The Origin of RNA and the Formose-Ribose-RNA Pathway.

Prebiotic pre-Darwinian reactions continued throughout biochemical or Darwinian evolution. Early chemical processes could have occurred on Earth between 4.5 and 3.

Apoptotic Janus-faced mycotoxins against thoracal and breast metastases.

Abdominal organs (liver, kidney, spleen) are frequent targets of cancer cell invasion but their primary tumours are less known for their metastatic potential to other organs e.g. to the breast.

Macromolecular Structure of Linearly Arranged Eukaryotic Chromosomes.

Eukaryotic chromosomes have not been visualized during the interphase. The fact that chromosomes cannot be seen during the interphase of the cell cycle does not mean that there are no means to make them visible. This work provides visual evidence that reversible permeabilization of the cell membrane followed by the regeneration of cell membranes allows getting a glimpse behind the nuclear curtain.

Janus-Faced Molecules against Plant Pathogenic Fungi.

The high cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of mycotoxins is capable of killing microbes and tumour cells alike, similarly to the genotoxic effect characteristic of Janus-faced molecules. The "double-edged sword" effect of several cytotoxins is known, and these agents have, therefore, been utilized only reluctantly against fungal infections. In this review, consideration was given to (a) toxins that could be used against plant and human pathogens, (b) animal models that measure the effect of antifungal agents, (c) known antifungal agents that have been described and efficiently prevent the growth of fungal cells, and (d) the chemical interactions that are characteristic of antifungal agents.

Prebiotic Pathway from Ribose to RNA Formation.

At the focus of abiotic chemical reactions is the synthesis of ribose. No satisfactory explanation was provided as to the missing link between the prebiotic synthesis of ribose and prebiotic RNA (preRNA). Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is assumed to have been the principal precursor in the prebiotic formation of aldopentoses in the formose reaction and in the synthesis of ribose.