Evaluation of the affinity of new N atom-containing tumor inhibitors for nucleic acids

Interaction between new N atom-containing tumor inhibitors (1-9) and nucleic acids has been investigated utilizing the spectroscopic methods efficiently. On the basis of their data, it is well suggested that FNT-4 (4) and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (6-8) bind to nucleic acids by a fashion involving intercalation of aromatic molecule(s).     

Gene cloning of the pink-colored protein from Pleurotus salmoneostramineus (PsPCP) and its species-specific chromoprotein are effective for colorization of the fruit body

Pleurotus salmoneostramineus is a pink mushroom. This pink color is a protein and forms a complex with 3H-indol-3-one. The gene encoding the pink-colored protein from P. salmoneostramineus (PsPCP) was cloned, and its sequence was elucidated as a 681-bp. The ORF encodes 226 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the protein did not show any significant homology in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases. Recombinant PsPCP was expressed as the soluble form in E. coli. The reaction mixture of purified recombinant PsPCP and 3H-indol-3-one showed a pink color as the native pigment. A real-time PCR analysis revealed the strong expression of PsPCP in the primordium formation stage of the life cycle of the fungus; however, its expression decreased with the maturation of the fruit body. A comparison of PsPCP gene expression profiles between two strains revealed high levels in the dark-colored strain.     

Plaque-forming cells fater in vitro stimulation with theta-AKR antigen

Spleen cells of inbred mice strains carrying θ-C3H allele have been cultured in the presence of AKR thymus cells and their in vitro primary PFC response against thymic alloantigen θ-AKR was studied.The responses of a magnitude which was comparable with that obtained in previous in vivo experiments were obtained 4 days after stimulation. The strain-dependent variability of the magitude of anti-θ-AKR responses was observed in vitro. RR and C58/J spleen cells produced much more PFC than C57BL/6J and DBA/2J spleen cells. This was in agreement with previous in vivo studies on the genetic control of the anti-θ AKR responses.In the absence of AKR thymus cells, spleen cells of high responders, RR, developed in vitro PFC which released antibodies lytic to AKR thymus cells. Their number was ten-times lower than in stimulated cultures. Spleen cells of all strains tested produced also small numbers of PFC secreting antibodies against θ-identical allogenic thymus cells and even to syngenic thymus cells.     

Synthesis and characterization of viologen-modified oligodeoxynucleotides.

Several viologen-tagged oligodeoxynucleotides in the form of covalent linkage at the specific site of the phosphorous backbone were synthesized and characterized. Incorporation of viologen molecules was confirmed by the 31P-NMR, 20% PAGE analysis, enzymatic degradation, and uv, ESR spectra of the derived cation radical. The Tm values and CD spectra of the modified strands with their complementary strands indicate that the introduction of the viologen molecule via linker arm causes no significant perturbation in duplex structure.     

Derivation of Population-Level Ecological Remedial Action Objectives: Tualatin River Case Study

In 1997, Oregon enacted rules that define an unacceptable population-level risk as a >10% chance of >20% of the total local population receiving an exposure greater than the toxicity reference value. This rule applies to populations of plants and animals not listed as threatened or endangered. An operational procedure was developed to perform such population-level ecological risk assessments. This case study describes how this procedure was used to develop site-specific groundwater remedial action objectives for resident aquatic populations at a site in Northwest Oregon, where an upland petroleum pipeline released gasoline-range hydrocarbons (TPH-G) into soils and groundwater immediately upgradient of the Tualatin River. With an interim response in place, the goal was to proactively establish a remedial action objective that would equate to an acceptable risk level for populations of aquatic receptors potentially threatened by future groundwater discharges to the river. Approximately 10 and 32% dilutions of the water-soluble fraction of pure product produced an acceptable risk level for zooplankton and forage fish populations, respectively. The proposed population-level remedial action objective, based on zooplankton as the most sensitive receptor, was a TPH-G groundwater concentration of 17.4?mg/L.