We performed experiments to screen for neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors using rat brain microsomes as an enzyme source. Among more than 10,000 microbial extracts tested, a mycelial extract of Trichopeziza mollissima SANK 13892 exhibited potent inhibitory activity. The active compound, scyphostatin, was purified by a series of chromatographies. Scyphostatin inhibited the enzyme with an IC50 v...

Isolated chloroplasts from spinach (1, 2) and wheat (3, 4) are capable of a dark phosphorylation at the expense of an unknown reactive, labile substance or state formed in an earlier period of illumination. This substance, XB (I), is optimally stable at low pH, where it may accumulate in the light to the equivalent of 1 mole of adenosine triphosphate for 8 moles of chlorophyll. Such high yields...

Pollution occurs when the concentration of various chemical or biological constituents exceed a level implying negative impact on amenities, the eco-system, resources and human health. Oil spills are the serious environmental   hazards which often exhibit long-term impacts. The main objective of response to an oil spill is to reduce its impact on nature and human health. This paper allows us to...