On the action of sulfanilamide

Summary A. According toMellon,Locke andShinn, the bacteriostatic action of sulfanilamide is due to the inactivation of (bacterial) catalase and the resulting accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. The probability of this theory is discussed. B. Catalase activity was studied by means ofPhotobacterium Fischeri, as an oxygen indicator. By adding hydrogen peroxide to the tested cultures of bacteria it has been demonstrated, that: I.Bacterium coli, Photobacterium Fischeri andStreptococcus haemolyticus (strainAronson) contain catalase. II. Sulfanilamide does not inactivate the catalase in blood. III. Sulfanilamide does not inactivate bacterial catalase nor does it affect the production of catalase in the growing culture containing the drug. So we have to conclude that the assumption of catalase inactivation to be the essential factor in sulfanilamide action on bacteria will not lead us to the solution of the problem. First communication:L. K. Wolff andH. W. Julius, Ann. de l'Inst. Pasteur62, 616, 1939.     

Studien über die lebenserscheinungen der silphini (coleopt.)

Ohne ZusammenfassungBisher erschienen:Studien über die Lebenserscheinungen der Silphini. I. Silpha obscura L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 6, H. 2, 287 (1926). — II. Phosphuga atrata L. Ebenda 9, H.1 /2, 271 (1927). — III. Xylodrepa quadripunctata L. Ebenda 10, H. 2/3, 330 (1928). — IV. Blitophaga opaca L. Ebenda 14, H. 1, 234 (1929). — V. Silpha tyrolensis Laich. Ebenda 17, H. 1/2, 262 (1930). — VI. Blitophaga undata Müll. 18, H. 1/2, 170 (1930).     

Studien über die lebenserscheinungen der silphini (cole opt. )

Ohne ZusammenfassungBisher erschienen: Studien über die Lebenserscheinungen der Silphini. I. Silpha obscura L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 6, H. 2, 287 (1926). — II. Phosphuga atrata L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 9, H. 1/2, 271 (1927). — III. Xylodrepa quadripunctata L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 10, H. 2/3, 330 (1928). — IV. Blitophaga opaca L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 14, H. 1. 234 (1929). — V. Silpha tyrolensis Laich. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 17, H. 1/2, 262 (1930). — VI. Blitophaga undata Müll. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 18, H. l/2, I70 (1930). — VII. Oeceoptoma thoracica L. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 20, H.4, 691 (1931). — VIII. Ablattaria laevigata F. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 24, H. 2, 259 (1932). — IX. Silpha carinata Hrbst. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 25, H. 2/3, 534 (1932). — X. Silpha tristis Illig. Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 28, H.4, 469 (1934).     

Anatomische Untersuchungen über die Reaktion vonSolanum demissum Lindl.,Solanum vernei Bitt. et Wittm. und vonSolanum-andigenum-Bastarden auf Befall durch den Kartoffelnematoden,Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 20 AbbildungenHerrn Dr. habil. H.Buhr, Mühlhausen/Thür., zum 60. Geburtstage gewidmet.9. Mitt. überHeterodera-Arten. — Teil der Dissertation vonG. Sembdner, Techn. Univ. Dresden, 1961. —8. Mitt.Sembdner, G., Nematologica9, i. Druck (1963).     

Zwei neue Arten der GattungSaponaria (Caryophyllaceae) aus Afghanistan und Pakistan

Saponaria stenopetala sp.n. in Eastern Afghanistan is close toS. pachyphylla Rech. f. andS. subrosularis Rech. f.—The nearest allies ofS. makranica sp.n. from Western Pakistan and Southeastern Iran areS. kermanensis Bornm. andS. floribunda (Kar. & Kir.)Boiss.

Flora Iranicae praecursores 36–37. — Praecursores praecurrentes in Pl. Syst. Evol.139, 313–317 (1982).     

Six new species ofGagea (Liliaceae) from the Flora Iranica area

Six new species are described:Gagea anonyma, G. Staintonii, G. siphonantha, G. Grey-Wilsonii, G. chloroneura. All belong to subgen.Platyspermum (Boiss.)Miscz. Florae Iranicae praecursores63–68. — Praecursores praecurrentes: Pl. Syst. Evol.151, 281–293 (1986).     

Studien über die lebenserscheinungen der silphini (coleopt.).

Ohne ZusammenfassungStudien über die Lebenserscheinungen der Silphini. IV. Blitophaga opaca L. (Glattstreifiger Rübenaaskäfer). Z. Morph. u. Ökol. Tiere 14, H. 1–4 (1929). Ferner erschienen: I. Silpha obscura L. Ebenda 6, H. 2, 287 (1926). — II. Phosphuga atrata L. 9, H. 1/2, 271 (1927). — III. Xylodrepa quadripunctata L. 10, H. 2/3, 330 (1928). — V. Silpha tyrolensis Laich. 17, H. 1/2, 262 (1930).     

Pollen morphology ofSonchus and related genera,and a general discussion

The pollen morphology of the taxa belonging to the generaAetheorhiza Cass.,Launaea Cass.,Reichardia Roth andSonchus L. in the Iberian Peninsula has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The pollen is 3(-4)-zonocolporate and echinolophate (without polar lacunae, but in general with prelacunae), with equatorial ridges and 15–20 lacunae: 3–4 poral, 6–8 abporal and 6–8 paraporal. Small to medium size, P × E = 19–36 × 23–42 µm; sometimes two different sizes have been found. Exine 3–9 µm thick and ornamentation microreticulate and echinate. The results clearly show the relationships between genera. Moreno-Socías, E., Mejías, J. A., Díez, M. J., 1994: Morfología polínica deLactuceae (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica, I.Lactuca y géneros relacionados. — Acta Bot. Malacitana.19: 103–113.     

Stoffwechselprodukte von Mikroorganismen

Zusammenfassung Bei einigen Pilzen treten im Verlauf der Fermentation Sideramine mit verschiedenen Strukturtypen, bei denen die Fusarininreste durch Ester-oder Peptidbindungen verknüpft sind, auf. Die Änderung der Konzentrationen sowie der spezifischen Aktivitäten — nach Zusatz von markiertem dl-Ornithin oder Fusigen — wurde verfolgt. Ein Schema für die Biosynthese von Sideraminen in Pilzen wird diskutiert.

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Metabolic products of microorganisms83. Biosynthesis of sideramines in fungi. Incorporation of ornithine and fusigen into ferrirhodin

Summary During the fermentation of several fungi, sideramines of differnt structural types, the fusarinine-residues being connected by ester- or peptidelinkages, were observed. The changes of concentrations and specific activities — after addition of labelled dl-ornithine or fusigen—in the culture of a Fusarim sp. were measured. A scheme for the biosynthesis of sideramines in fungi is discussed.

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82. Mitteilung: Keller-Schierlein, W., Müller, A.: Experientia (Basel) 26, 929–930 (1970).     

Genetic mapping,distribution, and properties of an aconitase isozyme in Anopheles albimanus (Diptera:Culicidae)

Electrophoretic analysis of the developmental stages and tissues of Anopheles albimanus showed that qualitatively similar allozymes of aconitase (Acon-2) occur at all stages, and the enzyme is widespread in every larval and adult tissues. Relative heat stabilities of the allozymes were investigated by electrophoresis of heated aqueous extracts and by heating the enzyme in situ in acrylamide gels after electrophoretic separation in Tris-citrate and Tris-maleate buffer systems. The pupal aconitase in the crude extract is more stable to heat than the larval and adult enzyme. The presence of citrate ions in the gel increased the stability of aconitase to heat. Studies of substrate specificities indicated that cis-aconitic acid is the best substrate but citric acid can also serve as a substrate. Zymograms developed with isocitric acid as a substrate showed no aconitase electromorphs and produced only isocitrate dehydrogenase bands. Aconitase has a pH optimum of 8.0 and this enzyme is completely inhibited if treated in situ with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), and urea at concentrations higher than 5mm, 5×10^–5 m, and 2 m, respectively. Acon-2¹⁰⁰ and Acon-2¹⁰⁵ do not respond differently to the above treatments. Genetic crosses involving a holandric translocation, pericentric inversions, visible mutants, and allozyme markers were analyzed to map the aconitase (Acon-2) locus on the left arm of chromosome 3. The gene sequence (and map distances) on 3L is centromere—esterase-8 (Est-8)—2—esterase-4 (Est-4)—25—esterase-2 (Est-2)—9—Acon-2—5—phosphoglucomutase (Pgm)—7—esterase-6 (Est-6).     

Inhibitory Effects of Cysteine and Cysteine Derivatives on Germination of Sporangiospores and Hyphal Growth of Different Zygomycetes

The in vitro antifungal activity of cysteine (d- and l-cysteine) and its four derivatives (l-cysteine-methyl-ester, N-acetyl-cysteine, N-isobutyryl-d-cysteine, and N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine) were investigated on 20 fungal isolates representing 16 genera (Absidia, Actinomucor, Backusella, Gilbertella, Micromucor, Mortierella, Mucor, Mycotypha, Phycomyces, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus, Saksenaea, Syncephalastrum, Thamnostylum, Umbellopsis, and Zygorynchus). The inhibitory potential of different concentrations of these compounds, ranging from 0.625 to 10 mM, were investigated on the germination of sporangiospores as well as on hyphal extension, using broth microdilution method and agar plate test. Treatment with cysteine and its derivatives resulted in a strong inhibition in most studied strains. At 10 mM of compounds, complete blockage of growth was observed for some isolates. Sensitive species exhibited severe changes in colony morphology in the presence of 10 mM l-cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine, and N-isobutyryl-l-cysteine. Microscopic observations revealed that 10 mM N-acetyl-cysteine induced dramatic modifications in the structural organization of the hyphae. Results suggest that cysteine and its derivatives have a therapeutic potential against fungal infections caused by Zygomycetes species.     

New and noteworthyHabenaria spp. (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea and adjacent islands

5 new taxa ofHabenaria, namelyH. bougainvillae, H. elongata R. Br. var.leptophylla, H. ensigera, H. rechingeri andH. trichoglossa, are described and illustrated, with reference to affinities to related Australian and Indo-malayan species. The occurrence in New Guinea of severalHabenaria spp. typical for a savanna-like vegetation, led to look more thoroughly at these taxa:H. elongata R. Br. andH. ochroleuca R. Br., considered so far to be endemic in Northern Australia, andH. khasiana Hook. f., hitherto only known from southeastern Asia.Studies in the subtribeHabenariinae Bentham (Orchidaceae), 2.—Part 1: Candollea34, 357 (1979).Dedicated to Hofrat Prof. DrKarl Heinz Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday. — On April 30, in the year 1927, the author and his brotherOtto Renz metKarl Heinz Rechinger on a small steam-boat in a stormy Aegaen Sea, travelling from Piraeus to the Northern Sporades Islands:Karl Heinz with destination to Chelidromia, the author andO. Renz to Skopelos. By this lucky chance a lasting friendship began.     

On the action of sulfanilamide

Summary A sulfanilamide activating principle was found to be present in red cells of the horse. This activator substance is active in the rather high dilution of 0.5% haemolysed red cells.The substance or substances are present in the red cells, not in their cell membranes. They seem to be of a protein nature or adsorbed to the protein (haemoglobin).In some media no sulfanilamide action is obtained without the activator. In other media sulfanilamide action, though clearly present, is markedly enhanced. So it must be emphasized, that the substance under discussion is an activator and not a conditio sine qua non for the sulfanilamide action and its characteristics.The substance is activating sulfanilamide against streptococci, staphylococci andB. coli.The substance is not present in human blood or in the red cells of sheep, rabbits or mice.Sixth communication: K. C.Winkler, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek8, 10, 1942.     

Quantification of the histochemical reaction for alkaline phosphatase activity using the indoxyl-tetranitro BT method

Summary The indoxyl—tetranitro BT method for the demonstration of alkaline phosphatase activity has been optimized and its validity for quantitative histochemistry tested. The study has been performed with model films of polyacrylamide gel incorporating homogenate of rat liver and with cryostat sections from the same livers. Addition of polyvinyl alcohol to the incubation medium greatly improved the localization of the final reaction product in cryostat sections. In polyacrylamide films, the formazan production specifically due to alkaline phosphatase was highest when using a medium containing 100mm Tris-HCl buffer, pH 9.0, 0.2–1.0mm substrate, 0.32mm 1-methoxyphenazine methosulphate, 10mm MgCl₂, 5mm sodium azide and 1mm tetranitro BT. For the incubation of cryostat sections in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol, the same medium could be used but the optimum concentrations of substrate and tetranitro BT appeared to be 1–2mm and 5mm respectively. The test minus control reaction was specific for alkaline phosphatase activity and could be inhibited completely with tetramisole. The test minus control reaction was linear with time up to 30 min with model films and up to 15 min with cryostat sections. The formazan production was also linear with the amount of homogenate incorporated in model films and with section thickness up to 18 µm and therefore, the reaction obeyed the Beer—Lambert law. Variation of the substrate concentration yielded aK _M of 0.05mm for aqueous media and aK _M of 0.55mm for polyvinyl alcohol-containing media. The inhibition with tetramisole appeared to be competitive withK _i = 0.07mm for aqueous media andK _i = 0.7mm for polyvinyl alcohol-containing media. These values indicate that the indoxyl—tetranitro BT method is considerably more sensitive than any metal salt or diazonium salt method developed so far. It is concluded that the optimized method described here is a specific, sensitive and valid quantitative histochemical method for the demonstration of alkaline phosphatase activity.     

Physiological adsorption of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius on coal surfaces

Summary The adsorption of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius on bituminous coal surfaces and the respiration rate during adsorption at 70° C were enhanced at pH 1.0–2.0, in comparison with those at pH 3.0–5.0. The maximum number of bacterial cells adsorbed per unit area of coal attained a maximum (1.4 × 10¹¹ cells/m²) at pH 2.0. The rate of desulphurization at pH 2.2–2.5 was higher than at other pHs tested. Micrographs of S. acidocaldarius obtained by TEM and SEM indicated that the cells were adsorbed to the coal surfaces by extracellular slime. Specific inhibitors of membrane-bound ATPase (NaF, 20 mm) and respiration (NaN₃, 1 mm; KCN, 1 mm) had pronounced effects on suppressing adsorption. The amount of S. acidocaldarius adsorbed decreased when the coal particles were leached in advance with 2.0 m HNO₃. These facts lead to the conclusion that the adsorption of S. acidocaldarius on coal surfaces requires physiological activity relatd to respiration or energy conversion. Offprint requests to: V. B. Vitaya     

Chemical and biological studies on 1,2-dihydro-S-triazines

Summary A series of 1,2-dihydro-s-triazines has been studied inLactobacillus casei # 7469-pteroylglutamic acid systems. The active derivatives exhibit a competitive inhibition similar to that of 4-aminopteroylglutamic acid, but differ from the latter in that inhibition is not relieved by adenine or guanine, and at appropriate concentrations of inhibitor, is not reversed by excess pteroylglutamic acid. Differences in microbiological activity can be correlated with certain alterations in the structure of the molecule, maximum activity being exhibited by the 2,2-dimethyl-phenyl- and 2,2-dimethyl-m-chlorophenyl derivatives. The inhibitory effect of these compounds is reversed·by appropriate concentrations of dihydropteroylglutamic acid, N¹⁰-formylpteroylglutamic acid, synthetic and natural citrovorum factor, thymine and thymidine. The similarity in inhibition indices obtained vs the various forms of pteroylglutamic acid inLactobacillus casei bioassay systems and the correlation with those vs citrovorum factor inStreptococcus faecalis # 8043 andLeuconostoc citrovorum # 8081 bioassay systems suggests that inhibition ofLactobacillus casei is the result of interference with the utilization of citrovorum factor. Part I: J. Amer. Chem. Soc.74, 855, 1952; Amer. J. Path.28, 599, 1952; II: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1955, in press; III: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1955, in press; IV: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 733, 1953; V: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 740, 1953; VI: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 742, 1953. The experimental work for this and studies VIII, IX, and X in this series was done in part at the Laboratorium voor de Gezondheidscleer, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Nederland, which is directed by Professor DrA. Charlotte Ruys, and these four reports are based upon a thesis submitted by G.E.F. to the Faculteit der Wis-en Natuurkunde, in partial fulfiment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Science.     

The structure of the hypothalamic neurosecretory cells of Zoarces viviparus L. under the conditions of constant dark and light during the reproductive cycle

Summary The Structure of the hypothalamic neurosecretory cells during their activity in continuous light and dark conditions and depending on the seasonal alteration has been investigated in Zoarces viviparus L. in the level of light and electron microscopy.The depletion of AF- or AT-stainable material, of the elementary neurosecretory granules and the disappearance of smooth-surfaced vesicles occur during April and June. The accumulation of the stanable material as well as the elementary neurosecretory granules and the smooth-surfaced vesicles has been observed in the cell body in late September.An excess increase in number of the smooth-surfaced vesicles of dark-induced animals and light-induced animals kept in a black stained tank is apparent. On the other hand, the disappearance of the elementary granules and the smooth-surfaced vesicles and an enlargement in the reletive nuclear surface of the neurosecretory cells of light-induced animals which were kept in a gray stained tank in April is also evident.Taking into consideration the responsiveness of both the elementary neurosecretory granules and the smooth-surfaced vesicles in relation to the external environment as well as their topographical arrangement in the cell body the possible differences in their origin and function are discussed.Numerous studies indicate that the physical environment is in part responsible for the functional properties of the hypothalamic neurosecretory centers of various vertebrates. In the level of light microscope, it has been repeatedly shown that the neurosecretory cells are activated in the animals subjected to continuous illumination, and in those subjected to long daily photo period (Oksche et al., 1958; Fiske and Greep, 1959; Öztan and Gorbman, 1960; Satyanesan, 1965). The enlargement of the nuclei and the amount of Gomori — or aldehyde fuchsin — stainable material, as well as the enzymatic activity, were used as the criteria of cellular activity in the histological preparation. In the level of electronmicroscope it has been shown that Gomori positive material (Bargmann, 1949) is represented as aggregated elementary neurosecretory granules in the ultrathin sections of neurohypophysis (Bargmann et al,. 1957). Although the fine structure of the hypothalamic neurosecretory cells of various fishes and higher vertebrates have been studied in normal and experimental conditions (Palay, 1960; Lederis, 1962, 1964; Follenius et Porte, 1962; Follenius, 1963; Murakami, 1961–1964; Gansler, 1965; Holmes, 1965) the type of granules and their function still remains as an open question (see Bargmann, 1963; Knowles, 1965).This work was aided by a grant from Nato and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.This paper was written as a tribute in honor of the 60th birthday of Prof. Dr. Berta Scharrer.     

On the action of sulfanilamide

Summary InE. coli, sulfanilic acid, sulfanilamide, sulfapyridine, sulfapyrimidine and sulfathiazol are antagonized by the same series of non competitive antagonists,viz., methionine, xanthine, serine, thymine and valine. This seems to indicate that the biosynthesis of these substances is successively inhibited by increasing concentrations of these sulfadrugs; the synthesis of methionine being inhibited first, that of valine only by excessive concentrations. Though the absolute concentrations vary with the drug the relative sensitivity of the five enzyme systems are very much the same. This again shows that the intrinsic toxicity of the sulfadrugs is the same.I: Ann. de l'Inst. Pasteur62, 616, 1939. II: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek7, 25, 1941. III: Ibid.7, 77, 1941. IV: Ibid7, 153, 1941. V: Ibid.7, 161, 1941. VI: Ibid.8, 10, 1942. VII: Ibid.8, 86, 1942. VIII: Ibid.8, 139, 1942. IX: Ibid.9, 115, 1943. X: Ibid.10, 1, 1944–1945. XI: Arch. of Biochemistry18. 97, 1948.     

Genetic control of IgM responses to (T,G)-A — L

The primary antibody response to aqueous immunization with a low molecular-weight lot of (T,G)-A — L (#420) was studied in congenic pairs of inbred mouse strains. Two new genetic controls were identified, both of which quantitatively regulate the production of IgM anti-(T,G)-A — L antibody. Testing of F₁ and F₂ progeny demonstrated that one of these genes is linked to the major histocompatibility (H-2) complex, and that high response is dominant over low response. Whether this gene is identical toIr-1A is not yet known. The other gene, designatedIg-TGAL _M , is linked to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain allotype locus (Ig-1) and is expressed in a genedose dependent manner. Following secondary challenge with (T,G)-A — L 420, quantitative differences in IgG antibody response were observed inIr-1A high-responder congenics differing only at theIg-1 locus. Breeding studies, however, failed to demonstrate any linkage between this locus and the quantitative control of IgG anti-(T,G)-A — L antibody. These data demonstrate thatH-2-linked immune response genes can regulate IgM as well as IgG antibody responses, that genetic control of the IgM response to (T,G)-A — L is linked toIg-1, and that bothH-2-linked andIg-1-linked genes may simultaneously affect an IgM antibody response to the same antigen.Abbreviations used in this paper are (T,G)-A — L poly-l-(Tyr,Glu)-poly-d,l-Ala-poly-l-Lys - NMS normal mouse serum - SRBC sheep red blood cells - i.p. intraperitoneal - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - RAMG polyvalent rabbit anti-mouse globulin - 2-Me 2-Mercaptoethanol - 2-MeS 2-Me-sensitive - PFC plaque-forming cells - ABC antigen-binding cells