Triterpenes from Periandra dulcis roots

Three oleanane triterpenes were isolated from the roots of Periandra dulcis,and identified as 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-18-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid I), 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-12-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid II) and 3-oxo-25-hydroxy-olean-12-en-30-oic acid. The former two compounds (periandric acids I and II) were identical with the aglycones obtained by hydrolysis of periandrin I and II, respectively and the latter one was a new triterpene.     

Relationships between macroalgal functional form groups and substrata stability in a subtropical rocky-intertidal system

The general hypothesis that morphological, physiological, and ecological adaptations of macro algal functional-form groups can be related to the level of disturbance encountered in a natural environment was examined. Two articulated calcareous coralline algae (Amphiroa van-bosseae Lemoine, 24% cover and Corallina frondescens Post. & Rupr. 20%) and one non-articulated coralline alga (Lithophyllum sp., 16%), all late-successional predation-tolerant strategists, comprise most of the community cover on stable bedrock substrata at Punta Las Cuevitas, Sonora, Mexico. Conversely, Ulva rigida C. ag. (26% cover) and a ralfsioid crust (23%), shows to be early-successional opportunistic strategists, cover more of the disturbed boulder habitat. Porolithon sonorense Daws., a stress-tolerant strategist, is uniquely abundant on both substratum types (13% cover on boulders, 10% on bedrock). The sheet-like and filamentous algae, prevalent in the temporally unstable habitat, generally show greater productivity (>2×) than the thicker and calcareous forms conspicuous in the more constant environment. It appears that selection for delicate thalli with high productivities, as well as selection for tougher morphologies having lower photosynthetic rates due to greater proportions of structural tissues, are widespread, divergent evolutionary forces among marine algae. Experiments with captive sea urchins (Echinometra vanbrunti Agassiz), in conjunction with fish-preference data published for some of the same algae studied here, offer strong support for the functional-form model. Parrotfishes, rudderfishes, surgeonfishes, damselfishes and E. vanbrunti, in the Gulf of California, preferentially feed on delicate, early-successional, sheet-like, and filamentous algae, while rejecting or ignoring the more structured, late-successional and calcareous algae. There is no significant (P > 0.05) gradation in calorific content between the first four of the six functional groups (i.e., Sheet-, Filamentous-, Coarsely Branched- and Thick Leathery-Groups), but the mean value for these fleshy forms (2.6 kcal · g ash-free dry wt^?1) is significantly greater than that for the last two groups (0.3 kcal, Jointed Calcareous- and Crustose-Groups). The approach used in this study demonstrates a realistic technique for predicting macrophyte community composition from knowledge of the disturbance levels in a given habitat or the reverse. The form group-disturbance relationship has important implications for future biological monitoring of rocky-inter-tidal and subtidal systems.     

On the Recovery of [3H]Noradrenaline from Different Metabolic Compartments of Rat Brain with Respect to the Role of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase

Abstract: Rats were treated with reserpine, desmethylimipramine, or carrier, either alone or in combination with tropolone. Either 10 min (t₁) or 1 h (t₂) after intraventricular injection of [³H]noradrenaline, they were decapitated. The total ³H activity and the recovery of [³H]noradrenaline were determined in tissue extracts from various brain regions. Maximum total ³H activity was measured at t₁ in all tropolone-treated rats; the mean sum of these results served as an estimate of the initial tissue concentration of [³H]noradrenaline. At t₁, 40–50% of the sum of [³H]noradrenaline and its metabolites was recovered unchanged in normal rats; reserpine and DMI reduced the recovery to 18–27%. In all groups, the decline of [³H]noradrenaline was retarded after t₁. Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase by tropolone caused consistently elevated [³H]noradrenaline levels, but did not affect the metabolic rate after t₁ when compared with similarly pretreated, but tropolone-free rats. Thus, if catechol-O-methyltransferase was inhibited during the injection of [³H]noradrenaline, a higher percentage of the amine had been taken up into spaces with a slow noradrenaline turnover. The maximum increase was seen when the neuronal uptake, was inhibited by desmethylimipramine. This supported the hypothesis that an additional extraneuronal space exists, in addition to the known intraneuronal and extraneuronal compartments, which has a slow noradrenaline turnover. The tropolone effect on the noradrenaline recovery possibly shows that there might be a saturable “methylating system,” similar to that described for the periphery, in which catechol-O-methyltransferase is linked to the extraneuronal uptake₂. By affecting the access of noradrenaline to non-neuronal cells it might influence the rate of noradrenaline elimination from the intercellular space.     

海枣曲霉β-半乳糖苷酶的提纯与性质

 通过过聚乙二醇6000-磷酸钾缓冲液双相分离、Sephadex G-100凝胶过滤、DEAE-Sephadex A-50离子交换层析、羟基磷灰石层析及SephadexG-100凝胶过滤等提纯步骤,从海枣曲霉(Aspergillus phoenicis)麦麸培养物抽提液中提纯得到凝胶电泳均一的β-半乳糖苷酶。该酶的最适pH为3.5—4.0,最适温度为60℃(反应15分钟),在pH5.0—8.5之间及60℃以下稳定。在65℃和70℃保温时失活50％的时间分别为27和2分钟。用SDS凝胶电泳法和梯度凝胶电泳法分别测得该酶的分子量为115,000和118,000。薄层凝胶等电聚焦法测得其等电点为pH4.6。     

Effects of external NaCl on the growth of Atriplex amnicola and the ion relations and carbohydrate status of the leaves

Abstract Atriplex amnicola, was grown in nutrient solution cultures with concentrations of NaCl up to 750 mol m^?3. The growth optimum was at 25–50 mol m^?3 NaCl and growth was 10–15% of that value at 750 mol m^?3 NaCl. Sodium chloride at 200 mol m^?3 and higher reduced the rate of leaf extension and increased the time taken for a leaf to reach its maximal length. Concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ in leaves of different ages were investigated for plants grown at 25, 200 and 400 mol m^?3 NaCl. Although leaves of plants grown at 200 and 400 mol m^?3 NaCl had high Na⁺ concentrations at young developmental stages, much of this Na⁺ was located in the salt bladders. Leaves excluding bladders had low Na⁺ concentrations when young, but very high in Na⁺ when old. In contrast to Na⁺, K⁺ concentrations were similar in bladders and leaves excluding bladders. Concentrations of K⁺ were higher in the rapidly expanding than in the old leaves. At 400 mol m^?3 NaCl, the K⁺:Na⁺ ratios of the leaves excluding bladders were 0.4–0.6 and 0.1 for rapidly expanding and oldest leaves, respectively. The Na⁺ content in moles per leaf, excluding bladders, increased linearly with the age of the leaves; concurrent increases in succulence were closely correlated with the Na ⁺ concentration in the leaves excluding the bladders. Soluble sugars and starch in leaves, stems and buds were determined at dusk and dawn. There was a pronounced diurnal fluctation in concentrations of carbohydrates. During the night, most plant parts showed large decreases in starch and sugar. Concentrations of carbohydrates in most plant organs were similar for plants grown at 25 and 400 mol m^?3 NaCl. One notable exception was buds at dusk, where sugar and starch concentrations were 30–35% less in plants grown at 400 mol m^?3 NaCl than in plants grown at 25 mol m^?3 NaCl. The data indicate that the growth of A. amnicola at 400 mol m^?3 NaCl is not limited by the availability of photosynthate in the plant as a whole. However, there could have been a growth limitation due to inadequate organic solutes for osmotic regulation.     

The phytate and mineral content of some cereals,cereal products,legumes, legume products,snack bars,and nuts available in New Zealand

Analyses for phytate by an indirect precipitation method and for the minerals calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry were carried out on 100 foods available in New Zealand. Foods with 1% phytate (dry weight basis) included untoasted muesli, rolled oats, wheat germ, wheat bran, soybean, and some soy products. Most breads contained between 0.35 and 0.60% phytate; legumes on average had 0.62% phytate, as did snack bars. There was a wide variation in Ca and Zn contents: There was a tenfold variation in Ca content among the legume products, whereas there was a seventyfold variation in Zn content among the cereals. The phytate: Zn molar ratio, which is presumed to indicate the biovailability of Zn, was above 20∶1 for two-thirds of the cereals and almost all of the snack bars; it was above 15∶1 for one-third of the breads, almost all of the legumes, and half of the legume products. These high phytate: Zn molar ratios, as well as some Ca: phytate molar ratios above 6∶1, indicate that there might be a reduced biovailability of Zn in many of the foods analyzed in this study.     

Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi of children's sandpits in the city of Turin

Soils rich in keratinic residues constitute a permanent or occasional reservoir for dermatophytes and keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi, and are a source of potential infection for man and animals.The keratinolytic and keratinophilic mycoflora of 28 sandpits in Turin was studied to evaluate the risk of fungal skin infections that is run by children as they play in public parks and to lay the ground-work for a next epidemiological study of soil- and animal-inhabiting dermatophytes found in cities, and their impact on human dermatophytoses. Fifty seven species were isolated and a high percentage (52%) showed keratinolytic activity. Species of Microsporum, Trichophyton, Mariannaea, Aphanoascus, Chrysosporium, Malbranchea and Geomyces showed the most active keratinolysis.Work n. 315 performed under the auspices of the Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno del C.N.R. at the Dipartimento di Biologia vegetale dell Università di Torino.     

Cell envelope phospholipid changes in a moderate halophile during phenotypic adaptation to altered salinity and osmotic stress

Abstract The increased content of negatively-charged phospholipids in membranes of Vibrio costicola grown at high salinities is mediated by increased phospholipid synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol relative to phosphatidylethanolamine. This phenomenon provides a system for investigating the factors involved in triggering and controlling haloadaptation in this moderately halophilic bacterium. We review recent experiments, which show that when subjected to sudden increases in external salinity, V. costicola senses both the absolute NaCl concentration and the magnitude of the salt shift. We show that the latter is sensed at least in part via osmotic pressure effects, since shift-up into sucrose-containing media triggers comparable changes in growth and in phospholipid composition and synthesis.     

Postcranial variations in late Epigravettian and Neolithic human remains from Arene Candide cave (Liguria,Italy)

Late Epigravettian postcranial human remains from the Arene Candide cave (Finale Ligure, Savona, Italy) were compared with the Neolithic sample found in the upper levels of the same site. Data on length, diaphyseal circumference and diameter of clavicle, humerus, radius, femur and tibia were collected from male specimens having all these bones. The Epigravettian sample is characterized by significantly greater tibial length, robustness and platycnemia, significantly lower circumferences in the upper limb bones and the clavicle, and a high degree of asymmetry. Variations observed in lower limb bones are those expected on the basis of the different functional requirements of a hunting and gathering economy compared to a more sedentary, food producing economy. Differences in the upper limb bones and the clavicle are less explicable. However, considering that in spite of a more slender structure, the Epigravettian bones show evidence of vigorous use, variation in upper limb could result from qualitatively different involvements.