ACTION SPECTRA FOR HYPHAL AGGREGATION,THE FIRST STAGE OF FRUITING,IN THE BASIDIOMYCETE Pleurotus ostreatus*

Abstract. Action spectra were determined for hyphal aggregation in Pleurotus ostreatus at wavelengths between 360 and 600 nm. The action spectrum for a 50% response had two maxima, one at 370 nm in the near-UV and the other a broad peak at 440–450 nm in the blue. Both were approximately of the same magnitude. A minimum was present at 400 nm and wavelengths greater than 530 nm invoked no response. Action spectra for a range of responses, 10–90%, were also determined which showed gradual changes in the peaks in the blue region. It was concluded that hyphal aggregation in P. ostreatus is under the control of a cryptochrome-like photoreceptor system.     

Zur Oxidation von 1,2-Thiazolen: Ein einfacher Zugang zu 1,2-Thiazol-3(2H)-on-1,1-dioxiden

Oxidation of 1,2-Thiazoles; A Convenient Approach to 1,2-Thiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-Dioxides The 1,2-thiazoles obtained from 3-chloroalk-2-enals and ammonium thiocyanate ( 7 → 9 , Scheme 1) are easily transformed to 1,2-thiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxidcs 10 on treatment with H₂O₂ in AcOH at 80°. Hydrogenation of 10 in AcOH yields the corresponding saturated 1,2-thiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxides 16 (Scheme 3). Cycloalka[c]-1,2-thiazoles 18 are prepared from 2-[(thiocyanato)methyliden]cycloalkan-1-ones and ammonia (Scheme 4). Surprisingly, oxidation of 18a with H₂O₂ in AcOH yields the tricyclic oxaziridine 19.     

Azidokomplexe des Zirkoniums: ZrCl3N3, [ZrCl4N3]22⊝, [ZrCl4(N3)2]2⊝; die Kristallstruktur von (PPh4)2[ZrCl4N3]2

Azido Complexes of Zirconium: ZrCl₃N₃, [ZrCl₄N₃]₂^2?, [ZrCl₄(N₃)₂]^2?; Crystal Structure of (PPh₄)₂ [ZrCl₄N₃]₂ Highly explosive ZrCl₃N₃ is formed by the reaction of ZrCl₄ with iodine azide in dichloromethane suspension. According to the i.r. spectra, the compound is polymeric by azide and chlorine bridges. Zirconium tetrachloride reacts with one and two moles of tetraphenylphosphonium azide respectively, forming the thermally and mechanically stable complexes (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄N₃]₂ and (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄(N₃)₂]. The crystal structure of (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄N₃]₂ was determined by X-ray methods (1942 reflexions, R = 6.5%). The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with two formula units per unit cell. The structure consists of tetraphenylphosphonium cations and dimeric anions [ZrCl₄N₃]₂^2?, in which the Zr atoms are linked by the α-N atoms of the azide groups, forming a centrosymmetric Zr₂N₂ ring with symmetry D_2h. According to the i.r. spectra, the azide groups in the complex (PPh₄)₂[ZrCl₄(N₃)₂] are covalently bonded at the Zr atom in trans positions.     

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MEDIATES UV-INDUCED IMPAIRMENT OF ANTIGEN PRESENTATION IN A MURINE EPIDERMAL-DERIVED DENDRITIC CELL LINE

Abstract— Ultraviolet-B (290–320 nm) radiation is known to impair the antigen-presenting cell (APC) function of Langerhans cells (LC), skin-specific members of the dendritic cell (DC) family. We sought to address mechanisms of this effect, focusing on the role played by hydrogen peroxide. For this purpose, we used a newly established murine DC line, XS52, which resembles epidermal LC in several respects. The APC capacity of XS52 cells, using two different CD4* T cell clones as responders, was inhibited significantly (>50%) by exposure to UV radiation (unfiltered FS20 sunlamps) at relatively small fluences (50–100 J/m²). Ultraviolet radiation also inhibited growth factor-dependent proliferation of XS52 cells. On the other hand, cell surface phenotype was relatively well preserved after irradiation; expression levels of B7-1 and B7-2 were reduced slightly, while other molecules ( e.g. Ia, CD54, CD1 la and CD18) were not affected. With respect to the role played by hydrogen peroxide, pretreatment with purified catalase (900 U/mL) prevented UV-induced inhibition of APC function. Short-term exposure to 3 miM H₂0₂ or f-butyl H₂0₂ mimicked UV radiation by inhibiting APC function. Finally, intrinsic catalase activity was substantially lower in XS52 cells compared with Pam 212 keratinocytes. These results indicate that the generation of hydrogen peroxide alone is sufficient to produce some, but not all, of the deleterious effects of UV radiation on DC derived from the skin.     

Comparative proteome analysis of culture supernatant proteins from virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and attenuated M. bovis BCG Copenhagen

A comprehensive analysis of culture supernatant (CSN) proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was accomplished by combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), mass spectrometry, and N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation. Analytical 2-DE gels resolved approximately 1250 protein spots from CSN of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, 381 of which were identified by mass spectrometry and/or Edman degradation. This study revealed 137 different proteins, 42 of which had previously been described as secreted. Comparative proteome analysis of CSN from virulent M. tuberculosis H37Rv and attenuated Mycobacterium bovis BCG Copenhagen identified 39 M. tuberculosis-specific spots containing 27 different proteins, representing candidate antigens for novel vaccines and diagnostics in tuberculosis. These included five proteins encoded by open reading frames absent from M. bovis BCG, e.g., early secretory antigen target (Esat6), as well as 22 novel differential proteins, such as acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase (Rv0243) and two putative Esat6-like proteins (Rv1198, Rv1793).     

Synthesis and thermal polymerization of aromatic 2‐oxazolines containing carboxylic groups

2‐(4‐Carboxyphenyl)‐1,3‐oxazoline ( 2 a ), 2‐(3‐carboxyphenyl)‐1,3‐oxazoline ( 2 b ), and 2‐(6‐carboxynaphthyl‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐oxazoline ( 2 c ) were synthesized by reaction of monomethyl ester chlorides of aromatic dicarboxylic acids with 2‐chloroethylamine hydrochloride in the presence of triethylamine followed by cyclization with methanolic KOH. Thermal polymerization in bulk within a few minutes at 200–220°C resulted in new linear poly(ester amide)s 3 a – 3 c without significant side reactions. The polymerization occurred in the melt phase ( 2 b ) or in the solid state ( 2 a , 2 c ) and the resulting polymers are amorphous ( 3 b ) or semi‐crystalline ( 3 a , 3 c ). The polyaddition reactions were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

NMR Relaxivities of Paramagnetic Lanthanide-Containing Polyoxometalates

The current trend for ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies opens up new routes in clinical diagnostic imaging as well as in material imaging applications. MRI selectivity is further improved by using contrast agents (CAs), which enhance the image contrast and improve specificity by the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) mechanism. Generally, the efficacy of a CA at a given magnetic field is measured by its longitudinal and transverse relaxivities r₁ and r₂, i.e., the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates T₁⁻¹ and T₂⁻¹ normalized to CA concentration. However, even though basic NMR sensitivity and resolution become better in stronger fields, r₁ of classic CA generally decreases, which often causes a reduction of the image contrast. In this regard, there is a growing interest in the development of new contrast agents that would be suitable to work at higher magnetic fields. One of the strategies to increase imaging contrast at high magnetic field is to inspect other paramagnetic ions than the commonly used Gd(III)-based CAs. For lanthanides, the magnetic moment can be higher than that of the isotropic Gd(III) ion. In addition, the symmetry of electronic ground state influences the PRE properties of a compound apart from diverse correlation times. In this work, PRE of water ¹H has been investigated over a wide range of magnetic fields for aqueous solutions of the lanthanide containing polyoxometalates [Dy^III(H₂O)₄GeW₁₁O₃₉]^5– (Dy-W₁₁), [Er^III(H₂O)₃GeW₁₁O₃₉]^5– (Er-W₁₁) and [{Er^III(H₂O)(CH₃COO)(P₂W₁₇O₆₁)}₂]¹⁶⁻ (Er₂-W₃₄) over a wide range of frequencies from 20 MHz to 1.4 GHz. Their relaxivities r₁ and r₂ increase with increasing applied fields. These results indicate that the three chosen POM systems are potential candidates for contrast agents, especially at high magnetic fields.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and NMR spectroscopy of a 1,3,2λ5,4λ5-oxathiadiphosphetane

From the crude product of the synthesis of the dithiadiphosphetane [RP(S)S]₂ (with R = 2,4,6-iPr₃C₆H₂), the trans-oxathiadiphosphetane has been isolated, C₃₀H₄₀OP₂S₃. X-ray structure analysis and mass spectroscopic investigations give unequivocal evidence for this structure: monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 13.066(8), b = 21.726(8), c = 12.070(6) Å, β = 103.54(10)°, V = 3331 ų, Z = 4, and D_c = 1.158 g/cm³. The asymmetric unit consists of half the formula unit. Solid-state ³¹P NMR spectra give information about the chemical shift anisotropy. Results of IGLO calculations of the ³¹P nuclear magnetic shielding tensor agree satisfactorily with the experimental data. Monitoring the reaction of several dithiadiphosphetanes with benzophenone in solution by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy indicates that additional oxathiadiphosphetanes as well as thiotrimetaphosphonates are present. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.