Ecotoxicological contamination processes: Interaction with vegetation (a review)

Up-to-date crop production concentrates on the maximisation of plant matter production, both by optimum utilization of solar energy by plants and by the application of additional energy. Therefore a natural strategy is being developed aimed at combining the physiological functions of the assimilation organs with their external shaping and strengthening their variety in space and area. As demonstrated by many deposition studies, this effect is contradictory to the factors conditioning the low deposition capacity of plant covers. A high level of particle, gas and solution deposition increases the danger of food chain contamination and has a negative impact on plant production. Data concentrated on transport values of pollutants and their long-term dynamics in stands could be used for the selection of ideal crop types; therefore every effort should be directed towards selection and breeding.     

Antitumor agents-CLXXV. Anti-tubulin action of (+)-thiocolchicine prepared by partial synthesis

(+)-Thiocolchicine (2b) was prepared from (±)-colchicine (1) in a five-step reaction sequence that included chromatographic separation of appropriate camphanylated diastereomers. Acid hydrolysis of the (+)-diastereomer, followed by acetylation, yielded the desired product 2b. (+)-Thiocolchicine has 15-fold lower inhibitory activity against tubulin polymerization than (−)-thiocolchicine, and is 29-fold less potent for inhibiting growth of human Burkitt lymphoma cells. The enantiomer 2a, prepared from the (−)-camphanylated diastereomer, had potent activity in all assays comparable to that of (−)-thiocolchicine prepared by other methods. These results support the hypothesis that the proper configuration of colchicine-related compounds is an important requirement for their anti-tubulin action.     

Study of the imprinting and overlap of insulin and concanavalin-A at the receptor level in a protozoan (Tetrahymena) model system

In a protozoan (Tetrahymena) model system, insulin treatment produced a long-term imprinting which upon re-exposure to the hormone resulted in an enhanced binding of the hormone. Insulin pretreatment produced similar effect with regard to the binding of concanavalin-A. Concanavalin-A could only induce a short-term imprinting for itself and was not capable at all of inducing imprinting for insulin. Based on the results of this study it appears that the binding of the sugar component of the receptor, which can be achieved also by lectin, is not sufficient to induce imprinting but the whole (hormone) molecule is needed.     

Calcium distribution and exchange in the pregnant and post partum rabbit uterus

Calcium content and distribution of the 25-day pregnant (PR) and post partum (PP) rabbit uterus was studied by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and 45Ca determination. Total Ca content [2.28 +/- 0.28 (PR) and 2.19 +/- 0.12 (PP) mM/kg wet wt] extracellular [1.21 +/- 0.09 (PR) and 1.25 +/- 0.11 (PP) mM/kg wet wt] cellular [1.07 +/- 0.08 (PR) and 0.94 +/- 0.09 (PP) mM/kg wet et], total exchangeable [1.86 +/- 0.11 (PR) and 1.84 +/- 0.09 (PR) mM/kg wet wt] and inexchangeable [0.43 +/- 0.05 (PR) and 0.35 +/- 0.04 (PP) mM/kg wet wt] Ca fractions were identical in the two extreme endocrinological conditions. In contrast compartment size and rate constant of different exchangeable Ca fractions determined by kinetic analysis of 45Ca desaturation "urves (curve-peeling tecnique and computer method), revealed significant differences between PR and PP uteri. Two exchangeable phases could be identified in both endocrinological states. The rate constants of both phases of efflux were significantly higher in the PP (alpha 1 = 0.173 +/- 0.02 min-1; alpha 2 = 0.023 +/- 0.001 min-1) than in the PR uterus (alpha 1 = 0.099 +/- 0.01 min-1; alpha 2 = 0.018 +/- 0.01 min-1). Compartment size of phase 1 (fast component) was significantly higher in the PR (1.13 +/- 0.1 mM/kg wet wt) than in the PP uterus (0.77 +/- 0.06 mM/kg wet wt). In contrast, compartment size of phase 2 (slow component) was significantly smaller in PR than in PP uterine strips (0.74 +/- 0.06 and 1.08 +/- 0.11 mM/kg wet wt). The last portion of desaturation curves represents efflux from one homogenous compartment. The present results suggest that endocrinological control of the rabbit myometrium is linked to the regulation of the binding of a superficial exchangeable Ca fraction.     

Comparative response ofPisum sativum nodulated with indigenous soilRhizobium populations and/or co-inoculated with aRhizobium leguminosarum strain

No significant differences in the acetylene-reducing activity and evolution of H₂ and CO₂ nodulated roots ofPisum sativum inoculated with soilRhizobium populations from two soils with different acidities (Ruzyně soil 7.6; Lukavec soil 4.9) were observed.Rhizobium population from Lukavec soil formed nodules, exhibiting a higher H₂ evolution. Co-inoculation with the Hup⁺ strain 128C30 (7×10⁷ cells per seedling) eliminated, to some extent, the effect of soil populations on physiological activity. Translated by Č. Novotny     

Involvement of the phosphoinositol (PI) system in the mechanism of hormonal imprinting

Certain components of the phosphoinositol (PI) system are present in the unicellular Tetrahymena. Treatment of Tetrahymena with insulin did not alter the relative proportions of the examined six phospholipid components (PIP2, PIP, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, PI, PA), but the primary interaction (imprinting) with insulin accounted for an about 75% decrease in the PIP2-level and an about 20% increase in the phosphatidylethanolamine level. The experimental results strongly suggest that hormonal imprinting accounted for adjustment of the second messenger systems of Tetrahymena to an energy saving level.     

Halogenated monoterpenes of the red alga Microcladia

The red marine algae Microcladia borealis, M. californica and M. coulteri produce several unusual halogenated monoterpenes including violacene, plocamene-B, plocamene-C, and plocamane-D. The isolation of these terpenes along with a study of their variation in each Microcladia at different locations are described.