Response ofPisum sativum linn. to gibberellic acid

Zusammenfassung Die Applikation von Gibberellinsäure beiPisum sativum bewirkt im vegetativen Entwicklungsstadium eine Ertragssteigerung, im Blühstadium eine Ertragsverminderung.     

Piezo proteins are pore-forming subunits of mechanically activated channels

Mechanotransduction has an important role in physiology. Biological processes including sensing touch and sound waves require as-yet-unidentified cation channels that detect pressure. Mouse Piezo1 (MmPiezo1) and MmPiezo2 (also called Fam38a and Fam38b, respectively) induce mechanically activated cationic currents in cells; however, it is unknown whether Piezo proteins are pore-forming ion channels or modulate ion channels. Here we show that Drosophila melanogaster Piezo (DmPiezo, also called CG8486) also induces mechanically activated currents in cells, but through channels with remarkably distinct pore properties including sensitivity to the pore blocker ruthenium red and single channel conductances. MmPiezo1 assembles as a ～1.2-million-dalton homo-oligomer, with no evidence of other proteins in this complex. Purified MmPiezo1 reconstituted into asymmetric lipid bilayers and liposomes forms ruthenium-red-sensitive ion channels. These data demonstrate that Piezo proteins are an evolutionarily conserved ion channel family involved in mechanotransduction.     

Leishmania donovani in hamsters: Stimulation of non-specific resistance by some novel glycopeptides and impact on therapeutic efficacy

Summary Several glycopeptides structurally related to muramyl dipeptide (MDP) have been synthesized and evaluated for their ability to stimulate the non-specific resistance of hamsters againstL. donovani infection. These compounds have been named CDRI compounds. The synthetic procedure used for compounds 86/448 and 84/212 is described.MDP and its synthetic congeners were administered as immunostimulants at a prophylactic dose of 3 mg/kg at two weeks interval. The challenge infection (1×10⁷ amastigotes i.c./hamster) was given in between two doses of the compounds. One of the glycopeptides, CDRI comp. 86/448, has been found to be significantly more potent than MDP, effecting 92% inhibition of the challenge dose, whereas MDP produced only 26.5% inhibition. The effect of comp. 86/448 lasted until day 7 of challenge. The efficacy of sodium stibogluconate was appreciably improved in hamsters treated with comp. 86/448.     

Leishmania donovani in hamsters: Stimulation of non-specific resistance by novel lipopeptides and their effect in antileishmanial therapy

Several novel type of lipopeptides were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to stimulate non-specific resistance againstLeishmania donovani infection. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from young male hamsters treated with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and various synthetic lipopeptides (6 mg/kg i.p.) 7 days earlier, were cultured in vitro and challenged 24 h later withL. donovani promastigotes. One lipopeptide, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) compound 86/450, exhibited significantly higher immunostimulatory activity than MDP. Its prophylactic activity was further confirmed in hamsters by giving 2 split doses of 3 mg/kg of the compound spaced at 2 weeks, i.e. on day –7 and +7 of challenge withL. donovani amastigotes. The prophylactic effect lasted for 7 days following the last treatment with compound 86/450. The antileishmanial action of sodium stibogluconate (SAG) was also found to be enhanced by 16% in hamsters primed with compound 86/450.CDRI Communication No. 5034.     

The synthesis of a decapeptide with glycosidase activity

Zusammenfassung Auf Grund theoretischer Überlegungen sollte das Dekapeptid Glu-Phe-Ala-Ala-Glu-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ser-Phe Glykosidase-Aktivität besitzen. Das synthetische Produkt bestätigt diese Erwartung sowohl gegenüber Chitin als auch Dextran.

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Communication No. 1722 from the Central Drug Research Institute constitutes synthetic substitute enzymes Pt. V, presented in part at the I.U.P.A.C. symposium on Natural Products, New Delhi, Feb. 1972.     

Dimorphic sperms ofRhinopoma kinneari (Chiroptera)

Résumé Les spermatozoïdes deRhinopoma kinneari sont dimorphes et diffèrent les uns des autres dans leur forme et leur longeur totale, mais la longueur de leur tête reste constante. Ils peuvent être du type X et Y comme ceux des autres mammifères.     

Effect of ionizing radiation on the testes of rat

Zusammenfassung Röntgenstrahlen haben einen bemerkenswerten Einfluss auf die Inklusionen der männlichen Geschlechtszellen, wie er durch die Verklumpung des Chromatins, die Aggregation der Mitochondrien und die Granulanatur des Golgikörpers evident wird.