Blastomitogenic agents in leguminosae and other families

Résumé Des agents blastomitogéniques furent décelés non seulement dans les extraits de 4 genres propres à la famille des Légumineuses, mais aussi dans les graines d'espèces déterminées appartenant aux familles des Solanacées, Composées, Ephédracées et Clusiacées. Ces 4 dernières sources, non mentionnées au préalable, témoignent de la répartition variée de ces agents dans la nature et donnent lieu à des conjectures aux points de vue de leur affinité chimique, du mécanisme de leur action blastomitogénique, de leur rôle dans la physiologie végétale et de leur importance dans l'évolution.     

Autophagy and other vacuolar protein degradation mechanisms

Autophagic degradation of cytoplasm (including protein, RNA etc.) is a non-selective bulk process, as indicated by ultrastructural evidence and by the similarity in autophagic sequestration rates of various cytosolic enzymes with different half-lives. The initial autophagic sequestration step, performed by a poorly-characterized organelle called a phagophore, is subject tofeedback inhibition by purines and amino acids, the effect of the latter being potentiated by insulin and antagonized by glucagon. Epinephrine and other adrenergic agonists inhibit autophagic sequestration through a prazosin-sensitive ₁-adrenergic mechanism. The sequestration is also inhibited by cAMP and by protein phosphorylation as indicated by the effects of cyclic nucleotide analogues, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and okadaic acid.Asparagine specifically inhibits autophagic-lysosomal fusion without having any significant effects on autophagic sequestration, on intralysosomal degradation or on the endocytic pathway. Autophaged material that accumulates in prelysosomal vacuoles in the presence of asparagine is accessible to endocytosed enzymes, revealing the existence of an amphifunctional organelle, the amphisome. Evidence from several cell types suggests that endocytosis may be coupled to autophagy to a variable extent, and that the amphisome may play a central role as a collecting station for material destined for lysosomal degradation.Protein degradation can also take place in a salvage compartment closely associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this compartment unassembled protein chains are degraded by uncharacterized proteinases, while resident proteins roturn to the ER and assembled secretory and membrane proteins proceed through the Golgi apparatus. In thetrans-Golgi network some proteins are proteolytically processed by Ca²⁺-dependent proteinases; furthermore, this compartment sorts proteins to lysosomes, various membrane domains, endosomes or secretory vesicles/granules. Processing of both endogenous and exogenous proteins can occurr in endosomes, which may play a particularly important role in antigen processing and presentation. Proteins in endosomes or secretory compartments can either be exocytosed, or channeled to lysosomes for degradation. The switch mechanisms which decide between these options are subject to bioregulation by external agents (hormones and growth factors), and may play an important role in the control of protein uptake and secretion.     

Autophagy and other vacuolar protein degradation mechanisms.

Autophagic degradation of cytoplasm (including protein, RNA etc.) is a non-selective bulk process, as indicated by ultrastructural evidence and by the similarity in autophagic sequestration rates of various cytosolic enzymes with different half-lives. The initial autophagic sequestration step, performed by a poorly-characterized organelle called a phagophore, is subject to feedback inhibition by purines and amino acids, the effect of the latter being potentiated by insulin and antagonized by glucagon. Epinephrine and other adrenergic agonists inhibit autophagic sequestration through a prazosin-sensitive alpha 1-adrenergic mechanism. The sequestration is also inhibited by cAMP and by protein phosphorylation as indicated by the effects of cyclic nucleotide analogues, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and okadaic acid. Asparagine specifically inhibits autophagic-lysosomal fusion without having any significant effects on autophagic sequestration, on intralysosomal degradation or on the endocytic pathway. Autophaged material that accumulates in prelysosomal vacuoles in the presence of asparagine is accessible to endocytosed enzymes, revealing the existence of an amphifunctional organelle, the amphisome. Evidence from several cell types suggests that endocytosis may be coupled to autophagy to a variable extent, and that the amphisome may play a central role as a collecting station for material destined for lysosomal degradation. Protein degradation can also take place in a 'salvage compartment' closely associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this compartment unassembled protein chains are degraded by uncharacterized proteinases, while resident proteins return to the ER and assembled secretory and membrane proteins proceed through the Golgi apparatus. In the trans-Golgi network some proteins are proteolytically processed by Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases; furthermore, this compartment sorts proteins to lysosomes, various membrane domains, endosomes or secretory vesicles/granules. Processing of both endogenous and exogenous proteins can occur in endosomes, which may play a particularly important role in antigen processing and presentation. Proteins in endosomes or secretory compartments can either be exocytosed, or channeled to lysosomes for degradation. The switch mechanisms which decide between these options are subject to bioregulation by external agents (hormones and growth factors), and may play an important role in the control of protein uptake and secretion.     

Carbon nanotubes as anti-bacterial agents

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections that have evolved via natural selection have increased alarmingly at a global level. Thus, there is a strong need for the development of novel antibiotics for the treatment of these infections. Functionalized carbon nanotubes through their unique properties hold great promise in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This new family of nanovectors for therapeutic delivery proved to be innovative and efficient for the transport and cellular translocation of therapeutic molecules. The current review examines the latest progress in the antibacterial activity of carbon nanotubes and their composites.     

Bacterial endotoxins as immunosuppressive agents

Zusammenfassung Der Adjuvanseffekt von bakteriellem Endotoxin gegenüber Schaferythrocyten war nicht nachweisbar, wenn Mäuse vor der primären antigenen Stimulierung 9 Tage lang eine tägliche Injektion von 20 µg Endotoxin erhielten. Andererseits wurde unter diesen Bedingungen eine Primärreaktion gefunden, wie sie nach alleiniger Injektion des Erythrocytenantigens zur Ausbildung gelangt. Die Zahlen an 19S- und 7S-Antikörper bildenden Zellen sowie die Serumantikörpertiter waren jedoch signifikant vermindert, wenn vor Applikation der immunisierenden Injektion höhere Dosen von homologem oder heterologem Endotoxin gegeben worden waren.     

In vitro effects of melanocytolytic agents and other compounds upon dominant human melanoma tyrosinase activity

Summary The activity of dominant human melanoma tyrosinase isozyme was greatly decreased by certain reducing agents. The number and geometry of phenolic groups as well as free-SH group appear important for enzymic inhibition.This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant No. CA-12731-02 and CA-15991-01 from National Cancer Institute.     

Inhibition of cyclic 3′, 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity by diuretics and other agents

Résumé Différent composés organo-mercuriels ainsi que l'acide éthacrinique inhibent les phosphodiestérases de l'AMP cyclique, du cur de cobaye, de buf et de rat, des plaquettes de rat et de l'homme ainsi que du cerveau de rat.     

3-Haloalkyl-dihydrobenzothiadiazine dioxides as potent diuretic agents

Zusammenfassung Die Synthese und diuretische Aktivität von 3-Haloalkyl-dihydrobenzothiadiazin-dioxyden, insbesondere 3-Dichloromethyl-6-chlor-7-sulfamyl-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzothiadiazin-1,1-dioxyd, II,R = CHCl₂, werden beschrieben.     

In vitro effects of melanocytolytic agents and other compounds upon dominant human melanoma tyrosinase activity.

The activity of dominant human melanoma tyrosinase isozyme was greatly decreased by certain reducing agents. The number and geometry of phenolic groups as well as free--SH group appear important for enzymic inhibition.     

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.