A repressor element in the 5'-untranslated region of human Pax5 exon 1A

Five members of the RecQ helicase family, RECQL, WRN, BLM, RTS and RECQL5, have been found in human and three of them (WRN, BLM and RTS) were disclosed to be the genes responsible for Werner, Bloom and Rothmund–Thomson syndromes, respectively. RECQL5 (RecQ helicase protein-like 5) was isolated as the fifth member of the family in humans through a search of homologous expressed sequence tags. The gene is expressed with at least three alternative splicing products, , β and γ. Here, we isolated mouse RECQL5β and determined the DNA sequence of full-length cDNA as well as the genome organization and chromosome locus. The mouse RECQL5β gene consists of 2949 bp coding 982 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence among human (Homo sapiens), mouse (Mus musculus), Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans RECQL5β homologs revealed three portions of highly conserved regions in addition to the helicase domain. Nineteen exons are dispersed over 40 kbp in the genome and all of the acceptor and donor sites for the splicing of each exon conform to the GT/AG rule. The gene is localized to the mouse chromosome 11E2, which has a syntenic relation to human 17q25.2-q25.3 where human RECQL5β exists. Our genetic characterizations of the mouse RECQL5β gene will contribute to functional studies on the RECQL5β products.     

Iridoid glucosides from Thunbergia laurifolia

Two iridoid glucosides, 8-epi-grandifloric acid and 3′-O-β-glucopyranosyl-stilbericoside, were isolated from the aerial part of Thunbergia laurifolia along with seven known compounds, benzyl β-glucopyranoside, benzyl β-(2′-O-β-glucopyranosyl) glucopyranoside, grandifloric acid, (E)-2-hexenyl β-glucopyranoside, hexanol β-glucopyranoside, 6-C-glucopyranosylapigenin and 6,8-di-C-glucopyranosylapigenin. Strucural elucidation was based on the analyses of spectroscopic data.     

A cDNA cloned from Physarum polycephalum encodes new type of family 3 beta-glucosidase that is a fusion protein containing a calx-beta motif

The microplasmodia of Physarum polycephalum express three types of β-glucosidases: secretory enzyme, a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme and a membrane-bound enzyme. We are interested in the physiological role of three enzymes. We report the sequence of cDNA for membrane β-glucosidase 1, which consists of 3825 nucleotides that includes an open reading frame encoding 1248 amino acids. The molecular weight of membrane β-glucosidase 1 was calculated to be 131,843 based on the predicted amino acid composition. Glycosyl hydrolase family 3 N-terminal and C-terminal domains were found within the N-terminal half of the membrane β-glucosidase 1 sequence and were highly homologous with the primary structures of fungal β-glucosidases. Notably, the C-terminal half of membrane β-glucosidase 1 contains two calx-β motifs, which are known to be Ca²⁺ binding domains in the Drosophila Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger; an RGD sequence, which is known to be a cell attachment sequence; and a transmembrane region. In this way, Physarum membrane β-glucosidase 1 differs from all previously identified family 3 β-glucosidases. In addition to cDNA for membrane β-glucosidase 1, two other distinctly different mRNAs were also isolated. Two sequences were largely identical to cDNA for membrane β-glucosidase 1, but included a long insert sequence having a stop codon, leading to truncation of their products, which could account for other β-glucosidase forms occurred in Physarum poycephalum.

Thus, the membrane β-glucosidase is a new type family 3 enzyme fused with the Calx-β domain. We propose that Calx-β domain may modulate the β-glucosidase activity in response to changes in the Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Phytosterols from Murraya exotica

From the cyclohexane extract of the leaves of Murraya exotica, five novel phytosterols: (23S)-23-ethyl-24-methyl-cycloart-24(24¹)-en-3β-ol; 3β-methoxy-(23S)-23-ethyl-24-methyl-cycloart-24(24¹)-en-3β-ol; (23 S)-23-ethyl-24-methyl-cycloart-24(24¹)-3β-yl acetate; (23ξ)-23-isopropyl-24-methyl-cycloart-25-en-3β-ol and (23ξ)-23-isopropyl-24-methyl-cycloart-25-en-3β-yl acetate have been isolated. Structural elucidation of the isolated compounds is based on physical, chemical and spectral analysis including IR, ¹H and ¹³CNMR and mass spectrometry.     

Pregnane glycosides from fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca

From the mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits, two pregnane glycosides were isolated. One is new and identified as pregn-5-ene-3β,16β,20(R)-triol 3-O-(2,6-di-O--l-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside (balagyptin), while the other is known and assigned as pregn-5-ene-3β,16β,20(R)-triol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside.     

紫陀螺菌化学成分及其抑制肿瘤细胞增殖活性的研究

以紫陀螺菌为对象,研究其子实体的化学成分及其抑制肿瘤细胞增殖活性。采用溶剂提取、柱层析和高效液相色谱等方法分离纯化化学成分,通过核磁共振和质谱技术鉴定单体化合物结构,运用结晶紫法评价单体化合物抑制肿瘤细胞增殖活性。从乙酸乙酯提取物中共分离鉴定6个单体化合物,分别为(22E,24R)-麦角甾-5,7,22-三烯-3β-醇(1)、3β,5α-二羟基-(22E,24R)-麦角甾-7,22-二烯-6-酮(2)、(22E,24R)-麦角甾-7,22-二烯-3β,5α,6β-三醇(3)、吲哚-3-甲酸甲酯(4)、4,4-二甲基-1,7-庚二酸(5)和(8E,10E)-12羰基十八碳-8,10-二烯酸(6),其中化合物1为主要成分,相对含量为23.8%。活性测试结果表明3对人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7 细胞、人胰腺癌细胞株PANC-1细胞和人乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231细胞具有微弱的细胞增殖抑制活性。本研究首次报道了紫陀螺菌化学成分,对深入挖掘其在健康领域中的开发价值具有重要意义。     

Leucasin, a triterpene saponin from Leucas nutans.

A new saponin, leucasin, has been isolated from Leucas nutans and characterized on the basis of chemical investigation and spectroscopic studies as 3-O-[β- -glucopyranosyl(1→2)β- -glucopyranosyl]2,3β-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene. Lupeol palmitate, sitosterol and stigmasterol were also isolated.     

Beta-ketothiolase genes in Azotobacter vinelandii

Azotobacter vinelandii is proposed to contain a single β-ketothiolase activity participating in the formation of acetoacetyl-CoA, a precursor for poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis, and in β-oxidation (Manchak, J., Page, W.J., 1994. Control of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis in Azotobacter vinelandii strain UWD. Microbiology 140, 953–963). We designed a degenerate oligonucleotide from a highly conserved region among bacterial β-ketothiolases and used it to identify bktA, a gene with a deduced protein product with a high similarity to β-ketothiolases. Immediately downstream of bktA, we identified a gene called hbdH, which encodes a protein exhibiting similarity to β-hydroxyacyl-CoA and β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenases. Two regions with homology to bktA were also observed. One of these was cloned and allowed the identification of the phbA gene, encoding a second β-ketothiolase. Strains EV132, EV133, and GM1 carrying bktA, hbdH and phbA mutations, respectively, as well as strain EG1 carrying both bktA and phbA mutations, were constructed. The hbdH mutation had no effect on β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity or on fatty acid assimilation. The bktA mutation had no effect on β-ketothiolase activity, PHB synthesis or fatty acid assimilation, whereas the phbA mutation significantly reduced β-ketothiolase activity and PHB accumulation, showing that this is the β-ketothiolase involved in PHB biosynthesis. Strain EG1 was found to grow under β-oxidation conditions and to possess β-ketothiolase activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate the presence of three genes coding for β-ketothiolases in A. vinelandii.     

Identification of tubulin isoforms in different tissues of Ascaris suum using anti-tubulin monoclonal antibodies.

Three monoclonal antibodies specific to - and β-tubulin were used to examine the expression of tubulin isofoms in the intestine, reproductive tract and body wall muscle of A. suum. The tubulins were found to be different in their isoelectric points, number of isoforms and peptide maps with Western blot analysis of one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel confirming the presence of -, β₁- and β₂- tubulin. Commercial cross-reactive anti- and anti-β MAbs 356 and 357 recognized tubulin from A. suum tissues as well as from pig brain, whereas anti-A. suum β-tubulin specific MAb P3D6 recognized tubulin from the A. suum tissues only. Two-dimensional gel analysis showed different isoform patterns in different A. suum tissues with anti-A. suum β-tubulin MAb P3D6 and cross-reactive β-tubulin MAb 357 recognizing 2–4 β- tubulin isoforms and anti--tubulin MAb 356 recognizing 1–6 -tubulin isoforms. Different peptide maps of tubulin were observed in the three tissues, when subjected to limited proteolysis followed by SDS-PAGE. The data indicate that different tubulins are found in different tissues of adult A. suum.     

R( − )pantoyllactone-β-d-glucopyranoside: Characterization of a metabolite from rice seedlings

A new derivative of pantoic acid, R( - ) pantoyllactone-β-d glucopyranoside, has been isolated from rice seedlings and its structure determined. β-Glucosidase hydrolysed it to -glucose and R( - )pantoyllactone. Alkaline hydrolysis converted it to the salt of 2-R( - )pantoic acid β- -glucopyranoside. It accumulated in rice shoots but not in roots.     

Effects of electronic structure on chiral induction in outer-sphere electron transfer reactions of complexes with the C3 symmetric ligand, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-tris[2′(R)-2′-propionate](-3)

The ligand 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-tris[2′(R)-2′-propionate](-3)((R)-tacntp³⁻), binds stereospecifically to transition metal ions. The structures of the complexes [Cr((R)-tacntp)]·NaBr and [Fe((R)-tacntp)]·H₂O have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Both complexes have the Λ-configuration but the conformation of the chelate rings in Λ-[Cr((R)-tacntp)] is (λ,λ,λ) with a geometry close to octahedral while in Λ-[Fe((R)-tacntp)] it is (δ,δ,δ) and the geometry is closer to that of a trigonal prism. Chiral induction in the electron transfer reactions of Λ-[Co((R)-tacntp)], Λ-[Fe((R)-tacntp)] and Λ-[Mn((R)-tacntp)] with [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃]²⁺ has been investigated. All three reactions are outer-sphere and four isomeric [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃]³⁺ products are identified in each case. The oxidants Λ-[Fe((R)-tacntp)] and Λ-[Mn((R)-tacntp)] show very similar selectivities, quite different from those of Λ-[Co((R)-tacntp)]. Reasons for this behavior are discussed.     

β-carrageenan: Isolation and characterization

β-Carrageenan, essentially devoid of ester sulfate, was isolated from the hot aqueous extracts of alkali-modified Eucheuma gelatinae, Eucheuma speciosa, and Endocladia muricatum by precipitating the more anionic moieties with a quaternary ammonium salt, isolating the fractions that did not precipitate, then treating these with an anion-exchange cellulose. The β-carrageenan was characterized by chemical analysis, optical rotation, and NMR. Gelling was found to be ion-independent, with T_g = 31–33°C and T_m = 63–70°C. Specific optical rotations of the isolated β-carrageenan samples were more positive than the κ-, λ-, and ι-carrageenans with which they were compared, while agarose, its stereoisomer, exhibited a negative specific rotation. Electrophoresis gels made from β-carrageenan were used to separate DNA fragments which exhibited faster migration than on an agarose gel of comparable concentration, indicating that β-carrageenan has a less restrictive pore structure.     

Further farnesyl-homogentisic acid derivatives from Otoba parvifolia

The seeds of Otoba parvifolia contain three novel compounds apparently derived from homogentisic acid, rel-(1′R,5′R)-2-(1′-farnesyl-5′-hydroxy-2′-oxocyclohex-3′-en-1′-yl)-acetic acid and its acetate as well as rel-(1′R,4′S,5′R)-2-(1′-farnesyl-4′,5′-dihydroxy-2′-oxocyclohexan-1′-yl)-acetic acid δ-lactone. The structure of an additional isolate, previously described as 2-(1′-farnesyl-2′-hydroxy-5′-oxocyclohex-3′-en-1′-yl)-acetic acid γ-lactone was revised to rel-(1′R,5′R)-2-(1′-farnesyl-5′-hydroxy-2′-oxocyclohex-3′-en-1′-yl)-acetic acid δ-lactone.     

Insecticidal sesquiterpene polyol ester from Celastrus angulatus

An insecticidal sesquiterpene polyol ester, angulatin A, was isolated from the root bark of Celastrus angulatus. Its structure was established as 1,2-diacetoxy-8β,15-diisobutyryloxy-9-benzoyloxy-4β, 6β-dihydroxydihydro-β-agarofuran by spectroscopic methods.     

Alkaloids from Heimia salicifolia

Two alkaloids, 9β,2′-dihydroxy-4′′,5′′-dimethoxy-lythran-12-one or 9β-hydroxyvertine (1) and (2S,4S,10R)-4-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-quinolizidin-2-acetate (2), as well as seven known alkaloids, lythrine (3), dehydrodecodine (4), lythridine (5), vertine (6), heimidine (7), lyfoline (8) and epi-lyfoline (9), were isolated from Heimia salicifolia. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, the structures of 2, 3, and 6 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography, including absolute configuration determination of 2 and 6. Compounds 6 and 9 showed moderate antimalarial activity.     

A spirostane hexaglycoside from Agave cantala fruits.

A new steroidal glycoside, agaveside D, isolated from the fruits of Agave cantata was characterized as 3β-{- -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2), β- -glycopyranosyl-(1→3)-β- -glucopyranosyl[β- -xylopyransoyl-(1→4)-- -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β- -glucopyranosyl}-25R-5- spirostane on the basis of chemical degradation and spectrometry.     

Isolation and identification of oligomeric procyanidins from Crataegus leaves and flowers

Oligomeric procyanidins were isolated from the leaves and flowers of hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata). A trimer, epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin, and a pentamer consisting of (−)-epicatechin units linked through C-4β/C-8 bonds have been isolated from hawthorn for the first time, in addition to known procyanidins including dimers B-2, B-4 and B-5, trimers C-1 and epicatechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin, and tetramer D-1. A fraction containing a hexamer was also found.