Caffeine-evoked contractures in single slow (tonic) muscle fibres of the frog (Rana temporaria and R. esculenta).

Single slow (tonic) muscle fibres were dissected from cruralis muscles of Rana temporaria and R. esculenta. Increasing concentrations of caffeine were applied in Ringer solution, and contractures were measured isometrically.

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of centrifuged stratified Xenopus oocytes.

To separate and concentrate various cytoplasmic organelles in wild type and albino Xenopus oocytes, defolliculated cells were loaded on a Ficoll-400 gradient and centrifuged. Optimum results were obtained with centrifugations at 10,000 g for 5 min at 20 degrees C. The cells became pear-shaped and appeared stratified with the white lipid yolk on top, an intermediate transparent zone of about 100-300 microns, and the greenish protein yolk at the bottom.

Reaction planning: computer-aided discovery of a novel elimination reaction.

Algorithms based on graph theory and implemented in a computer program have been used to search for unprecedented reactions. This approach is illustrated by a systematic and exhaustive screening of pericyclic reactions in order to find new reactions useful in the synthesis of conjugated dienes. Two reactions were found.