Synthesis of (±)-licarin-B

The synthesis of (±)-licarin-B, a neolignan of Licaria aritu Ducke (Lauraceae), was achieved by pyrolysis of 3-hydroxy-3-piperonyl-1-propyl-2-methoxy-4-(E)-propenylphenyl ethers.     

Synthesis of (–)-Muricatacin

The synthesis of (–)-muricatacin starting from 1-bromododecane and 2-pentyn-l-ol is described. 2-Pentadecyn-1-ol (4), which was prepared from 1-bromododecane (2) and 2-pentyn-1-ol (3), was converted to epoxy alcohol 6 through a two-step reaction sequence, 6 being successively submitted to tosylation, iodination, chain extension with tert-butyl lithioacetate, and acid-catalyzed cyclization to give (–)-muricatacin (1a). Recrystallization afforded optically pure 1a.     

Structural diversity of neutral bis-(β-iminoaldehyde) complexes of nickel(II)

Series of Ni^II and Cu^II complexes with dianionic [N₂O₂] ligands were synthesized and characterised applying spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques. The ligands were obtained by 1:2 condensation of ethylene- and propylenediamine with malonic aldehyde derivatives (R² = H, R¹ = H or OCH₃). Although the molecular formulae of the complexes are quite similar, the X-ray investigations have proved a significant structural diversity in the solid state. Among others, we found some simple nearly planar molecules stacked in the crystal lattice with electron density of six-membered rings delocalised over the chelate rings as well as some very complex polymeric or nickel acetate bridged trinuclear complexes. The coordination of the nickel ion by surrounding oxygen and nitrogen atoms is square-planar in the simplest case and octahedral in the most complex one. Small topological differences in similar molecules generate completely different crystal structures.From magnetic studies, a small, negative value of J obtained confirms the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Ni^II ions in polymeric chain of the propylenediamine dialdehyde substituted derivative.     

Synthesis of (±)-Xanthoxins

The enzymatic properties of P2-2 enzyme were determined by using cells of M. radiodurans. The enzyme was: most active at 60°C incubation temperature, stable at 40°C in neutral buffer, and inactivated by heating at 80°C for 15min. Maximal lytic activity occurred at pH 8.5 in Tris-HCl buffer. The range of enzyme stability was between pH 5.5 and 8. Bivalent metal ions, p-chloromercuribenzoate and monoiodo acetate inhibited lytic activity. The molecular weight was estimated to be 16,000 daltons by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The enzymatic digestion of peptidoglycans from the cell walls of M. radiodurans and M. lysodeikticus liberated free amino groups, but neither reducing groups nor N-acetylhexosamine, indicating that the enzyme was an endopeptidase. From analysis of the N-terminal amino acids of the digests, it is suggested that the P2-2 enzyme cleaves the peptide bond at the carboxyl group of D-alanine in peptidoglycan.     

Synthesis of (±)-Hydroxytremetone

(±)Hydroxytremetone (III) has been synthesized from 2-(α-hydoxyisopropyl)-6-hydroxycoumaran (V b) via its O-acetate V c by dehydration with phosphorus tribromide in pyridine solution, followed by acylation with a mixture of trifluoroacetic anhydride and acetic acid. Isohydroxytremetone (IX b) was also synthesized.     

Synthesis of (S)-(—)-Vertinolide

(S)-(?)-Vertinolide 1 was synthesized via the tetronic acid derivative 6 from (S)-(?)-tetrahydro-2-methyl-5-oxo-2-furancarboxylic acid 3. (±)-Vertinolide was also synthesized from (±)-3.     

Checklist of the Empidoidea of Finland (Insecta,?Diptera)

An updated checklist of the Atelestidae, Brachystomatidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae and Hybotidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. The genera with uncertain placement within superfamily Empidoidea (= the Iteaphila group) are also included in this paper.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-α-(octyl)glycine via alkylation of Ni(II) complex of chiral glycine Schiff base

Over last decade, the use of Ni(II) complexes, derived from of glycine Schiff bases with chiral tridentate ligands, has emerge as a leading methodology for preparation of structurally diverse Tailor-Made Amino Acids, the key structural units in modern medicinal chemistry, and drug design. Here, we report asymmetric synthesis of derivatives of (S)-α-(octyl)glycine ((S)-2-aminodecanoic acid) and its N-Fmoc derivative via alkylation of chiral nucleophilic glycine equivalent with n-octyl bromide. Under the optimized conditions, the alkylation proceeds with excellent yield (98.1%) and diastereoselectivity (98.8% de). The observed stereochemical outcome and convenient reaction conditions bode well for application of this method for large-scale asymmetric synthesis of (S)-2-aminodecanoic acid and its derivatives.     

Biological function of modified nucleotides T_(54) and ψ_(55) of yeast tRNA~(Ala)

The 3' half molecule of yeast tRNAAla (nucleotides 36-75) was hybridized with a DNA fragment (5'GGAATCGAACC 3') and the hybrid was then digested with E. coli RNase H (from Boehringer). The enzyme can specifically cleave the 3' half molecule at the 3' side of nucleotide ψ55, thus a fragment C36-ψ55 was prepared. The 3'-terminal T or Tψ of this fragment was removed by one or two cycles of periodate oxidation and $-elimination. The products were fragments C36-T54 and C36-G53. Three yeast tRNAAla fragments C56-A76, U55-A76 (with ψ55 replaced by U), U54-A76 (with T54ψ55 replaced by UU) were synthesized and ligated with three prepared fragments (C36-ψ55 C36-T54 and C36-G53) respectively by T4 RNA ligase. The products were further ligated with the 5' half molecule (nu-cleotides 1-35). Using this method, one reconstituted yeast tRNAAla (tRNAr) and two yeast tRNAAla analogs: (i) tRNAa with U55 instead of ψ55; (ii) tRNAb with U54U55 instead of T54ψ55 were synthesized. The charging and incorporation activi     

Synthesis of (±)-Tubaic Acid

An alternative synthesis of (±)-tubaic acid (I), a key intermediate compound of rotenone synthesis, has been accomplished by the Wittig reaction.     

Synthesis of N′-propylhydrazide analogs of hydroxamic inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and evaluation of their impact on activities of HDACs and replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV)

N′-Propylhydrazide analogs of hydroxamic inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs), including tubastatin A, vorinostat and belinostat, were synthesized. All prepared compounds inhibited HDAC1/2/3, but not HDAC6, except for one hydrazide analog of HDAC4/5/7 inhibitor that was completely inactive. A novel 4-substituted derivative of N′-propylbenzohydrazide with extremely high anti-HCV activity was discovered.     

Effect of β-Aminobutyrie Acid on Anthocyanin of Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (Cruciferae)

To analyze the effect of β aminobutyrie acid (BABA) on anthocyanin of leaves of Arabidopsis, 30 old plants were sprayed with BABA while the control were sprayed with water. After treated with BABA, the content of anthocyanin was significantly lower than that of control. Furthermore, the results from RT PCR showed that CHS, LDOX, UF3GT were down regulated compared with contro1, while PAL showed an opposite trend. At the same time, the activity of PPO, which played an important role in the degradation of anthocyanin, showed higher level than control. In addition, the antioxidant capacity, the death rate of cells and electrical conductivity of leaves were also decreased with BABA treatment. All results suggested that BABA might inhibit the accumulation of anthocyanin in leaves of Arabidopsis in vitro.     

Optical Resolution of (±)-Metyrosine

A lipase gene (lip) and its activator gene (act) on a 2.9 kb BglII-EcoRI fragment from Pseudomonas sp. KWI-56 were cloned in Escherichia coli using pUC19 as a vector plasmid. From the sequencing results, the open reading frames of the lip and the act were found to contain 1092 and 1032 nucleotides, respectively. The act existed downstream of the lip with the same orientation. When the lip was expressed in E. coli using the lac promoter on the pUC plasmid vector, the lipase activity of E. coli carrying both the lip and the act was 200-fold greater than that carrying only the lip. This result suggested the act was important in the expression of the lip in E. coli.     

Synthesis of (±)-Homosarkomycin and (±)-Rosaprostol

(±)-Homosarkomycin (2) and (±)-rosaprostol (3) were synthesized from (±)-methyl 2-oxo-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylate (1) by using the nucleophilic ring opening reaction on the double-activated cyclopropane ring as the key step.     

Synthesis of (±)-Lamprolobine and (±)-Epilamprolobine

(±)-Lamprolobine, the (+)-enatiomer of which was isolated from the leaves of Lamprolobium fruticosum, and (±)-epilamprolobine were synthesized from δ-valerolactam.     

Checklist of the leaf-mining flies (Diptera,?Agromyzidae) of Finland

A checklist of the Agromyzidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented. 279 (or 280) species are currently known from the country. Phytomyza linguae Lundqvist, 1947 is recorded as new to Finland.     

Organization of the lamina ganglionaris of the optic lobe of the butterfly Pararge aegeria (Linné) (Lepidoptera : Satyridae)

The present work reports on a neuroanatomical study of the butterfly Pararge aegeria (Lepidoptera : Satyridae) focusing on the lamina ganglionaris underlying two different regions of the retina of the compound eye: the dorsal rim area and the large dorsal region. No differences between both lamina regions, concerning the structure of the cartridges and the morphology of the identified neurons, could be detected. After passing the basement membrane, the visual cell axons are organized in retinotopic bundles (pseudocartridges), in which the axons of the 9 visual cells (V1 and 5, D2, 4, 6, 8, H3 and 7, B9) are arranged in the same way as in the retina. In the pseudocartridge there are no synaptic contacts. Before entering the lamina cartridge, the bundles rotate 90 °. The cartridges are joined by the fibres of 4 monopolar cells (L1, L2, L3 and L4), which could be identified and located inside the lamina cartridges in serial EM-sections. Golgi impregnations revealed the morphology of these fibres. Thus, the regional specialization of the retina (dorsal rim area and large dorsal region) does not seem to be reflected at the level of the first visual neuropil. Additionally, the cartridges of both lamina regions were investigated qualitatively for synaptic contacts among fibres. In addition to monadic chemical synapses and multiple contact synapses with presynaptic ribbons, cell contacts are also facilitated by invaginations and bridges. These cellular interactions and their functional implications are discussed.     

Ecological Monitoring of the Water Area of Port Vostochnyi (Wrangel Bay) in the Sea of Japan (1995–2002)

Benthic surveys carried out in 1989 (literature data), 1995, and 2001 (original data) revealed changes in the structure of soft bottom communities of Wrangel Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan), where a deep-water port of Vostochnyi is situated. The functioning of the port has caused no significant environmental pollution by heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants. Bottom dredging and the siltation induced by it have drastically lowered the benthos biomass, changed benthic communities, and altered their trophic structure. Sestonophages have disappeared nearly altogether being replaced by detrivores. The ecological state of the benthos is characterized as unstable.