Scalarolbutenolide,a new sesterterpenoid from the marine spongeSpongia nitens

Summary A new sesterterpenoid, scalarolbutenolide (5), has been isolated from the marine spongeSpongia nitens; its structure, including the absolute stereochemistry, has been established by chemical and spectroscopic studies.This work is a part of the Progetto Finalizzato per l'Oceanografia e i Fondi Marini, C.N.R., Roma.We are indebted to A. Crispino, C. Di Pinto, G. Scognamiglio and R. Turco for their technical assistance.     

Starfish saponins. Part 101. Further 24-O-glycosidated steroids from the starfishHacelia attenuata

Summary On the basis of comparative spectral data, the structures of 3 novel steroidal glycosides from the Mediterranean starfishHacelia attenuata have been elucidated as3, 4 and5. These are further examples of a novel group of 24-O-glycosidated steroids recently encountered in the same species and in the Pacific speciesProtoreaster nodosus.Part 9. L. Minale, C. Pizza, R. Riccio and F. Zollo, Experientia39 (1983) 567. This contribution is part of the Progetto Finalizzato Chimica fine e secondaria del C.N.R., Roma.Acknowledgments. We thank Prof. K. Nakanishi, Columbia University, New York, for FD-mass spectral analyses, the Centro Interfacoltà di Metodologie Chimico-Fisiche for 270 MHz NMR facilities, and Miss R. Aquino for part of the experimental work.     

12S-Hydroxybromosphaerol,a new bromoditerpene from the red algaSphaerococcus coronopifolius

Summary A minor bromoditerpene, 12S-hydroxybromosphaerol has been isolated from the red algaSphaerococcus coronopifolius, and its structure has been established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.This work was carried out under the auspices of Progetto Finalizzato per l'Oceanografia e i Fondi Marini, CNR, Rome.     

Further evidence for the dissociation of digoxin-like immunoreactivity from Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity

The effects of adrenalectomy or nephrectomy, carried out one hour previously, on the levels of endogenous digitalis-like factors were determined in rat plasma. Factors were assayed by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity. Digoxin-like immunoreactivity significantly decreased one hour after bilateral ablation of adrenals, while Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity remained unaltered. There were no changes in either activity one hour after bilateral nephrectomy. These results suggest that digoxin-like immunoreactivity may be derived from the adrenal gland or under adrenal control and the major substances detected by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity may be different.     

Further new diterpene esters from the irritant and cocarcinogenic seed oil and latex of the caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris L.)

Zusammenfassung Ein Diacetat-Benzoat und ein Diacetat-Nicotinoat des neuen Diterpens «Lathyrol» sowie weitere Ester des Diterpens Ingenol wurden aus dem Samenöl bzw. dem Latex vonEuphorbia lathyris L. isoliert. Die chemische Struktur von Lathyrol wurde mittels spektraler Daten aufgeklärt. Lathyrol ist die Muttersubstanz der beiden bereits früher ausE. lathyris isolierten makrozyklischen Diterpene 6.20-Epoxy-lathyrol und 7-Hydroxy-lathyrol. Es wird ein Biogeneseweg für Diterpene aus Euphorbiaceen vorgeschlagen.

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Measurements and discussions of NMR spectra by Prof.M. Anteunis, Gent, and Dr.A. Mannschreck, Heidelberg, are gratefully acknowledged.     

Further evidence for the dissociation of digoxin-like immunoreactivity from Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitory activity

Summary The effects of adrenalectomy or nephrectomy, carried out one hour previously, on the levels of endogenous digitalis-like factors were determined in rat plasma. Factors were assayed by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity. Digoxin-like immunoreactivity significantly decreased one hour after bilateral ablation of adrenals, while Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity remained unaltered. There were no changes in either activity one hour after bilateral nephrectomy. These results suggest that digoxin-like immunoreactivity may be derived from the adrenal gland or under adrenal control and the major substances detected by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity may be different.     

The relations between G-6-PD deficiency,thalassemia and malaria. Further analysis of data from Sardinia and the Po Valley

Summary Discriminant analysis carried out on a set of environmental and sociocultural variables in the Sardinian population suggests that G-6-PD deficiency and thalassemia move along 2 dimensions partially independent of each other. Partial correlation analysis also suggests that malaria, by itself, may exert opposite effects on thalassemia and G-6-PD selection. The present results support the hypothesis that thalassemia may be the primary genetic factor selected by malaria, whereas G-6-PD selection may be a secondary adaptation phenomenon strongly dependent on other genetic and environmental variables.     

Further studies on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of water-soluble proteolipid-protein from bovine brain white matter

Zusammenfassung Wasserlösliche, proteolipide Proteine wurden von der weissen Hirnsubstanz durch Isolierungsmethoden vonTenenbaum undFolch ² gewonnen. Ohne Lyophilisation ergab die Disk-Elektrophorese bei pH 8.3 zwei Banden.

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The authors express their appreciation to Dr.K. Ueki, Dr.Y. Takahashi, Dr.Y. Takemoto and Dr.T. Kotoku.     

Pupation-temperature range in 12 Drosophila species from different ecological backgrounds

A comparison of pupation-temperature range was made in the laboratory on a temperature gradient (3-38 degrees C) using 12 species of Drosophila representing four species groups and four different ecological backgrounds (temperate-montane forest: virilis group; desert: repleta group; cosmopolitan: melanogaster group; tropical forest: willistoni group). Within groups, differences are found which usually reflect species' distributions. Comparisons of species' mating-, oviposition- and pupation-temperature ranges reveal that pupation most often occurs at temperatures beyond those for mating and oviposition. Each species reflects a different combination of temperature effects. Individual species have different temperature-limits for mating, oviposition and pupation. Temperatures permissive for one response are not predictive of limits on other responses. Among species, temperature can affect a particular response differently. Within groups, species differences can be at high and/or low temperatures for any response, and temperature effects among closely related species can manifest themselves in one, or any combination of responses. One cannot predict which responses will be most and least limited, or at which end of the temperature scale a response will be most limited. Among groups, common, but not absolute temperature ranges generally correspond to the geographic distributions and ecological backgrounds of the species triads. The evaluation of temperature effects on species, based on a single activity, may not be adequate for predicting adaptive strategies.     

Pupation-temperature range in 12Drosophila species from different ecological backgrounds

Summary A comparison of pupation-temperature range was made in the laboratory on a temperature gradient (3–38°C) using 12 species ofDrosophila representing four species groups and four different ecological backgrounds (temperate-montane forest:virilis group; desert;repleta group; cosmopolitan:melanogaster group; tropical forest:willistoni group). Within groups, differences are found which usually reflect species' distributions. Comparisons of species' mating-, oviposition- and pupation-temperature ranges reveal that pupation most-often occurs at temperatures beyond those for mating and oviposition. Each species reflects a different combination of temperature effects. Individual species have different temperature-limits for mating, oviposition and pupation. Temperatures permissive for one response are not predictive of limits on other responses. Among species, temperature can affect a particular response differently. Within groups, species differences can be at high and/or low temperatures for any response, and temperature effects among closely related species can manifest themselves in one, or any combination of responses. One cannot predict which responses will be most and least limited, or at which end of the temperature scale a response will be most limited. Among groups,common, but notabsolute temperature ranges generally correspond to the geographic distributions and ecological backgrounds of the species triads. The evaluation of temperature effects on species, based on a single activity, may not be adequate for predicting adaptive strategies.     

Further data on the evaluation of platelet Ac-globulin and its plasmatic origin

Zusammenfassung Die Eigenschaften des Plättchen-Ac-Globulins wurden mit Rücksicht auf die Thromboplastinbildung untersucht.