The free radical oxidation of the tetrahydrocannabinols

Summary The free radical oxidation of ¹ and ⁶-tetrahydrocannabinol has been examined by spin trapping techniques and intermediates that would lead to cannabinol have been trapped. The 1st step in the oxidation of ¹-THC involves the removal of 3-H, while for ⁶-THC, either 2-H or 5-H. Intermediates were isolated which could be pyrolysed to the diene and cannabinol.     

Catecholamines and granular vesicles in adrenergic axons of the developing pineal body of the rat

Resumen Imediatemente después del nacimiento, las fibras adrenérgicas del cuerpo pineal del ratón, contienen solamente vesículas granulosas del tipo grande. Con dós dias, comienzan a aparecer las vesículas granulosas pequeñas; que son las que contienen nor-epinefrina. Se piensa que antes de ésta edad, la nor-epinefrina se localizaria principalmente en un compartimiento extra-vesicular.

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This material was presented at the meetings of the American Association of Anatomists, Kansas City, Missouri, 1967.     

Effect of medium on transplantability of nuclei ofBufo arenarum embryonic cells

Resumen Se transplantaron núcleos de blástulas deBufo arenarum en ovocitos enucleados de la misma especie operando en las soluciones salinas deBarth y deNiu yTwitty. Con la solución deBarth se consiguió un porcentaje más alto de huevos con segmentación normal que el obtenido con la solución deNiu yTwitty. La proporción final de renacuajos normales obtenidos, sin embargo, resultó idéntica en ambas series de experimentos.

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This work was partially supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

The distribution of nutrients in the seed parts of bengal gram

Zusammenfassung Die bengalische «Gram»-Pflanze (Cicer arietinum L.) ist in Samenschale, Cotyledonen und Restteile des Embryos zerlegt worden. In diesen Fragmenten wurde die Verteilung von Protein, Extraktstoffen, Asche, Faseranteilen sowie Calzium, Phosphor und Eisen näher untersucht. In den relativ massiven Samenschalen fand sich auffallend viel Calcium, während die übrigen untersuchten Stoffe in den andern Pflanzenteilen (mit Ausnahme vom Faseranteil) nur geringfügig vorhanden waren. Die Cotyledonen, die mehr als 85% dieses Getreides ausmachen, zeigen chemisch ausgeglichene Verhältnisse.     

Copines: a ubiquitous family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins

The copines are a novel family of ubiquitous Ca(2+)-dependent, phospholipid-binding proteins. They contain two Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-binding domains known as 'C2 domains' present in proteins such as protein kinase C, phospholipase C and synaptotagmin. Copines are thought to be involved in membrane-trafficking phenomena because of their phospholipid-binding properties. They may also be involved in protein-protein interactions since they contain a domain similar to the protein-binding 'A domain' of integrins. The biochemistry, gene structure, tissue distribution and possible biological roles of copines are discussed, including recent observations with Arabidopsis that indicate that copines may be involved in cell division and growth.     

Myocardial function and energy metabolism in carnitine-deficient rats

Carnitine is essential for mitochondrial metabolism of long-chain fatty acids and thus for myocardial energy production. Accordingly, carnitine deficiency can be associated with cardiomyopathy. To better understand this disease, we determined myocardial function and energy metabolism in a rat model of carnitine deficiency. Carnitine deficiency was induced by a 3- or 6-week diet containing N-trimethyl-hydrazine-3-propionate, reducing cardiac and plasma carnitine by 70-85%. Myocardial function was investigated in isolated isovolumic heart preparations. Carnitine-deficient hearts showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction, reduced contractile reserve, and a blunted frequency-force relationship independently of the substrate used (glucose or palmitate). After glycogen depletion, palmitate could not sustain myocardial function. Histology and activities of carnitine palmitoyl transferase, citrate synthase, and cytochrome c oxidase were unaltered. Thus, as little as 3-6 weeks of systemic carnitine deficiency can lead to abnormalities in myocardial function. These abnormalities are masked by endogenous glycogen and are not accompanied by structural alterations of the myocardium or by altered activities of important mitochondrial enzymes.     

Alternative splicing of Bcl-2-related genes: functional consequences and potential therapeutic applications

Apoptosis is a morphologically distinct form of cell death. It is executed and regulated by several groups of proteins. Bcl-2 family proteins are the main regulators of the apoptotic process acting either to inhibit or promote it. More than 20 members of the family have been identified so far and most have two or more isoforms. Alternative splicing is one of the major mechanisms providing proteomic complexity and functional diversification of the Bcl-2 family proteins. Pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members should function in harmony for the regulation of the apoptosis machinery, and their relative levels are critical for cell fate. Any mechanism breaking down this harmony by changing the relative levels of these antagonistic proteins could contribute to many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have shown that manipulation of the alternative splicing mechanisms could provide an opportunity to restore the proper balance of these regulator proteins. This review summarises current knowledge on the alternative splicing products of Bcl-2-related genes and modulation of splicing mechanisms as a potential therapeutic approach.Received 5 January 2004; received after revision 31 March 2004; accepted 6 April 2004