1-deficient mice maintained vascular integrity at the site of inflammation. These data show that platelet lamellipodia formation is not required for hemostatic function and pathophysiological thrombus formation.
(2.) The WASH complex is another NPF, which mediates actin filament polymerization on endosomal vesicles via the Arp2/3 complex. Loss of the WASH complex subunit Strumpellin led to a decreased protein abundance of the WASH protein and to a 20% reduction in integrin αIIbβ3 surface expression on platelets and megakaryocytes, whereas the expression of other surface receptors as well as the platelet count, size, ex vivo thrombus formation and bleeding time remained unaltered. These data point to a distinct role of Strumpellin in maintaining integrin αIIbβ3 expression and provide new insights into regulatory mechanisms of platelet integrins.
(3.) MACF1 has been described as a cytoskeletal crosslinker of microtubules and F-actin. However, MACF1-deficient mice displayed no alterations in platelet production, activation, thrombus formation and hemostatic function. Further, no compensatory up- or downregulation of other proteins could be found that contain an F-actin- and a microtubule-binding domain. These data indicate that MACF1 is dispensable for platelet biogenesis, activation and thrombus formation. Nevertheless, functional redundancy among different proteins mediating the cytoskeletal crosstalk may exist.
Honeybees are among the few animals that rely on eusociality to survive. While the
task of queen and drones is only reproduction, all other tasks are accomplished by sterile
female worker bees. Different tasks are mostly divided by worker bees of different ages
(temporal polyethism). Young honeybees perform tasks inside the hive like cleaning and
nursing. Older honeybees work at the periphery of the nest and fulfill tasks like guarding
the hive entrance. The oldest honeybees eventually leave the hive to forage for resources
until they die. However, uncontrollable circumstances might force the colony to adapt or
perish. For example, the introduced Varroa destructor mite or the deformed wing virus
might erase a lot of in-hive bees. On the other hand, environmental events might kill a
lot of foragers, leaving the colony with no new food intake. Therefore, adaptability of
task allocation must be a priority for a honeybee colony.
In my dissertation, I employed a wide range of behavioral, molecular biological and analytical techniques to unravel the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms of
the honeybee division of labor, especially in conjunction with honeybee malnourishment.
The genes AmOARα1, AmTAR1, Amfor and vitellogenin have long been implied to
be important for the transition from in-hive tasks to foraging. I have studied in detail
expression of all of these genes during the transition from nursing to foraging to understand how their expression patterns change during this important phase of life. My focus
lay on gene expression in the honeybee brain and fat body. I found an increase in the
AmOARα1 and the Amforα mRNA expression with the transition from in-hive tasks to
foraging and a decrease in expression of the other genes in both tissues. Interestingly,
I found the opposite pattern of the AmOARα1 and AmTAR1 mRNA expression in the
honeybee fat body during orientation flights. Furthermore, I closely observed juvenile
hormone titers and triglyceride levels during this crucial time. Juvenile hormone titers
increased with the transition from in-hive tasks to foraging and triglyceride levels decreased.
Furthermore, in-hive bees and foragers also differ on a behavioral and physiological level.
For example, foragers are more responsive towards light and sucrose. I proposed that
modulation via biogenic amines, especially via octopamine and tyramine, can increase
or decrease the responsiveness of honeybees. For that purpose, in-hive bees and foragers were injected with both biogenic amines and the receptor response was quantified
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using electroretinography. In addition, I studied the behavioral response of the bees to
light using a phototaxis assay. Injecting octopamine increased the receptor response and
tyramine decreased it. Also, both groups of honeybees showed an increased phototactic
response when injected with octopamine and a decreased response when injected with
tyramine, independent of locomotion.
Additionally, nutrition has long been implied to be a driver for division of labor. Undernourished honeybees are known to speed up their transition to foragers, possibly to
cope with the missing resources. Furthermore, larval undernourishment has also been
implied to speed up the transition from in-hive bees to foragers, due to increasing levels
of juvenile hormone titers in adult honeybees after larval starvation. Therefore, I reared
honeybees in-vitro to compare the hatched adult bees of starved and overfed larvae to
bees reared under the standard in-vitro rearing diet. However, first I had to investigate
whether the in-vitro rearing method affects adult honeybees.
I showed effects of in-vitro rearing on behavior, with in-vitro reared honeybees foraging
earlier and for a shorter time than hive reared honeybees. Yet, nursing behavior was
unaffected.
Afterwards, I investigated the effects of different larval diets on adult honeybee workers.
I found no effects of malnourishment on behavioral or physiological factors besides a
difference in weight. Honeybee weight increased with increasing amounts of larval food,
but the effect seemed to vanish after a week.
These results show the complexity and adaptability of the honeybee division of labor.
They show the importance of the biogenic amines octopamine and tyramine and of the
corresponding receptors AmOARα1 and AmTAR1 in modulating the transition from inhive bees to foragers. Furthermore, they show that in-vitro rearing has no effects on
nursing behavior, but that it speeds up the transition from nursing to foraging, showing
strong similarities to effects of larval pollen undernourishment. However, larval malnourishment showed almost no effects on honeybee task allocation or physiology. It seems
that larval malnourishment can be easily compensated during the early lifetime of adult
honeybees.
This work developed during the first funding period of the subproject B05 in the framework of the interdisciplinary research consortium TRR 225 ‘From the Fundamentals of Biofabrication toward functional Tissue Models’ and was part of a cooperation between the Orthopedic Department represented by Prof. Dr. Regina Ebert and the Institute of Organic Chemistry represented by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Seibel.
This project dealed with cellular behavior during the bioprinting process and how to influence it by modifying the cell glycocalyx with functional target molecules. The focus was on the impact of potential shear stress, that cells experience when they get processed in thermoresponsive bioinks, and a way to increase the cell stiffness via metabolic glycoengineering to attenuate shear forces. For the characterization of the metabolic glycoengineering, four different peracetylated and four non-acetylated modified monosaccharides (two mannose and two sialic acid sugars) were tested in primary human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) and telomerase-immortalized hMSC (hMSC-TERT). Viability results demonstrated a dose-dependent correlation for all sugars, at which hMSC-TERT seemed to be more susceptible leading to lower viability rates. The assessment of the incorporation efficiencies was performed by click chemistry using fluorescent dyes and revealed also a dose-dependent correlation for all mannose and sialic acid sugars, while glucose and galactose variants were not detected in the glycocalyx. However, incorporation efficiencies were highest when using mannose sugars in the primary hMSC. A subsequent analysis of the temporal retention of the incorporated monosaccharides showed a constant declining fluorescence signal up to 6 d for azido mannose in hMSC-TERT, whereas no signal could be detected for alkyne mannose after 2 d. Investigation of the differentiation potential and expression of different target genes revealed no impairment after incubation with mannose sugars, indicating a normal phenotype for hMSC-TERT. Following the successful establishment of the method, either a coumarin derivative or an artificial galectin 1 ligand were incorporated into the cell glycocalyx of hMSC-TERT as functional target molecule. The biophysical analysis via shear flow deformation cytometry revealed a slightly increased cell stiffness and lowered fluidity for both molecules. A further part of this project aimed to control lectin-mediated cell adhesion by artificial galectin 1 ligands. As that hypothesis was settled in the work group of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Seibel, this work supported with an initial characterization of galectin 1 as part of the hMSC biology. A stable galectin 1 expression at gene and protein level in both hMSC and hMSC-TERT could be confirmed, at which immunocytochemical stainings could detect the protein only in the glycocalyx. The treatment of hMSC-TERT with a galectin 1 ligand in different concentrations did not show an altered gene expression of galectin 1. However, these first data in addition to the investigation of stiffness confirmed the applicability of specific and artificial
IV
galectin 1 ligands in biofabrication approaches to alter cell properties of hMSC. To conclude, metabolic glycoengineering has been successfully implemented in hMSC and hMSC-TERT to introduce glycocalyx modifications which reside there for several days. A proof of concept was carried out by the increase of cell stiffness and fluidity by the incorporation of a coumarin derivative or an artificial galectin 1 ligand.
For the characterization of shear stress impact on cells after printing in thermoresponsive bioinks, the processing of hMSC-TERT (mixing or additionally printing) with Pluronic F127 or Polyoxazoline-Polyoxazine (POx-POzi) polymer solution was investigated. While there were no changes in viability when using POx-POzi bioink, processing with Pluronic F127 indicated slightly lower viability and increased apoptosis activity. Assessment of cellular responses to potential shear stress showed no reorganization of the cytoskeleton independent of the bioink, but highly increased expression of the mechanoresponsive proto-oncogene c Fos which was more pronounced when using Pluronic F127 and just mixed with the bioinks. Interestingly, processing of the mechanoresponsive reporter cell line hMSC-TERT-AP1 revealed slightly elevated mechanotransduction activity when using POx-POzi polymer and just mixed with the bioinks as well. In conclusion, hMSC-TERT embedded in thermoresponsive bioinks might shortly experience shear stress during the printing process, but that did not lead to remarkable cell damage likely due to the rheological properties of the bioinks. Furthermore, the printing experiments also suggested that cells do not sense more shear stress when additionally printed.
The introduction of novel bioactive materials to manipulate living cell behavior is a crucial topic for biomedical research and tissue engineering. Biomaterials or surface patterns that boost specific cell functions can enable innovative new products in cell culture and diagnostics. This study aims at investigating the interaction of living cells with microstructured, nanostructured and nanoporous material surfaces in order to identify distinct systematics in cell-material interplay. For this purpose, three different studies were carried out and yielded individual effects on different cell functions.
Cell migration processes are controlled by sensitive interaction with external cues such as topographic structures of the cell's environment. The first part of this study presents systematically controlled assays to investigate the effects of spatial density and local geometry of micron scale topographic cues on amoeboid migration of Dictyostelium discoideum cells in quasi-3D pillar fields with systematic variation of inter-pillar distance and pillar lattice geometry. We can extract motility parameters in order to elucidate the details of amoeboid migration mechanisms and consolidate them in a two-state contact-controlled motility model, distinguishing directed and random phases. Specifically, we find that directed pillar-to-pillar runs are found preferably in high pillar density regions, and cells in directed motion states sense pillars as attractive topographic stimuli. In contrast, cell motion in random probing states is inhibited by high pillar density, where pillars act as obstacles for cell motion. In a gradient spatial density, these mechanisms lead to topographic guidance of cells, with a general trend towards a regime of inter-pillar spacing close to the cell diameter. In locally anisotropic pillar environments, cell migration is often found to be damped due to competing attraction by different pillars in close proximity and due to lack of other potential stimuli in the vicinity of the cell. Further, we demonstrate topographic cell guidance reflecting the lattice geometry of the quasi-3D environment by distinct preferences in migration direction.
We further investigate amoeboid single-cell migration on intrinsically nano-structured, biodegradable silica fibers in comparison to chemically equivalent plain glass surfaces. Cell migration trajectories are classified into directed runs and quasi-random migration by a local mean squared displacement (LMSD) analysis. We find that directed movement on silica fibers is enhanced in a significant manner by the fibers' nanoscale surface-patterns. Further, cell adhesion on the silica fibers is a microtubule-mediated process. Cells lacking microtubules detach from the fibers, but adhere well to glass surfaces. Knock-out mutants of myosin II migrating on the fibers are as active as cells with active myosin II, while the migration of the knock-out mutants is hindered on plain glass.
We investigate the influence of the intrinsically nano-patterned surface of nanoporous glass membranes on the behavior of mammalian cells. Three different cell lines and primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) proliferate readily on nanoporous glass membranes with mean pore sizes between 10 nm and 124 nm. In both proliferation and mRNA expression experiments, L929 fibroblasts show a distinct trend towards mean pore sizes > 80 nm. For primary hMSCs, excellent proliferation is observed on all nanoporous surfaces. hMSC on samples with 17 nm pore size display increased expression of COL10, COL2A1 and SOX9, especially during the first two weeks of culture. In upside down culture, SK MEL-28 cells on nanoporous glass resist the gravitational force and proliferate well in contrast to cells on flat references. The effect of paclitaxel treatment of MDA MB 321 breast cancer cells is already visible after 48 h on nanoporous membranes and strongly pronounced in comparison to reference samples.
The studies presented in this work showed novel and distinct effects of micro- and nanoscale topographies on the behavior of various types of living cells. These examples display how versatile the potential for applications of bioactive materials could become in the next years and decades. And yet this variety of different alterations of cell functions due to topographic cues also shows the crucial part of this field of research: Carving out distinct, robust correlations of external cues and cell behavior is of utmost importance to derive definitive design implications that can lead to scientifically, clinically and commercially successful products.
Even though exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) constitutes a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, a substantial proportion of patients does not respond in a clinically significant manner. The identification of pre-treatment patient characteristics that are associated with treatment outcome might aid in improving response rates. Therefore, the present doctoral thesis aimed at investigating moderators of treatment outcome in anxiety disorders: first, we investigated the neural correlates of comorbidity among primary panic disorder/agoraphobia (PD/AG) and secondary social anxiety disorder (SAD) moderating treatment outcome towards exposure-based CBT. Second, pre-treatment functional resting-state connectivity signatures of treatment response in specific phobia were studied. Within the first study, we compared PD/AG patients with or without secondary SAD regarding their clinical and neurofunctional outcome towards a manualized CBT treatment focusing on PD/AG symptoms. Prior to treatment, PD/AG+SAD compared to PD/AG-SAD patients exhibited a specific neural signature within the temporal lobe, which was attenuated to the level of PD/AG-SAD patients afterwards. CBT was equally effective in both groups. Thus, comorbidity among those two anxiety disorders did not alter treatment outcome substantially. This might be due to the high overlap of shared pathophysiological features within both disorders. In the second study, we assessed pre-treatment functional resting-state connectivity within a sample of spider phobic patients that were treated with massed in virtuo exposure. We found responders already prior to treatment to be characterized by stronger inhibitory frontolimbic connectivity as well as heightened connectivity between the amygdala and regions related to the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, patients demonstrating high within-session extinction exhibited pronounced intrinsic prefrontal connectivity. Our results point to responders exhibiting a brain prepared for the mechanism of action of exposure. Taken together, results highlight the major impact of pre-treatment characteristics on treatment outcome. Both, PD/AG+SAD patients as well as responders within the SpiderVR study exhibited heightened activation or connectivity within the ventral visual pathway and the amygdala. Pronounced visual processing together with enhanced executive control and emotion regulation seem to constitute a fruitful soil for successful exposure. The results provide starting points for personalized treatment approaches in order to improve treatment success in the anxiety disorders. Future studies are needed to investigate the benefit of neuroscientifically informed CBT augmentation strategies such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Although the concept of wealth is a topic that ancient philosophers have dealt with, relatively little attention is paid to it in psychology. This work sheds light on cognitive processes on how individuals derive a judgment about whether someone is rich and whether certain cues serve as subjective indicators of wealth. Based on three chapters that describe K = 11 observational and experimental studies (N = 2,315), three research questions shall be answered: First, to what extent do individuals differ when defining wealth? Secondly, are there universal cues of wealth that individuals use to identify rich people? And if yes, in what sense do these cues depend on the situation or context? Furthermore, it will be asked whether there are situational boundaries under which those cues do not apply. The present research shows that individuals differ in defining wealth and that they take their personal life circumstances and situational cues into account to define wealth. Moreover, evidence for a coherent wealth cue model was found that describes cues that are used by individuals to identify the rich (i.e., particularly wealthy people), whereby the validity of these cues depends on several contextual (e.g., cultural) factors. Lastly, it was found that by isolating individual wealth cues and looking at core mental representations of these cues, they may not be perceived as indicative for rich people anymore. The conclusions reported here set a foundation for further research on the perceptions of wealth which may be particularly relevant for the political discourse
Systemic and local mechanisms of small fiber pathology in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
(2023)
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a largely heterogeneous chronic pain syndrome of unclear pathophysiology, which lacks objective diagnostics and specific treatment. An immune-related shift towards a pro-inflammatory profile is discussed at a systemic level. Small fiber pathology (SFP) and local participation of non-neuronal skin cells like keratinocytes in cutaneous nociception are potential peripheral contributors. Small RNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRs) and newly described tRNA fragments (tRFs) act as posttranscriptional key regulators of gene expression and may modulate systemic and peripheral cell pathways. On cellular level, the exact mechanisms of keratinocyte-intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) interaction in the skin are insufficiently understood.
Via small RNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, we investigated miR and tRF signatures in whole blood cells and skin biopsy-derived keratinocytes of female FMS patients versus healthy controls. We applied gene target prediction analysis to uncover underlying cellular pathways affected by dysregulated small RNAs. Altered FMS small RNAs from blood were compared with their expression in disease controls, i.e. Parkinson`s patients and patients with major depression and chronic pain. Association of SFP with small RNAs was investigated via correlation with clinical parameter. To explore keratinocyte-nerve fiber interactions with high relevance for SFP and cutaneous nociception, we adapted a super-resolution array tomography (srAT) approach and expansion microscopy (ExM) for human skin samples. Further, we created a fully human 2D co-culture model of primary keratinocytes and induced pluripotent stem cell derived sensory neurons.
Blood miR deregulation indicated systemic modulation of immune processes exerted by CholinomiRs and by miRs targeting the FoxO signaling pathway. Short sized tRFs were associated with mRNA metabolism and splicing. This supports the hypothesis of an inflammatory/autoimmunity component in FMS. Expression of blood small RNAs in FMS were discriminative against disease controls, highlighting their potential as objective biomarker. Blood small RNAs were predominantly upregulated and correlations between miR and clinical parameter reflected rather pain in general than SFP.
In FMS keratinocytes, a downregulation of miRs and tRFs was evident. Pathways for adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), adherens junction, and focal adhesion were predicted to be affected by miRs, while tRFs may influence proliferation, migration, and cell growth. Similar to blood miRs, altered miRs in keratinocytes correlated mostly with widespread pain and pain severity parameter. TRFs were partially associated with more severe IENF loss. Small RNAs in FMS keratinocytes may modulate pathways that define how keratinocytes interact with each other and with IENF.
These interactions include nerve fiber ensheathment, a conserved epithelial mechanism, which we visualize in human epidermis and a fully human co-culture model. Additionally, we revealed plaques of connexin 43, a pore forming protein involved in intercellular communication, at keratinocyte- nerve fiber contact sites. Objective quantification of these morphological findings in FMS and other diseases with SFP may inherit diagnostic value similar to IENF density.
We provide evidence for distinct miR and tRF signatures in FMS with implications for systemic immune regulation and local cell-cell interaction pathways. In the periphery we explored novel keratinocyte-nerve fiber interactions relevant for SFP and cutaneous nociception.
The present thesis adress the synthesis and characterization of novel COFs that contain dye molecules as integral components of the organic backbone. These chromophore-containing frameworks open new research lines in the field and call for the exploration of applications such as catalysis, sensing, or in optoelectronic devices. Initially, the fabrication of organic-inorganic composites by the growth of DPP TAPP COF around functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles is reported. By varying the ratio between inorganic nanoparticles and organic COFs, optoelectronic properties of the materials are adjusted. The document also reports the synthesis of a novel boron dipyrromethene-containing (BODIPY) COF. Synthesis, full characterization and the scope of potential applications with a focus on environmental remediation are discussed in detail. Last, a novel diketopyrrolopyrrole-containing (DPP) DPP-Py-COF based on the combination of DDP and pyrene building blocks is presented. The very low bandgap of these materials and initial investigations on the photosensitizing properties are discussed.
In this thesis, intermolecular acceptor-acceptor interactions in organic solar cells based on new non-fullerene acceptors are addressed. For this purpose, first the reproducibility of organic electronic devices was tested on a new facility for their fabrication. This was followed by the screening for new acceptor materials. Based on this, three molecular systems were investigated with regard to their acceptor-acceptor interactions and their influence on solar cell efficiency.
Abstract:
COVID-19 has impressively shown how quickly an emerging pathogen can have a massive impact on our entire lives and show how infectious diseases spread regardless of national borders and economic stability. We find ourselves in a post-antibiotic era and have rested too long on the laurels of past research, so today more and more people are dying from infections with multi-resistant germs.
Infections are highly plastic and heterogeneous processes that are strongly dependent on the individual, whether on the host or pathogen side.
Improving our understanding of the pathogenicity of microorganisms and finding potential targets for a completely new class of drugs is a declared goal of current basic research. To tackle this challenge, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is our most accurate tool.
In this thesis we implemented different state of the art scRNA-seq technologies to better understand infectious diseases. Furthermore, we developed a new method which is capable to resolve the transcriptome of a single bacterium. Applying a poly(A)-independent scRNA-seq protocol to three different, infection relevant growth conditions we can report the faithful detection of growth-dependent gene expression patterns in individual Salmonella Typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The data analysis shows that this method not only allows the differentiation of various culture conditions but can also capture transcripts across different RNA species.
Furthermore, using state of the art imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing technologies, we comprehensively characterized a human intestinal tissue model which in further course of the project was used as a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection model. While most infection studies are conducted in mice, lacking a human intestinal physiology, the in vitro human tissue model allows us to directly infer in vivo pathogenesis. Combining immunofluorescent imaging, deep single-cell RNA sequencing and HCR-FISH, applied in time course experiments, allows an unseen resolution for studying heterogeneity and the dynamics of Salmonella infection which reveals details of pathogenicity contrary to the general scientific opinion.
While the healthy brain works through balanced synaptic communication between
glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons to coordinate excitation (E) and inhibition (I), disruption
of E/I balance interferes with synaptic communication, information processing, and ultimately
cognition. Multiple line of evidence indicates that E/I imbalance represents the
pathophysiological basis of a wide spectrum of mental disorders. Genetic screening
approaches have identified Cadherin-13 (CDH13). as a risk gene across neurodevelopmental
and mental disorders. CDH13 regulates several cellular and synaptic processes in brain
development and neuronal plasticity in adulthood. In addition to other functions, it is specifically
localized at inhibitory synapses of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-expressing GABAergic
neurons. In support of CDH13’s function in moderating E/I balance, electrophysiological
recordings of hippocampal slices in a CDH13-deficient mouse model revealed an increase in
basal inhibitory but not excitatory synaptic transmission. Moreover, the search for genetic
variants impacting functional expression of the CDH13 gene identified SNP (single nucleotide
polymorphism)) rs2199430 in intron 1 to be associated with differential mRNA concentrations
in human post-mortem brain across the three genotypes CDH13G/G, CDH13A/G and CDH13A/A
.
This work therefore aimed to further validate these findings in a complementary human model
by using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The application of human iPSCs in research
has replaced the use of embryonic cells, resolving the ethical conflict of destructive usage of
human embryos. Investigating CDH13’s mode of action in inhibitory synapses was predicted
to facilitate mechanistic insight into the effects of CDH13 gene variants on E/I network activity,
which can then be targeted to reinstate balance.
Genome-wide association studies have identified rare copy number variants (CNVs) resulting
in a deletion (or duplication) of CDH13. To reduce genetic background variance, a set of
isogenic iPSC lines with a gene dose-dependent deficiency of CDH13 (CDH13-/- and CDH13+/-
) was generated by using the Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic
Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. These CRISPRed iPSCs
carrying a single or two allele(s) with CDH13 inactivation facilitate investigation of CDH13
function in cellular processes, at inhibitory synapses and in neuronal network activity. In
addition, iPSCs carrying allelic SNP rs2199430 variants were used to study the effects of
common genetic variation of CDH13. These cell lines were differentiated into pure
glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and co-cultured to generate neuronal networks allowing
its activity to be measured and correlated with electrophysiological signatures of differential
CDH13 genotypes. The work towards assessment of neuronal network activity of the iPSC
lines was subdivided into three major steps: first, generating rtTA/Ngn2 and rtTA/Ascl1-positive
iPSCs via a lentivirus-mediated approach; second, differentiating pure glutamatergic and
GABAergic neurons from the genetically transduced iPSCs and co-culturing of pure
glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in a pre-established ratio (65:35) by direct
differentiation upon supplementation with doxycycline and forskolin on a microelectrode array
(MEA) chip; and, finally, recording of neuronal network activity of iPSC lines after 49 days in
vitro, followed by extraction and analyses of multiple MEA parameters.
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Based on the MEA parameters, it was confirmed that complete CDH13 knockout as well as
heterozygous deficiency influence E/I balance by increasing inhibition. It was further revealed
that common SNP variation alters the signature of neuronal network activity. Specifically,
CDH13 deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in network burst duration (NBD), reduced
number of detected spikes within a network burst and reduction in network burst rate (NBR)
compared to the control (CDH13G/G). CDH13A/G and CDH13A/A showed similarities with the
CRISPRed CDH13-deficient networks by showing a significant reduction in the NBD and a
reduced number of detected spikes within a network compared to CDH13G/G. Strikingly. there
was a significant increase in the NBR of the CDH13A/G and CDH13A/A compared to CDH13G/G
networks. CDH13A/G networks exhibited significant differences in both parameters. At the
cellular level, this indicates that signalling pathways which determine the length and frequency
of network bursts differ among allelic variants of SNP rs2199430, thus confirming functional
relevance of this intronic SNP.
In summary, CDH13-deficient isogenic iPSC lines were generated using CRISPR/Cas9, iPSCs
were genetically transduced via a lentivirus approach, direct differentiation of
glutamatergic/GABAergic neurons derived from transduced iPSCs were used to establish a
scalable co-culture system, and network activity was recorded by MEA using pre-established
parameters to extract and analyze activity information. The results indicate that iPSC-derived
neuronal networks following CRISPR/Cas9-facilitated CDH13 inactivation, as well as networks
with allelic SNP variants of CDH13, moderate E/I balance, thus advancing understanding of
CDH13 function at inhibitory synapses and elucidating the effects of rare and common CDH13
gene variation.
Biological Substrates of Waiting Impulsivity in Children and Adolescents with and without ADHD
(2023)
Focus of the present work were the questions whether and how the concept of waiting impulsivity (WI), defined as the ability to regulate a response in anticipation of reward and measured by the 4-choice serial reaction time task (4-CSRTT), may contribute to our understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its neurobiological underpinnings.
To address this topic, two studies were conducted: in a first study, the relationship be-tween 4-CSRTT behavioral measures, neural correlates and ADHD symptom domains, i.e. inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) was explored in a pooled sample of 90 children and adolescents with (n=44) and without (n=46) ADHD diagnosis. As ex-pected, IA was associated with dorsolateral prefrontal brain regions linked with executive functions and attentional control, which was evident on the structural and the functional level. Higher levels of both IA and H/I covaried with decreased activity in the right ven-trolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), a central structure for response inhibition. Moderation analyses revealed that H/I-related decreased activation in this region did not map linearly on difficulties on the behavioral level: brain activation was a significant predictor of task accuracy only, when H/I symptoms were low/absent but not for clinically relevant ADHD symptoms. Further, H/I was implicated in dysfunctional top-down control of reward eval-uation. Both symptom domains correlated positively with hippocampus (HC) activity in anticipation of reward. In addition, for high H/I symptoms, greater activation in the HC was found to correlate with higher motivation on the behavioral level, indicating that rein-forcement-learning and/or contingency awareness may contribute to altered reward pro-cessing in ADHD patients.
In a second study, the possible serotonergic modulation of WI and the ADHD-WI relation-ship was addressed in a sub-sample comprising 86 children and adolescents of study I. The effects of a functional variant in the gene coding for the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of brain serotonin on behavior and structure or function of the WI-network was investigated. Moderation analyses revealed that on the behavioral level, a negative corre-lation between accuracy and IA was found only in GG-homozygotes, whereas no signifi-cant relationship emerged for carriers of the T-allele. This is in line with previous reports of differential effects of serotonergic modulation on attentional performance depending on the presence of ADHD symptoms. A trend-wise interaction effect of genotype and IA for regional volume of the right middle frontal gyrus was interpreted as a hint towards an involvement of the PFC in this relationship, although a more complex mechanism includ-ing developmental effects can be assumed. In addition, interaction effects of genotype and IA were found for brain activation in the amygdala (AMY) und HC during perfor-mance of the 4-CSRTT, while another interaction was found for H/I symptoms and geno-type for right AMY volume. These findings indicate a serotonergic modulation of coding of the emotional value of reward during performance of the 4-CSRTT that varies de-pending on the extent of psychopathology-associated traits.
Taken together, it was shown that the 4-CSRTT taps distinct domains of impulsivity with relevance to ADHD symptomatology: (proactive) response inhibition difficulties in relation with anticipation of reward. Furthermore, the two symptom domains, IA and H/I, contrib-ute differently to WI, which emphasizes the need to distinguish both in the research of ADHD. The results of study II emphasized the relevance of serotonergic transmission especially for attentional control and emotional processing. Although the present findings need replication and further refinement in more homogenous age groups, the use of the 4-CSRTT with a dimensional approach is a very promising strategy, which will hopefully extend our understanding of impulsivity-related mental disorders in the future.
Echinococcosis is an important zoonosis. The causative agent of Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE) is Echinococcus multilocularis. The treatment of human AE is limited to surgery and chemotherapy with albendazole (ABZ). However, ABZ works only parasitostatically and it needs to be taken for long periods, although it causes adverse side effects. Thus, development of new, parasiticidal drug with selective toxicity is required. Because undifferentiated stem cells of E. multilocularis play key role in its longevity and regenerative capacity, targeting stem cells is especially important.
In vitro screening of protein kinases inhibitors demonstrated that human PIM kinases inhibitors have detrimental effects on E. multilocularis. Through yeast two hybrid assay, the interaction of parasite PIM kinase (EmPIM) and its CDC25 (EmCDC25) was indicated. Through in situ hybridization, expression of EmPIM in the stem cells was observed. Therefore, EmPim is likely to be a positive regulator of cell cycle progression, the same as human Pim1. In addition, 20 compounds against EmPIM were selected through in silico screening and synthesized. One of them has a detrimental effect on E.multilocularis comparable to human pan-PIM inhibitors, but has much weaker toxicity on human cell lines.
Furthermore, triclabendazole (TCBZ) and its metabolite TCBZSX, which are approved for another flatworm disease, Fascioliasis were tried on E. multilocularis. With two stem cell markers, damage to stem cells by TCBZSX was shown. In addition, primary cells from treated vesicles never regenerated and the damage to stem cells proved to be irreversible.
Our in silico screening method used in EmPIM research has potential to identify compounds which overcome the side effect problem in ABZ-based chemotherapy. On the other hand, it is expected that my research of TCBZ can lead to development of a practical parasiticidal chemotherapy by combining TCBZ, which damages stem cells, and ABZ, which damages differentiated cells.
This thesis describes the synthesis and reactivity of bis-NHC ligated nickel(0)-complexes and their application in catalytic cyclization and borylation reactions of alkynes. The focus of the presented work lies on the investigation of the electronic and steric impact of different NHC ligands on the reactivity and catalytic activity of [Ni(NHC)2] complexes. Since d10 ML2 complexes play a decisive role for numerous catalytic reactions, such as the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, the first chapter provides an overview about the general properties of NHCs and the chemistry of NHC-ligated nickel complexes, their synthesis, characterization, reactivity, and application in catalysis.
Predictability of threat is one of the key modulators of neural activity in fear and anxiety-related threat processes and there is a considerable number of studies focusing on the exact contribution of centromedial amygdala and Bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) in animals as well as in humans. In this research field, some studies already investigated the differential involvement of both areas during temporally predictable and unpredictable threat processes in humans. However, these studies showed several limitations e.g. small sample size, no predictable threat conditions, no separation of anticipation and confrontation processes, which should be addressed in future studies. Furthermore, evidence for group-based inter-individual differences of amygdala and BNST activity during predictable and unpredictable threat processes have not been studied extensively.
Several studies suggest a relevant role of the amygdala and BNST activity in phobic processes in patients with specific phobia, but no study so far has investigated the exact contribution of centromedial amygdala (CM) and BNST during temporally predictable and unpredictable threat processes in specific phobia.
This thesis consisted of three studies and aimed to evaluate the exact contribution of CM and BNST during temporally predictable and unpredictable threat anticipation and confrontation with the use of an optimized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm, which aimed to solve methodological limitations of recent studies. Study 1 used a large sample of healthy participants who were grouped based on NPSR1 genotype, and study 2 and study 3 used a sample of patients with spider phobia. In sum, the results of all three studies indicated, that BNST is more relevant for anticipation processes as compared to the CM. Contrary, during the confrontation phase the CM displays a greater relevance for threat confrontation processes.
In recent years, various studies have investigated the extent to which treatment success can be predicted in patients with anxiety disorders based on pre-treatment fMRI activity. Therefore, this was investigated for the first time in study 3 in patients with spider phobia during temporally predictable and unpredictable threat processes. Results indicated that independent of temporal predictability lower anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity during threat anticipation and engaged BNST during threat confrontation might be benefitting factors for successful therapy response in spider phobia.
The first is via direct dissociation and the second likely involves a barrier slowing down dissociation.
Chlorine-containing hydrocarbons pose a great risk for the environment and especially for the atmosphere. In this thesis I present the photodissociation dynamics of multiple chlorine-containing molecules. The method of velocity map imaging was utilized for gaining information on the kinetic energy distribution of the fragments generated in the photodissociation reactions.
First, the photodissociation of benzoyl chloride after excitation to the S1, S2 and the S3 state between 279 nm and 237 nm was studied. This stable molecule was an ideal candidate for demonstrating a new ionization scheme for chlorine atoms. It was shown that benzoyl chloride dissociates statistically from the ground state.
Afterwards, the results from experiments on the radicals trichloromethyl and dichlorocarbene are presented in the range of 230 to 250 nm. These radicals remain after the dissociation of carbon tetrachloride and have not been studied in detail because of their instability. Trichlormethyl dissociates via two paths: The loss of a chlorine atom to dichlorocarbene and by decaying to CCl and a chlorine molecule. The dissociation to dichlorocarbene involves a barrier. If the photon exciting the molecule has enough energy to surpass the barrier, which is the case starting at around 235 nm, trichlormethyl dissociates rapidly resulting in an anisotropic VMI. However, if the the excitation energy is lower, the dissociation takes longer than a rotational period and the anisotropy is lost.The path to CCl is a statistical dissociation.
Dichlorocarbene dissociates to CCl and Cl via to separate channels. The first is via direct dissociation and the second likely involves a barrier slowing down dissociation.
The presented thesis deals with the investigation of the characteristic physical properties of lead-free double perovskites. For this purpose lead-free double perovskite single crystals were grown from solution. In order to assess the influence of growth temperature on tail states in the material, the crystals were studied using Photoluminescence Excitation (PLE) and Transmission measurements. Additionally, lead-free double perovskite solar cells and thin films were investigated to address the correlation of precursor stoichiometry and solar cell efficiency. In a last step a new earth abundant lead-free double perovskite was introduced and its physical properties were studied by photoluminescene and absorptance. Like this it was possible to assess the suitability of this material for solar cell applications in the future.
In this thesis, I establish new relations between quantum information measures in a two-dimensional CFT and geometric objects in a three-dimensional AdS space employing the AdS/CFT correspondence. I focus on two quantum information measures: the computational cost of quantum circuits in a CFT and Berry phases in two entangled CFTs. In particular, I show that these quantities are associated with geometric objects in the dual AdS space.
The platelet cytoskeleton ensures normal size and discoid shape under resting conditions and undergoes immediate reorganization in response to changes in the extracellular environment through integrin-based adhesion sites, resulting in actomyosin-mediated contractile forces. Mutations in the contractile protein non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA display, among others, macrothrombocytopenia and a mild to moderate bleeding tendency in human patients. It is insufficiently understood which factors contribute to the hemostatic defect found in MYH9-related disease patients. Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying biophysical mechanisms in thrombus formation and stabilization is warranted.
This thesis demonstrates that an amino acid exchange at the positions 702, 1424 and 1841 in the heavy chain of the contractile protein non-muscle myosin IIA, caused by heterozygous point mutations in the gene, resulted in macrothrombocytopenia and increased bleeding in mice, reflecting the clinical hallmark of the MYH9-related disease in human patients. Basic characterization of biological functions of Myh9 mutant platelets revealed overall normal surface glycoprotein expression and agonist-induced activation when compared to wildtype platelets. However, myosin light chain phosphorylation after thrombin-activation was reduced in mutant platelets, resulting in less contractile forces and a defect in clot retraction. Altered biophysical characteristics with lower adhesion and interaction forces of Myh9 mutant platelets led to reduced thrombus formation and stability. Platelets from patients with the respective mutations recapitulated the findings obtained with murine platelets, such as impaired thrombus formation and stiffness.
Besides biological and biophysical characterization of mutant platelets from mice and men, treatment options were investigated to prevent increased bleeding caused by reduced platelet forces. The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid was applied to stabilize less compact thrombi, which are presumably more vulnerable to fibrinolysis. The hemostatic function in Myh9 mutant mice was improved by interfering with the fibrinolytic system. These results show the beneficial effect of fibrin stabilization to reduce bleeding in MYH9-related disease.
The hunt for topological materials is one of the main topics of recent research in condensed matter physics. We analyze the 4-band Luttinger model, which considers the total angular momentum \(j = 3/2\) hole states of many semiconductors. Our analysis shows that this model hosts a wide array of topological phases and allows analytical calculations of the related topological surface states. The existence of these surface states is highly desired due to their strong protection against perturbations.
In the first part of the thesis, we predict the existence of either one or two two-dimensional (2D) surface states of topological origin in the three-dimensional (3D) quadratic-node semimetal phase of the Luttinger model, called the Luttinger semimetal phase. We associate the origin of these states with the inverted order of s and p-orbital states in the band structure and approximate chiral symmetry around the node. Hence, our findings are essential for many materials, including HgTe, α-Sn, and iridate compounds. Such materials are often modified with strain engineering by growing the crystal on a substrate with a different lattice constant, which adds a deformation potential to the electrons. While tensile strain is often used to drive such materials into a gapped topological insulator regime, we apply compressive strain to induce a topological semimetal regime. Here, we differentiate between Dirac and Weyl semimetals based on inversion and time-reversal symmetry being simultaneously present or not. One major part of this thesis is the theoretical study of the evolution of the Luttinger semimetal surface states in these topological semimetal phases.
The relative strength of the compressive strain and typical bulk inversion asymmetry (BIA) terms allow the definition of a symmetry hierarchy in the system. The cubic symmetric \(O_h\) Luttinger model is the highest symmetry low-energy parent model. Since the BIA terms in the Weyl semimetal phase are small in most materials, we find a narrow energy and momentum range around the Weyl points where the surface states form Fermi arcs between two Weyl nodes with opposite chirality. Consequently, we see 2D momentum planes between the Weyl points, which can be considered as effective 2D Chern insulators with chiral edge states connecting the valence and conduction band in the bulk gap. Exceeding the range of the BIA terms, the compressive strain becomes dominating, and the system behaves like a Dirac semimetal with two doubly degenerate linear Dirac nodes in the band structure. For energies larger than the compressive strain strength, the quadratic terms in the Luttinger model dominate and surface band structure is indistinguishable from an unperturbed Luttinger semimetal. To conclude this symmetry hierarchy, we analyze the limit of the Luttinger model when the remote \(j = 1/2\)
electron states show a considerable hybridization with the \(j = 3/2\) hole states around the Fermi level. Here, the Luttinger model is not valid anymore and one needs to consider more complicated models, like the 6-band Kane Hamiltonian.
In the second part of this thesis, we analyze theoretically two different setups for s-wave superconductivity proximitized \(j = 3/2\) particles in Luttinger materials under a magnetic field. First, we explore a one-dimensional wire setup, where the intrinsic BIA of inversion asymmetric crystals opens a topological gap in the bulk states. In contrast to wires, modeled by a quadratic dispersion with Rashba or Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling, we find two topological phase transitions due to the different effects of magnetic fields to \(|j_z| = 3/2\) heavy-hole (HH) and \(|j_z| = 1/2\) light-hole (LH) states. Second, we discuss a two-dimensional Josephson junction setup, where we find Andreev-bound states inside the superconducting gap. Here, the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling of the Luttinger model is sufficient to open a topological gap even in the presence of inversion symmetry. This originates from the hybridization of the light and heavy-hole bands in combination with the superconducting pairing.
Consequently, both setups can form Majorana-bound states at the boundaries of the system.
The existence of these states are highly relevant in the scientific community due to their nonabelian braiding statistics and stability against decoherence, making them a prime candidate for the realization of topological quantum computation. Majorana-bound states form at zero energy and are protected by the topological gap. We predict that our findings of the topological superconductor phase of the Luttinger model are valid for both semimetal and metal phases. Hence, our study is additionally relevant for metallic systems, like p-doped GaAs. This opens a new avenue for the search for topological superconductivity.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with still no cure available. The prominent feature of PD is the loss of dopaminergic neurons at the Substantia nigra (SN). Genetic and environmental insults affecting the SNCA gene encoding the alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) protein result into an aberrant form of the protein with higher propensity towards oligomerization becoming part of insoluble inclusions called Lewy Bodies (LB). LB impart cytotoxicity leading to neurodegeneration, activate resident microglia and escape to the periphery where they get captured by dendritic cells and presented to naïve T cells. Proliferating effector T lymphocytes invade the brain releasing proinflammatory cytokines and performing a cytotoxic effect on neurons.
In this study, we examine the hypothesis that the expansion of regulatory T cells (Treg) could exert an anti-inflammatory effect that averts neurodegeneration in the AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn mouse model for PD.
Mice brains were transfected by a unilateral stereotaxic injection at the SN region with a chimeric Adeno-Associated Viral vector of serotypes 1 and 2 (AAV1/2) carrying the A53T-mutated human SNCA gene encoding the readily aggregating aberrant alpha-Syn (AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn). One week after injection, mice were treated with the CD28 superagonistic antibody (CD28SA), known to significantly expand the Treg population. Mice were then analyzed by behavioral analysis using the Rotarod performance test and the Cylinder test. The impact of CD28SA on the immune system was examined by flow cytometry. The integrity of the nigrostriatal system was assessed by stereological quantification of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-stained dopaminergic neurons in SN and optical density measurements of TH-stained striatum. The mechanism of action of CD28SA was analyzed by treating PD mice alternatively with a Treg adoptive transfer, while CD28SA effect on levels of neurotrophic factors was quantified by ELISA.
We observed an expansion of Treg by FACS analyses three days after CD28SA treatment, demonstrating target engagement. CD28SA treatment of AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn mice provided neuroprotection evident through elevated numbers of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and higher optical density of TH-staining in the striatum, in CD28SA-treated mice compared to PBS-treated control mice, and that was reflected in an enhanced performance in behavioral studies. Additionally, brain infiltration of proinflammatory activated T lymphocytes (CD4+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ cells), that were obvious in PBS-treated AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn control mice, was augmented in PD mice receiving CD28SA. The alternative treatment with Treg adoptive transfer did replicate the beneficial effects of CD28SA indicating that Treg expansion is the main effector mechanism by which it exerts its neuroprotective effect. CD28SA treatment of PD mice led to an increase of GDNF and BDNF in some brain structures that was not observed in untreated mice.
We conclude that in the AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn PD mouse model, CD28SA suppresses proinflammation, reverses behavioral deficits and is neuroprotective on SN dopaminergic cells.
The human body has very good self-healing capabilities for numerous different injuries to a variety of different tissues. This includes the main human mechanical framework, the skeleton. The skeleton is limited in its healing without additional aid by medicine mostly by the defect size. When the defect reaches a size above 2.5 cm the regeneration of the defect ends up faulty. Here is where implants, defect fillers and other support approaches developed in medicine can help the body to heal the big defect still successfully.
Usually sturdy implants (auto-/allo-/xenogenic) are implanted in the defect to bridge the distance, but for auto- and allogenic implants a suitable donor site must be found and for all sources the implant needs to be shaped into the defect specific site to ensure a perfect fit, the best support and good healing. This shaping is very time consuming and prone to error, already in the planning phase. The use of a material that is moldable and sets in the desired shape shortly after applying negates these disadvantages. Cementitious materials offer exactly this property by being in a pasty stage after the powder and liquid components have been mixed and the subsequently hardening to a solid implant. These properties also enable the extrusion, and therefore may also enable the injection, of the cement via a syringe in a minimal invasive approach.
To enable a good injection of the cement modifications are necessary. This work aimed to modify commonly used calcium phosphate-based cement systems based on α-TCP (apatitic) and β-TCP (brushitic). These have been modified with sodium phytate and phytic acid, respectively. Additionally, the α-TCP system has been modified with sodium pyrophosphate, in a second study, to create a storable aqueous paste that can be activated once needed with a highly concentrated sodium orthophosphate solution.
The powder phase of the α-TCP cement system consisted of nine parts α-TCP and one part CDHA. These were prepared to have different particle sizes and therefore enable a better powder flowability through the bimodal size distribution. α-TCP had a main particle size of 20 μm and CDHA of 2.6 μm. The modification with sodium phytate led to an adsorption of phytate ions on the surface of the α-TCP particles, where they started to form complexes with the Ca2+ ions in the solution. This adsorption had two effects. The first was to make the calcium ions unavailable, preventing supersaturation and ultimately the precipitation of CDHA what would lead to the cement hardening. The second was the increase of the absolute value of the surface charge, zeta potential, of the powder in the cement paste. Here a decrease from +3 mV to -40 mV could be measured. A strong value for the zeta potential leads to a higher repulsion of similarly charged particles and therefore prevents powder agglomeration and clogging on the nozzle during injection. These two modifications (bimodal particles size distribution and phytic acid) lead to a significant increase in the paste injectability. The unmodified paste was injectable for 30 % only, where all modified pastes were practically fully injectable ~90 % (the residual paste remained in the nozzle, while the syringe plunger already reached the end of the syringe).
A very similar observation could be made for the β-TCP system. This system was modified with phytic acid. The zeta potential was decreased even stronger from -10 ± 1.5 mV to -71.5 ± 12 mV. The adsorption of the phytate ions and subsequent formation of chelate complexes with the newly dissolved Ca2+ ions also showed a retarding effect in the cements setting reaction. Where the unmodified cement was not measurable in the rheometer, as the reaction was faster than the measurement setup (~1.5 min), the modified cements showed a transition through the gel point between 3-6 min. This means the pastes stayed between 2 and 4 times longer viscous than without the modification. Like with the first cement system also here the effects of the phytate addition showed its beneficial influence in the injectability measurement. The unmodified cement was not injectable at all, due to the same issue already encountered at the rheology measurements, but all modified pastes were fully injectable for at least 5 min (lowest phytate concentration) and at least 10 min (all other concentrations) after the mixing of powder and liquid.
The main goal of the last modification with sodium pyrophosphate was to create a paste that was stable in aqueous environment without setting until the activation takes place, but it should still show good injectability as this was the desired way of application after activation. Like before also the zeta potential changed after the addition of pyrophosphate. It could be lowered from -22 ± 2mV down to -61 to -68 ± 4mV (depending on the pyrophosphate concentration). The pastes were stored in airtight containers at room temperature and checked for their phase composition over 14 days. The unmodified paste showed a beginning phase conversion to hydroxyapatite between 7 and 14 days. All other pastes were still stable and unreacted. The pastes were activated with a high concentrated (30 wt%) sodium orthophosphate solution. After the activation the pastes were checked for their injectability and showed an increase from -57 ± 11% for the unmodified paste to -89 ± 3% (practically fully injectable as described earlier) for the best modified paste (PP005).
It can be concluded that the goal of enabling full injection of conventional calcium phosphate bone cement systems was reached. Additional work produced a storage stable paste that still ensures full injectability. Subsequent work already used the storable paste and modified it with hyaluronic acid to create an ink for 3D extrusion printing. The first two cement systems have also already been investigated in cell culture for their influence on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The next steps would have to go more into the direction of translation. Figuring out what properties still need to be checked and where the modification needs adjustment to enable a clinical use of the presented systems.
This dissertation explores the local gazetteers of West Lake that were compiled by literati of the Ming dynasty. In 1547, the first West Lake gazetteer was published by the local literatus of Hangzhou, Tian Rucheng 田汝成. In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, accompanying the huge enthusiasm for West Lake and the flourishing of its tourism, the production of West Lake gazetteers reached its peak. This trend, however, was reduced by the turmoils in the last years of the Ming and the dynastic transition, a period when West Lake had also experienced destruction. Nevertheless, the practice was resumed in the first decades of the Qing dynasty by some literati who had survived the disasters. One prominent work of this period was compiled by the Ming loyalist and “remnant subject” Zhang Dai 張岱, who wrote an author’s preface in 1671. This dissertation can be divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the editorial principles of compilers, e.g., which materials are included, how they are organized and presented. It explores various possible intentions of the compilers, such as scholarly and documentary, practical and oriented toward tour-guiding, didactic and educational, and personal and nostalgic ones. The second part focuses on some of the perceptions, attitudes, and values of literati focusing on West Lake. The discourses analyzed in this part include West Lake as a hybrid between metropolitan city and sheer wilderness, as a national symbol and object of nostalgia of the lost dynasty, and as a place of pleasure-seeking and indulgence. While a discourse often had a long tradition and historical development, the emphasis of the study is on the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, i.e., the late Ming.
The behavior of honeybees and bumblebees relies on a constant sensory integration of abiotic or biotic stimuli. As eusocial insects, a sophisticated intraspecific communication as well as the processing of multisensory cues during foraging is of utter importance. To tackle the arising challenges, both honeybees and bumblebees have evolved a sophisticated olfactory and visual processing system.
In both organisms, olfactory reception starts at the antennae, where olfactory sensilla cover the antennal surface in a sex-specific manner. These sensilla house olfactory receptor neurons (ORN) that express olfactory receptors. ORNs send their axons via four tracts to the antennal lobe (AL), the prime olfactory processing center in the bee brain. Here, ORNs specifically innervate spheroidal structures, so-called glomeruli, in which they form synapses with local interneurons and projection neurons (PN). PNs subsequently project the olfactory information via two distinct tracts, the medial and the lateral antennal-lobe tract, to the mushroom body (MB), the main center of sensory integration and memory formation. In the honeybee calyx, the sensory input region of the MB, PNs synapse on Kenyon cells (KC), the principal neuron type of the MB. Olfactory PNs mainly innervate the lip and basal ring layer of the calyx. In addition, the basal ring receives input from visual PNs, making it the first site of integration of visual and olfactory information. Visual PNs, carrying sensory information from the optic lobes, send their terminals not only to the to the basal ring compartment but also to the collar of the calyx. Receiving olfactory or visual input, KCs send their axons along the MB peduncle and terminate in the main output regions of the MB, the medial and the vertical lobe (VL) in a layer-specific manner. In the MB lobes, KCs synapse onto mushroom body output neurons (MBON). In so far barely understood processes, multimodal information is integrated by the MBONs and then relayed further into the protocerebral lobes, the contralateral brain hemisphere, or the central brain among others.
This dissertation comprises a dichotomous structure that (i) aims to gain more insight into the olfactory processing in bumblebees and (ii) sets out to broaden our understanding of visual processing in honeybee MBONs.
The first manuscript examines the olfactory processing of Bombus terrestris and specifically investigates sex-specific differences. We used behavioral (absolute conditioning) and electrophysiological approaches to elaborate the processing of ecologically relevant odors (components of plant odors and pheromones) at three distinct levels, in the periphery, in the AL and during olfactory conditioning. We found both sexes to form robust memories after absolute conditioning and to generalize towards the carbon chain length of the presented odors. On the contrary, electroantennographic (EAG) activity showed distinct stimulus and sex-specific activity, e.g. reduced activity towards citronellol in drones. Interestingly, extracellular multi-unit recordings in the AL confirmed stimulus and sex-specific differences in olfactory processing, but did not reflect the differences previously found in the EAG. Here, farnesol and 2,3-dihydrofarnesol, components of sex-specific pheromones, show a distinct representation, especially in workers, corroborating the results of a previous study. This explicitly different representation suggests that the peripheral stimulus representation is an imperfect indication for neuronal representation in high-order neuropils and ecological importance of a specific odor.
The second manuscript investigates MBONs in honeybees to gain more insights into visual processing in the VL. Honeybee MBONs can be categorized into visually responsive, olfactory responsive and multimodal. To clarify which visual features are represented at this high-order integration center, we used extracellular multi-unit recordings in combination with visual and olfactory stimulation. We show for the first time that information about brightness and wavelength is preserved in the VL. Furthermore, we defined three specific classes of visual MBONs that distinctly encode the intensity, identity or simply the onset of a stimulus. The identity-subgroup exhibits a specific tuning towards UV light. These results support the view of the MB as the center of multimodal integration that categorizes sensory input and subsequently channels this information into specific MBON populations.
Finally, I discuss differences between the peripheral representations of stimuli and their distinct processing in high-order neuropils. The unique activity of farnesol in manuscript 1 or the representation of UV light in manuscript 2 suggest that the peripheral representation of a stimulus is insufficient as a sole indicator for its neural activity in subsequent neuropils or its putative behavioral importance. In addition, I discuss the influence of hard-wired concepts or plasticity induced changes in the sensory pathways on the processing of such key stimuli in the peripheral reception as well as in high-order centers like the AL or the MB. The MB as the center of multisensory integration has been broadly examined for its olfactory processing capabilities and receives increasing interest about its visual coding properties. To further unravel its role of sensory integration and to include neglected modalities, future studies need to combine additional approaches and gain more insights on the multimodal aspects in both the input and output region.
More than 150 different RNA modifications have been detected in all kingdoms of life and 60 are known to decorate bacterial RNA. Among them, pseudouridine is universally conserved and one of the most abundant modifications present in bacterial stable RNAs such as tRNAs and rRNAs. In bacteria, the nucleotide is posttranscriptionally generated by dedicated enzymes called pseudouridine synthases (PUSs). With the advent of sophisticated deep-sequencing technologies, this modification has been identified in different types of RNA classes (tRNAs, rRNAs, mRNAs, snRNAs, and lncRNAs) in diverse eukaryotic organisms. However, these techniques have never been applied to bacteria, generating a knowledge gap about the location of the modified nucleotide in prokaryotic RNAs. Mutations or deletions of specific eukaryotic PUS enzymes are linked to human diseases and therefore their absence is deleterious for the correct function of the cell. However, deletion of tRNA or rRNA PUS enzymes in the bacterial model organism E. coli have not revealed any such drastic phenotypes, suggesting a different role and function of the modification itself and of the enzymes in different kingdoms of life.
Since the roles of tRNA PUS enzymes in bacteria is still poorly understood, a functional characterization of these proteins is pursued in the Epsilonproteobacteria Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori. While C. jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis in humans, infection with H. pylori is associated with the development of gastric cancer. In particular, phenotypes were explored for the tRNA PUS enzymes TruA, TruB, and TruD in C. jejuni as well as TruA and TruD in H. pylori. Upon deletion of truD, a severe growth defect is observed for C. jejuni but not for H. pylori, highlighting a potential difference in function of the enzyme in the two related bacterial pathogens.
Moreover, a genome-wide approach called Pseudo-seq is established and applied for RNA of these two pathogens, which allows, for the first time, the global identification of pseudouridine modifications at single-nucleotide resolution in the bacterial transcriptome. Applying Pseudo-seq in RNAs of wildtype and diverse PUS enzyme deletion mutants enabled the identification of the distinct RNA substrates of tRNA PUS enyzmes in C. jejuni and H. pylori. Hereby, the tRNA-Glu was determined to be the major tRNA substrate of TruD in C. jejuni. Interestingly, the tRNA-Glu is expressed as a single copy in the C. jejuni genome. To link the growth defect observed for a C. jejuni ∆truD mutant strain to the pseudouridine modification of the tRNA-Glu, a catalytically inactive TruD complementation was generated. This strain is unable to restore the tRNA-Glu modification but surprisingly, was able to complement the growth defect. The same observation was made for a cross-complementation with a copy of H. pylori TruD. This indicates that there is a potential additional function of the TruD PUS enzyme in C. jejuni that is independent of the pseudouridine modification. Using a combination of deep-sequencing technologies (RIP-seq, RNA-seq, Ribo-seq, and CLIP-seq), the dual function of TruD is investigated.
Overall, this study provides the first in-depth investigation into pseudouridylation of bacteria in general and the bacterial pathogens C. jejuni and H. pylori in particular. The work presented in this thesis reveals not only a global map of pseudouridine in tRNAs and rRNAs of the two bacteria but it also explores the function of the responsible tRNA PUS enzymes. In addition, this study provides evidence for a dual function of the C. jejuni PUS enzyme TruD that goes beyond its RNA modifying function. Future research could focus on unravelling the function of TruD and its potential interaction partners and thus reveal new mechanisms of regulation of a protein previously only described as an RNA modification enzyme.
CRISPR-Cas systems are highly diverse and canonically function as prokaryotic adaptive immune systems. The canonical resistance mechanism relies on spacers that are complementary to the invaders' nucleic acids. By accidental incorporation or other mechanisms, prokaryotes can also acquire self-targeting spacers that are complementary to their own genome. As self-targeting commonly leads to lethal autoimmunity, the existence of self-targeting spacers poses a paradox. In Chapter 1, we provide an overview of the prevalence of self-targeting spacers, summarize how they can be incorporated, and which means can be employed by the host to evade lethal self-targeting. In addition, we outline alternative functions of CRISPR-Cas systems that are associated with self-targeting spacers. Whether CRISPR-Cas systems can efficiently target their own genome depends heavily on the presence of protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs) next to the target region. In Chapter 2, we developed a method to determine PAM requirements. Thereby, we specifically focused on type I systems that engage multi-protein complexes, which are challenging to assess. Using the cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) system, we developed an enrichment-based binding assay and validated its reliability by examining the well-known PAM requirements of the E. coli type I-E system. In Chapter 3, we applied the TXTL-based PAM assay to assess 16 additional CRISPR-Cas systems. These 16 systems included three CRISPR-Cas associated transposons (CASTs). CASTs are recently discovered transposons that employ CRISPR-Cas systems in a non-canonical function for the directed integration of the transposon. To further characterize CASTs in TXTL outside their PAM requirements, we reconstituted the transposition of CASTs in TXTL. In Chapter 4, we turned to non-canonical self-targeting CRISPR-Cas systems, which were already discussed in Chapter 1. While investigating how the plant pathogen Xanthomonas albilineans survives self-targeting by its two endogenous CRISPR-Cas systems, we identified multiple putative anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) in the genome of X. albilineans. Two of the Acrs, named AcrIC11 and AcrIF12Xal, inhibited degradation by their respective CRISPR-Cas systems but still retained Cascade-binding ability, and appear responsible for the lack of autoimmunity in X. albilineans. In summary, we developed new technologies that eased the investigation of non-canonical multi-component systems and, if applied to additional systems, might reveal unique properties that could be implemented in new CRISPR-Cas based tools.
Bisdiynes undergo Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization, forming azulene and naphthalene products. When dibenzylideneacetone is present in the reaction, it undergoes a [2+2+2] cyclization with the bisdiyne, forming cyclohexadiene derivatives. Ni(0) catalyzes the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of diynes with tolanes towards alkynylated o-terphenyl derivatives. The D-A substituted products are solvatochromic, fluorescent dyes with high quantum yields and short lifetimes. Bis-triarylborane tetrayne dyes were synthesized in both neutral and tetracationic forms, as potential DNA/RNA sensor. Both molecules are weakly fluorescent in solution and exhibit characteristic alkyne absorptions in the Raman spectra. Tributyl phosphine catalyzes the trans-hydroboration of 1,3-butadiynes with HBpin. We confirmed experimentally via NMR and HRMS experiments, that phosphine attack on the diyne is a key step in the catalytic cycle.
Humans spontaneously blink several times a minute. These blinks are strongly modulated during various cognitive task. However, the precise function of blinking and the reason for their modulation has not been fully understood. In the present work, I investigated the function of spontaneous blinks through various perceptual and cognitive tasks. Previous research has revealed that blinks rates decrease during some tasks but increase during others. When trying to understand these seemingly contradictory results, I observed that blink reduction occurs when one engages with an external input. For instance, a decrease has been observed due to the onset of a stimulus, sensory input processing and attention towards sensory input. However, for activities that do not involve such an engagement, e.g. imagination, daydreaming or creativity, the blink rate has been shown to increase. To follow up on the proposed hypothesis, I distinguished tasks that involve the processing of an external stimulus and tasks that involve disengagement.
In the first part of the project, I explored blinking during stimulus engagement. If the probability of blinking is low when engaging with the stimulus, then one should find a reduction in blinks specifically during the time period of processing but not during sensory input per se. To this end, in study 1, I tested the influence of task-relevant information duration on blink timing and additionally manipulated the overall sensory input using a visual and an auditory temporal simultaneity judgement task. The results showed that blinks were suppressed longer for longer periods of relevant information or in other words, blinks occurred at the end of relevant information processing for both the visual and the auditory modality. Since relevance is mediated through top-down processes, I argue that the reduction in blinks is a top-down driven suppression. In studies 2 and 3, I again investigated stimulus processing, but in this case, processing was triggered internally and not based on specific changes in the external input. To this end, I used bistable stimuli, in which the actual physical stimulus remains constant but their perception switches between different interpretations. Studies on the involvement of attention in such bistable perceptual changes indicate that the sensory input is reprocessed before the perceptual switch. The results revealed a reduction in eye blink rates before the report of perceptual switches. Importantly, I was able to decipher that the decrease was not caused by the perceptual switch or the behavioral response but likely started before the internal switch. Additionally, periods between a blink and a switch were longer than interblink intervals, indicating that blinks were followed by a period of stable percept. To conclude, the first part of the project revealed that there is a top-down driven blink suppression during the processing of an external stimulus.
In the second part of the project, I extended the idea of blinks marking the disengagement from external processing and tested if blinking is associated with better performance during internally directed processes. Specifically, I investigated divergent thinking, an aspect of creativity, and the link between performance and blink rates as well as the effect of motor restriction. While I could show that motor restriction was the main factor influencing divergent thinking, the relationship between eye blink rates and creative output also depended on restriction. Results showed that higher blink rates were associated with better performance during free movement, but only between subjects. In other words, subjects who had overall higher blink rates scored better in the task, but when they were allowed to sit or walk freely. Within a single subject, trial with higher blink rates were not associated with better performance. Therefore, possibly, people who are able to disengage easily, as indicated by an overall high blink rate, perform better in divergent thinking tasks. However, the link between blink rate and internal tasks is not clear at this point. Indeed, a more complex measurement of blink behavior might be necessary to understand the relationship.
In the final part of the project, I aimed to further understand the function of blinks through their neural correlates. I extracted the blink-related neural activity in the primary visual cortex (V1) of existing recordings of three rhesus monkeys during different sensory processing states. I analyzed spike related multi-unit responses, frequency dependent power changes, local field potentials and laminar distribution of activity while the animal watched a movie compared to when it was shown a blank screen. The results showed a difference in blink-related neural activity dependent on the processing state. This difference suggests a state dependent function of blinks.
Taken altogether, the work presented in this thesis suggests that eye blinks have an important function during cognitive and perceptual processes. Blinks seem to facilitate a disengagement from the external world and are therefore suppressed during intended processing of external stimuli.
1. Bis(1-(4-tolyl)-carboran-2-yl)-(4-tolyl)-borane, a new bis(o-carboranyl)-(R)-borane 1 was synthesised by lithiation of the o-carboranyl precursor and subsequent salt metathesis reaction with (4-tolyl)BBr2. Cyclic voltammetry experiments on 1 show multiple distinct reduction events with a one-electron first reduction. In a selective reduction experiment the corresponding paramagnetic radical anion 1•− was isolated and characterized. Single-crystal structure analyses allow an in-depth comparison of 1, 1•−, their calculated geometries, and the S1 excited state of 1.
2. The choice of backbone linker for ortho-bis-(9-borafluorene)s has a great influence on the LUMO located at the boron centers and therefore the reactivity of the respective compounds. Herein, we report the room temperature rearrangement of 1,2-bis-(9-borafluorenyl-)-ortho-carborane, C2B10H10-1,2-[B(C12H8)]2 ([2a]) featuring o-carborane as the inorganic three-dimensional backbone and the synthesis of 1,2-bis-(9-borafluorenyl-)benzene, C6H4-1,2-[B(C12H8)]2 (2b) its phenylene analog. DFT calculations on the transition state for the rearrangement support an intramolecular C–H bond activation process via an SEAr-like mechanism in [2a], and predicted that the same rearrangement would take place in 2b, but at elevated temperatures, which indeed proved to be the case.
3. We synthesized 4 a julolidine-like pyrenyl-o-carborane, with pyrene substituted at the 2,7-positions on the HOMO/LUMO nodal plane, continuing our research. Using solid state molecular structures, photophysical data, cyclic voltammetry, DFT and TD-DFT calculations we compare o-carborane and the B(mes)2 (mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) as acceptor groups and confirm the julolidine-like donor strength.
Gene expression in eukaryotic cells is regulated by the combinatorial action of numerous gene-regulatory factors, among which microRNAs (miRNAs) play a fundamental role at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are single-stranded, small non-coding RNA molecules that emerge in a cascade-like fashion via the generation of primary and precursor miRNAs. Mature miRNAs become functional when incorporated into the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). miRNAs guide RISCs to target mRNAs in a sequence-specific fashion. To this end, base-pairs are usually formed between the miRNA seed region, spanning nucleotide positions 2 to 8 (from the 5' end) and the 3'UTR of the target mRNA. Once miRNA-mRNA interaction is established, RISC represses translation and occasionally induces direct or indirect target mRNA degradation. Interestingly, miRNAs are expressed not only in every multicellular organism but are also encoded by several viruses, predominately by herpesviruses. By controlling both, cellular as well as viral mRNA transcripts, virus-encoded miRNAs confer many beneficial effects on viral growth and persistence. Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is a ß-herpesvirus and so far, 29 mature MCMV-encoded miRNAs have been identified during lytic infection. Computational analysis of previously conducted photoactivated ribonucleotide-enhanced individual nucleotide resolution crosslinking immunoprecipitation (PAR-iCLIP) experiments identified a read cluster within the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the immediate early 3 (IE3) transcript in MCMV. Based on miRNA target predictions, two highly abundant MCMV miRNAs, namely miR-m01-2-3p and miR-M23-2-3p were found to potentially bind to two closely positioned target sites within the IE3 PAR-iCLIP peak. To confirm this hypothesis, we performed luciferase assays and showed that activity values of a luciferase fused with the 3'UTR of IE3 were downregulated in the presence of miR-m01- 2 and miR-M23-2. In a second step, we investigated the effect of pre-expression of miR-m01-2 and miR-M23-2 on the induction of virus replication. After optimizing the transfection procedure by comparing different reagents and conditions, plaque formation was monitored. We could demonstrate that the replication cycle of the wild-type but not of our MCMV mutant that harbored point mutations in both miRNA binding sites within the IE3-3'UTR, was significantly delayed in the presence of miR-m01-2 and miR-M23-2. This confirmed that miR-m01-2 and miR-M23-2 functionally target the major transcription factor IE3 which acts as an indispensable regulator of viral gene expression during MCMV lytic infection. Repression of the major immediate early genes by viral miRNAs is a conserved feature of cytomegaloviruses. The functional role of this type of regulation can now be studied in the MCMV mouse model.
This work presents excited state investigations on several systems with respect to experimental
spectroscopic work. The majority of projects covers the temporal evolution of
excitations in thin films of organic semiconductor materials. In the first chapters, thinfilm
and interface systems are build from diindeno[1,2,3-cd:1’,2’,3’-lm]perylene (DIP)
and N,N’-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDIR-CN2)
layers, in the third chapter bulk systems consist of 4,4’,4”-tris[(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]
triphenylamine (m-MTDATA), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BPhen) and
tris-(2,4,6-trimethyl-3-(pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)borane (3TPYMB). These were investigated
by aggregate-based calculations. Careful selection of methods and incorporation
of geometrical relaxation and environmental effects allows for a precise energetical assignment
of excitations. The biggest issue was a proper description of charge-transfer
excitations, which was resolved by the application of ionization potential tuning on
aggregates. Subsequent characterization of excitations and their interplay condenses
the picture. Therefore, we could assign important features of the experimental spectroscopic
data and explain differences between systems.
The last chapter in this work covers the analysis of single molecule spectroscopy on
methylbismut. This poses different challenges for computations, such as multi-reference
character of low-lying excitations and an intrinsic need for a relativistic description.
We resolved this by combining complete active space self-consistent field based methods
with scalarrelativistic density-functional theory. Thus we were able to confidently
assign the spectroscopic features and explain underlying processes.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is predominantly driven by mutations in KRAS and TP53. However, PDAC tumors display deregulated levels of MYC and are a paradigm example for MYC-driven and -addicted tumors. For many years MYC was described as a transcription factor that regulates a pleiotropic number of genes to drive proliferation. Recent work sheds a different light on MYC biology. First, changes in gene expression that come along with the activation of MYC are mild and MYC seems to act more as a factor that reduces stress and increases resilience towards challenges during transcription. Second, MYC is a strong driver of immune evasion in different entities. In this study we depleted MYC in murine PDAC cells and revealed the immune dependent regression of tumors in an orthotope transplant model, as well as the activation of the innate immune system using global expression analysis, immunoblotting and fCLIP.
These experiments revealed that endogenous double-stranded RNA is binding as a viral mimicry to Toll-like receptor 3, causing activation of TBK1 and downstream activation of a proimmunogenic transcription program. The regression of tumors upon depletion of MYC is dependent on this pathway since the knockout of TBK1 prevents regression of tumors after depletion of MYC.
We can summarize this study in three main findings: First, the dominant and most important function of MYC in tumors is not to drive proliferation but to promote immune evasion and prevent immune-dependent regression of tumors. Second, cells monitor defects or delay in splicing and RNA processing and activate the immune system to clear cells that face problems with co-transcriptional processing. Third, MYC suppresses the activation of the cell-intrinsic innate immune system and shields highly proliferating cells from the recognition by the immune system.
To translate this into a therapeutically approach, we replaced the shRNA mediated depletion of MYC by treatment with cardiac glycosides. Upon treatment with cardiac glycosides tumor cells reduce uptake of nutrients, causing a downregulation of MYC translation, inhibition of proliferation, glycolysis and lactate secretion. Lactate is a major reason for immune evasion in solid tumors since it dampens, amongst others, cytotoxic T cells and promotes regulatory T cells.
Treatment of mice with cardiac glycosides causes a complete and immune-dependent remission of PDAC tumors in vivo, pointing out that cardiac glycosides have strong proimmunogenic, anti-cancer effects. More detailed analyses will be needed to dissect the full mechanism how cardiac glycosides act on MYC translation and immune evasion in PDAC tumors.
Sphingolipid long-chain bases (LCBs) are the building blocks of the biosynthesis of sphingolipids. They
are defined as structural elements of the plant cell membrane and play an important role
determining the fate of the cells. Complex ceramides represent a substantial fraction of total
sphingolipids which form a major part of eukaryotic membranes. At the same time, LCBs are well
known signaling molecules of cellular processes in eukaryotes and are involved in signal transduction
pathways in plants. High levels of LCBS have been shown to be associated with the induction of
programmed cell death as well as pathogen-derived toxin-induced cell death. Indeed, several studies
confirmed the regulatory function of sphingobases in plant programmed cell death (PCD):
(i) Spontaneous PCD and altered cell death reaction caused by mutated related genes of sphingobase
metabolism. (ii) Cell death conditions increases levels of LCBs. (iii) PCD due to interfered sphingolipid
metabolism provoked by toxins produced from necrotrophic pathogens, such as Fumonisin B1 (FB1).
Therefore, to prevent cell death and control cell death reaction, the regulation of levels of free LCBs
can be crucial.
The results of the present study challenged the comprehension of sphingobases and sphingolipid
levels during PCD. We provided detailed analysis of sphingolipids levels that revealed correlations of
certain sphingolipid species with cell death. Moreover, the investigation of sphingolipid biosynthesis
allowed us to understand the flux after the accumulation of high LCB levels. However, further
analysis of degradation products or sphingolipid mutant lines, would be required to fully understand
how high levels of sphingobases are being treated by the plant.
Topological phenomena known from solid state physics have been transferred to a variety of other classical and quantum systems. Due to the equivalence of the Hamiltonian matrix describing tight binding models and the grounded circuit Laplacian describing an electrical circuit we can investigate such phenomena in circuits. By implementing different Hermitian topological models general suggestions on designing those types of circuit are worked out with the aim of minimizing unwanted coupling effects and parasitic admittances in the circuit. Here the existence and the spatial profile of topological states as well as the band structure of the model can be determined.
Due to the complex nature of electric admittance the investigations can be directly expanded to systems with broken Hermiticity. The particular advantages of the experimental investigation of non-exclusively topological phenomena by means of electric circuits come to light in the realization of non-Hermitian and non-linear models. Here we find limitation of the Hermitian bulk-boundary correspondence principle, purely real eigenvalues in non-Hermitian PT-symmetrical systems and edge localization of all eigenstates in non-Hermitian and non-reciprocal systems, which in literature is termed the non-Hermitian skin effect.
When systems obeying non-linear equations are studied, the grounded circuit Laplacian based on the Fourier-transform cannot be applied anymore. By combination of the connectivity of a topological system together with non-linear van der Pol oscillators self-activated and self-sustained topological edge oscillations can be found. These robust high frequency sinusoidal edge oscillations differ significantly from low frequency relaxation oscillations, which can be found in the bulk of the system.
Emotional shifts are often a fundamental part of the narrative experience and engrained into the schematic structures of stories. Recent theoretical work suggests that these shifts are key for narrative influence and are interconnected with transportation, a known mechanism of narrative effects. Empirical research examining this proposition is still scarce, inconclusive, and lacking measures that assess the experience of emotional shifts throughout a narrative to explain effects. This thesis aims to contribute to this research lacuna and investigates the link between emotional shifts, transportation, and story-consistent outcomes using different methods to measure emotional shifts in the moment they occur (Manuscript #1 and #2), and using various narrative stimuli (audiovisual, written, auditive).
Manuscript #1 uses real-time-response (RTR) measurement to examine the relationship of valence shifts experienced during film viewing with transportation and post-exposure self-reported emotional flow. Manuscript #2 reports a pilot study and two experiments in which a self-probed emotional retrospection task is used to measure the number and intensity of emotional shifts during reading. I investigate the effect of reviews on transportation, the link between transportation and emotional shifts, and their respective associations with story-consistent attitudes, social sharing intentions, and donation behavior. In Manuscript #3, narrative structures are manipulated. Two experiments examine the effects of audio stories with shifting (positive-negative-positive) vs. positive-only emotional trajectories on the experience of happiness- and sadness-shifts, transportation, and post-exposure emotional flow.
Transportation was positively linked to valence shifts (M#1), and the number and intensity of emotional shifts (M#2), and emotional flow (M#1, M#3). In M#3, transportation was predicted by shifts in happiness, but not sadness. Emotional flow was linked to shifts in happiness, sadness, and RTR valence (M#1, M#3). Emotional shifts and transportation were associated with social sharing intentions, but only transportation was linked to some story-consistent attitudes (affective attitudes in particular).
Accurate crop monitoring in response to climate change at a regional or field scale
plays a significant role in developing agricultural policies, improving food security,
forecasting, and analysing global trade trends. Climate change is expected to
significantly impact agriculture, with shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, and
extreme weather events negatively affecting crop yields, soil fertility, water availability,
biodiversity, and crop growing conditions. Remote sensing (RS) can provide valuable
information combined with crop growth models (CGMs) for yield assessment by
monitoring crop development, detecting crop changes, and assessing the impact of
climate change on crop yields. This dissertation aims to investigate the potential of RS
data on modelling long-term crop yields of winter wheat (WW) and oil seed rape (OSR)
for the Free State of Bavaria (70,550 km2
), Germany. The first chapter of the dissertation
describes the reasons favouring the importance of accurate crop yield predictions for
achieving sustainability in agriculture. Chapter second explores the accuracy
assessment of the synthetic RS data by fusing NDVIs of two high spatial resolution data
(high pair) (Landsat (30 m, 16-days; L) and Sentinel-2 (10 m, 5–6 days; S), with four low
spatial resolution data (low pair) (MOD13Q1 (250 m, 16-days), MCD43A4 (500 m, one
day), MOD09GQ (250 m, one-day), and MOD09Q1 (250 m, 8-days)) using the spatial
and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM), which fills regions' cloud
or shadow gaps without losing spatial information. The chapter finds that both L-MOD13Q1 (R2 = 0.62, RMSE = 0.11) and S-MOD13Q1 (R2 = 0.68, RMSE = 0.13) are more
suitable for agricultural monitoring than the other synthetic products fused. Chapter
third explores the ability of the synthetic spatiotemporal datasets (obtained in chapter
2) to accurately map and monitor crop yields of WW and OSR at a regional scale. The
chapter investigates and discusses the optimal spatial (10 m, 30 m, or 250 m), temporal
(8 or 16-day) and CGMs (World Food Studies (WOFOST), and the semi-empiric light
use efficiency approach (LUE)) for accurate crop yield estimations of both crop types.
Chapter third observes that the observations of high temporal resolution (8-day)
products of both S-MOD13Q1 and L-MOD13Q1 play a significant role in accurately
measuring the yield of WW and OSR. The chapter investigates that the simple light use
efficiency (LUE) model (R2 = 0.77 and relative RMSE (RRMSE) = 8.17%) that required fewer input parameters to simulate crop yield is highly accurate, reliable, and more
precise than the complex WOFOST model (R2 = 0.66 and RRMSE = 11.35%) with higher
input parameters. Chapter four researches the relationship of spatiotemporal fusion
modelling using STRAFM on crop yield prediction for WW and OSR using the LUE
model for Bavaria from 2001 to 2019. The chapter states the high positive correlation
coefficient (R) = 0.81 and R = 0.77 between the yearly R2 of synthetic accuracy and
modelled yield accuracy for WW and OSR from 2001 to 2019, respectively. The chapter
analyses the impact of climate variables on crop yield predictions by observing an
increase in R2
(0.79 (WW)/0.86 (OSR)) and a decrease in RMSE (4.51/2.57 dt/ha) when
the climate effect is included in the model. The fifth chapter suggests that the coupling
of the LUE model to the random forest (RF) model can further reduce the relative root
mean square error (RRMSE) from -8% (WW) and -1.6% (OSR) and increase the R2 by
14.3% (for both WW and OSR), compared to results just relying on LUE. The same
chapter concludes that satellite-based crop biomass, solar radiation, and temperature
are the most influential variables in the yield prediction of both crop types. Chapter six
attempts to discuss both pros and cons of RS technology while analysing the impact of
land use diversity on crop-modelled biomass of WW and OSR. The chapter finds that
the modelled biomass of both crops is positively impacted by land use diversity to the
radius of 450 (Shannon Diversity Index ~0.75) and 1050 m (~0.75), respectively. The
chapter also discusses the future implications by stating that including some dependent
factors (such as the management practices used, soil health, pest management, and
pollinators) could improve the relationship of RS-modelled crop yields with
biodiversity. Lastly, chapter seven discusses testing the scope of new sensors such as
unmanned aerial vehicles, hyperspectral sensors, or Sentinel-1 SAR in RS for achieving
accurate crop yield predictions for precision farming. In addition, the chapter highlights
the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) or deep learning (DL) in obtaining higher
crop yield accuracies.
This thesis, first, is devoted to the theoretical and numerical investigation of an augmented Lagrangian method for the solution of optimization problems with geometric constraints, subsequently, as well as constrained structured optimization problems featuring a composite objective function and set-membership constraints. It is then concerned to convergence and rate-of-convergence analysis of proximal gradient methods for the composite optimization problems in the presence of the Kurdyka--{\L}ojasiewicz property without global Lipschitz assumption.
Recent computing advances are driving the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems into nearly every facet of our daily lives. To this end, AI is becoming a frontier for enabling algorithmic decision-making by mimicking or even surpassing human intelligence. Thereupon, these AI-based systems can function as decision support systems (DSSs) that assist experts in high-stakes use cases where human lives are at risk. All that glitters is not gold, due to the accompanying complexity of the underlying machine learning (ML) models, which apply mathematical and statistical algorithms to autonomously derive nonlinear decision knowledge. One particular subclass of ML models, called deep learning models, accomplishes unsurpassed performance, with the drawback that these models are no longer explainable to humans. This divergence may result in an end-user’s unwillingness to utilize this type of AI-based DSS, thus diminishing the end-user’s system acceptance.
Hence, the explainable AI (XAI) research stream has gained momentum, as it develops techniques to unravel this black-box while maintaining system performance. Non-surprisingly, these XAI techniques become necessary for justifying, evaluating, improving, or managing the utilization of AI-based DSSs. This yields a plethora of explanation techniques, creating an XAI jungle from which end-users must choose. In turn, these techniques are preliminarily engineered by developers for developers without ensuring an actual end-user fit. Thus, it renders unknown how an end-user’s mental model behaves when encountering such explanation techniques.
For this purpose, this cumulative thesis seeks to address this research deficiency by investigating end-user perceptions when encountering intrinsic ML and post-hoc XAI explanations. Drawing on this, the findings are synthesized into design knowledge to enable the deployment of XAI-based DSSs in practice. To this end, this thesis comprises six research contributions that follow the iterative and alternating interplay between behavioral science and design science research employed in information systems (IS) research and thus contribute to the overall research objectives as follows: First, an in-depth study of the impact of transparency and (initial) trust on end-user acceptance is conducted by extending and validating the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model. This study indicates both factors’ strong but indirect effects on system acceptance, validating further research incentives. In particular, this thesis focuses on the overarching concept of transparency. Herein, a systematization in the form of a taxonomy and pattern analysis of existing user-centered XAI studies is derived to structure and guide future research endeavors, which enables the empirical investigation of the theoretical trade-off between performance and explainability in intrinsic ML algorithms, yielding a less gradual trade-off, fragmented into three explainability groups. This includes an empirical investigation on end-users’ perceived explainability of post-hoc explanation types, with local explanation types performing best. Furthermore, an empirical investigation emphasizes the correlation between comprehensibility and explainability, indicating almost significant (with outliers) results for the assumed correlation. The final empirical investigation aims at researching XAI explanation types on end-user cognitive load and the effect of cognitive load on end-user task performance and task time, which also positions local explanation types as best and demonstrates the correlations between cognitive load and task performance and, moreover, between cognitive load and task time. Finally, the last research paper utilizes i.a. the obtained knowledge and derives a nascent design theory for XAI-based DSSs. This design theory encompasses (meta-) design requirements, design principles, and design features in a domain-independent and interdisciplinary fashion, including end-users and developers as potential user groups. This design theory is ultimately tested through a real-world instantiation in a high-stakes maintenance scenario.
From an IS research perspective, this cumulative thesis addresses the lack of research on perception and design knowledge for an ensured utilization of XAI-based DSS. This lays the foundation for future research to obtain a holistic understanding of end-users’ heuristic behaviors during decision-making to facilitate the acceptance of XAI-based DSSs in operational practice.
As opposed to general expectation and perception, doctoral graduates do not necessarily strive for or realize the ideal-typical academic career. In many Western countries, career opportunities and paths for doctoral graduates have diversified, and academia is not their only occupational destination, with a large proportion leaving academia to work in public service, in companies’ research and development departments, or in non-profit organizations. Against this background, this thesis examines postdoctoral careers by means of the midterm occupational destinations and professional success among doctoral graduates in the academic and non-academic labour markets in Germany. With regard to occupational destinations, I investigate where doctoral graduates are employed following graduation and how their occupational destinations can be explained. With regard to professional success, I investigate various objective and subjective success indicators related to the returns to doctoral degrees — such as earnings, management positions, and job satisfaction — and systematically include the graduates’ occupational destinations in the analyses. I also consider social inequalities regarding both research topics.
This work presents a newly developed method for the epitaxial growth of the half-Heusler antiferromagnet CuMnSb. All necessary process steps, from buffer growth to the deposition of a protective layer, are presented in detail. Using structural, electrical, and magnetic characterization, the material parameters of the epitaxial CuMnSb layers are investigated.
The successful growth of CuMnSb by molecular beam epitaxy is demonstrated on InAs (001), GaSb (001), and InP (001) substrates. While CuMnSb can be grown pseudomorphically on InAs and GaSb, the significant lattice mismatch for growth on InP leads to relaxation already at low film thicknesses. Due to the lower conductivity of GaSb compared to InAs, GaSb substrates are particularly suitable for the fabrication of CuMnSb layers for lateral electrical transport experiments. However, by growing a high-resistive ZnTe interlayer below the CuMnSb layer, lateral transport experiments on CuMnSb layers grown on InAs can also be realized. Protective layers of Ru and Al2O3 have proven to be suitable for protecting the CuMnSb layers from the environment.
Structural characterization by high resolution X-ray diffraction (full width at half maximum of 7.7 ′′ of the rocking curve) and atomic force microscopy (root mean square surface roughness of 0.14 nm) reveals an outstanding crystal quality of the epitaxial CuMnSb layers. The half-Heusler crystal structure is confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy and the stoichiometric material composition by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. In line with the high crystal quality, a new minimum value of the residual resistance of CuMnSb (𝜌0 = 35 μΩ ⋅ cm) could be measured utilizing basic electrical transport experiments.
An elaborate study of epitaxial CuMnSb grown on GaSb reveals a dependence of the vertical lattice parameter on the Mn/Sb flux ratio. This characteristic enables the growth of tensile, unstrained, and compressive strained CuMnSb layers on a single substrate material. Additionally, it is shown that the Néel temperature has a maximum of 62 K at stoichiometric material composition and thus can be utilized as a selection tool for stoichiometric CuMnSb samples. Mn-related defects are believed to be the driving force for these observations.
The magnetic characterization of the epitaxial CuMnSb films is performed by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. Magnetic behavior comparable to the bulk material is found, however, an additional complex magnetic phase appears in thin CuMnSb films and/or at low magnetic fields, which has not been previously reported for CuMnSb. This magnetic phase is believed to be localized at the CuMnSb surface and exhibits both superparamagnetic and spin-glass-like behavior. The exchange bias effect of CuMnSb is investigated in combination with different in- and out-of-plane ferromagnets. It is shown that the exchange bias effect can only be observed in combination with in-plane ferromagnets.
Finally, the first attempts at the growth of fully epitaxial CuMnSb/NiMnSb heterostructures are presented. Both magnetic and structural studies by secondary-ion mass spectrometry indicate the interdiffusion of Cu and Ni atoms between the two half-Heusler layers, however, an exchange bias effect can be observed for the CuMnSb/NiMnSb heterostructures. Whether this exchange bias effect originates from exchange interaction between the CuMnSb and NiMnSb layers, or from ferromagnetic inclusions in the antiferromagnetic layer can not be conclusively identified.
Optogenetics is a powerful technique that utilizes light to precisely regulate physiological activities of neurons and other cell types. Specifically, light-sensitive ion channels, pumps or enzymes are expressed in cells to enable their regulation by illumination, thus allowing for precise control of biochemical signaling pathways. The first part of my study involved the construction, optimization, and characterization of two optogenetic tools, KCR1 and NCR1. Elena Govorunova et al. discovered a lightgated potassium channel, KCR1, in the protozoan Hyphochytrium catenoides. Traditional potassium ion channels are classified as either ligand-gated or voltage-gated and possess conserved pore-forming domains and K+ -selective filters. However, KCR1 is unique in that it does not contain the signature sequence of previously known K+ channels and is a channelrhodopsin. We synthesized the KCR1 plasmid according to the published sequence and expressed it in Xenopus oocytes. Due to the original KCR1 current being too small, I optimized it into KCR1 2.0 to improve its performance by fusing LR (signal peptide LucyRho, enhances expression) at the N-terminal and T (trafficking signal peptide) and E (ER export signal peptide) at the C-terminal. Additionally, I investigated the light sensitivity, action spectrum, and kinetics of KCR1 2.0 in Xenopus oocytes. The potassium permeability of KCR1 2.0, PK/Pna 24, makes KCR1 2.0 a powerful hyperpolarizing tool that can be used to inhibit neuronal firing in animals. Inspired by KCR1, we used the KCR1 sequence as a template for gene sequence alignment with the sequences in H. catenoides. We found that NCR1 and KCR1 have similar gene sequences. NCR1 was characterized by us as a light-gated sodium channel. This NCR1 was also characterized and published by Govorunova et al. very recently, with the name HcCCR. Due to the original NCR1 current being too small, I optimized it into NCR1 2.0 to improve its performance by fusing LR at the N-terminal and T and E at the C-terminal, which significantly improved the expression level and greatly increased the current amplitude of NCR1. Full-length NCR1 2.0 contains 432 amino acids. To test whether the number of amino acids changes the characteristics of NCR1 2.0, we designed NCR1 2.0 (330), NCR1 2.0 (283), and NCR1 2.0 (273) by retaining the number of amino acids at 330, 280, and 273 in NCR1 2.0, respectively. As the number of amino acids decreased, the current in NCR1 2.0 increased. I also investigated the light sensitivity, action spectrum, and kinetics of NCR1 2.0 (273) in the Xenopus Abstract 2 oocytes. We performed four point mutations at amino acid positions 133 and 116 of NCR1 2.0 and analyzed the reversal potentials of the mutants. The mutations were as follows: NCR1 2.0 (273 D116H), NCR1 2.0 (273 D116E), NCR1 2.0 (283 V133H), and NCR1 2.0 (283 D116Q). The second part of this study focuses on light-induced water transport using optogenetic tools. We explored the use of optogenetic tools to regulate water flow by changing the osmolarity in oocytes. Water flux through AQP1 is driven by the osmotic gradient that results from concentration differences of small molecules or ions. Therefore, we seek to regulate ion concentrations, using optogenetic tools to regulate the flux of water noninvasively. To achieve this, I applied the light-gated cation channels XXM 2.0 and NCR1 2.0 to regulate the concentration of Na+ , while K + channel KCR1 2.0 was used to regulate K + concentration. As Na+ flows into the Xenopus oocytes, the membrane potential of the oocytes becomes positive, and Clcan influx through the light-gated anion channel GtACR1. By combining these optogenetic tools to regulate NaCl or KCl concentrations, I can change the osmolarity inside the oocytes, thus regulating the flux of water. I co-expressed AQP1 with optogenetic tools in the oocytes to accelerate water flux. Overall, I designed three combinations (1: AQP1, XXM 2.0 and GtACR1. 2: AQP1, NCR1 2.0 and GtACR1. 3: AQP1, KCR1 2.0 and GtACR1) to regulate the flow of water in oocytes. The shrinking or swelling of the oocytes can only be achieved when AQP1, light-gated cation channels (XXM 2.0/NCR1 2.0/KCR1 2.0), and light-gated anion channels (GtACR1) are expressed together. The illumination after expression of either or both alone does not result in changes in oocyte morphology. In sum, I demonstrated a novel strategy to manipulate water movement into and out of Xenopus oocytes, non-invasively through illumination. These findings provide a new avenue to interfere with water homeostasis as a means to study related biological phenomena across cell types and organisms.
The fact that photovoltaics is a key technology for climate-neutral energy production can be taken as a given. The question to what extent perovskite will be used for photovoltaic technologies has not yet been fully answered. From a photophysical point of view, however, it has the potential to make a useful contribution to the energy sector. However, it remains to be seen whether perovskite-based modules will be able to compete with established technologies in terms of durability and cost efficiency. The additional aspect of ionic migration poses an additional challenge. In the present work, primarily the interaction between ionic redistribution, capacitive properties and recombination dynamics was investigated. This was done using impedance spectroscopy, OCVD and IV characteristics as well as extensive numerical drift-diffusion simulations. The combination of experimental and numerical methods proved to be very fruitful. A suitable model for the description of solar cells with respect to mobile ions was introduced in chapter 4.4. The formal mathematical description of the model was transferred by a non-dimensionalization and suitable numerically solvable form. The implementation took place in the Julia language. By intelligent use of structural properties of the sparse systems of equations, automatic differentiation and the use of efficient integration methods, the simulation tool is not only remarkably fast in finding the solution, but also scales quasi-linearly with the grid resolution. The software package was released under an open source license. In conventional semiconductor diodes, capacitance measurements are often used to determine the space charge density. In the first experimental chapter 5, it is shown that although this is also possible for the ionic migration present in perovskites, it cannot be directly understood as doping related, since the space charge distribution strongly depends on the preconditions and can be manipulated by an externally applied voltage. The exact form of this behavior depends on the perovskite composition. This shows, among other things, that experimental results can only be interpreted within the framework of conventional semiconductors to a very limited extent. Nevertheless, the built-in 99 potential of the solar cell can be determined if the experiments are carried out properly. A statement concerning the type and charge of the mobile ions is not possible without further effort, while their number can be determined. The simulations were applied to experimental data in chapter 6. Thus, it could be shown that mobile ions make a significant contribution to the OCVD of perovskite solar cells. j-V characteristics and OCVD transients measured as a function of temperature and illumination intensities could be quantitatively modeled simultaneously using a single global set of parameters. By the simulations it was further possible to derive a simple experimental procedure to determine the concentration and the diffusivity of the mobile ions. The possibility of describing different experiments in a uniform temperaturedependent manner strongly supports the model of mobile ions in perovskites. In summary, this work has made an important contribution to the elucidation of ionic contributions to the (photo)electrical properties of perovskite solar cells. Established experimental techniques for conventional semiconductors have been reinterpreted with respect to ionic mass transport and new methods have been proposed to draw conclusions on the properties for ionic transport. As a result, the published simulation tools can be used for a number of further studies.
Grasslands shape many landscapes of the earth as they cover about one-third of its surface. They are home and provide livelihood for billions of people and are mainly used as source of forage for animals. However, grasslands fulfill many additional ecosystem functions next to fodder production, such as storage of carbon, water filtration, provision of habitats and cultural values. They play a role in climate change (mitigation) and in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions on a global scale. The degree to what these ecosystem functions are present within grassland ecosystems is largely determined by the management. Individual management practices and the use intensity influence the species composition as well as functions, like carbon storage, while higher use intensities (e.g. high mowing frequencies) usually show a negative impact. Especially in Central European countries, like in Germany, the determining influence of grassland management on its physiognomy and ecosystem functions leads to a large variability and small-scale alternations of grassland parcels. Large-scale information on the management and use intensity of grasslands is not available. Consequently, estimations of grassland ecosystem functions are challenging which, however, would be required for large-scale assessments of the status of grassland ecosystems and optimized management plans for the future. The topic of this thesis tackles this gap by investigating the major grassland management practice in Germany, which is mowing, for multiple years, in high spatial resolution
and on a national scale.
Earth Observation (EO) has the advantage of providing information of the earth’s surface on multi-temporal time steps. An extensive literature review on the use of EO for grassland management and production analyses, which was part of this thesis, showed that in particular research on grasslands consisting of small parcels with a large variety of management and use intensity, like common in Central Europe, is underrepresented. Especially
the launch of the Sentinel satellites in the recent past now enables the analyses of such grasslands due to their high spatial and temporal resolution. The literature review specifically on the investigation of grassland mowing events revealed that most previous studies focused on small study areas, were exploratory, only used one sensor type and/or lacked a reference data set with a complete range of management options.
Within this thesis a novel framework to detect grassland mowing events over large areas is presented which was applied and validated for the entire area of Germany for multiple years (2018–2021). The potential of both sensor types, optical (Sentinel-2) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (Sentinel-1) was investigated regarding grassland mowing event detection. Eight EO parameters were investigated, namely the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), the backscatter intensity and the interferometric (InSAR) temporal coherence for both available polarization modes (VV and VH), and the polarimetric (PolSAR) decomposition parameters Entropy, K0 and K1. An extensive reference data set was generated based on daily images of webcams distributed in Germany which resulted in mowing information
for grasslands with the entire possible range of mowing frequencies – from one to six in Germany – and in 1475 reference mowing events for the four years of interest.
For the first time a observation-driven mowing detection approach including data from Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 and combining the two was developed, applied and validated on large scale. Based on a subset of the reference data (13 grassland parcels with 44 mowing events) from 2019 the EO parameters were investigated and the detection algorithm
developed and parameterized. This analysis showed that a threshold-based change detection approach based on EVI captured grassland mowing events best, which only failed during periods of clouds. All SAR-based parameters showed a less consistent behavior to mowing events, with PolSAR Entropy and InSAR Coherence VH, however, revealing the
highest potential among them. A second, combined approach based on EVI and a SARbased parameter was developed and tested for PolSAR Entropy and InSAR VH. To avoid additional false positive detections during periods in which mowing events are anyhow reliably detected using optical data, the SAR-based mowing detection was only initiated
during long gaps within the optical time series (< 25 days). Application and validation of
these approaches in a focus region revealed that only using EVI leads to the highest accuracies (F1-Score = 0.65) as combining this approach with SAR-based detection led to a strong increase in falsely detected mowing events resulting in a decrease of accuracies (EVI + PolSAR ENT F1-Score = 0.61; EVI + InSAR COH F1-Score = 0.61).
The mowing detection algorithm based on EVI was applied for the entire area of Germany for the years 2018-2021. It was revealed that the largest share of grasslands with high mowing frequencies (at least four mowing events) can be found in southern/south-eastern Germany. Extensively used grassland (mown up to two times) is distributed within the entire country with larger shares in the center and north-eastern parts of Germany. These patterns stay constant in general, but small fluctuations between the years are visible. Early mown grasslands can be found in southern/south-eastern Germany – in line with high mowing frequency areas – but also in central-western parts. The years 2019 and 2020 revealed higher accuracies based on the 1475 mowing events of the multi-annual validation data set
(F1-Scores of 0.64 and 0.63), 2018 and 2021 lower ones (F1-Score of 0.52 and 0.50).
Based on this new, unprecedented data set, potential influencing factors on the mowing dynamics were investigated. Therefore, climate, topography, soil data and information on conservation schemes were related to mowing dynamics for the year 2020, which showed a high number of valid observations and detection accuracy. It was revealed that there are no strong linear relationships between the mowing frequency or the timing of the first mowing event and the investigated variables. However, it was found that for intensive grassland usage certain climatic and topographic conditions have to be fulfilled, while extensive grasslands appear on the entire spectrum of these variables. Further, higher mowing frequencies occur on soils with influence of ground water and lower mowing frequencies in protected areas. These results show the complex interplay between grassland mowing dynamics and external influences and highlight the challenges of policies aiming to protect grassland ecosystem functions and their need to be adapted to regional circumstances.
Disentangling the Formation of PAHs in Extreme Environments by IR/UV Double Resonance Spectroscopy
(2023)
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as key building blocks in the formation of carbonaceous particles such as soot. In our immediate surroundings, they are mainly generated in incomplete combustion processes and are further considered as carriers of the Unidentified Infrared Bands which are detected in a wide variety of astrophysical envelopes in the interstellar medium. Currently, astrochemical as well as combustion related models favour small resonance stabilized radicals (RSR) as major contributors to PAHs in sequential reactions. Therefore, we generated two RSR under well-defined conditions to investigate their contribution to PAH formation in a pyrolysis microreactor. The various reaction products were identified by IR/UV ion dip spectroscopy which combines the mass-selectivity of UV light with the structural sensitivity of IR radiation. Finally, we investigated the intermolecular interactions in azaphenanthrene dimers in combination with high-level theoretical calculations and found a preferential formation of pi-stacked van der Waals cluster in a molecular jet expansion.
Oral antineoplastic drugs are an important component in the treatment of solid tumour diseases, haematological and immunological malignancies. Oral drug administration is associated with positive features (e.g., non-invasive drug administration, outpatient care with a high level of independence for the patient and reduced costs for the health care system). The systemic exposure after oral intake however is prone to high IIV as it strongly depends on gastrointestinal absorption processes, which are per se characterized by high inter-and intraindividual variability. Disease and patient-specific characteristics (e.g., disease state, concomitant diseases, concomitant medication, patient demographics) may additionally contribute to variability in plasma concentrations between individual patients. In addition, many oral antineoplastic drugs show complex PK, which has not yet been fully investigated and elucidated for all substances. All this may increase the risk of suboptimal plasma exposure (either subtherapeutic or toxic), which may ultimately jeopardise the success of therapy, either through a loss of efficacy or through increased, intolerable adverse drug reactions. TDM can be used to detect suboptimal plasma levels and prevent permanent under- or overexposure. It is essential in the treatment of ACC with mitotane, a substance with unfavourable PK and high IIV. In the current work a HPLC-UV method for the TDM of mitotane using VAMS was developed. A low sample volume (20 µl) of capillary blood was used in the developed method, which facilitates dense sampling e.g., at treatment initiation. However, no reference ranges for measurements from capillary blood are established so far and a simple conversion from capillary concentrations to plasma concentrations was not possible. To date the therapeutic range is established only for plasma concentrations and observed capillary concentrations could not be reliable interpretated.The multi-kinase inhibitor cabozantinib is also used for the treatment of ACC. However, not all PK properties, like the characteristic second peak in the cabozantinib concentration-time profile have been fully understood so far. To gain a mechanistic understanding of the compound, a PBPK model was developed and various theories for modelling the second peak were explored, revealing that EHC of the compound is most plausible. Cabozantinib is mainly metabolized via CYP3A4 and susceptible to DDI with e.g., CYP3A4 inducers. The DDI between cabozantinib and rifampin was investigated with the developed PBPK model and revealed a reduced cabozantinib exposure (AUC) by 77%. Hence, the combination of cabozantinib with strong CYP inducers should be avoided. If this is not possible, co administration should be monitored using TDM. The model was also used to simulate cabozantinib plasma concentrations at different stages of liver injury. This showed a 64% and 50% increase in total exposure for mild and moderate liver injury, respectively.Ruxolitinib is used, among others, for patients with acute and chronic GvHD. These patients often also receive posaconazole for invasive fungal prophylaxis leading to CYP3A4 mediated DDI between both substances. Different dosing recommendations from the FDA and EMA on the use of ruxolitinib in combination with posaconazole complicate clinical use. To simulate the effect of this relevant DDI, two separate PBPK models for ruxolitinib and posaconazole were developed and combined. Predicted ruxolitinib exposure was compared to observed plasma concentrations obtained in GvHD patients. The model simulations showed that the observed ruxolitinib concentrations in these patients were generally higher than the simulated concentrations in healthy individuals, with standard dosing present in both scenarios. According to the developed model, EMA recommended RUX dose reduction seems to be plausible as due to the complexity of the disease and intake of extensive co-medication, RUX plasma concentration can be higher than expected.
In the recent years, translational studies comparing imaging data of animals and humans have gained increasing
scientific interests with crucial findings stemming from both, human and animal work. In order to harmonize
statistical analyses of data from different species and to optimize the transfer of knowledge between them, shared
data acquisition protocols and combined statistical approaches have to be identified. Following this idea, methods
of data analysis, which have until now mainly been used to model neural responses of electrophysiological
recordings from rodent data, were applied on human hemodynamic responses (i.e. Blood-Oxygen-Level-
Dependent BOLD signal) as measured via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
At the example of two attention and impulsivity networks, timing dynamics and amplitude of the fMRI signal were
determined (study 1). Study 2 described the same parameters frequency-specifically, and in study 3, the
complexity of neural processing was quantified in terms of fractality. Determined parameters were compared with
regard to the subjects’ task performance / impulsivity to validate findings with regard to reports of the current
scientific debate.
In a general discussion, overlapping as well as additional information of methodological approaches were
discussed with regard to its potential for biomarkers in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are involved in signal transmission at the synapses of the parasympathetic nervous system. The five subtypes of mAChRs regulate various body functions such as heart function, gland secretion, memory, and learning. For the development of drugs with the least side-effects possible, the molecular causes of subtype selectivity and signalling bias are under investigation. In this context, the study of dualsteric ligands binding simultaneously to the orthosteric and the allosteric binding sites of the receptor is of high interest.
To date, dualsteric ligands were synthesised as hybrids of full agonists or superagonists being the orthosteric element, linked to known subtype selective allosteric fragments. In this work, the existing library was expanded to hybrid ligands based on the partial agonist pilocarpine. A suitable linker attachment point to pilocarpine was investigated.
For this aim, pilocarpine (2), isopilocarpine (15), pilosinine (16) and desmethyl pilosinine (35) were synthesised as orthosteric ligands and orthosteric fragments for the construction of the hybrid molecules (Figure 42). Pilocarpine was liberated from the commercial hydrochloride or nitrate salt and isopilocarpine was generated by epimerisation of pilocarpine. Pilosinine was synthesised in a Michael addition reaction of a dithiane carrying the imidazole moiety 82 onto the lactone precursor furan-2(5H)-one (83) followed by complete deprotection (Figure 43a).[133] The desmethyl pilosinine (35) was obtained in a newly developed synthetic route based on a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction to build the methylene bridge between the imidazole aldehyde and the precursor of the lactone moiety 57 (Figure 43b). All four orthosters were converted to the respective dualsteric compounds with a naphmethonium fragment as allosteric moiety.
The four orthosteric fragments and the four hybrid molecules with a linker length of six methylene units were tested for their dose dependent G protein recruitment at the receptor subtypes M1–5 using a mini-G nanoBRET assay. The study of the orthosteric ligands revealed that pilocarpine has the highest ability of all four orthosters to induce activity at all receptor subtypes. A change of the cis- to a trans-configuration of the lactone substituents or a complete removal of the ethyl substituent provoked a significant reduction of activity. Removal of the methyl substituent of the imidazole moiety led to improved receptor activation.
The efficacies of the hybrid ligands show that the linker attachment at the imidazole moiety of pilocarpine and its analogues does not abolish activity and hybrid formation of isopilocarpine even improved receptor activation. Thus, the linker attachment point seems a valid choice, but linker length might not be optimum. In contrast to the orthosters, the trans-substitution of the lactone was advantageous for receptor activation of the hybrid ligands. The hybrid without a methyl substituent at the imidazole (69) had an increased efficacy. Additionally, the naphmethonium fragment lowered the maximum effect of pilocarpine, whereas the activity of isopilocarpine was increased. The intensity of both effects was influenced by the subtype selectivity produced by naphmethonium leading, in the case of the pilocarpine hybrid, to less decreased responses or, in the case of the isopilocarpine hybrid, to more increased responses at the M2 and M4 receptors. The results generally lead to the assumption that the allosteric moiety strongly influences the binding poses of the hybrid ligands so that the orthosteric fragments do not interact with the binding site in the same way as the orthosters alone.
A second project was based on molecular dynamics simulations of the binding pose of pilocarpine,[73] leading to the hypothesis that the partial agonism of pilocarpine results from an equilibrium between an agonistic and an antagonistic binding pose at the orthosteric binding site of the receptor. The ratio of occupancy of both binding poses determines the observed efficacy of pilocarpine. The orthosteric binding site provides more space for the ethyl substituent in the supposed antagonistic pose than in the agonistic binding pose. This hypothesis was tested by the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of pilocarpine analogues with alkyl substituents of different sizes at the lactone (16, 31a, c, d) (Figure 44). The analogues with larger alkyl residues are expected to shift the equilibrium towards the antagonistic binding pose, the analogues with smaller residues should have the inverse effect.
The synthesis of the pilocarpine analogues was first attempted as a mixture of stereoisomers which were supposed to be separated at the end of the synthetic route. The racemic mixture of the thermodynamically more stable trans-isomers of the target compounds was prepared in a one-pot Michael-addition–alkylation reaction of a dithiane imidazole onto furan-2(5H)-one similarly to the synthesis of pilosinine (Figure 45). The resulting enolate was quenched by an iodoalkane to achieve alkylation of the lactone and subsequent complete deprotection yielded the racemic trans-analogues of pilocarpine.[133] After unsuccessful attempts of chiral resolution, the mixture of trans-isomers was converted to a mixture of all four possible diastereomers in a kinetic epimerisation reaction.[95] A separation of the stereoisomers was not possible in this project so only the racemic molecule 16 (pilosinine, R = H) was obtained from this synthetic route.
For the selective synthesis of the cis-isomers following a patent from Reimann,[146] both stereocenters of the target molecules were produced in the last synthetic step by a syn-hydrogenation of the α,β-unsaturated precursor (Figure 46). The racemic pilocarpine analogues, except the butyl derivative (31d), were purified by crystallisation as their nitrate salts. This provided the racemic mixtures with less than 8% of the trans-isomers as impurity. The racemic pilocarpine (2), itself, was obtained with 15% trans-impurity and was used as reference compound. Additionally, the possibility of chiral resolution by chromatographic methods was demonstrated in the case of the methyl derivative (31a). The pharmacological testing of the desired enantiomer of 31a is in progress.
The receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins that interact with several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest and pharmacologically most important family of cell surface receptors. RAMPs can regulate GPCR function in terms of ligand-binding, G-protein coupling, downstream signaling, trafficking, and recycling. The integrity of their interactions translates to many physiological functions or pathological conditions.
Regardless of numerous reports on its essential importance for cell biology and pivotal role in (patho-)physiology, the molecular mechanism of how RAMPs modulate GPCR activation remained largely elusive.
This work presents new insights that add to the common understanding of the allosteric regulation of receptor activation and will help interpret how accessory proteins - RAMPs - modulate activation dynamics and how this affects the fundamental aspects of cellular signaling. Using a prototypical class B GPCR, the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) in the form of advanced genetically encoded optical biosensors, I examined RAMP's impact on the PTH1R activation and signaling in intact cells. A panel of single-cell FRET and confocal microscopy experiments as well canonical and non-canonical functional assays were performed to get a holistic picture of the signaling initiation and transduction of that clinically and therapeutically relevant GPCR. Finally, structural modeling was performed to add molecular mechanistic details to that novel art of modulation.
I describe here that RAMP2 acts as a specific allosteric modulator of PTH1R, shifting PTH1R to a unique pre-activated state that permits faster activation in a ligand-specific manner. Moreover, RAMP2 modulates PTH1R downstream signaling in an agonist-dependent manner, most notably increasing the PTH-mediated Gi3 signaling sensitivity and kinetics of cAMP accumulation. Additionally, RAMP2 increases PTH- and PTHrP-triggered β-arrestin2 recruitment to PTH1R and modulates cytosolic ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Structural homology modeling shows that structural motifs governing GPCR-RAMP interaction originate in allosteric hotspots and rationalize functional modulation. Moreover, to interpret the broader role of RAMP's modulation in GPCRs pharmacology, different fluorescent tools to investigate RAMP's spatial organization were developed, and novel conformational biosensors for class B GPCRs were engineered. Lastly, a high throughput assay is proposed and prototyped to expand the repertoire of RAMPs or other membrane protein interactors.
These data uncover the critical role of RAMPs in GPCR activation and signaling and set up a novel platform for studying GPCR modulation. Furthermore, these insights may provide a new venue for precise modulation of GPCR
function and advanced drug design.
Every year, stroke affects over 100 million people worldwide and the number of cases continues to grow. Ischemic stroke is the most prevalent form of stroke and rapid restoration of blood flow is the primary therapeutic aim. However, recanalization might fail or reperfusion itself induces detrimental processes leading to infarct progression. Previous studies identified platelets and immune cells as drivers of this so-called ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, establishing the concept of ischemic stroke as thrombo-inflammatory disease. Reduced cerebral blood flow despite recanalization promoted the hypothesis that thrombus formation within the cerebral microcirculation induces further tissue damage. The results presented in this thesis refute this: using complementary methodologies, it was shown that infarct growth precedes the occurrence of thrombi excluding them as I/R injury-underlying cause. Blood brain barrier disruption is one of the hallmarks of ischemic stroke pathology and was confirmed as early event during reperfusion injury in the second part of this study. Abolished platelet α-granule release protects mice from vascular leakage in the early reperfusion phase resulting in smaller infarcts. Using in vitro assays, platelet α-granule-derived PDGF-AB was identified as one factor contributing to blood-brain barrier disruption.
In vivo visualization of platelet activation would provide important insights in the spatio-temporal context of platelet activation in stroke pathology. As platelet signaling results in elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels, this is an ideal readout. To overcome the limitations of chemical calcium indicators, a mouse line expressing an endogenous calcium reporter specifically in platelets and megakaryocytes was generated. Presence of the reporter did not interfere with platelet function, consequently these mice were characterized in in vivo and ex vivo models.
Upon ischemic stroke, neutrophils are among the first cells that are recruited to the brain. Since for neutrophils both, beneficial and detrimental effects are described, their role was investigated within this thesis. Neither neutrophil depletion nor absence of NADPH-dependent ROS production (Ncf-/- mice) affected stroke outcome. In contrast, abolished NET-formation in Pad4-/- mice resulted in reduced infarct sizes, revealing detrimental effects of NETosis in the context of ischemic stroke, which might become a potential therapeutic target.
Cerebral venous (sinus) thrombosis, CV(S)T is a rare type of stroke with mainly idiopathic onset. Whereas for arterial thrombosis a critical contribution of platelets is known and widely accepted, for venous thrombosis this is less clear but considered more and more. In the last part of this thesis, it was shown that fab-fragments of the anti-CLEC-2 antibody INU1 trigger pathological platelet activation in vivo, resulting in foudroyant CVT accompanied by heavy neurological symptoms. Using this novel animal model for CVT, cooperative signaling of the two platelet receptors CLEC-2 and GPIIb/IIIa was revealed as major trigger of CVT and potential target for treatment.