New norsesquiterpene aldehyde and sesquiterpene hemiacetal from the seed ofPolygonum hydropiper

Summary A new norsesquiterpene aldehyde, polygonal and a new sesquiterpene hemiacetal, isodrimeninol having drimane skeleton have been isolated from the seed ofPolygonum hydropiper, and their structures have been established to be1 and5. Polygonal showed pungency and plant growth inhibitory activity.     

Sur une méthode de récolte de diatomées vivantes après culture

Summary The best conditions for collecting living diatoms (Chaetoceros simplex calcitrans) after culture and their introduction into a replacement medium have been determined. Traumatisms (such as ionic, thermic, gravimetric) have been minimized.     

Isatin-3-anils as excystment and cysticidal agents againstSchizopyrenus russelli

Summary A series of isatin-3-anils (with or without a N-piperidino/morpholinomethyl substituent) have been screened for their cysticidal activity againstSchizopyrenus russelli. Their ability to cause excystment has also been studied.     

The mammalian NudC-like genes: a family with functions other than regulating nuclear distribution

Nuclear distribution gene C homolog (NudC) is a highly conserved gene. It has been identified in different species from fungi to mammals. The high degree of conservation, in special in the nudC domain, suggests that they are genes with essential functions. Most of the identified genes in the family have been implicated in cell division through the regulation of cytoplasmic dynein. As for mammalian genes, human NUDC has been implicated in the migration and proliferation of tumor cells and has therefore been considered a possible therapeutic target. There is evidence suggesting that mammalian NudC is also implicated in the regulation of the inflammatory response and in thrombopoiesis. The presence of these other functions not related to the interaction with molecular motors agrees with that these genes and their products are larger in size than their microbial orthologous, indicating that they have evolved to convey additional features.     

Di- and tripeptides containing homoleucine: synthesis and biological assays on insects

Summary Some di- and tripeptides containing homoleucine (2-amino-4-methylhexanoic acid) have been synthetized. These compounds have been submitted to biological tests on insects for their hormonal activity in comparison with the known tripeptide pivaloyl-alanyl-p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester. Only 2 of them (3 and 4) caused morphological changes on larvae ofPyrrhocoris apterus.This work has received financial support from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.The biological assays were done in the Research Center of Montedison S.p.A. (Linate, Milano); the collaboration of Dr G. Michièli is gratefully acknowledged.     

New aromatic esters of the liverwort,Trichocolea tomentella

Summary 4 new aromatic esters containing isoprene units have been isolated from the liverwort,Trichocolea tomentella, and their structures have been established to be1, 2, 3 and4.The authors are indebted to Professor G. Ourisson of Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg, France, and Dr S. Hattori of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory for their helpful suggestion to this work.     

Spezifische Wirkung einiger tierischer und bakterieller Polysaccharide auf Leucocytenin vitro

Summary Different purified polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, phosphatides and carbohydrat-sulfonic acids have been investigated for their effect on stimulation of leucocytic migrationin vitro. The bacterial polysaccharides of proteus,S. marcescens, shiga and shiga fullantigen, have been found to be of high specific activity. All other compounds have much less or no activity. Therefore it might be concluded that the type of bacterial polysaccharides which promote leucocytic migration belong to a highly specific group.     

Identification and localization of volatile hairpencil components in maleAmauris ochlea butterflies (Danaidae)

Summary By gas-chromatography and mass-spectroscopy 7 volatile substances have been found on the abdominal hairpencils ofAmauris ochlea males. 6 substances have been identified. The spatial distribution of compounds is correlated to the 5 types of hairs comprising the scent organ.Acknowledgments. We thank our colleagues M. Kaib and P. Lounibos for their continous effort to supply us with danaids from Kenya. Support by a research grant from the National Institute of Health (AI 12020) is acknowledged with pleasure.     

New tamjamine class alkaloids from the marine ascidianAtapozoa sp. and its nudibranch predators. Origin of the tambjamines inAtapozoa

Summary Two new tambjamine class alkaloids, possessing ichthyodeterrent properties, have been isolated from the organic extracts of the marine ascidianAtapozoa sp. and its nudibranch predators. The structure of the new metabolites were elucidated through interpretation of their physical and spectral data and by comparison with spectral data for related compounds. Microscopic examination ofAtapozoa considering the yellow color of the tambjamines suggested thatAtapozoa is capable of the de novo biosynthesis of these metabolites.     

New bibenzyls of the liverwort,Radula variabilis

Summary 3 new bibenzyls having a 7-membered heterocyclic ring have been isolated from the liverwort,Radula variabilis and their structures have been established to be1, 3 and5.     

Furan fatty acid steryl esters from the marine spongeDictyonella incisa which show inflammatory activity

Summary Three new furan fatty acids, (9Z, 19Z)-3, 6-epoxyhexacosa-3,5,19-tetraenoic acid (1a), (8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17Z)-3, 6-epoxyeicosa-3,5,8,11,14,17-hexaenoic acid (2a), and (8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17E)-3, 6-epoxyeicosa-3,5,8,11,14,17-hexaenoic acid (3a), and a new polyunsaturated fatty acid (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17E)-eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid (6a), present in the spongeDictyonella incisa as the respective steryl esters, have been isolated as methyl esters and their structures have been determined by spectral and chemical analysis. The furan fatty acid esters have shown a high inflammatory activity, which suggests their potential role as feeding deterrents.     

Über zwei neue kristallisierte Alkaloide ausErythrophleum guineense Don

Summary In addition to cassaine, two new alkaloids have been isolated from the bark ofErythrophleum guineense Don, in crystalline form. Their empirical formulæ have been established by analysis of the free bases and of some of their crystalline salts.     

Genetic control of malate dehydrogenase inNicotiana suaveolens andN. glutinosa

Summary The study of malate dehydrogenase patterns in leaves ofNicotiana suaveolens, N. glutinosa and their interspecific hybrid has been carried out, in order to propose a model of its genetic control. Two possible explanations for the genetic control of malate dehydrogenase have been postulated forN. suaveolens, and at least two loci appear to be implicated in the control of this system inN. glutinosa.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Dr M. Pérez de la Vega for his valuable advice.     

The trefoil factor family – small peptides with multiple functionalities

The trefoil factor family (TFF) comprises a group of small peptides which are highly expressed in tissues containing mucus-producing cells – especially in the mucosa lining the gastrointestinal tract. The peptides seem crucial for epithelial restitution and may work via other pathways than the conventional factors involved in restitution. In vitro studies have shown that the TFFs promote restitution using multiple mechanisms. The peptides also have other functionalities including interactions with the immune system. Moreover, therapeutic effects of the TFFs have been shown in several animal models of gastrointestinal damage. Still it is not clear which of their in vitro properties are involved in the in vivo mode of action. This review describes the TFF family with emphasis on their biological properties and involvement in mucosal protection and repair. Received 10 October 2008; received after revision 07 November 2008; accepted 10 November 2008     

Xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin as insect development inhibitors fromXanthium canadense Mill.

Summary Two insect development inhibitors againstDrosophila melanogaster have been isolated from the leaves ofX. canadense and identified as xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin.Search for Insect Development Inhibitors in Plants, IV. Part III, Heterocycles10, 117 (1978).This investigation was supported in part by grants (No. 056141 and No. 376065) from the Ministry of Education of Japan. The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. Junkichi Iwasa of this department for his encouragement and to Dr Kenji Uneyama, Department of Industrial Chemistry of this University, for¹³C-NMR measurements.     

Germ cell chromosomes in two species of terrestrial isopods from India

Summary In 2 species of terrestrial isopods, namelyPorcellio assamensis andP. laevis, the diploid and haploid numbers of chromosomes have been established to be 48 and 24 respectively for the former species and 50 and 25 respectively for the latter species. Female heterogamety of the ZW type has been found to exist inP. laevis.The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. G.P. Sharma, and to Prof. S. Khera, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for the necessary laboratory facilities.     

Mushroom toxins of the genusCortinarius

Summary 3 major components of the toxic fungusCortinarius speciosissimus have been isolated and their structures determined as cyclic polypeptides. 2 of these compounds have been shown in laboratory animals to cause nephrotoxicity characteristic of Cortinarius mushroom poisoning.The work was carried out with support from the Scottish Home and Health Department grant No. K/MRS/50/C350 and the Science and Engineering Research Council.     

AMPA receptors: potential implications in development and disease

α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA) receptors are one type of ionotropic glutamate receptor involved in rapid excitatory synaptic transmission. AMPA receptors have been increasingly implicated in long-term potentiation, and recent evidence suggests that they may play a role in disorders affecting the nervous system. The finding that early in postnatal development AMPA receptors are not expressed has lately been the focus of much attention. Resolving the factors involved in AMPA receptor expression suggests that their induction is a developmentally regulated process with the possibility that alterations in receptor expression may be correlated with pathology in neurological disorders. This paper provides an overview of factors involved in AMPA receptor induction as well as of their role in plasticity and neuronal pathologies. Received 5 December 2000; received after revision 12 January 2001; accepted 2 February 2001     

Recruitment communication and pheromone trails in the neotropical ants,Leptothorax (Nesomyrmex) spininodis andL. (N.) echinatinodis

Leptothorax (Nesomyrmex) spininodis andL. (N.) echinatinodis workers lay pheromone trails when returning from food sources to their nests. Workers from within the nest begin following the trail almost immediately upon the successful forager's return and do not require a leader. The trail remains effective for about four minutes under our laboratory conditions but it is unclear whether the trail alone is sufficient to induce recruitment or whether additional signals, perhaps emitted within the nest, are involved. Pheromone trails of this type have not previously been documented for leptothoracine ants.     

A review of the electrophysiological,pharmacological and single channel properties of heart ventricle muscle cells in the snailLymnaea stagnalis

Although a considerable body of information has accumulated describing the pharmacological properties of a wide range of molluscan muscle types, the physiological bases underlying these properties have not been thoroughly investigated. At present, little is known about the types of ion channels and their regulation in molluscan muscle cell membranes. Voltage-clamp, and more recently, patch-clamp techniques have revealed molluscan muscles possess a complex array of channel types with various pharmacological and electrophysiological properties. The gating properties of these channels and their modulation by chemical agents, however, are still poorly understood. This review summarizes some aspects of molluscan muscle function with particular reference to the heart ventricle muscle of the pond snail,Lymnaea stagnalis.