The Biochemistry of Parasites

HPLC-analysis of the reaction products of a series of 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides from cello-oligosaccharides, used as substrates of a cellobiohydrolase from Trichoderma reesei, proves the lack of specificity for terminal cellobiosyl groups. Also, different reaction patterns are observed for this CBHI and for an endocellulase, when acting on these same substrates. 4-Methylumbelliferyl β-D-lactoside is an unexpected substrate for CBHI, yielding only lactose and phenol as reaction products. The binding characteristics of p-nitrobenzyl 1-thio-β-D-lactoside for this enzyme are determined by a dia-filtration technique, yielding 1 binding site and an association constant of 4.0 × 10⁴ M^?1.     

Novel monoterpene disaccharide glycosides of Vitis vinifera grapes and wines

β-Rutinosides (6-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosides) and 6-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosides of geraniol, nerol and linalol have been isolated and characterized in Muscat of Alexandria grapes and wine. These monoterpene disaccharide glycosides, which are precursors of linalol oxidation state monoterpenes of the grape, are also present in another non-muscat Vitis vinifera var. Rhine Riesling.     

The Polysaccharide Releasing Phenomenon and Cell Envelope of the Inositol-Exacting Yeast in Inositol-Deficiency

Inositol-deficiency abnormalized the cell envelope, wall and membrane, and the polysaccharides were released out of the cells in a greater amount in inositol-deficiency than in inositol-sufficiency. This release was most notable in the absence of inositol under the tested conditions. The released amount decreased when the culture was provided with inositol or phospholipids, or deprived of all growth-promoting vitamins. Gel filtration of released polysaccharides showed that the lower molecular fraction increased in inositol-deficiency than in sufficiency. DEAE-Sephadex chromatography of released polysaccharides showed the presence of fractions specific for inositol-deficiency which contained mannan and phosphates. Inositol-deficiency also caused enlarging of the pore size of the cell-wall. The relationship between the release of polysaccharides and the syntheses of cell-wall polysaccharides was investigated and discussed.     

Location of the bioactive pentacyclic triterpene ursolic acid in the membrane. A molecular dynamics study

Ursolic acid (URS), an ursane-representative bioactive pentacyclic triterpene, is a plant secondary metabolite presenting a great number of pharmacological beneficial properties. Due to the prominent hydrophobic character of URS and its high phospholipid/water partition coefficient, some of its possible effects on biological systems might be related to its capacity to interact with and locate into the membrane as well as interact specifically with its components. In this work, we have studied the location and orientation of URS in the membrane by molecular dynamics simulations. At the end of the simulation, URS locates near the surface in vicinity to the phospholipid headgroups but its orientation depends on lipid composition, its final average orientation being a nearly parallel one in POPC but a nearly perpendicular one in POPC/POPE/POPG/PSM/Chol. Furthermore, in the complex lipid system URS seems to interact specifically with POPE, PSM, and Chol excluding POPG from its surroundings, which could lead to phase separation and domain formation. The different disposition of URS in the membrane and its specific interaction with certain lipid types could lead to a significant perturbation of the membrane structure. The important pharmacological activities of URS would rely on the effects it exerts on the membrane structure in general and the existence of specific interactions with specific lipids in particular.