2-Iminothiolane: a reagent for the introduction of sulphydryl groups into oligosaccharides derived from asparagine-linked glycans

A facile method for introducing reactive sulphydryl groups intooligosaccharides was developed. 1-Amino-oligo-saccharides generatedfrom asparagine-linked glycans by peptide-N⁴(N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (PNGase F) digestion were monitored by high-performanceanion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detectionand derivatized under optimal conditions with 2-iminothiolane—HC1.The resulting mercapto-butyramido oligosaccharides, which wereobtained in high yield, were alkylated with a fluorescent reagentand used to selectively assay for endoglycosidases that hydrolysedi-N-acetyl-chitobiose linkages. 1-amino-oligosaccharides fluorescent oligosaccharides 2-iminothiolane mercapto-butyramido oligosaccharides     

Antigiardial drugs

Giardia intestinalis is a world-wide cause of intestinal infection. Treatment of this debilitating disease is usually accomplished using one of several drugs. Metronidazole is the treatment of choice, but benzimidazoles are now being used more frequently. Other treatments include quinacrine, paromomycin and furazolidone. Even though these drugs are all used to treat the same disease, their modes of action differ in all cases. However, resistance is increasing and new alternatives are being sought. New wave antigiardials all appear to have their roots in natural herbal remedies. This mini-review looks at the current treatments available, their efficacy, side effects and different modes of action and addresses a possible way forward using natural products.     

oto is a homeotic locus with a role in anteroposterior development that is partially redundant with Lim1.

Genetic control of mammalian head development involves mechanisms that are shared with trunk development as well as mechanisms that are independent. For example, mutations in the nodal gene disrupt axis formation and head development while mutations in the Otx2 or Lim1 genes block head development without disrupting development of the trunk. We show here that the oto mutation on mouse chromosome 1 defines a locus with a critical role in anterior development. The oto mutation disrupts development of the telencephalic and optic vesicles, the pharyngeal endoderm and the first branchial arch. Also, oto embryos have dose-dependent, posterior homeotic transformations throughout the axial skeleton. To further dissect the role of the oto locus in head development, we crossed mice carrying oto and Lim1 mutations. Interactions between the two mutations indicate that the role of oto in the regulation of head development is partially redundant with that of Lim1. The phenotype of oto embryos points to an early and critical role for oto in the development of forebrain subregions. Transformations of the vertebrae in oto embryos reveal a Lim1-independent role in the establishment of positional information in the trunk.