C-C bond formation at the 3'-position of nucleosides by the use of their enol esters

Nucleosides having an enol ester structure in the sugar portion were synthesized and their reaction with several types of electrophiles were carried out. This furnished a new method for constructing C-C bond at the 3'-position.     

Respiratory stimulation and generation of superoxide radicals in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by fungal naphthoquinones

The mechanism of action of antimicrobial naphthoquinones from the fungus Fusarium was studied by using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bostricoidin, methyl ether fusarubin, and fusarubin stimulated the oxygen consumption of bacterial cells and induced cyanide-insensitive oxygen consumption. These activities of the tested compounds were also observed in bacterial membrane preparations in a dose-dependent manner. Naphthoquinones stimulated the generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. The naphthoquinone effectively acted as the electron acceptors for bacterial diaphorase, which could explain the antibacterial activity of Fusarium naphthoquinones since electron acceptors lead to the stimulation of respiratory activity and the generation of oxygen radical species. Received: 12 July 1996 / Accepted: 31 October 1996     

The crystal structure of the tryptophan synthase beta subunit from the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus. Investigation of stabilization factors.

The structure of the tryptophan synthase beta2 subunit (Pfbeta2) from the hyperthermophile, Pyrococcus furiosus, was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis at 2.2 A resolution, and its stability was examined by DSC. This is the first report of the X-ray structure of the tryptophan synthase beta2 subunit alone, although the structure of the tryptophan synthase alpha2beta2 complex from Salmonella typhimurium has already been reported. The structure of Pfbeta2 was essentially similar to that of the beta2 subunit (Stbeta2) in the alpha2beta2 complex from S. typhimurium. The sequence alignment with secondary structures of Pfbeta and Stbeta in monomeric form showed that six residues in the N-terminal region and three residues in the C-terminal region were deleted in Pfbeta, and one residue at Pro366 of Stbeta and at Ile63 of Pfbeta was inserted. The denaturation temperature of Pfbeta2 was higher by 35 degrees C than the reported values from mesophiles at approximately pH 8. On the basis of structural information on both proteins, the analyses of the contributions of each stabilization factor indicate that: (a) the higher stability of Pfbeta2 is not caused by either a hydrophobic interaction or an increase in ion pairs; (b) the number of hydrogen bonds involved in the main chains of Pfbeta is greater by about 10% than that of Stbeta, indicating that the secondary structures of Pfbeta are more stabilized than those of Stbeta and (c) the sequence of Pfbeta seems to be better fitted to an ideally stable structure than that of Stbeta, as assessed from X-ray structure data.     

Two new species of the genus Carminator Shaw from Japan, the northernmost record of extant Megalyridae (Hymenoptera)

The family Megalyridae is recorded from Japan for the first time on the basis of two new species, Carminator helios and C. japonicus. This is the northernmost record of living Megalyridae, although fossil species are known from regions of the Baltic Sea. Carminator helios can be distinguished from congeners of the Asian and Australian regions by the combination of a long head, deeply excavated frons with convex inner margins, entirely striated postgena, the number of fore tibial spines (more than 16), and a long R₁ vein. Carminator japonicus is distinguishable from other species by the combination of an orange‐colored metasoma, a weakly excavated frons, and an elongate vertex. This species was collected from the canopy of Acer pictum. Additional characters that distinguish species of the genus Carminator are discussed.     

Chromatoid bodies: aggresome-like characteristics and degradation sites for organelles of spermiogenic cells.

We investigated the localization of several markers for lysosomes and aggresomes in the chromatoid bodies (CBs) by immunoelectron microscopy. We found so-called aggresomal markers such as Hsp70 and ubiquitin in the core of the CBs and vimentin and proteasome subunit around the CBs. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) was also found in the CBs. In tubulovesicular structures surrounding the CBs, lysosomal markers were detected but an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (KDEL) was not. Moreover, proteins located in each subcellular compartment, including the cytosol, mitochondria, and nucleus, were detected in the CBs. Signals for cytochrome oxidase I (COXI) coded on mitochondrial DNA were also found in the CBs. Quantitative analysis of labeling density showed that all proteins examined were concentrated in the CBs to some extent. These results show that the CBs have some aggresomal features, suggesting that they are not a synthetic site as proposed previously but a degradation site where unnecessary DNA, RNA, and proteins are digested.     

Defense by a few first-instar nymphs in the closed gall ofdinipponaphis autumna (homoptera, aphididae, hormaphidinae)

The defensive behavior of the aphidDinipponaphis autumna, which forms small, completely closed galls on leaves ofDistylium racemosum, was observed. In mature galls, in addition to tens of mature or nearly mature aphids of the 3rd generation, there remained 3 – 17 1st-instar nymphs of the same generation, which had well-sclerotized legs and the antennae with developed setae. Despite their minority, these 1st-instar nymphs clung to experimentally introduced insect larvae and stung them with their stylets. Fourth-instar wingpadded nymphs, the majority of the 3rd generation at the experiment, also attacked the introduced larvae, but they were readily spilt from the larvae. Four out of 205 1st-instar nymphs remaining in mature galls had the next instar cuticle developing inside, indicating that they are not destined to be sterile.     

Geotropic response of cucumber hypocotyls

Exogenous auxin applied to the apical bud of intact cucumberseedlings promoted elongation of the hypocotyl, mostly of theapical zone (zone I) and to a lesser extent, the middle andbasal zones (zones II and III). Geotropic curvature was clearlyobserved 30 min after geostimulation. The curvature began atzone I and moved toward the basal zones with prolonged geostimulation.Decapitation (removal of apex and cotyledons) did not produceany appreciable effect on the geotropic response, but the curvaturewas reduced with the removal of zone I. Auxin application toseedlings without zone I restored their ability to respond togravity. The lower epidermis of horizontally oriented hypocotylsplayed a more important role than the upper in the geotropicresponse. The extensibility of the lower epidermal cell wallwas increased significantly by the geostimulus before the onsetof the curvature response. (Received August 24, 1973; )     

Middle ear defects associated with the double knock out mutation of murine goosecoid and Msx1 genes.

A number of developmental regulatory genes, including homeobox genes, are dynamically expressed in the mammalian cephalic ectomesenchyme during craniofacial morphogenesis. Owing to the vast amount of gene knock out experiments, functions of such genes are now being revealed in the mammalian skeletal patterning process. The murine goosecoid (Gsc) and Msx1 genes are expressed during craniofacial development and each mutant mouse displays intriguing facial abnormalities including those of middle ear ossicles, suggesting that both genes play roles in spatial programming of craniofacial regions. In order to examine whether these genes could function in concert to direct particular craniofacial morphogenesis, double knock out mice were analyzed. The phenotype of the double mutant mice was restricted to the first arch derivatives and was apparently additive of the single gene mutant mice, implying region specific genetic interactions of these homeobox genes expressed in overlapping regions of middle ear forming ectomesenchyme. Our results also suggested that the patterning of distal portions of the malleus depends on the tympanic membrane, for which normal expressions of both the genes are prerequisite.     

Geographical variation in the early regeneration process of Siebold's Beech (Fagus crenata BLUME) in Japan

The causes and timing of seed death in early regeneration process of Siebold's beech (Fagus crenata Blume) was studied at 15 sites along a snowfall gradient in Japan, in order to clarify why the seedling density of the species has geographic difference remarkably. Seed production did not significantly differ along the snowfall gradient. Pre-dispersal seed mortality by insect damage was higher at sites with light snowfall than at sites with heavy snowfall, but this only seemed to be a minor factor influencing the population. A large proportion of the viable nuts that fall in autumn ware killed in winter before germination. Winter mortality was much higher at sites with thin snow cover than that at sites with thick snow cover, and this factor was strongly correlated with the geographic variation of seedling regeneration probability. There was little seed mortality by winter desiccation. The main factor contributing to the geographic difference seemed to be a seed predation by rodents in winter. Deep snow cover may reduce the success of rodents finding seeds in winter. Thus the observed relationship between snowpack depth and early mortality may be due to an indirect effect through the process of seed predation.p>