D-xylo and Lyxofuranonucleosides Reviewed: Some Suggestions on The Mechanism of Activity of Antiviral Nucleosides

Abstract

D-Xylo and Lyxofuranonucleosides have not been extensively studied. Therefore in order to perform a systematic Structure-Antiviral Activity Relationship of the nucleoside analogs we have first synthesized their α and β anomers, some of them being unknown or their structure doubtful in the literature.     

Induction, by adriamycin and mitomycin C, of modifications in lipid composition, size distribution, membrane fluidity and permeability of cultured RDM4 lymphoma cells

Adriamycin and mitomycin C were previously found to modulate the sensitivity of lymphoma cells to lysis by certain effectors of immunity and this modulation was dependent on drug concentration. In the present studies, RDM4 lymphoma cells were treated with different concentrations of the two drugs for 24 h in culture. These treatments resulted in changes in the lipid composition, membrane fluidity, cell size distribution, and permeability to 51CrO4, Trypan blue, Acridine orange and trimethylaminodiphenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) of the cells. Changes in some of these parameters, as a function of drug concentration, resulted in dose-response curves which were bell-like shaped, hence paradoxical similarities between non-drug-treated cells and cells treated with higher drug concentrations were observed.     

A marker of acid-secreting membrane movement in rat gastric parietal cells

A monoclonal antibody (mab 146.14) marker of the movement of acid-secreting membranes in rat gastric parital cells has been produced and characterized. Mab 146.14 recognized a 95-kD major component of a purified membrane fraction of rat gastric mucosa, the protein composition of which was similar to that of well characterized porcine H+ -K+ ATPase-enriched membranes, and that presented the characteristic shift of density depending on whether it was purified from resting or stimulated tissues. Further biochemical analysis characterized the antigen as a membranous protein that might be in its native form, part of a higher multimolecular complex. Immunocytochemical localization of the antigen demonstrated that only membranes related to acid secretion in parietal cells expressed the 95-kD antigen. In resting conditions, the 95-kD antigen was diffusely distributed in the cell cytoplasm associated with inactive tubulovesicles. In stimulated cells, by contrast, all the antigen was recovered associated with secretory active microvilli formed by the apical insertion of the previously resting internal tubulovesicles. In conclusion, the 95-kD antigen, presumably a part of the rat gastric proton pump, is a marker of acid-secreting membranes in rat parietal cells. The translocation of antigen and membranes, observed by both light and electron microscopy supports the fusion model of membrane insertion from a cytoplasmic storage pool to the apical surface upon stimulation of acid secretion.     

An auxin-auxotrophic mutant of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia

Summary Auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) is considered to be an important signalling molecule in the regulation of plant growth and development but neither auxin synthesis nor its mode of action is clearly understood. To identify genes involved in these processes, mutations were sought that altered the auxin requirement of plant tissues for growth. For the first time mutant plants were obtained that carry a recessive mutation at a single nuclear locus (auxl) which results in an absolute requirement for exogenous auxin for normal growth. In the absence of auxin treatment, mutant plants undergo premature senescence and die.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - BUdR 5-bromodeoxyuridine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - FUdR 5-fluorodeoxyuridine - IAA-EE indole-3-acetic acid ethyl ester - IMS indole-3-methanesulfonic acid     

Trichinosis: Thiabendazole in the Treatment of 11 Cases

We have studied 11 cases of acute human trichinosis; five of these patients were treated with thiabendazole. We have reviewed the laboratory data for these patients and described their course. This study has failed to show any definite effect of thiabendazole on the course of human trichinosis at the doses used. However, thiabendazole may have decreased the infectivity of the larvae which were embedded in the muscles of our patients.     

Influence ofl-thyroxine,l-triiodothyronine,thyroid stimulating hormone,or estradiol on the cell kinetics of cultured mammary cancer cells

Summary We describe the in vitro influence of 3,5,3′-triiodo-l-thyronine (T₃),l-thyroxine (T₄), a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and/or estradiol (E₂: chosen as the control of the methodology) on the cell kinetics (cell distribution in the S+G₂+M phases) of mouse MXT and human MCF-7 mammary cancer cells. Experiments were performed by means of a cell image processor, analyzing MCF-7 or MXT cells that had been grown on glass cover slips and whose nuclei had been stained by the Feulgen reaction, which is selective and quantitative (stoichiometric) with respect to DNA. We show that T₃, T₄, and TSH at 0.01 μM dramatically stimulate the cell kinetics of the MXT mouse and the MCF-7 human mammary cancer cell lines. Indeed, the three hormones bring about a significant transient increase in the S+G₂+M fraction as does E₂. Furthermore, our data indicate that E₂ and TSH are antagonistic with regards to MXT or MCF-7 cell kinetics. This work is supported by grants awarded by the IRSIA and the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Médicale (FRSM, Belgium).     

The bovine and ovine genomes contain multiple sequences homologous to the alpha-lactalbumin-encoding gene

Bovine and ovine (pseudo)genes homologous to the alpha-lactalbumin-encoding gene are described. In both cases, sequence analysis reveals homology extending downstream from exon 2. Southern analysis indicates the presence of a family of alpha-lactalbumin-related sequences in the bovine genome.