Volume 29, Issue 5-6

Pistacia vera, Anacardiaceae, Phytoglycolipids. Seeds Two phytoglycolipids (PGL 1 , PGL 2 ), which in qualitative composition of their long-chain bases, sugar components and fatty acids show a close similarity with the phytoglycolipids of other plant seeds, were isolated from the pistacchio seeds (Pistacia vera L .) . The saccharid chain contain inositol, glucuronic acid, glucosamin, mannose, galactose and arabinose. The major fatty acids were the saturated 2-hydroxy C 22 , C 23 and C 24 acids; the major long-chain bases were dehydrophyto-sphingosine and phytosphingosine. PGL 1 should posses the typical groundstructure of the seed phyto­ glycolipids. PGL 2 seems to contain a saccharid chain formed slight differently.

The coumarinic components of Poncirus trifoliata seeds were investigated. Two coumarins aurapten and 6-methoxy-7-geranyloxycoumarin were isolated and identified.

From the bark of Rhamnus frangula L. by polyamide chromatography a new anthrachinone-glycoside was isolated and structurally elucidated as 6-O-(ᴅ-Apiofuranosyl)-1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl-anthrachinone.

Corosin (8; R = R 1 = H) has been reisolated through a modified procedure, as its acetate (8; R=H, R 1 = Ac), in an overall yield of 0.2% from jute roots. On pyrolysis in vacuo, corosin gave pyro corosin (1a; R 1 = OH, R 2 = COOH, R 3 = R 5 = H, R 4 = R 6 = Me), shown to have a 12:18 (17) di-ene formed by elimination of the 19-OH and the angular C-28 carboxyl in the molecule. On rearrangement with concentrated sulphuric acid in acetic acid, corosin acetate gave corosin anhydro lactone acetate (7; R 1 = Ac, R = H), having a 13(18) double bond and a lactone bridge between the 28-carboxyl and the 20-carbon atom. Corosin acetate ester (8; R = Me, R 1 = Ac), on treatment with sulphuric-acetic acid reagent, gave as the main product anhydro corosin acetate ester (7; R = Me, R 1 = A c), with a 12:18(19)-diene. The structure of corosin is proposed to be urs-12-ene-2α, 3β, 19α-trihydroxy-24, 28-dioic acid (8; R = R 1 = H).

Phytochrome, Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase, Ascorbate Oxidase, Hoagland's Solution, Mustard Seedling Hoagland's nutrient solution (HS) * was used as a tool to investigate whether or not the phyto­ chrome-mediated appearance of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) * and ascorbate oxidase (AO) * in the mustard seedling cotyledons is simply a modulation of the appearance of these enzymes in the dark (basal level). HS was applied to the mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedling at sowing instead of distilled water. It was observed that HS causes a stimulation of enzyme dis­ appearance (interpreted as degradation) in light and dark. This effect becomes obvious at approximately 48 h after sowing. On the other hand, however, HS exerts specific effects on the appearance of the enzymes in continuous far-red light (which is considered to operate exclusively via phytochrome). In the case of PAL there is a strong stimulation of the rate of enzyme appearance; however, the onset of activity increase remains precisely at 29 h after sowing irrespective of treatment. In the case of AO the onset of activity increase is shifted by approximately 6 h ; however, the rate of enzyme appearance remains the same (up to 54 h after sowing). The data suggest that HS specifically affects phytochrome-mediated enzyme syntheses whereas syntheses of the same enzymes in the dark are not affected. It is concluded that the appearance of PAL and AO in the dark and phytochrome-mediated appearance of these enzymes are independent phenomena. Some consequences of these conclusions for the interpretation of density labelling data obtained with "inducible" enzymes are discussed.

It has been established that the uptake of radioactivity showed seasonal variations, although the experimental material was being cultivated all the year through in the same growth conditions in an airconditionned laboratory. Changes of the freshweight of the organs were also observed, but they were less than those in the uptake of radioactivity.

The inhibitory action of some herbicides on photosynthetic electron flow at photosystem II in isolated chloroplasts was investigated. Emphasis in the study is on compounds, whose chemical structure seemed to be in disaccordance with the basic structural element, proposed to be required for a photosystem II inhibitor. The effective inhibition of photosynthetic oxygen evolution by N-alkylated urea-, pyrrolidone-and by substituted pyridazine-derivatives without a free NH-group is reported. A revised basic chemical structural element responsible for inhibition is deduced in order to include lactames (ringclosed N-acylamides) with and without hetero atoms. From this new groups of potential inhibitors, like triazolone-, thiadiazolone-and oxadiazolone-derivatives may be conceived.

The uropygial gland secretion of the blade (Dryocopus martius) and the green woodpecker (Picus viridis) is a mixture of monoester waxes. These are composed mainly of 3-methyl-branched fatly acids and n-and well as 3-methyl-alkanols. Besides 3,x-dimethyl-and 3,7,11-trimethyl-sub-stituted fatty acids and monomethyl-branched alcohols with anteiso configuration and 3,x-dimethyl-substituted alkanols occur (x = 7,9,11,13,15,17).

The uropygial gland fats from four species of the family Corvidae are found to be mainly mono­ ester waxes, which consist of mono-, di-, and trimethyl substituted fatty acids and n- and methyl-branched alcohols. The positions of all methyl brandlings are even-numbered, the 2-position is preferred. About 2 - 40% of the secretions consist of triester waxes: Alkyl-hydroxy-malonic acids esterified with n-fatty acids and n-alcohols. Waxes of this type are very common in the uropygial gland fats of birds and therefore, in opposite to the monoester waxes, they are not usable for a chemotaxo­ nomy of birds.

Ambrosia Beetles, Attractant, Xyloterus 3-Hydroxy-3-methylbutan-2-one was found in equal amounts in the extracts of males and females of three species of ambrosia beetles: Xyloterus domesticus L., Xyloterus signatus F. and Xyloterus lineatus Oliv. The substance may play an important role as an attractant because the concentration is highest in the highly attractive extracts of boring beetles. Two additional compounds, 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methyl-butane and 2-hexanole were identified from X. domesticus extracts.

Methylmyristate and ethylpalmitate were identified from males and females of the ambrosia beetle Xyloterus domesticus L. The role of these compounds is discussed in connection with a brief survey concerning the occurrence of long-chain fatty-acid esters in other insects and in the phloem of softwood as attractants for bark beetles.

An affinity resin for the isolation of the serotonin receptor from nerve ending membranes was prepared by coupling tryptamine, 5-methoxy-tryptamine or serotonin to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4 B. The tryptamine derivatives, N-6-(aminohexyl)-tryptamines, were obtained by subsequent con­ densation of the corresponding indole derivatives with oxalyl chloride and t-aminocaproamide and reduction with LiAlH 4 . The 6-aminohexyl-group was used as spacer to link covalently the primary amino-group of tryptamine to agarose. - An extract of membrane proteins isolated from rat brain was resolved on this affinity resin into two fractions as compared with only one fraction using unsubstituted Sepharose 4 B.

1. The mean concentration of BBSP in the seminal bull plasma is 1.53 ± 0.30 mg/ml. This concentration decreases about 40% after 14 days storage at 4 °C. 2. There is only a small correlation between the concentration of BBSP in the seminalplasma and its fertilization capacity. 3. An artificial doubling of the normal BBSP concentration does not change the results of an artificial insemination. 4. The genital tract of bull has been investigated with immunofluorescent antibodies on the presence of BBSP. The results were negative. 5. Exprimed sperm from tail of epididymis didn't show fluorescence after treatment with cor­ respondent antibodies. However washed ejaculated sperms had a distinct fluorescence in the middle piece. After incubation of washed sperms with BBSP containing seminal plasma the entire surface of the sperms showed an additional immunofluorescence. 6. From this it is concluded that BBSP develops or is concentrated in the middle piece of sperms during its stay in the head of the epididymis. During the ejaculation a portion of the sperms is destroyed and therefore BBSP enters the seminalplasma. The sperms contain on the whole surface strongly negatively charged groups especially neuraminic acids. The BBSP binds to these groups. So the electrophoretic mobility of ejaculated sperms is reduced. 7. The BBSP has a strong leukotactic activity. This is the probable reason for the phagocytotie activity of seminal plasma.

The status of glutathione in the liver of male rats as a function of their age and acute stress was investigated. Total glutathione (TG), which is measured after the reduction of liver homo-genate with NaBH 4 , reduced glutathione (GSH) and disulfide glutathione (GSSG) increase with advancing age of the test animals (weights from 15 g to 350 g). The mixed glutathione disulfides [XSSG = TG - (GSH + 2GSSG)] of all ages amount to 2.0 μmol/g liver. Subsequent to the application of a stress with Vaccineurin III i.p. (weigth of 120 g), the TG values remain the same over a period of 24 hours; GSH decreases 30 min after the stress has been applied, whereas GSSG and XSSG increase. 60 min after the application of Vaccineurin, all values are within the controlled limits. 24 hours after the stress has been applied, GSH has increased and XSSG has decreased to 0.76 μmol/g fresh weight, whereas GSSG remains within the controlled limits. The causes of these changes in the status of glutathione are discussed.

A 15 min method for the isolation of clean liver cell nuclei from normal, starved, hepatectomized and sham operated mice in mediums not containing bivalent cations is described. The iso­lation medium contained 0.5 mм spermidine for stabilization of the nuclear membrane, and macaloid and EDTA for inhibition of RNase activity. The RNA/DNA ratio in normal liver cell nuclei was 0.25 - 0.29 and the protein/DNA ratio 5.2. The RNA/DNA ratio was 0.23-0.25 after starvation for 24 hours and increased to 0.5 at 72 and 144 hours after partial hepatectomy.

The behaviour of acid-soluble DNA precursors in synchronized and asynchronously growing yeast after X-irradiation is investigated by labeling techniques with 32 P i and by enzymic estimation. In prelabeled synchronized growing cells, radioactivity associated with deoxynucleoside triphosphates increases to maximum values shortly before each DNA replication, followed by a drastic decrease during S-phase. Radioactivity associated with monophosphates fluctuates, too, but with an opposite rhythm. These fluctuations apparently reflect quantitative changes of the DNA precursor pool during a cell cycle, as judged from the following findings: 1. Acid-soluble phosphorus is augmented stepwise. 2. "Specific" radioactivity from acid-soluble phosphorus compounds decreases steadily, indicating a continuous dilution of the labeled phosphorus pool with "cold" phosphorus. 3. Radioactivity associated with ribonucleotides fluctuates, too, but with a divergent rhythm. In X-irradiated synchronice growing yeast, the fluctuations of the deoxynucleotide-associated 32 P are disturbed only little. Maximum values appear nearly at the same time as in the control, they decrease to minor values even if DNA augmentation is delayed. This decrease is less drastic, however, than that during DNA replication in unirradiated yeast, yielding a slightly increased aver­ age label per generation time. At the same sime a rapid augmentation of monophosphate label is observed. A pronounced increase of deoxynucleotide- 32 P is seen with X-irradiated asynchronously growing yeast, pointing to distinct radiosensitivities of the DNA/DNA precursor system in different cell stages. Neither 32 P-fluctuations nor 32 P-accumulation during DNA delay can be explained by cor­ responding observations with acid-soluble phosphorus or with ribonucleotide pools. Studies on 32 P-incorporation also exclude radiation effects on cellular phosphorus uptake. Enzymic estimations of the deoxynucleoside triphosphate pools from asynchronously growing yeast rather exhibit a considerable increase of these substances during the radiation-induced delay of DNA augmentation. This accumulation of DNA precursors probably is caused by undisturbed synthesis, but reduced incorporation into DNA. The possible role of DNA repair in this system is discussed.

In cell suspensions of bacteria grown with 5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenyl-3 (2H)-pyridazinone (pyrazon) as sole source of carbon o-methyl-pvrazon and m-methyl-pyrazon were converted to the cor­ responding hydroxymethyl compounds. p-Methyl-pyrazon was not metabolized.

λ-Phages with different amounts of BU in their DNA-strands were irradiated with long wave­ length UV light (302/313 nm) and short wavelength UV-light (254 nm) in the presence and ab­ sence of cysteamine. It was found that the dose reduction factor is dependent on the percentage BU-substitution only after irradiation with UV-light of 254 nm, not after long wavelength UV-irradiation. Furthermore, the inactivation cross section is proportional to the BU-content of the DNA after irradiation with long and with short wavelength UV-light in the presence of cysteamine. The results lead to the conclusion that the presence of cysteamine inhibits energy transfer processes which occur after irradiation with UV-light of 254 nm in the absence of cysteamine.

Heat induction of E. coli CR 34 (λcI 857 )/λ growing in media with variing bromouracil (BU)-contents yielded A-phages with different amounts of BU in their DNA-strands. The percentage substitution of thymine was determined by buoyant density measurements in a CsCl-density gradient. After irradiation of the phages with long wavelength UV (302/313 nm) and short wavelength UV (254 nm) the sensitivity (loss of infectivity) was determined as a function of the degree of BU-substitution. It was found that after irradiation with long wavelength UV the cross section is proportional to the percentage BU-substitution, whereas after irradiation with short wavelength UV it is not. The results can be explained by assuming energy transfer from the four DNA-bases to the BU.