Dimethyloxarsylethanol from anaerobic decomposition of brown kelp (Ecklonia radiata): A likely precursor of arsenobetaine in marine fauna

Summary The novel arsenic compound, dimethyloxarsylethanol, has been isolated from anaerobically incubatedEcklonia radiata. It is proposed that this compound has a key position in the biosynthesis of arsenobetaine.C, H microanalyses were performed by the Australian Microanalytical Service.     

Development of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measurement of vitellogenin concentrations in cockroaches

Summary A competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the quantification of a large lipoprotein, namely the yolk protein vitellogenin, in the haemolymph of cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea). This assay was found to be specific, reproducible and it has a high sensitivity (approximately 10 ng).Acknowledgments. We would like to express our thanks to Prof. H. Fey and Ms H. Pfister, Veterinary Bacteriological Institute, University of Berne, for introducing us into the ELISA methodology, to P. Beyeler for technical assistance and to M. Kaltenrieder for drawing the graphs. We also thank the Sandoz Foundation for a fellowship to M. Dumas and the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant No. 3. 188-0.77) for financial support.     

Inhibition of neurotensin (NT)-induced glucagon release by [D-Trp11]-NT1

Summary A synthetic analog of neurotensin (NT), [D-Trp¹¹]-NT, antagonized NT-induced hyperglucagonemia and hyperglycemia, and also NT-induced glucagon release from pancreatic islets in rats.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Imanaga Medical Research Foundation, Nagoya, Japan. Address for reprint requests: M.U., Department of Surgery, National Nagoya Railway Hospital, Taiko 1-chome, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 453, Japan.     

Receptors for thymosin fraction V on rat thymic lymphocytes

Summary Binding by rat thymus lymphocytes of thymosin V, labeled with colloidal gold, was studied. Under the experimental conditions employed at least 2.8% cells exhibited thymosin binding sites.This article originally appeared in Experientia 38 (5) 1982, p. 618 but was accompanied by imporperfigures. Supported by Polish Academy of SciencesThe authors thank Dr A.L. Goldstein for the gift of thymosin. Also are grateful to Dr J. Jaroszewski for helpful discussion.     

Cytotoxicity of new cytochalasans fromChaetomium globosum

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass CHCl₃-Rohextrakte aus Myzelien und Filtraten der Zuchtmedien vonChaetomium globosum Kunze ex Fries einen akuten toxischen Effect auf HeLa-Zellen in vitro, sowie auf Mäuse zeigten. Chaetoglobosine die aus Mycelium-Rohextrakt isoliert wurden und chemisch zu den Cytochalasanen gehören, induzierten in HeLa-Zellen eine Polynukleierung und multipolare Kernverteilung. Auch beim Chaetogobosin wird eine Mikrofilament-Schädigung angenommen.