Bioactivity of natural O-prenylated phenylpropenes from Illicium anisatum leaves and their derivatives against spider mites and fungal pathogens.

A variety of volatile phenylpropenes, C6-C3 compounds are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, whereas prenylated phenylpropenes are limited to a few plant species. In this study, we analysed the volatile profiles from Illicium anisatum leaves and identified two O-prenylated phenylpropenes, 4-allyl-2-methoxy-1-[(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)oxy]benzene [O-dimethylallyleugenol (9)] and 5-allyl-1,3-dimethoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)oxy]benzene [O-dimethylallyl-6-methoxyeugenol (11)] as major constituents. The structure-activity relationship of a series of eugenol derivatives showed that specific phenylpropenes, including eugenol (1), isoeugenol (2) and 6-methoxyeugenol (6), with a phenolic hydroxy group had antifungal activity for a fungal pathogen, whereas guaiacol, a simple phenolic compound, and allylbenzene had no such activity. The eugenol derivatives that exhibited antifungal activity, in turn, had no significant toxicant property for mite oviposition. Interestingly, O-dimethylallyleugenol (9) in which the phenolic oxygen was masked with a dimethylallyl group exhibited a specific, potent oviposition deterrent activity for mites. The sharp contrast in structural requirements of phenylpropenes suggested distinct mechanisms underlying the two biological activities and the importance of a phenolic hydroxy group and its dimethylallylation for the structure-based design of new functional properties of phenylpropenes.

Identification of atrial-specific myosin heavy chain in cardiac muscle of adult chickens.

The partial amino acid sequence of subfragment-1 of adult chicken atrial myosin was determined by direct protein sequencing. Subfragment-1 was prepared by limited digestion of adult chicken atrial myosin with alpha-chymotrypsin. Ten peptides were then obtained by cleaving this subfragment with cyanogen bromide. The amino acid composition and amino acid sequence of the obtained peptides were subsequently determined. By sequence comparison with the corresponding region of adult chicken ventricular myosin, three peptides, with differing sequences that corresponded to the same position in subfragment-1, were detected. This indicates that at least three isoforms of atrial myosin exist in adult chicken atrial muscle. One of the three peptides was identical to ventricular subfragment-1 while the remaining two peptides were markedly different. Furthermore, four of these ten peptides were completely different from ventricular subfragment-1. These four peptides were presumed to be fragments of atrial-specific myosin heavy chain protein. Results suggest the expression of at least two species of atrial-specific myosin heavy chain in the atrial muscle of adult chickens.

Arthroscopic findings associated with roof impingement of an anterior cruciate ligament graft.

Nineteen patients with roof impingement of an anterior cruciate ligament graft had their grafts inspected during second-look arthroscopy. The diagnosis of roof impingement was suspected from the clinical findings of an effusion, extension deficit, recurrent instability, or anterior knee pain. The diagnosis was confirmed when a portion of the tibial tunnel was anterior to the tibial intersection of the slope of the intercondylar roof on a lateral roentgenogram of the fully extended knee. During second-look arthroscopy the impinged anterior cruciate ligament graft had one or more of the following features: fractured bundles, guillotined remnants at the tibial insertion, parallel fragmentation of an uninterrupted graft, fibrous nodule, or an extrusion of graft material at the outlet of the notch. We hypothesize that these changes in the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament graft are caused by mechanical injury from roof impingement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE. One should suspect that a patient with an effusion, extension deficit, recurrent instability, or anterior knee pain after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may have roof impingement. A lateral roentgenogram in full extension is diagnostic if the tibial tunnel is anterior to the intercondylar roof. The surgeon should be aware that impinged grafts can have a variety of arthroscopic appearances in addition to the previously reported fibrous nodule or Cyclops lesion.

Effects of hyaluronidase on reducing myocardial infarct size in a baboon model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hyaluronidase has been reported to be beneficial in reducing injury to the ischemic myocardium in several experimental studies. This effect may involve an enhancement in either the cardiac blood supply or lymphatic flow or a combination there of. In this experiment, a baboon open chest model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion was used to determine if treatment with hyaluronidase would result in a reduction in infarct size. Baboons underwent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 2 hr. Fifteen minutes after occlusion, a treated group (n = 6) received bovine testicular hyaluronidase (500 national formulary units/kg) i.v. over a 10-min period. The ischemic period was followed by 22 hr of reperfusion. A control group (n = 8) underwent the same protocol minus the hyaluronidase infusion. At the end of the reperfusion period, the hearts were excised and the perfusion bed at risk for infarction was determined by the infusion of a microvascular dye. The hearts were then sectioned and stained for the histological determination of infarct size. The volume of the perfusion bed infarcted was 66 +/- 7% in the control group compared with 42 +/- 10% in the treated group (P > 0.05). In this study using a primate model that has a minimal collateral blood supply, hyaluronidase did not significantly reduce the ultimate infarct size.

Deferoxamine given at reperfusion improves function of the cold-stored rat heart.

In this study deferoxamine (DF), a strong iron chelator, was administered either before storage or during reperfusion, in an attempt to inhibit the iron-dependent hydroxyl radical production and improve the functional recovery of the cold-stored/reperfused cardiac explant. Excised rat hearts were flushed with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB), arrested with a cardioplegic solution, CP11-EB, with or without DF, and immersion stored in CP11-EB at 0 degree C for 16 hr. To assess function, the stored hearts were reperfused in the working mode with KHB for 30 min. Experimental groups included: (i) DF treatment during prestorage flush [CP11-EB + 0.01 mM (n = 5), 0.05 mM (n = 13), 0.1 mM (n = 5), 0.2 mM (n = 5), or 0.75 mM DF (n = 5)]; (ii) DF treatment during reperfusion [KHB + 0.3 mM (n = 5), 0.6 mM (n = 7), 0.75 mM (n = 11), 1.0 mM (n = 6), 1.5 mM (n = 4), or 2.5 mM DF (n = 7)]; and (iii) untreated group (n = 8) received no DF during flush or reperfusion. Function of unstored hearts (n = 7) including aortic flow (AF, 54.6 +/ 2.6 ml/min); cardiac output (CO, 76.5 +/- 3.3 ml/min), systolic pressure (SP, 135.7 +/- 1 mm Hg), diastolic pressure (DP, 70.7 +/- 3.8 mm Hg), and work (96.7 +/- 6.4 g-meter/min) served as controls. Functional recovery of the untreated group was AF, 59%; CO, 58%; SP, 71%; DP, 73%; work, 41% of control values. DF treatment at any dose during the initial flush did not improve functional recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Failure of deferoxamine to reduce myocardial infarct size in a primate model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Baboons were subjected to treatment with deferoxamine (DF), a strong iron-chelating agent, to inhibit the iron-dependent production of hydroxyl radicals. Studies were then done to determine if this would result in a reduction in the size of myocardial infarct. Baboons underwent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 2 hr followed by reperfusion for the next 22 hr. A treated group (n = 4) received a 2-hr preischemic intravenous infusion of DF (10 mg/kg/hr). This infusion continued throughout the ischemic phase and 2 hr into the reperfusion phase. A control group (n = 8) underwent the identical protocol minus the DF infusion. At the end of the reperfusion period, the hearts were sectioned and stained for histological examination. The treated animals had a 22% larger volume of infarct compared with those of the controls (P = 0.06). There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in hemodynamic or epicardial ST segment measurements between the two groups. In this primate model, there was no myocardial protection afforded by DF. Baboons are similar to humans in that both have minimal collateral circulation. In the literature, DF has been noted to actually contribute to the production of free radicals in certain circumstances. This experiment appears to indicate that caution should be exercised in the use of DF in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart.

High- and low-dose superoxide dismutase plus catalase does not reduce myocardial infarct size in a subhuman primate model.

Oxygen free radical scavengers have been found to decrease infarct size in dogs subjected to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. A baboon open-chest model was used to determine if superoxide dismutase (SOD), an oxygen free radical scavenger, together with catalase would be equally effective in subhuman primates (baboons). The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was ligated for 2 hours. Before reperfusion, the animals received the following: Group 1 (low-dose SOD/catalase; n = 5) received 15,000 IU/kg of SOD and 55,000 IU/kg of catalase IV over 1 hour, 15 minutes before reperfusion. Group 2 (high-dose human SOD [h-SOD]/catalase; n = 5) received an intraatrial bolus of 400,000 IU of recombinant h-SOD and 27,500 IU/kg of catalase over 30 seconds, followed by 300,000 IU of h-SOD and 55,000 IU/kg of catalase over 1 hour, beginning 15 seconds before reperfusion. Group 3 (n = 8) were control animals. Baboons were put to death 22 hours after reperfusion. Their hearts were excised and sectioned after the perfusion bed distal to the site of ligation was delineated with microvascular dye. The infarct zone was determined histologically. Areas of the perfusion bed and infarct zone were measured by planimetry. Infarct size did not differ significantly between the three groups: control, 66 +/- 7%; low-dose SOD/catalase, 68 +/- 5%; and high-dose h-SOD/catalase, 74 +/- 4%. In this model, high- and low-dose SOD with catalase did not result in any significant reduction in infarct size.

Primary structure of subfragment-2 from adult chicken cardiac ventricular muscle myosin.

The complete primary structure of the subfragment-2 (S-2) from adult chicken cardiac ventricular muscle myosin has been determined by analysis of peptides derived from digests of S-2 with cyanogen bromide, lysyl endopeptidase, arginyl endopeptidase, and from hydrolysates of CNBr fragments with formic acid. This region composed of 520 amino-acid residues which span the connecting segment between subfragment-1 (S-1) and S-2 to the NH2-terminal portion of light meromyosin (LMM). Comparing this sequence with the partial sequence of the rod from the same chicken ventricular muscle myosin deduced from its nucleotides of cDNA which lacks 64 NH2-terminal amino-acid residues, 14 amino-acid differences and 3 deletion/insertions were recognized. Furthermore, the sequence of S-2 from adult chicken ventricular myosin was compared with corresponding sequences of rat alpha and beta cardiac myosin heavy chains (MHC) and human alpha and beta cardiac MHCs. The results show 83.7%, 82.1%, 83.1% and 82.1% sequence identities, respectively with almost similar degrees of similarities to both alpha- and beta-MHCs. However, sequences of isoform-specific regions in this S-2 from adult chicken ventricular myosin showed clearly a higher homology to those of alpha-MHCs than to beta-MHCs of mammalian cardiac myosins.

Primary structure of the hinge region in adult chicken cardiac myosin subfragment-2.

The complete amino-acid sequence of the hinge region in the subfragment-2 (S-2) derived from adult chicken cardiac ventricular muscle myosin has been determined by direct protein sequencing. The entire amino-acid sequence of this hinge composed of 143 residues was established by structural analysis of CNBr peptides, lysyl and arginyl endopeptidase peptides of carboxymethylated S-2. By sequence comparison with the corresponding region of the same chicken cardiac myosin which was recently deduced from its cDNA eight amino-acid differences were recognized. Comparing the sequence of this hinge with those of other cardiac myosins such as rat alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chains (MHC), rabbit alpha-MHC and human alpha- and beta-MHCs relatively lower degrees of sequence identities, namely 74.8%, 77.6%, 76.1% 75.5% and 75.5%, are observed. On the other hand, more than 89.5% sequence identities are shown among these mammalian cardiac myosins. These results indicate that avian cardiac MHC has diverged earlier than mammalian cardiac myosin has diverged to alpha- and beta-MHC. Amino-acid substitutions in this hinge region form a cluster on the C-terminal sequence region. On the contrary, in the N-terminal portion, completely conserved segments are observed, suggesting that these regions may contribute to the myosin ATPase activity and muscle contraction.

Amino-acid sequence of the short subfragment-2 in adult chicken cardiac muscle myosin.

The amino-acid sequence of the short subfragment-2 in the amino-terminal portion of subfragment-2 derived from adult chicken ventricular muscle myosin was completely determined by direct protein analysis. Peptides fragmented by cyanogen bromide, lysyl endopeptidase and arginyl endopeptidase of S-carboxymethylated S-2 and peptides of large CNBr peptides cleaved by dilute formic acid were separated and sequenced. This short S-2 composed of 259 amino-acid residues was found highly conserved and contained hydrophobic and charged residue repeat units. Comparing this sequence with the partial nucleotide sequence of cDNA corresponding to short S-2 (Stewart A.F.R., et al. (1991) J. Mol. Evol. 33, 357-366), a 64 amino-acid residues extension towards the NH2 terminus and 9 residues differences were observed. Furthermore, this sequence is compared with those of rat, rabbit and human ventricular myosins, and 86.1%, 86.5%, 86.5% sequence identities are observed, respectively.

A prospective evaluation of arterial intimal injuries in an experimental model.

The management of arterial intimal defects remains controversial because of uncertainty concerning their natural history. We developed an experimental canine model to prospectively evaluate posterior wall intimal flaps in the superficial femoral artery. Arterial intimal flaps were constructed in 20 anesthetized dogs (40 arteries) and evaluated by arteriography, and angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasound. Postoperative patency rates at 1 (n = 20) and 3 weeks (n = 20) were compared with a control group of ten animals (n = 20, arteriotomy without intimal flap). Acute thromboses occurred in five experimental arteries with thromboses of eight additional experimental arteries at followup. Control patency was 100%, while experimental group patencies were 75% (p less than 0.05) at 1 week and 60% (p less than 0.009) at 3 weeks. All thrombosed arteries had intimal flaps with greater than 75% luminal stenosis. We conclude that intimal injuries cause arterial thromboses acutely and during subsequent followup. Intimal flaps with stenosis greater than 75% as determined arteriographically are at greatest risk for thrombosis. Angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound characterize arterial intimal defects and may delineate injuries requiring surgical or endovascular repair.

Endovascular management of arterial intimal defects: an experimental comparison by arteriography, angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasonography.

To determine the feasibility of the endovascular management of intimal defects while comparing the accuracy of arteriography with angioscopy and intravascular ultrasonography, we developed an in vivo model of arterial intimal flaps. In 10 superficial femoral arteries of five anesthetized mongrel dogs, intimal flaps were constructed and then imaged by arteriography, angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasound. A flexible microbiopsy forceps was used to remove each intimal flap under angioscopic guidance. Arteriographic lumen diameters were measured and cross-sectional areas calculated. Corresponding measurements by angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound with reduction in luminal area at the flap were obtained by use of computerized planimetry. Uniplanar arteriography identified 60% (6/10) of the intimal flaps, whereas angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound demonstrated 100%. Lumen diameter (in millimeters) measured by arteriography (3.4 +/- 0.6) correlated significantly with measurements by angioscopy (3.5 +/- 0.5, r = 0.77) and intravascular ultrasound (3.5 +/- 0.6, r = 0.96). Similarly, lumen area (square millimeters) by arteriography (9.2 +/- 2.9) correlated with measurements by angioscopy (8.9 +/- 2.2, r = 0.82) and intravascular ultrasound (8.6 +/- 2.7, r = 0.91). Reduction in lumen area by the flap by angioscopy (37 +/- 7%) and intravascular ultrasound (33 +/- 8%) also correlated significantly (r = 0.72). The intimal flaps were removed successfully in all 10 arteries as confirmed by arteriography, angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasound. We conclude that the endovascular management of intimal defects is possible. Additionally, angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound accurately evaluate lumen diameter and area while providing direct assessment of intimal defects.

Complete amino-acid sequence of subfragment-2 in adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin.

Although the complete amino-acid sequence of the short subfragment-2 (short S-2) and the partial sequence of the hinge region derived from adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin have been reported previously, the sequence of the N-terminal portion of subfragment-2 (S-2) and the connective portion between the above two regions could not be determined. In this study, the amino-acid sequence of these undetermined portions were completely sequenced. Furthermore, overlaps of cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptides in the hinge region were also isolated and sequenced. Peptides obtained by hydrolysis with dilute formic acid and by digestion with lysyl endopeptidase of S-2 were purified and sequenced. These results established the complete amino-acid sequence of S-2 composed of 429 amino-acid residues. This sequence of adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin was compared with that of chicken embryonic skeletal muscle, chicken gizzard muscle and rabbit cardiac muscle myosin (alpha-myosin heavy chain) and shows degrees of 96%, 38% and 84% sequence identities, respectively. The frequency with which hydrophobic residues are present at position "a" in seven-residues repeats of the hinge region was markedly reduced when compared to the short S-2 sequence of the chicken skeletal muscle myosin.

Role of heparin in reducing skeletal muscle infarction in ischemia-reperfusion.

Heparin continues to be recommended in the clinical management of limb ischemia to prevent extension of distal vascular thrombosis and increased rates of limb loss. However, heparin may also be responsible for reduced skeletal muscle injury. Although its mechanism of action has not been fully evaluated, we have investigated the ability of heparin to minimize skeletal muscle injury associated with the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome in an in vivo canine gracilis muscle model. Our findings demonstrated a significant reduction in the amount of skeletal muscle infarction, microvascular permeability, and H+ ion accumulation cumulation after preischemic heparinization. Diffuse intravascular coagulation also has been observed in observed in this model which may be prevented or reduced by the anticoagulant properties of heparin when administered prior to ischemia. However, heparin's protective effect may be independent of its anticoagulant activity. Heparin is a polycomponent drug with non-anticoagulant properties which may serve to reduce cellular injury during ischemia and reperfusion in several different ways. Microvascular injury is decreased by the restoration of normal intimal negative charge and through the binding and resultant inactivation of histamine, bradykinin and other vasoactive amines. Heparin inhibits the complement cascade which is known to determine ischemic infarct size. Other factors of importance in determining the extent of skeletal injury include neutrophil activation, chemotaxis, enzyme release, and free oxygen radical generation, all of which are decreased or modulated by heparin. Heparin is a complex substance and much more remains to be learned about its anticoagulant and nonanticoagulant properties as well as its protective effects on skeletal muscle injury in ischemia-reperfusion syndrome.

Amino-acid sequence of the short subfragment-2 in adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin.

The amino-acid sequence of a short subfragment-2 in the amino-terminal portion of subfragment-2 (S-2) derived from adult chicken skeletal muscle myosin was completely determined. Peptides cleaved by cyanogen bromide and by lysyl endopeptidase of S-carboxymethylated S-2, and hydrolytic peptides obtained with trypsin or dilute acetic acid of larger CNBr fragments were isolated and sequenced. This region was composed of 257 amino-acid residues, and hydrophobic and charged residue repeat units were found highly conserved and with a periodicity in 7 or 28 residues. This sequence of the short S-2 fragment of chicken skeletal muscle myosin was compared with the sequence of chicken and rat embryonic skeletal muscle myosins, rabbit skeletal and rabbit cardiac muscle myosin (alpha-myosin heavy chain), and 95.3%, 86.8%, 89.9% and 94.2% sequence identities were observed, respectively.

Amino-acid sequence of the hinge region in chicken myosin subfragment-2.

The CNBr fragments of the hinge region in the carboxyterminal portion of long subfragment-2 derived from adult chicken pectoralis muscle myosin were isolated and sequenced by conventional methods. The alignment of these fragments was deduced from the homology of their sequences with those of other myosins, so that the sequence of the hinge region consisting of 127 amino-acid residues was determined. A comparison of this sequence with that of chicken embryonic skeletal muscle, chicken gizzard muscle and rabbit cardiac muscle (alpha-myosin) shows degrees of 95%, 36% and 82% sequence identities, respectively. Furthermore, the frequency with which hydrophobic residues are present at position "a" in seven-residues repeats of this region was significantly lower than the other portions of the rod.

Cloning and analysis of HLA class I cDNA encoding a new HLA-C specificity Cx52.

HLA-C loci frequently have an unclassifiable "blank (CwBL)" specificity. It is unclear whether HLA-C specificities associated with the haplotypes of A24 Bw52 CwBL DR2 DQw1 and Aw33 B44 CwBL DRw13 DQw1 in Japanese (tentatively named Cx52 and Cx44, respectively) really exist. Southern hybridization experiments revealed that restriction enzyme-cleaved genomic DNA from AKIBA, consanguineous HLA homozygote, two other homozygotes with the former haplotype, and three homozygous cells with the latter haplotype hybridized strongly with an HLA-C-specific probe. We have screened the cDNA library constructed from AKIBA to isolate cDNA clones encoding the putative Cx52 antigen, and picked up 103 cDNA clones with HLA-class I DNA probes as possible candidates. By restriction enzyme mapping and Southern hybridization of selected clones, we identified three isotypes of cDNA clones, pA01, pB55, and pC68, which appeared to encode A24, Bw52, and Cx52, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of pC68 showed higher homology with exons of the HLA-C gene than with those of the HLA-A and HLA-B genes, especially in exons 6-8 which include the HLA-C-specific region. Comparison of amino acid sequences showed more than 86% homology among Cw1, Cw2, Cw3, and new pC68-encoded Cx52 proteins. These results support the notion that the inability to define C antigens serologically in this Cx52 haplotype is not due to a HLA-C gene deletion or mutation, but to the absence of typing sera.

Amino-acid sequence of the alpha and beta chains of adult hemoglobin of the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina.

The complete amino-acid sequences of the alpha and beta chains of adult hemoglobin of harbor seal, Phoca vitulina that belong to carnivora were determined as follows. The alpha and beta chains isolated by chromatography on a CM-cellulose column were digested with trypsin after S-carboxymethylation. Amino-acid sequences of the tryptic peptides derived from both chains were analysed. Comparing the primary structures of the alpha and beta chains of the seal hemoglobin with those of human, dog, bear, badger and cat, 19, 12, 12, 11, and 16 substitutions, respectively, were recognized in the alpha chain, and 12, 10, 4, 6, and 19 (22) in the beta chain.

Amino-acid sequence of LC-1 light chain of squid mantle muscle myosin.

Tryptic and chymotryptic peptides of the LC-1 light chain of squid mantle muscle myosin were isolated and sequenced by conventional methods, so that the whole amino-acid sequence of the light chain was established. The light chain consisted of 159 amino-acid residues, and its N-terminal alpha-amino group is blocked. Comparing the established sequence with those of vertebrate muscle myosin light chains, only 35% sequence homology was recognized, but a conservative structure was observed in the third domain.

Amino-acid sequences of the alpha and beta chains of adult hemoglobins of the Grand Galago, Galago crassicaudatus.

The adult Grand Galago (Galago crassicaudatus) was found to have two hemoglobin components (Hb I and Hb II) which were separated by carboxymethyl cellulose column chromatography. The alpha and beta chains of each component were isolated. The tryptic peptides of the alpha and beta chains were each isolated and sequenced by the conventional method. The alignment of these peptides in each chain was deduced from the homology of their sequences with that of human adult hemoglobin. The alpha chains from Hb I and Hb II were considered to be identical. On the other hand, there was only one amino-acid difference between the two beta chains at the 125th residue from the N-terminus.