Cross metathesis for the synthesis of novel C-sialosides

Cross metathesis of both anomers of C-allyl sialoside (3alpha/3beta) with styrene catalyzed by the second generation Grubbs or Hoveyda-Grubbs catalysts gave the corresponding aryl derivatives (4alpha/4beta) in virtually quantitative yields. The products were hydrogenated to model compounds 5alpha/5beta. Similarly, reaction of the alpha-anomer 3alpha with galactose derivative 8 gave the olefin-linked disaccharide mimetic 9. Following hydrogenation and deprotection, the ethylene-bridged Neu5Acalpha(2-->6)Gal analogue 11 could be obtained.     

Effect of Temporal Expression of Integral Membrane Proteins by Baculovirus Expression Vector System

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) are popular target for drugs, but their resolved structures have been overlooked when compared with cytosolic proteins. The main reason is that IMPs usually need intensive post-translational modifications and they are bound to membranes, which increase the complexity of purifying or crystalizing them. Although different expression systems are used to express IMPs, baculovirus is considered one of the most successful expression systems for those proteins. Despite that, there are always unknown discrepancies in the level of IMPs expression in the baculovirus expression system. Retrospective studies have shown that expression of an immunoglobulin (anti-Chymase mouse monoclonal IgG1) driven by vp39 promoter was more efficient compared to its expression under polyhedrin (polh) promoter; however, this conclusion was not tested on different IMPs to generalize such a conclusion. In this study, the expression of eight different IMPs has been compared under vp39 and polh promoters of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus. Although different IMPs have shown different patterns of expression, the expression driven by vp39 promoter was found to be generally more efficient than the polh promoter.     

Antifungal activity of magnoflorine against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida</Emphasis> strains

Candida albicans is a major invasive pathogen, and the development of strains resistant to conventional antifungal agents has been reported in recent years. We evaluated the antifungal activity of 44 compounds against Candida strains. Magnoflorine showed the highest growth inhibitory activity of the tested Candida strains, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50 μg/mL based on microdilution antifungal susceptibility testing. Disk diffusion assay confirmed the antifungal activity of magnoflorine and revealed that this activity was stable over 3 days compared to those of berberine and cinnamaldehyde. Cytotoxicity testing showed that magnoflorine could potentially be used in a clinical setting because it didn’t have any toxicity to HaCaT cells even in 200 μg/mL of treatment. Magnoflorine at 50 μg/mL inhibited 55.91?±?7.17% of alpha-glucosidase activity which is required for normal cell wall composition and virulence of Candida albicans. Magnoflorine also reduced the formation of C. albicans’ biofilm. Combined treatment with magnoflorine and miconazole decreased the amount of miconazole required to kill various Candida albicans. Therefore, magnoflorine is a good candidate lead compound for novel antifungal agents.     

The role of photosynthesis and respiration in the light-induced recovery of "giant" cells of the Emerson strain of Chlorella

The light-induced recovery of cell division and chloroplastdevelopment in "giant", "bleached" cells of the Emerson strainof Chlorella is unaffected by treatments (atrazine. CMU, incubationin a CO₂-free atmosphere) which interfere with photosynthesis.Anaerobic conditions or the presence of respiratory inhibitors(DNP, KCN, NaN₃) markedly suppress recovery. Recovery is accompaniedby a mobilization of the reserve starch which follows a linearcourse over the first 9 hr. Chloramphenicol (50 µg/ml),which inhibits chlorophyll synthesis and the development ofa photosynthetic capacity, is without effect on the early rateof starch mobilization. Evidence is presented that the contributionof photosynthesis towards recovery is only significant whenthe reserve starch has been depleted. Recovery does not requirecontinuous light; the critical light-stimulated processes apparentlytaking place during the first 9 hr. The possible nature of thelight stimulation of recovery is discussed. (Received June 18, 1973; )     

En route to sugar-alkaloid conjugates

After stereoselective addition of N-iodosuccinimide to glycals subsequent dehalogenation results in formation of N-glycopyranosyl succinimides. By UV irradiation both azepindiones and preferentially [5.3.1.0^2,6] tricyclic oxalactams could be obtained. Their transformation into a number of novel sugar conjugates resembling some prominent alkaloid N-pyrrol components by thiation and reduction is reported.     

New data on morphology,distribution, and relationship of two Asian endemics Netzelia tuberspinifera and Netzelia mulanensis (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida) co-existing in the largest natural freshwater lake of Vietnam

Limnology - Data on the distribution and species-environment relationships of rare and endemic species of protists in Asian tropical waterbodies could provide valuable information for better...     

Baculovirus genes affecting host function

Baculoviruses are insect-specific viruses. These large DNA viruses encode many genes in addition to those required to replicate and build new virions. These auxiliary genes provide selective advantages to the virus for invading and infecting host insects. Eight of these genes, which help the virus overcome insect defenses against invasion, are discussed. These include genes whose products help the virus traverse physical or physiological barriers and those that overcome host immune defenses.     

Synthesis and properties of sulfated alkyl glycosides

Alkyl glycosides were sulfated with sulfur trioxide-pyridine. Dodecyl - and β- -glucopyranoside gave the corresponding 6-sulfates in 75 and 51% yields, respectively. Separation from polysulfated compounds was carried out by reversed-phase HPLC. Tetradecyl β-maltopyranoside (16) gave a 88:12 mixture of 6′- and 6-sulfates. The sulfated compounds were characterized by ¹H-, ¹³C-, and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Surfactant and thermotropic liquid-crystalline properties of the sugar derivatives were examined. All of the glycosides show smectic phases (S_A), and the clearing points rise by introduction of sulfate groups. Even glycosides having no unprotected hydroxy groups may show S_A-phases when bearing sulfate groups. The mesomorphic properties cannot be explained by formation of distinct aggregates, but rather must be interpreted by an effective intramolecular contrast.     

Ectomycorrhizal and endophytic fungi associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus glutinosa</Emphasis> growing in a saline area of central Poland

Alnus glutinosa (black alder) is a mycorrhizal pioneer tree species with tolerance to high concentrations of salt in the soil and can therefore be considered to be an important tree for the regeneration of forests areas devastated by excessive salt. However, there is still a lack of information about the ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) associated with mature individuals of A. glutinosa growing in natural saline conditions. The main objective of this study was to test the effect of soil salinity and other physicochemical parameters on root tips colonized by EMF, as well as on the species richness and diversity of an EMF community associated with A. glutinosa growing in natural conditions. We identified a significant effect of soil salinity (expressed as electrical conductivity: EC_e and EC_1:5) on fungal taxa but not on the total level of EM fungal colonization on roots. Increasing soil salinity promoted dark-coloured EMF belonging to the order Thelephorales (Tomentella sp. and Thelephora sp.). These fungi are also commonly found in soils polluted with heavy-metal. The ability of these fungi to grow in contaminated soil may be due to the presence of melanine, a natural dark pigment and common wall component of the Thelephoraceae that is known to act as a protective interface between fungal metabolism and biotic and abiotic environmental stressors. Moreover, increased colonization of fungi belonging to the class of Leotiomycetes and Sordiomycetes, known as endophytic fungal species, was observed at the test sites, that contained a larger content of total phosphorus. This observation confirms the ability of commonly known endophytic fungi to form ectomycorrhizal structures on the roots of A. glutinosa under saline stress conditions.