Disruption of mitochondrial function as the basis of the trypanocidal effect of trifluoperazine onTrypanosoma cruzi

Summary The tricyclic anti-calmodulin drug trifluoperazine (TFP) inhibited growth and motility of epimastigotes ofTrypanosoma cruzi, at concentrations lower than 100 M, and motility and infectivity of the bloodstream trypomastigote form at 200 M. Electron microscopy of TFP-treated epimastigotes showed that the major effect was at the mitochondrial level, with gross swelling and disorganization. The oligomycin-sensitive, mitochondrial ATPase was completely inhibited by 20 M TFP, and the same drug concentration caused a 60% decrease in intracellular ATP content. The results suggest that the trypanocidal effect of TFP may be related more to mitochondrial damage than to the well-known anticalmodulin effect of the drug.     

Morphological,biochemical and molecular changes during ectomycorrhiza development

Summary An ectomycorrhiza, a specialized root organ, is the result of a complex interaction leading to a finely-tuned symbiosis between a plant and a compatible ectomycorrhizal fungus. Ultrastructural observations combined with cytochemical and biochemical studies reveal that structural and metabolic changes in the symbiont cells lead to the final phenotype of the active ectomycorrhiza. In the present review these changes are interpreted as changes in gene expression and discussed within the context of ectomycorrhiza development. Recent genetic data indicate that the continued vegetative growth of the ectomycorrhizal hyphae and the root tissues, and their ability to switch to symbiotic organ formation, is basically controlled by developmentally critical genes. The activity of these symbiotic genes during the differentiation of ectomycorrhizas is associated with extensive changes in the concentration of particular polypeptides and protein biosynthesis. The present state of knowledge about the developmental biology of ectomycorrhizas allows only speculation about the events during their development.Puisant mes forces aux sources des galaxies En buvant la sève des arbres M. Jonasz     

Effect of feeding cereal-legume diets to rats on in vitro absorption of45Ca

Summary The in vitro absorption of calcium from the duodenum was significantly less in a group of rats fed on a wheat diet than in a group fed a wheat and Bengal gram (7030) diet.     

Gigantecin: A novel antimitotic and cytotoxic acetogenin,with nonadjacent tetrahydrofuran rings,fromGoniothalamus giganteus (Annonaceae)

Summary Gigantecin (I), a novel tetrahydroxy-di-tetrahydrofuran fatty acid -lactone (acetogenin), was isolated from an ethanolic extract of the stem bark ofGoniothalamus giganteus Hook. f., Thomas (Annonaceae), by means of activity-directed fractionation (brine shrimp lethality test). This new compound is extremely cytotoxic to human tumor cells, inhibits crown gall tumors on potato discs, and is active in an assay designed to detect antimitotic agents (9 ASK).     

Metabolism of 3β-hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oic acid in hamsters

Summary Metabolism of 26-hydroxycholesterol to 3-hydroxychol-5-en-24-oic acid and other C24-bile acids has been expected to occur by way of 3-hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oic acid in studies in vitro. 3-Hydroxycholest-5-en-26-oic acid was infused intravenously into bile fistula hamsters and the following C24-bile acids were identified: 3-hydroxychol-5-en-24-oic acid, lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and a small amount of cholic acid.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Naja siamensis</Emphasis>, a cryptic species of venomous snake revealed by mtDNA sequencing

Because of possible variation in venom composition, an understanding of venomous snake systematics is of great importance for the optimization of antivenom treatment of snakebite patients. Intraspecific variation in the morphology of many venomous snakes complicates the definition and indentification of some species when allopatric populations are involved. Selectively neutral or near-neutral mtDNA sequences can reveal evolutionary relationships obscured by ecogenetically-caused morphological variation. We use comparative sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene to reveal the existence of a widespread, cryptic species of spiting cobra from southeast Asia. This species,Naja siamensis, is widely sympatric with other Asiatic cobra species. This may be of considerable medical significance, and calls for further research into venom composition in Asiatic cobras.