Action of 3′d adenosine (cordycepin) and 3′d cytidine on the translation of the stored mRNA of cotton cotyledons

Cordycepin (3′dAdo), an inhibitor of RNA synthesis and poly(A) addition to pre-mRNA, inhibits protein synthesis and the appearance of enzyme activity thought to come from stored mRNA in germinating cotton cotyledons. 3′dCyd and Actinomycin D, other RNA synthesis inhibitors, have no effect on early germination. The period of sensitivity to 3′dAdo is short, comprising the 6th–30th hour of germination. This is consistent with the idea that the stored mRNA of cotton cotyledons is not processed until germination.     

Quantum mechanical conformational analysis of heterocyclic analogues of norephedrine

Studies on the conformation of several structural analogues of norephedrine, thiophene, carbazole and furan, were carried out using the differential PCILO method. The erythro-forms of these compounds possess minima on the conformation map corresponding to a gauche conformation with synclinal H-atoms. This result is in good agreement with the proton-proton coupling constants found in previous NMR-studies. ¹H-NMR-studies suggest for the threo-isomers of the studied molecules an equilibrium between the trans- and gache-conformations of the ethanolamine chain. Present calculations agree fairly well with this result. All the studied molecules possess conformational minima corresponding to the folded form of the side chain believed responsible for the physiological activity of norephedrine. The distances between ‘N’ and ‘O’ atoms in this preferred conformation correspond to the model proposed by Kier and Pullman for α-adrenergic receptors.     

Arachidonate epoxygenase: identification of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in rabbit kidney

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids were isolated and purified from female rabbit kidneys. They were identified as a group, prior to resolution, by packed column gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopic techniques as their methyl esters as well as their trimethylsilyl bromohydrin methyl esters. Initial capillary gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectral analysis of the corresponding hydrogenated pentafluorobenzyl esters revealed the presence of the 8,9- and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoate regioisomers. These results, in conjunction with the documented in vitro biological activities of the arachidonate epoxygenase metabolites, suggest a role for them in renal function.     

Increased endoplasmic reticulum content of Phanerochaete chrysosporium INA-12 by inositol phospholipid precursor in relation to peroxidase excretion

Summary Haem protein excretion (i.e., lignin and manganese-dependent peroxidases) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium INA-12 was improved in response to an exogenous supply of phospholipid components (inositol and linoleic acid) as well as phosphatidylinositol (PI). Maximal enzyme productions were 46.3 and 21.1 nkat · ml^–1, respectively, in inositol cultures after 3 days incubation. Cellular compartment determination by marker enzymes revealed that the enhancement of protein excretion with inositol was correlated with a proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum; cytosol and mitochondrial activity did not change. In contrast, in the presence of linoleic acid and PI total cellular activity was increased. In culture containing inositol, the intracellular phospholipid composition of strain INA-12 mycelium exhibited a two fold enrichment in PI at the expense of phosphatidylserine and its derives, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Offprint requests to: M. Asther