Asymmetric reduction of ethyl benzoylformate with chiral NADH model systems: Mechanistic and stereochemical consideration of the reactions based on the complexation properties of the model compounds

Asymmetric reductions of ethyl benzoylformate were conducted by use of NADH model compounds with C₁ or C₂ symmetry in the presence of magnesium perchlorate. It was found that NADH model compounds which form 2 : 1 chelation complexes with the magnesium ion showed the dependence of optical yield on the reaction conversion. The stereochemical behaviors of the model compounds were classified into three reaction types on the basis of the component ratio in the chelation complex between the reductants and the magnesium ion.     

Expression Pattern of E- and P-Cadherin in Mouse Embryos and Uteri during the Periimplantation Period

Periimplantation mouse embryos and uterine tissues were examined by means of immunohistochemistry for their expression of the Ca²⁺ dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, E- and P-cadherin. E-cadherin was detected in all embryonic cells during periimplantation stages, and also detected in the uterine epithelium. When blastocysts attached to the uterine epithelium, E-cadherin was detected at implantation sites between the mural trophectoderm and the uterine epithelium on 5 day of pregnancy. P-cadherin was first detected in the mural trophectoderm on 4.5-day blastocysts, and then detected in the ectoplacental cone, giant cells and visceral endoderm from 5.5 day.
P-cadherin was also detected in the maternal uterine decidual cells from 5.5 day. After degeneration of uterine epithelial cells, giant cells make direct contact with uterine decidual cells, and P-cadherin was detected at contact sites between these cells.
Thus, the complicated process of implantation seems to be supported by temporal and spatial expression of the multiple classes of cadherins.     

Establishment and characterization of a new murine mammary tumor cell line,balb/c-MC

Summary A new murine mammary tumor cell line (BALB/c-MC) was established from a spontaneous mammary tumor in a 17-mo.-old female mouse of the low mammary cancer strain BALB/cHe. The cell line was derived from a papillary adenocarcinoma. In monolayer culture the line exhibits a pavementlike arrangement of cells and forms “domes” or “hemicysts” as the cells become confluent. The cell line rapidly forms tumors when transplanted into young syngeneic BALB/cHe mice. The subcutaneous injection of 10⁶ cells resulted in the development of mammary tumors (typical papillary adenocarcinomas) in 33 of 37 (87% recipients within 2 to 3 mo. after injection. These mammary tumors also metastasize to lung [14 of 33 (42%) of recipients] during this time. The number of chromosomes in this cell line is hyperdiploid (average of 43, range 39 to 44).     

Esterification of chlorophyllide b in higher plants

Chlorophyllide b and four chemically different chlorophyll b specieis, chlorophyllide b esterified with geranylgeraniol, dihydrogeranylgeraniol, tetrahydrogeranylgeraniol and phytol have been detected in addition to the same derivatives of chlorophyll a in the greening cotyledons of cucumber. These esters could be separated and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results suggest that chlorophyll b phytol is formed from the esterification of chlorophyllide b and geranylgeraniol followed by three hydrogenations of the alcohol moiety, as in the case of chlorophyll a and protochlorophyll phytol formation     

Effect of biosynthetic human epidermal growth factor on the synthesis and secretion of mucin glycoprotein from primary culture of rabbit fundal mucosa cells

Summary Biosynthetic human epidermal growth factor (Bh-EGF) induced dose-dependent synthesis and secretion of neutral mucin glycoprotein when the fundal cells isolated from rabbit stomach were cultured in serum-free medium containing Bh-EGF at concentrations as high as 10 to 100 ng/ml. At these high concentrations, Bh-EGF had no effect on the cell growth. In marked contrast, much lower concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0 ng/ml of Bh-EGF failed to stimulate mucin synthesis, but enhanced proliferation of the cells. Electrophoretic pattern of the mucin secreted from the cultured mucosal cells was very similar to that of the authentic mucin obtained from rabbit stomach. Maximal secretion of the mucin from the cells was observed at Hour 96 of the culture. Although fetal bovine serum (5%) and insulin (0.5 μg/ml) also stimulated the mucosal cells, both in growth and in mucin synthesis and release, the enhancing activity of the mucin synthesized and released by Bh-EGF at a concentration of 100 ng/ml per microgram DNA of cultured cells was far superior to that of 5% fetal bovine serum and 0.5 μg/ml insulin.     

Chlorophyll analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography

The separation and determination of chlorophylls by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. Chlorophylls and their derivatives were separated by reversed-phase HPLC based on hydrophobic interaction between solute and support, using an octadecyl silica column and elution with 100% methanol. Separated pigments were detected fluorometrically with a sensitivity in the picomole range: the fluorescence response was linear over a wide pigment concentration range. Resolution of five chlorophylls a and four protochlorophyll species esterified with different alcohols was achieved within 22 min in a single experiment. This method can be used for the determination of chlorophyll b, bacteriochlorophyll a esters and products synthesized from chlorophyll, but not for nonesterified pigments, i.e., chlorophyllide, protochlorophyllide and chlorophyll c. The chromatographic mobility of chlorophyll a esterified with different alcohols increases with increasing number of carbon atoms in the esterifying alcohols. The plots obtained from the logarithm of the capacity factor (k′) of these pigments versus the numbers of carbon atoms of the alcohol molecule gave a straight line, thus permitting the estimation of the chain length of unknown pigment esterifying alcohols. This HPLC separation technique did not cause the formation of artifacts. The deviation of the individual retention time for each pigment is less than ±0.5%, thus making this method suitable for the rapid identification and quantification of unknown pigments.     

Phase Transfer Catalysis; Nucleophilic Substitution of β-Bromohydrins with Anions in Solid-Liquid System

Nucleophilic displacements of β-bromohydrins with azide, phthalimide, acetate and thiocyanate anions were effected by tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), triethylenediamine (TEDA) and 18-crown-6 (CE) in solid-liquid media, to afford the products in various yields and distributions.     

Interleukin 4 inhibits murine osteoclast formation in vitro.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a product of activated T cells and mast cells with effects on immunologic and hematopoietic processes. We now report that IL-4 inhibits the formation of osteoclasts from murine bone marrow cells cocultured with stromal cells. Numerous (3,000-4,000 cells/2 cm2) tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells with the capacity to generate cAMP in response to salmon calcitonin (ED50 = 10(-10) M) developed within 10-12 days of culture. IL-4 (ID50 = 10 U/ml) inhibited osteoclast generation in doses similar to those that induce proliferation of IL-4-responsive T cells. Additionally, the rat antimurine IL-4 monoclonal antibody 11B11 antagonizes the IL-4-inhibitory effect on osteoclast formation. These results suggest that IL-4 impedes agonist-induced in vitro bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.