€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY***** Mirza MS Hameed S Akkermans AD Genetic diversity of Datisca cannabina-compatible Frankia strains as determined by sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene. In: Appl Environ Microbiol (1994 Jul) 60(7):2371-6 ISSN: 0099-2240 The presence of Frankia strains in soil samples collected from northern areas of Pakistan was detected by inoculating Coriaria nepalensis and Datisca cannabina plants. The abundance of compatible Frankia strains in some areas was indicated by profuse nodulation of the host plants, whereas soil samples from other localities failed to result in nodulation. An oligonucleotide probe (COR/DAT) directed against the 16S rRNA gene of the endophytes of Coriaria and Datisca spp. that did not cross-react with the RNA gene of Frankia strains isolated from other hosts was developed. Genetic diversity among Frankia strains nodulating D. cannabina was determined by sequence analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene amplified from nodules induced by soil samples from different localities by PCR. Four types of Frankia sequences and one non-Frankia sequence were detected by hybridization with a Frankia genus probe and the COR/DAT probe as well as by sequence analysis of the cloned PCR products. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY***** Mirza MS Hahn D Dobritsa SV Akkermans AD Phylogenetic studies on uncultured Frankia populations in nodules of Datisca cannabina. In: Can J Microbiol (1994 Apr) 40(4):313-8 ISSN: 0008-4166 Part of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified directly from uncultured endophyte populations within the root nodules of Datisca cannabina and three strains isolated from nodules of Alnus glutinosa (AgKG'84/4), Coriaria nepalensis (Cn3), and D. cannabina (Dc2). Sequence comparison based on 930 nucleotides indicated that the endophyte of D. cannabina nodules belongs to the genus Frankia and is highly related to the endophyte of C. nepalensis root nodules. The relatedness of the endophytes of C. nepalensis and D. cannabina nodules was also reflected by closely related nifH sequences amplified from the nodules. 16S rRNA sequence analysis of the noninfective strains obtained from both D. cannabina (Dc2) and C. nepalensis (Cn3) nodules also revealed the close relationship of these strains to the genus Frankia. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY***** Kupchan SM Sigel CW Guttman LJ Restivo RJ Bryan RF DATISCOSIDE, A NOVEL ANTILEUKEMIC CUCURBITACIN GLYCOSIDE FROM DATISCA GLOMERATA. In: J Am Chem Soc (1972) 94(4):1353-1354 ISSN: 0002-7863 X-ray crystallographic analysis of datiscoside di-p-iodobenzoate has unequivocally proved the structure, stereochemistry, and absolute configuration of datiscoside, an antileukemic material obtained from alcoholic extracts of the roots of D glomerata. Datiscoside has a cucurbitacin-like nucleus with a highly oxygenated glycoside moiety attached at C-16 and has shown confirmed in vivo activity against P- 388 leukemia and WM-256 intramuscular carcinosarcoma and cytotoxicity (ED(50) 0.16 microg/ml) against KB cells (derived from human carcinoma of the nasopharynx). Present investigations point toward determination of the significance of the glycoside and of other structural features in tumor-inhibitory activity. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY***** Kupchan SM Tsou G Sigel CW DATISCACIN, A NOVEL CYTOTOXIC CUCURBITACIN 20-ACETATE FROM DATISCA GLOMERATA In: J Org Chem (1973) 38(7):1420-1421 ISSN: 0022-3263 In the course of a continuing search for tumor inhibitors of plant origin, a chloroform extract of Datisca glomerata Baill was found to show signficant activity against human carcinoma of the nasopharynx (KB) carried in cell culture. A number of tumor-inhibitory principles have been isolated from this plant, and the structure elucidation of one of these, datiscoside, has been reported previously. The structure elucidation of another cytotoxic principle, datiscacin, the first recognized cucurbitacin 20-acetate ester derivative, is also reported. (10 refs) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****VETERINARY AND HUMAN TOXICOLOGY***** GALEY FD JOHNSON BJ BRUCE R MCCASKILL J A CASE OF DATISCA GLOMERATA POISONING IN BEEF CATTLE. In: Vet Hum Toxicol (1990 Dec) 32(6):575-6 ISSN: 0145-6296 Six of 175 Angus heifers died after ingesting excessive amounts of Durango root (Datisca glomerata). Animals had rumens full of Durango root, were extremely lethargic, and had diarrhea prior to death. The animals had nonspecific postmortem lesions. This case is discussed in light of previous findings from trials in which Durango root was experimentally fed to cattle. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€