A new species ofTrichogramma [T. Cordubensis n. sp.] [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae], parasitoid ofHeliothis eggs in cotton crops in the sw of spain

Trichogramma cordubensis n. sp. is a parasite ofHeliothis armigera Hb. eggs in cotton crops in western Andalusia. Reproduced onEphestia kuehniella Zeller eggs, it is described morphologically and compared withT. chilonis Ishii andT. evanescens Westwood as both present similarities with this species.T. cordubensis can be distinguished in the male genitalia by the shape of the dorsal expansion of the gonobase and the size, shape and relative position of the median ventral projection. Male antennal setae are longer inT. cordubensis than in the other 2 species. In addition, unlikeT. chilonis andT. evanescens, T. cordubensis is thelytokous at 20°C. in our laboratory, though males and gynandromorphs can be obtained by altering the rearing temperature, this being another difference of this species.     

Effect of tween 80 on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity in rats

Exploratory behavior and locomotor activity is enhanced in male rat pups (aged 10 to 20 days) whose dams received a chronic dose (1.25 ml/l) of Tween 80 via their drinking water. This enhancement manifests itself during the diurnal period of the day. These data suggest that Tween 80 has an effect on the CNS which could lead to misinterpretation of results in toxicology studies that use this compound as a dosage vehicle.     

Growth-related expression of a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase in 3T3 cells

Cultured mouse 3T3-F442A and 3T3-C2 fibroblasts exhibit a transient double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent phosphorylation of a 67,000-dalton protein (67K) without prior treatment with interferon (IFN). This phosphoprotein is similar but not identical to the dsRNA-dependent eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2) alpha protein kinase (dsI), which regulates protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes. We have studied the relationship between cell growth and phosphorylation of the 67K protein (designated 3T3-dsRNA-dependent eIF-2 alpha kinase). A low level of dsRNA-dependent phosphorylation of 3T3-dsI was detectable in extracts prepared from cells not treated with IFN and grown at a low cell density. The phosphorylation of dsI and the phosphorylation of a 38K protein identified as the alpha-subunit (38K) of 3T3-eIF-2 (eIF-2 alpha) occurred concomitantly; the levels of these phosphorylations confluent and thereafter decreased markedly. Treatment of cells with IFN at all stages of growth resulted in an increase in phosphorylation of dsI. 3T3-F442A and 3T3-C2 fibroblasts were found to produce and secrete IFN at levels sufficient to induce an elevated dsI activity.     

Raman and infrared spectra of toxin gamma from the venom of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus

Toxin gamma is a basic, low-molecular-weight, neurotoxic protein, isolated from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion, Tityus serrulatus. Raman spectra (400-1800 cm-1 region) of this toxin in both the lyophilized state and in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.5) and the infrared spectrum (700-4000 cm-1 region) of a solid film were investigated. From the vibrational spectra, it can be concluded that the polypeptide backbone of toxin gamma consists of a mixture of the different secondary structures, with predominance of beta-sheet, followed by unordered structure and alpha-helix, with some evidence of beta-turn structures. The four disulfide bridges assume the gauche-gauche-gauche conformation of the CCSSCC fragments. The intensity ratio of the doublet at 853 and 828 cm-1 suggests that four out of the five tyrosine residues are exposed. The three tryptophan residues are exposed on the surface, and the single methionine residue assume the gauche-gauche conformation. Toxin gamma retains full activity in the pH 4.5-7.5 range, but is almost completely inactivated at pH 11.5.     

The inhibition of phospholipase A2 by manoalide and manoalide analogues

Manoalide, a natural product from sponge, displays anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Previous work has shown that manoalide is also a potent covalent inhibitor of the extracellular phospholipase A2 from cobra venom and that the inhibition correlated with a pH-dependent change in manoalide (Lombardo and Dennis (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7234-7240). Manoalide contains two rings and the opening of either would produce an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde. The cobra venom phospholipase A2 may be able to catalyze the opening or isomerization of one of these rings, raising the possibility that manoalide is acting as a suicide substrate. To ascertain the role of the gamma-lactone ring in the inhibition, we have now investigated a synthetic manoalide analogue, 3(cis,cis-7,10)-hexadecadienyl-4-hydroxy-2-butenolide (HDHB) which contains only the alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-lactone ring. We have found that the closed and open forms are in rapid equilibrium between pH 4 and 9 with the cyclic form being preferred at acidic pH values and the open cis form preferred at pH 9.5. When the pH is raised above 12, the alpha,beta double bond isomerizes to form trans-HDHB. Once the trans compound is formed, it is stable at all pH values and does not recyclize to the gamma-lactone ring. The observed pKa of 7.7 found for the inhibition of manoalide agrees well with the transition of the closed to the cis form of the gamma-lactone ring. Kinetic experiments with the HDHB compound show that under conditions in which the cis and closed form of the inhibitor are present in equal molar ratios, HDHB is not an irreversible inhibitor, but reversibly competes with substrate. However, the kinetics of this inhibition are complex and do not follow either pure competitive or non-competitive inhibition. The trans-HDHB exhibits similar complex kinetic but is several times more potent. The distinct differences between the behavior of manoalide and HDHB clearly indicate that while the gamma-lactone ring may play an important role in manoalide inhibition, it alone does not produce irreversible inhibition.     

Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies that recognize the binding site for nicotine on rat brain receptor

Anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies have been prepared that represent the internal image of nicotine and are specific for the nicotine binding site on rat brain receptor. Specificity of these antibodies for the combining site on anti-nicotine was demonstrated by their ability to inhibit binding of monoclonal anti-nicotine to immobilized nicotine-polylysine. Furthermore, purified rat brain nicotine receptor but not acetylcholine receptor from fish electric organ effectively competed with anti-nicotine for immobilized nicotine and for immobilized anti-idiotype. Only 9 pmoles of naturally occurring (-)-nicotine inhibited idiotype-anti-idiotype binding by 50% whereas 11 times more (+)-nicotine was required. Acetylcholine, several cholinergic agonists and antagonists, nicotine metabolites, and other structurally related compounds were poor inhibitors.     

The primary structure of histone H3 from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The complete amino acid sequence of histone H3 (135 residues) from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been established. Microheterogeneity occurs at positions 96 and 100 of the chain. The sequences of the nematode H3 isoforms are very similar to the major chain of calf thymus H3 with which they show 4 substitutions in total. The major variant has cysteine in position 96. This is the first report of cysteine in this position in H3 from non-mammalian tissue. An exceptional methylation site has been detected at position 79. Various other sites of secondary modification are of a conservative nature.