Preformed azulene pigments ofLactarius indigo (Schw.) Fries (Russulaceae,Basidiomycetes)

Summary The structure of a new naturally-occurring azulene, 1-stearoyloxymethylene-4-methyl-7-isopropenylazulene, obtained from an acetone extract of the blue mushroomLactarius indigo, has been determined by chemical and spectral methods.This paper is dedicated to Prof. André Dreiding, Zürich, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

The chemical basis of the color dimorphism of an aphid,Macrosiphum liriodendri (monell), and a locust,Amblycorypha sp. Novel carotenoids

Zusammenfassung Der Unterschied in der Färbung von rosa und grünen Varianten der BlattlausMacrosiphum liriodendri beruht auf Unterschieden der Carotinoid-Fraktionen. Einige dieser Carotinoide gehören zu Typen, die bisher nur in Mikroorganismen angetroffen worden sind, was Verschiedenheit in Art oder biosynthetischer Aktivität von Mikrosymbionten als Ursache des Pigmentierungs-Dimorphismus vermuten lässt. Die Färbung der seltenen rosa Variante der HeuschreckeAmblycorypha scheint durch einen Carotinoid-Protein-Komplex bedingt zu sein.

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The authors are indebted to Dr. S.Liaaen-Jensen for identification of our carotenoids, advice on chromatographic techniques, and advance information on her pigment P-444, to Dr.Louise M.Russell for taxonomic identification of the aphid species, to Dr. D. W.Cameron for that of the aphinin, and To Mr. W. E.Comstock for mass spectra.     

Angiogenic factor in vitreous from diabetic retinopathy

Vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy contains an angiogenic substance which stimulates the proliferation of blood vessels on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, whereas vitreous from non-diabetics who do not have a proliferative retinopathy does not.     

The sex-specific genetic architecture of quantitative traits in humans

Mapping genetically complex traits remains one of the greatest challenges in human genetics today. In particular, gene-environment and gene-gene interactions, genetic heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance make thorough genetic dissection of complex traits difficult, if not impossible. Sex could be considered an environmental factor that can modify both penetrance and expressivity of a wide variety of traits. Sex is easily determined and has measurable effects on recognizable morphology; neurobiological circuits; susceptibility to autoimmune disease, diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular and psychiatric disease; and quantitative traits like blood pressure, obesity and lipid levels, among others. In this study, we evaluated sex-specific heritability and genome-wide linkages for 17 quantitative traits in the Hutterites. The results of this study could have important implications for mapping complex trait genes.     

HIV infection of primate lymphocytes and conservation of the CD4 receptor

The CD4 T-lymphocyte differentiation antigen is an essential component of the cell surface receptor for human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs) causing AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) (refs 1-3). Peripheral blood lymphocytes of apes, New World and Old World monkeys express cell surface antigens homologous to CD4 of human T-helper lymphocytes. The cells of several of these species can be infected in short term culture with diverse strains of the type-1 or type-2 human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2). HIV-1 is the prototype AIDS virus, and HIV-2 is the second type of AIDS virus, prevalent in West Africa. Infection of the primate cells correlates with evolutionary conservation on CD4 of one particular epitope cluster, and is inhibited by treatment of the cells with monoclonal antibodies to this epitope. The capacity of HIV to replicate in simian cells may provide a means for evaluating antiviral drugs and vaccines.