Triterpenes from Periandra dulcis roots

Three oleanane triterpenes were isolated from the roots of Periandra dulcis,and identified as 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-18-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid I), 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-12-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid II) and 3-oxo-25-hydroxy-olean-12-en-30-oic acid. The former two compounds (periandric acids I and II) were identical with the aglycones obtained by hydrolysis of periandrin I and II, respectively and the latter one was a new triterpene.     

Purification and properties of indole 2,3-dioxygenase from maize leaves

An indole 2,3-dioxygenase was purified ca 38-fold from maize leaves. The enzyme had an MW of about 98000, an optimum pH of 5.0 and the energy of activation was 9.1 kcal/mol. The K_max for indole was 1.4 × 10^?4 M. The enzyme was inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, salicylaldoxime and sodium dithionite. The inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate was specifically reversed by Cu²⁺. The dialysed enzyme was stimulated by Cu²⁺. Four atoms of oxygen were utilized in the disappearance of 1 mole of indole. Inhibition of the enzyme by -SH compounds and -SH group inhibitors, and their partial removal by Cu²⁺ only, suggested the involvement of -SH groups in binding of Cu²⁺ at the catalytic site.     

Appearance of a State 1 – State 2 transition during chloroplast development in the wheat leaf: Energetic and structural considerations

The ability of developing chloroplasts to dynamically regulate the distribution of excitation energy between photosystem 1 and photosystem 2, and thus perform a State 1 – State 2 transition, was examined from analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics in 4- and 8-day-old Triticum aestivum L. cv. Maris Dove leaves grown under a diurnal light regime. Chloroplasts at all stages of development in the two leaf systems could undergo a State 1 – State 2 transition, except those found in the basal 0.5 cm of the 4-day-old leaf. The ability to physiologically modify the excitation energy distribution between the chlorophyll matrices of the two photosystems developed after the development of mature, fully photochemically competent photosystem 2 units and the appearance of excitation energy transfer between photosystem 2 and photosystem 1. Also, changes in the degree of energetic interaction between the two photosystems, in vivo rates of electron transport and the chlorophyll a/b ratio could not be correlated with the appearance of a State 1 – State 2 transition. Ultrastructural studies demonstrated a 32% increase in the degree of thylakoid appression in chloroplasts at the base of the 8-day-old leaf compared to the situation in the basal 0.5 cm of the 4-day-old leaf. This difference in thylakoid stacking can account for the differing abilities of these two tissues to perform a State 1 – State 2 transition when considered in the context of the distribution of the two photosystems within appressed and non-appressed regions of thylakoid membranes.     

Neural mechanisms of auditory information processing by identified interneurones in Orthoptera

Three qualities of sound—the directional, the temporal and the spectral—are important for intraspecific communication in Orthoptera. The neural mechanisms employed by identified interneurones for encoding these sound qualities are illustrated by examples of physiological processes found at different levels of the CNS. Discussed are: (1) the creation of directional information by local interneurones in the thorax, and the use of time-intensity trading in sound location; (2) mechanisms for encoding the temporal parameters of sound by interneurones ascending to the brain; (3) frequency-dependent neural filtering of auditory information by local interneurones.     

Bluelight-induced,flavin-mediated transport of redox equivalents across artificial bilayer membranes

Summary This paper continues our studies of physico-chemical properties of vesicle-bound flavins. Based on previous results, an advanced model system was designed in order to study the mechanisms underlying bluelight-induced redox transport across artificial membranes. The lumen of single-shelled vesicles was charged with cytochromec, and amphiphilic flavin (AF1 3, AF1 10) was bound to the membrane. Upon bluelight irradiation redox equivalents are translocated from exogeneous 1e ^–(EDTA)-and 2e ^–(BH₃CN^–) donors across the membrane finally reducing the trapped cytochromec both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The mechanisms involved are explored and evidence for the involvement of various redox states of oxygen, dihydroflavin and flavosemiquinone is presented.     

Inositol Phospholipid Hydrolysis in Rat Cerebral Cortical Slices: I. Receptor Characterisation

Characterisation of receptor-mediated breakdown of inositol phospholipids in rat cortical slices has been performed using a direct assay which involves prelabelling with [3H]inositol. When slices were preincubated with [3H]inositol, lithium was found to greatly amplify the capacity of receptor agonists such as carbachol, noradrenaline, and 5-hydroxytryptamine to increase the amount of radioactivity appearing in the inositol phosphates. Using a large variety of agonists and antagonists it could be shown that cholinergic muscarinic, alpha 1-adrenoceptor, and histamine H1 receptors appear to be linked to inositol phospholipid breakdown in cortex. The large responses produced by receptor agonists allowed a clear discrimination between full and partial agonists as well as quantitative analysis of competitive antagonists for each receptor. Whereas carbachol and acetylcholine (in the presence of a cholinesterase inhibitor) were full agonists, oxotremorine and arecoline were only partial agonists. Very low concentrations of atropine shifted the carbachol dose-response curve to the right and allowed inhibition constants for the antagonist to be easily calculated. The nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine, was ineffective. Noradrenaline adrenaline were full agonists at alpha 1-adrenoceptors, but phenylephrine and probably methoxamine were partial agonists. Prazosin, but not yohimbine, potently and competitively antagonised the noradrenaline inositol phospholipid response. Mepyramine but not cimetidine competitively antagonised the histamine response. These data provide strong confirmation for the potentiating effect of lithium on neurotransmitter inositol phospholipid breakdown and emphasise the ease with which functional responses at a number of cortical receptors can be characterised.     

Nematicides and Nonconventional Soil Amendments in the Management of Root-Knot Nematode on Cotton

Granular and liquid commercial humates, with micronutrients, and a microbial fermentation product were compared in several combinations with nematicides for their effects on cotton lint yield and root-knot nematode suppression. Fumigant nematicides effectively reduced cotton root galling caused by root-knot nematodes, and cotton lint yields increased. Organophosphates and carbamates were not effective. Occasionally, cotton lint yields were increased or maintained with combination treatments o f humates, micronutrients, and a microbial fermentation product, but galling o f cotton roots by root-knot nematodes was usually not reduced by these treatments.     

New and Known Species of Pratylenchus Filipjev, 1936 (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) from Haryana,India, with Remarks on Intraspecific Variations

Two new monosexual and one bisexual species Pratylenchus Filipjev, 1936 collected from Haryana state of India are described and illustrated. The primary distinguishing features of these species are Pratylenchus microstylus n. sp.: L = 331-458 μm, spear = 11 or 12 μm; Pratylenchus cruciferus n. sp.: L = 648-793 μm, central core of lateral fields with oblique lines, hemizonid 2-8 annules anterior to excretory pore; Pratylenchus ekrami n. sp.: spear = 11-13 μm, spermatheca oblong, post vulval uterine sac with differentiated cells, tail with 26-40 annules, males abundant. Studies on intraspecific variations of P. cruciferus, P. ekrami, and P. coffeae (Zimmermann, 1898) Goodey, 1951 revealed that spear length and value of ''V'' are the least variable characters. Body length and size of post vulval uterine sac varies to varying degrees in different species. Shape of median bulb in P. ekrami, number of incisures in P. coffeae, and tail shape in P. ekrami and P. coffeae exhibit the greatest amount of intraspecific variations. P. zeae Graham, 1936 and P. thornei Sher & Allen, 1953 are the other species collected during the present studies.     

On the Recovery of [3H]Noradrenaline from Different Metabolic Compartments of Rat Brain with Respect to the Role of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase

Abstract: Rats were treated with reserpine, desmethylimipramine, or carrier, either alone or in combination with tropolone. Either 10 min (t₁) or 1 h (t₂) after intraventricular injection of [³H]noradrenaline, they were decapitated. The total ³H activity and the recovery of [³H]noradrenaline were determined in tissue extracts from various brain regions. Maximum total ³H activity was measured at t₁ in all tropolone-treated rats; the mean sum of these results served as an estimate of the initial tissue concentration of [³H]noradrenaline. At t₁, 40–50% of the sum of [³H]noradrenaline and its metabolites was recovered unchanged in normal rats; reserpine and DMI reduced the recovery to 18–27%. In all groups, the decline of [³H]noradrenaline was retarded after t₁. Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase by tropolone caused consistently elevated [³H]noradrenaline levels, but did not affect the metabolic rate after t₁ when compared with similarly pretreated, but tropolone-free rats. Thus, if catechol-O-methyltransferase was inhibited during the injection of [³H]noradrenaline, a higher percentage of the amine had been taken up into spaces with a slow noradrenaline turnover. The maximum increase was seen when the neuronal uptake, was inhibited by desmethylimipramine. This supported the hypothesis that an additional extraneuronal space exists, in addition to the known intraneuronal and extraneuronal compartments, which has a slow noradrenaline turnover. The tropolone effect on the noradrenaline recovery possibly shows that there might be a saturable “methylating system,” similar to that described for the periphery, in which catechol-O-methyltransferase is linked to the extraneuronal uptake₂. By affecting the access of noradrenaline to non-neuronal cells it might influence the rate of noradrenaline elimination from the intercellular space.     

Adrenalectomy of Rats Results in Hypomyelination of the Central Nervous System

The effect of adrenalectomy on CNS myelin accumulation was investigated to determine whether glucocorticoids play a role in regulating myelination. When 14-day-old rats were adrenalectomized and sacrificed 7-8 days later, the amount of bulk-isolated myelin in whole brain, as expressed per gram wet weight of brain or per milligram DNA-phosphate, was reduced to about 75% that of sham-operated controls. Both brain weight and DNA content were unchanged by adrenalectomy. Examination of individual brain regions also revealed decreased amounts of myelin in adrenalectomized animals. Brain glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase specific activity was reduced in adrenalectomized animals to 40-60% that of controls, and serum corticosterone levels were less than 0.6% of control levels. The amount of cerebral myelin in animals adrenalectomized on day 21 and sacrificed 9 days later was not significantly reduced. This suggests a possible role of glucocorticoids during the early period of rapid myelination.