Occurrence of 3-epi-22-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone and its phosphoric ester in diapause eggs of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Ecdysteroids in diapause eggs of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with radioimmunoassay (RIA). A relatively large amount of an unidentified free ecdysteroid and its phosphoric ester (conjugated form) were detected. These two compounds were isolated by a combination of column chromatography on silicic acid, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and HPLC using a reverse-phase (RP) column. The purified compounds were identified as 3-epi-22-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (22d20E) and 3-epi-22-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone 2-phosphate (22d20E2P) by means of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. to our knowledge, this is the first report of 22d20E and 22d20E2P.     

Blocking by picrotoxin of nigra-evoked inhibition of neurons of ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus

Summary The transmitter substance released by nigro-thalamic fibres is proposed to be -aminobutyric acid, since picrotoxin blocked nigra-evoked monosynaptic inhibition of thalamic neurons.Supported by grants Nos 212009 and 311410 from Ministry of Education of Japan.The authors wish to thank Dr Marjorie Anderson, University of Washington, Seattle, for improving the English.     

Trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid) inhibits the effect of androgens on the rat prostate

Summary Trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid, FA) antagonized the effect of exogenous androgens on the ventral prostate (VP) in castrated rats as well as the effect of endogenous androgens in intact rats. FA, however, had no effect on the seminal vesicles (SV) and levator ani muscle (LAM), nor oestrogenic effect in female rats and mice. FA did not antagonize the receptor binding of testosterone nor inhibit the conversion of testosterone into 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).Supported in part by the project fund (grant 53-403) of Kawasaki Medical School.The authors would like to thank the Central Laboratory, Sankyo Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, for supplying 19-nortestosterone-17-ferulate.     

灰色理论在化学研究中用作建模与预测新的方法

研究了灰色理论作为一种有用的化学计量学多元建模与定量预测新方法的可行性，将其应用于某些不确定关系如电泳迁移率，色谱保留值和农药需求量等建模，定量预测结果良好。     

Mechanically driven ATP synthesis by F1-ATPase

ATP, the main biological energy currency, is synthesized from ADP and inorganic phosphate by ATP synthase in an energy-requiring reaction. The F1 portion of ATP synthase, also known as F1-ATPase, functions as a rotary molecular motor: in vitro its gamma-subunit rotates against the surrounding alpha3beta3 subunits, hydrolysing ATP in three separate catalytic sites on the beta-subunits. It is widely believed that reverse rotation of the gamma-subunit, driven by proton flow through the associated F(o) portion of ATP synthase, leads to ATP synthesis in biological systems. Here we present direct evidence for the chemical synthesis of ATP driven by mechanical energy. We attached a magnetic bead to the gamma-subunit of isolated F1 on a glass surface, and rotated the bead using electrical magnets. Rotation in the appropriate direction resulted in the appearance of ATP in the medium as detected by the luciferase-luciferin reaction. This shows that a vectorial force (torque) working at one particular point on a protein machine can influence a chemical reaction occurring in physically remote catalytic sites, driving the reaction far from equilibrium.     

Avian sarcoma virus Y73 genome sequence and structural similarity of its transforming gene product to that of Rous sarcoma virus

From the complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of the avian sarcoma virus Y73, we have predicted amino acid sequence of p90 gag-yes, the product of the transforming gene. Contrary to previous evidence from molecular hybridization studies p90 gag-yes was found to have much homology with the transforming gene product p60 src of Rous sarcoma virus, suggesting that the cellular counterparts of the two (c-yes and c-src) originated from a common prototype sequence.     

E3 ubiquitin ligase that recognizes sugar chains

N-glycosylation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has a central role in protein quality control. Here we report that N-glycan serves as a signal for degradation by the Skp1-Cullin1-Fbx2-Roc1 (SCF(Fbx2)) ubiquitin ligase complex. The F-box protein Fbx2 (ref. 4) binds specifically to proteins attached to N-linked high-mannose oligosaccharides and subsequently contributes to ubiquitination of N-glycosylated proteins. Pre-integrin beta 1 is a target of Fbx2; these two proteins interact in the cytosol after inhibition of the proteasome. In addition, expression of the mutant Fbx2 Delta F, which lacks the F-box domain that is essential for forming the SCF complex, appreciably blocks degradation of typical substrates of the ER-associated degradation pathway. Our results indicate that SCF(Fbx2) ubiquitinates N-glycosylated proteins that are translocated from the ER to the cytosol by the quality control mechanism.     

Evidence for ubiquitous strong electron-phonon coupling in high-temperature superconductors

Coupling between electrons and phonons (lattice vibrations) drives the formation of the electron pairs responsible for conventional superconductivity. The lack of direct evidence for electron-phonon coupling in the electron dynamics of the high-transition-temperature superconductors has driven an intensive search for an alternative mechanism. A coupling of an electron with a phonon would result in an abrupt change of its velocity and scattering rate near the phonon energy. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to probe electron dynamics-velocity and scattering rate-for three different families of copper oxide superconductors. We see in all of these materials an abrupt change of electron velocity at 50-80 meV, which we cannot explain by any known process other than to invoke coupling with the phonons associated with the movement of the oxygen atoms. This suggests that electron-phonon coupling strongly influences the electron dynamics in the high-temperature superconductors, and must therefore be included in any microscopic theory of superconductivity.