The structure of byssochlamic acid

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur desp-Bromphenylhydrazids der Byssochlamsäure, des charakteristischen Stoffwechselproduktes vonByssochlamys fulva, wurde durch dreidimensionale Röntgenanalyse bestimmt. Die Resultate stellen eine Bestimmung der Konstitution und Stereochemie (abgesehen von der absoluten Konfiguration) desp-Bromphenylhydrazids als (I) und demnach der Byssochlamsäure als (II) dar.     

Mangroves enhance the biomass of coral reef fish communities in the Caribbean

Mangrove forests are one of the world's most threatened tropical ecosystems with global loss exceeding 35% (ref. 1). Juvenile coral reef fish often inhabit mangroves, but the importance of these nurseries to reef fish population dynamics has not been quantified. Indeed, mangroves might be expected to have negligible influence on reef fish communities: juvenile fish can inhabit alternative habitats and fish populations may be regulated by other limiting factors such as larval supply or fishing. Here we show that mangroves are unexpectedly important, serving as an intermediate nursery habitat that may increase the survivorship of young fish. Mangroves in the Caribbean strongly influence the community structure of fish on neighbouring coral reefs. In addition, the biomass of several commercially important species is more than doubled when adult habitat is connected to mangroves. The largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic, Scarus guacamaia, has a functional dependency on mangroves and has suffered local extinction after mangrove removal. Current rates of mangrove deforestation are likely to have severe deleterious consequences for the ecosystem function, fisheries productivity and resilience of reefs. Conservation efforts should protect connected corridors of mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.     

Mutations in NOTCH2 cause Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, a disorder of severe and progressive bone loss

We used an exome-sequencing strategy and identified an allelic series of NOTCH2 mutations in Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder characterized by severe and progressive bone loss. The Hajdu-Cheney syndrome mutations are predicted to lead to the premature truncation of NOTCH2 with either disruption or loss of the C-terminal proline-glutamate-serine-threonine-rich proteolytic recognition sequence, the absence of which has previously been shown to increase Notch signaling.     

Sequence variants in the autophagy gene IRGM and multiple other replicating loci contribute to Crohn's disease susceptibility

A genome-wide association scan in individuals with Crohn's disease by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium detected strong association at four novel loci. We tested 37 SNPs from these and other loci for association in an independent case-control sample. We obtained replication for the autophagy-inducing IRGM gene on chromosome 5q33.1 (replication P = 6.6 x 10(-4), combined P = 2.1 x 10(-10)) and for nine other loci, including NKX2-3, PTPN2 and gene deserts on chromosomes 1q and 5p13.     

Cortinarius speciosissimus toxins — a preliminary report

Summary Methanolic extracts ofCortinarius speciosissimus yielded a fluorescent compound which was crystallized and shown to be a cyclic polypeptide. The compound, or an analogue, has been found in most members of the genusCortinarius.The authors acknowledge the help of Dr M. Stewart, Department of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, for the amino acid analysis. This work was supported by the Scottish Home and Health Department, grant No. H/MRS/S)/C350.