Mechanism of charge separation and their stabilization in bacterial reaction centers

The nuclear wavepacket formed by 20-fs excitation on the P* potential energy surface in native and mutant (YM210W and YM210L) reaction centers of Rhodobacter (Rb.) sphaeroides and Chloroflexus (C.) aurantiacus RCs was found to be reversibly transferred to the P+BA- surface at 120, 380, and 640-fs delays (monitored by measurements of BA- absorption at 1020-1028 nm). The reaction centers of YM210W(L) mutant show the most simple pattern of fs oscillations with a period of 230 fs in stimulated emission from P* and in the product P+BA-. The mechanisms of the electron transfer pathway between P* and BA and of the stabilization of the state P+BA- in bacterial reaction centers are discussed.     

Phospholipids and structural modification of tissues and cell membranes for adaptation in high altitude mountains

The nature of the impact of physical factors of high altitudes (3200 m) on the lipids of tissues and membranes of animals was researched. It was established that the adaptation process in Wistar rats was followed by peroxide degradation and subsequent modification of the phospholipids' structure of tissues and microsomal membranes. Adaptive phospholipids reconstruction takes place in microsomal membranes in the tissues of the lungs, brain, liver and skeletal muscles. Together with this, the amount of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid accumulates, indicating that the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5 biphosphate to diacylglycerol and secondary messenger--inositol triphosphate, occurs. A decrease in temperature adaptation (+10 degrees C) leads to a more noticeable shift in peroxide oxidation of lipids, phospholipid structure in the tissues and membranes rather than adaptation in thermoneutral conditions (+30 degrees C). Modification of lipid composition of tissues and cell membranes in the highlands obviously increases the adaptive capabilities of cells of the whole body: physical performance and resistance to hypoxia increases in animals.     

Localization of point mutations in the coding part of the VHL gene in clear cell renal cancer

VHL gene is often inactivated in sporadic clear cell renal cancer (CCRC) due to somatic mutations, and it's germline mutations cause hereditary CCRC--von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Localization of mutations in VHL, identification of new mutations and their influence on CCRC progression and sensitivity to targeted therapy are actual problems in modern oncogenetics. We have provided search and characterization of mutations in 248 primary CCRC using SSCP-analysis and sequencing. Somatic mutations were detected in 37.5% of samples, 72% of mutations were identified for the first time. New missense-mutations were analyzed by alignment programs and three-dimensional structure modeling. Mutation frequency was compared in different groups of patients in respect to stage, grade, and metastases. It was demonstrated that 39.1% samples with stage I harbor somatic mutations, however, no association with progression or metastases was found. We also have investigated localization of mutations in the VHL coding part and positions of missense-mutations and inframe deletions/insertions focusing on VHL critical sequences. VHL mutation analysis performed in this study improve the possibilities of laboratory diagnostics of familial and sporadic CCRC.