Isoenzymes of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase in the larvae of silkwormsBombyx mori infected with nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Summary Nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection induced changes in the activity and isoenzyme pattern of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase in the larvae of silkworm,Bombyx mori.The author wish to thank the director of CSRTI, Mysore for providing the virus preparation and the silkworm larvae.     

Effects of the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and its inactive derivative 1,9-dideoxyforskolin on insect cytochrome P-450 dependent steroid hydroxylase activity

The adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and its pharmacologically inactive derivative 1,9-dideoxyforskolin were found to inhibit in a dose-dependent fashion the ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity associated with wandering stage larvae ofDrosophila melanogaster and fat body and midgut from last instar larvae of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta. The concentrations of these labdane diterpenes required to elicit a 50% inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 dependent steroid hydroxylase activity in the insect tissues ranged from approximately 5×10^–6 to 5×10^–4 M.     

Effect of mercuric acetate on mobilization of N and P during germination and seedling growth ofCicer arietinum

Summary Mercuric acetate, at 5.0×10^–5 M, stimulates the mobilization of total nitrogen and phosphate reserves from cotyledons during seedling growth inCicer arietinum cv H208 whereas it suppresses the same process at 2.5×10^–4 M.Thanks are due to Dr D. Banerji for providing facilities and helpful suggestions.     

Effect of xanthurenic acid on P-450-dependent biotransformation by molting glands in vitro

Incubation of molting glands from the crayfishProcambarus clarkii (Y-organ) and the silkwormBombyx mori (prothoracic gland) with 23,24-[²H₄]-2-deoxyecdysone resulted in the production of deutero-ecdysone; this biotransformation was inhibited in the presence of xanthurenic acid. When the experiments were performed under an¹⁸O₂ atmosphere, the¹⁸O atom was introduced into ecdysone, as confirmed by mass spectrometry. We therefore suggest that xanthurenic acid inhibits P-450-dependent hydroxylation of 2-deoxyecdysone. However, deutero-2-deoxyecdysone was not converted to 3-dehydroecdysone when using Y-organs in vitro, although it is a major product. We therefore conclude that the biosynthetic pathway of ecdysteroids inP. clarkii branches at an early step.     

DNA synthesis in the nuclei of differentiating muscle fibers of the silkworm,Bombyx mori L.

Summary Incorporation of³H-thymidine (³HTdr) into the nuclei of myofibril-containing myofibers of larvae of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, was shown by means of light microscope (LM) and electron-microscope (EM) autoradiography. The number of DNA-synthesizing myonuclei attains 42% 12–18 h after each molt. Thus in the developing silkworm DNA replication and myofibrillogenesis are coexisting and not mutually exclusive processes as is the rule in vertebrate somatic myogenesis.     

Methyllycaconitine,a naturally occurring insecticide with a high affinity for the insect cholinergic receptor

Summary Studies of extracts ofDelphinium seeds, long known to be insecticidal, revealed that a principal insecticidal toxin was methyllycaconitine, which is shown to be a potent inhibitor of -bungarotoxin binding to housefly heads (K_inh=2.5×10^–10±0.5×10^–10M).Calgary for gifts of MLA, citrate and lycoctonine, and Dr W. Bowers of the University of Arizona for the original extract ofDelphinium seeds. We would also like to acknowledge the able technical support of Ms C. Dushin, Mr E.L. Bowman, Dr C. C. Gagne, Mr R. F. Borysewicz and Dr P. Mowery for his assistance in obtaining and interpreting the carbon-13 NMR spectra.     

In vitro inactivation of corpora allata of the bugOncopeltus fasciatus by precocene II

Summary Corpora allata fromOncopeltus fasciatus incubated in vitro in medium containing 10^–5.35 M (1 g/ml) of precocene II lose their ability to secrete juvenile hormone when reimplanted into last instar larvae.Acknowledgments. We thank Mr K. Dorn, Mrs L. Dolezal, Mrs V. Nötzli-Graf, Mr K.H. Trautmann and Mr A. Schuler for technical help, Dr W. Vogel and Dr A. Dübendorfer for valuable discussions.     

Acetylcholinesterase activity in anAedes aegypti cell line

Summary Considerable acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was detected in anAedes aegypti established cell line. The enzyme is blocked by 10^–6 M eserine sulfate, displays excess substrate inhibition and slowly hydrolyzes butyrylthiocholine. A 2-fold stimulation of AChE activity was shown after 2 days exposure to 3×10^–7 M -ecdysone. AChE activity found in the fresh medium is the contribution of the fetal calf serum portion. A direct relationship between levels of serum and the AChE activity in the cultured cells was demonstrated.Acknowledgment. I wish to thank Dr J. Peleg of the Israel Institute for Biological Research for providing the starting culture ofAedes aegypti cells.     

Growth ofNostoc muscorum mutants in the presence of diuron (DCMU) and L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine

Summary Diuron (DCMU) is inhibitory to the photoautotrophic and photoheterotrophic growth of the N₂-fixing blue-green algaNostoc muscorum at concentrations of 1.0×10^–5 M and 2.0×10^–5 M, respectively. A mutant of this organism resistant to 5.0×10^–5 M DCMU under its photoheterotrophic growth conditions, with the ability to utilize DCMU as a carbon and nitrogen source for growth, and complete inability to grow photoautotrophically has been isolated. With the apparent defect in its photosynthetic ability, it is suggested that theDCMU ^r mutant lacks the step inhibited by 1.0×10^–5 M DCMU, and metabolizes DCMU by an existing enzyme system in the absence of such inhibition. That this enzyme may be glutamine synthetase (GS) is explained with the help of a L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine (MSO)-resistant mutant ofN. muscorum which is able to grow faster with 2.0×10^–5 DCMU and is known to contain an altered GS.Thanks are due to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR Complex, Govt. of India, New Delhi-110012, for appointing the author to the Scientists' Pool for undertaking researches on the physiological and genetic controls of nitrogen metabolism in blue-green algae, a part of which is presented in this literature.     

Gustatory sensitivity of an anuran to cantharidin

Summary Glossopharyngeal nerve stimulation of the bullfrog,Rana catesbiana revealed responsiveness to low levels of cantharidin (1.3×10^–6M), providing a first demonstration of neural gustatory sensitivity of an animal to this defensive chemical from blister beetles, (Meloidae).Acknowledgments. Study supported in part by grant AI 02908 from NIH.     

The effect of proctolin on the adenylate and guanylate cyclases in theLocusta brain at various developmental stages

Summary Proctolin at concentrations 10^–8–10^–7 M elevated by 40% brain adenylate cyclase activity of adultLocusta migratoria migratorioides R.F. In moulting individuals, proctolin caused a decrease in brain adenylate cyclase activity, and it proved to be ineffective in the larvae. Proctolin caused only a slight decrease on guanylate cyclase activity of the brain at every developmental stage.     

Inhibitory effect of aromatic diamidines on trypsin and enterokinase

Zusammenfassung Aromatische Diamidinoverbindungen sind hochwirksame Hemmstoffe des Trypsins. 2,2-Dibromopropamidin, die stärkste der hier untersuchten Verbindungen, besitzt gegenüber der BANA-Hydrolyse eine Inhibitions-Konstante von 7.6×10^–7 M. Amicarbalid und M & B 4596 sind gute Hemmstoffe der Enterokinase, doch erreichen sie die Wirkung derp-Amidinophenylbrenztraubensäure nicht.     

Electrophysiological characteristics ofBombyx mori L. ventral nerve cord (effect of sodium and potassium on the membrane potential)

Summary Na⁺ and K⁺ effects on the resting cellular membrane potential of desheathed ganglia of theBombyx mori L. ventral nerve cord have been studied. The cells are depolarized by high concentrations of external potassium ions in the same way as in vertebrates, mollusca and crustacean cells. The possibility that the behaviour of the resting potential is not only influenced by the potassium equilibrium potential, but also by the conductances to other ions, is discussed.The authors are indebted to Prof V. Capraro, Drs B. Giordana and F. Sacchi for helpful comments and criticism.     

The role of glycine in the biosynthesis of a terpene

Zusammenfassung Mit doppelt markiertem Glycin konnte gezeigt werden, dass das Kohlenstoffatom der Methylgruppe viel besser als das Kohlenstoffatom der Karboxylgruppe in die Isoprengruppe des Ophiobolins B ausCochiobolus miyabeanus eingebaut wird. Die Radioaktivität wird in Ophiobolin B eingebaut, wenn die folgenden Verbindungen verwendet werden: [3-¹⁴C]-Serin, [¹⁴C-Methyl]-Sarcosin, [¹⁴C-Methyl]-Methionin, und [¹⁴C] Formate.

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a)Studies on Biosynthesis. Part V. for Part IV, seeM. Anchel, A. K. Bose, K. S. Khanchandani andP. T. Funke, Phytochem.9, 2135 (1970). b) Presented in part at the 3rd Natural Products Symposium, University of West Indies, Jamaica, January 1970.

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The support of this research by Stevens Institute of Technology is gratefully acknowledged. We wish to thank Dr.J. H. Davis and Prof.L. Z. Pollara for their interest and encouragement and Drs.H. Levy, P. T. Funke, M. S. Manhas, P. K. Bhattacharyya andM. Anchel for valuable discussions and help with some of the experiments. We are particularly thankful to Dr.L. Canonica for providing us with cultures ofCochiobolus miyabeanus that made our work on ophiobolin B possible.     

Effect of strychnine on the electroretinogram of the isolated rabbit retina

Zusammenfassung Strychnin in einer Konzentration von 3×10^–6 bis 3,5×10^–5 M/l verursacht eine vorübergehende Vergrösserung derb-Welle des ERG der isolierten Kaninchennetzhaut, in einer Konzentration von 7×10^–5 bis 7×10^–4 M/l verkleinert es dieb-Welle. Aus den Ergebnissen wird geschlossen, dass die Substanz zumindest teilweise schon auf die Schicht des zweiten Neurons wirkt.     

Effect of enkephalins in the presence of the antibiotic bacitracin in the longitudinal muscle strip preparation from guinea-pig ileum

Summary The antibiotic bacitracin (5×10^–5–4×10^–4 M) increases the inhibition of the contractile response caused by both enkephalin release and direct application of Met-enkephalin 5×10^–7 M in the longitudinal muscle strip preparation from guinea-pig ileum. This effect is attributed to an inhibition of enkephalin degrading peptidases by bacitracin.     

Effects of Avermectin Bla on the motility of various parasitic helminths

Summary Using an isotonic transducer recently devised in Japan, it was observed that Avermectin Bla, a new anthelmintic, caused paralyzing effects onAngiostrongylus cantonensis andMetastrongylus elongatus at concentrations of more than 3.6×10^–18 M.     

Octopamine and proctolin mimic spontaneous membrane depolarisation inLucilia larvae

Summary Octopamine and proctolin at concentrations below 10^–8 M reversibly induce a spontaneous rhythmic depolarization which occurs in body-wall muscles ofLucilia larvae. The effect appears to be postsynaptic and mediated by receptors specific for each substance.This work was supported by NIEHS grant No. ES00814 and EPA grant No. R804345.     

VIP and histamine H2 receptor activity in human fetal gastric glands

Summary Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, EC₅₀=6.4×10^–10 M) and histamine (EC₅₀=3×10^–6 M) activated the cyclic AMP generating system in gastric glands isolated from two human fetuses at 23 weeks gestation. Histamine antagonism by the H₂ receptor blockers cimetidine (Ki=0.35×10^–6 M) and ranitidine (ki=0.51×10^–7 M) clearly characterized the histaminic activation as being of the H₂ type. It is suggested that these two vasoactive hormones may operate as neurocrine/paracrine regulators of the differentiation and/or function of the human gastric mucosa in utero.     

Some metabolic disorders affecting the carotenoid-linked haemolymph proteins inRhynchosciara americana (Diptera,Sciaridae)

Summary Disorders in the carotenoid metabolism are proposed to explain the absence of the yellow and violet or only the violet carotenoid-linked proteins from the haemolymph of someR. americana larvae. The lack of only the yellow chromoprotein is considered to be due to a failure in the biosynthesis of its apoprotein.Supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNP_q). W.R.T. and A.G. de B. are indebted to Prof.F. J. S. Lara for advice, encouragement and for laboratory facilities. We thank Mr.A. Malavasi for collecting larvae in nature, Mrs.R. M. Zanelato for larvae culture and MissI. L. Jorge for typing.