Synthesis of 6-(2-thienyl)purine nucleoside derivatives that form unnatural base pairs with pyridin-2-one nucleosides

Unnatural bases, 2-amino-6-(2-thienyl)purine and 2-amino-6-(2-furanyl)purine, were newly designed to replace the previously developed purine analogue, 2-amino-6-(N,N-dimethylamino)purine, which specifically pairs with pyridin-2-one. These nucleoside derivatives were synthesized via the 6-substitution of 6-iodopurine nucleosides with tributylstannylthiophene or tributylstannylfuran. As compared with 2-amino-6-(N,N-dimethylamino)purine, 2-amino-6-(2-thienyl)purine reduced the interference in the stacking interactions with the neighboring bases in a DNA duplex and improved the efficiency of the enzymatic incorporation of the nucleoside triphosphate of pyridin-2-one opposite the unnatural base.     

Changes in pollinator fauna affect altitudinal variation of floral size in a bumblebee‐pollinated herb

Geographic trait variations are often caused by locally different selection regimes. As a steep environmental cline along altitude strongly influences adaptive traits, mountain ecosystems are ideal for exploring adaptive differentiation over short distances. We investigated altitudinal floral size variation of Campanula punctata var. hondoensis in 12 populations in three mountain regions of central Japan to test whether the altitudinal floral size variation was correlated with the size of the local bumblebee pollinator and to assess whether floral size was selected for by pollinator size. We found apparent geographic variations in pollinator assemblages along altitude, which consequently produced a geographic change in pollinator size. Similarly, we found altitudinal changes in floral size, which proved to be correlated with the local pollinator size, but not with altitude itself. Furthermore, pollen removal from flower styles onto bees (plant's male fitness) was strongly influenced by the size match between flower style length and pollinator mouthpart length. These results strongly suggest that C. punctata floral size is under pollinator‐mediated selection and that a geographic mosaic of locally adapted C. punctata exists at fine spatial scale.     

Possible endocrine control by hepatocyte growth factor of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), which is a most potent growth factor for primary cultured hepatocytes, may act as a trigger for liver regeneration. After 70% of the rat liver was removed, HGF activity in the remnant liver began to increase within 24 h. In parallel with the activity, the HGF mRNA level in the remnant liver increased at 12 h after the operation and reached a maximum at 24 h. Increases in HGF activity and in the mRNA level were much lower and later than those in the liver of rats with hepatitis induced with CCl4. However, the first increase in HGF activity in the plasma of hepatectomized rats was noted 3 h after the resection, that is much earlier than the initial DNA synthesis in the remnant liver. Thus, while HGF production was induced in the remnant liver during regeneration after partial hepatectomy, the initial trigger may not be the liver-derived HGF, rather, it may be HGF derived from extrahepatic organs, via blood circulation.     

Genetic composition of exotic and native teak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">grandis</Emphasis>) in Myanmar as revealed by cpSNP and nrSSR markers

With the rapid fragmentation of tropical forests harboring valuable tree species, conservation of natural genetic resources is an important issue. In Myanmar, teak plantations have been established by Myanmar government since the 1700 s using local Myanmar teak. Commercial plantations have recently been established by the private sector using both exotic and Myanmar teak without consideration of their genetic make-up. If the genetic composition of commercial teak plantations is severely different from that of Myanmar teak, introgression of non-indigenous genes could damage the remaining natural populations. We investigated genetic compositions of commercial plantations using both exotic and Myanmar teak seeds with 10 nuclear simple sequence repeat and three chloroplast single nucleotide polymorphism markers. We then compared the genetic compositions of these populations with those of neighboring native teak forests. The genetic diversity and composition of one exotic plantation using Costa Rican seeds was similar to those of native populations. However, the diversity of the other three exotic plantations was low and their composition was markedly different from those of native populations. Our results suggest that exotic gene flow would cause serious genetic disturbance. Commercial plantations using Myanmar seeds were characterized by relatively high genetic diversity and by many genetic components. These results suggest that these plantations may be established using various seed sources in Myanmar. Given that native teak in Myanmar is geographically structured, native gene pools will be homogenized by gene flow from these commercial plantations. Seed transfer guidelines based on genetic information should be considered in future.     

Chemosensory basis of hostplant selection in the silkworm

Even the odors of many non-hostplant leaves have a phagostimulative function besides attraction for the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Consequently, the odor by itself emanating from any plant leaves can not give a significant cue for discriminating acceptable plants from non-acceptable ones. Finding of plant leaves from a certain distance and stimulation of feeding by odors were achieved through the functions of olfactory receptors in the antenna and maxillary palpus, respectively.The sugar and inositol receptors in the lateral hair and the bitter-substance receptor in the medial hair on the maxilla play relatively important roles in the response to various plant juices. The response pattern of these three receptors roughly correlates with the feeding response.The maxillary palpus has chemoreceptors which are sensitive to some olfactory and gustatory stimulants such as n-butyl propionate, morin, -sitosterol, etc. and in addition, it exerts an inhibitory influence upon feeding unless the amount of feeding stimulants in the diet reaches a certain sufficient level.In addition to synergistic interactions at the receptor sites, which were previously reported for the responses of the bitter-substance and salt receptors in the maxilla, antagonistic interactions were also observed. Some constituent occurring in Artemisia vulgaris leaves, of which the active principle was not identified chemically, was found to inhibit specifically the maxillary sugar receptor activity.The feeding response is influenced considerably by the amounts or ratios of the feeding stimulants. Accordingly, synergistic or antagonistic interaction of the mixture of chemical stimuli, rather than individual stimuli, is a significant determinant of the palatability of the diet.Compared with Hyphantria cunea, the feeding behavior of Bombyx is characterized especially by the high sensitivities for many kinds of feeding deterrents associated with various non-hostplants.

---

Zusammenfassung Neben der Anlockwirkung hat sogar der Geruch vieler Nicht-Wirtsflanzen-Blätter auch eine fraßanregende Wirkung für die Raupen des Seidenspinners, Bombyx mori. Infolgedessen kann der von irgendwelchem Laub ausgeschiedene Duft selbst keinen signifikanten Aufschluß für die Unterscheidung von annehmbaren und abzulehnenden Pflanzen liefern. Das Auffinden der Pflanzenblätter aus einer gewissen Entfernung und die Fraßstimulation durch Geruchsreize werden mit Hilfe von olfaktorischen Rezeptoren gewährleistet, die in den Antennen bzw. den Maxillarpalpen liegen.Die Zucker- und Inositol-Rezeptoren im Lateralhaar und der Bitterstoff-Rezeptor im medialen Haar der Maxille spielen eine relative wichtige Rolle bei der Reaktion auf verschiedene Pflanzensäfte. Die Reaktionsmuster dieser drei Rezeptoren stehen grob mit der Fraßreaktion in Beziehung.Der Maxillartaster besitzt Chemorezeptoren, die für einige Duft- und Geschmacksstimulantien wie n-Butylpropionat, Morin, -Sitosterol usw. empfindlich sind, und außerdem eine Funktion, die dann eine Hemmung auf das Fressen ausübt, wenn die Fraßstimulantien in der Nahrung keine genügend hohen Beträge erreichen.Zusätzlich zu den synergistischen Wechselwirkungen auf Seiten der Rezeptoren, über die früher als Reaktionen der Bitterstoff- und Salz-Rezeptoren in der Maxille berichtet wurde, wurden auch antagonistische Wechselreaktionen beobachtet. Ein in Artemisia vulgaris-Blättern auftretender Bestandteil, dessen aktives Prinzip chemisch nicht identifiziert wurde, erwies sich als spezifischer Hemmer der maxillaren Zucker-Rezeptor-Aktivität.Die Fraßreaktion wird beträchtlich durch die Menge und den Anteil der Fraßstimulantien beeinflußt. Dementsprechend ist die synergistische oder antagonistische Wechselwirkung eines Gemisches chemischer Reize eher für die Annahme einer Nahrung ausschlaggebend als der einzelne Reizstoff.Verglichen mit Hyphantria cunea ist das Fraßverhalten von Bombyx besonders durch die hohe Empfindlichkeit gegenüber vielerlei Arten von Fraßabschreckstoffen gekennzeichnet, die bei verschiedenen Nicht-Wirtspflanzen auftreten.

     

Prevention of varicella in immunocompromised patients on unpredictable occurrence of the disease in a children's ward: vaccine-boostered immune whole blood transfusion (VIB) method

For prevention of secondary varicella infection in patients whose immunities were extremely impaired by intensive chemotherapy or immunosuppressive agents, we have been using the vaccine-boostered immune whole blood transfusion (VIB) method when there was an unpredictable case of varicella in the children's ward. By this method passive transfer of humoral and cellular immunity is achieved. There have been 25 unpredictable occurrences of varicella or herpes-zoster in the ward of our children's hospital between April 1977 and May 1983 and during these episodes 16 patients, mostly with malignant diseases, have been treated by this method. There has been no case of secondary varicella infection among these patients and no serious troubles associated with the VIB method.