A whole-genome admixture scan finds a candidate locus for multiple sclerosis susceptibility

Multiple sclerosis is a common disease with proven heritability, but, despite large-scale attempts, no underlying risk genes have been identified. Traditional linkage scans have so far identified only one risk haplotype for multiple sclerosis (at HLA on chromosome 6), which explains only a fraction of the increased risk to siblings. Association scans such as admixture mapping have much more power, in principle, to find the weak factors that must explain most of the disease risk. We describe here the first high-powered admixture scan, focusing on 605 African American cases and 1,043 African American controls, and report a locus on chromosome 1 that is significantly associated with multiple sclerosis.     

Evolutionary instability of ectomycorrhizal symbioses in basidiomycetes

Mycorrhizae, the symbiotic associations of plant roots and fungal hyphae, are classic examples of mutualisms. In these ecologically important associations, the fungi derive photosynthetic sugars from their plant hosts, which in turn benefit from fungus-mediated uptake of mineral nutrients. Early views on the evolution of symbioses suggested that all long-term, intimate associations tend to evolve toward mutualism. Following this principle, it has been suggested that mycorrhizal symbioses are the stable derivatives of ancestral antagonistic interactions involving plant parasitic fungi. Alternatively, mutualisms have been interpreted as inherently unstable reciprocal parasitisms, which can be disrupted by conflicts of interest among the partners. To determine the number of origins of mycorrhizae, and to assess their evolutionary stability, it is necessary to understand the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa involved. Here we present a broad phylogenetic analysis of mycorrhizal and free-living homobasidiomycetes (mushroom-forming fungi). Our results indicate that mycorrhizal symbionts with diverse plant hosts have evolved repeatedly from saprotrophic precursors, but also that there have been multiple reversals to a free-living condition. These findings suggest that mycorrhizae are unstable, evolutionarily dynamic associations.     

Natural occurrence of 2-5A in interferon-treated EMC virus-infected L cells.

Until now the interferon-mediated 2'-5' adenine oligonucleotide inhibitors (2-5A) of cell-free protein synthesis have not been detected in intact cells. Here we report their natural occurrence in interferon-treated, EMC virus-infected mouse L cells in amounts consistent with the idea that they play a part in the inhibition of virus growth.     

Alkaloid studies XXV. The structure of the Aspidosperma alkaloids cylindrocarpine and cylindrocarpidine

Zusammenfassung Die Strukturaufklärung von Cylindrocarpin (II) und Cylindrocarpidin (IV) zeigt, dass diese zwei Alkaloide die ersten Mitglieder der Aspidosperminfamilie (I) sind, in denen eine sauerstoffhaltige Seitenkette anstatt der gewöhnlichen C-5-Äthylgruppe vorliegt.

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Paper XXIV,T. Nakano, C. Djerassi, R. A. Corral, andO. O. Orazi, J. org. Chem., in press.

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Postdoctorate research fellow, 1958–1960.     

Alkaloid studies XXIII isolation of four new aspidosperma alkaloids: Cylindrocarpine,refractine, pyrifoline,and pyrifolidine

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung von vier neuenAspidosperma-Alkaloiden ergabCylindrocarpin (erstes N-Cinnamoyl-dihydroindolderivat) sowieRefractin, Pyrifolin undPyrifolidin (alles N-Acetyl-dihydroindole), die alle vier eine Methoxylgruppe im Dihydroindolsystem besitzen.

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Postdoctorate research fellow 1958–1959 (Wayne State University); 1959–1960 (Stanford University).

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Paper XXII,J. S. E. Holker, M. Cais, F. A. Hochstein undC. Djerassi, J. org. Chem.24, 314 (1959).     

The prevention of experimentally induced reticulo-sarcoma by hypothyroidism

Zusammenfassung Die Entstehung von Reticulosarkom bei Ratten nach mehrmaliger Injektion von Trypanblau kann unterdrückt werden durch Entkräftung, Verabreichung anti-thyreoidaler Mittel und durch alle andern Faktoren, welche den Stoffwechsel herabsetzen.     

The antimicrobial activity of some insect extracts possessing juvenile hormone activity

Zusammenfassung Extraktstoffe vonH. cecropia, S. cynthia undR. orizaba zeigten antibakterielle Wirkung gegenüber mehreren Mikroorganismen. Ein schwächerer Effekt wurde auch mit den Extraktstoffen vonGalleria mellonella, adulten Männchen vonCynthia- und vonCecropia-Puppen beobachtet. Die antimikrobielle Aktivität wurde mit dem Fettsäureanteil der Extraktstoffe in Beziehung gesetzt und von der Wirkung des Juvenilhormons abgegrenzt.

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Supported by Grants G-7597 from NSF and A-2818 from U.S.P.H.S.