Synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzoheterocyclic analogues of N'-benzoyl-N-(tert-butyl)benzohydrazide: Part 1. Design of benzoheterocyclic analogues

The N'-benzoyl group of N-tert-butyl-N'-benzoyl-3,5-dimethylbenzohydrazide (1) was converted to a series of benzoheterocyclecarbonyl groups in order to investigate the potential usefulness of superimposing a hydrazine insecticide on 20-hydroxyecdysone. A series of analogues with benzodioxole, benzodioxane, benzodioxapine, indole, benzoxazole, benzoxazine or benzothiazole instead of the phenyl group of (1) were synthesized and tested for their insecticidal activity against the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura F). N-tert-Butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-carbohydrazide and N-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-6-carbohydrazide showed high insecticidal activities, superior to that of (1) and equal to that of the commercial insecticide tebufenozide (RH-5992).     

Comparison of Pathogenicity and Nucleotide Sequences of 3′-terminal Regions of Bean yellow mosaic virus Isolates from Gladiolus

Sixty-four isolates of Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) from cultivated and naturalized gladioli were divided into two pathogenic groups, necrotic spot (NS) and chlorotic spot (CS) groups on Chenopodium quinoa. NS-type isolates (S-22N and E-24N), CS-type isolates (S-22C and E-92C), and broad bean isolates (Sb-50C and Sb-12C) differed in their pathogenicity on Antirrhinum majus, Nicotiana benthamiana, Phaseolus vulgaris, Spinacia oleracea and Vigna unguiculata. The four gladiolus isolates were different from BYMV-B, -P, -O and C1YVV-N in their pathogenicity on these plants, while the two broad bean isolates were similar to BYMV-B, originally from broad bean. The nucleotide (nt) sequences of the 3′-terminal region of the BYMV RNA genome of the two NS-type isolates, the two CS-type isolates, the two broad bean isolates and BYMV-B, -P and -O were determined. In a phylogenetic tree based on the CP amino acid (aa) sequences, the two NS-type isolates clustered together (identity 98.4% and 98.2% at the nt and aa level, respectively). The two CS-type isolates clustered with BYMV-O (93.2 to 99.3% nt identity and 95.6 to 98.5% aa identity). The two broad bean isolates clustered with BYMV-B (99.0 to 99.5% nt identity and 98.9 to 99.6% aa identity). BYMV-P clustered with BYMV-CS (identity 97.7% and 99.3% at the nt and aa level, respectively). The obtained sequences were compared with those of the 3′-terminal regions of seven published BYMV isolates. In a phylogenetic tree based on deduced aa sequences, BYMV isolates were divided into four clusters. Received 1 July 1999/ Accepted in revised form 22 May 2000     

Biochemical changes in oyster tissues and hemolymph during long-term air exposure

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is a sessile bivalve that inhabits the intertidal zone and therefore frequently exposed to air during the tidal cycle. It is highly adaptive to hypoxic conditions. We have studied the physiological state of oysters during long-term exposure to air. The oysters became hypoxic when exposed to air or hypoxic seawater. The 50% lethal time of oysters exposed to air at 4, 15 and 20°C was 47.8, 15.9 and 12.2 days, respectively. The hemolymph pH decreased by day 3; however, it showed a slight increase by day 5 at both 4 and 20°C. The adenylate energy charge (AEC) values decreased rapidly on the first day of air exposure in the adductor muscle, mantle, gill and body trunk, and these decreases were accompanied by decreases in ATP concentrations and increases in AMP concentrations. The AEC values in all of the tissues had fallen to below 30% by day 50 of air exposure at 4°C. These data suggest that the energy state of oysters deteriorates rapidly with air exposure. Consequently, AEC values may be useful indices of the physiological state of the oyster during long-term exposure to air.     

Miticidal pyrethroids having an isobutyranilidoxime ether skeleton

Isobutyranilidoxime meta-phenoxybenzyl ethers and related compounds were synthesized. Their insecticidal activities measured against Periplaneta americana by injection were lower than that of phenothrin by factors of at least 1/60. However, some compounds were comparable to or only slightly less potent than phenothrin and tetramethrin in miticidal activity tested by a contact method against Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae. © 1998 SCI     

Generation of multinucleated giant cells in vitro from bovine monocytes and macrophages

The generation of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) from cells of the bovine monocyte-macrophage lineage was investigated. Freshly isolated monocytes were incubated with the conditioned medium (CM) of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures treated with Concanavalin A for 1-4 days (CM1 to CM4). Only CM1 generated MGC despite similar concentrations of IFNgamma in all CMs. Nevertheless, MGC formation from monocytes was enhanced by adding either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), MGC formations from macrophages were observed only when macrophages were cultured with GM-CSF plus CM. These results indicate that several mechanisms to generate MGC from bovine monocytes-macrophage lineage cells exist, and that GM-CSF is a major mediator of MGC formation in cattle.     

Suitability of Japanese codling as a raw material for surimi-based products revealed by primary sequence analysis of myosin heavy chain and thermal gel properties

Fisheries Science - Complementary DNA encoding a part of myosin heavy chain was cloned from fast skeletal muscle of Japanese codling Physiculus japonicus. Japanese codling, a frequent catch off the...     

Isolation of collagen from tiger pufferfish parts and its solubility in dilute acetic acid

Collagen was extracted from several tissues (muscle, skin, bone, alimentary tract, gill, fin, hepatopancreas, and air bladder) of the tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes, and the content and solubility of the collagen extracted from each tissue were examined. Collagen content in ordinary muscle was 0.95 ± 0.07 % of wet tissue, which is lower than that reported for other fish species even though tiger pufferfish meat has a tough texture. The solubility of collagen extracted from the muscle and skin was relatively high, and collagen accounted for 47.2 ± 7.8 and 70.8 ± 8.1 % of wet tissue, respectively. In contrast, the solubility of the collagen extracted from bone was the lowest of all the tissues examined, being only 5.7 ± 0.8 % of total wet tissue. The extent of hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues was also examined. In most tissues, the extent of hydroxylation of the lysine residue in insoluble collagen was higher than that of acid-soluble collagen, indicating that hydroxylysine contributes to the stability of collagen. This is the first report of collagen contents, solubility, and extent of hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues in collagen extracted from different tissues of one organism. It is possible that hydroxylysine-derived collagen cross-links play a critical role in the stability of collagen in dilute acetic acid.     

Identification of overwintering vegetative cells of the bivalve-killing dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterocapsa circularisquama</Emphasis> in Uranouchi Inlet,Kochi Prefecture,Japan

ABSTRACT:   Red tides of Heterocapsa circularisquama have led to serious damage of bivalve aquacultures in western coastal areas of Japan. To understand the whole picture regarding the ecology of this species, it is essential to clarify its overwintering mechanisms. In this study, the population dynamics of H. circularisquama were investigated from February 2004 to November 2005, and overwintering cells were identified for the first time in water columns of Uranouchi Inlet, Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Heterocapsa circularisquama cells were detected by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique using monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize and react to this species. Vegetative cells were almost always detected from the first observation in February 2004 to November 2005 with temperatures of 10.5–30.6°C. During the period from winter to spring, this species survived in areas with a temperature higher than 10°C. The overwintering cells of H. circularisquama were isolated in March 2004, and identification was made via observation of the morphology and body scales of the cultured cells. These overwintering cells were identified as H. circularisquama and reacted to the monoclonal antibody. These results indicate that H. circularisquama can overwinter and survive throughout the year in a vegetative cell state in Uranouchi Inlet.     

Enzymatic solubilization of collagen in the skin of diamond squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus: application of a fungal acid protease

Enzymatic solubilization of collagen from the skin tissue of diamond squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus, an underutilized resource in Japan, was attempted using an acid protease from the fungus Rhizopus niveus. This novel approach was compared with the conventional method using porcine pepsin. Both proteases were able to solubilize most of the skin collagen (>90 % of the total collagen) by performing the treatment in 0.5 M acetic acid at 4 °C for 72 h and at an enzyme/substrate ratio (w/w) of 1/10. The SDS-PAGE patterns of the solubilized collagen preparations were quite similar to each other, and two types of collagen (major and minor collagens) were purified from each preparation by cation-exchange column chromatography. These collagen types from the porcine pepsin-solubilized collagen showed similar features to those from the Rhizopus acid protease-solubilized collagen. These results suggest that the Rhizopus acid protease, a protease of non-animal origin, is applicable for solubilizing collagen in the skin of diamond squid.