Sesquiterpenoids of fourteen Plagiochila species

The distribution of ent-2,3-secoaromadendrane-, ent-aromadendrane-, ent-bicyclogermacrane- and ent-maaliane-type sesquiterpenoids in fourteen Plagiochila species is described. These sesquiterpenes are the significant chemosystematic markers of Plagiochila. The intense pungent substance of some Plagiochila species is due to an ent-2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpene hemiacetal, plagiochiline A.     

Biochemical properties of A-homovitamin D derivatives: 1,4-dihydroxy-3-deoxy-A-homo-19-nor-9, 10-secocholesta-5,7-dienes

A study has been made in the chick of the stereostructural requirements of A-ring-functionalized vitamin D analogs which elicit vitamin D₃ and 1,25-(OH)₂D₃-dependent biological responses of intestinal calcium absorption (ICA) and bone calcium mobilization (BCM). Ring expansion of vitamin D₃ to produce (1S,4S), (1S,4R), or (1R,4S)-(7E)-1,4-dihydroxy-3-deoxy-A-homo-19-nor-9,10-secocholesta-5,7-dienes resulted in the loss of both ICA and BCM biological activity at dose levels of steroid of up to 650 nmol/0.1 kg birds. Accordingly the three A-homo analogs of vitamin D₃ were assessed for their ability to inhibit or increase the ICA or BCM responses of D₃ and 1,25-(OH)₂D₃. Only (1R,4S)-(7E)-diol-C, maintaining a cis-β,β-hydroxyl orientation showed antagonistic biological activity. Intraperitoneal doses (65–325 nmol) of diol-C administered in conjunction with D₃ (0.8–3.25 nmol) inhibited the BCM responses selectively and had no effect on the ICA response. Doses of analog-C (16.3-3.25 nmol) injected before and after the active hormone 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ (0.13–01.30 nmol) stimulated the ICA response of the latter above its normal levels (a synergistic response) when administered alone.     

Minor lignans of Piper clusii

Further investigations on the petrol extract of Piper clusii have afforded four more new lignans.These are 2S,3R,4R,2-ethoxy-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl 4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl) methyl tetrahydrofuranol; 3R,4R,bis-3,4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) methyl tetrahydrofuran-2-one; 2R,3R,2-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl) methyl 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl butan-1,4-diol and 2R,3R,2-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)methyl 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) methyl butan-1,4-diol. This is the first report of these compounds from a natural source.     

Purification of characterization of a minor form of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 from rats treated with polychlorinated biphenyls

A minor form of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 has been purified to apparent homogeneity from rats treated with the polychlorinated biphenyl mixture, Aroclor 1254. This newly isolated hemoprotein, cytochrome P-450_e, is inducible in rat liver by Aroclor 1254 and phenobarbital, but not by 3-methylcholanthrene. Two other hemoproteins, cytochromes P-450_b and P-450_c, have also been highly purified during the isolation of cytochrome P-450_e based on chromatographic differences among these proteins. By Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis with antibody to cytochrome P-450_b, highly purified cytochrome P-450_e is immunochemically identical to cytochrome P-450_b but does not cross-react with antibodies prepared against other rat liver cytochromes P-450 (P-450_a, P-450_c, P-450_d) or epoxide hydrolase. Purified cytochrome P-450_e is a single protein-staining band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with a minimum molecular weight (52,500) slightly greater than cytochromes P-450_b or P-450_d (52,000) but clearly distinct from cytochromes P-450_a (48,000) and P-450_c (56,000). The carbon monoxide-reduced difference spectral peak of cytochrome P-450_e is at 450.6 nm, whereas the peak of cytochrome P-450_b is at 450 nm. Ethyl isocyanide binds to ferrous cytochromes P-450_e and P-450_b to yield two spectral maxima at 455 and 430 nm. At pH 7.4, the 455:430 ratio is 0.7 and 1.4 for cytochromes P-450_b and P-450_e, respectively. Metyrapone binds to reduced cytochromes P-450_e and P-450_b (absorption maximum at 445–446 nm) but not cytochromes P-450_a, P-450_c, or P-450_d. Metabolism of several substrates catalyzed by cytochrome P-450_e or P-450_b reconstituted with NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine was compared. The substrate specificity of cytochrome P-450_e usually paralleled that of cytochrome P-450_b except that the rate of metabolism of benzphetamine, benzo[a]pyrene, 7-ethoxycoumarin, hexobarbital, and testosterone at the 16α-position catalyzed by cytochrome P-450_e was only 15–25% that of cytochrome P-450_b. In contrast, cytochrome P-450_e catalyzed the 2-hydroxylation of estradiol-17β more efficiently (threefold) than cytochrome P-450_b. Cytochrome P-450_d, however, catalyzed the metabolism of estradiol-17β at the greatest rate compared to cytochromes P-450_a, P-450_b, P-450_c, or P-450_e. The peptide fragments of cytochromes P-450_e and P-450_b, generated by either proteolytic or chemical digestion of the hemoproteins, were very similar but not identical, indicating that these two proteins show minor structural differences.     

The attachment of poly(ribitol phosphate) to lipoteichoic acid carrier

2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-1-oyl-(L-leucyl-L-threonyl-N²-tosyl-L-lysine p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine (21) and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-1-oyl-(L-leucyl-L-threonyl-N²-tosyl-L-lysine p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine (22), 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-1-oyl-(glycine ethyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine, and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-1-oyl-(phenylalanine methyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine were synthesized by condensation of 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine with the appropriate protected amino acids and tri- and tetra-peptides. The amino acid sequences of 21 and 22 correspond to the protected amino acid sequences 34–37 and 34–38 of ribonuclease B that are adjacent to the carbohydrate-protein linkage.     

Synthesis of a tetrasaccharide donor corresponding to the O-specific polysaccharide of Shigella dysenteriae type 1

O-(2,4-Di-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1 → 2)-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1 → 3)-O-(2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-α-d-glycopyranosyl)-(1 → 3)-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1) was synthesized in a stepwise manner, using the following monosaccharide units: 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-chloroacetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glycopyranosyl chloride, methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-2-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside, and 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl chloride. Compound 1 corresponds to a complete tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide of Shigella dysenteriae type 1.     

Synthesis of glycopeptide derivatives containing the 2-acetamido-N-(L-aspart-4-oyl)-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine linkage and having the amino acid sequences 32–34, 33–35,33–37, and 33–38 of bovine ribonuclease

The synthesis is described of the glycotripeptide derivatives 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L--seryl-L-nitroarginyl-L-aspart-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine, 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-seryl-L-nitroarginyl-L-aspart-1-oyl-(1-p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine, and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-nitroarginyl-L-aspart-1-oyl-(L-leucine methyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine, and of the glycopentapeptide and glycohexapeptide derivatives 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-nitroarginyl-L-aspart-1-oyl-(L-leucyl-L-threonyl-threonyl-N^ε-tosyl-L-lysine-(p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glycopyranosylamine and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-nitroarginyl-L-aspart-1-oyl-(L-leucyl-L-threonyl-N^ε-tosyl-L-lysyl-L-aspartic 1,4-di-p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine.     

Unique flavonoid glycosides from the new zealand white pine, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

A number of new flavonoid glycosides have been isolated from foliage of the New Zealand white pine, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides. These include tricetin 3′,5′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside; the 3′-O-β-xylopyranoside, 7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside and 7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside-3′-O-β-xylopyranoside of 3-O-methylmyricetin; the 3′-O-β-xylopyranoside, 7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside and 7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside-3′-O-β-xylopyranoside of 3-O-methyl-quercetin, and the 3′-O-β-xylopyranoside and 7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside-3′-O-β-xylopyranoside of 3,4′-di-O-methylmyricetin. The accumulation of 3-methoxyflavones and B-ring trioxygenated flavonoids appears to distinguish D. dacrydioides from all other New Zealand members of the classical genus Podocarpus. Support for De Laubenfels' proposed separation of Dacrycarpus from this genus is seen in the present work.     

The microbiological transformation of some trachylobane diterpenoids by Gibberella fujikuroi

The microbiological transformation of ent-trachylobane, ent-7α-hydroxytrachylobane and ent-19-hydroxytrachylobane into trachylobagibberellins A₇, A₉, A₁₃, A₂₅, A₄₀ and A₄₇ by Gibberella fujikuroi is described. Whereas 7β-hydroxy- and 7β,18-dihydroxytrachylobanolides were obtained from ent-trachylobane and ent-trachyloban- 19-ol, the presence of a 7β-hydroxyl group directed metabolism exclusively into the gibberellin pathway. An 18-hydroxyl group as in ent-7α,18-dihydroxytrachylobane inhibited oxidation at C-6 affording ent-7α,18,19-trihydroxytrachylobane as the major metabolite.     

Synthesis of glycopeptides containing the amino acid sequence 17-23 of bovine pancreatic deoyxribonuclease

2-Acetamino-3,4,6-tri-O-acetly-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonly-l-seryl)-l-aspart-1-oyl-(p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine,2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri,O-acetyl-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl-l-seryl)-l-aspart-1-oyl-(l-alanine methyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine, and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-N-[N-benzyloxycarbonyl)-l-aspart-1-oyl-(l-alanyl-l-threonyl-l-leucyl-l-alanyl-l-serine p-nitrobenzyl ester)-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine (7), which span the amino acid sequence 17-23 of bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease A and contain a 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose residue, were synthesized. On treatment with lithium hydroxide, the blocked glycohexapeptide 7 gave 2-acetamido-1-N-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-l-aspart-1-oyl-(l-alanyl-l-threonyl-l-leucyl-l-alanyl-l-serine)-4-oyl]-2 deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine.     

An aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylating hepatic cytochrome P-450 from the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops

Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 from the untreated coastal marine fish scup, Stenotomus chrysops, was solubilized and resolved into five fractions by ion-exchange chromatography. The major fraction, cytochrome P-450E (M_r = 54,300), was further purified to a specific content of 11.7 nmol heme/mg protein and contained a chromophore absorbing at 447 nm in the CO-ligated, reduced difference spectrum. NH₂-terminal sequence analysis of cytochrome P-450E by Edman degradation revealed no homology with any known cytochrome P-450 isozyme in the first nine residues. S. chrysops liver NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, purified 225-fold (M_r = 82,600), had a specific activity of 45–60 U/mg with cytochrome c, contained both FAD and FMN, and was isolated as the one-electron reduced semiquinone.Purified cytochrome P-450E metabolized several substrates including 7-ethoxycoumarin, acetanilide, and benzo[a]pyrene when reconstituted with lipid and hepatic NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase from either S. chrysops or rat. The purified, reconstituted monooxygenase system was sensitive to inhibition by 100 μM 7,8-benzoflavone, and analysis of products in reconstitutions with purified rat epoxide hydrolase indicated a preference for oxidation on the benzo-ring of benzo[a]pyrene consistent with the primary features of benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in microsomes. Cytochrome P-450E is identical to the major microsomal aromatic hydrocarbon-inducible cytochrome P-450 by the criteria of molecular weight, optical properties, and catalytic profile. It is suggested that substantial quantities of this aromatic hydrocarbon-inducible isozyme exist in the hepatic microsomes of some untreated S. chrysops. The characterization of this aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase extends our understanding of the metabolism patterns observed in hepatic microsomes isolated from untreated fish.     

The metabolism of steviol to 13-hydroxylated ent-Gibberellanes and ent-kauranes

Steviol(ent-13-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid) is rapidly metabolised by the mutant B1-41a of Gibberellafujikuroi. The initial product is the ent- 7-α-hydroxy derivative which is then further metabolised to gibberellins A₁, A₁₈, A₁₉, A₂₀, 13-hydroxy GA₁₂, the ent-6α, 7α, 13- and ent-6β, 7α, 13 (19,6-lactone)-trihydroxykaurenoic acids, and a seco-ring B diacid. This apparently low substrate specificity of the enzymes operative beyond the block in the mutant B1-41a provides a useful model for the biosynthetic pathways to 13-hydroxylated gibberellins of higher plants and a preparative route to these plant gibberellins.     

Cytokinin activity of N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea derivatives

We have synthesized 35 N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea derivatives and tested their cytokinin activity in the tobacco callus bioassay. Among them, N-phenyl-N′- (2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea is highly active, the optimum concentration of which is lower than 4 × 10^?9 M (0.001 ppm), 3 compounds, i.e. N-(2-methylphenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea, N-(3-methylphenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea and N-(3-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl) urea are as active as N⁶-benzyladenine (concentration for optimum yield: 4.4 × 10^?8 M or 0.01 ppm), and N-phenyl-N′-(2-methyl-4-pyridyl)urea and N-(2-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea are as active as N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea (concentration for optimum yield: 4.7 × 10^?7 M or 0.1 ppm), while the activity of the other 29 compounds are not so remarkable and 11 of them are almost or completely inactive.     

The synthesis of oligosaccharide-asparagine compounds. V. O- -D-mannopyranosyl-(1 leads to 6)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy- -D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 leads to 4)-2-acetamido-N-(L-aspart-4-oyl)-2-deoxy- -D-glucopyranosylamine

O-α-d-Mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2-acetamido-N-(l-aspart-4-oyl)-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine (12), used in the synthesis of glycopeptides and as a reference compound in the structure elucidation of glycoproteins, was synthesized via condensation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl bromide with 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-3-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl azide (5) to give the intermediate, trisaccharide azide 7. [Compound 5 was obtained from the known 2-acetamido-4-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl azide by de-O-acetylation, condensation with benzaldehyde, acetylation, and removal of the benzylidene group.] The trisaccharide azide 6 was then acetylated, and the acetate reduced in the presence of Adams' catalyst. The resulting amine was condensed with 1-benzyl N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-l-aspartate, and the O-acetyl, N-(benzyloxycarbonyl), and benzyl protective groups were removed, to give the title compound.     

Steroid sapogenins from Tristagma uniflorum

From bulbs of Tristagma uniflorum the known sapogenins tigogenin, neotigogenin and (20S,22R,25S)-5α-spirostan-3β,25-diol, as well as the new (20S,22R,25R)-5α-spirostan-3β,25-diol, (20S,22S,25S)-5α-furostan-22,25-epoxy-3β,26-diol and (20S,22S,25R) -5α-furostan-22,25-epoxy-3β,26-diol, were isolated and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS) methods.     

New coumarins from Coleonema album

Six coumarins have been isolated from the aerial parts of Coleonema album and identified as ulopterol, 7-(3′, 3′-dimethylallyloxy)-coumarin, (R)-(+)-2′,3′-epoxy-suberosin, and the novel coumarins (R)-(+)-7-(2′, 3′-epoxy-3′-methylbutoxy)-coumarin, (R)-(+)-7-(2′,3′-dihydroxy-3′-dihydroxy-3′-methylbutoxy)-coumarin and (R)-(+)-7-methoxy-8-(2′,3′-epoxy-3′-methylbutoxy)-coumarin.     

Resolution and reconstitution of soluble components of rat liver microsomal vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase

Solubilized components of the vitamin D₃-25-hydroxylase, isolated from intact rat liver microsomes known to catalyze the C-25 oxidation of vitamin D₃in vitro, have been separated into two submicrosomal fractions enriched in detergent-solubilized NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450 or P-448. The P-450 hemoprotein-containing fraction was obtained by solubilization with cholic acid followed by treatment with the nonionic detergent, Emulgen 911, yielding a final preparation with a specific content of 7.25 nmol/mg microsomal protein. The reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent cytochrome P-450 reductase activity, as detected by its ability to reduce the artificial electron acceptor, cytochrome c, was isolated free of cytochromes b₅ or P-450 by solubilization with deoxycholate and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The reductase component was found to exhibit kinetic properties with Michaelis constants: K_m(NADPH) = 3.14 μM, K_m(NADH) = 31.25 μM, and K_{m(cyt c)} = 12.34 μM. The NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was sensitive to NADPH-reversible inhibition by NADP, but not rotenone or cyanide. When the isolated components were incubated in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and carbon monoxide under anaerobic conditions, enzymatic reduction of the P-450 hemoprotein was measured by the appearance of characteristic absorbances at 420 and 450 nm of the reduced carbon monoxide vs. reduced difference spectrum. Furthermore, when the soluble submicrosomal components were reconstituted with excess reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide, ³H-labeled vitamin D₃, and soluble cytosolic supernatant, full vitamin D₃-25-hydroxylase activity was restored at rates of up to 7.68 pmol/h/mg protein, with an apparent turnover number of cytochrome P-450 of 1.16 to 1.20 under conditions where the concentrations of the hemoprotein were rate limiting for net product formation. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the rat liver microsomal mixed-function oxidase, vitamin D₃-25-hydroxylase, consists of at least two membrane-bound protein components, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and a cytochrome P-450 terminal oxidase, for the catalytic conversion of vitamin D₃ to 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃.     

The relationship of molecular weight, and sulfate content and distribution to anticoagulant activity of heparin preparations

The crystalline intermediate 2-acetamido-6-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl azide (5), obtained by condensation of 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl bromide with either 2-acetamido-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl azide or its 6-O-triphenylmethyl derivative, was reduced in the presence of Adams' catalyst to give a disaccharide amine. Condensation with 1-benzyl N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspartate afforded crystalline 2-acetamido-6-O-(2-acetamido-3,4 6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4-di-O-acetyl-1-N-[1-benzyl N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspart-4-oyl]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine (9). Catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of palladium-on-charcoal was followed by saponification to give 2-acetamido-6-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-N-(L-aspart-4-oyl)-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosylamine (11) in crystalline form. From the mother liquors of the reduction of 5, a further crystalline product was isolated, to which was assigned a bisglycosylamine structure (12).     

On the ring transformation of hydrazine derivatives of l-ascorbic acid into nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives

l-hreo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone) (1) was condensed with arylhydrazines to give mixed bishydrazones, whose acetylation gave the corresponding di-O-acetyl derivatives. The hydrazone 1 undergoes elimination of one molecule of water per molecule during, the acetylation, and gives 4-(2-acetoxy- ethylidene)-4-hydroxy-2,3-dioxobutano-1,4-lactone 2-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone), which reacts with methylhydrazine, via a ring transformation process, to give 1-methyl-3-(L-methylpyrazolin-3-yl)-4,5-pyrazoledione 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone). Alkali rearranged the mixed bishydrazones to 1-aryl-3-(l-threo-glycerol-1-yl)-4,5- pyrazoledione 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazones), which gave triacetyl and tribenzoyl derivatives, and, upon periodate oxidation, afforded 1-aryl-3-formyl-4,5- pyrazolediones 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazones) that gave the corresponding phenylhydrazones. The n.m.r. and mass spectra of some of these derivatives have been investigated.     

The rise in chlorophyll a fluorescence yield and decay in delayed light emission in Tris-washed chloroplasts in the 6–100 μs time range after an excitation flash

Parallel measurements of the rise in chlorophyll a fluorescence yield and delayed light emission decay, after a 10 ns saturating excitation flash, have been made in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-washed chloroplasts. Various electron donor systems (Mn²⁺; ascorbate; reduced phenylenediamine and benzidine) were used in conjuction with different preillumination regimes to alter [P⁺-680], the oxidized form of the Photosystem II reaction center chlorophyll a. Conditions giving rise to high [P⁺-680] resulted in only a small rise in fluorescence yield, an inhibition of a 6 μs delayed light component, and an enhancement of a 60 μs component of delayed light emission. These results confirm the hypothesis that P⁺-680 acts as a quencher of fluorescence and that delayed light emission in the microsecond time range is due to the back reaction of P⁺-680 and Q^?. (Q is the first “stable” electron acceptor of Photosystem II.) Two preillumination flashes are required before the full effect of Tris washing is observed in the delayed light emission decay and fluorescence yield rise; this suggests that a capacity to hold two charges exists between the Tris block and P⁺-680. Tris washing has no direct effect on the movement of electrons from Z (the first electron donor to P⁺-680) to P⁺-680. Finally, Mn²⁺ donates electrons to P⁺-680 via Z.