Interaction of lipid-transport proteins from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Nigella sativa</Emphasis> seeds with lipid membranes

Three pure lipid-transport proteins (LTPs) were isolated from Nigella sativa seeds. The effects of the three LTPs on release of ANTS probe from the inner volume were studied using fluorescence in liposomes of different lipid composition. It was shown that all LTPs had a dose-dependent effect on the liposome permeability.     

Carbohydrates from the aerial part of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Ferula kuhistanica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>F. tenuisecta</Emphasis>

Water-soluble polysaccharides, pectinic substances, and hemicelluloses were isolated from the aerial part of Ferula kuhistanica and F. tenuisecta. Their physicochemical properties were determined.     

A new 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenedione from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Cannabis sativa</Emphasis>

The structure of a new 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenedione, which was isolated from the leaves and branches of Cannabis sativa L., was elucidated as 9,10-dihydro-2,3,5,6-tetramethoxyphenanthrene-1,4-dione (1) on the basis of MS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR methods, especially 2D NMR techniques (HMBC and NOESY).     

Reaction of methylpheophorbides <Emphasis Type=Italic>d</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>b</Emphasis> with amines

A series of formyl analogs of chlorin e₆ 13-amides were synthesized in high yields by reaction under mild conditions of primary and secondary amines with methylpheophorides b and d. In contrast with the secondary 13-amides, tertiary 13-amides were found as two isomers differing in the orientation of the amide plane relative to the plane of the chlorin ring. Methylpheophorbides b and d were more reactive toward the amines than methylpheophorbide a.     

Comparative characteristics of water-soluble proteins from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Larix sibirica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type=Italic>Picea obovata</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Abies sibirica</Emphasis> bud meristem

The amount of water-soluble proteins in bud meristem of Larix sibirica L., Picea obovata L., and Abies sibirica L. was shown to increase by 2-3 times in autumn during development of low-temperature resistance. The fractional composition of water-soluble proteins of the studied species and the amino-acid composition of groups of water-soluble proteins with different molecular weight (MW) were similar. Nitrogen accumulated as aspartic acid, glycine, and alanine in high- and medium-molecular-weight proteins. The peptides (MW < 5 kDa) typically had a high content of hydrophobic proline and hydrophilic tyrosine.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>bis</Emphasis>-Cardenolides

Twelve new bis-cardenolides were synthesized by reaction of natural cardenolides with diamines to form imines and ammonium salts. Anomalous physicochemical properties consisting of resistance to hydrolysis and increased polarity were observed for the bis-ketoimines.