Long-acting contraceptive agents: Norethisterone esters of arylcarboxylic acids

The synthesis of esters of norethisterone (17α-ethynyl-17β-hydroxy-estr-4-en-3-one) with acids containing a benzene ring is described, two methods of esterification being compared in terms of yield and convenience. The activities of these esters as long-acting contraceptive agents have been evaluated.     

Long-acting contraceptive agents: norethisterone esters of monoalkenyl and monoalkynyl acids

The synthesis of nine new esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one) is described, with the esterifying acids bearing an acetylenic or olefinic function in a chain of eight or nine carbon atoms, for evaluation as long-acting contraceptive agents.     

6-Hydroxytoxol esters and a seco-dammarane derivative from Abrotanella forsterioides

Abrotanella forsterioides afrorded euparin, 6-hydroxytremetone and three 6-hydroxytoxol esters, one of them not being isolated previously. Furthermore a seco-triterpene was isolated. The tribal position of the genus Abrotanella in the Compositae is still an unsolved problem. Morphological investigations suggest that this genus should be transferred from the tribe Anthemideae to the Senecioneae [1,2]. So far two species have been studied chemically; one atforded ent-kaurane derivatives, while both contained euparin and hydroxytremetone [3].     

Microtubule-associated protein MAP2 preferentially binds to a dA/dT sequence present in mouse satellite DNA

Microtubule-associated protein MAP2 binds to the Sau96.1 restriction monomer fragment of mouse satellite DNA. This fragment is also present in a lower proportion in bulk DNA. The digestion of MAP2-Sau96.1 fragment complex by DNase results in the protection of certain nucleotide sequences. The sequence poly(dA)4/poly(dT)4 is mainly protected against DNase digestion.     

High-frequency conversion to a "fluffy" developmental phenotype in Aspergillus spp. by 5-azacytidine treatment: evidence for involvement of a single nuclear gene.

Transient exposure of mycelia from Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus nidulans to the cytidine analog 5-azacytidine, leading to no more than 0.3 to 0.5% substitution for cytosine by 5-azacytosine in A. nidulans DNA, resulted in the conversion of a high fraction of the cell population (more than 20%) to a mitotically and meiotically stable "fluffy" developmental phenotype. The phenotypic variants are characterized by the developmentally timed production of a profuse fluffy network of undifferentiated aerial hyphae that seem to escape signals governing vegetative growth. Genetic analysis with six different fluffy clones reveals that this trait is not cytoplasmically coded, is recessive in heterozygous diploids but codominant in heterokaryons, and exhibits a 1:1 Mendelian segregation pattern upon sexual sporulation of heterozygous diploids. Complementation and mitotic haploidization studies indicated that all variants are affected in the same gene, which can be tentatively located on chromosome VIII of A. nidulans. Molecular analysis to search for modified bases showed that DNA methylation is negligible in in both A. niger and A. nidulans and that no differences could be detected among DNAs from wild-type cells, fluffy clones, or mycelia exposed to 5-azacytidine. It thus appears that high-frequency conversion of fungal mycelia to a stable, variant developmental phenotype by 5-azacytidine is the result of some kind of target action on a single nuclear gene and that this conversion can occur in organisms virtually devoid of DNA methylation.     

Umwandlungen der submikroskopischen Chloroplastenstruktur parallel zur Veränderung der stoffwechselphysiologischen Leistung von Chlamydobotrys stellata

Zusammenfassung In Fortsetzung unserer Untersuchungen über den Zusammenhang von Chloroplastenstruktur und-funktion wurde die Veränderung der Chloroplastenstruktur bei der Adaptation photo-heterotroph kultivierter Organismen an photo-autotrophe Ernährungsbedingungen untersucht. Die Bildung von Partitions aus zuvor isolierten Thylakoiden erfolgt parallel zum Anstieg der photosynthetischen CO₂-Assimilation.

---

Conformational changes of the submicroscopic chloroplast structure and physiological activity of Chlamydobotrys stellata

Summary Our investigation of the connection between the submicroscopic structure and the function of chloroplasts has been continued. It could be demonstrated that the formation of partitions from isolated thylakoids takes place parallel to the increase of photosynthetic activity.

     

Beziehungen zwischen submikroskopischer Chloroplastenstruktur und Art der Kohlenstoffquelle unter phototrophen Ernährungsbedingungen bei Chlamydobotrys stellata

Zusammenfassung Die Chloroplasten von photo-autotroph (Licht + CO₂) oder photo-heterotroph (Licht + Acetat) gewachsenen Chlamydobotrys stellata werden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Es wird eine nahe Beziehung zwischen der Chloroplasten-Feinstruktur und der Ernährungsart gefunden. Die Thylakoide der Chloroplasten photo-heterotroph kultivierter Algen sind im allgemeinen durch Stroma voneinander getrennt und nur zu wenigen gestapelt. In photo-autotrophen Organismen kommt es durch Bildung einer charakteristischen Faltungsstruktur von Thylakoidmembranen zur Bildung von Grana (Pseudo-Grana).Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf die Photosynthese und Photoassimilation von Acetat bei Chlamydobotrys stellata diskutiert.

---

Relationship between submicroscopic chloroplast structure and type of carbon nutrition of Chlamydobotrys stellata

Summary Chloroplasts from Chlamydobotrys stellata grown photo-autotrophically (light + CO₂) or photo-heterotrophically (light + acetate) have been investigated by means of electronmicroscopy. A close relationship between chloroplast fine structure and type of nutrition could be observed. Thylakoids in chloroplasts from photo-heterotrophically cultivated algae are generally separated from each other by stroma and only few thylakoid packages are present. In photo-autotrophic organisms, however, characteristic folding structure of thylakoid membranes results in the formation of grana (pseudo-grana).These results are discussed in respect to chloroplast function in photosynthesis and photoassimilation of acetate in Chlamydobotrys stellata.