(S)-(+)-4,4,4-Trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid,a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator

Racemic 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid (TFIBA) has been synthesized and shown to inhibitAvena coleoptile elongation. (S)-(+)-TFIBA (fig. 1), which was prepared by an enzymatic method and markedly promotes root growth of Chinese cabbage, lettuce and rice plants, is a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator. Activity of the (S)-(+)-enantiomer of TFIBA was 10-fold greater than that of the (R)-(–)-enantiomer in the first two plant species and 5-fold greater in rice.     

3-Methylcholanthrene-induced embryonic deformities in the chick: Prevention by the antioxidant,N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPPD)

Résumé Les embryons de poulet traités au préalable par du N,N-diméthyl-p-phénylène diamine sont immunisés contre les déformations que produit le 3-méthylcholranthrène. Il est possible que cette protection soit due à une action neutralisante des radicaux libres formés par le 3-méthylcholranthrène avec l'oxygène.

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Fellowship support from the Tobacco Research Council.     

1,2 Benzisothiazol-3-ylacetic acid as a growth promoting substance forHelianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) in vitro

Riassunto L'acido 1,2 benzisotiazol-3-ilacetico (BIA) ha mostrato una forte azione sulla proliferazione cellulare di espianti di tuberi dormienti diHelianthus tuberosus, sostanzialmente simile a quella indotta dall'acido indol-3-acetico.     

Autoradiographic demonstration of uptake and accumulation of3H-6-hydroxydopamine in adrenergic nerves

Zusammenfassung Die Regenbogenhaut der Maus wurde in einer physiologischen Pufferlösung mit radioaktivem 6-Hydroxydopamin (³H-6-OH-DA) inkubiert. Mit Hilfe autoradiographischer und fluoreszenz-histochemischer Untersuchungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass³H-6-OH-DA in die adrenergischen Nervenfasern der Regenbogenhaut aufgenommen und gespeichert wird. Dieser Befund bringt die direkte Erklärung der durch 6-Hydroxydopamin induzierten Degeneration der adrenergen Fasern.     

N-acetylmuramic acid 6-phosphate lyases (MurNAc etherases): role in cell wall metabolism, distribution, structure, and mechanism

MurNAc etherases cleave the uniqued-lactyl ether bond of the bacterial cell wall sugar N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc). Members of this newly discovered family of enzymes are widely distributed among bacteria and are required to utilize peptidoglycan fragments obtained either from the environment or from the endogenous cell wall (i.e., recycling). MurNAc etherases are strictly dependent on the substrate MurNAc possessing a free reducing end and a phosphoryl group at C6. They carry a single conserved sugar phosphate isomerase/sugar phosphate- binding (SIS) domain to which MurNAc 6-phosphate is bound. Two subunits form an enzymatically active homodimer that structurally resembles the isomerase module of the double-SIS domain protein GlmS, the glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase. Structural comparison provides insights into the two-step lyase-type reaction mechanism of MurNAc etherases: β-elimination of the D-lactic acid substituent proceeds through a 2,3-unsaturated sugar intermediate to which water is subsequently added. Received 31 August 2007; received after revision 12 October 2007; accepted 1 November 2007     

The effect of ascorbic acid on cadmium accumulation in guinea pig tissues

Accumulation of cadmium in organs of guinea pigs after subchronic oral cadmium treatment (1 mg Cd/animal/24 h) was in the following order: kidneys > liver > heart > testes > brain. The preventive effects of high doses of ascorbic acid (AA) against cadmium deposition were more pronounced in the testes, heart and brain, and in the kidney only after short-term cadmium treatment. Ascorbic acid had no protective effect on cadmium accumulation in the liver.     

Increased excretion of 5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid after the administration of 3-indole-acetic acid (heteroauxine)

Zusammenfassung Nach peroraler Verabreichung von IAA wird eine vermehrte Ausscheidung von 5-HIAA festgestellt. Eine Hydroxylierung der aufgenommenen IAA wird vermutet. Damit wird ein neuer Weg der Entstehung der 5-HIAA beim Menschen aufgezeigt.     

A peculiar fatty acid, (Z,Z)-9,12,17-octadecatrienoic acid,identified in the phospholipids of the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (homoptera: aphididae)

A peculiar fatty acid previously detected in the phospholipids of the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum, is identified as (Z,Z)-9,12,17-octadecatrienoic acid. It is the first report of this compound in the literature. Comparison of fatty acid profiles of phospholipids between normal and aposymbiotic pea aphids shows that aphid symbionts are not responsible for the biosynthesis of this unusual fatty acid.     

The effect of ascorbic acid on cadmium accumulation in guinea pig tissues.

Accumulation of cadmium in organs of guinea pigs after subchronic oral cadmium treatment (1 mg Cd/animal/24 h) was in the following order: kidneys > liver > heart > testes > brain. The preventive effects of high doses of ascorbic acid (AA) against cadmium deposition were more pronounced in the testes, heart and brain, and in the kidney only after short-term cadmium treatment. Ascorbic acid had no protective effect on cadmium accumulation in the liver.     

The involvement of cyclic 3′, 5′-adenosine monophosphate in the growth hormone release mechanism (s)

Riassunto II 3', 5'-AMP dibutirrato (5 g) iniettato nel ventricolo laterale del cervello di ratto, provoca una spiccata liberazione deH'ormone somatotropo soltanto in animali pretrattati con teofillina (50 mg/kg s.c). La teofillina per via s.c. (50 mg/kg) si dimostra inattiva, ma libera ormone somatotropo quando e iniettata per via endoventricolare (5 g). Uno stimolo usualmente incapace di liberare somatotropo (formalina) provoca deplezione dell'ormone dall'ipofisi in ratti pretrattati s.c. con teofillina. I risultati sono in favore di una partecipazione del 3', 5-AMP nel meccanismo di liberazione di ormone somatotropo.

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Supported by USPHS Research Grant No. HD 01109-03.     

Formation of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-2,trans-4,trans-heptadienoic acid from 3-methylcatechol by aPseudomonas

Riassunto Ps. desmolyticum ossida la 3-metilpirocatechina ad acido 2-ossi-6-oxo-2,trans-4,trans-eptadienoico. Vengono descritte le proprietà chimicofisiche che hanno condotto all'identificazione di questo intermedio metabolico.

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This work was supported by C.N.R. (Consiglio nazionale delle Ricerche).     

The benzilic acid rearrangement of 3α,17β-Diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5β-androst-9(11)-ene

Zusammenfassung Die Bildung von 11-Carboxy-3, 11, 17-trihydroxy-13-C-nor-5-androstan 11a,17-Lakton aus 3, 17-Diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5-⁹(11)-androsten wird beschrieben. Der Mechanismus und die Stereochemie dieser Umwandlung (Retro-Aldolkondensation und Benzilsäureumlagerung) wird diskutiert.     

Structure of albizziine [L(-)-2-amino-3-ureidopropionic acid], an amino acid from higher plants(Mimosaceae)

Zusammenfassung Eine neue Aminosäure, Albizziin, wurde durch chemische Verknüpfung zwischen N-Benzoylalbizziinmethylester undl-2-Benzamido-3-ureidopropionsäuremethylester (III) alsl-2-Amino-3-ureidopropionsäure (I) identifiziert. Die Synthese vonl-2-Ureido-3-aminopropionsäure (II) wird beschrieben.