Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Ageratina deltoidea

The chemical study of Ageratina deltoidea afforded grandiflorenic acid ( 1 ), ent‐kaurenoic acid ( 2 ), and eight benzylbenzoates ( 3  –  10 ), two of them, 3,5‐dimethoxybenzyl 2,3,6‐trimethoxybenzoate ( 5 ) and 4‐(β‐d ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐3‐hydroxybenzyl 2,6‐dimethoxybenzoate ( 9 ), described for the first time. In addition, the new sesquiterpene lactone deltoidin C ( 13 ), together with the known 11 and 12 , the phenolic compounds: ayanin, 2,6‐dimethoxybenzoic acid, methyl 3,4‐dihydroxycinnamate, chlorogenic acid, and 3,5‐dicaffeoylquinic acid were also isolated. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and chemical reactions. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of compounds 1  –  12 were evaluated on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Deltoidin A ( 11 ) was the most active antibacterial agent (MIC 16.0 μg ml^?1) against E. coli, and the ent‐kaurenoid derivatives ( 1  –  2 ) showed activity (MIC 31.0 μg ml^?1) against S. aureus.     

用投影寻踪回归方法研究红蜡蚧在枸骨球上的空间分布

用投影寻踪回归方法研究红蜡价在枸骨球上的空间分布结果表明,枸骨球上红蜡故的空间分布与枸骨球的方位和层次有关。雌成虫主要聚集在植物的外层和中层,并以球顶部和西面为重,内层和南面轻。用PP回归方法客观地分析和描述了数据的内在结构,为综合治理提供了可靠的依据。     

Morphological and allozyme variation of Eidolon helvum (Mammalia: Megachiroptera) in the islands of the Gulf of Guinea

Morphological and genetic variation is evaluated among populations of the bat, Eidolon helvum , in the islands of the Gulf of Guinea (Central Africa). The populations from the islands of Bioko, Principe, and Sao Tome do not show significant phenetic differentiation, although a trend towards a reduction of size is found in the latter two islands. The low genetic distances between populations, as well as their values of Wright's fixation indexes, suggest that gene flow has hampered differentiation on these islands. In contrast, the population from Annobon, the smallest and farthermost island, shows remarkable morphological and genetic differentiation. On the mainland, E. helvum displays unique migratory and dispersal behaviours, but migratory behaviour was not found in any of the island populations. The combination of selective forces in harsher oceanic environments and restricted gene flow among populations appears to have favoured the high degree of morphological differentiation of E. helvum on Annobon. Due to the extended length of the dry season in Annobon, an earlier achievement of sexual maturity–and consequently smaller size—may be advantageous in the absence of migration. The differentiation is more marked among females, which also suggests that selection may be linked to the reproductive pattern. The population of the island of Annobon is herein described as a new subspecies, Eidolon helvum annobonensis subsp. nov.     

Cranial anatomy and palaeobiology of the Miocene marsupial Hondalagus altiplanensis and a phylogeny of argyrolagids

New cranial material of Hondalagus altiplanensis, from the middle Miocene of southern Bolivia, allows a rediagnosis of the genus and an assessment of its palaeobiology and phylogenetic relationships with other argyrolagid marsupials. The new specimens demonstrate several derived (synapomorphic) cranial features shared by HondalagusArgyrolagus: a globular braincase, ventrally directed occipital condyles, a broad zygomatic arch, and a short, deep dentary with a flat and long coronoid notch. Hondalagus had powerful masticatory muscles and its cementum-encased hypselodont cheek teeth suggests it had a very abrasive diet. The deep fossae on the lateral aspect of the skull of argyrolagids, interpreted by Simpson as large, laterally-facing orbits, are actually sharply margined temporal fossae. Hondalagus has a very large carotid foramen medially situated within the suture of the basisphenoid and basioccipital. A phylogenetic analysis of five argyrolagid genera was conducted using 32 characters (16 cranial, 16 dental) and a didelphid and a caenolestid as outgroups. Hondalagus-Argyrolagus-Microtragulus form a monophyletic group with an undescribed gen. et sp. nov. (MACN-Ch-1305) from the lower Miocene (Colhuehuapian) of Argentina as its sister taxon. Proargyrolagus appears as sister group to the other taxa of argyrolagids.     

Point and deletion mutations eliminate one or both methyl group transfers catalysed by the yeast TRM1 encoded tRNA (m22G26)dimethyltransferase.

Guanosine at position 26 in eukaryotic tRNAs is usually modified to N2 , N2 -dimethylguanosine (m22G26). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , this reaction is catalysed by the TRM1 encoded tRNA (m22G26)dimethyltransferase. As a prerequisite for future studies, the yeast TRM1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the His-tagged Trm1 protein (rTrm1p) was extensively purified. rTrm1p catalysed both the mono- and dimethylation of G26 in vivo in Escherichia coli tRNA and in vitro in yeast trm1 mutant tRNA. The TRM1 gene from two independent wild-type yeast strains differed at 14 base positions causing two amino acid exchanges . Exchange of the original Ser467 for Leu caused a complete loss of enzyme activity in vitro against trm1 yeast tRNA. Comparatively short N- or C-terminal deletions from the 570 amino acid long Trm1 polypeptide decreased or eliminated the enzyme activity, as did some point mutations within these regions. This indicated that the protein is not a two domain peptide with the enzyme activity localised to one of the domains, but rather that both ends of the polypeptide seem to interact to influence the conformation of those parts that make up the RNA-binding site and/or the active site of the enzyme.     

Similarities and differences among 105 members of the Int family of site-specific recombinases.

Alignments of 105 site-specific recombinases belonging to the Int family of proteins identified extended areas of similarity and three types of structural differences. In addition to the previously recognized conservation of the tetrad R-H-R-Y, located in boxes I and II, several newly identified sequence patches include charged amino acids that are highly conserved and a specific pattern of buried residues contributing to the overall protein fold. With some notable exceptions, unconserved regions correspond to loops in the crystal structures of the catalytic domains of lambda Int (Int c170) and HP1 Int (HPC) and of the recombinases XerD and Cre. Two structured regions also harbor some pronounced differences. The first comprises beta-sheets 4 and 5, alpha-helix D and the adjacent loop connecting it to alpha-helix E: two Ints of phages infecting thermophilic bacteria are missing this region altogether; the crystal structures of HPC, XerD and Cre reveal a lack of beta-sheets 4 and 5; Cre displays two additional beta-sheets following alpha-helix D; five recombinases carry large insertions. The second involves the catalytic tyrosine and is seen in a comparison of the four crystal structures. The yeast recombinases can theoretically be fitted to the Int fold, but the overall differences, involving changes in spacing as well as in motif structure, are more substantial than seen in most other proteins. The phenotypes of mutations compiled from several proteins are correlated with the available structural information and structure-function relationships are discussed. In addition, a few prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes with partial homology with the Int family of recombinases may be distantly related, either through divergent or convergent evolution. These include a restriction enzyme and a subgroup of eukaryotic RNA helicases (D-E-A-D proteins).     

Chemotaxonomic study of seed glucosinolate composition in Coincya Rouy (Brassicaceae)

A total of 68 populations belonging to the genus Coincya Rouy (Brassicaceae) from the Iberian Peninsula was examined for seed glucosinolate composition. The presence of progoitrin, epiprogoitrin, glucosinalbin and gluconapin was recorded plus a fifth glucosinolate that could not be identified. A geographical clinal variation between progoitrin and epiprogoitrin was observed in the more widespread taxa, C. monensis subsp. orophila (Franco) Aedo, Leadiay & Murioz Garm. and C. moncnsis subsp. cheiranthos var. recurvata (All.) Leadiay. The fewest types of glucosinatc were observed in taxa with morphological characters considered more primitive, viz. subsp. hispida and var. recurvata. On the other hand, more complex and diverse composition was observed in the taxon with more advanced characters, viz. C. rupestris subsp. rupestris Porta & Rigo.     

On the nomenclature and types of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link (Fabaceae: Genisteae), a fodder shrub from the Canary Islands

The name Cytisus proliferus L.f. is here considered perfectly acceptable and should not be replaced by Cytisus prolifer L.f. One specimen from The Natural History Museum, London is confirmed as the lectotype of Cytisus proliferus L.f. Two specimens from the collection of the Swiss botanist Hermann Christ from the Main Herbarium of the Zurich Botanical Garden were selected as lectotypes for Cytisus proliferus L.f. var. canariae H. Christ and Cytisus proliferus L.f. var. palmensis H. Christ. The name Cytisus proliferus Kit. is typified and a specimen from Paul Kitaibel's collection at the Botanical Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum is assigned as its lectotype.     

Lambda integrase cleaves DNA in cis.

In the Int family of site-specific recombinases, DNA cleavage is accomplished by nucleophilic attack on the activated scissile phosphodiester bond by a specific tyrosine residue. It has been proposed that this tyrosine is contributed by a protomer bound to a site other than the one being cleaved ('trans' cleavage). To test this hypothesis, the difference in DNA binding specificity between closely related integrases (Ints) from phages lambda and HK022 was exploited to direct wild type Ints and cleavage- or activation-defective mutants to particular sites on bispecific substrates. Analysis of Int cleavage at individual sites strongly indicates that DNA cleavage is catalyzed by the Int bound to the cleaved site ('cis' cleavage). This conclusion contrasts with those from previous experiments with two members of the Int family, FLP and lambda Int, that supported the hypothesis of trans cleavage. We suggest explanations for this difference and discuss the implications of the surprising finding that Int-family recombinases appear capable of both cis and trans mechanisms of DNA cleavage.