Isolation,purification, and enzymatic activity of cellulase components of the fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus terreus</Emphasis>

The accumulation dynamics of cellulolytic enzymes in culture media of the basidiomycete fungi Panus tigrinus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Fomes fomentarus, and the micromycete Aspergillus terreus were studied during a long incubation period. It was found that A. terreus was the most active producer of cellulolytic enzymes among the studied fungi. Two protein fractions with cellulase activity were isolated using gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. PAAG electrophoresis showed that fraction-I consisted of four components; fraction-II, an electrophoretically homogeneous protein. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 489–491, September–October, 2007.     

Accumulation of radiocesium by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus citrinopileatus</Emphasis> species of edible mushroom

Pleurotus citrinopileatus, a species of edible mushrooms, is widely accepted food component, especially in Indian subcontinent. The accumulating susceptibility of this edible mushroom species towards long-lived radioisotopes of cesium was studied in controlled laboratory condition using the ¹³⁴Cs (T _1/2 = 2.06 y) radioisotope. It was observed that the experimental mushroom species accumulated ¹³⁴Cs and maximum accumulation took place in the cap portion. The pileus (cap)/stipes (stem) ratio of each ¹³⁴Cs accumulated mushroom sample was determined and found 2.22±0.74. The protein and fat fractions of the experimental mushroom species were extracted separately after accumulation of radiocesium and it was found that most of the radiocesium accumulation occurred in the protein fraction of the mushroom. The mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus which is white in color, turned completely black after radiocesium accumulation. The black mushroom so obtained was produced upto fourth generation by tissue culture method without using any radiocesium further. All the successors were found to be black indicating a permanent mutation of the mushroom species.     

Structural analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis> multiple emulsions by means of DSC

Summary The properties of the inner and the external aqueous phases, were studied in w/o/w multiple emulsions with light microscopic image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The importance of multiple emulsions lies in the presence of these aqueous phases, making them available for sustained, controlled drug delivery systems. Differentiation of these two aqueous phases, studying the effect of manufacturing technology on droplet structure, quantitative determination of phase volumes and any changes occurring during storage are essential when planning w/o/w emulsions. The present study uses microscopic observations combined with DSC measurements in order to identify the formed structure, at developmental stage in case of different components, preparation methods, and stirring rates. These tools are beneficial during manufacturing as in process controls, or to ensure product quality.     

Metabolites from the marine fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eurotium repens</Emphasis>

1,8-Dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthracenedione (physcion, 1), 3,4-dihydro-3,6,9-trihydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methyl-1(2H)-anthraceneone (asperflavin, 2), and 2,5-dihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-6-[(1E)-1-heptenyl]-benzaldehyde (tetrahydroauroglaucin, 3) were shown to be the main pigments of the marine isolate of the fungus Eurotium repens. In addition to the pigments, the fungal metabolites included the diketopiperazine alkaloid echinulin (4). The structures of the compounds were identified using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The cytotoxic activity of 1–3 toward sex cells of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius was determined. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 327–329, July–August, 2007.     

Synthesis from geraniol of (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,10<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,14<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-16-hydroxygeranylgeraniol and some of its derivatives

Several α,ω-bifunctional derivatives of E,E,E-geranylgeraniol were prepared via convergent synthesis starting with geraniol (8), which was converted in three steps into the tetrahydropyranyl ether of 8-chlorogeraniol (9) and 8-hydroxygeranylphenylsulfone (10). Combination of synthons 9 and 10 with subsequent reductive removal of the phenylsulfonyl group produced the tetrahydropyranyl ether of ω-hydroxygeranylgeraniol (5), hydrolysis of which gave exclusively trans-ω-hydroxygeranylgeraniol (1). Derivatives 5–7 of geranylgeraniol were synthesized using standard methods. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 231–234, May–June, 2007.     

Kinetic characterisation of arylamine <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyltransferase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

Background  

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are important drug- and carcinogen-metabolising enzymes that catalyse the transfer of an acetyl group from a donor, such as acetyl coenzyme A, to an aromatic or heterocyclic amine, hydrazine, hydrazide or N-hydroxylamine acceptor substrate. NATs are found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and they may also have an endogenous function in addition to drug metabolism. For example, NAT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been proposed to have a role in cell wall lipid biosynthesis, and is therefore of interest as a potential drug target. To date there have been no studies investigating the kinetic mechanism of a bacterial NAT enzyme.     

Two new compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus niruri</Emphasis>

Three compounds were isolated from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. One effective method, improved dry column liquid chromatography for isolating these compounds, was applied on a silica gel column. It is a combination of conventional dry column chromatographic and flash chromatographic techniques. Structures of those obtained compounds were elucidated by means of spectral techniques including IR, MS, and 1D NMR and 2D NMR. Compound 1 was elucidated as 2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxybenzyl acetate. Compound 2 , 2,4,5-trihydroxy-3-(4,6,7-trihydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester, was given the name phyllangin, and compound 3 was named corilagin. Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds.Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 380–382, September–October, 2004.     

Fatty Acids from the Sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tedania dirhaphis</Emphasis>

The fatty acid (FA) composition of total lipids from the marine sponge Tedania dirhaphis from the Sea of Okhotsk was studied. GC and GC-MS identified 50 acids, particular attention being paid to components with 14–22 C atoms. Acids 16-Me-19:0, 10,14-Me₂-15:1(Δ6), 18:1(Δ6), 18:1(Δ8), and 22:1(Δ16) were observed and identified for the first time in sponges. The main FA in lipids from T. dirhaphis was 28:3(Δ5,9,21), the relative content of which reached 63.3%.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 233–236, May–June, 2005.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> study of aniline and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-propylamine associates with nitrobenzene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-cresol

An ab initio (6-31G**) study of binary associates of aniline and n-propylamine with nitrobenzene and m-cresol has been carried out. The structures corresponding to the total energy minimum of the system have been found for the associates, and their geometrical and energy characteristics have been determined. Basic types of intermolecular interactions have been established, and their effects on the reactivity of the amino group have been investigated.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by I. A. Novakov, V. V. Korolkov, A. I. Pavlyuchko, B. S. Orlinson, and L. A. GribovTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 595–601, July–August, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Aryltetralin Lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum mucronatum</Emphasis> Bertol. ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mucronatum</Emphasis>

The dried and aerial part of Linum mucronatum ssp. mucronatum was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two aryltetralin lignans, podophylloyoxin, 6-methoxypodophylloyoxin, and β-peltatin, were identified. This is the first report of the analysis of L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 24–25, January–February, 2005.     

NMR spectral analysis of flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum coronarium</Emphasis>

Naringenin 5-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin, nine flavonoid derivatives, were isolated for the first time from the aqueous methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Chrysanthemum coronarium. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic (UV, ¹H, ¹³C NMR) analyses. 1-and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy of the rare naringenin 5-O-glucoside have been recorded and assigned for the first time. The flavonoid glucosides from Chrysanthemum coronarium showed week activity against Poliovirus I and Adenovirus type 7. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 546–548, November–December, 2007.