The structures of triacylglycerols from sclerotia of the rye ergot Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tul.

The triacylglycerol fraction of lipids extracted from sclerotia of the rye ergot Claviceps purpurea strain VKM F-2642D has been shown to comprise about 60% of the total lipids and to consist of at least seven constituents, namely, [R]-[R]-[R] (1.6% of the total fraction), [R-Ric]-[R]-[R] (27%), [R-Ric]-[R-Ric]-[R] (65%), [R-Ric]-[R-Ric]-[R-Ric] (4.8%), [R-Ric-Ric]-[R-Ric]-[R-Ric] (1.1%), [R-Ric-Ric]-[R-Ric-Ric]-[R-Ric] (0.3%), and [R-Ric-Ric-Ric]-[R-Ric-Ric]-[R-Ric-Ric] (0.2%) (acyl residues at the 1(3), 2 and 3(1) positions of the glycerol moiety are indicated; R = nonhydroxylated fatty acid (C16, C18) residue, Ric = ricinoleyl residue). Non-hydroxylated fatty acyls (R) are n-16:0 (25-50% of the total), 16:1 omega 7 (10-15%), n-18:0 (2-5%), 18:1 omega 9 (20-30%), and 18:2 omega 6,9 (10-35%). The second and the third of the listed triacylglycerols are composed dominantly (by 86% or more) of 1,2-di-[R]-3-[R-Ric]-sn-glycerol and 1-[R]-2,3-di-[R-Ric]-sn-glycerol, respectively.

[Kinetic analysis of interaction of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase with alkaloids]. / Kineticheskii analiz vzaimodeistviia obratnoi transkriptazy virusa immunodefitsita cheloveka s alkaloidami.

The interactions of HIV-I reverse transcriptase with some alkaloids were studied. Among nine compounds tested three--berberine, palmatine and sanguiritrine--inhibited RT. The dependence of the inhibition on the type of template-primer was also demonstrated. The kinetic analysis as well as circular dichroism experiments suggest the complex mechanism of RT inhibition by alkaloids. This mechanism includes both enzyme-alkaloid and alkaloid-template interactions; the latter effect also results in RT inhibition.

[The cytotoxicity of Chamaenerium angustifolium (L.) Scop. and Hippophae rhamnoides L. tannins and their effect on mitochondrial respiration]. / Tsitotoksichnost' tanninov Chamaenerium angustifolium (L.) Scop. i Hippophae rhamnodies L. i ikh vliianie na dykhanie mitokhondrii.

The cytotoxic activity of complexes of hydrolysable tannins of Chamaenerium angustifolium L. Scop. and Hippophae rhamnoides L. was compared with that of the antineoplastic drugs vinoblastin (VLB), methotrexate (MT), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The tannins yield to VLB and MT in activity but resemble 5-Fu in their active concentration. They inhibited succinate oxidation by the rat liver mitochondria and their cytotoxicity was displayed in much lower concentrations than their inhibitory effect on mitochondrial respiration. It is concluded that tannins inhibit the respiratory chain at the third point of conjugation in the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen.

[Cell cultured of Macleaya cordata--a producer of antimicrobial benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids]. / Kul'tura kletok maklei serdtsevidno i--produtsent antimikrobnykh benzo[c]fenantridinovykh alkaloidov.

It was shown that a suspension culture of Macleaya cordata accumulated benzo(c)phenanthridine alkaloids in the cell biomass. By the composition of the alkaloids and their content the cell culture markedly differed from the intact plant and callus tissue. The benzo(c)phenanthridine compounds in the cell culture were mainly represented by the reduced forms: dihydrosanquinarin and dihydrochelirubin. In the green plant they were mainly represented by the oxidized forms: sanquinarin and chelerithrin. The cell culture practically contained no chelerithrin characteristic of the intact plant.