Oxytoxins,bioactive molecules produced by the marine opisthobranch molluscOxynoe olivacea from a diet-derived precursor

Summary The ethereal extract of the mucous secretion from the opisthobranch molluscOxynoe olivacea was examined and found to contain two novel ichthyotoxic compounds, named oxytoxin 1 and 2 (1, 2). The structures of1 and2 are closely related to the metabolites previously isolated from the algaCaulerpa prolifera. The activity of the most stable compound was studied in order to investigate the possibility, of a further biological role for these metabolites, which represent an uncommon example of bioactive molecules produced in vivo from a dietary precursor.     

A marine mollusc provides the first example of in vivo storage of prostaglandins: Prostaglandin-1,15-lactones

Summary Prostaglandin-(PG) 1,15-lactones and, in smaller amounts, free acids, were isolated from both the mantle and the dorso-lateral appendices of the opisthobranch molluscTethys fimbria. In vivo conversion of PGs into the corresponding lactones and accumulation of PGE₂- and PGE₃-1,15-lactones in the appendages were shown. The detachment of these appendages from the molested mollusc caused the in vivo conversion of PGE₂- and PGE₃-lactones back to PGE₂ and PGE₃ respectively, thus providing the first example of a mechanism by which prostaglandins can be stored and, when needed, released.     

Observations on the toxicity and metabolic relationships of polygodial,the chemical defense of the nudibranchDendrodoris limbata

Summary Polygodial (1), the defense metabolite stored in the skin of the nudibranchDendrodoris limbata, is toxic for the mollusc itself when injected into the hepatopancreas. Biosynthetic experiments using labeled mevalonic acid were devised to investigate a possible metabolic relationship between1 and the mixture of sesquiterpenoidic esters2, stored in the hepatopancreas. The results suggest that1 and2 are biosynthesized by independent pathways.Thanks are due to G. Villani for supplyingDendrodoris limbata and to A. Trabucco for technical assistance.     

Two classes of metabolites fromTheonella swinhoei are localized in distinct populations of bacterial symbionts

The marine spongeTheonella swinhoei (lithistid Family Theonellidae, Order Astrophorida) has yielded many important, bioactive natural products, most of which share structural features with bacterial natural products. The presence of microbial symbionts inT. swinhoei has been reported, and it was originally suggested that the cytotoxic macrolide swinholide A and many of the bioactive cyclic peptides fromT. swinhoei were all produced by symbiotic cyanobacteria. By transmission electron microscopy, we found four distinct cell populations to be consistently present inT. swinhoei: eukaryotic sponge cells, unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, unicellular cyanobacteria and filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Purification and chemical analyses of each cell type showed the macrolide swinholide A to be limited to the mixed population of unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, and an anti-fungal cyclic peptide occurred only in the filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Contrary to prior speculation, no major metabolites were located in the cyanobacteria or sponge cells.     

海洋活性肽研究的回顾与展望

海洋环境资源丰富,物种多样,是活性肽开发与研究的巨大宝库。本文分析了活性肽丰富的海洋来源及生物功用,并且对活性肽的自然来源途径和人工合成来源途径进行了论述,包括活性肽的分离、纯化、合成、筛选等方面,并强调了海洋活性肽在食品工业、医药学、畜牧业、水产养殖业、尤其是在环境保护中的应用现状与潜力,还从多角度、多层面对海洋活性肽的研究作出展望．     

Isomorphic sex-chromosomes in two venezuelan populations of the spiny rat,genusProechimys (Rodentia,Caviomorpha)

Resumen Un machoy una hembra deProechimys del Alto Orinoco (La Esmeralda) referidos aP. cherriei resultaron poseer cariotipos idénticos de 2n=26 cromosomas, sin que sea posible distinguir morfológicamente elX y elY en el macho. Un macho y 2 hembras deProechimys guyannensis guairae del Estado Aragua, proporcionaron un cariotipo de 2n=46 cromosomas, también sin par heteromórfico en el macho. Se discuten las implicaciones taxonómicas de estos hallazgos, que sugieren queP. guyannensis es una especie compleja.     

Isometachromin,a new cytotoxic sesquiterpenoid from a deep water sponge of the family Spongiidae

Isometachromin (1), a new sesquiterpene-quinone that is related structurally to metachromin C (2), and the known compounds ilimaquinone (3) and and 5-epi-ilimaquinone (4), were isolated from a deep water sponge in the family Spongiidae; the structure of isometachromin was elucidated by spectral methods. Isometachromin exhibits in vitro cytotoxicity against the human lung cancer cell line A 549 (IC₅₀=2.6 g/ml), but not against P 388 murine leukemia (IC₅₀10 g/ml) and also exhibits antimicrobial activity.This research is Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) contribution number 911. We thank Drs S. A. Pomponi and M. Kelly-Borges (HBOI) for sponge taxonomy, and Dr P. McCarthy and T. Peterson (HBOI) for antimicrobial data.     

Vidalols A and B,new anti-inflammatory bromophenols from the Caribbean marine red algaVidalia obtusaloba

Chemical studies of the Caribbean red algaVidalia obtusaloba have resulted in the isolation of two new bromophenolic metabolites, vidalols A and B (1, 2). The new compounds were discovered as part of an organized effort to isolate new naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory agents with a focus upon those which may function through the inhibition of phospholipase A₂.     

The effect of corticotropin-releasing factor and pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides on the phagocytosis of molluscan hemocytes

The effect of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides on hemocyte phagocytosis in two molluscs,Planorbarius corneus andViviparus ater was studied. The peptides and related fragments examined are those which have been shown to influence hemocyte motility in the two species. The results obtained revealed that the effects on phagocytosis are not directly correlated with previous findings on cell motility. Furthermore, the mode of action of an individual peptide could be species-specific and dose-dependent. The relationships between peptides, locomotion and phagocytosis in these molluscs are discussed.     

Heterochromatin characterization and distribution in the chromosomes of two populations ofIdotea baltica basteri Audouin, 1826 (Isopoda,Valvifera)

Two mediterranean populations ofIdotea baltica basteri from Messina and Naples showed a set of chromosomes composed by 58 all-biarmed chromosomes. The heterochromatin was located in the pericentromeric region of the chromosomes, and its composition appeared heterogeneous. In fact, not all the homologs showed heterochromatin resistant to digestion with three restriction enzymes (Alu I, Hae III and Sau 3A). Moreover, the two populations showed polymorphism in a band of G+C-rich telomeric heterochromatin, which was present only in the population from Messina. It is hypothesized that chromosomal polymorphism might reflect the geographical isolation of the two populations. It is also suggested that a process of diversification is taking place.     

Structure of two biologically active sesquiterpenoid amino-quinones from the marine spongeDysidea avara

Summary The structures of 2 minor constituents of the marine spongeDysidea avara, which induce developmental aberrations in sea-urchin eggs, are described. The structures were confirmed also by a simple synthesis from avarol (1).Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Mr A. Crispino for his skillfull laboratory technical assistance. Thanks are also due to Mr C. Di Pinto (NMR) and Mr A. Milone (MS).     

Albumin concentration in plasma of two related species ofCeratophrys (Anura Leptodactylidae) from two different environments

Summary Albumin concentration in plasma of two related species ofCeratophrys, C. cranwelli andC. ornata was analyzed and shown to be higher in the former species, which is the adaptive form found in dry areas.     

Intraspecific variation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in someBelone belone populations from the adriatic and tyrrhenian seas

Riassunto Gli isoenzimi della LDH diBelone belone si presentano multipli e polimorfi all'analisi elettroforetica. Nelle popolazioni studiate si mettono in evidenza 3 genotipi diversi, 2 dei quali a se stanti ed 1 con caratteristiche intermedie. L'ibridazione molecolare in vitro ed il confronto fra le frequenze genotipiche osservate e teoriche dimostrano che si tratta di 2 genotipi omozigoti che incrociandosi danno un ibrido con caratteristiche intermedie.     

Geographic populations of the medfly may be differentiated by mitochondrial DNA variation

Restriction enzyme cleavage sites of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the Mediterranean fruit fly were found to vary among introduced populations in the Neotropics. The survey included samples from 15 established natural populations and 5 laboratory cultures from Hawaii, Central America, South America and West Africa and samples from recent California infestations (1989, 1991). Based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms from 2 enzymes, Hawaii is an unlikely source for the 1989 and 1991 California infestations. Interpopulational variation in mtDNA demonstrates the potential for the technique to trace the process of colonization (geographic spread) by this insect.     

Structure assignments of two new C-18-oxygenated steroidal ketals isolated from a pacific soft coral of the genusSinularia

Summary Two new C-18-oxygenated sterols possessing a spiroketal function (1 and2) have been isolated from a soft coral of the genusSinularia. The proposed structures are based on spectral data.     

船用柴油机第一道活塞环岸积碳的微观形貌和孔隙特性的相衬显微CT研究

大型二冲程船用柴油机具有热负荷高、燃用重油、润滑油参与燃烧及其变质、颗粒物排放高等特点,直接或间接地导致其燃烧室内更为明显的积碳现象,同时积碳层的构成和特性会显著影响柴油机的输出动力性能和排放特性．采用我国第三代同步辐射装置一上海光源的x射线相衬显微CT技术,对第一道活塞环岸积碳样品进行了三维无损显微成像．通过定量数字图像处理,对积碳层的微观特性和孔隙分布特性进行了分析研究．结果表明,活塞环上部积碳厚度基本在1．0mm左右,仅为缸套和活塞间距的一半,但是其表面形态显示出与缸套强烈的摩擦磨损痕迹,这说明该部位的积碳会明显破坏缸套的滑油分布．同时积碳内外表面裂纹密集,而中部裂纹较疏松,积碳内外表面的裂纹形成机理存在显著差异．从孔隙连通性来看,几乎所有的裂缝都是相通的,计算得到的总的孔隙率在10．9％～12．8％之间．并且连通的裂纹中存在交汇的孔洞结构,这些孔隙结构可能对燃气产生吸附和解吸的作用．