Phylogeny of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFS) and receptors: A molecular approach

The IGFs (IGF-I and IGF-II) are essential for normal mammalian growth and development. Their actions are mediated primarily by their interactions with the type I IGF receptor (IGF-I receptor), a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. The ligands and the IGF-I receptor are structurally related to insulin and to the insulin receptor, respectively. Analysis of evolutionary conservation has often provided insights into essential regions of molecules such as hormones and their receptors. The genes for insulin and IGFs have been partially characterized in a number of vertebrate species extending evolutionarily from humans as far back as fish. The sequences of the exons encoding the mature insulin and IGF peptides are highly conserved among vertebrate species, and IGF-I-Iike molecules are found in species whose origins extend back as much as 550 million years. The insulin receptor is also highly conserved in vertebrate species, and an insulinreceptor-like molecule has been characterized in Drosophila. In contrast, IGF-I receptors have only been characterized in mammalian species and partially studied in Xenopus, in which the tyrosine kinase domain is highly conserved. Studies are presently being undertaken to analyze in more detail the regulation of the genes encoding this important family of growth factors and the structure/function relationships in the gene products themselves. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A novel mannitol teichoic acid with side phosphate groups of Brevibacterium sp. VKM Ac-2118.

The cell wall of Brevibacterium sp. VKM Ac-2118 isolated from a frozen (mean annual temperature -12 degrees C) late Pliocene layer, 1.8-3 Myr, Kolyma lowland, Russia, contains mannitol teichoic acid with a previously unknown structure. This is 1,6-poly(mannitol phosphate) with the majority of the mannitol residues bearing side phosphate groups at O-4(3). The structure of the polymer was established by chemical methods, NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of 3-quinoline carboxylic acids as new inhibitors of protein kinase CK2

Abstract

In this article, the derivatives of 3-quinoline carboxylic acid were studied as inhibitors of protein kinase CK2. Forty-three new compounds were synthesized. Among them 22 compounds inhibiting CK2 with IC₅₀ in the range from 0.65 to 18.2?μM were identified. The most active inhibitors were found among tetrazolo-quinoline-4-carboxylic acid and 2-aminoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives.     

Structure of a fucoidan from the brown seaweed Fucus serratus L

A fucoidan consisting of L-fucose, sulfate and acetate in a molar proportion of 1:1:0.1 and small amounts of xylose and galactose were isolated from the brown seaweed Fucus serratus L. The fucoidan structure was investigated by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy of its desulfated and de-O-acetylated derivatives as well as by methylation analysis of the native and desulfated polysaccharides. A branched structure was suggested for the fucoidan with a backbone of alternating 3- and 4-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose residues, -->3)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->, about half of the 3-linked residues being substituted at C-4 by trifucoside units alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1-->. Minor chains built up of 4-linked alpha-fucopyranose and beta-xylose residues were also detected, but their location, as well as the position of galactose residues, remained unknown. Sulfate groups were shown to occupy mainly C-2 and sometimes C-4, although 3,4-diglycosylated and some terminal fucose residues may be nonsulfated. Acetate was found to occupy C-4 of 3-linked Fuc and C-3 of 4-linked Fuc in a ratio of about 7:3.     

A highly regular fraction of a fucoidan from the brown seaweed Fucus distichus L

A fucoidan fraction consisting of L-fucose, sulfate, and acetate in a molar proportion of 1:1.21:0.08 was isolated from the brown seaweed Fucus distichus collected from the Barents Sea. The 13C NMR spectrum of the fraction was typical of regular polysaccharides containing disaccharide repeating units. According to 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectra, the fucoidan molecules are built up of alternating 3-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose 2,4-disulfate and 4-linked alpha-L-fucopyranose 2-sulfate residues: -->3)-alpha-L-Fucp-(2,4-di-SO3-)-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Fucp-(2SO3-)-(1-->. The regular structure may be only slightly masked by random acetylation and undersulfation of several disaccharide repeating units.     

Simulation of the molecular and electronic structure of heterofullerenes C55Y5 (Y=Si, Ge, Sn, B, Al, N, P, SiH, GeH, SnH) and their η-π-complexes with Li by the MNDO method

Qualitative estimates of the relative stability of hypothetical heterofullerenes C₅₅Y₅ (Y=Si, Ge, Sn, B, Al, N, P, SiH, GeH, SnH) and some η⁵-π-complexes LiC₅₅Y₅ were carried out by the MNDO method. Atoms Y (or groups XH) are assumed to substitute those C atoms in fullerene C₆₀ which are located at the -positions of a separated pentagonal face (pent^*) of this polyhedral molecule. It is shown that the spin densities in radicals C₅₅Y₅ (Y=SiH, GeH, SnH, B, Al, N, P) are localized on the separated pentagon atoms and the Li-pentagonal face (Li-pent^*) bonds in η⁵-π-complexes of these radicals with the Li atom are considerably stronger than Li-pent^* bonds in complexes [η⁵-π-LiC₆₀]⁺ and [η⁵-π-LiC₆₀] of unsubstituted C₆₀. In addition, it is established that the Li-pent^* bond energies in η⁵-π-complexes LiC₅₅B₅ and LiC₅₅Al₅ exceed the energy of the Li-pent^* bond in the η⁵-π-complex LiC₆₀H₅ studied earlier. In contrast, the energies of similar bonds for Y=N, P are close to the energy of the Li-pent^* bond in the η⁵-π-complex LiC₆₀H₅.     

Perennial biomass cropping and use: Shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries

Demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase with the need to provide renewable commodities, improve resource security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with COP26 commitments. Studies have demonstrated additional environmental benefits of using perennial biomass crops (PBCs), when produced appropriately, as a feedstock for the growing bioeconomy, including utilisation for bioenergy (with or without carbon capture and storage). PBCs can potentially contribute to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023–27) objectives provided they are carefully integrated into farming systems and landscapes. Despite significant research and development (R&D) investment over decades in herbaceous and coppiced woody PBCs, deployment has largely stagnated due to social, economic and policy uncertainties. This paper identifies the challenges in creating policies that are acceptable to all actors. Development will need to be informed by measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other environmental, economic and social metrics. It discusses interlinked issues that must be considered in the expansion of PBC production: (i) available land; (ii) yield potential; (iii) integration into farming systems; (iv) R&D requirements; (v) utilisation options; and (vi) market systems and the socio-economic environment. It makes policy recommendations that would enable greater PBC deployment: (1) incentivise farmers and land managers through specific policy measures, including carbon pricing, to allocate their less productive and less profitable land for uses which deliver demonstrable greenhouse gas reductions; (2) enable greenhouse gas mitigation markets to develop and offer secure contracts for commercial developers of verifiable low-carbon bioenergy and bioproducts; (3) support innovation in biomass utilisation value chains; and (4) continue long-term, strategic R&D and education for positive environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts.     

Synthesis, structures, and luminescence properties of mixed ligand Cd(II) and Zn(II) coordination compounds mediated by 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane

Interaction of cadmium(II) or zinc(II) acetate with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe) in the presence of dioxime(1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime = NioxH₂ or diphenylglyoxime = dpgH₂) resulted in three complexes with the compositions [Cd₂(CH₃COO)₄(NioxH₂)₂(bpe)(H₂O)₂] (1), [Cd(CH₃COO)₂(bpe)(H₂O)]_n (2) and [Zn(CH₃COO)₂(NioxH₂)(bpe)(H₂O)]_n (3), which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, and luminescence spectroscopy. Dioxime-containing binuclear molecule 1 and 1D linear polymer 3 possess moderate luminescence properties, while the dioxime-free 1D polymer 2 demonstrates strong blue luminescence.     

Structure of a highly pyruvylated galactan sulfate from the Pacific green alga Codium yezoense (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)

A polysaccharide fraction consisting of d-galactose, sulfate, and pyruvate in a molar proportion of 4:2:1 was isolated from the green seaweed Codium yezoense by water extraction followed by ion-exchange chromatography. To elucidate its structure, modified polysaccharides were prepared by desulfation, depyruvylation, and by total removal of non-carbohydrate substituents. Structures of the native polysaccharide and of the products of its chemical modifications were investigated by methylation analysis as well as by 1D and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide devoid of sulfate and pyruvate was subjected to two subsequent Smith degradations to afford a rather low-molecular and essentially linear (1-->3)-beta-d-galactan. A highly ramified structure was suggested for the native polysaccharide, which contains linear backbone segments of 3-linked beta-d-galactopyranose residues connected by (1-->6) linkages, about 40% of 3-linked residues being additionally substituted at C-6, probably by short oligosaccharide residues also containing (1-->3) and (1-->6) linkages. Sulfate groups were found mainly at C-4 and in minor amounts at C-6. Pyruvate was found to form mainly five-membered cyclic ketals with O-3 and O-4 of the non-reducing terminal galactose residues. The minor part of pyruvate forms six-membered cyclic ketals with O-4 and O-6. The absolute configurations of ketals (R for six-membered ketals and S for five-membered ones) were established using NMR spectral data.     

The Relation of Different-Scale Membrane Processes Under Nitric Oxide Influence

Rhythmic activity, synaptic transmission and propagation of excitation depend on the processes that occur at different cellular levels. Modulation of neuron activity results from the changes of plasma membrane and organelles properties. We aimed to study the relationship between changes of the ion channels activity, membrane microviscosity and amount of bound Ca²⁺ under the influence of nitric oxide (NO). We also investigated the effect of NO on the refractive index of neurons. We have shown that NO activates voltage-dependent K(K_V)-channels and leads to the decrease in the amount of membrane-bound and stored Ca²⁺. NO causes a decrease in the microviscosity of the membrane of cytosomes and altered refractive index of neurones. The latter can result from the modification of plasma membrane physico-chemical properties and structural changes in the cytoplasm (vesicles movement, reorganisation of cytoskeleton, etc.). It is suggested that long-term modifications of the physico-chemical properties of membranes and reorganisation in the cytoplasm affect neuron activity and signal transmission.