Characterization of isopoly tungstate using time-of-flight electrospray mass spectrometry

Electrospray time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry has been carried out on aqueous solutions of isopoly tungstate. A number of factors affecting the speciation of tungstate were studied, including concentration, and pH. The concentrations of the solutions ranged from 10^–2 to 10^–5 M. At all concentrations studied, the pH range was sufficient to investigate all major species expected to be in aqueous solution. In all cases, the results obtained by electrospray showed changes in speciation which were limited to protonation and solvation effects; the tungstate core remained intact.     

Drüsenfarbstoffe aus tropischen Labiaten: Parviflorone aus Plectranthus strigosus BENTH.

Red-Coloured Abietanoids from Leaf-Glands of Plectranthus strigosus BENTH . Chromatographic examination of the red-coloured diterpenoids from the South-African title plant yielded the following compounds: parviflorone A(1) , parviflorone B (2) , parviflorone C(3) , parviflorone E (4) parviflorone D (5) , parviflorone F (6) , parviflorone G (7) , and parviflorone H (8) . Compounds 7 and 8 represent new variants of these quinone methides.     

FUNCTIONAL MAPPING OF THE BRANCHED SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAY THAT CONTROLS SPORULATION IN Physarum polycephalum

Abstract— Sporulation of starving plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum was found to be induced by far-red light, blue light or heat shock, each of which is perceived by a different input receptor system. The branched signal transduction pathway was mapped and the time-dependent formation of some of its components analyzed.     

In vitro selection methodologies to probe RNA function and structure

Summary In vitro selection, or SELEX, has been used both to characterize the interaction of natural nucleic acids with proteins and to generate novel nucleic acid-binding species, or aptamers. Although numerous reports have demonstrated the power of the technique, they have not expanded on the methodologies that can be used for selection. This review focuses on the considerations and problems involved in selecting protein-binding aptamers from a random-sequence RNA pool. As an illustration, we describe two approaches to selecting aptamers to a particular target, the HTLV-I Rex protein. In the first, complete randomization is used to find an artificial, high-affinity RNA binding site. In the second, the contributions of individual nucleotides and/or base pairs to the natural Rex-binding element are determined by mutating the wild-type sequence and selecting active binding variants.     

Neue Diterpenoide aus Blattdrüsen einer Plectranthus sp. aus Rwanda

Novel Diterpenoids from Leaf-Glands of a Plectranthus sp. from Rwanda More than 20 highly modified abietanoid compounds belonging to 6,7-dioxocoleons, serveral kinds of royleanones, spirocoleons, extended quinones, quinone methides, and 1,4-phenanthraquinones have been isolated from a Plectranthus sp. from the borders of Lake Kiwu (Rwanda). The structure of plectranthon A ( 1 ), a 5,7,8-trimethyl-1,4-phenanthraquinone, has been confirmed by an X-ray analysis of its p-bromobenzoate. It is twisted around the C(4)–C(5) moiety; this fact renders the molecule chiral. Notable features of the hydroxylation pattern in all of the isolated compounds are: (a) a predominant hydroxylation at C(16) (abietan numbering) leading to the (15S)-configuration of the 2-hydroxy-l-methylethyl side-chain and to the (13S, 15R)-configuration of the derived spirocyclopropanes and to the derived (S)-2-hydroxypropyl side-chain; (b) the 6β,7α-dihydroxylation which, together with further hydroxylations at C(3) and/or C(2), are considered as a prerequisite for the formation of the conjugated system extending over rings A, B and C (e.g. in the coleons E and F), hence allowing a complete aromatization of the basic ring skeleton. The reasons for these extensive dehydrogenation and oxygenation reactions that cost the plant a great many of oxidation equivalents are not clear. Presumably, these modifying reactions preceed the degradation of the ring system.     

Two New Syntheses of the Pyranojuglone Pigment α-Caryopterone

By a simple process, 3-methoxyjuglone (= 8-hydroxy-2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; 9 ) has been synthesized from 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene ( 5 ) and converted, after prenylation, to α-caryopterone ( 1 ; Scheme 1), a pyranojuglone pigment from Caryopteris clandonensis. On the other hand, juglone (= 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; 12 ) was regioselectively prenylated at C(2) via its 1-methoxy-cyclohexa-1,3-diene adduct 15 (Scheme 2). The 2-prenyljuglone ( 4 ) thus formed led to 1 after oxidation and other reactions.