The structure of jujubosides A and B,the saponins isolated from the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba

Stepwise chemical and enzymatic hydrolyses of jujubosides A and B, the saponins of the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba, afforded prosapogenins I, II and III. The sequence and configuration of the sugar linkages in the saponins and the pro-sapogenins were determined from the PMR data and the application of Klyne's rule of molecular rotations and structures were assigned to jujubosides A and B.     

Synthesis and intracellular transportation of type I procollagen during functional differentiation of odontoblasts

The expression of type I collagen, the most component of dentin extracellular matrix proteins (ECMs) in odontoblast is correlated with the activity of dentin formation. Since odontoblast possesses a distinct cellular process for protein transport into the dentinal tubule, it is important to examine the intracellular protein localization. However, a study focusing on odontoblast processes has not been performed. Type I collagen is synthesized as procollagen, which is immediately converted to collagen upon secretion. After characterization of antiserum to rat type I procollagen, we investigated the intracellular localization of type I procollagen in odontoblasts during and after dentinogenesis, using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The level of mRNA expression decreased during dentinogenesis, whereas the intracellular localization of type I procollagen in odontoblast processes become more distinct. The percentage of dentinal tubules with type I procollagen increased significantly with aging. Odontoblasts in pulp horn, in particular, showed moderate expression of type I procollagen after dentinogenesis. Since loss of occlusion also caused a significant decrease in type I procollagen, we concluded that occlusal stimulation activated type I procollagen synthesis in odontoblasts. We also suggest that analysis of intracellular transport of type I procollagen via odontoblast processes may be a new approach to evaluation of odontoblast function.     

Acquisition of embryogenic competency does not require cell division in carrot somatic cell

Totipotency is the ability of a cell to regenerate the entire organism, even after previous differentiation as a specific cell. When totipotency is coupled with active cell division, it was presumed that cell division is essential for this expression. Here, using the stress-induction system of somatic embryos in carrots, we show that cell division is not essential for the expression of totipotency in somatic/embryonic conversion. Morphological and histochemical analyses showed that the cell did not divide during embryo induction. Inhibitors of cell division did not affect the rate of somatic embryo formation. Our results indicate that the newly acquired trait of differentiation appears without cell division, but does not arise with cell division as a newborn cell.     

Site of photo-reception to opening response in Mimosa leaflets

A pair of leaflets excised from Mimosa pinna and floated onwater for a day, responded to light and mechanical stimuli.Only when a small spot of light was shone on the abaxial surfaceof pulvinule, did the opening response of the leaflets occur.No translocatable effect from suchirradiation was observed. ¹ Present address: Biological Institute, Faculty of Science,Kobe University, Kobe 657, Japan. (Received May 17, 1973; )     

The cDNA Sequence of NS3-Glycoprotein from Brassica campestris and its Homology to Related Proteins

A cDNA clone encoding NS₃-glycoprotein was isolated from stigmasof Brassica campestris. NS-glycoproteins correspond to the SLRI-glycoproteinsof B. oleracea and are highly conserved within the species.These data suggest that the NS-glycoproteins may play a rolein discrimination between species in the fertilization systemof Brassica. (Received September 4, 1992; Accepted November 9, 1992)     

Dominant honeybee colony infestation by Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) K haplotype in Japan

Applied Entomology and Zoology - Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) are ectoparasitic mites found in the western honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)....     

Monoclonal antibody GOM-2 binds to blood group B-Ley active glycolipid antigens on human gastric cancer cells,KATO-III

The antigen structure of a mouse monoclonal antibody, GOM-2, established by immunization with KATO-III human gastric cancer cells, was examined. GOM-2 reactive glycolipids were prepared from KATO-III cells and treated with endoglycoceramidase. Structural studies of ten GOM-2 reactive oligosaccharides by a combination of glycosidase digestions, methylation, and affinity chromatography on anUlex europeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) column revealed that nine of them had a Y-related B-active difucosylated determinant (B-Le^y) and one had a B-active determinant. Affinity chromatography of the purified and modified oligosaccharides on an immobilized GOM-2 column demonstrated that GOM-2 has a novel binding specificity; it binds tightly to the biantennary structure carrying the B-Le^y determinant at the termini or the branched structure carrying the B-Le^y structure at two nonreducing termini.Abbreviations UEA-I Ulex europeus agglutinin I - PNA Arachis hypogaea agglutinin - Fuc l-fucose - Gal d-galactose - Glcol glucitol - GlcNAc N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - TBS 10mm Tris-HCl, pH 7.8, containing 150mm NaCl - PBS 10mm sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, containing 150mm NaCl - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography.