Arachidonic acid pools of rat kidney cell nuclei

We have assessed that nuclear lipids from rat kidney cells are not only membrane components, but they are also found within the nucleus. The most abundant nuclear and endonuclear lipids have a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (n-6 series: arachidonic > linoleic), mainly esterified to PtdCho. Nuclear most abundant molecular species are 16:0–20:4, 16:0–18:2, 18:0–20:4, 18:0–18:2, and 16:0–18:1. Arachidonic acid is esterified at the sn-2 position of PtdCho: 16:0–20:4(25%), 18:0–20:4(15%), 18:2–20:4(3%), 18:1–20:4(2%). Exogenous [1-¹⁴C]20:4n-6-CoA is esterified in vitro in GP (glycerophospholipids) > > TAG and DAG. Five PtdCho molecular species were labeled: 16:0–20:4, 18:0–20:4, 18:1–20:4, 18:2–20:4, and 20:4–20:4. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that: (1) there is an important lipid pool within kidney cell nuclei; (2) main nuclear and endonuclear lipid pools were PtdCho molecular species which contained a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (20:4n-6 and 18:2n-6) esterified at sn-2 position and 16:0 esterified at sn-1 position; (3) kidney cell nuclei also contained the necessary enzymes to esterify exogenous 20:4n-6-CoA to glycerolipids and to GP; (4) exogenous 20:4n-6-CoA was esterified in five PtdCho molecular species with 20:4n-6 at the sn-2 position, although the most actively synthesized PtdCho contained 20:4n-6 at both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of the molecule; (5) we can infer that by a remodeling process, the unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-1 position of PtdCho molecular species could be replaced by 16:0 and 18:0, and thus PtdCho would achieve the physiological profile characteristic of the organ.     

Lipid Molecular Species of Lipomyces starkeyi

The molecular species of glycerides and phospholipids of the yeast Lipomyces starkeyi IFO 0678 harvested at 60 hr, corresponding to the late exponential phase, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major triglyceride was C_16:0–C_18:1–C_18:1. The major molecular species of phospholipid were 1–C_16:0–2–C_18:1 and 1–C_18:1–2–C_18:2. Although phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanol amine were composed of several kinds of molecular species, 1–C_16:1–2–C_18:1, 1–C_18:1–2–C_18:2 and l-C_16:0–2–C_18:1, phosphatidylserine was composed of almost exclusively 1–C_16:0-2-C_18:1. The lipid and the fatty acid compositions of the yeast harvested at the different growth phases were also investigated.     

Distinct regions of Praja-1 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase selectively bind to docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol kinase δ

1-Stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl (18:0/22:6)-phosphatidic acid (PA) interacts with and activates Praja-1 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (full length: 615 aa) to ubiquitinate and degrade the serotonin transporter (SERT). SERT modulates serotonergic system activity and is a therapeutic target for depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) δ2 (full length: 1214 aa) interacts with Praja-1 in addition to SERT and generates 18:0/22:6-PA, which binds and activates Praja-1. In the present study, we investigated the interaction of Praja-1 with 18:0/22:6-PA and DGKδ2 in more detail. We first found that the N-terminal one-third region (aa 1–224) of Praja-1 bound to 18:0/22:6-PA and that Lys141 in the region was critical for binding to 18:0/22:6-PA. In contrast, the C-terminal catalytic domain of Praja-1 (aa 446–615) interacted with DGKδ2. Additionally, the N-terminal half of the catalytic domain (aa 309–466) of DGKδ2 intensely bound to Praja-1. Moreover, the N-terminal region containing the pleckstrin homology and C1 domains (aa 1–308) and the C-terminal half of the catalytic domain (aa 762–939) of DGKδ2 weakly associated with Praja-1. Taken together, these results reveal new functions of the N-terminal (aa 1–224) and C-terminal (aa 446–615) regions of Praja-1 and the N-terminal half of the catalytic region (aa 309–466) of DGKδ2 as regulatory domains. Moreover, it is likely that the DGKδ2–Praja-1–SERT heterotrimer proximally arranges the 18:0/22:6-PA-producing catalytic domain of DGKδ2, the 18:0/22:6-PA-binding regulatory domain of Praja-1, the ubiquitin-protein ligase catalytic domain of Praja-1 and the ubiquitination acceptor site-containing SERT C-terminal region.     

Diagrammatic Scales for Assessing Brown Eye Spot (Cercospora coffeicola) in Red and Yellow Coffee Cherries

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer. Brown eye spot (BES) (Cercospora coffeicola) is a major crop disease that can cause 15–30% production losses and decrease the coffee beverage quality. Although the influence of this disease on beverage quality has been studied, diagrammatic scales for assessment of the disease severity in berries are still unexplored. Thus, this study has developed and validated diagrammatic scales to assess the severity of BES. Two diagrammatic scales were designed to assess the disease in berries, which can be yellow or red depending on the cultivar. The scale of yellow berries had nine grades: grade 0: 0%; 1: 0.1–5.0%; 2: 5.1–10.0%; 3: 10.1–15.0%; 4: 15.1–20.0%; 5: 20.1–30.0%; 6: 30.1–40.0%; 7: 40.1–60.0%; and 8: higher than 60.0%, while the scale of red berries had eight grades: grade 0: 0%; 1: 0.1–2.5%; 2: 2.6–5.0%; 3: 5.1–10.0%; 4: 10.1–20.0%; 5: 20.1–30.0%; 6: 30.1–50.0%; and 7: higher than 50.0% severity. Using scales improved accuracy and precision with R² = 0.99 and provided good repeatability and reproducibility of assessments of disease severity. Both scales can be used because the different berry colour influenced the accuracy and precision between the scales.     

Book review

International Regulation of Whaling: From Conservation of Whaling to Conservation of Whales and Regulation of Whale‐Watching, by Patricia Birnie. Oceana Publications, 1985. 2 volumes: Vol. I ISBN 0–379–20602–1: Vol. II ISBN 0–379–20604–8, $100 per set.     

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of fatty acid profiles of Antarctic and non-Antarctic yeasts

The fatty acid profiles of Antarctic (n = 7) and non-Antarctic yeasts (n = 7) grown at different temperatures were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The Antarctic yeasts were enriched in oleic 18:1 (20–60 %), linoleic 18:2 (20–50 %) and linolenic 18:3 (5–40 %) acids with lesser amounts of palmitic 16:0 (<15 %) and palmitoleic 16:1 (<10 %) acids. The non-Antarctic yeasts (n = 4) were enriched in 18:1 (20–55 %, with R. mucilaginosa at 75–80 %) and 18:2 (10–40 %) with lesser amounts of 16:0 (<20 %), 16:1 (<20 %) and stearic 18:0 (<10 %) acids. By contrast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (n = 3) were enriched in 16:1 (30–50 %) and 18:1 (20–40 %) with lesser amounts of 16:0 (10–25 %) and 18:0 (5–10 %) acids. Principal component analysis grouped the yeasts into three clusters, one belonging to the S. cerevisiae strains (enriched in 16:0, 16:1 and 18:1), one to the other non-Antarctic yeasts (enriched in 18:1 and 18:2) and the third to the Antarctic yeasts (enriched in 18:2 and 18:3).     

BOOK REVIEWS

Bailey, Robert G. 1998. Ecoregions: the ecosystem geography of the oceans and continents. ix + 176 pp. Springer‐Verlag, New York. ISBN 0–387–98311–2 (softcover), 0–387–98305–8 (hardcover). Price: USD 39.95 (soft cover); USD 79.95 (hard cover).     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this issue. Packham, J. R., Harding, D. J. L., Hilton, G. M. & Stuttard, R. A. 1992. Functional Ecology of Woodlands & Forests . xii + 408 pp. Chapman & Hall, London. Cloth ISBN 0–412–44390–2. Price: USD 95.-. Paper ISBN 0–412–43950–6. Price: USD 35.-.     

Book review

Biological Fouling of Industrial Water Systems: A Problem Solving Approach, by Marc W Mittelman and Gill G Geesey. Published by Water Micro Associates (1987), San Diego. 357pp. ISBN 0–9619642–0–0     

Book reviews

SELENIUM IN THE ENVIRONMENT. Edited by W T Frankenberger Jr and Sally Benson. Marcel Dekker Incorporated, 1994; 472 pp; US $165; ISBN: 0–8247 8993–8

AGROCHEMICALS FROM NATURAL PRODUCTS. Edited by C R A Godfrey. Marcel Dekker Incorporated, 1995; 472 pp; US $165; ISBN 0–8247–9553–9

NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT. Edited by P E Bacon. Marcel Dekker Incorporated, 1995; 608 pp; US $185; ISBN: 0–8247–8994–6     

Book reviews

William T. Burke. The New International Law of Fisheries: UNCLOS 1982 and Beyond. 1994. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. 382 pp. ISBN 0–19–825251‐X (cloth), $105.00.

Jon M. Van Dyke, Durwood Zealke, and Grant Hewison, eds. Freedom for the Seas in the 21st Century: Ocean Governance and Environmental Harmony. 1993. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. 504 pp. ISBN 1–55963–241–0 (cloth), $55.00. ISBN 1–55963–242–9 (paper), $27.50.     

The operational strategies of theoretical morphology

THEORETICAL MORPHOLOGY: THE CONCEPT AND ITS APPLICATIONS, by George R. McGhee, 1999. Columbia University Press, New York, 316 p. ISBN 0–231–10616–5 (hardback), $60.00; ISBN 0–231–10617–3 (paperback), $26.50     

Composition of Gigartina carrageenan in relation to sporophyte and gametophyte stages of the life cycle

Total carrageenan levels (55–88% of plant dry weight) of four Gigartina species showed little variation between male, female and tetrasporic plants. However whereas male and female gametophyte plants gave carrageenans with K: λ ratios usually ranging from 1·0 to 4·0, with one species in the range 0·3–0·8, tetrasporophyte carrageenans gave very low K: λ ratios, 0·02–0·1, indicative of a virtual absence of K-carrageenan from plants of this stage of the life cycle.     

Phospholipids of membranes of cultured cells and the products of protoplast fusion

The variety and distribution of phospholipids in the cell membranes of cultured cells and their fatty acid composition were analysed. Membranes of suspension cultured cells of Rauwolfia serpentina var. Bentham, Nicotiana tabacum var. Samsun, Atropa belladonna and Bouvardia ternifolia had almost the same composition of phosphatidylcholine, PC (ca 50%); phosphatidylethanolamine, PE (ca 25%); phosphatidylinositol, PI (ca 10%); phosphatidylglycerol, PG (several %); and phosphatidic acid, PA (several %). We determined the distribution of the molecular species of the three major phospholipid fractions (PC, PE and PI) in R.serpentina and N.tabacum. Membranes of both cell-types contained basically similar molecular species, 1–16:0/2–18:2 the main type, particularly in the PC- and PE- fractions; 1–18:2/2–18:2 and 1–18:0/2–18:2 for R. serpentina; and 1–16:0/2–18:3, 1-18:0/2-18:3 and 1-18:2/2-18:2 for N.tabacum. The influence of membrane fluidity on protoplast fusion as effected by the phase transition of the phospholipids, is discussed.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-fatty-acylamido-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thioglycosides

In the present study, the synthesis of 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-based thioglycosides were accomplished in good yields with employing a convergent synthetic route. The starting material 5-amino-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thiol and followed by a series of 5-fatty-acylamido-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thiols (4a–4j) were synthesized with different fatty acid chlorides. The glycosylation of compounds 4a–4j were achieved with trichloroacetimidate methodology. Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of title compounds were evaluated. Among the entire compounds lauric acid and myristic acid derivatives showed good and moderate antimicrobial activity. In case of cytotoxicity results of compounds 8a–8j and 9a–9j, the acetate protected short chain (C6:0, C8:0, C10:0) compounds and the free hydroxyl long chain saturated (C16:0, C18:0) and unsaturated (C18:1, C22:1) compounds exhibited good activity against different cancer cell lines. Further, the free hydroxyl compounds 9a, 9c–9j did not show any toxicity towards normal CHO-K1 cell line whereas acylated compounds 8a–8j exhibited toxicity.     

Identification of diacylglycerol-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine in the halotolerant alga, Dunaliella parva

An unusual zwitterionic polar lipid component isolated from the halotolerant alga, Dunaliella parva Lerche, has been identified as 1(3),2-diacylglyceryl-3(1)-O-4′-(N,N,N-trimethyl) homoserine by means of infrared spectrometry, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectrometry and field desorption mass spectrometry of the intact lipid, as well as by its TLC mobilities and staining behaviour. Mass spectrometry of this lipid indicated the presence of the following major molecular species: 16:0–18:0 (24%); 18:3–18:3 (19%); 16:0–18:2 (16%); 16:0–18:1 (8%).     

BUCHBESPRECHUNGEN

Grzimek , B. (Ed.): Grzimeks Enzyklopädie der Säugetiere – Bund 2 : München: Kindler-Verlag 1988. 648 S., zahlreiche Abb. Lexikon-Großformat. Leinenausgabe: Subskriptionspreis DM 128,–, später DM 148,–, ISBN 3–463-42002-3; Luxusausgabe (Halbleder): Subskriptionspreis DM 168,–, später DM 198,–, ISBN 3–463-42102-X. Patterson , C. (Ed.): Molecules und morphology in evolution – conflict or compromise? Cambridge, London, New York, New Rochelle, Melbourne, Sidney: Cambridge University Press 1987. £25.00, $49.50, ISBN H/b 0–521-32271-5. £9.95, $15.95, ISBN P/b 0–521-33860-3. Kuhn , H.-J.; Zeller , U. (Hrsg.): Morphogenesis of the mammalian skull . Mammalia depicta (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde) Heft 13. Hamburg und Berlin: Paul Parey 1987. 144 S., 68 Abb., 5 Tab. DM 88,-; für Mitglieder der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde DM 70,40. ISBN 3–490-17718-5. O'Neill , R. V.; De Angelis , D. L.; Waide , J. B.; Allen , T. F. H.: A Hierarchical Concept of Ecosystems . Monographs in Population Biology 23. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press 1986. 254 pp., 20 figs. cloth $ 45,–, paper $ 14.50. Schram , F. R.: Crustacea . New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press 1986. XIV, 606 pp., num. figs. £50.00. ISBN 0–19-503742-1. Doolittle , D. P.: Population Genetics: Basis Principles . Advanced Series in Agricultural Science Vol. 16. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo: Springer Verlag 1987. X, 264 pp., 20 figs. Soft cover DM 70,–. ISBN 3–540-17326-9. Benirschke , K. (Ed.): Primates . The road to self-sustaining populations. With a foreword by Diamond , J. Proceedings of a conference held in San Diego, California, June 24–28. 1985, sponsored by the Morns animal foundation, Englewood, Colorado, and the Zoological Society of San Diego, California. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo: Springer Verlag 1986. 164 figs. XXIII, 1044 pp. Hard cover DM 198,–. ISBN 3–540-96270-0. Langer , P.: The Mammalian Herbivore Stomach . Comparative Anatomy, Function and Evolution. 557 pp, 246 figs and 72 tables. Stuttgart – New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag 1988. DM 248,–. ISBN 3–437-30568-9; US ISBN 0–89574-254-3. Müller , H. M.: Evolution, Kognition und Sprache. Die Evolution des Menschen und die biologischen Grundlagen der Sprachfähigkeit. Berlin und Hamburg: Paul Parey 1987. 162 S., 90 Abb. Kt. DM 39,80. ISBN 3–489-63034-3.     

Effect of phospholipid acyl chain modulation on vitamin E incorporation into pulmonary artery endothelial cell membranes

Incorporation of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) was measured in total membranes of pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) following treatment with eight synthetic phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) (Palmitoyloleoyl, 16:0–18:1 PE₁; distearoyl, 18:0–18:0 PE₂; dioleoyl, 18:1–18:1 PE₃; stearoyl- linoleoyl, 18:0–18:2 PE₄; dilinoleoyl, 18:2–18:2 PE₅; stearoyl-arachiod-nyl, 18:0–20:4 PE₆; diarachidonyl, 20:4–20:4 PE₇; and stearoyl-docosahexenoyl, 18:0–22:6 PE₈). Endogenous PE content of native membranes was 0.88 ± 0.01 nmol/mg protein. Incorporation of PE irrespective of fatty acid content significantly (P < 0.02) increased the PE content of total membranes. Vitamin E incorporation in control membranes was 63 ± 9 nmol/mg protein. Incorporations of vitamin E in PE₁- to PE₇-treated cells were significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared to controls and were comparable to each other. Vitamin E incorporation into PE₈-treated cells was threefold greater (P < 0.001) thatn controls and twofold greater (P < 0.001) than PE₁- to PE₇-treated cells. Increased PE content results in increased vitamin E incorporation into PAEC membranes irrespective of the fatty acids present on the acyl chain, and maximal incorporation of vitamin E in PE₈-treated cells may relate to the increased carbon chain length rather than to the degree of unsaturation at the sn₂ position. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this issue. Stonehouse, B. 1989. Polar Ecology , viii + 222 pp. Chapman and Hall, New York, NY. ISBN 0–412–01701–6 (cloth). Price: USD 89.50. ISBN 0412–01711–3 (paper). Price: USD 35.00.