Studies on Moss Spores. IV. Mass Spectrometric Identification of Saturated and Monoenoic Long Chain Fatty Acids in the Triglyceride Fraction of Polytrichum commune Spores

The saturated long chain fatty acid methyl esters of the triglyceride fraction of Polytrichum commune spores were separated by silver nitrate TLC and identified by a combination of gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric technique. The saturated fatty acid methyl esters were straight-chained, and even-numbered with carbon numbers ranging from 12 to 26 or odd-numbered with carbon numbers ranging from 13 to 25. The major components of the fraction containing saturated fatty acid methyl esters were methyl palmitate and methyl stearate. The fatty acid methyl esters of the monoenoic fraction isolated by silver nitrate TLC were converted to TMSO derivates which were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The analysis gave evidence of positional isomers. The fraction contained the following straight chain monoenoic fatty acid methyl ester isomers: methyl 7-cis-hexadecenoate, methyl 9-cis-hexadecenoate, methyl 9-cis-heptadecenoate, methyl 9-cis-octadecenoate, methyl 11-cis-octadecenoate, and methyl 11-cis-eicosenoate. The major components were methyl 9-cis-octadecenoate and methyl 7-cis-hexadecenoate.     

Synthesis of methyl pyranosides and furanosides of 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KDO) by acid-catalysed solvolysis of the acetylated derivatives

Treatment of methyl 2,4,5,7,8-penta-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-oct- 2-ulopyranosonic acid, or its methyl ester, with refluxing methanolic 0.1 M hydrogen chloride for 16 h gave 95% of methyl (methyl 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-oct-2-ulopyranosid)onate. Acetylation of the methyl ester of 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KDO) gave mainly methyl 2,4,6,7,8-penta-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-alpha,beta-D-manno-oct-2-ulofuranoso nate. Treatment of this mixture with methanolic 0.02 M hydrogen chloride at room temperature gave methyl (methyl 3-deoxy-alpha, beta-D-manno-oct-2-ulofuranosid)onate and the corresponding 4-acetates which were isolated by reverse-phase column chromatography of their 7,8-O-isopropylidene derivatives. Confirmation of the position of the isopropylidene group was obtained by acetylation to give methyl (methyl 4,6-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-7,8-O-isopropylidene-alpha,beta-D-manno-oct-2-ul ofuranosid)onate. The furanose anomers were differentiated primarily by J3,4 values (alpha approximately 6.1 Hz, beta approximately 2.2 Hz). The anomeric configuration in the furanose series has been assigned on the basis of optical rotation.     

Studies on Abscisic Acid

Methyl α-ionylideneacetates were oxidized with selenium dioxide to a mixture of methyl 3′-keto-β-ionylideneacetates and a small amount of methyl 4′-keto-α-ionylidene-acetates followed by treatment with active manganese dioxide. By a similar oxidation methyl 3′-keto-β-ionylideneacetates were prepared from methyl β-ionylidene acetates. Methyl 4′-keto-α-ionylideneacetates were obtained by oxidation of methyl α-ionylideneacetates with tert-butyl chromate. Dehydrobromination of methyl bromoionylideneacetate, obtained by bromination of methyl 2-trans-α-ionylideneacetate with N-bromosuccinimide, gave a mixture of methyl 2-trans-dehydro-β-ionylideneacetate and methyl 2-cis-dehydro-β-ionylideneacetate. The growth inhibitory activities of these sesquiterpene carboxylic acids and keto esters on rice seedlings were tested.     

Methyl chanofruticosinates from leaves of Kopsia flavida Blume

Three new indole alkaloids with methyl chanofruticosinates skeletal system, viz., methyl 12-methoxy-N1-decarbomethoxychanofruticosinate, methyl 12-methoxychanofruticosinate and methyl 11,12-dimethoxychanofruticosinate, in addition to methyl 11,12-methylenedioxy-N1-decarbomethoxychanofruticosinate, have been isolated from the leaves of Kopsia flavida Blume. The structures of these three new indole alkaloids were assigned by NMR spectral data using various 2D-techniques.     

Basal-lateral transport and transcellular flux of methyl alpha-D-glucoside across LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells

The characteristics of methyl alpha-D-glucoside transport by the LLC-PK1 cell line are extended by a study of the interaction of this glucose analog with the basal-lateral membrane of these cells: 1 mM methyl alpha-D-glucoside enters LLC-PK1 cells across the basal-lateral membrane 10-times more slowly than when entering across the apical membrane; neither 10 mM glucose nor 10 mM methyl alpha-D-glucoside affect the rate of methyl glucoside uptake at the basal lateral membrane; 0.1 mM phlorizin in the apical hemichamber significantly decreases the rate at which methyl glucoside enter the cell when methyl glucoside is present in the basal-lateral hemichamber; the methyl glucoside transcellular flux ratio, Ja/Jb (apical to basal vs. basal to apical) is 15, whereas Ja/Jb for D-mannitol equals 1; and basal-lateral to apical fluxes (Jb) of mannitol consistently exceed those of methyl glucoside. These results demonstrate that methyl glucoside, unlike glucose, is accumulated within these cells to a high degree because of the limited ability of methyl glucoside to exit the cells by a carrier-mediated pathway. They also raise the important caveat for any studies with glucose (and other low-molecular-weight substrates) by showing that a monosaccharide presented to one surface of these cells will traverse the cell sheet (in part) by the intercellular route and will enter the cell at the unintended cell surface. The ability of the tight junctions of this intercellular route to discriminate between open-chain molecules, such as mannitol, vs. closed ring structures, like methyl glucoside, is also described.     

Model sclerotization studies. 3. Cuticular enzyme catalyzed oxidation of peptidyl model tyrosine and dopa derivatives

Incubation of N-acetyltyrosine methyl ester with cuticular enzymes, isolated from the wandering stages of Calliphora sp larvae, resulted in the generation of N-acetyldopa methyl ester when the reaction was carried out in the presence of ascorbate which prevented further oxidation of the o-diphenolic product. Enzymatic oxidation of N-acetyldopa methyl ester ultimately generated dehydro N-acetyldopa methyl ester. The identity of enzymatically produced N-acetyldopa methyl ester and dehydro N-acetyldopa methyl ester has been confirmed by comparison of the ultraviolet and infrared spectral and chromatographic properties with those of authentic samples as well as by nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Since N-acetyldopaquinone methyl ester was also converted to dehydro N-acetyldopa methyl ester and tyrosinase was responsible for the oxidation of N-acetyldopa methyl ester, a scheme for the cuticular phenoloxidase catalyzed conversion of N-acetyltyrosine methyl ester to dehydro N-acetyldopa methyl ester involving the intermediary formation of the quinone and the quinone methide is proposed to account for the observed results. The conversion of N-acetyldopa methyl ester to dehydro derivative remarkably resembles the conversion of the sclerotizing precursor, N-acetyldopamine, to dehydro-N-acetyl-dopamine observed in the insect cuticle. Based on these comparative studies, it is proposed that peptidyl dopa derivatives could also serve as the sclerotizing precursors for the sclerotization of the insect cuticle. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of disaccharide fragments of dermatan sulfate

Condensation of crystalline methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside with methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-idopyranosyl bromide)uronate in dichloromethane, in the presence of silver triflate and molecular sieve, provided 54% of methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-O-(methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-idopyranosyluronate)-beta-D-galactopyranoside . The use of methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-idopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate)uronate as glycosyl donor, in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate, improved the yield to 68%. Regioselective opening of the benzylidene group with sodium cyanoborohydride followed successively by O-sulfation with the sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine complex, saponification, catalytic hydrogenolysis and selective N-acetylation gave the disodium salt of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Condensation of methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside with methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide)uronate in dichloromethane, in the presence of silver triflate and molecular sieve, gave methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-3-O-(methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-beta-D-galactopryano side in 85% yield. The sequence already described then gave the disodium salt of methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-beta-D-galactopyranoside.     

A comparison of cholinesterase activity after intravenous, oral or dermal administration of methyl parathion

Time-dependent changes in blood cholinesterase activity caused by single intravenous, oral or dermal administration of methyl parathion to adult female rats were defined. Intravenous and oral administration of 2.5 mg/kg methyl parathion resulted in rapid (<60 min) decreases in cholinesterase activity which recovered fully in vivo within 30-48 h. In contrast, spontaneous reactivation of cholinesterase in vitro was complete within 6 h at 37 degrees C. Dermal administration of methyl parathion caused dose-dependent inhibition of cholinesterase activity which developed slowly (> or =6 h) and was prolonged (> or =48 h). Time- and route-dependent effects of methyl parathion on cholinesterase activity in brain and other tissues generally paralleled its effects on activity in blood. In conclusion, pharmacodynamics of methyl parathion differ substantially with route of exposure. Recovery of cholinesterase in vivo after intravenous or oral exposure may partially reflect spontaneous reactivation and suggests a rapid clearance of methyl parathion or its active metabolite methyl paraoxon. The more gradual and prolonged inhibition of cholinesterase caused by dermal administration is consistent with disposition of methyl parathion at a site from which it or methyl paraoxon is only slowly distributed. Thus, dermal exposure to methyl parathion may pose the greatest risk for long-term adverse effects.     

Fatty acid composition of seeds of Satureja thymbra and S. cuneifolia

The chemical composition of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from seeds of S. thymbra and S. cuneifolia were analyzed by GC/MS. 7 FAMEs were identified from the seeds of S. thymbra mainly as 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (43.9%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (11.4%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (Z,Z,Z) (30.2%), and octadecanoic acid methyl ester (14.1%), while from the seed of S. cuneifolia 10 FAMEs were obtained with the main components, similar to S. thymbra. These were identified as 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (10.1%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (methyl palmitate, 34.6%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (Z,Z,Z) (6.3%) and octadecanoic acid methyl ester (1.8%).     

Synthesis of methyl 2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 2-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside

Treatment of methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D- mannopyranoside (1) with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (2). Oxidation of 2 with pyridinium chlorochromate, followed by reduction of the carbonyl group, and subsequent O-deacetylation afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl- alpha-D- talopyranoside (5). Cleavage of the tert-butyldiphenylsilyl group of 5 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in oxolane, followed by hydrogenolysis, gave methyl 2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside (7). O-Deacetylation of 1 gave methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (8). Treatment of 8 with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride afforded a 6,6'-disilyl derivative, which was converted into a 2',3'-O-isopropylidene derivative, and then further oxidized with pyridinium chlorochromate. The resulting diketone was reduced and removal of the protecting groups gave methyl 2-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside (15). The structures of both 7 and 15 were established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Modulation of carrier-mediated uptake of abscisic acid by methyl jasmonate in Phaseolus coccineus L

The effects of methyl jasmonate and jasmonic acid on uptake of abscisic acid (ABA) by suspension-cultured runner-bean cells and subapical runner-bean root segments have been investigated. Increasing concentrations of methyl jasmonate inhibit ABA uptake by the cultured cells with a K _i of 22±3 M. This is not due to cytoplasmic acidification or to effects on metabolism of ABA, and is not additive with inhibition of radioactive ABA uptake by nonradioactive ABA. Uptake of indol-3-yl acetic acid (IAA) is unaffected by methyl jasmonate. The maximum effect of nonradioactive ABA in inhibiting uptake of radioactive ABA, previously shown to reflect saturation of an ABA carrier, is generally greater than the effect of maximally inhibitory concentrations of methyl jasmonate. Similar results were obtained with root segments, but longer incubation times were necessary to observe inhibitory effects of methyl jasmonate. Demethylation of methyl jasmonate to jasmonic acid does not appear to be required since similar concentrations of jasmonic acid had no observable direct effect on ABA uptake other than that attributable to cytoplasmic acidification. Histidine reagents, a proton ionophore and acidic external pH all affect in parallel the inhibition by methyl jasmonate and nonradioactive ABA of uptake of radioactive ABA by the cultured cells. There is no effect of ABA or nonradioactive methyl jasmonate on uptake of radioactive methyl jasmonate by the cultured cells. It is proposed that methyl jasmonate interacts with the ABA carrier. Various models for this interaction are discussed.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - DMO 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione - IAA indol-3-yl acetic acid     

Decomposition products of Dimers Arising from Secondary Oxidation of Methyl Linoleate Hydroperoxides

Dimers formed in aerated methyl linoleate hydroperoxides were decomposed in liquid paraffin by bubbling with dry air at 30°C for 24 hr to identify the decomposition products. The aerated dimers were fractionated according to their molecular weights by gel permeation chromatography. Identification of the monomeric (25.6%) and low molecular fission products (10.8%) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed the major monomers as methyl hydroxy-octadecadienoate, methyl hydroxy (or hydroperoxy)-epoxy-octadecenoate, methyl dihydroxy (or hydroperoxy)-octadecenoate, methyl trihydroxy (or hydroperoxy)-octadecenoate; and the major fission products as methyl 8-hydroxy-octanoate, 4-hydroxy (or hydroperoxy)-nonanal or -2-nonenal, methyl 12-oxo-9-hydroxy (or hydroperoxy)-dodecanoate or -10-dodecenoate, and methyl 11-oxo-9-undecenoate.

The monomeric products were presumed to be derived from alkoxy radicals generated by the cleavage of peroxy linkages in the dimers, whereas the low molecular products were suggested to be raised by the direct carbon-carbon scission of oxygenated ester moieties on both sides of the peroxy bonds.     

Analysis of different de-esterification mechanisms for pectin by enzymatic fingerprinting using endopectin lyase and endopolygalacturonase II from A. niger

A series of pectins with different distribution patterns of methyl ester groups was produced by treatment with either plant (p-PME) or fungal pectin methyl esterases (f-PME) and compared with those obtained by base catalysed de-esterification. The products generated by digestion of these pectins with either endopectin lyase (PL) or endopolygalacturonase II (PG II) from Aspergillus niger were analysed using matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDIMS) and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric or UV detection (HPAEC-PAD/UV). Time course analysis using MALDIMS was used to identify the most preferred substrate for each enzyme. For PL, this was shown to be fully methyl esterified HG whereas for PG II, long regions of HG without any methyl esterification, as produced by p-PME was the optimal substrate. The blockwise de-esterification caused by p-PME treatment gave a decrease of partly methylated oligomers in PL fingerprints, which did not effect the relative composition of partly methylated oligomers. PG II fingerprints showed a constant increase of monomers and oligomers without any methyl ester groups with decreasing degree of esterification (DE), but almost no change in the concentration of partly methylated compounds. PL fingerprints of f-PME and chemically treated pectins showed decreasing amounts of partly methyl esterified oligomers with decreasing DE, together with a relative shift towards longer oligomers. PG II fingerprints were characterised by an increase of partly methylated and not methylated oligomers with decreasing DE. But differences were also seen between these two forms of homogenous de-esterification. Introduction of a certain pattern of methyl ester distribution caused by selective removal of certain methyl ester groups by f-PME is the most reasonable explanation for the detected differences.     

Synthèse des l-fucose et l-(3-2H)fucose à partir du d-mannose

Oxidation with the dimethyl sulfoxide-acetic anhydride reagent of methyl 2-O-acetyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-mannopyranoside, obtained in quantitative yield from the corresponding 4,6-benzylidene acetal by stereoselective opening of a 2,3-orthoester, led in good yield to methyl 2-O-acetyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-arabino-hexopyranosid-3-ulose, which was reduced with either sodium borohydride or sodium borodeuteride into a methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-altropyranoside or its 3-²H derivative. A sequence involving a C-6 halogenation-dehydrohalogenation followed by catalytic hydrogenation of the resulting methyl 6-deoxy-α-d-arabino-hex-5-enopyranoside gave methyl 6-deoxy-β-l-galactopyranoside (methyl β-l-fucopyranoside) and then α-l-fucose, with an overall yield of 24% with respect to the starting methyl α-d-mannopyranoside.     

The sulfonylurea herbicide sulfometuron methyl is an extremely potent and selective inhibitor of acetolactate synthase in Salmonella typhimurium

The sulfonylurea herbicide sulfometuron methyl inhibits the growth of several bacterial species. In the presence of L-valine, sulfometuron methyl inhibits Salmonella typhimurium, this inhibition can be reversed by L-isoleucine. Reversal of growth retardation by L-isoleucine, accumulation of guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (magic spot), and relA mutant hypersensitivity suggest sulfometuron methyl interference with branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis. Growth inhibition of S. typhimurium is mediated by sulfometuron methyl's inhibition of acetolactate synthase, the first common enzyme in the branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic pathway. Sulfometuron methyl exhibits slow-binding inhibition of acetolactate synthase isozyme II from S. typhimurium with an initial Ki of 660 +/- 60 nM and a final, steady-state Ki of 65 +/- 25 nM. Inhibition of acetolactate synthase by sulfometuron methyl is substantially more rapid (10 times) in the presence of pyruvate with a maximal first-order rate constant for conversion from initial to final steady-state inhibition of 0.25 +/- 0.07 min-1 (minimal half-time of 2.8 min). Mutants of S. typhimurium able to grow in the presence of sulfometuron methyl were obtained. They have acetolactate synthase activity that is insensitive to sulfometuron methyl because of mutations in or near ilvG, the structural gene for acetolactate synthase isozyme II.     

Novel azido fatty acid ester derivatives from conjugated C(18) enynoate.

Methyl octadec-11Z-en-9-ynoate (1) was epoxidized to give methyl 11,12-Z-epoxy-octadec-9-ynoate (2, 81%). Acid catalyzed ring opening of the epoxy ring of compound 2 gave methyl 11,12-dihydroxy-octadec-9-ynoate (3, 80%). The latter was treated with mesyl chloride to yield methyl 11,12-dimesyloxy-octadec-9-ynoate (4, 76%). Reaction of compound 4 with sodium azide furnished methyl 11-azido-12-mesyloxy-octadec-9-ynoate (5a, 49%) and methyl 11-azido-octadec-11E-en-9-ynoate (5b, 24%). Compound 2 was semi-hydrogenated over Lindlar catalyst to give methyl 11,12-Z-epoxy-octadec-9Z-enoate (6, 90%). This allylic epoxy fatty ester (6) was reacted with sodium azide to give a mixture of methyl 11-azido-12-hydroxy-octadec-9Z-enoate (7a) and methyl 9-azido-12-hydroxy-octadec-9E-enoate (7b), which could not be separated into individual components by silica chromatography. Chromic acid oxidation of the mixture of compounds 7a and 7b furnished methyl 9-azido-12-oxo-octadec-10E-enoate (8, 42% based on amount of compound 6 used) and an intractable mixture of polar compounds. The various products were characterized by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectral analyses.     

Synthesis of 5-Methylmercaptouracil

5-Methylmercaptouracil was prepared by the reaction of uracil with dimethyl sulfoxide and monochloromethyl ether. At the same time the formation of methylal, methyl sulfide, methyl disulfide, methyl methanethiolsulfonate, methyl chloride and paraformaldehyde were observed. Acetyl chloride was successfully used instead of monochloromethyl ether. Uracil reacted with dimethyl sulfoxide and phenacyl bromides, resulting in the formation of 5-bromouracil. The mechanism of these reactions were discussed.     

Parathion and methyl parathion toxicity and metabolism in piperonyl butoxide and diethyl maleate pretreated mice

Pretreatment of male mice with piperonyl butoxide, 400 mg/kg 1 h before challenge with insecticides, resulted in a 40-fold antagonism of the acute i.p. toxicity of methyl parathion but potentiated the toxicity of parathion two-fold. Piperonyl butoxide had no effect on the toxicity of the oxygen analogs of these insecticides, methyl paraoxon and paraoxon. Diethyl maleate (1 ml/kg) depleted liver glutathione by 80% after one hour, potentiated the toxicity of both methyl parathion and methyl paraoxon, and partially counteracted the protective effect of piperonyl butoxide on methyl parathion toxicity. Piperonyl butoxide delayed the onset of brain cholinesterase inhibition by parathion. Studies of the metabolism of the insecticides by liver homogenates in vitro demonstrated that piperonyl butoxide inhibited both the oxidative formation of the oxygen analogs (activation) and oxidative cleavage to p-nitrophenol and dialkylphosphorothioic acid (detoxification). While parathion metabolism was mostly oxidative, methyl parathion metabolism appeared to be predominantly via glutathione-dependent enzymes. Studies of in vitro distribution of the insecticides demonstrated that piperonyl butoxide pretreatment resulted in elevated tissue concentrations of parathion and methyl parathion; however, the rate constant for elimination from plasma for both insecticides was unaffected by piperonyl butoxide. The overall rate of metabolism of methyl parathion in vivo was approximately twice that of parathion. These results suggest that during piperonyl butoxide inhibition of oxidative activation and cleavage, methyl parathion detoxification continues through uninhibited glutathione-dependent pathways of metabolism. The net result is a reduction in the acute toxicity of methyl parathion. Lack of an effective alternate pathway of detoxification may explain the delayed but greater toxicity of parathion in piperonyl butoxide pretreated mice.     

Selective inhibition of the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the 95,000 dalton subunit of the insulin receptor by TAME or BAEE

Added N alpha-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester or N alpha-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester inhibited the stimulation by insulin of phosphorylation of the 95,000 dalton subunit of the insulin receptor both in a partially purified insulin receptor fraction from rat adipocytes and in a highly purified insulin receptor preparation from human placenta. N-alpha-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone, N alpha-p-tosyl-l-lysine methyl ester, or N-acetyl-l-phenylalanine ethyl ester were much less potent, while N-benzoyl-1-alanine methyl ester was without effect. Inhibition of the phosphorylation by the arginine analogues did not require preincubation of the insulin receptor with inhibitors in the presence of insulin prior to phosphorylation. Inhibition by N alpha-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester was decreased by preincubation of the receptor fraction with cold ATP and MnCl2. These results suggest that N alpha-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester inhibits an initial ATP and Mn2+ dependent reaction in insulin-stimulated phosphorylation process.     

Cervical dilatation with prostaglandin analogues prior to vaginal termination of first trimester pregnancy in nulliparous patients.

Dilatation of the cervix with prostaglandin analogues prior to vaginal termination of pregnancy was attempted in 125 nulliparous women in the first trimester of pregnancy. The patients were divided into five groups (25 in each group) and given a single extra-amniotic dose of one of the following prostaglandin analogues 14-16 hours prior to the evacuation of the uterus by vacuum aspiration. (Group A) 15 (S) 15 methyl PGE2 (free acid); (Group B) 15 (S) 15 methyl PGE2 methyl ester; (Group C) 15 (S) 15 methyl PGF2alpha (free acid); (Group D) 15 (S) 15 methyl PGF2alpha methyl ester and(Group E) a mixture of 15 (S) 15 methyl PGE2methyl ester and 15 (S) 15 methyl PGF2alpha methyl ester. Evacuation of the uterus without mechanical dilatation of the cervix was possible in 111 (90%) of the patients. In an additional 10 patients (8%) there was some degree of cervical dilatation and further mechanical dilatation could be performed easily. With the combination of 15 (S) 15 methyl PGE2 methyl ester and 15 (S) 15 methyl PGF2alpha methyl ester the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and pyrexia were considerably reduced.