Detection and characterization of "chimeric" yeast artificial chromosome clones by fluorescent in situ suppression hybridization.

"Chimeric" yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) are clones containing two or more noncontiguous segments of DNA and represent the most common artifact found in total genomic YAC libraries currently used for large-scale genome mapping. These YACs create spurious mapping information that complicates the construction of YAC contigs and leads to erroneous maps during chromosome walks. The presence of these artifactual clones necessitates laborious and time-consuming characterization of each isolated YAC clone, either by comparison of the physical map of the YAC with the corresponding source genomic DNA, or by demonstrating discrepant chromosomal origins for the two ends of the YAC by hybridization or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Here, we describe a rapid and sensitive method for the assessment of YAC colinearity by fluorescence in situ suppression hybridization (FISSH) by utilizing fluorescein-12-dUTP for labeling YAC clones. We have analyzed 51 YACs and found that 43% (22 out of 51) are chimeric and significantly larger (302 kb) than colinear ones (228 kb). One of the 51 YAC clones (2%) examined contains portions of three chromosomes and 2 (4%) seem to map to a chromosome different than that of the identifying STS. FISSH analysis offers a straightforward visualization of the entire YAC insert on the chromosomes and can be used to examine many YACs simultaneously in few days.     

Germacranolides from Schkuhria anthemoidea

The isolation of eucannabinolide and three new sesquiterpene lactones from Schkuhria anthemoidea is reported. The structures and stereochemistries of the new compounds were established by chemical and spectroscopic means. The structure of santhemoidin B was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

大鼠胼胝体内神经肽Y免疫反应阳性纤维的发育

本实验用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法研究了大鼠胼胝体内神经肽Ｙ免疫反应阳性（ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ）纤维的生后发育。结果发现,许多ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维在大鼠出生时便存在于胼胝体内。ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维的密度在生后１周内继续逐渐增高,在第２周内达到最高峰。之后,ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维的密度逐渐下降,至第３周末时接近成年时的水平,即仅有少量ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维存在于胼胝体内。这些结果提示在大鼠早期生后发育过程中许多ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维是暂时性的,其作用可能与大脑皮质的机能发育有关。     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Viguiera species

Viguiera eriophora yielded the sesquiterpene lactones erioflorin, acetylerioflorin and 17,18-dehydroviguiepinin, which was correlated with tetrahyd     

Infection with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae may alter the allelopathic potential of red fescue

Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is a perennial grass used as both forage and turfgrass. Asymptomatic plants of this species are systemically infected by the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae, which has a beneficial effect on the infected plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the endophyte Epichloë festucae on the allelopathic potential of F. rubra against four associated pasture species that are also considered as weeds in lawns, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus and Plantago lanceolata. Two experiments were designed to evaluate the allelopathic effect of extracts from the roots and leaves of endophyte‐infected (E+) and non‐infected (E?) plants on the germination and seedling growth of the four target species. Regardless of the endophyte status of the host plant, leaf extracts elicited a stronger reduction in germination and seedling growth than root extracts. Extracts from E+ plants reduced the speed of germination index of Trifolium spp. to a greater extent than those from E? plants. Radicle length of the target species was the parameter most affected by the presence of the endophyte in F. rubra. Root extracts from E+ plants had a greater inhibitory effect on the radicle growth of the target species than did root extracts from E? plants. A greater concentration in total phenolic compounds was found in the roots of E+ plants than of E?; however, this difference was not observed in the leaves. Thus, the allelopathic potential of F. rubra is altered in infected plants.     

Anti-inflammatory constituents of Mortonia greggii Gray

A new phytochemical study of Mortonia greggii (Celastraceae) afforded four friedelan derivatives (1-4), three lupanes (5-7), retusine (8), two esterified polyhydroxyagarofurans (9-10), mortonin C (11) and photomortonin C (12). The anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenan and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced models of inflammation, as well as the ability to inhibit the nitric oxide (NO) produced by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages were evaluated for the main metabolites. Our results showed that the friedelan dehydrocanophyllic acid methyl ester (1) exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect which could be related to an inhibition of prostaglandin and NO production. The activity of lupeol (5), 29-hydroxylupeol (6) and 29-hydroxylupenone (7) might be involved with the prostanoid synthesis. The presence of the hydroxy groups in 6 appears to be important for activity. The edema inhibition capacity of retusine (8) could be related to a reduction of the prostaglandin production. The agarofuran derivative 10 is an NO inhibitor whose activity is probably not involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins.