Caryological study on four Hesperis L. (Cruciferae) taxa from the Diaplictos (Dvorák) Dvorák section in Turkey

This study examined chromosome numbers and karyotypes of four taxa, Hesperis novakii Dvorák, H. bottae Fourn., H. balansae Fourn. and H. syriaca (DC.) Dvorák, from naturally growing Diaplictos (Dvorák) Dvorák section, which is represented by only these four taxa in Turkey, in the genus Hesperis. H. novakii and H. syriaca have 2n=14 chromosomes, H. bottae and H. balansae have 2n=12 chromosomes in somatic cells. Total chromosome lengths are 5.37 mum and 2.17 mum in H. novakii, 5.38 mum and 2.70 mum in H. bottae, 9.59 mum and 4.28 mum in H. balansae, 4.88 mum and 2.32 mum in H. syriaca (no. 4969), 7.89 mum and 3.44 mum in H. syriaca (no. 4971). The karyotypes are as follows: H. novakii consists of 3m+1sm+1st+2T, H. bottae consists of 4m+2st, H. balansae consists of 4m+2sm, H. syriaca (no. 4969) consists of 3m+1sm+1st+2T and H. syriaca (no. 4971) consists of 3m+1sm+1st+2T chromosome pairs. Results were discussed from a cytological and taxonomical point of view.     

New insight in coordination of vic-dioximes: Bis- and tris(E,E-dioximato)Ni(II) complexes

N,N′-Bis[allylamino]glyoxime, N,N′-bis[anilino]glyoxime, and N,N′-bis[1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-naphthalenamino]glyoxime have been prepared from corresponding amines and (E,E)-dichloroglyoxime. These ligands gave orange-red compound with NiCl₂ in less acidic medium (pH ∼ 5) that are bis(E,E-dioximato)nickel(II) complexes {[(E,E)-Ni(HL)₂]} (1a-3a) and green compounds in acidic medium (pH ∼ 2) that are tris(E,E-dioximato)nickel(II) dichloride complexes {[(E,E)-Ni(LH₂)₃]Cl₂} (1b-3b). The crystal structures of all complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction on a single crystal. The study of absorption spectra of these two types of complexes shows that they may be converted to each other by addition of acids (1a-3a) or bases (1b-3b) and there is no way for the amphi form.     

Chemical characterisation of the terpenoid constituents of the Algerian plant Launaea arborescens

Chemical investigation of endemic Algerian plant Launaea arborescens resulted in the isolation of a series of triterpenes and sesquiterpenes from both the aerial parts and roots. Five terpenoids have been chemically characterised by means of spectral methods mainly NMR techniques. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry at the chiral carbon in the side chain of 8-deoxy-15-(3′-hydroxy-2′-methyl-propanoyl)-lactucin-3′-sulfate (6) has been determined by comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of Mosher derivatives of 6 with those of the corresponding MTPA esters of model compounds.     

Effects of brassinosteroids on barley root growth,antioxidant system and cell division

Homobrassinolide (HBR), which is one of the most biologically active forms of Brassinosteroids (BRs), was used to examine the potential effects of hormone on root germination, antioxidant system enzymes and cell division of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Seeds were germinated between filter papers in 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 μM HBR-supplemented distilled water for 48 h at dark with their controls. HBR application increased especially the primary root growth significantly with increasing concentrations when compared with the control materials and reached two fold increase in 1.0 μM HBR treated material. Treated and untreated control group roots were fixed in 1:3 aceto-alcohol and aceto-orcein preparations were made. Roots treated with HBR showed more mitotic activity, mitotic abnormalities and significant enlargements at the root tips when compared with control material. HBR application decreased total soluble protein content, superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) activities significantly at 1.0 μM HBR concentration. Data presented here is one of the first detailed analyses of HBR effect on barley root development.     

Do the unique properties of nanometals affect leachability or efficacy against fungi and termites?

Nanotechnology has the potential to affect the field of wood preservation through the creation of new and unique metal biocides with improved properties. This study evaluated leachability and efficacy of southern yellow pine wood treated with copper, zinc, or boron nanoparticles against mould fungi, decay fungi, and Eastern subterranean termites. Results showed that nanocopper with and without surfactant, nanozinc, and nanozinc plus silver with surfactant resisted leaching compared with metal oxide controls. Nearly all nanoboron and boric acid was released from the treated wood specimens during leaching. Mould fungi were moderately inhibited by nanozinc oxide with surfactant, but the other nanometal preparations did not significantly inhibit mould fungi. Mass loss from Gloeophyllum trabeum was significantly inhibited by all copper preparations, while Antrodia sp. was not inhibited by nanometal treatments. Nanometals imparted high resistance in southern yellow pine to the white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor. Unleached specimens treated with nanoboron or nanozinc plus surfactant caused 100% and 31% mortality, respectively. All specimens treated with nanozinc or nanozinc plus silver inhibited termite feeding, but the copper treatments were less effective against termites. Nanozinc possessed the most favorable properties: leach resistance, termite mortality, and inhibition of termite feeding and decay by the white-rot fungus.     

CYP1A2 genetic polymorphisms and adenocarcinoma lung cancer risk in the Tunisian population

AimsIn this study, the effects of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), ? 3860G > A, ? 2467delT, ? 739T > G and ? 163C > A, of CYP1A2 gene on lung cancer were evaluated in Tunisian population.Main methodsFour polymorphisms of CYP1A2 gene were analysed in 109 healthy smokers and in 101 lung cancer cases, including 63 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 41 with adenocarcinoma (AD). The genotyping for the SNPs ? 3860 G > A, ? 2467delT, ? 739T > G and ? 163C > A was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.Key findingsThe results showed that smokers with CYP1A2 gene polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk for the development of lung AD. There was however no significant increased risk of developing lung SCC in smokers having CYP1A2 gene polymorphisms. An increased risk of developing AD was observed in smokers who are carriers of at least one copy of ? 3680A or ? 739G giving a significant odds ratio (OR) of 6.02 (CI = 2.91–12.9) and 3.01 (CI = 1.54–5.98), respectively.SignificanceThese genotyping data are consistent with the hypothesis that tobacco-specific-N-nitrosamines (TSN) such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) are major contributors to the development of lung AD and that CYP1A2 gene product plays an important role in the metabolic activation of NNK. This study suggests that SNPs of CYP1A2 could be considered as promising biomarkers in the aetiology of lung AD in smokers.     

Haplotype analysis of p53 polymorphisms: Arg72Pro,Ins16bp and G13964C in Tunisian patients with familial or sporadic breast cancer

Background: The p53 polymorphisms have been extensively studied as putative breast cancer susceptibility variants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the association of p53 Arg72Pro, Ins16bp and G13964C polymorphisms and their haplotypes with breast cancer risk in Tunisian women. Methods: Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on 159 patients and 132 controls. Results: The G13964C intronic variant was significantly associated with familial breast cancer risk (p = 0.0018) while the genotypic distribution was similar for p53 Arg72Pro and Ins16bp in patients and controls. Moreover, the (NoIns-C), (Arg-C) and (NoIns-Arg-C) haplotypes were significantly associated with familial breast cancer risk (p = 0.0021, p = 0.0096 and p = 0.0084, respectively) while there was a trend of association between the (Ins-Arg) and (Ins-Arg-G) haplotypes and the risk of sporadic breast cancer. Only the G/C genotype as well as the (NoIns-C) haplotype remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Conclusion: Our data revealed an association between the G/C genotype and the (NoIns-C) haplotype and the risk of familial breast cancer in Tunisian women. However, these observations need to be confirmed due to the limited statistical power of our study and the small number of cases.     

Discovery of potent carbonic anhydrase,acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes inhibitors: The new amides and thiazolidine‐4‐ones synthesized on an acetophenone base

Compounds containing nitrogen and sulfur atoms can be widely used in various fields, including industry, medicine, biotechnology, and chemical technology. Among them, amides of acids and heterocyclic compounds have an important place. These amides and thiazolidine‐4‐ones showed good inhibitory action against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and human carbonic anhydrase isoforms. AChE exists at high concentrations in the brain and red blood cells. BChE is an important enzyme that is plentiful in the liver, and it is released into the blood in a soluble form. They were demonstrated to have effective inhibition profiles with K_i values of 23.76–102.75 nM against hCA I, 58.92–136.64 nM against hCA II, 1.40–12.86 nM against AChE, and 9.82–52.77 nM against BChE. On the other hand, acetazolamide showed K_i value of 482.63 ± 56.20 nM against hCA I, and 1019.60 ± 163.70 nM against hCA II. Additionally, Tacrine inhibited AChE and BChE, showing K_i values of 397.03 ± 31.66 and 210.21 ± 15.98 nM, respectively.