Three New Indole Diketopiperazine Alkaloids from Aspergillus ochraceus

Asperochramides A – D ( 1  –  4 ), a new natural product and three new indole diketopiperazine alkaloids, along with seven known analogs ( 5  –  11 ), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus ochraceus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculation, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 3 and 4 represent a rare group of indole diketopiperazine alkaloid with a 3‐hydroxyl‐2‐indolone moiety. The in vitro anti‐inflammatory effects of compounds 1 and 3  –  11 were investigated by using LPS‐stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1 , 8 , 10 , and 11 showed potential anti‐inflammatory activities.     

Der Einflu? der H?henlage auf Alterszusammensetzung und Brutbiologie bei Kohl- und Blaumeise(Parus major, P. caeruleus) im Harz

Zusammenfassung 1971–1977 wurden in 15 Untersuchungsgebieten des Harzes (100–900 m über NN), neben brutbiologischen Daten auch Feststellungen zum Alter der brütenden von Kohl- und Blaumeise gesammelt. Zusätzlich wurden in den Wintern 1971–1975 in 3 der 15 Gebiete in den Nistkästen übernachtende Vögel erfaßt. Zur Brutzeit betrug der Altvogelanteil der Kohlmeise 61 % (46–86 %); er nahm mit der Höhe zu, und zwar vom Laub- zum Nadelwald, aber auch in den Fichtenwaldgebieten. Bei der Blaumeise betrug der Altvogelanteil der Brutvögel 41 % (25–50 %), er sank mit zunehmender Höhe. Im Winter stieg der Altvogelanteil der Kohlmeise mit der Höhe, bei der Blaumeise nahm er ab. Die Abhängigkeit der brutbiologischen Daten von der Höhe wurde bei der Kohlmeise wesentlich vom Anteil der Altvögel, bei der Blaumeise überwiegend von dem der Jungvögel beeinflußt. Bei der Kohlmeise verbrachten die Jungvögel den Winter in tieferen Lagen; die wenigen im Winter im Harz auftretenden Blaumeisen waren meist Jungvögel. Der wachsende Altvogelanteil der Kohlmeise mit zunehmender Höhe widerspricht der üblichen Meinung, die Jungvögel würden in ungünstigere Biotope, hier also in größere Höhen abgedrängt. Diese Zunahme läßt sich als Folge der geringeren Attraktivität der höheren Lagen für ansiedlungsbereite Jungvögel verstehen. Der sinkende Altvogelanteil der Blaumeise mit zunehmender Höhe, in Übereinstimmung mit der gewohnten Meinung, zeigt zwei Aspekte. In den hochgelegenen Pessimalbiotopen siedeln sich Jungvögel in nennenswerter Zahl in Jahren mit hohen Bestandsdichten in den Optimalbiotopen an. Daneben wandern durch interspezifische Konkurrenz/Interferenz um die Bruthöhlen Brutvögel auch in die hochgelegenen Gebiete ab (Nachgelege).

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The altitudinal influence on age composition and breeding biology of Great and Blue Tit(Parus major, P. caeruleus) in the Harz mountains

Summary In addition to data od breeding biology the age of breeding females of Great and Blue Tit has been checked 1971–1977 in 15 study plots of the Harz mountains (100–900 m above sea level). Moreover, in 3 of the 15 plots birds have been controlled, which spent the night in nestboxes during the winters 1971–1975. During breeding season the percentage of adult Great Tit was 61 (46–86) %. It increased with altitude as well as from deciduous to coniferous woods and within the spruce areas according to altitude. The percentage of adult breeding females of Blue Tit was 41 % (25–50 %). It decreased with altitude. In winter the percentage of adult Great Tits increased with altitude, whereas that of adult Blue Tits decreased. The altitudinal influence on the breeding biology was mainly due to the amount of adult females in the Great Tit and of the young females in the Blue Tit. In winter the young Great Tits could be found at lower altitude. The few birds of Blue Tit staying during winter in the Harz mountains were mainly young. The increasing percentage of adult Great Tits with altitude is contrary to the usual assumption that the young are pushed off into unfavourable habitats, i.e. into higher altitudes. Higher elevations are less attractive to young birds for breeding. The decreasing percentage of adult Blue Tits with altitude enhances two aspects. In the pessimum habitas at higher altitudes, a settlement of young birds only took place in years with a high density in the optimum habitats. On the other hand, as a result of interspecific competition for nest-holes, breeding birds may migrate from the lower to the higher areas (repeat clutches).

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Herrn Willi Lehmann zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Structural variability of the normal human karyotype

Summary The chromosomes of 280 unselected phenotypically nromal newborn babies were examined for minor structural variations. In 32 children such marker chromosomes could be established. Unexpectedly the structural variants were twice as frequent in male than in female babies. Checking the population cytogenetic findings of other autors this phenomenon could be confirmed.

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Zusammenfassung Bei 280 unausgelesenen phänotypisch unauffälligen Neugeborenen wurden die Chromosomen auf kleinere strukturelle Veränderungen hin untersucht. Bei 32 Kindern fanden sich derartige Marker-Chromosomen. Diese strukturellen Varianten waren auffallenderweise bei männlichen Neugeborenen etwa doppelt so häufig wie bei weiblichen. Dieses Phänomen konnte von uns an den Daten populations-zytogenetischer Untersuchungen anderer Autoren bestätigt werden.

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Supported by grants Za 32/2,7,8 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.Paper presented at the 12th Conf. Ges. Anthropol. und Humangenetik, 29.-31. 3. 1971, Göttingen, Germany.     

NB901的细胞毒作用及对拓扑异构酶Ⅱ活性的影响

DNA拓扑异构酶是抗肿瘤药物的一个重要靶点,近年来已发现许多不同类型的化合物对该靶酶有作用[1]．NB901是一种新合成的单核着类似物[2],具有较强的细胞毒作用[3]．本实验采用中性红（NR）染色法观察了NB901体外细胞毒作用和DNA拓扑异构酶（topoisomerase）Ⅱ活性的影响．1实验材料NB901为北京医科大学药学院合成,分子量280,淡黄色粉末,易溶于水．中性红（C15H17N4Cl）,北京化工厂生产,AR级．蛋白酶K,牛血清白蛋白（BSA）及腺苷三磷酸（ATP）均购自Sigma公司．细胞系：人肝癌细胞BEL7402及人巨细胞肺癌细胞PGT由北京…     

山东省蕨类植物的区系分析

对山东省蕨类植物区系成分、地理分布和生态特点进行了初步研究,并与辽宁、日本等６个地区进行了比较。结果表明,山东省蕨类植物区系具有以下几个特点：１．区系成分不算丰富,但地理成分多样,以温带成分占优势,也残存有较多的热带成分;２．种系分化强烈,特有现象明显,特有种占１１．３％;３．地理分布极不均匀,并存在明显的地带性差异,表现为由南向北、由东向西种类减少;４．与辽宁、北京、河南关系密切,与秦岭、日本也     

降钙素基因相关肽和心房肽对犬冠脉的舒张作用

本实验利用冠脉内给药和离体血管灌流等方法观察比较了降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）和心房肽（ＡＮＰ）对犬冠脉循环的影响及其对犬大小冠状动脉的舒张作用。结果显示,ＣＧＲＰ和ＡＮＰ均能明显增加冠脉血流量、降低大小冠脉阻力,两者均呈剂量依赖性舒张大小脉冠脉血管。ＡＮＰ的作用显著小于ＣＧＲＰ,其中大冠脉对两者的反应性显著小于小冠脉,ＣＧＲＰ和ＡＮＰ对冠脉的舒张作用均无内皮依赖性。结果提示,ＣＧＲＰ和ＡＮＰ直接     

Genetic Analysis in Wood-Decaying Fungi I. Genetic Variation and Evidence for Allopatric Speciation in Pleurotus ostreatus using Phenoloxidase Zymograms and Morphological Criteria

Using electropherograms (zymograms) of the phenoloxidase laccase and characteristics of mycelial growth and fruit body production, a distinct morphological and biochemical differentiation of two geographically isolated (allopatric) populations of the wood-rotting basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus became evident. No limitation in their outbreeding ability was observed, however. A specific secretory mechanism for an extracellular laccase, genetically different in the two geographical races, could be detected. An approximately 1: 1 segregation of this laccase band in the F₁ generation indicates that specific secretion of this enzyme is controlled by one gene only, Different degrees of genetic variation as shown by differences in the respective laccase spectra were found in the two geographical races. Only one enzyme band out of nine multiple laccases was found to be specific for fruit bodies. The value of zymograms for chemotaxonomic purposes, for the understanding of microevolution and for determination of genetic variation in fungi is critically discussed.     

Tryptophan oxidation catabolite,N‐formylkynurenine,in photo degraded cell culture medium results in reduced cell culture performance

Chemically defined media have been widely used in the biopharmaceutical industry to enhance cell culture productivities and ensure process robustness. These media, which are quite complex, often contain a mixture of many components such as vitamins, amino acids, metals and other chemicals. Some of these components are known to be sensitive to various stress factors including photodegradation. Previous work has shown that small changes in impurity concentrations induced by these potential stresses can have a large impact on the cell culture process including growth and product quality attributes. Furthermore, it has been shown to be difficult to detect these modifications analytically due to the complexity of the cell culture media and the trace level of the degradant products. Here, we describe work performed to identify the specific chemical(s) in photodegraded medium that affect cell culture performance. First, we developed a model system capable of detecting changes in cell culture performance. Second, we used these data and applied an LC‐MS analytical technique to characterize the cell culture media and identify degradant products which affect cell culture performance. Riboflavin limitation and N‐formylkynurenine (NFK), a tryptophan oxidation catabolite, were identified as chemicals which results in a reduction in cell culture performance. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:74–82, 2016     

Changes in biotic and abiotic drivers of seedling species composition during forest recovery following shifting cultivation on Hainan Island,China

Seedlings play an important role in the processes of plant community succession. We compared seedling (dbh < 1 cm) species composition and diversity over a chronosequence (18‐, 30‐, 60‐year‐old second growth and old growth forest) after shifting cultivation in a tropical lowland rain forest area on Hainan Island, China. Seedling diversity reached a maximum in the 60‐year‐old second growth forest, which is consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. With the progression of secondary succession, canopy openness (CO), soil organic matter, soil phosphorus content, and tree abundance showed a general decreasing trend; soil water content and tree basal area showed a general trend of increase, while soil pH and other nutrients reached maximum values and tree richness reached a minimum value at intermediate stages of succession. Seedling composition and diversity were significantly affected by soil water, pH, soil nutrient content, and biotic factors in the 18‐year‐old second growth forests; by soil pH, soil nutrient content, and biotic factors in the 30‐year‐old second growth forests; by CO, soil nutrient content and tree abundance in the 60‐year‐old second growth forests; and by CO, soil pH, and soil nutrient content in the old growth forests. At earlier stages of succession, the effect of the proportion of old growth forest in the surrounding landscape on seedling diversity was greater than that of land‐use history, but the importance of these drivers was reversed at later stages of succession.     

CDC25B is involved in the centrosomal microtubule nucleation in two‐cell stage mouse embryos

CDC25B has been demonstrated to activate the complex of CDK1/Cyclin B and trigger mitosis. We have recently demonstrated that p‐CDC25B‐Ser351 is located at the centrosomes of mouse oocytes and contributes to the release of mouse oocytes from prophase I arrest. But much less is known about CDC25B function at the centrosome in two‐cell stage mouse embryos. Here we investigate the effect of CDC25B regulating the microtubules nucleation. Microinjection of anti‐CDC25B antibody caused aberrant microtubule nucleation. In addition, embryos injected with anti‐CDC25B antibody showed the marked absence of microtubule repolymerization and Nek2 foci after nocodazole washout. CDC25B overexpression caused microtubule‐organizing center (MTOC) overduplication. Moreover, overexpression of CDC25B–?65 mutant resulted in the loss of CDC25B localization in the perinuclear region and made CDC25B less efficient in inducing mitosis. We additionally identified that CDC25B is responsible for the pericentrin localization to the MTOC. Our data suggest an important role of CDC25B for microtubule nucleation and organization. N‐terminal of CDC25B is required for regulating the microtubule dynamics and mitotic function.