Molecular recognition in applied enzyme chemistry

Molecular recognition impinges upon many fields of biological chemistry, especially those involving catalytic processes. This review gives examples from studies at Strathclyde of both small and macromolecular systems. Mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors are described with reference to dihydrofolate reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and cholesterol metabolism. Applications of molecular recognition related to synthetic transformations are discussed in terms of aromatic substitution, chemically modified papain, and catalytic antibodies for Diels-Alder reactions.     

Molecular recognition in applied enzyme chemistry.

Molecular recognition impinges upon many fields of biological chemistry, especially those involving catalytic processes. This review gives examples from studies at Strathclyde of both small and macromolecular systems. Mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors are described with reference to dihydrofolate reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and cholesterol metabolism. Applications of molecular recognition related to synthetic transformations are discussed in terms of aromatic substitution, chemically modified papain, and catalytic antibodies for Diels-Alder reactions.     

Systematics and evolution of holarctic Pierinae (Lepidoptera). An enzyme electrophoretic approach

Summary Enzyme electrophoretic data show a remarkably high degree of genetic similarity within the European group ofnapi s.l. whereas genetic differences exist at several loci between the European and the North American taxa ofnapi s.l. It is concluded that the European taxa did not differentiate to the species level and form a phylogenetically young group. The North American taxa included in this study are specifically distinct from Europeannapi and separated much earlier. Within these North American taxamarginalis, oleracea andvirginiensis did undergo speciation. The data show a splitting of the genusPieris into three species groups, each genetically differentiated to the same level. The splitting ofPieris into two genera, as suggested by earlier investigators, is not supported here.     

Influence of a hot environmental temperature on the evolution of experimental paludism of the mouse with Plasmodium berghei berghei]

Swiss Mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei and maintained in permanence in a hot environmental temperature undergo a chronic infection whereas controls maintained at the laboratory temperature develop always an acute and lethal infection. The hot environmental temperature does not seem to have any action on the pathogenicity of the parasites. Host defences are stimulated.     

Chloroplast nucleoids in a unicellular hot spring algaCyanidium caldarium and related algae

Summary Algal chloroplast nucleoids were compared by epifluorescent microscopy.Cyanidium caldarium strain RK-1 or 001 has a rod-shaped chloroplast nucleoid whileCyanidium caldarium (Chroococcidiopsis sp.) strain M-8 or 002 has a circular chloroplast nucleoid along the periphery of a multilobed chloroplast.     

Reconfigurable combined forecasts in a non-stationary inflationary environment

This paper presents a composite method for non-stationary economic forecasts, incorporating reconfigurable exponential trend extraction and linear combinations of parabolic and spectral estimators for short-term prediction. The method automatically identifies the points of time series misalignment induced by sharp environmental changes. An application to the problem of hard currency exchange rate prediction in Russia is presented.     

Epigenetics: a link between addiction and social environment

The detrimental effects of drug abuse are apparently not limited to individuals but may also impact the vulnerability of their progenies to develop addictive behaviours. Epigenetic signatures, early life experience and environmental factors, converge to influence gene expression patterns in addiction phenotypes and consequently may serve as mediators of behavioural trait transmission between generations. The majority of studies investigating the role of epigenetics in addiction do not consider the influence of social interactions. This shortcoming in current experimental approaches necessitates developing social models that reflect the addictive behaviour in a free-living social environment. Furthermore, this review also reports on the advancement of interventions for drug addiction and takes into account the emerging roles of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in the etiology of drug addiction and that HDAC may be a potential therapeutic target at nucleosomal level to improve treatment outcomes.     

Advances in nitrile oxides chemistry

Riassunto Dopo una breve introduzione storica, viene dato un quadro delle attuali conoscenze sulla chimica degli ossidi di nitrili con particolare riguardo ai suoi più recenti sviluppi. L'applicazione di metodi già noti e l'introduzione di nuovi metodi di preparazione hanno portato alla cinquantina il numero dei nitrilossidi isolati, oltre a quelli numerosi preparati in situ e utilizzati in reazioni di addizione senza isolarli. Vengono esaminate le reazioni di dimerizzazione e polimerizzazione, le numerose reazioni di addizione nucleofila che mettono in evidenza lo spiccato carattere elettrofilo dei nitrilossidi e, in particolare le addizioni sopra i legami etilenici e acetilenici che portano a isossazoline e isossazoli. Nuove acquisizioni sperimentali, come l'isolamento in rese sostanziali e talvolta preponderanti di ossime acetileniche accanto agli isossazoli, rimettono sul tappeto la questione della via battuta da quest'ultima reazione, suggerendo come possibile alternativa al meccanismo generalmente ammesso di cicloaddizione 1,3-dipolare concertata quello che passa attraverso uno «zwitterione» intermedio, dal quale tanto l'isossazolo che l'ossima possono pren'dere origine. Viene illustrate l'effetto catalitico del BF₃ su alcune reazioni di addizione dei nitrilossidi, che consente l'ampliamento del campo di applicazione di queste reazioni. Vengono infine riportati i primi risultati dello studio della reattività dei nitrilossidi verso i radicali liberi al carbonio, studio che appare suscettibile di interessanti sviluppi.

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12. Paul-Karrer-Vorlesung in der Aula der Universität Zürich am 24. Juni 1970.     

Prelude to chemistry in industry

The Smith's Prize competition was established in Cambridge in 1768 by the will of Robert Smith (1689-1768). By fostering an interest in the study of applied mathematics, the competition contributed towards the success in mathematical physics that was to become the hallmark of Cambridge mathematics during the second half of the nineteenth century. Perceptions of Smith's intentions were to play a part in discussions about the content and balance of the mathematics curriculum, as may be seen in the Airy quotation in the title. In the twentieth century the competition acted to stimulate the formalization of Cambridge postgraduate research in mathematics. Throughout its existence the competition has played a significant role by providing a springboard for graduates considering an academic career and the majority of prize-winners have gone on to become professional mathematicians or physicists. In seeking the reasons behind the competition's success, attention has been paid to the life and work of Robert Smith, the intention behind his bequest, and the history of the competition from its origins until 1940.     

Information and evolution

Résumé Les auteurs discutent la formulation quantitative de l'évolution comme un procès qui augmente le contenu de l'entité thermodynamique d'information dans la biosphère.     

Distribution of a renin-like enzyme in the bovine adrenal gland

Résumé La glande surrénale bovine contient un enzyme qui réagit avec l'angiotensinogène pour former de l'angiotensine. L'enzyme est distribué dans toute la glande surrénale, en plus grande quantité dans la médullosurrénale et dans la veine centrale. Vu les effects bien connus de l'angiotensine sur la sécrétion de l'aldostérone et sur les catécholamines de la médullosurrénale, il est possible que l'enzyme «rénine-semblable» influence les fonctions spécifiques de la glande surrénale.     

The notion of nature in chemistry

If nature is by definition the object of the natural sciences, then the dichotomy ‘natural’ versus ‘chemical’, held by both chemists and nonchemists, suggests an idiosyncrasy of chemistry. The first part of the paper presents a selective historical analysis of the main notions of nature in chemistry, as developed in early Christian views of chemical crafts, alchemy, iatrochemistry, mechanical philosophy, organic chemistry, and contemporary drug research. I argue that the dichotomy as well as quasi-moral judgments of chemistry have been based on static and teleological notions of nature throughout history and that chemists, unlike physicists, have neglected the dynamic notion of nature. The second part provides a philosophical criticism of the former notions and argues for the latter as well as for an explicit discourse about values in chemistry.     

Distribution and variation of a collagen-degrading enzyme in the uterus of pregnant rats

Zusammenfassung Extrakte aus Uteruswand und Glandula myometralis bauen bei saurem pH Kollagen ab. Die Drüsen haben eine grössere spez. Aktivität. Doch zeigt das Uterusenzym eine grössere Affinität zum Substrat, und seine Gesamtaktivität überwiegt post partum.

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This work was done with the support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America to Prof.F. Verzár.     

The chemistry and pharmacology of hydrotrichlorothiazide

Zusammenfassung In der Reihe der Dihydro-benzothiadiazine wurde mit Hydrotrichlorthiazid (III) ein neues, ausserordentlich stark wirksames Diuretikum gefunden. Herstellung und pharmakologische Evaluation werden kurz beschrieben. Im Vergleich zu Hydrochlorthiazid (I) ist III beim Hundper os bis zu 20mal stärker diuretisch wirksam.