Seeds of the Moreton Bay chestnut,Castanospermum australe,a tree from the rainforests of Queensland,Australia. The seeds contain castano- spermine,one of a class of compounds,nicknamed sugar-shaped alkaloids,which can inhibit the enzymes that normally break down chains of sugars. Castanospermine is an analogue of glucose,it powerfully suppresses the alpha-glucosidase found in the guts of mammals,rendering the Moreton Bay chestnut indigestible. Researchers investigating possible future applications for the sugar-shaped alkaloids have shown that castanospermine reduces the ability of the human immunodeficiency virus,which causes AIDS,to infect cultured cells | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Mason, Jerry |
Taille de l’image : | 5384 px × 3617 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |