Structural characterization and auxin properties of dichlorinated indole-3-acetic acids

The dichlorinated indole-3-acetic acids: 4,5-Cl2-IAA, 4,6-Cl2-IAA, 4,7-Cl2-IAA, 5,6-Cl2-IAA, 5,7-Cl2-IAA and 6,7-Cl2-IAA were synthesized and characterized by X-ray structure analysis to unambiguously identify the substances for bioassays required to establish structure activity relationships of auxins and their analogues. Straight-growth tests were performed on Avena sativa coleoptiles to correlate their auxin activity with molecular properties which could reveal information on the topology of the auxin binding site. Structure/activity correlations revealed that the 5,6-Cl2-IAA molecule, by virtue of its size and shape, fits particularly well into the active site cavity of the receptor protein. The main contact of the substrate or inhibitor in the receptor active site via the carboxylic group determines their orientation in the active site cavity. As a consequence, the 5,6-substituted sites protrude into the widest part of the active site whereas the 7-, 4-, and 5-substituted sites are oriented towards the narrowest part of the active site. These topological parameters are in agreement with the high auxin activity of 5,6-Cl2-IAA and the low activity of 4,7-Cl2-IAA.     

Submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum biomass and immunostimulatory effects of fungal polysaccharides

Original Ganoderma lucidum strain MZKI G97 isolated from Slovenian forests was cultivated in a liquid substrate based on potato dextrose and olive oil. The influences of inoculum and oxygen partial pressure in batch and fed batch cultivation in a 10-l laboratory stirred tank reactor were studied. Fungal biomass was found to be oxygen and shear sensible. Using a 17% (wet weight) 6 days old vegetative inoculum, 9.6 g l(-1) of dry biomass in batch cultivation and 15.2 g l(-1) in fed batch process were obtained. Extracellular (9.6 g l(-1)) and intracellular (6.3 g l(-1)) polysaccharide fractions were isolated. Extracellular polysaccharide fraction and four intracellular polysaccharide fractions were obtained. Polysaccharides were further separated by ion-exchange, gel and affinity chromatography. The isolated polysaccharides were mainly beta-D-glucanes. Immunostimulatory effects of isolates were tested on induction of cytokine (tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)) synthesis in primary cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from a buffy coat. The TNF-alpha inducing activity is comparable with romurtide, which has been used as a supporting therapy in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.     

(19)F NMR studies of the leucine-isoleucine-valine binding protein: evidence that a closed conformation exists in solution

The leucine-isoleucine-valine binding protein (LIV) found in the periplasmic space of E. coli has been used as a structural model for a number of neuronal receptors. This "venus fly trap" type protein has been characterized by crystallography in only the open form. Herein we have labeled LIV with 5-fluorotryptophan (5F-Trp) and difluoromethionine (DFM) in order to explore the structural dynamics of this protein and the application of DFM as a potential (19)F NMR structural probe for this family of proteins. Based on mass spectrometric analysis of the protein overproduced in the presence of DFM, approximately 30% of the five LIV methionine residues were randomly substituted with the fluorinated analog. Urea denaturation experiments imply a slight decrease in protein stability when DFM is incorporated into LIV. However, the fluorinated methionine did not alter leucine-binding activity upon its incorporation into the protein. Binding of L-leucine stabilizes both the unlabeled and DFM-labeled LIV, and induces the protein to adopt a three-state unfolding model in place of the two-state process observed for the free protein. The (19)F NMR spectrum of DFM-labeled LIV gave distinct resonances for the five Met residues found in LIV. 5F-Trp labeled LIV gave a well resolved spectrum for the three Trp residues. Trp to Phe mutants defined the resonances in the spectrum. The distinct narrowing in line width of the resonances when ligand was added identified the closed form of the protein.     

A spin labelling study of immunomodulating peptidoglycan monomer and adamantyltripeptides entrapped into liposomes

The interaction of immunostimulating compounds, the peptidoglycan monomer (PGM) and structurally related adamantyltripeptides (AdTP1 and AdTP2), respectively, with phospholipids in liposomal bilayers were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. (1). The fatty acids bearing the nitroxide spin label at different positions along the acyl chain were used to investigate the interaction of tested compounds with negatively charged multilamellar liposomes. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra were studied at 290 and 310 K. The entrapment of the adamantyltripeptides affected the motional properties of all spin labelled lipids, while the entrapment of PGM had no effect. (2). Spin labelled PGM was prepared and the novel compound bearing the spin label attached via the amino group of diaminopimelic acid was chromatographically purified and chemically characterized. The rotational correlation time of the spin labelled molecule dissolved in buffer at pH 7.4 was studied as a function of temperature. The conformational change was observed above 300 K. The same effect was observed with the spin labelled PGM incorporated into liposomes. Such effect was not observed when the spin labelled PGM was studied at alkaline pH, probably due to the hydrolysis of PGM molecule. The study of possible interaction with liposomal membrane is relevant to the use of tested compounds incorporated into liposomes, as adjuvants in vivo.     

Growth retardation as well as spleen and thymus involution in latent TGF-beta binding protein (Ltbp)-3 null mice

The latent TGF-beta binding protein (LTBP)-3 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that binds the small latent complex (SLC) of TGF-beta. Disruption of the Ltbp-3 gene by homologous recombination in mice yields mutant animals that display multiple skeletal abnormalities. In addition, these mice have retarded growth. On an inbred 129 SvEv background, half of the Ltbp-3 mutant mice die between 3 and 4 weeks after birth. These mice show severe involution of the thymus and spleen and a sharp reduction in the numbers of CD4/CD8 double positive T-cells in the thymus. The thymus and spleen defect is caused by elevated corticosterone levels in the serum and can be reversed by injection of aminoglutethimide (AMG), an inhibitor of steroid synthesis. This result indicates that the thymus and spleen defect is a secondary defect due to high corticosterone levels probably induced by stress of unknown etiology.     

Factors affecting direct organogenesis from flower explants of Allium giganteum

A novel method is described for the propagation of Allium giganteum Regel using direct organogenesis resulting in multiple shoot structures formed on mature flower buds or ovaries. A two step induction and differentiation procedure, similar to that described earlier in onion, was tested. Flowers were inoculated on the induction medium for 6 days and extracted ovaries were placed on the differentiation medium. Optimal formation of multiple shoot structures was obtained using modified BDS medium containing 50 g l^–1 sucrose solidified by a mixture of agar/gellan-gum, with 8.88 M benzylaminopurine (BA) and 9.05 M 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in induction medium and 9.08 M tidiazuron (TDZ) in the differentiation medium. Five plant sources obtained from different European retailers of ornamental bulbs were tested separately. All tested genotypes produced multiple organogenic structures, although induction percentages clustered in two distinctive groups. Shoots formed tended to become dormant, and attempts to improve their growth and rooting included treatment with fluridone. Dormancy was partly broken when shoots were briefly dipped in 1 M fluridone. Genetic analysis of plant sources using random amplified polymorphic DNA method showed that 5 retailers actually distribute only two different clones, one of them more and the other less responsive to shoot organogensis.     

Similarity of Structural Features and Evolution of Satellite DNAs from Palorus subdepressus (Coleoptera) and Related Species

A novel highly abundant satellite DNA comprising 20% of the genome has been characterized in Palorus subdepressus (Insecta, Coleoptera). The 72-bp-long monomer sequence is composed of two copies of T₂A₅T octanucleotide alternating with 22-nucleotide-long elements of an inverted repeat. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of monomer sequence variants into two clades. Two types of variants are prevalently organized in an alternating pattern, thus showing a tendency to generate a new complex repeating unit 144 bp in length. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed even distribution of the satellite in the region of pericentric heterochromatin of all 20 chromosomes. P. subdepressus satellite sequence is clearly species specific, lacking similarity even with the satellite from congeneric species P. ratzeburgii. However, on the basis of similarity in predicted tertiary structure induced by intrinsic DNA curvature and in repeat length, P. subdepressus satellite can be classified into the same group with satellites from related tenebrionid species P. ratzeburgii, Tenebrio molitor, and T. obscurus. It can be reasonably inferred that repetitive sequences of different origin evolve under constraints to adopt and conserve particular features. Obtained results suggest that the higher-order structure and repeat length, but not the nucleotide sequence itself, are maintained through evolution of these species. Received: 23 April 1997 / Accepted: 11 July 1997     

Role of phenolics in the antioxidative status of the resurrection plant Ramonda serbica during dehydration and rehydration

Ramonda serbica plants dehydrated for 14 days reached a relative water content of 4.2% and entered into anabiosis prior to being rehydrated for 48 h. Total ascorbate (AsA + DHA) and glutathione (GSH + GSSG) contents increased during dehydration and approached control values by the end of rehydration. Reduced ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) were consumed during the first 13 days of dehydration when guaiacol-, syringaldazine- and phenolic peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) increased. At the end of dehydration AsA and GSH accumulated whereas peroxidases decreased to half the value of controls. In this period, plants of R. serbica face a phase of reduced metabolism and, thus, of reduced consumption of antioxidants. During rehydration, both AsA and GSH were utilized reaching, after 48 h, about 20 and 40% of their total pools, respectively; moreover peroxidases increased showing the recovery of metabolic activities. In the dehydration process total phenolic acids decreased, but accumulated after 5 h of rehydration and returned to control values at the end of rehydration. In R. serbica leaves, the most representative phenolic acids were protocatechuic, p -hydroxybenzoic and chlorogenic acids. Most concentrated phenolic acids, such as protocatechuic and chlorogenic acids, accumulated during the first period of rehydration when AsA decreased. These results suggest a role of ascorbate in inhibiting oxidation when phenolic peroxidases remain at low levels. As a consequence of this inhibition, ascorbate was oxidized and when most of it was consumed, oxidation of phenols resumed.     

Boron atom as an electron density relay

The electronic structure of tetrapyrrolidinodiborane [(C₄H₈N)₂B]₂ has been investigated by HeI and HeII UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and DFT/OVGF calculations. Our results indicate that the title molecule has very low first ionization energy and can be readily oxidized in solution. We estimated the magnitudes of alkyl substituent effects on nitrogen and boron atoms and the efficiency of boron atom to act as an electron density relay facilitating through-bond interactions between the nitrogen lone pairs.     

Genetic variation at nine short tandem repeat loci among islanders of the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia

We have analyzed the extent of genetic variation at nine autosomal short tandem repeat loci (D3S1358, VWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820) among six populations from Croatia: five distributed in the islands of the eastern Adriatic coast and one from the mainland. The purpose is to investigate the usefulness of these loci in detecting regional genetic differentiation in the studied populations. Significant heterogeneity among the island and mainland populations is revealed in the distributions of allele frequencies; however, the absolute magnitude of the coefficient of gene differentiation is small but significant. The summary measures of genetic variation, namely, heterozygosity, number of alleles, and allele size variance, do not indicate reduced genetic variation in the island populations compared to the mainland population. In contrast to the two measures of genetic variation, allele size variance and within-locus heterozygosity, the imbalance index (beta) indicates evidence of recent expansion of population sizes in all islands and in the mainland. High mutation rates of the studied loci together with local drift effects are likely explanations for interisland genetic variation and the observed lack of reduced genetic diversity among the island populations.