It is well known in literature that for many metal-catalyzed reactions the support influences the catalytic properties of the metal particles. It has also been observed that the electronic properties of the supported Pt particles depend on the acid/base properties of the support. However, the nature of this interaction between metal and support is poorly understood. The goal of the research described in this thesis was to understand the nature of the metal-support interaction and to relate the support-induced changes in catalytic properties to the changes in electronic properties. The work in this thesis has provided important insights in finding answers to these questions.