Nesting behavior ofHalictus scabiosæ in Switzerland (Hymenoptera,Halictidæ)

Summary The structure and populations of seven nests ofHalictus scabiosæ were studied in Geneva during July and August, 1964. Cells, containing brood of various ages, were radially arranged along the branching burrows. The one to six females in each nest did not belong to distinct worker and queen castes. This is in contrast to reports of distinct castes in what appears to be the same species from France. Most pollen collectors in the Geneva population were inseminated and some probably laid eggs.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur und die Bewohner von sieben Nestern vonHalictus scabiosæ, die im Juli und August 1964 in der Gegend um Genf gesammelt wurden, werden beschrieben. Zellen mit Brut verschiedenen Alters sind entlang verzweigter Gänge radiär angeordnet. Bis zu sechs Weibchen befanden sich in einem einzelnen Nest. Sie waren nicht in Königinnen und Arbeiterinnen differenziert, wie dies von Bienen aus Frankreich berichtet ist, die wahrscheinlich zur selben Art gehören. Die meisten Pollen-Sammlerinnen der Genfer Population waren befruchtet und einige von ihnen legten auch wahrscheinlich Eier.

---

Résumé La structure et la population de sept nids deHalictus scabiosæ ont été étudiées à Genève durant les mois de juillet et d'août 1964. Des cellules contenant du couvain d'âge différent sont disposées en rayons le long de terriers qui se ramifient. Chaque nid était occupé par une à six femelles qui n'appartenaient pas à une caste distincte d'ouvrières ou de reine. La plupart des abeilles qui collectent le pollen furent inséminées et quelques-unes probablement pondèrent des ufs.

---

---

Contribution No. 1303 from the Department of Entomology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence.     

In Vitro,In Silico,ADME and Theoretical Analysis of Mn(II) and Co(II) Complexes Derived from Methyl-(Z)-N′-Carbamothioylcarbamohydrazonate Schiff Base Ligand

Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes of methyl-(Z)−N′-carbamothioylcarbamohydrazonate Schiff base ligand were synthesized. The ligand and metal salts were taken in 2 : 1 stoichiometric ratio. All the synthesized complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moment and various spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV/VIS, EPR) techniques. Elemental and spectroscopic results verified bidentate donor nature of the ligand and octahedral geometry of all the complexes. The non-electrolytic nature of Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes were suggested by conductivity data analysis. In vitro antibacterial (E. coli and S. aureus) and antifungal (C. albicans and C. tropicalis) screening were achieved by employing agar well diffusion method which revealed better antimicrobial activity of Co(II) complexes than Mn(II) complexes. In silico SwissADME study predicted the drug-likeness probability of ligand and complexes. The interaction of two bacterial proteins (E. coli and S. aureus) with compounds was also analyzed using molecular docking study, which corroborate the in vitro analysis.     

Computer calculation-based quantitative structure-activity relationships for the oxidation of phenol derivatives horseradish peroxidase compound II

 The second-order rate constants for the oxidation of a series of phenol derivatives by horseradish peroxidase compound II were compared to computer-calculated chemical parameters characteristic for this reaction step. The phenol derivatives studied were phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 3-hydroxyphenol, 3-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4-methoxyphenol and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Assuming a reaction of the phenolic substrates in their non-dissociated, uncharged forms, clear correlations (r = 0.977 and r = 0.905) were obtained between the natural logarithm of the second-order rate constants (ln k _app and ln k ₂ respectively) for their oxidation by compound II and their calculated ionisation potential, i.e. minus the energy of their highest occupied molecular orbital [E(HOMO)]. In addition to this first approach in which the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) was based on a calculated frontier orbital parameter of the substrate, in a second and third approach the relative heat of formation (ΔΔHF) calculated for the process of one-electron abstraction and H^• abstraction from the phenol derivatives was used as a parameter. Plots of the natural logarithms of the second-order rate constants (k _app and k ₂) for the reaction and the calculated ΔΔHF values for the process of one-electron abstraction also provide clear QSARs with correlation coefficients of –0.968 and –0.926 respectively. Plots of the natural logarithms of the second-order rate constants (k _app and k ₂) for the reaction and the calculated ΔΔHF values for the process of H^• abstraction provide QSARs with correlation coefficients of –0.989 and –0.922 respectively. Since both mechanisms considered, i.e. initial electron abstraction versus initial H^• abstraction, provided clear QSARs, the results could not be used to discriminate between these two possible mechanisms for phenol oxidation by horseradish peroxidase compound II. The computer calculation-based QSARs thus obtained for the oxidation of the various phenol derivatives by compound II from horseradish peroxidase indicate the validity of the approaches investigated, i.e. both the frontier orbital approach and the approach in which the process is described by calculated relative heats of formation. The results also indicate that outcomes from computer calculations on relatively unrelated phenol derivatives can be reliably compared to one another. Furthermore, as the actual oxidation of peroxidase substrates by compound II is known to be the rate-limiting step in the overall catalysis by horseradish peroxidase, the QSARs of the present study may have implications for the differences in the overall rate of substrate oxidation of the phenol derivatives by horseradish peroxidase. Received: 29 March 1996 / Accepted: 17 July 1996     

Iron supplementation moderates but does not cure the Belgrade anemia

Belgrade rats inherit microcytic, hypochromic anemia as an autosomalrecessive trait (gene symbol b). Erythrocytes and tissue are iron deficientin the face of elevated TIBC (total iron binding capacity) and percent ironsaturation; iron injections increased the number of erythrocytes but theirappearance remained abnormal. We have investigated iron supplements toimprove husbandry of b/b rats and to learn more about the underlying defectand its tissue distribution. Weekly IM (intramuscular) injections ofiron–dextran (Imferon at 30 mg kg) improved the anemia but did not alter thered cell morphology. Certain diets also improved the health of b/b rats whencompared to standard rat chows by the criteria of weight, survival toadulthood, hematology and reproduction. The critical nutritional factorturned out to be iron bioavailability, with ferrous iron added to the dietimproving the health of Belgrade rats without affecting the underlyingerythroid defect. Tissue iron measurements after dietary or parenteralsupplementation confirmed the iron deficient status of untreated b/b rats andestablished that dietary ferrous iron partially relieved this deficiency,with injections leading to greater amounts of tissue iron. Serum iron andTIBC were also found to be elevated in untreated b/b rats, with dietarysupplementation decreasing but not eliminating the elevation in TIBC. Thesestudies indicate that iron supplements can improve the health of b/b ratswithout altering the underlying defect and also suggest that the mutationcould alter iron uptake in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract.     

Differences in the effects of vasopressin and oxytocin on rabbit myometrial activity and a possible mediation of prostaglandins

Uterine responses to vasopressin and oxytocin were monitored in non-pregnant and 3- or 6-8-day-pregnant rabbits by recording the intrauterine pressure. Oxytocin stimulated uterine activity in all groups, but the effect of vasopressin was stimulatory in non-pregnant animals, inhibitory in those 3 days post coitum and weakly stimulatory in those later in pregnancy. Inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, by the administration of indomethacin, reduced the spontaneous uterine activity as well as the responses to oxytocin and vasopressin in the non-pregnant rabbits, but had little effect in the pregnant animals. During infusion of PGF-2alpha, PGE-1 or PGE-2 in 6-8-day-pregnant rabbits, the stimulatory response to vasopressin, although slight before the infusion, was inhibited whereas the stimulatory response to oxytocin remained virtually unchanged. The results suggest that vasopressin and oxytocin under certain hormonal conditions, are able to activated the uterine contractions by mechanisms in which the involvement of PG is not obligatory.     

Calcium uptake by enzyme-treated permeabilized myometrial cells

Isolated myometrial cells prepared by collagenase and pronase treatment of the tissue were rendered permeable to charged molecules and Ca ions. ATP dependent Ca uptake studied in these cells showed that Ca uptake by the intracellular organelles was well preserved. Inhibitors of mitrochondrial metabolism caused about 90% inhibition of Ca uptake by the cells. Whereas D-600 had no effect on Ca uptake, diethylstilbestrol caused a signficant inhibition. This preparation which requires no homogenization should prove useful for study of Ca uptake and possibly other processes requiring exogenous ATP.     

Zizania latifolia andUstilago esculenta,a Grass-Fungus Association

Zizania latifolia (Manchurian wild rice), native to eastern Asia, is often infected by the smut fungus, Ustilago esculenta, causing culm enlargement and failure to produce flowers. The enlarged infected culms have been used as a vegetable (gau sun) in China since the 10th century. The occasionally-used nameZ. Caduciflora is shown to be only a synonym. To facilitate identification of the host, a taxonomic key shows thatZ. Latifolia differs from and is fully distinct from the American species ofZizania. The nature and structure of the fungus and the history and cultivation of the vegetable are described. As a precaution we propose quarantine of the host and fungus to prevent possible disastrous widespread infection of American wild rices by the fungus.     

Cloning and sequencing of a human pancreatic tumor mucin cDNA

A monospecific polyclonal antiserum against deglycosylated human pancreatic tumor mucin was used to select human pancreatic mucin cDNA clones from a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library developed from a human pancreatic tumor cell line. The full-length 4.4-kilobase mucin cDNA sequence included a 72-base pair 5'-untranslated region and a 307-base pair 3'-untranslated region. The predicted amino acid sequence for this cDNA revealed a protein of 122,071 daltons containing 1,255 amino acid residues of which greater than 60% were serine, threonine, proline, alanine, and glycine. Approximately two-thirds of the protein sequence consisted of identical 20-amino acid tandem repeats which were flanked by degenerate tandem repeats and nontandem repeat sequences on both the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal ends. The amino acid sequence also contained five putative N-linked glycosylation sites, a putative signal sequence and transmembrane domain, and numerous serine and threonine residues (potential O-linked glycosylation sites) outside and within the tandem repeat position. The cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the pancreatic mucin sequence was over 99% homologous with a mucin cDNA sequence derived from breast tumor mucin, even though the native forms of these molecules are quite distinct in size and degree of glycosylation.     

Enzymes of starch metabolism in developing grains of high lysine barley mutant

The absolute activities of ADPG(UDPG)-pyrophosphorylase, starch phosphorylase, ADPG(UDPG)-starch synthetase, NDP-kinase and inorganic pyrophosphatase have been studied in high lysine mutant barley Notch-2 and its parent NP 113 grains during development. In general, mutant Notch-2 grains had higher average activities of UDPG-pyrophosphorylase and starch phosphorylase and lower activity of ADPG(UDPG)-starch synthetase per grain than the parent NP 113 during grain development. Activities of NDP-kinase, ADPG-pyrophosphorylase and inorganic pyrophosphatase differed only to a small extent between the mutant Notch-2 and NP 113. It is suggested that the lower activity of ADPG(UDPG)-starch synthetase might be responsible for the reduced accumulation of starch in the mutant Notch-2 grain as compared with parent NP 113 during development.