Liver ferritin synthesis following chronic alcohol administration to rats: Modulation by propylthiouracil

Summary Liver ferritin synthesis was inhibited by 22.3% in rats treated with alcohol (2 g/kg) for 45 days. This inhibition was prevented by simultaneous administration (5 mg/kg) of propylthiouracil during the last 15 days. There was no significant effect on liver ferritin concentration.     

Reduction of serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in tumour-bearing mice and reversal of reduced enzyme activity by lentinan,an anti-tumour polysaccharide

Summary Serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity which had been shown to be depressed in cancer patients was clearly reduced in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma and Sarcoma 180, and slightly reduced in mice with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. The reduced enzyme activity was completely reversed during tumour regression of sarcoma 180 by administration of lentinan, which causes regression of sarcoma 180.     

Reduction of serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in tumour-bearing mice and reversal of reduced enzyme activity by lentinan, an anti-tumour polysaccharide.

Serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity which had been shown to be depressed in cancer patients was clearly reduced in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma and Sarcoma 180, and slightly reduced in mice with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. The reduced enzyme activity was completely reversed during tumour regression of sarcoma 180 by administration of lentinan, which causes regression of sarcoma 180.     

The anti-tumour activity of 6-azauracil riboside

Zusammenfassung Es wird die cancerostatische Wirkung des 6-Azauracilribosids auf die subkutane Form des Ehrlich-Aszites-Tumors beschrieben und festgestellt, dass 6-Azauracilribosid ungefähr 6mal wirksamer ist als 6-Azauracil.     

Leonurine,an improved synthesis

Summary Leonurine (1) is the uterotonic principle ofLeonurus artemisia. We have developed a simple, high-yield synthetic procedure of1 that is adaptable to large scale preparation. The synthesis involves the condensation of syringic acid and 4-guanidino-1-butanol hydrochloride in the presence of DDC using 11 HMPT-ether as solvent. The synthetic leonurine showed uterotonic activity in vivo and in vitro.Acknowledgment. This work was partly supported by World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.     

Modulation of E-cadherin function and dysfunction by N-glycosylation

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the E-cadherin dysfunction in cancer, including genetic and epigenetic alterations. Nevertheless, a significant number of human carcinomas have been seen that show E-cadherin dysfunction that cannot be explained at the genetic/epigenetic level. A substantial body of evidence has appeared recently that supports the view that other mechanisms operating at the post-translational level may also affect E-cadherin function. The present review addresses molecular aspects related to E-cadherin N-glycosylation and evidence is presented showing that the modification of N-linked glycans on E-cadherin can affect the adhesive function of this adhesion molecule. The role of glycosyltransferases involved in the remodeling of N-glycans on E-cadherin, including N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V), and the α1,6 fucosyltransferase (FUT8) enzyme, is also discussed. Finally, this review discusses an alternative functional regulatory mechanism for E-cadherin operating at the post-translational level, N-glycosylation, that may underlie the E-cadherin dysfunction in some carcinomas.     

Enhancement of antibody formation by hypersensitivity reaction

Zusammenfassung Eine Anzahl Kaninchen wurde durch humanes Serumalbumin (HSA) sensibilisiert. Wurde bei ihnen durch eine weitere Dosis desselben Antigens (HSA) eine Hypersensitivitätsreaktion hervorgerufen, so wurde die Antikörperbildung gegen ein anderes gleichzeitig eingeführtes Antigen (Ovalbumin-OA) stimuliert.     

Modulation of transmission in different electronic junctions by aminopyridine

Summary 4 distinct electronic inputs can be identified in amphibian motoneurons perfused with calcium-free solution containing manganese. The differential effect of 4-aminopyridine on different electrotonic junctions may reflect the peculiarities of molecular architecture of potassium channels in different electrically excitable presynaptic membranes.We thank Prof. D. R. Curtis, of National University Canberra, for the gift of 4-aminopyridine.     

Leonurine, an improved synthesis.

Leonurine (1) is the uterotonic principle of Leonurus artemisia. We have developed a simple, high-yield synthetic procedure of 1 that is adaptable to large scale preparation. The synthesis involves the condensation of syringic acid and 4-guanidino-1-butanol hydrochloride in the presence of DDC using 1:1 HMPT-ether as solvent. The synthetic leonurine showed uterotonic activity in vivo and in vitro.     

Stimulation by ACTH of protein synthesis in cultured adrenal cells. Absence of an effect by cyclin AMP]

ACTH stimulates the incorporation of 14C-leucine into proteins of adrenal tumor cells in culture. This stimulation though about 20% over controls is statistically significant. Cyclic AMP did not reproduce the stimulation observed with ACTH.     

The total synthesis of delphinine: A stereoselective synthesis of an advanced relay compound

Zusammenfassung Die stereoselektive Totalsynthese eines Delphininabbauproduktes wird beschrieben. Dieses Produkt, das 5 Ringe und 5 Substituenten besitzt, ist von Delphinin aus leicht zugänglich und kann deshalb als Relais-Verbindung für die Totalsynthese dieses Alkaloids dienen.

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Presented at a seminar at the Organic Chemistry Laboratory, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland on June 24, 1969.     

Modulation of transmission in different electronic junctions by aminopyridine.

4 distinct electronic inputs can be identified in amphibian motoneurons perfused with calcium-free solution containing manganese. The differential effect of 4-aminopyridine on different electronic junctions may reflect the peculiarities of molecular architecture of potassium channels in different electrically excitable presynaptic membranes.     

Modulation of connexin signaling by bacterial pathogens and their toxins

Inherent to their pivotal tasks in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, gap junctions, connexin hemichannels, and pannexin hemichannels are frequently involved in the dysregulation of this critical balance. The present paper specifically focuses on their roles in bacterial infection and disease. In particular, the reported biological outcome of clinically important bacteria including Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Yersinia enterocolitica, Helicobacter pylori, Bordetella pertussis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter rodentium, Clostridium species, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus and their toxic products on connexin- and pannexin-related signaling in host cells is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects as well as to the actual biological relevance of these findings.