Guggulsterol-like steroids from the Mediterranean gorgonianLeptogorgia sarmentosa

Summary Several polyoxygenated steroids (1, 2, 3) have been isolated from the marine gorgonianLeptogorgia sarmentosa. One of these (1) is the known guggulsterol III, previously found in the pharmacologically active resin from the treeCommiphora mukul; the others,2 and3, have not been found before in nature, and are closely related to1. During the structural work apparent anomalies in the CMR-spectra of1 were observed.The authors are grateful to Prof. Sukh Dev for the PMR-spectra of guggulsterol III. Thanks are also due to Zoological Station (Naples), for the collection of the gorgonian, to Centro Metodologie Chimico-Fisiche, Università di Napoli, for recording PMR-spectra on WH-270 Superconducting Spectrometer-Bruker, to Mr C. Di Pinto for the CMR-spectra and to Mr A. Milone for the MS spectral measurements.     

Methionine enkephalin inhibits the bursting activity of the Br-type neuron inHelix pomatia L.

Summary The present study demonstrates that methionine enkephalin can inhibit the normal bursting activity pattern of the RPal or Br-type neuron and this inhibition can be blocked by prior treatment with naloxone, the selective opiate antagonist. The study demonstrates indirectly the presence of opiate-like receptors inHelix pomatia.Acknowledgments. This work was funded by grant RR 08171 Division of Research Resources and NIMH, and a National Academy of Sciences Travel grant and a Hungarian Academy of Sciences research support award to G.B.S. We also gratefully acknowledge thoughtful comments from Dr J. Salanki.     

Prenylated quinones in marine sponges:Ircinia sp

Riassunto Viene descritto l'isolamento del 2-tetraprenil-1,4-benzochinone, del corrispondente idrochinone e dell' acido 4-idrossi-3-tetraprenilbenzoico dalla spugnaIrcinia muscarum. Il rinvenimento di quest'ultimo suggerisce che il precursore dell'anello dei chinoni prenilati non sostituiti e dei loro corrispondenti idrochinoni, ritrovati nelle spugne, sia l'acidop-idrossibenzoico, come nel caso degli ubichinoni. Vengono, inoltre, riportate alcune considerazioni sulle possibili relazioni biogenetiche nelle spugne tra gli ubichinoni e questi insoliti chinoni.     

Initial genome sequencing and analysis of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy of plasma cells, and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we report the massively parallel sequencing of 38 tumour genomes and their comparison to matched normal DNAs. Several new and unexpected oncogenic mechanisms were suggested by the pattern of somatic mutation across the data set. These include the mutation of genes involved in protein translation (seen in nearly half of the patients), genes involved in histone methylation, and genes involved in blood coagulation. In addition, a broader than anticipated role of NF-κB signalling was indicated by mutations in 11 members of the NF-κB pathway. Of potential immediate clinical relevance, activating mutations of the kinase BRAF were observed in 4% of patients, suggesting the evaluation of BRAF inhibitors in multiple myeloma clinical trials. These results indicate that cancer genome sequencing of large collections of samples will yield new insights into cancer not anticipated by existing knowledge.