An isoflavone and a coumestan from eysenhardtia polystachya—Robert Boyle's fluorescent acid—base indicator

7-Hydroxy-2′,4′,5′-trimethoxyisoflavone is the principal fluorescent phenolic constituent of the heartwood of Eysenhardtia polystachya, Robert Boyle's fluorescent acid—base indicator. The bark yielded 9-methoxy-2,3-methylenedioxycoumestan.     

Phenolic compounds from Selaginella moellendorfii

Chemical investigation of the leaves and roots of Selaginella moellendorfii Hieron has resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new flavone glucosides, 7‐O‐(β‐glucopyranosyl(1→2)‐[β‐glucopyranosyl(1→6)]‐β‐glucopyranosyl)flavone‐3′,4′,5,7‐tetraol ( 1 ) and 7‐O‐(β‐glucopyranosyl(1→2)‐[β‐glucopyranosyl(1→6)]‐β‐glucopyranosyl)flavone‐4′,5,7‐triol ( 2 ), two new biflavonoids, 2,3‐dihydroflavone‐5,7,4′‐triol‐(3′→8″)‐flavone‐5″,6″,7″,4′′′‐tetraol ( 3 ) and 6‐methylflavone‐5,7,4′‐triol‐(3′→O→4′′′)‐6″‐methylflavone‐5″,7″‐diol ( 4 ), two new lignans, (7′E)‐3,5,3′,5′‐tetramethoxy‐8 : 4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene‐4,9,9′‐triol ( 5 ) and 3,3′‐dimethoxylign‐8′‐ene‐4,4′,9‐triol ( 6 ), together with two known monolignans, four known lignans, and four known biflavonoids. Their structures were established by spectroscopic means and by comparison with literature values.     

Polyphenols of Eucalyptus sideroxylon wood

Twenty-three major components were detected in the methanol extractives of the heartwood of Eucalyptus sideroxylon. The components identified include resveratrol, resveratrol-β-glucoside, 3,3′-di- and 3,3′,4-tri-o-methylellagic acids and their glucosides. The 3,3′-di-o-methylellagic acid 4′-glucoside isolated had properties significantly different from those previously reported for this compound. Also present were gailic acid, catechin, ellagic acid, an unidentified stilbene, the ellagitannins D-6 and D-13, polymerized leucocyanidin and an oily material. The sapwood contained gailic acid, small amounts of ellagitannins and ellagic acids and traces of other components. The heartwood extractives of related eucalypt species were also examined.     

Isoflavonoids from Myroxylon peruiferum

Considerable differences in flavonoid composition of the trunkwood characterize different specimens of Myroxylon balsamum (L.) Harms. Only calycosin among the 11 flavonoids found in M. peruiferum L.f., presently considered synonymous with M. balsamum, had previously been located in the latter species. Two of these flavonoids, 2′-hydroxy-7,3′,4′-trimethoxyisoflavanone and 2′-hydroxy-7,3′,4′-trimethoxyisoflavone are new natural products.     

Labdane derivatives and flavones from Gutierrezia dracunculoides

An investigation of the aerial parts of Gutierrezia dracunculoides afforded, in addition to known compounds, three new labdane derivatives, all related to lambertianic acid, 17-hydroxy- and 17-acetoxylambertianic acid and 7α- hydroxylambertianic acid, two esterified and three highly oxygenated flavones, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy- flavone-4′-O- [2-methylbutyrate] and isovalerate, 3′,5′-dihydroxy-3,5,6,7,8,4′-hexamethoxyflavone, 5,3′,5′-trihydroxy- 3,6,7,8,4′-pentamethoxyflavone and 5,7,3′,5′-tetrahydroxy-3,6,8,4′-tetramethoxyflavone. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformations.     

The redox state of the gut of termites

The redox potential of the gut of nine species of termites was investigated by feeding the insects with redox dyes. The fore- and mid-gut of all species was aerobic with an E′_o probably in excess of + 100 mV. whereas the paunch and colon were anaerobic with an E′_o of about ?230 to ?270 mV, except in Coptotermes lacteus and Nasutitermes exitiosus whose colons were at a E′_o of ?50 to ?125 mV. In four species (Incisitermes barretti, Glyptotermes brevicornis, Stolotermes victoriensis, Coptotermes lacteus) the rectum was aerobic (E′_o about +60 mV), whereas the rectum of the other species was anaerobic (E′_o from about ?125 to ?270 mV).     

Flavonols of parthenium section bolophytum

Casticin (V), 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone-7-glycoside (I), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone-7-glycoside (hispidulin 7-glycoside) (IV), 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,7,3′-tetramethoxyflavone (VII) and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (XII) were found, with the coumarin scopoletin (IX), in various combinations in the three species of Parthenium section Bolophytum. No infraspecific variation was detected in these calciphilic relicts.     

3,5,7,3′,5′-Pentahydroxyflavan and 3α-methoxyfriedelan from Humboldtia laurifolia

The leaf, bark and timber extractives of Humboldtia laurifolia were investigated and the following compounds have been isolated: O-acetyloleanolic aldehyde, a sitosteryl ester, lupeol, sitosterol, a fatty acid, 5,7,4′-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin), (2R,3R)-3,5,7,3′,5′-pentahydroxyflavan and 3α-methoxyfriedelan. The latter two compounds are new natural products.     

Cytokinin activity of some derivatives of n- n- butyl- n′ - aryl thiourea and their effect on the nitrogen metabolism in barley seedlings

The cytokinin activity of a group of derivatives of N-n-butyl-N′-arylthiourea and their effect on the uptake of amino acids and the accumulation of total nitrogen in seven-day barley seedlings have been investigated. It was established that N-n-butyl-N″-2,4-dinitrophenyl-thiosemicarbazide, N-n-butyl-N′-o-,m- andp-chlorophonylthioureas, N-n-butyl-N′-3,4-dichlorophenylthiourea and N-n-butyl-N′-2-methyl-4-ehlorophenylthiourea possess a high activity with respect to the retardation of the chlorophyll breakdown. Substances with a high cytokinin activity cause an increase in the amount of total nitrogen and amino acids, mainly of glutamic acid, aspartic acid and serine in the roots and loaves of seven-day barley seedlings.     

C-methyl phenolics from Qualea species

The trunk wood of Qualea labouriauana contains, besides (2R)-5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone, (2R)-5,7,4′-trihydroxy-8-methylflavanone, the biosynthetically interesting 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,6,4′,6′-tetramethoxy-3,3′-dimethylbenzophenone. From the trunk wood extract of Q. paraensis the first named flavanone crystallized out directly.     

Antioxidant and α-Amylase Inhibitory Compounds from Aerial Parts of Varthemia iphionoides Boiss

Various extracts of aerial parts of Varthemia (Varthemia iphionoides Boiss) were investigated for radical-scavenging activity, antioxidative activity, and porcine pancreas α-amylase inhibitory activity. The ethanol and water extracts showed a pronounced 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, with inhibition of about 90% at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, and α-amylase inhibitory activity of about 70% at a concentration of 200 μg/ml by the 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl α-maltotrioside (CNP-G₃) degradation method. The ethanol extract was purified by column chromatography to give seven 3-methoxyflavones (1–7) and eudesmane sesquiterpene, selina-4,11(13)-dien-3-on-12-oic acid (8). The structures of these compounds were established by NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopy. Of 3-methoxyflavones, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone (1), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxyflavone (2), and 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,7,3′-trimethoxyflavone (3,7,3′-tri-O-methyl-quercetin) (7) exhibited pronounced radical-scavenging activity. The antioxidative activity in the linoleic acid system was considerable in compounds 1, 2, and 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone (4). Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5 (5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone), and 6 (5,4′-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone) showed markedly high inhibitory activity against porcine pancreas α-amylase. Eudesmane sesquiterpene did not show any activity.     

Flavonoids in the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia panduta

5-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dimethoxyfiavone, 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-3,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone have been isolated from the black rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata.     

Rate-limiting step in oxidation of physiological and artificial reductants by Azotobacter vinelandii membrane vesicles.

The respiration of Azotobacter vinelandii membrane vesicles was investigated in order to determine the partial rates of electron fluxes at each segment of its branched respiratory chain. It is concluded that under physiological conditions only 20 to 30% of the total flux is carried through the c₄, c₅ → a₁,o chain. Steady state analysis indicates that the limited capacity of the chain is due to the slow rate of oxidation of the cytochromes c by the a₁,o oxidases. This rate-limiting step is bypassed by the artificial electron donors, ascorbate-2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol and ascorbate-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, which directly reduce the highly active a₁,o oxidases. During the oxidation of ascorbate-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine by the membrane vesicles, an accumulation of oxidized N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine occurs. Such accumulation of positively charged molecules should lead to a generation of a membrane potential. This fact and previous data concerning coupling site III of A. vinelandii are discussed.     

Esters of trehalose from Corynebacterium diphtheriae: A modified purification procedure and studies on the structure of their constituent hydroxylated fatty acids

The purification procedure of 6,6′-diesters of trehalose from Corynebacterium diphtheriae was modified and the isolated substance was analysed by mass spectrometry as its permethylated derivative. The fatty acid moiety released from the glycolipid after alkaline hydrolysis was studied by mass spectral analysis of the O-methylated and O-acetylated methyl ester derivatives. By argentation thin-layer chromatography, three species of O-acetylated methyl esters were recognized, corresponding to saturated, mono-unsaturated and di-unsaturated α-branched-β-hydroxylated fatty acids. The double bond was located by ozonolysis of the O-acetylated methyl ester derivatives, by gas chromatography of the reaction product and mass spectrometry of the effluent from the gas chromatograph. The main components of each species of α-branched-β-hydroxylated fatty acids found in the gly colipid fraction of C. diphtheriae were 2-tetradecyl-3-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (C₃₂H₆₄O₃, corynomycolic acid), 2-tetradecyl-3-hydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid (C₃₂H₆₂O₃, corynomycolenic acid), 2-tetradec-7′-enyl-3-hydroxy octadecanoic acid (C₃₂H₆₂O₃) and 2-tetradec-7′-enyl-3-hydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid (C₃₂H₆₀O₃, corynomycoldienic acid). The glycolipid fraction from C. diphtheriae is obviously a complex mixture of 6,6′-diesters of trehalose.     

New prenylated isoflavones and a prenylated dihydroflavonol from Millettia pachycarpa

Extraction of Millettia pachycarpa Benth. gave 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (1a), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,3′-diprenylisoflavone (2a), 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone (3a) and (2R, 3R)-5,4′-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano[2″,3″: 7,6]-dihydroflavonol (4a) whose structures were established by chemical transformations and spectroscopic means. Pectolinarigenin and salvigenin were isolated from Buddleia macrostachya Benth.     

Ketomethylthiobutyric acid formation from methylthioadenosine: A diffusion assay

Typical enzyme kinetics were observed when 5′-methylthioadenosine was used as substrate with extracts of malignant murine cells in a diffusion assay. The volatile product was measured after diffusion into a solution of the sulfhydryl reagent, 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), which it reduced to a yellow chromophore. Cysteine was required in the system. The volatile product was identified as H₂S derived from the cysteine. The yield of H₂S was similar to the amount of 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid (KMTB) formed from methylthioadenosine when the KMTB was measured simultaneously in an ether extraction assay. KMTB could replace methylthioadenosine as a substrate capable of causing the formation of the diffusible product from cysteine. It is concluded that the following sequence of reactions takes place in the diffusion assay system: (1) 5′-methylthioadenosine + P_i → adenine + 5-methylthioribose-1-P, (2) 5-methylthioribose-1-P → KMTB, (3) KMTB + cysteine → methionine + 3-mercaptopyruvate, (4) 3-mercaptopyruvate + excess R-SH → pyruvate + H₂S, (5) H₂S + 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) → 5-mercapto-2-nitrobenzoic acid. Thus, the diffusion assay measures the amount of KMTB formed. The key enzyme, cysteine aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.3, was partially purified from malignant cells and from liver and several of its characteristics are described. The diffusion assay using this enzyme is useful in measuring de novo synthesis of α-keto acids and it is applicable to crude enzyme preparations. The sensitivity is about 5 nmol of keto acid and the accurate range is 5 to 100 nmol.     

Flavonoids from Millettia pulchra

Chemical examination of Millettia pulchra yielded (?)-maackiain, (?)-pterocarpin, (?)-sophoranone and the new compounds (6S, 6aS, 11aR)-6α-methoxypterocarpin, (6S, 6aS,11aR)-6α-methoxyhomopterocarpin, (2S)5,7,4′-trihydroxy-8,3′,5′-triprenylflavanone, (2R,3R)7,4′-dihydroxy-8,3′,5′-triprenyldihydroflavanol, 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,3′-diprenylisoflavone and 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-2′-methoxy-6,3′-diprenylisoflavone.     

Chemical intermediates in dopamine oxidation by tyrosinase,and kinetic studies of the process

A minor pathway for dopamine oxidation to dopaminochrome, by tyrosinase, is proposed. Characterization of intermediates in this oxidative reaction and stoichiometric determination have both been undertaken. After oxidizing dopamine with mushroom tyrosinase or sodium periodate in a pH range from 6.0 to 7.0, it was spectrophotometrically possible to detect o-dopaminoquinone-H⁺ as the first intermediate in this pathway. The steps for dopamine transformation to dopaminochrome are as follows: dopamine → o-dopaminequinone-H⁺ → o-dopaminequinone → leuko-dopaminochrome → dopaminochrome. No participation of oxygen was detected in the conversion of leukodopaminochrome to dopaminochrome. Scanning spectroscopy and graphical analysis of the obtained spectra also verified that dopaminequinone-H⁺ was transformed into aminochrome in a constant ratio. The stoichiometry equation for this conversion is 2 o-dopaminequinone-H⁺ → dopamine + dopaminochrome. The pathway for dopamine oxidation to dopaminochrome by tyrosinase has been studied as a system of various chemical reactions coupled to an enzymatic reaction. A theoretical and experimental kinetic approach is proposed for such a system; this type of mechanism has been named “Enzymatic-chemical-chemical” (E_ZCC). Rate constants for the implied chemical steps at different pH and temperature values have been evaluated from the measurement of the lag period arising from the accumulation of dopaminochrome that took place when dopamine was oxidized at acid pH. The thermodynamic activation parameters of the chemical steps, the deprotonation of dopaminequinone-H⁺ to dopaminequinone, and the internal cyclization of dopaminequinone to leukodopaminochrome have been calculated.     

Degradation of the isoflavone biochanin a by isolates of Nectria haematococca (Fusarium solani)

Twelve isolates of Nectria haematococca, mating population VI (Fusarium solani) previously characterized for their virulence on pea plants and their ability to degrade the phytoalexin pisatin were assayed for the catabolism of the isoflavone biochanin A (5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone). Eleven isolates catabolized the isoflavone along the pathway: biochanin A → dihydrobiochanin A → 3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxy-γ-pyrone → p-methoxyphenylacetic acid → p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid → 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.     

The 3′ → 5′ exonucleases of both DNA polymerases δ and ε participate in correcting errors of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DNA polymerases II (ε) and III(δ) are the only nuclear DNA polymerases known to possess an intrinsic 3′ → 5′ exonuclease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have investigated the spontaneous mutator phenotypes of DNA polymerase δ and ε 3′ → 5′ exonuclease-deficient mutants, pol3-01 and pol2-4, respectively. pol3-01 and pol2-4 increased spontaneous mutation rates by factors of the order of 10² and 10¹, respectively, measured as URA3 forward mutation and his7-2 reversion. Surprisingly, a double mutant pol2-4 pol3-01 haploid was inviable. This was probably due to accumulation of unedited errors, since a pol2-4/pol2-4 pol3-01/pol3-01 diploid was viable, with the spontaneous his7-2 reversion rate increased by about 2 × 10³-fold. Analysis of mutation rates of double mutants indicated that the 3′ → 5′ exonucleases of DNA polymerases δ and ε can act competitively and that, like the 3′ → 5′ exonuclease of DNA polymerase δ the 3′ → 5′ exonuclease of DNA polymerase ε acts in series with the PMS1 mismatch correction system. Mutational spectra at a URA3 gene placed in both orientations near to a defined replication origin provided evidence that the 3′ → 5′ exonucleases of DNA polymerases δ and ε act on opposite DNA strands, but were in sufficient to distinguish conclusively between different models of DNA replication.