Structures of maridomycin I,III, IV,V and VI,macrolide antibiotics

Zusammenfassung Strukturaufklärung einer Gruppe von Antibiotika aus der Reihe der Makrolide.     

Reactions of cysteine,its derivatives,glutathione, coenzyme A,and dihydrolipoic acid with isothiocyanates

Summary Isothiocyanates react with deprotonated SH groups of investigated compounds to give the esters of N-monosubstituted dithiocarbamic acid. In the presence of the SH and NH₂ groups (Cys, GSH), isothiocyanates react primarily with the SH groups. The reactions are dependent on the pK_aSH values.     

Responses of isolated blood vessels to acetylcholine,epinephrine, norepinephrine,and histamine

Zusammenfassung Acetylcholin verursachte in den Coronar-, Femoral- und Mesenterialarterien, Catecholamine in den Femoral- und Mesenterialgefässen Konstriktionen, in den Coronargefässen hingegen Dilatation.

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This work was completed in the Department of Physiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson (Mississippi USA).     

Sterols of the brine shrimp,Artemia salina,from Mono Kake,California

Zusammenfassung Artemia salina vom Mono-See, Kalifornien, U.S.A., enhält Cholesterin und Cholestanol als ihr hauptsächlichstes Sterin. Diese Zusammensetzung ist ähnlich wie die jenige von im Laboratorium erzeugten Salz-Krabben und zwar trotzdem das Wasser des Mono-Sees ein pH von 9.6 und einen Salzgehalt von 2.23M hat¹⁶.

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Acknowledgment. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the Long Beach (California) Heart Association.     

Heats of neutralization of fructose-1,-6,-diphosphate

Zusammenfassung Es wurde geprüft, ob die Neutralisationswärmen der beiden ionisierten Phosphatgruppen von Fructose-diphosphat durch deren elektrostatische Wechselwirkung beeinflusst werden. Dabei ergab sich für die primären H⁺-ionen kein Unterschied gegenüber Phosphorsäure, für die sekundären H⁺-ionen dagegen eine geringe Erhöhung der Neutralisationswärme.     

Conduction,automaticity, and tonus of visceral muscles

Résumé Les muscles lisses des Vertébrés appartiennent à deux catégories: ceux des viscères, lesquels ont une fonction automatique, et ceux qui comme les muscles des vaisseaux sanguins sont innervés par les nerfs moteurs. Les propriétés physiologiques des muscles lisses viscéraux sont très semblables à celles du muscle cardiaque ainsi que l'a montré l'étude de la conduction, du potentiel d'action et des effets du courant électrique. Les particularités des muscles lisses viscéraux tiennent en grande partie à la lenteur de leur réaction et aux fluctuations que présente leur excitabilité. Cette dernière est influencée par des facteurs tels que des hormones, des excitations transmises par les nerfs extrinsèques et, dans le cas de l'intestin, par le système nerveux intrinsèque. Les contractions spontanées débutent par une activité locale qui augmente lentement et se manifeste par un changement du potentiel et un accroissement du «tonus». Le tonus se produit dans les muscles lisses par diverses modifications de l'état physiologique. Rien ne prouve qu'il soit provoqué par un mécanisme essentiellement différent de celui des contractions rapides.     

Pepsinogens, progastricsins, and prochymosins: structure, function, evolution, and development

Five types of zymogens of pepsins, gastric digestive proteinases, are known: pepsinogens A, B, and F, progastricsin, and prochymosin. The amino acid and/or nucleotide sequences of more than 50 pepsinogens other than pepsinogen B have been determined to date. Phylogenetic analyses based on these sequences indicate that progastricsin diverged first followed by prochymosin, and that pepsinogens A and F are most closely related. Tertiary structures, clarified by X-ray crystallography, are commonly bilobal with a large active-site cleft between the lobes. Two aspartates in the center of the cleft, Asp32 and Asp215, function as catalytic residues, and thus pepsinogens are classified as aspartic proteinases. Conversion of pepsinogens to pepsins proceeds autocatalytically at acidic pH by two different pathways, a one-step pathway to release the intact activation segment directly, and a stepwise pathway through a pseudopepsin(s). The active-site cleft is large enough to accommodate at least seven residues of a substrate, thus forming S₄ through S₃′ subsites. Hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids are preferred at the P₁ and P₁′ positions. Interactions at additional subsites are important in some cases, for example with cleavage of κ-casein by chymosin. Two potent naturally occurring inhibitors are known: pepstatin, a pentapeptide from Streptomyces, and a unique proteinous inhibitor from Ascaris. Pepsinogen genes comprise nine exons and may be multiple, especially for pepsinogen A. The latter and progastricsin predominate in adult animals, while pepsinogen F and prochymosin are the main forms in the fetus/infant. The switching of gene expression from fetal/infant to adult-type pepsinogens during postnatal development is noteworthy, being regulated by several factors, including steroid hormones. Received 25 May 2001; received after revision 27 August 2001; accepted 30 August 2001     

Effect of latent iron deficiency on the levels of iron,calcium, zinc,copper, manganese,cadmium and lead in liver,kidney and spleen of growing rats

Summary Feeding a marginally low iron content diet (18–20 mg iron/kg diet) to weaned (21-day-old) rats for 8 weeks produced a significant decrease in liver non-heme iron (66%, p<0.001) but no change in blood hemoglobin. Total iron contents of liver (56%, p<0.01), spleen (20%, p<0.05), and kidney (19%, p<0.05) were also found to decrease along with increased zinc, copper, calcium, manganese lead and cadmium in various organs. The magnitude of alteration of a metal was different in different organs. However, liver was found to be the most affected organ. Two weeks of rehabilitation with iron-sufficient diet (390 mg iron/kg diet) normalized these altered levels.     

Giffordene, 2Z, 4Z, 6E, 8Z-undecatetraene,is the odoriferous principle of the marine brown algaGiffordia mitchellae

Summary Giffordene, 2Z, 4Z, 6E, 8Z-undecatetraene, and five stereoisomers are new odoriferous C₁₁H₁₆-hydrocarbons from the marine brown algaGiffordia mitchellae. Their isolation and identification is described.Acknowledgments. We thank Prof. G. Ohloff for kindly providing us with synthetic 1,3,5,7-undecatetraenes and Prof. P. Schreier for GC/FTIR-analyses.     

Thermoscopes, thermometers, and the foundations of measurement

Psychologists debate whether mental attributes can be quantified or whether they admit only qualitative comparisons of more and less. Their disagreement is not merely terminological, for it bears upon the permissibility of various statistical techniques. This article contributes to the discussion in two stages. First it explains how temperature, which was originally a qualitative concept, came to occupy its position as an unquestionably quantitative concept (§§1–4). Specifically, it lays out the circumstances in which thermometers, which register quantitative (or cardinal) differences, became distinguishable from thermoscopes, which register merely qualitative (or ordinal) differences. I argue that this distinction became possible thanks to the work of Joseph Black, ca. 1760. Second, the article contends that the model implicit in temperature’s quantitative status offers a better way for thinking about the quantitative status of mental attributes than models from measurement theory (§§5–6).     

Enzyme-polymer adducts of aldolase,glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase,and fructosediphosphatase

Résumé On a preparé des enzymes polymères dérivés de l'aldolase, de l'aldéhyde glycérique-3-phosphate déhydrogénase et de la fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase. On peut, semble-t-il, tirer parti de la technique de liaison transversale par l'aldéhyde glutarique pour augmenter la teneur en protéine et pour obtenir des enzymes polymères adducteurs. Les enzymes traités sont plus stables que les enzymes intacts. La direction des changements du pH optimal et duK _m apparent change selon les polymères auxquels on lie les enzymes.     

Biosynthesis, immunity, regulation, mode of action and engineering of the model lantibiotic nisin

This review discusses the state-of-the-art in molecular research on the most prominent and widely applied lantibiotic, i.e., nisin. The developments in understanding its complex biosynthesis and mode of action are highlighted. Moreover, novel applications arising from engineering either nisin itself, or from the construction of totally novel dehydrated and/or lanthionine-containing peptides with desired bioactivities are described. Several challenges still exist in understanding the immunity system and the unique multiple reactions occurring on a single substrate molecule, carried out by the dehydratase NisB and the cyclization enzyme NisC. The recent elucidation of the 3-D structure of NisC forms the exciting beginning of further 3-D-structure determinations of the other biosynthetic enzymes, transporters and immunity proteins. Advances in achieving in vitro activities of lanthionine-forming enzymes will greatly enhance our understanding of the molecular characteristics of the biosynthesis process, opening up new avenues for developing unique and novel biocatalytic processes. Received 9 April 2007; received after revision 31 August 2007; accepted 28 September 2007     

The Protection of the anemone fish,Amphiprion xanthurus,from the sea anemone,Stoichactis kenti

Zusammenfassung Reziproke Kombinationsversuche zeigen, dass «angewöhnte» Anemonenfische nicht von Seeanemonen genesselt werden, die der gleichen Art angehören, mit der sie zusammengelebt haben. Nicht angewöhnte Fische werden durch Seeanemonen gensselt unabhängig, ob letztere angewöhnte Fische beherbergen oder nicht. Wird die Oberfläche angewöhnter Fische abgewischt, verliert sie ihren Schutz 9.     

Ecotype,ecospecies, and macroevolution

Summary Der Autor tritt erneut der Ansicht der Neodarwinisten entgegen, daß geographische, erbliche Varianten Vorstufen neuer Arten seien. Für deren Entstehung sowie für Merkmale höherer Einheiten kommen nur plötzlich große und nicht einzelne summierende Mutationsschritte in Betracht. Mikromutationen liefern lediglich das Material für die Entstehung von Rassen und Unterarten. Nicht nur größere systematische Unterschiede, sondern auch Anpassungsmerkmale kommen durch Großmutationen zustande. Als Beispiele werden unter anderem zwei Mutationen beiDrosphila melanogaster angeführt. Bei der einen sind die Flügel in Halteren, oder umgekehrt, diese in Flügel, umgebildet. Bei der anderen, vom Autor aufgefundenen, sind aus den Flügeln beinartige Organe geworden. Diese Mutante ist außerdem deswegen von Bedeutung, weil sich nach Kreuzung mit anderen Mutationen Merkmale entwickeln, die an den letzteren nicht erscheinen.Paper read at the closing session of the International Congress of Zoology, Paris, July, 1948.     

Modifications of myosin caused by adenosine-triphosphate,adenosinediphosphate, and pyrophosphate

Riassunto In presenza di ATP o ADP o pirofosfato, in concentrazioni da 10^–2 a 10⁴ M, la solubilità della miosina aumenta notevolmente a bassa forza ionica. Il legame che si forma fra la miosina e i polifosfati è tale che solo una dialisi prolungata può allontanarli interamente.     

The early proofs of the theorem of Campbell, Baker, Hausdorff, and Dynkin

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive exposition of the early contributions to the so-called Campbell, Baker, Hausdorff, Dynkin Theorem during the years 1890–1950. Related works by Schur, Poincaré, Pascal, Campbell, Baker, Hausdorff, and Dynkin will be investigated and compared. For a full recovery of the original sources, many mathematical details will also be furnished. In particular, we rediscover and comment on a series of five notable papers by Pascal (Lomb Ist Rend, 1901–1902), which nowadays are almost forgotten.     

On the use of a peptidase inhibitor (trasylol) for storage of I125-labelled peptide hormones (HGH,TSH, ACTH,insulin, glucagon,PTH)

Zusammenfassung Von den untersuchten J¹²⁵-markierten Peptidhormonen sind HGH und TSH auch ohne Trasylol gut haltbar. Die mässige Degradation von Insulin und die rasch zunehmende Degradation von PTH und Glukagon kann durch Trasylol (500 E/ml) verhindert werden. Für ACTH ist eine Kombination von Trasylol mit 0.5% Mercaptoethanol erforderlich.     

Aristotle, Copernicus, Bruno: centrality, the principle of movement and the extension of the Universe

This paper¹ studies the different conceptions of both centrality and the principle or starting point of motion in the Universe held by Aristotle and later on by Copernicanism until Kepler and Bruno. According to Aristotle, the true centre of the Universe is the sphere of the fixed stars. This is also the starting point of motion. From this point of view, the diurnal motion is the fundamental one. Our analysis gives pride of place to De caelo II, 10, a chapter of Aristotle’s text which curiously allows an ‘Alpetragian’ reading of the transmission of motion.In Copernicus and the Copernicans, natural centrality is identified with the geometrical centre and, therefore, the Sun is acknowledged as the body through which the Deity acts on the world and it also plays the role of the principle and starting point of cosmic motion. This motion, however, is no longer diurnal motion, but the annual periodical motion of the planets. Within this context, we pose the question of to what extent it is possible to think that, before Kepler, there is a tacit attribution of a dynamic or motive role to the Sun by Copernicus, Rheticus, and Digges.For Bruno, since the Universe is infinite and homogeneous and the relationship of the Deity with it is one of indifferent presence everywhere, the Universe has no absolute centre, for any point is a centre. By the same token, there is no place that enjoys the prerogative of being—as being the seat of God—the motionless principle and starting point of motion.     

miR-1, miR-10b,miR-155, and miR-191 are novel regulators of BDNF

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a secreted protein of the neurotrophin family that regulates brain development, synaptogenesis, memory and learning, as well as development of peripheral organs, such as angiogenesis in the heart and postnatal growth and repair of skeletal muscle. However, while precise regulation of BDNF levels is an important determinant in defining the biological outcome, the role of microRNAs (miRs) in modulating BDNF expression has not been extensively analyzed. Using in silico approaches, reporter systems, and analysis of endogenous BDNF, we show that miR-1, miR-10b, miR-155, and miR-191 directly repress BDNF through binding to their predicted sites in BDNF 3′UTR. We find that the overexpression of miR-1 and miR-10b suppresses endogenous BDNF protein levels and that silencing endogenous miR-10b increases BDNF mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we show that miR-1/206 binding sites within BDNF 3′UTR are used in differentiated myotubes but not in undifferentiated myoblasts. Finally, our data from two cell lines suggest that endogenous miR-1/206 and miR-10 family miRs act cooperatively in suppressing BDNF through their predicted sites in BDNF 3′UTR. In conclusion, our results highlight miR-1, miR-10b, miR-155, and miR-191 as novel regulators of BDNF long and short 3′UTR isoforms, supporting future research in different physiological and pathological contexts.