Neutralizing effect of zinc oxide on dehydroabietic acid-induced toxicity on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The cytotoxic effect of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA), a resin acid found in rosin, was studied on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes using leakage of 51Cr from prelabeled cells, supravital staining, and transmission electron microscopy. DHAA caused a strong dose-related release of 51Cr, a high uptake of trypan blue, and total cell necrosis, as seen in transmission electron microscopy. Albumin slightly reduced the toxic effects, whereas the addition of zinc in various forms strongly inhibited these toxic effects of DHAA in the concentration range of 10-500 micrograms/mL. In the presence of albumin, zinc oxide as a suspension inhibited the damage of the cell membranes more than a filtrate of zinc oxide, indicating a subsequent slow release of zinc from the zinc oxide.     

Leaf photosynthetic rate is correlated with biomass and grain production in grain sorghum lines

Significant genetic variation in leaf photosynthetic rate has been reported in grain sorghum [Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench]. The relationships between leaf photosynthetic rates and total biomass production and grain yield remain to be established and formed the purpose of this experiment. Twenty two grain sorghum parent lines were tested in the field during the 1988 growing season under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Net carbon assimilation rates were measured at mid-day during the 30 day period from panicle initiation to head exertion on upper-most fully expanded leaves using a portable photosynthesis system (LI-6200). Total biomass and grain production were determined at physiological maturity. The lines exhibited significant genetic variation in leaf photosynthetic rate, total biomass production and grain yield. Significant positive correlations existed between leaf photosynthesis and total biomass and grain production under both well-watered and water-limited conditions. The results suggest that leaf photosynthetic rate measured prior to flowering is a good indicator of productivity in grain sorghum.     

Metabolism of a subtropical Brazilian lagoon

Total community, planktonic and benthic metabolisms were measured by using the carbon dioxide production and consumption, the diurnal curve' method and the in situ bottle incubation technique over an annual cycle in two sublagoons of the Saquarema Lagoon, Brazil. Metabolic rates of the phytoplankton-based lagoon were characterized by considerable daytime and daily variability in production and respiration, by a seasonal shift between net autotrophy and heterotrophy and by an annual balance of production (P = 105 ± 65 mmoles/m²/dayn = 25) and respiration (R = 102 ± 50 mmoles/m²/dayn = 25). Total community metabolism was similar throughout the lagoon, but phytoplankton assimilation rates and benthic respiration showed spatial differences. Bottle incubations compared to total community free water respiration suggested that the pelagic community was 2–5 times more active than the benthos     

Carbon isotope composition of CH4 from rice paddies in Japan

Carbon isotope ratios (¹³C) for bubble CH₄ in a submerged paddy soil were studied in Yokohama, Japan, throughout a growing period, and its variation was found. Bubble CH₄ collected from other 33 paddy fields in Japan was also measured for its ¹³C and the results agreed with Yokohama. Furthermore, the variation occurred irrespective of the amount and the type of supplied organic substances to the fields (whole rice straw, rice stubble, or compost). The ¹³C value (average value of -55.9 ± 4.24) from these paddy fields was higher than those of the CH₄ emitted from African and North American paddies. The higher value was little affected by their difference in the supplied organic substances. CH₄ oxidation likely occurs for bubble CH₄ in the shallow paddy fields. A rough estimate of the total CH₄ production, using isotope mass balance, showed that 17 to 22% of organic carbon supplied to Japanese paddies transforms to CH₄.     

The structural mimicry of membrane sterols by tamoxifen: evidence from cholesterol coefficients and molecular-modelling for its action as a membrane anti-oxidant and an anti-cancer agent

The anti-cancer drug tamoxifen is a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(III)-ascorbate in ox-brain phospholipid liposomes. Similar anti-oxidant effects, but with varying potencies, are also shown by 4-hydroxytamoxifen, cholesterol, ergosterol and 17-β-oestradiol. We now describe a computer-graphic fitting technique that demonstrates a structural similarity between the five compounds. In addition, we have quantified the differences (relative to cholesterol) between the anti-oxidant activities of the compounds in terms of a novel expression reffered to here as the cholesterol coefficient (C_c) Finally, we discuss how the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on lipid peroxidation may result from a membrane stabilization that is associated with a decrease in membrane fluidity. This action may be related to the anti-proliferative effect exerted by tamoxifen on cancer and fungal cells.     

Modelling of formation processes of inclusion complexes of coumarin laser dyes and β-cyclodextrin by the MM2 force field method. I. 7-Amino-4-methylcoumarins

In order to improve the generating and photochemical properties of coumarin laser dyes, the following active media were synthesized: inclusion complexes of -cyclodextrin (-CD) and 7-amino-4-methylcoumarins (COU1, COU102, COU120). Complex formation processes were studied, and the structure of the inclusion complexes was estimated using the method of MM2 molecular mechanics. The data obtained suggest the reasons underlying the complex structure effects on their spectral, luminescent and generating characteristics.     

Partition coefficients of plant cuticles for monoterpenes

Summary Cuticle/water partition coefficients (K_c/w) for d-limonene, -pinene and -pinene were determined by an extrapolation and a desorption method. The sorption experiments were carried out with isolated angiosperm and gymnosperm cuticles and with [¹⁴C]-labelled monoterpenes, which were obtained biosynthetically. Both methods were suitable for the determination of the K_c/w of volatile hydrophobic compounds. For the angiosperm cuticles the partition coefficients are of the order of 10⁴, which indicates a high accumulation of monoterpenes in the cuticle. The values of the conifer cuticles of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Abies alba Mill., however, are lower due to their high lignin content. This is proved by the increase of the partition coefficients after removal of polar and phenolic components. The K_c/w can be estimated with good accuracy from the octanol/water partition coefficient, which was determined experimentally.     

Disulfide bridges in tomato pectinesterase: variations from pectinesterases of other species; conservation of possible active site segments.

Analysis of tomato pectinesterase by carboxymethylation, with and without reduction, shows that the enzyme has two intrachain disulfide bridges. Analysis of fragments obtained from the native enzyme after digestion with pepsin identified bridges connecting Cys-98 with Cys-125, and Cys-166 with Cys-200. The locations of disulfide bridges in tomato pectinesterase are not identical to those in three distantly related pectinesterases (18-33% residue identities) from microorganisms. However, one half-Cys (i.e., Cys-166) position is conserved in all four enzymes. Sequence comparisons of the overall structures suggest a special importance for three short segments of the entire protein. One segment is at the N-terminal part of the tomato pectinesterase, another in the C-terminal portion near the distal end of the second disulfide loop, and the third segment is located in the central part between the two disulfide bridges. The latter segment, encompassing only 40 residues of the entire protein, appears to high-light a functional site in a midchain segment.     

渤海南部半滑舌鳎的食性及摄食的季节性变化

本文研究了渤海南部半滑鳎的食性及其摄食的季节性变化,胃食物分析结果表明,半滑舌鳎为底栖生物食性鱼类,以虾类,蟹类,双壳类及部分中下层小型鱼类为主要食物,兼食一些多毛类,头足类,腹足类,棘皮动物及海葵,半滑舌鳎终年摄食,其摄食强度的周年变化不大,半滑舌鳎常年捕食鲜明鼓虾,日本鼓虾,口虾蛄,隆线强蟹及泥古隆背蟹等。夏季加强捕食小刀蛏,凸壳肌蛤等双壳类,降春季外还捕食一些以虾虎鱼为主的中下层小型鱼类。