Production and characterization of antibodies cross-reactive with major aflatoxins

Antibodies cross-reactive with 4 major aflatoxins were demonstrated three weeks after immunization of rabbits with an immunogen which was prepared by conjugating aflatoxin B₃ to bovine serum albumin. Aflatoxin B₃ was first converted to its hemisuccinate before conjugation to the protein. Tritiated aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) was used as the marker ligand both for antibody titer determination as well as for analysis of antibody specificity. Competitive RIA revealed that the antibodies have good cross-reactivity with aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂ when tritiated AFB₁ was used as the marker ligand. The concentrations causing 50% inhibition of binding of³H-AFB₁ to the antibodies by unlabeled aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂ and B₃ were found to be 0.25, 3.34, 0.32, 4.0 and 0.53 ng/assay, respectively. The antibodies could be used for simultaneous analysis of aflatoxins B₁ and G₁, two of the most important toxic metabolites produced byAspergillus flavus andA. parasiticus.     

Incorporation of [14C] amino acids into liver S-RNA of chick. Effect of orotic acid and vitamin B12

Riassunto La somministrazione dietetica di vitamina B₁₂ e di acido orotico determina un aumento della incorporazione dellal-serina C¹⁴ nello RNA solubile del fegato di pulcino carente di B₁₂, mentre non è in grado di influenzare quella dellal-leucina¹⁴C e dellal-metionina¹⁴C.     

Participation of ACTH1–10 and ACTH4–10 on the melatonin modulation of benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex

In this study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of melatonin and/or ACTH_1–10 and ACTH_4–10 on [³H]flunitrazepam binding sites in the cerebral cortex of hypophysectomized rats. Hypophysectomy increased the B_max (maximum number of binding sites) of benzodiazepine (BNZ) receptors for at least 7 days after surgery, without changing K_D (dissociation constant). The i.c.v. injection of melatonin to hypophysectomized rats significantly increased B_max, whereas the same doses of melatonin were ineffective in sham-operated animals. In both cases, K_D values were unchanged. The i.c.v injection of ACTH_1–10 to hypophysectomized animals significantly increased B_max, an effect that was enhanced by simultaneous i.c.v. injection of ACTH_1–10+melatonin, reaching higher values of B_max than the i.c.v. injection of these hormones individually. No significant changes in K_D values were found after ACTH_1–10 and/or melatonin administration. However, the i.c.v. injection of ACTH_4–10 to hypophysectomized rats did not change B_max, although it significantly increased K_D values, indicating a decrease in the BNZ binding affinity. Melatonin injection counteracted this effect of ACTH_4–10, returning K_D to the control value. Moreover, although the lower dose of i.c.v. melatonin used, 10 ng, was unable to modify B_max of BNZ binding in the ACTH_4–10-injected group, the higher dose, 20 ng, significantly increased B_max. The results suggest that these ACTH-derived peptides can modulate the effect of melatonin on brain benzodiazepine receptors.     

Wirkung der Glutaminsäure auf die experimentelle Isoniazid-Schädigung peripherer Nerven bei Ratten

Summary Glutamic acid does not, either in small or in large doses, inhibit the degeneration of the medullary sheath of peripheral nerves in rats, induced within 15 days by addition of 0.25% of isoniazid to their diet. The detoxicating effect of glutamic acid, as described byCedrangolo ¹, thus only applies to the general toxic symptoms of the acute INH-intoxication, as is the case for vitamins B₂, B₁₂, A, E, K, and niacinamide.     

Nest cell lining of the solitary beeHylaeus bisinuatus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae)

The nest cell lining ofHylaeus bisinuatus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) was shown by high-resolution solidstate [¹³C]NMR to be composed of lipid polymer and protein. The lipid polymer was shown by reduction and subsequent GC/MS analysis to be comprised of -hydroxy fatty acids (C₂₀, C₂₂, C₂₄ and C₂₆) and fatty alcohols (C₁₆ to C₃₀). The protein portion of the lining had a silk-like amino acid composition.     

Chemical defense in the three European species ofCrematogaster ants

The composition of the Dufour gland of the antC. scutellaris has been reinvestigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major components of the gland are (2E,5E,12Z)-4-oxoheneicosa-2,5,12-trien-1-ol acetate (1a) its ¹⁴ and ¹⁶ double bond isomers (1b and1c), and the corresponding (Z,Z)-dienes5a and5b, all containing an acetylated C₂₁ chain. The previously proposed structures1d, 1e, and5c, which are based on an homologous acetylated C₂₃ chain, correspond to minor derivatives present in the gland. Traces of acetylated C₁₉ homologs, tentatively identified as1g-1i, have also been found. The Dufour gland contents of the two other EuropeanCrematogaster species have also been studied.C. auberti is very similar toC. scutellaris in producing mainly1a, 1b and1c, together with the same higher and lower homologs, but it lacks the dienic derivatives5, whereasC. sordidula contains essentially the acetylated C₁₉ compounds1g, 1h, and1i, accompanied by acetylated C₁₇ homologs.     

Sopra un caso particolare della superficie F 4 (3) di M. Noether

Summary The Noetherian surfaceF ₄ ⁽³⁾ , which is represented on a plane by a linear ³ system ofC ₉(A ₁ ³ A ₂ ³ A ₃ ³ A ₄ ³ A ₅ ³ A ₆ ³ A ₇ ³ A ₈ ³ A ₉ ² A ₁₀), possesses generally only one linear pencil of elliptic cubics. IfA _i (i=1, 2, , 9) are the basis points of aHalphen pencil ofC ₉,A ₁₀ is infinitely near toA ₉, and in this caseF ₄ ⁽³⁾ is a not trivial example of such a surface with two pencils of elliptic cubics.     

Über den Vitamin-B12-Gehalt von Organen verschieden ernährter Ratten

Summary Adult, male rats bred for over 10 generations on a soy meal-corn-diet had vitamin B₁₂ values of liver and kidney about 10 times lower than the controls. If the deficient ration was supplemented with 5µg/kg of B₁₂, these values were still about 1/5 of the controls. 3 weeks on the deficient diet lowered the B₁₂ levels in the livers and kidneys of previously undepleted rats to about 1/2, and a similar diet containing 0.1% of iodized casein lowered these levels to about 1/3 of the normal values but did not lower the B₁₂-concentration of organs of already deficient rats.Rats bred on the deficient diet and receiving for 1 month a supplement of 30µg/kg of vitamin B₁₂ or the stock diet with a similar B₁₂-content, had normal B₁₂-levels in livers and kidneys.     

New route for 1-substituted hydantoins

Zusammenfassung 1,3-unsubstituierte Hydantoine (I) werden in einem 3-Stufenprozess in 1-substituierte Abkömmlinge (IV) übergeführt: Blockierung der Stellung 3 durch Aminomethylierung, gefolgt von N₁-Alkylierung mit anschliessender Entfernung der Schutzgruppe durch Hydrolyse.

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This paper represents Part V of the seriesSubstitution in the Hydantoin Ring; preceding Part,L. Trippetta, O. O. Orazi, andR. A. Corral, An. Asoc. quím. argent., in press.     

Production and characterization of antibody against aflatoxin M1

Summary Antibody against aflatoxin M₁ was obtained after immunization of rabbits with bovine serum albumin-afla M₁ oxime conjugate. The antibody has greatest binding efficiency for afla M₁, and was less efficient for afla B₁. Cross-reaction of antibody with aflatoxin Q₁, aflatoxicol, and aflatoxin B_2a was weak. Aflatoxin B₂, G₁, and G₂ and afla B₁-guanine adduct showed almost no cross-reaction with the antibody. The sensitivity of the binding assay for aflatoxin M₁ detection is in the range of 1–10 ng per assay. Detailed methods for the preparation of the conjugate, production of immune serum, and methods for antibody determination are described.Supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, North Central Regional project NC-129, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and by Public Health Service research grant number CA 15064 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH.The authors wish to thank Dr R.C. Garner for providing aflatoxin-B-guanine adduct, and Dr Dennis H. Hseih for providing aflatoxicol and aflatoxin Q₁.     

Characterization of the host-specific toxins produced byHelminthosporium sacchari,the causal organism of eyespot disease of sugarcane

Summary Investigation of the host-specific toxin complex fromH. sacchari has led to the isolation of 3 isomeric glycosidic components C₃₉H₆₄O₂₂, each active at 2×10^–11 moles. The 3 isomers consist of 4 galactose units linked to an aglycone residue C₁₅H₂₄O₂.Acknowledgments. The Boyce Thompson-Cornell group thanks J.F. Rissler, University of Maryland, A.K. Bose, Stevens Institute of Technology, R. Barker and A. Serriani, Cornell University, and C. Grinnalds and J. Golay, Boyce Thompson Institute for help with various aspects of this work. Supported in part by a grant to V.M. from the US Department of Agriculture (8100720). The Zürich group thanks Dr G.A. Strobel, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, for supplying a potent toxin-producing strain (M 36), a susceptible clone of sugarcane (51 NG 97), and a reference sample of helminthosporoside, Dr. K. Hostettmann and Mme M. Hostettmann-Kaldas, Pharmazeutisches Institut ETH Zürich, for assistance in developing the DCC separation and Sandoz A.G., Basel, for financial support.     

The determination of volatile aldehydes in gases and vapours

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine neue Methode vorgeschlagen, Acetaldehyd, Propionaldehyd und Butyraldehyd in Gegenwart von CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, C₂H₂, CO₂, CO, N₂, H₂ und O₂ quantitativ zu bestimmen. Die Methode besteht darin, das Gasgemenge mit Hilfe eines Orsatschen Apparates durch eine bei 20°C gesättigte, Chromtrioxyd und Schwefelsäure enthaltende Natriumsulfatlösung zu schicken, welche die oben genannten Aldehyde selektiv absorbiert.     

Composition of epicuticular wax of rice,Oryza sativa

Summary The epicuticular wax of rice, varietyRibe, comprised n-alkanes, esters, aldehydes and free alcohols. The nalkanes contained 4 major chain lengths, C₂₇, C₂₉, C₃₁ and C₃₃. Triacontanal and dotriacontanal were the major aldehydes. Octacosanol comprised 89% of the free alcohols. The esters were mainly esters of C₁₆ to C₂₄ acids with C₂₂ to C₃₀ alcohols.This research was supported by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.     

Effect of detoxin D on blasticidin S uptake inBacillus cereus

Summary The active transport of blasticidin S into the cells ofBacillus cereus was significantly inhibited by the addition of detoxin D or poisons of energy metabolism.The authors are grateful to Prof. M. Matsuhashi of our Institute for his valuable advice and to Dr I. Yamaguchi, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, for the gift of labeled blasticidin S. This work is supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Government of Japan.This is Part VII of Studies on Detoxin Complex, the Selective Anatagonists of Blasticidin S. For Part VI, see the preceding report.     

Cu(CH3CN) 2 + , ein Mittel zum Studium homogener Reaktionen des einwertigen Kupfers in wässriger Lösung

Summary The quantitative acidimetric investigation (Bjerrum's method) of Cu^I coordination reactions in homogeneous aqueous medium is feasible by application of the easily accessible, well crystallized stable complex Cu(CH₃CN)₄ClO₄ in 0.1 to 1 molar CH₃CN aq., the stability of particles present in the system Cu^I, CH₃CN, H₂O being previously established polarographically. The advantage of the new acidimetric method lies in the possibility of investigating Cu^I in absence of Cu^II.     

Studies on the metal-complex of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin)

Summary The present communication deals with the isolation of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) complexes with Bi⁺³, Zn⁺² and UO ₂ ⁺² . The characterization of 12 complexes have been carried out with the help of conductometric, pH metric, elemental analysis and IR spectral studies. Spectrophotometric studies in case of UO ₂ ⁺² (the only colored complex) in range of 4.2 to 5.5 pH show absorption at 490 nm and complex obey Beers Law at the concentration range of 0.01 M to 0.1 M.     

The acid catalyzed rearrangement of ambreinolide

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur eines durch säurekatalytische Isomerisation von Ambreinolid entstehenden tricyclischen Ketons C₁₇H₂₆O wurde aufgeklärt.

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Therpenes III.

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Part II,G. Büchi andR. E. Erickson, J. Amer. chem. Soc.76, 3493 (1954).     

The use of fungal protoplasts in the study of aflatoxin biosynthesis

Summary Protoplasts derived fromAspergillus flavus are shown to be capable of synthesizing aflatoxins when incubated in a chemically defined medium.¹⁴C-Acetate and¹⁴C-Versicolorin A, added to protoplasts from 3-day-old mycelium, are incorporated into aflatoxin B₁.     

The condensation of anthranilic acid with S-methyl-2-thiohydantoin

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur des Kondensations-produktes aus Anthranilsäure und S-Methyl-2-thiohydantoin, bzw. aus Anthranilsäuremethylester und N-Cyanglycinäthylester⁵ wurde als die eines 2,5-(1 H, 3 H) Imidazo(2,1-b) chinazolindions bewiesen.

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Part X. Hydantoins, thiohydantoins and glycocyamidines. Part IX.K. Lempert, Chem. Ber.,95, 1066 (1962).     

Effects of aflatoxin B1 on human skin lipids metabolism — a site of action on 1-14C-acetate incroporation

Zusammenfassung Aflatoxin B₁ hemmt den Einbau von 1-¹⁴C-Azetat in die Lipide der menschlichen Haut. Wird aber³H-Azetyl-CoA als Vorstufe für den Lipideinbau verwendet, so kommt es zu keiner merklichen Hemmung. Die Azetataktivierung scheint somit die wichtigste, vom Toxin beeinflussbare Stufe der Lipidsynthese zu sein.