Changes in segmentation and setation along the anterior/posterior axis of the homonomous trunk limbs of a remipede (Crustacea, Arthropoda).

This study describes the segmentation and setation at different developmental stages of the homonomous trunk limbs of the remipede Speleonectes tulumensis Yager, 1987 collected in anchialine caves of the Yucatan Peninsula. Most homonomous trunk limbs originate ventrolaterally and are composed of two protopodal segments, three exopodal segments and four endopodal segments; contralateral limb pairs are united by a sternal bar. However, the last few posterior limbs originate ventrally, are smaller sized, and have regressively fewer segments, suggesting that limb development passes through several intermediate steps beginning with a limb bud.

Synthesis of (+)-crocacin D and simplified bioactive analogues.

The total synthesis of (+)-crocacin D has been achieved in 15 steps (9 isolated intermediates) and 14% overall yield from commercially available starting materials and using (+)-crocacin C as a key intermediate. A number of simplified analogues and their biological activities are also reported.

Convergent approach to complex spirocyclic pyrans: practical synthesis of the oxa-pinnaic acid core.

The enantioselective synthesis of the oxa-pinnaic acid framework has been achieved through internal asymmetric induction. The synthetic strategy pursued illustrates the adaptability of the Achmatowicz oxidative rearrangement for the synthesis of complex spirocyclic pyrans starting from tertiary alcohols.

Step-economic synthesis of (+)-crocacin C: a concise crotylboronation/[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement approach.

The step-economic total synthesis of (+)-crocacin C has been achieved in 20% yield from commercially available starting materials. This approach requires the isolation of only 8 intermediates and can provide a reliable supply of (+)-crocacin C for the development of new antifungal and crop protection agents.

Very bright green fluorescent proteins from the Pontellid copepod Pontella mimocerami.

Background: Fluorescent proteins (FP) homologous to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria have revolutionized biomedical research due to their usefulness as genetically encoded fluorescent labels. Fluorescent proteins from copepods are particularly promising due to their high brightness and rapid fluorescence development.

Results: Here we report two novel FPs from Pontella mimocerami (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pontellidae), which were identified via fluorescence screening of a bacterial cDNA expression library prepared from the whole-body total RNA of the animal.