Structure and stereochemistry of coccuvine (Cocculus laurifolius DC)

Summary Coccuvine C₁₇H₁₉NO₂, m.p. 137–38°, a new alkaloid fromCocculus laurifolius DC has been assigned the structure and stereochemistry as (I) on the basis of spectroscopic studies and chemical correlation.     

Einfluss einiger lipophiler Lösungsmittel in gasförmigem Zustand auf die CO2-fixierung durch Luzerne

Summary Vapourized organic solvents such as: diethyl ether, methylene chloride, carbon disulfide, benzene, and n-octane have an inhibiting effect on CO₂ fixation in alfalfa leaves (Medicago sativa). One exception is CS₂ which stimulates overall fixation up to 10 vol%. Beyond 10 vol% it inhibits overall CO₂ fixation like the other solvents, but stimulates the formation ofl-alanine as the major remaining fixation product. Proportionality exists between water insolubility of the organic solvents and their inhibiting effect on CO₂ fixation.     

Environmental control of the formation of flagella inChlamydomonas reinhardi

Zusammenfassung Die Induktion der Geisselbildung beiChlamydomonas reinhardi ist im flüssigen Medium durch höhere Konzentrationen von NH₄NO₃, KNO₃ und NH₄Cl gehemmt.     

Surface exchange adsorption between precipitates of BaSO4 and solutions of BaCl2, Pb(NO3), CaCl2, CsCl,NaCl, and Na2CrO4

Résumé Nous avons étudié l'adsorption d'échange entre des précipités de BaSO₄ et des solutions de BaCl₂, Pb(NO₃)₂ et CaCl₂ à l'aide de «tracers». Nous avons trouvé que l'adsorption peut être représentée par l'équation (1) pour l'adsorption d'échange; la capacité d'adsorption de notre BaSO₄ était égale à 1,4 × 10^–5 éq./g. Les grandeurs caractéristiquesf, figurant dans l'équation pour l'adsorption d'échange, avaient les valeursf(Ba)=1;f(Pb)=0,44;f(Ca)=0,00137. Il n'était pas possible de démontrer l'adsorption de CsCl, NaCl or Na₂CrO₄ de solutions aqueuses.     

The X-ray analysis of the structure of rifamycin Y

Riassunto La struttura cristallina dellap-iodio anilide della rifamicina Y è stata determinata con metodi tridimensionali a temperatura ambiente. La cella elementare monoclina, gruppo spaziale P2₁, ha i parametria = 9,49,b = 18,96,c = 15,30 Å, = 90°48, e contiene due molecole.La costituzione e la configurazione della rifamicina Y, C₃₉H₄₇NO₁₅, risultano quindi determinate attraverso lo studio cristallografico della suap-iodio anilide. Anche molte informazioni sulla configurazione della rifamicina Y possono essere tratte dalla configurazione allo stato solido di questo suo derivato.

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A brief preliminary report on this structure was read at a meeting of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, on 12th March 1966².     

Effect of benzimidazole on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate phosphomonosterase activity in wheat leaves

Summary Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate phosphomonoesterase was isolated and partially purified from wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Selkirk) leaves. The enzyme hadK _NADP value of 1.4×10^–4 M and a pH optimum of 5.9.In vitro activity of this enzyme was unaffected by precursors of NAD (nicotinamide and nicotinic acid) or cytokinis (kinetin and benzimidazole). However, when detached wheat leaves were treated with solutions of these compounds, the precursors lowered the specific activity while the cytokinins enhanced the activity. It is suggested that spatial separation and compartmentation of the enzyme and its substrate NADP account for the similar effect of benzimidazole on both.This work was supported by a grant No. A2698 from the National Research Council, Canada.     

Einfluss der Wurzeln auf die Trigonellinsynthese beiCoffea arabica

Summary Young plants ofCoffea arabica were fed 200 µC C¹⁴O₂ each, the carbon dioxide being absorbed by photosynthesis. The specific activity of the alkaloid trigonelline contained in the leaves was shown to be strongly dependent of leaf age. Excised plants without root system or plants with an interrupted shoot-root connection as regards pholem transport (by girdling the stem below the cotyledons) incorporate more radioactive carbon into the molecule of trigonelline than intact plants.     

Electrometric studies on the reaction between thorium and alkali tungstate

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Reaktion zwischen Th⁴⁺ und WO₄ ^2–-Ionen durch amperometrische, pH und konduktometrische Titrationen zwischen Th(NO₃)₄ und Na₂WO₄ untersucht. Elektrometrisch konnte bewiesen werden, dass sich zwischen pH 4.50–5.75 normales Thoriumtungstat ThO₂ · 2WO₃ bildet.     

Fehlen einer cancerogenen Wirkung von nitrosen Gasen beim Goldhamster

Summary Continuous exposure of golden hamsters to nitrous fumes (40 ppm NO₂+20 ppm NO) for up to 16 months revealed no carcinogenic action of nitrogen oxides in the lung nor in other organs.     

Lead reactive substances in peripheral synapses

Zusammenfassung Durch vitale bzw. supravitale Behandlung mit Pb(NO₃)₂ werden die subneuralen Apparate der quergestreiften Muskeln sowie die synaptischen Strukturen der vegetativen Ganglien dargestellt. Die Frage wird diskutiert, ob das bleireaktive Material mit den Sulfhydrylsubstanzen bzw. mit der Cholinesterase identisch sci.     

Comparative study of oxalate oxidase in three genotypes ofSorghum vulgare

Summary The presence of an oxalate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.4) has been demonstrated in 15,000×g supernatants prepared from 10-day-old seedlings of three genotypes ofSorghum vulgare: grain sorghum hybrid (CSH-5), grain-cum-forage sorghum (PC-6) and forage sorghum (PC-1). The specific activity of the enzyme in the different tissues of seedlings was found to be present in the order leaves > stems > roots in PC-6 and PC-1, but this order was reversed in CSH-5. A comparison of the different properties of the leaf enzyme of these three genotypes of sorghum revealed that the enzyme has maximum activity in the acidic pH range from 4.0 to 5.0 and in the temperature range from 37°C to 40°C. The enzyme was stimulated by Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺. The rate of H₂O₂ formation in the enzyme reaction was linear up to 5 min and was stoichiometrically related to oxalate consumption. The enzyme is unaffected by Na⁺ at physiological concentration (0.15 M). The superiority of this enzyme over moss and other plant enzymes for enzymic determination of urinary oxalate is discussed.     

Un curare d'une Erythrine africaine

Summary An alcaloid C₁₆H₁₉NO₃ has been isolated fromErythrina tholloniana; the iodohydrate of this erythroidine has a melting point of 225°C and 239°C for its chlorhydrate. It has a powerful curare-like action on the frog or on its isolated sciatic-sartorius preparation; at a concentration of less than 1/1,000,000, a complete neuromuscular block is produced: the electrical stimulation of the motor nerve does not produce any contraction, but the muscle reacts by an end-plate potential having the same characteristics (shape, duration, possibility of summation) as the electrical waves produced in the same preparation curarized by ordinary curare or by quaternary ammonium derivatives. Decurarization by veratrine 1/200,000 is accompanied by the same electrical reactions as those which have been described in preparations treated by curare.On mammals, the alcaloid has little curariform activity; on the isolated phrenic-diaphragm preparation of the rat, incomplete block was produced at a concentration of 1/5000.     

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase: structural aspects and activation mechanism

Flavocytochrome b ₅₅₈ is the catalytic core of the respiratory-burst oxidase, an enzyme complex that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of O₂ into the superoxide anion O₂ ^- in phagocytic cells. Flavocytochrome b ₅₅₈ is anchored in the plasma membrane. It is a heterodimer that consists of a large glycoprotein gp91phox (phox for phagocyte oxidase) (β subunit) and a small protein p22phox (α subunit). The other components of the respiratory-burst oxidase are water-soluble proteins of cytosolic origin, namely p67phox, p47phox, p40phox and Rac. Upon cell stimulation, they assemble with the membrane-bound flavocytochrome b ₅₅₈ which becomes activated and generates O₂ ^-. A defect in any of the genes encoding gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox or p47phox results in chronic granulomatous disease, a genetic disorder characterized by severe and recurrent infections, illustrating the role of O₂ ^- and the derived metabolites H₂O₂ and HOCl in host defense against invading microorganisms. The electron carriers, FAD and hemes b, and the binding site for NADPH are confined to the gp91phox subunit of flavocytochrome b ₅₅₈ . The p22phox subunit serves as a docking site for the cytosolic phox proteins. This review provides an overview of current knowledge on the structural organization of the O₂ ^--generating flavocytochrome b ₅₅₈ , its kinetics, its mechanism of activation and the regulation of its biosynthesis. Homologues of gp91phox, called Nox and Duox, are present in a large variety of non-phagocytic cells. They exhibit modest O₂ ^--generating oxidase activity, and some act as proton channels. Their role in various aspects of signal transduction is currently under investigation and is briefly discussed. Received 28 May 2002; received after revision 20 June 2002; accepted 24 June 2002     

Developmental changes of aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes in human livers: Mitochondrial ALDH2 isozyme is expressed in fetal livers

Summary Previous reports suggested that the major cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH₁) was present in fetal and infant livers, but the major mitochondrial isozyme (ALDH₂) was absent or severely diminished. Re-examination by means of starch gel electrophoresis followed by enzyme activity staining, and by means of dot blot immuno-hybridization of liver samples with known genotypes of theALDH ₂ locus, indicated that bothALDH ₁ andALDH ₂ genes are expressed in fetal and infant livers. In addition, ALDH₄ isozyme was also observed. The results imply that a fetus with the usual homozygousALDH ₂ ¹ /ALDH ₂ ¹ genotype, but not one with the atypicalALDH ₂ ¹ /ALDH ₂ ² orALDH ₂ ² /ALDH ₂ ² , is capable of detoxifying acetaldehyde transferred from the mother.     

Gitterkonstanten und Raumgruppe von Tetrammincuprisulfat

Summary The space-group of Cu(NH₃)₄SO₄·H₂O isD _2h ¹⁶ orD _2h ¹³ (D _2h ⁵ , D _2h ¹ ) with a=7,07, b=12,12, c=10,66 Å ± 1%.     

Hydrolysis of isoprenyl diphosphates with the acid phosphatase fromCinnamomum camphora

Direct observations of the enzymatic hydrolysis of C₁₀ acyclic allylic isoprenyl diphosphates by an acid phosphatase from the leaves ofCinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) were made using¹H and³¹P NMR spectrometers. The measurements indicated that the allylic primary diphosphates, geranyl diphosphate and neryl diphosphate, were hydrolyzed to their corresponding alcohols in a sequential manner via their corresponding monophosphates, whereas the allylic tertiary diphosphate, linalyl diphosphate, was hydrolyzed only to its corresponding monophosphate.     

Über Struktur und Aktivität der den H2O2-Zerfall katalysierenden Cu2+-Komplexe. — VI. Differenzierung von nativer RNS und nativer DNS bzw. denaturierter DNS auf Grund der katalytischen Eigenschaften

Summary The catalysis of H₂O₂ decomposition by Cu²⁺-complexes of RNA and DNA has been investigated. It is shown that both complexes decompose H₂O₂, but only the Cu²⁺-RNA-system shows peroxidative activity too, e.g. only in this case the nucleotide bases are degraded. Thermal denaturation of DNA also leads to a Cu²⁺-complex with peroxidative activity, the latter being dependent on the degree of denaturation.

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V. Mitteilung:S. Petri, H. Sigel undH. Erlenmeyer, Helv. chim. Acta49, 1778 (1966).

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12. Mitteilung überMetallionen und H ₂ O ₂; 11. Mitteilung:H. Ch. Curtius, P. Anders, R. Zell, H. Sigel undH. Erlenmeyer, Helv. chim. Acta49, 2256 (1966).     

Alkyl substituents and the cyclisation of esters

Summary K(CdCl₃) has a structure of the E 2₄-type. In comparison with the isotype (NH₄) (CdCl₃) only two of the three lattice constants have noticeably different values. They area andb which show a contraction of about 2%, whereas the constantc is about the same for both salts.     

On the mechanism of inhibition of p27 degradation by 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J 2 in lymphoblasts of Alzheimer’s disease patients

It has been proposed that neuroinflammation, among other factors, may trigger an aberrant neuronal cell cycle re-entry leading to neuronal death. Cell cycle disturbances are also detectable in peripheral cells from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. We previously reported that the anti-inflammatory 15- deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandin J ₂ (15d-PGJ ₂) increased the cellular content of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, in lymphoblasts from AD patients. This work aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of 15d-PGJ ₂-induced p27 accumulation. Phosphorylation, half-life, and the nucleo-cytoplasmic traffic of p27 protein were altered by 15d-PGJ2 by mechanisms dependent on PI3K/Akt activity. 15d-PGJ ₂ prevents the calmodulin-dependent Akt overactivation in AD lymphoblasts by blocking its binding to the 85-kDa regulatory subunit of PI3K. These effects of 15d-PGJ ₂ were not mimicked by 9,10-dihydro-15-deoxy-Δ^12,14- prostaglandin J ₂, suggesting that 15d-PGJ ₂ acts independently of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activation and that the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group in the cyclopentenone ring of 15d-PGJ ₂ is a requisite for the observed effects. Received 14 July 2008; received after revision 2 September 2008; accepted 12 September 2008     

On the synthesis of serine and homoserine samples asymmetrically labelled with tritium and deuterium in the hydroxymethylene group

Summary (1 R) [1-³H,²H₁] 3-Phenylpropanol, the key intermediate in the synthesis of (4 R) [4-³H,²H₁] D, L-homoserine and of the (4 S)-isomer, is obtained from (1 S) [1-²H₁] 3-phenylpropanol and (1 RS) [1-³H] ethanol upon incubation with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and NAD⁺; under similar conditions 2-phenylethanol undergoes very small exchange with [1-²H₂] ethanol.