Sterols of mediterranean chlorophyceae

Summary The distribution of sterols in 8 Mediterranean green algae has been investigated. C₂₉ sterols are the major group in the species examined. 28-Isofucosterol seems to be typical for Ulotrichales, and the rare clerosterol for the genus Codium.Acknowledgment. This work is a result of research sponsored by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in the frame of the Progetto finalizzato per l'Oceanografia e i Fondi Marini. Thanks are also due to Centro di Metodologie Chimico-fisiche of the University of Naples for the determination of PMR and mass spectra.     

Environmental and racial influences on the masticatory apparatus of mediterranean and atlantic populations ofOphryotrocha labronica (Annelida,Polychaeta)

Summary Significant differences in the length of the definitive upper jaw have been ascertained in 3 populations of the comprehensive speciesO. labronica. The ratio of the variance (F) of the 3 populations has been employed in evaluating the taxonomic distance between the populations. The density of the water and the kind of food strongly influence the length of the definitive upper jaw.     

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.     

New antimicrobial activity for the catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide from chromogranin A

Catestatin (bCGA_344–364), an endogenous peptide of bovine chromogranin A, was initially characterized for its effect on the inhibition of catecholamine release from chromaffin cells. Catestatin and its active domain (bCGA_344–358) were identified in chromaffin cells and in secretion medium. The present study identified a potent antimicrobial activity of bCGA_344–358 in the lowmicromolar range against bacteria, fungi and yeasts, without showing any haemolytic activity. Confocal laser microscopy demonstrated penetration of the rhodaminated peptide into the cell membranes of fungi and yeasts and its intracellular accumulation. Time-lapse videomicroscopy showed arrest of fungal growth upon penetration of the labelled peptide into a fungal filament. We identified several catestatin-containing fragments in the stimulated secretion medium of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils, suggesting the N-terminal sequence of catestatin (bCGA_344–358) (named cateslytin) as a novel component of innate immunity.Received 21 October 2004; received after revision 6 December 2004; accepted 7 December 2004     

New toxins from Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius]

A strain of Aspergillus fumigatus Fres., isolated from sugar-beet draffs, synthesizes in vitro four toxic metabolites which have not yet been described in these fungal species. Toxic effects of the most abundant of these metabolites "fumitoxin A" have been studed on chick embryo. Artemia salina larvae, cell cultures, and on mice.     

New C26 delta-lactones from the Dufour's gland of the urticating ant Tetramorium aculeatum.

(6R*)-[(2S*)-2-hydroxyheneicos-12-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (1) degree is the major constituent of the secretion of freshly dissected Dufour's gland of the urticating ant Tetramorium aculeatum. In solution, compound 1 is slowly transformed into (1S*,5R*,7S*)-7-(nonadec-10-enyl)-2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1] nonan-3-one (2) degrees on standing. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been established on the basis of their spectral and chemical properties. Compound 1 could be responsible for the urticating properties of the ant.     

国际科技合作新趋势对中国科技发展的挑战及其对策

随着国际科技合作新趋势的不断发展,其对我国政府的作用、国家科技体制和科研环境、国家科学研究、产业研发、国家安全、知识产权建设等提出了严峻的挑战。面对挑战,我们应该积极调整政府在国际科技合作中的作用;深化科研体制改革,全面推进科技体制创新;形成有层次的国际合作交流体系;积极调整企业国际科技合作;加强国家的安全建设和高度重视知识产权建设。     

The mating behavior of individuals ofDrosophila pseudoobscura from New Zealand

Summary Recently discovered individuals in New Zealand of the North American speciesDrosophila pseudoobscura were analyzed for any divergence in mating behavior. Cultures collected from five localities in North American were mated with a stock from Rotorua, New Zealand. No significant divergence was obtained in any of the within North Americ, and more importantly, between North American and New Zealand mating experiments. Further analyses also showed no development of sterility between recently caught New Zealand and North American flies. We discuss our results in relation to others of this type.Publication No. 5 from the Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory, University of Auckland.Acknowledgements. We thank the University Grants Committee, grant No. 140Z88, for financial assistance. We thank D.G. Futch., L. Barr, A. Beckenach and H. Spencer for their kind assistance in sending us wild caught cultures.     

New observations in the metabolism of morphine. The formation of codeine from morphine in man

Zusammenfassung Nach Morphium-oder Heroingaben wurden im Urin normaler und heroinsüchtiger Versuchspersonen freies und gebundenes Codein als neues Morphiumstoffwechselprodukt mit Dünnschichtchromatographie und Massenspektroskopie nachgewiesen.     

New tigliane and daphnane derivatives from Pimelea prostrata and Pimelea simplex

From the methanol extract of Pimelea prostrata, prostratin (I) and 2 autoxidation products have been isolated. They are tigliane derivatives and relatively nonirritant on the mouse ear. The irritant pimelea factor P5 (IIa) also with a tigliane skeleton and related to mancinellin (IIb), as well as the irritant diterpene ester pimelea factor P1 (IIa, simplexin) with daphnane skeleton, were found to be present in both P. prostrata and P. simplex. Further the irritant homologue of simplexin, pimela factor IIIb was detected in P. prostrata. Some biogenetic consequences of these findings are discussed.     

New endo-beta-1,4-glucanases from the parabasalian symbionts,Pseudotrichonympha grassii and Holomastigotoides mirabile of Coptotermes termites

An endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EG) was purified from the hindgut of an Australian mound-building termite, Coptotermes lacteus. The hindgut extract had a peak separate from those for extracts obtained from the salivary glands and the midgut based on sephacryl S-200 gel chromatography, and also demonstrated an origin different from the endogenous EGs of the termite itself. The recovery was further purified by SDS-PAGE, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence analyzed. This showed high homology to EGs from glycoside hydrolase family (GHF) 7. PCR-based cloning methods were applied to the hindgut contents of C. lacteus and individual protozoan symbionts from C. formosanus. cDNAs encoding putative EGs homologous to GHF7 members were then identified. The functionality of one of the putative proteins was confirmed by its expression in Escherichia coli. Received 18 September 2002; accepted 20 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

New highly irritant euphorbia factors from latex of Euphorbia tirucalli L.

Summary From the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli L. growing in Madagascar, 5 new euphorbia factors were isolated. They were characterized as 13-O-acetyl-12-O-acylphorbol-and 12-O-acetyl-13-O-acylphorbol derivatives carrying homologous conjugated unsaturated fatty acids as acyl groups. Furthermore, 2 mixtures of homologous 3-O-acylingenol derivatives are obtained carrying the same type of unsaturated fatty acids. Due to their highly unsaturated acyl groups all Euphorbia factors or factor groups isolated are highly sensitive to autoxidation.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Miss B. Pieruschka for excellent technical assistance. The supply of latex by Mr M. Schomerus, Ampanihy-ouest, Madagascar, and Prof. Dr W. Rauth, Botanical Institute of the University of Heidelberg, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Isolation of chrysotalunin,a red pigment from a New Zealand soil

Summary Benzene extraction of Te Kopuru sand, a podzol located in the subtropical region of New Zealand, yielded a high melting pigment. Spectroscopic data showed it to be the bianthraquinone chrysotalunin. This is the first report of its occurrence in the Southern hemisphere soil.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Dr B. K. G. Theng, Soil Bureau, D.S.I.R., Lower Hutt, for the sample of the Te Kopuru sand podzol humus B horizon and Dr D. J. Wright of the Chemistry Department, University of Canterbury, for the high resolution mass spectral data.