Karyology of four land-planarian species of the genus Bipalium from Japan

We have employed a new scale for characterizing chromosomal forms in the karyotypes of four species of Bipalium from five localities in Japan. Specimens of Bipalium nobile Kawakatsu et Makino, 1982, from Yokohama had a diploid chromosome number of 2x = 10 (2m + 2sm + 2sm + st & sm + 2sm); specimens of the same species from Toyonaka had this number as well but with slightly different chromosomal form (2m + 2sm + sm & st + 2st + m & sm). An undescribed species from Sanjô, Bipalium sp. 2, with two dorsal stripes and a yellow head crescent, had 2x = 10 (2m + 2sm + 2sm + 2sm + 2m); and another undescribed species from Chichijima Island, Bipalium sp. 3, with five dorsal stripes, had 2x = 10 (2m + 2sm + 2sm + 2sm + 2m). A non-sexual bipaliid tentatively identified as Bipalium kewense Moseley, 1878, from Chichijima Island had 2x = 18 (2m + 2m + 2m + 2sm + 2st + 2sm + 2sm + 2sm + 2sm).     

Identification and Functional Analysis of Three Isoforms of Bovine BST-2

Human BST-2 (hBST-2) has been identified as a cellular antiviral factor that blocks the release of various enveloped viruses. Orthologues of BST-2 have been identified in several species, including human, monkeys, pig, mouse, cat and sheep. All have been reported to possess antiviral activity. Duplication of the BST-2 gene has been observed in sheep and the paralogues are referred to as ovine BST-2A and BST2-B, although only a single gene corresponding to BST-2 has been identified in most species. In this study, we identified three isoforms of bovine BST-2, named bBST-2A1, bBST-2A2 and bBST-2B, in bovine cells treated with type I interferon, but not in untreated cells. Both bBST-2A1 and bBST-2A2 are posttranslationally modified by N-linked glycosylation and a GPI-anchor as well as hBST-2, while bBST-2B has neither of these modifications. Exogenous expression of bBST-2A1 or bBST-2A2 markedly reduced the production of bovine leukemia virus and vesicular stomatitis virus from cells, while the antiviral activity of bBST-2B was much weaker than those of bBST-2A1 and bBST-2A2. Our data suggest that bBST-2A1 and bBST-2A2 function as part of IFN-induced innate immunity against virus infection. On the other hand, bBST-2B may have a different physiological function from bBST-2A1 and bBST-2A2.     

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-C-alkylglucosides of myo-inositol as possible inhibitors of a N-deacetylase enzyme in the biosynthesis of mycothiol

Two new analogues of 1-D-1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol, a biosynthetic intermediate in the production of mycothiol in the Mycobacteria have been synthesized. Both the 2-deoxy-2-C-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-D-glucoside 5, and the 2-deoxy-2-C-(2'-oxopropyl)-D-glucoside 6, are derived from fully benzylated 1-D-1-O-(2-C-allyl-2-deoxy)-D-glucopyranosyl)-myo-inositol 20, readily assembled via a protected 2-C-allyl-2-deoxyglucosyl fluoride. Both 5 and 6 inhibit the incorporation of [3H]inositol by whole cells of Mycobacterium smegmatis into a number of metabolites which contain inositol.     

兰科11属14种植物核型分析

采用染色体压片技术对兰科（Orchidaceae）11属14种植物进行染色体数目和核型研究。结果如下：短序脆兰（Acampe papillosa）2n=2x=36m＋2sm;多花脆兰（Acampe rigida）2n=2x=32m＋6sm;窄唇蜘蛛兰（Arachnis labrosa）2n=2x=34m＋4sm;广东隔距兰（Cleisostoma simondii vat．guangdongense）2n=2x=32m＋6sm;五唇兰（Doritis pulctwrima）2n=2x=30m＋8sm;镰叶盆距兰（Gastrochilus acinacifolius）2n=2x=38m;盆距兰（Gastrochilus calceolaris）2n：2x=38m;无茎盆距兰（Gastrochilus obliquus）2n=2x=38m;白唇槽舌兰（Holcoglossum sbulifolium）2n=2x=38m;大尖囊兰（Kingidium deliciosum）2n=2x=30m＋8sm;钗子股（Luisia morsei）2n=2x=24m＋12sm＋2st;鹿角兰（Pomatocalpa spicatum）2n=2x=36m＋2sm;海南钻喙兰（Rhynchostylis gigantea）2n=2x=36m＋2sm;大叶寄树兰（Robiquetia spathulata）2n=2x=36m＋2sm。根据研究结果,对芝科植物的系统与进化进行了简要讨论。     

兜兰亚属12种植物的核型分析

对兜兰亚属(Paphiopedilum subgenus Paphiopedilum)12种植物的染色体数目和核型进行了研究。结果表明：这12种植物的染色体数目和核型存在差异,其中菲律宾兜兰(P. philippinense)的核型公式为2n=2x=26=16m+10sm, 长瓣兜兰(P. dithanum)为2n=2x=26=20m+6sm, 密毛兜兰(P. densissimum)为2n=2x=26=22m+4sm, 飘带兜兰(P. parishii)和带叶兜兰(P. hirsutissimum)为2n=2x=26=24m+2sm, 亨利兜兰(P. henryanum)、虎斑兜兰(P. markianum)和根茎兜兰(P. rhizomatosum)为2n=2x=26=26m, 而胼胝兜兰(P. callosum)为2n=2x=32=2M+24m+6sm, 布玲兜兰(P. microchilum)为2n=2x=38=28m+10sm, 卷萼兜兰(P. appletonianum)和海南兜兰(P. hainanensis)为2n=2x=38=30m+8sm。兜兰亚属的染色体主要为中部着丝粒染色体, 未见随体;最长染色体与最短染色体之比为2.07~3.44, 臂比大于2的染色体比率为0~0.231,核不对称系数为53.50%~58.95%。长瓣兜兰、飘带兜兰、亨利兜兰、密毛兜兰、虎斑兜兰、带叶兜兰和根茎兜兰等6种的核型类型为1B型,其余6种为2B型。     

Identification and characterization of a truncated isoform of NELL2

NELL2 is a neuron-specific secreted glycoprotein containing an N-terminal thrombospondin I-like domain (TSP-N). In this study, we describe NELL2-Tsp, a novel alternative splice variant of rat NELL2. NELL2-Tsp uses an alternate stop codon resulting in a C-terminal truncated form of NELL2, containing a signal peptide and a TSP-N domain. NELL2-Tsp is a glycosylated protein specifically expressed in brain tissue. NELL2-Tsp and NELL2 are secreted, likely due to the putative signal peptide. However, due to the truncation, the secreted portion of NELL2-Tsp is smaller than that of NELL2. Immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed that NELL2-Tsp was able to associate with NELL2 and with itself. In addition, expression of NELL2-Tsp notably reduced secretion of NELL2 and inhibited NELL2-mediated neurite outgrowth. These results suggest that NELL2-Tsp may act as a negative regulator of wild-type NELL2.     

Synthesis of analogues of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO) as potential inhibitors of CMP-KDO synthetase

A series of derivatives of the 2-deoxy analogue of beta-KDO (2,6-anhydro-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-octonic acid; ammonium salt, 2) has been synthesised as potential inhibitors of CMP-KDO synthetase, starting from methyl 2,6-anhydro-3-deoxy-4,5:7,8-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glycero-D-talo- octonate and replacing the CO2Me group attached to C-2 variously by CONH2, CONHOH, CH2OH, CH2PO(OH)(O-NH4+), COCH2PO(OH)(O-H3N+pheny), CH2CO2-NH4+, CON-HCH2CO2-NH4+, CONHBn, CONHHexyl, CO2Bn, and CO2Hexyl. Of these derivatives, the hydroxamic acid (CONHOH) was the best inhibitor of CMP-KDO synthetase, but was less potent than 2.     

A Cytological Study of Fifteen Species in Six Genera of Liliaceae from Yunnan

Fifteen species in six genera of the family Liliaceae were karyomorphologically studied. They share the complex chromocenter type of the resting nuclei and the interstitial type of the prophase chromosomes in somatic cells except that Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey is of the densely diffuse type and gradient type respectively. Their karyotype formulas are listed as follows: Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey, 2n= 14=8m+4sm+2st (2SAT), belongs to 2A type; Smilacina henryi (Baker) Wang et Tang, 2n=36=12m+16sm+6st+2t (2SAT), 2C type; Smilacina fusca Wall., 2n = 36= 14m (2SAT) + 12sm+ 10st(2SAT), 2B type; Smilacinata tsienensis (Franch.) Wang et Tang, 2n= 36=22m +2sm+ 2st(2SAT), 2C type; Smilacina atropurpurea ( Franch.) Wang et Tang, 2n=36=18m+6sm(2SAT) +12st, 2C type: Polygonatum kingianum Coll, et Hesml., 2n=30= 12m(2SAT) +6sm+ lst+2t, 2C type; Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royal, 2n=30= 10m+4sm+ 12st+4t, 3C type; Polygonatum curvistylum Hua, 2n=78=24m (2SAT)+ 14sm (6SAT)+40st, 3C type; Polygonatum cathcartii Baker, 2n = 32 = 12m + 6sm + 10st+ 2t + 2Bs, 2C type; Lilium henricii Franch., 2n = 24 = 2m(2SAT) + 2sm + 10st+ 10t, 3A type; Lilium bakerianum Coll. et Hesml. var. rubrum Stearn, 2n=24=4m ( 2SAT) +10st+ 10t (2SAT), 3A type; Nomocharis bilouensis Liang, 2n= 24= 2m (2SAT) +2sm+ 12st+ 8t, 3A type; Nomocharis pardanthina Franch., 2n= 24=4m (2SAT)+12st (2SAT)+ 8t, 3A type; Nomocharis sauluensis Balf. f., 2n=24=4m(2SAT) +10st (2SAT) + 10t, 3B type; Notholirion campanulatum Cotton et Stearn 2n = 24 = 2m (2SAT) + 2sm + 14st(2SAT ) + 6t, 3A type.     

Reconstitution of ancestral green visual pigments of zebrafish and molecular mechanism of their spectral differentiation

We previously reported that zebrafish have four tandemly duplicated green (RH2) opsin genes (RH2-1, RH2-2, RH2-3, and RH2-4). Absorption spectra vary widely among the four photopigments reconstituted with 11-cis retinal, with their peak absorption spectra (lambda(max)) being 467, 476, 488, and 505 nm, respectively. In this study, we inferred the ancestral amino acid (aa) sequences of the zebrafish RH2 opsins by likelihood-based Bayesian statistics and reconstituted the ancestral opsins by site-directed mutagenesis. The ancestral pigment (A1) to the four zebrafish RH2 pigments and that (A3) to RH2-3 and RH2-4 showed lambda(max) at 506 nm, while that (A2) to RH2-1 and RH2-2 showed a lambda(max) at 474 nm, indicating that a spectral shift had occurred toward the shorter wavelength on the evolutionary lineages A1 to A2 by 32 nm, A2 to RH2-1 by 7 nm, and A3 to RH2-3 by 18 nm. Pigment chimeras and site-directed mutagenesis revealed a large contribution (approximately 15 nm) of glutamic acid to glutamine substitution at residue 122 (E122Q) to the A1 to A2 and A3 to RH2-3 spectral shifts. However, the remaining spectral differences appeared to result from complex interactive effects of a number of aa replacements, each of which has only a minor spectral contribution (1-3 nm). The four zebrafish RH2 pigments cover nearly an entire range of lambda(max) distribution among vertebrate RH2 pigments and provide an excellent model to study spectral tuning mechanisms of RH2 in vertebrates.     

车前属两种植物的核型研究

本文对我国两种车前属Ｐｌａｎｔａｇｏ植物的核型进行了分析。２个种的染色体数目均为２ｎ＝２ｘ＝１２。它们的核型是：海滨车前Ｐ．ｃａｍｔｓｃｈａｔｉｃａＬｉｎｋ,Ｅｎｕｍ．２ｎ＝２ｘ＝１２＝８ｍ＋４ｓｍ;毛车前Ｐ．ｊｅｈｏｈｌｅｎｓｉｓＫｏｉｄｚ．２ｎ＝２ｘ＝１２＝６ｍ＋４ｓｍ＋２ｓｔ。它们的核型均属“２Ａ”型。由１２条染色体组成。     

Oxidoreductase activities of polyclonal IgGs from the sera of Wistar rats are better activated by combinations of different metal ions

It was shown that IgGs purified from the sera of healthy Wistar rats contain several different bound Me2+ ions and oxidize 3,3'-diaminobenzidine through a H2O2-dependent peroxidase and H2O2-independent oxidoreductase activity. IgGs have lost these activities after removing the internal metal ions by dialysis against EDTA. External Cu2+ or Fe2+ activated significantly both activities of non-dialysed IgGs containing different internal metals (Fe > or = Pb > or = Zn > or = Cu > or = Al > or = Ca > or = Ni > or = Mn > Co > or = Mg) showing pronounced biphasic dependencies corresponding to approximately 0.1-2 and approximately 2-5 mM of Me2+, while the curves for Mn2+ were nearly linear. Cu2+ alone significantly stimulated both the peroxidase and oxidoreductase activities of dialysed IgGs only at high concentration (> or = 2 mM), while Mn2+ weakly activated peroxidase activity at concentration >3 mM but was active in the oxidoreductase oxidation at a low concentration (<1 mM). Fe2+-dependent peroxidase activity of dialysed IgGs was observed at 0.1-5 mM, but Fe2+ was completely inactive in the oxidoreductase reaction. Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Al2+ and especially Co2+ and Ni2+ were not able to activate dialysed IgGs, but slightly activated non-dialysed IgGs. The use of the combinations of Cu2+ + Mn2+, Cu2+ + Zn2+, Fe2+ + Mn2+, Fe2+ + Zn2+ led to a conversion of the biphasic curves to hyperbolic ones and in parallel to a significant increase in the activity as compared with Cu2+, Fe2+ or Mn2+ ions taken separately; the rates of the oxidation reactions, catalysed by non-dialysed and dialysed IgGs, became comparable. Mg2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ markedly activated the Cu2+-dependent oxidation reactions catalysed by dialysed IgGs, while Ca2+ inhibited these reactions. A possible role of the second metal in the oxidation reactions is discussed.     

Functional Integration of the Conserved Domains of Shoc2 Scaffold

Shoc2 is a positive regulator of signaling to extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Shoc2 is also proposed to interact with RAS and Raf-1 in order to accelerate ERK1/2 activity. To understand the mechanisms by which Shoc2 regulates ERK1/2 activation by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we dissected the role of Shoc2 structural domains in binding to its signaling partners and its role in regulating ERK1/2 activity. Shoc2 is comprised of two main domains: the 21 leucine rich repeats (LRRs) core and the N-terminal non-LRR domain. We demonstrated that the N-terminal domain mediates Shoc2 binding to both M-Ras and Raf-1, while the C-terminal part of Shoc2 contains a late endosomal targeting motif. We found that M-Ras binding to Shoc2 is independent of its GTPase activity. While overexpression of Shoc2 did not change kinetics of ERK1/2 activity, both the N-terminal and the LRR-core domain were able to rescue ERK1/2 activity in cells depleted of Shoc2, suggesting that these Shoc2 domains are involved in modulating ERK1/2 activity.     

Gene duplication and spectral diversification of cone visual pigments of zebrafish

Zebrafish is becoming a powerful animal model for the study of vision but the genomic organization and variation of its visual opsins have not been fully characterized. We show here that zebrafish has two red (LWS-1 and LWS-2), four green (RH2-1, RH2-2, RH2-3, and RH2-4), and single blue (SWS2) and ultraviolet (SWS1) opsin genes in the genome, among which LWS-2, RH2-2, and RH2-3 are novel. SWS2, LWS-1, and LWS-2 are located in tandem and RH2-1, RH2-2, RH2-3, and RH2-4 form another tandem gene cluster. The peak absorption spectra (lambdamax) of the reconstituted photopigments from the opsin cDNAs differed markedly among them: 558 nm (LWS-1), 548 nm (LWS-2), 467 nm (RH2-1), 476 nm (RH2-2), 488 nm (RH2-3), 505 nm (RH2-4), 355 nm (SWS1), 416 nm (SWS2), and 501 nm (RH1, rod opsin). The quantitative RT-PCR revealed a considerable difference among the opsin genes in the expression level in the retina. The expression of the two red opsin genes and of three green opsin genes, RH2-1, RH2-3, and RH2-4, is significantly lower than that of RH2-2, SWS1, and SWS2. These findings must contribute to our comprehensive understanding of visual capabilities of zebrafish and the evolution of the fish visual system and should become a basis of further studies on expression and developmental regulation of the opsin genes.     

重金属对油菜种子萌发和胚根生长的影响

分析了Hg2 、Cd2 、Ni2 、Co2 、Zn2 5种重金属离子对油菜种子萌发和胚根伸长的影响,以及金属离子K 、Mg2 和Ca2 与重金属的交互作用。结果表明:(1)重金属对油菜种子萌发的抑制作用依次为Hg2 >Cd2 和Co2 >Ni2 >Zn2 ,而对胚根生长的毒害作用依次为Hg2 >Cd2 >Co2 >Ni2 >Zn2 。(2)萌发率为40%以上时,K 和Ca2 可以提高Ni2 、Zn2 和Co2 胁迫下油菜种子的萌发率,却进一步降低了Hg2 、Cd2 胁迫下种子的萌发;Mg2 可以提高Ni2 、Zn2 、Cd2 和Co2 胁迫下种子的萌发率,但对Hg2 毒害却没有缓解。(3)胚根伸长率达到60%以上时,K 和Mg2 增强了Ni2 、Hg2 、Cd2 和Co2 对胚根生长的抑制,而Ca2 则缓解了Zn2 、Ni2 和Co2 对胚根生长的抑制作用。研究结果对于重金属复合污染土壤中植物种子的萌发和定植具有理论和实践意义。     

青海青甘韭9个居群的核型

本文研究了青海葱属青甘韭 9个居群的染色体数目和核型。其中分布于湟源、西宁和共和海拔相对较低的地区的居群为 2倍体 ,核型公式为 2n =2x =16 =14m 2st (2SAT) (湟源居群和西宁居群 ) ,2n =2x =16 =12m 2sm 2st (2SAT) (共和居群 ) ;分布于玛沁、玉树、囊谦等高海拔地区的居群为 4倍体 ,核型公式为 2n =4x =32 =2 8m 4st (2SAT) (玉树居群 1和囊谦居群 1) ,2n =4x =32 =2 4m 4sm 4st (玛沁居群和玉树居群 3)和 2n =4x =32 =2 6m 2sm 4st (玉树居群 2 ) ;囊谦一个生长在林下的居群为 8倍体 ,2n =8x =6 4 =54m 2sm 8st。讨论了居群间的核型分化和倍性与分布的关系。     

Synthesis of phosphodiesters of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose--fragments of polymers of capsules from Escherichia coli K51 and Neisseria meningitidis X

Hydrogenphosphonate method was used for synthesis of 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-3- and 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-4-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl phosphate)-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosides. The glycosides, phosphate diester fragments of the title bacteria capsular antigens, were obtained by H-phosphorylation of the suitably protected 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosides with 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl H-phosphonate in the presence of trimethylacetyl chloride followed by oxidation and deprotection.     

国产８种蜘蛛抱属植物的核型研究

首次报道了８种蜘蛛抱属植物的核型,其中６种的染色体数目为首次报道,结果如下：峨边蜘蛛抱蛋Ａ.ebianensis,2n=2x=36=18m 2sm(2sat) 16st;盈江蜘蛛抱蛋Ａ．yingjiangensis,2n=2x=36=14m 6sm(2sat) 16st;海南蜘蛛抱蛋Ａ．hainensis,2n=2x=36=20m(2sat) 14st 2t;石山蜘蛛抱蛋Ａ.saxicola,2n=2x=36=16m 4sm(2sat) 16st;要蜘蛛抱蛋白Ａ.muricata,2n=2x=36=18m 2sm(2sat) 16st);啮边蛛抱蛋Ａ.marginella,2n=2x=38=22m 4sm(2sat) 12st;西林蜘蛛抱蛋Ａ.xillinensis,2n=4x=76=48m(4sat) 2sm 26st;十字蜘蛛抱蛋A.cruciformis,2n=4x=76=46m(4sat) 12sm 18st。核型类型都为２Ｃ型。首次在中国发现了Ａ.cruciformis和A.xilinensis的野生四倍体。根据外部形态性及已有的３８种植物的核型资料分析,认为该属染色体的原始基数可能为x=18,核型向对称性增强的方向演化,其主要表现在中部着丝粒染色体数目的增多,这种演化趋似与其花部结构的进化密切相关。     

Delineation of the mechanism of inhibition of human T cell activation by PGE2

The capacity of PGE2 to inhibit human T cell responses was examined by investigating its effect on mitogen-induced IL-2 production and proliferation of highly purified CD4+ T cells. PGE2 inhibited both PHA and anti-CD3 induced proliferation and IL-2 production by an action directly on the responding T cell. Inhibition of IL-2 production reflected decreased accumulation of mRNA for IL-2. A variety of other cAMP elevating agents exerted similar inhibitory effects. Inhibition of proliferation could be overcome by supplemental IL-2, PMA, or the anti-CD28 mAb 9.3. Although PMA and 9.3 markedly increased the amount of IL-2 produced by mitogen-stimulated T cells, the percentage inhibition of IL-2 secretion caused by PGE2 and other cAMP elevating agents remained comparable in these costimulated cultures. Rescue of T cell DNA synthesis by these agents appeared to reflect the finding that, although PGE2 markedly inhibited IL-2 production, the absolute amount of IL-2 produced was increased sufficiently to sustain mitogen-induced proliferation. As anticipated, PGE2, forskolin, and cholera toxin increased T cell cAMP levels. The quantity of cellular cAMP generated in response to PGE2, cholera toxin, and forskolin could be inhibited by PMA or 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine. Using these reagents, the inhibitory effects of PGE2 were found to reflect intracellular cAMP levels, but only within a very narrow range. The results indicate that by elevating cAMP levels, PGE2 inhibits human T cell IL-2 production at a point that is common to both the CD3 and CD28 signaling pathways.     

Characteristics of estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase of porcine ovarian follicles: influence of steroidal and non-steroidal agents on the activity of the enzyme in vitro

The conversion of [3H]estradiol to 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2) by homogenates of porcine ovarian follicles was assayed in vitro in the presence and absence of 10 and 100 microM concentrations of the following potential substrates or inhibitors of estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase (E-2/4-H): (1) estrogens; estrone (E1), estriol (E3) and 17 alpha-estradiol (17 alpha-E2), (2) catecholestrogens; 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OH-E2) and 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH-E1); (3) 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-E2); (4) halogenated estrogens; 2-bromoestradiol, (2-Bromo-E2) 4-bromoestradiol and 2,4-dibromoestradiol; (5) androgens; testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androstenedione; (6) progesterone; (7) epinephrine; (8) inhibitors of steroid aromatase; aminoglutethimide and 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and (9) SKF 525A, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450. Progesterone and 2-Bromo-E2 were the two most effective inhibitors (2-OH-E2 formation = 4 and 5% of control at 100 microM and 29.6 and 17.4% at 10 microM of progesterone and 2-Bromo-E2, respectively). 2-MeO-E2 at 100 microM was nearly as effective as progesterone in inhibiting E-2/4-H activity but only caused about 50% inhibition at 10 microM. The three catecholestrogens reduced 2-OH-E2 formation to about the same degree (21-23% of control at 100 microM). The 2,4-dibromo-E2 was equipotent with the catecholestrogens while 4-bromo-E2 was about half as effective. The phenolic estrogens, potential substrates for the enzyme, reduced 2-OH-E2 formation to different degrees, with E3 being the most effective. Among the androgens, DHT was almost as effective an inhibitor as the catecholestrogens, T was about half as effective while androstenedione had no effect. Epinephrine and the two inhibitors of aromatase did not inhibit E-2/4-H activity. SKF 525A inhibited E-2/4-H activity but with a potency only about 1/10th that reported for liver.