Synthesis and stability of [3H] 5—demethoxyubiquinone-9

Radioactive [³H]5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 (3-methyl-2-nonaprenyl-6-methoxy-1,4-benzo-quione), an intermediate in the biosynthesis of ubiquione-9 by selected microorganisms and by the rat, has been synthesized. 4-Methyl-3-nitrophenol was converted to the corresponding anisole with [³H]methyl iodide and the anisole was then reduced to the corresponding aniline. Oxidation of 6-methyl-3-methoxy [³H]aniline with chromic acid gave the corresponding 1,4-benzo-quinone which was reduced and alkylated with solanesol in the presence of boron trifluorideetherate. Oxidation with ferric chloride gave two isomers, 5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 and 6-methyl-2-nonaprenyl-3-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone which were separated by thin layer chromatography. The [³H]methoxyl-5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 prepared had a specific radioactivity of 100 mCi/mmole.     

Vascular follicle system of the sea cucumber,Stichopus moebii

Sea cucumbers, Stichopus moebii, have a unique specialization of their blood vascular system: The vascular follicle network is composed of numerous small chambers (follicles) interconnected by minute vessels. The fine structure of the follicle system was studied in detail. The follicles are composed of several layers: an external ciliated epithelium, neuromuscular layer and basement membrane, connective tissue, and a fenestrated endothelial lining. The follicle lumen is filled with coelomocytes and necrotic cells surrounding particles of iron. The follicle may function in coelomocyte production and destruction.     

Esterase polymorphism in vitreous fluid of Pacific hake, Merluccius productus

Three regions of esterase activity designated I, II, and III were found on zymograms of vitreous fluids. Region I, the most anodal, exhibited two zones, one of which (the slower) was in all samples, occasionally accompanied by a second band which moved just ahead of it. Likewise, Region III, the most cathodal, exhibited two phenotypes, a common one-band and a rare two-band phenotype. Region II was occupied by one- and two-banded combinations of five different zones (a, b, c, d and e), which indicated that each band was the product of an allelic series of genes (EsII ^a, EsII ^b, etc.).
Only 11 of 15 expected phenotypes were encountered because of the rarity of alleles EsII ^a and EsII ^c. The most common allele, EsII ^b, had a frequency of 0.83 in Puget Sound hake and 0.60 in Pacific Ocean hake; this difference was highly significant. In the Pacific Ocean population agreement was good between observed and expected numbers, assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the Puget Sound samples deviations from expected frequencies did not appear in females or first-year fish, but deviations were significant in males 2 years and older; these deviations occurred as a marked deficiency of bd males combined with an excess of bb and dd males, particularly the latter. Inhibition tests indicated that these isozymes are B esterases. Estimations of molecular weight for the isozymes of Region II based on chromatographic and ultracentrifugation methods were 70,000 and 73,500, respectively.