Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of an actinomycete (Streptomyces sp.) isolated from a Brazilian tropical forest soil

A promising producer of bioactive compounds isolated from a Brazilian tropical soil was tested for its range of antimicrobial activities. Strain 606, classified as Streptomyces sp., could not be identified up to species level, suggesting a possible new taxon. The supernatant and 10 extracts and fractions, obtained by extraction and chromatographic techniques, presented antimicrobial activity using antibiograms. The methanolic fraction was highly active against pathogenic bacteria, phytopathogenic fungi and the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. It also possessed high antiviral activity inhibiting the propagation of an acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 strain on HEp-2 cells at non-cytotoxic concentration. The strong cytotoxic effect suggests an antitumour action. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Raman and infrared spectra of toxin gamma from the venom of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus

Toxin gamma is a basic, low-molecular-weight, neurotoxic protein, isolated from the venom of the Brazilian scorpion, Tityus serrulatus. Raman spectra (400-1800 cm-1 region) of this toxin in both the lyophilized state and in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.5) and the infrared spectrum (700-4000 cm-1 region) of a solid film were investigated. From the vibrational spectra, it can be concluded that the polypeptide backbone of toxin gamma consists of a mixture of the different secondary structures, with predominance of beta-sheet, followed by unordered structure and alpha-helix, with some evidence of beta-turn structures. The four disulfide bridges assume the gauche-gauche-gauche conformation of the CCSSCC fragments. The intensity ratio of the doublet at 853 and 828 cm-1 suggests that four out of the five tyrosine residues are exposed. The three tryptophan residues are exposed on the surface, and the single methionine residue assume the gauche-gauche conformation. Toxin gamma retains full activity in the pH 4.5-7.5 range, but is almost completely inactivated at pH 11.5.     

Pollination biology of two species ofKielmeyera (Guttiferae) from Brazilian cerrado vegetation

The pollination biology and breeding systems ofKielmeyera coriacea andK. speciosa, two sympatric woody species common in the cerrado vegetation of C. Brazil, were studied. Both species have similar nectarless, polystemonous Papaver-type flowers which are visited by a similar spectrum of insects, though they bloom in different seasons and are thus phenologically isolated. Large carpenter bees seem to be the most important pollinators and these and other bees effect buzz pollen retrieval despite the fact that anthers are not poricidal. Both species ofKielmeyera possess strong xenogamous breeding systems. The presence of staminate flowers and andromonoecy inK. coriacea, as well as the longevity ofK. speciosa flowers are discussed as alternative strategies to improve pollination success and reproductive efficacy.     

Activation of Ca2+-dependent processes during heat shock: role in cell thermoresistance

In this brief review, it is proposed that some Ca2+-dependent processes are induced upon subjecting cells to hyperthermic temperature, and play an essential role in the final cell responses. The triggering signal does not involve external Ca2+. Instead, it is most likely to be generated by a redistribution of Ca2+ between the internal pools. A role for heat-induced Ca2+-dependent processes is supported by findings that Ca2+-active agents such as chelators, ionophores, or anticalmodulin drugs modify the cytotoxic action of hyperthermia and that some heat shock proteins are calmodulin-binding proteins. Furthermore, within minutes at hyperthermic temperature, changes are observed in the pattern of phosphoproteins suggesting that heat shock activates kinase or phosphatase activities, processes which are often mediated by Ca2+. Suggestive evidence that these phosphorylation events are determinants of cell thermoresistance is provided by the fact that one of these proteins whose phosphorylation changes rapidly upon hyperthermia is a heat shock protein (HSP28) and that the content of HSP28 is elevated not only in thermotolerant cells but also in a family of thermoresistant variants isolated after mutagenesis of Chinese hamster cells.     

Location of O-acetyl groups in the acidic d-xylan of mimosa scabrella (bracatinga). A study of O-acetyl group migration

Extraction with dimethyl sulfoxide of wood-meal of the stem of bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella), a south Brazilian hardwood, that was defatted and delignified by treatment with aqueous chlorine at 0–5° followed by extraction with cold ethanol, gave a soluble O-acetylated 4-O-methyl-d-glucurono-d-xylan having (1→4)-linked β-d-xylopyranosyl residues that were unsubstituted (65%) and 2-O-(14%), 3-O- (16%), and 2,3-di-O-acetylated (5%), as determined by methylation analysis. Another preparation obtained by use of refluxing ethanol in the delignification process showed neither removal nor migration of acetyl groups. By comparison with synthetic, partly O-acetylated d-xylans of known composition, ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated that O-acetyl group migration does not occur during treatment with cold aqueous chlorine, refluxing ethanol, or water at 70°. Methyl 2-O-acetyl-4-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (6) was also unaffected by aqueous chlorine. O-Acetyl group migration took place more readily in aqueous and dimethyl sulfoxide solutions of 6 than of O-acetyl-d-xylans. The lowest temperatures at which migration was observed in monosaccharides was at 50 and 70° for solutions in D₂O and (CD₃)₂SO, respectively.     

The effect of reversion and duplication of leaf disks on the accuracy of photosynthesis determination by the dry weight method

Experiments with sunflower and fodder cabbage showed that reversion of the leaf disks lower side upwards (towards the radiation source) decreased the photosynthetic rate by as much as 26% both at full (2. 10⁵ erg. cm^?2. sec.^?1) and half density of irradiation. On placing two disks one on another the photosynthetic rate was decreased in the upper disk in a similar way as it was on reversion even if it were placed in the normal position (upper side upwards). But assimilation in the lower disk was only a fraction (0–40%) of that of the upper disk and in thick leaves was within the limits of the compensation point. The sum of the increase in dry weight in both disks due to photosynthesis exceeds the increment in one normally placed disk only in thin leaves and at high density of radiation. On the basis of the differences found it is advised to discard experimental samples where a quarter of the disks were reversed during exposure. On evaluating samples in which some of the disks were duplicated in error, it is most accurate to deduct the weight of one control disk from the weight obtained. The decrease in photosynthetic rate found in reversed and duplicated disks is evidently due to the simultaneous effect of differences in the supply of CO₂ and radiation energy to the assimilating tissue and apparatus and also to differences in the photosynthetic capacity of different leaf tissues.