0000000000988664
AUTHOR
Doris Schmidt
Enzymatic formation of the sarpagan-bridge: a key step in the biosynthesis of sarpagine- and ajmaline-type alkaloids.
The glucoalkaloid strictosidine has been converted under cell-free conditions into 10-deoxysarpagine (= normacusine B) in the presence of a crude soluble enzyme extract and microsomal protein isolated from cell suspensions of Rauwolfia serpentina. The enzymatic formation of this alkaloid bearing the C-5/C-16 bond (sarpagan-bridge), which is characteristic for all sarpagine- and ajmaline-type alkaloids, is dependent on NADPH and oxygen. Inhibition studies indicate that for the synthesis of 10-deoxysarpagine a cytochrome P450 dependent monoxygenase is necessary.
p53 immunoreactivity in biopsy specimens of T1G3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder--a helpful parameter in guiding the decision for or against cystectomy?
The aim of this study was to determine whether p53 is helpful in making the decision to undergo cystectomy in T1, G3 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, by prospectively comparing the p53 status of bladder biopsies with the histology and p53 status of the corresponding cystectomy specimens. From January 1996 to August 1997, 38 consecutive patients with T1G3 TCC at 6 different centres were enrolled into the study. Bladder biopsies and cystectomy specimens were examined with three different antibodies against p53. The p53 status of each bladder biopsy was compared with p53 status, tumour stage and grade of the cystectomy specimen. An independent evaluation of the histology and i…