Possible role of cell death during embryonic development in the fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx Vahl

Cynopterus sphinx breeds twice annually in quick succession at Varanasi. The first pregnancy lasts for about 150 days and the second for 121 days. Data suggest that in C. sphinx retarded development of embryo during late November to early January accounts for the longer duration of gestation in the first pregnancy. Most interestingly noticed in the present dead cells within the inner cell mass during the period of retarded embryonic development. Cell death appears to cause the formation of the amniotic cavity by the cavitation process.

The effect of histidine on the structure and antitumor activity of metal-5-halouracil complexes

The ternary complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) ions with 5-halouracils, viz., 5-fluorouracil (5FU), 5-chlorouracil (5ClU), and 5-bromouracil (5BrU), and the biologically important ligand L-histidine (HISD) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, infrared spectra, electronic spectra, and magnetic moment (room temperature) measurements. On the basis of these studies, the structures of the complexes have been proposed. All these ternary complexes were screened for their antitumor activity against Dalton's lymphoma in C3H/He mice. It was found that only Mn(II)-5BrU-HISD, Co(II)-5BrU-HISD, Cu(II)-5ClU-HISD, Cu(II)-5BrU-HISD, Zn(II)-5FU-HISD, and Zn(II)-5BrU-HISD complexes have significant antitumor activity with T/C greater than 125% (where T and C represent mean lifespan of treated mice and control mice respectively). The Mn(II)-5FU-HISD, Co(II)-5FU-HISD, Co(II)-5ClU-HISD, Ni(II)-5ClU-HISD, Ni(II)-5BrU-HISD, and Zn(II)-5ClU-HISD complexes are also effective antitumor agents, with T/C greater than 115%. The complexes that showed effective antitumor action in vivo were also found to inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation (DNA replication) in Dalton's lymphoma cells in vitro.

Transmission of primary trisomics in pearl millet

Transmission rates of extra chromosomes found in the full set of trisomics of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) (2n = 14) were estimated by examining the progeny of selfed trisomics and the progeny of trisomics crossed to disomics. When the trisomics were selfed, 'dark green' and 'tiny' had the highest transmission rate (23.8% and 23.3%, respectively) and 'pseudonormal' the lowest (13.8%). Other trisomics had an intermediate rate of transmission. When the trisomics were used as females in crosses with disomics, both 'dark green' and 'tiny' again had the highest transmission rate and 'pseudonormal' the lowest. When the trisomics were used as males in crosses to disomics, no trisomic was transmitted to the progeny except for 'spindle', and this occurred with a very low frequency (2.0%). A variation in transmission rate was observed from plant to plant and season to season for the same trisomic type. A study of the transmission rate of the extra chromosomes indicated that the following factors were probably contributing to the lower rate of transmission: small- or light-weight seeds tended to have a higher proportion of trisomics than heavier seeds; lighter seeds had a lower percentage germination; a positive and significant correlation was noticed between trivalent frequency and transmission rate. Plants with reduced vigour produced a higher frequency of trisomics. Though trisomics involving longer extra chromosomes showed a high degree of pollen and ovule sterility, they were highly transmissible. This has resulted in a close relationship between gametic sterility and transmission rate of extra chromosome.

Tertiary trisomics of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum): its cytomorphology, fertility and transmission

Nineteen tertiary trisomics were isolated from some translocation heterozygotes and interchange trisomics of pearl millet. Cytological analysis of these trisomics indicates that chromosome association of trivalents, univalents and pentavalents were frequent in all the trisomics. But their ratio varied from one trisomic to the next. Other associations were relatively infrequent. The relative frequencies of 6 pentavalent configurations observed in different trisomics were studied and their probable association with mode of fertility and transmission rates have been discussed.

Effect of a new fluorochrome on pre- and post-UV treatment of Taphrina maculans Butler

Taphrin maculans BUTLER incites leaf spots disease in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) plants. The pathogen forms two types of colonies namely, salmon-red and and creamy-white in the artificial medium when isolated from a single infection spot. Both strains resemble yeasts in morphology. The two strains were subjected to UV irradiation. The salmon-red one showed higher resistance to UV than the white one, presumably due to the presence of a red pigment in the former. When spores of the salmon-red strain were pre-treated with a new fluorochrome HOECHST 33258 the survival decreased. Decreased survival of the salmon-red strain was also observed during post-treatment which is probably due to the combined effect of UV and dye. The creamy-white strain differs from the salmon-red one in UV sensitivity, and also during combined treatment with UV and dye. During pre-treatment the organism shows more survival than during post-treatment with the fluorochrome. This differential response is discussed in the light of repair mechanisms involved in the organism.

Base Catalyzed Isomerization of Epoxides to Bicyclic Allylic Alcohols, Potential Intermediates for the Total Synthesis of the DL-Aldohexoses

Treatment of the epoxide 2-deoxy-1,6:3,4-dianhydro-β-DL-ribo-hexopyranose (3) with n-butyllithium, and the epoxides 2-deoxy-1,6:3,4-dianhydro-β-DL-lyxo-hexopyranose (5) and 4-deoxy-1, 6:2,3-dianhydro-β-DL-lyxo-hexopyranose (7) with lithium diethylamide has provided 1,6-anhydro-2,3-dideoxy-β-DL-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose (4), 1,6-anhydro-2,3-dideoxy-β-DL-threo-hex-2-enopyranose (6), and 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-β-DL-threo-hex-3-enopyranose (8) in yields of 65, 50, and 20%, respectively. These allylic alcohols are potential intermediates for the synthesis of the various DL-aldohexoses.