Thesis presented December 02, 2010

Abstract:
Solid-state NMR is a well-suited method for the study of biological samples. Thanks to this technique, we could study the peptidoglycan and the teichoic acids, essential components of the bacterial cell wall. We were especially inte-rested in their organization, their flexibility and their interactions with cations. We also studied the interactions between the teichoic acids and a protein involved in the pneumococcal virulence. This example illustrates perfectly the lack of sensitivity of the NMR experiments and the limits of the existing recoupling sequences. We highlighted a phenomenon allowing the faster acquisition of NMR spectra. We also worked on the improvement of the PAR and PAIN-CP recoupling sequences. Finally, we compared spectral editing methods applied to wood samples, very well studied since the beginning of solid-state NMR.

Keywords:
Solid-state NMR, bacterial cell wall, peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, protein, longitudinal relaxation, spin diffusion, selective excitation, recoupling, archaeological wood

On-line thesis.