The increased population of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Europe

In this paper the recent population changes of the Wild Boar in different European countries is analysed through the study of hunting statistics. A simultaneous increase in numbers is observed throughout the whole area during the period 1965–1975. From 1975 onwards the population stabilizes itself apart from in peripheral areas like Finland. Potentially favourable factors which play a part in this process are discussed and certain reproductive and dispersive characteristics which favour its invasive behaviour are discussed.     

Properties of thermostable HtpR-mutant of Escherichia coli

A thermoresistant htpR mutant having a decreased level of proteolytic activity has been selected in E. coli strain K802 after the directed mutagenesis in vivo. The mutation results in the bacteriophage T7 RNA-polymerase stability, aminoglycosidephosphotransferase stability as well as in the decrease in the rate of proteolytic degradation of cytoplasmic proteins during the heat shock. The obtained mutant strain can, probably be used as a host for alien polypeptides production.     

Role of functional interrelationships of the adrenoreactive structures of the amygdalar complex and vascular walls in the regulation of blood coagulation]

The chronic experiments on 24 male cats were carried out to study the influence of changes in functional interrelations between alpha- and beta-adrenoreactive amygdalar structures and corresponding receptors of vascular wall upon haemostatic system. It is shown that activation of alpha-adrenoreactive structures causes the hypercoagulative effect and that of beta-adrenoreactive receptors--the hypocoagulation activation. The central adrenoreactive structures realize their regulative influences through corresponding peripheral adrenoreceptors of the vascular wall.     

An anti-inflammatory isoflavone from soybean inoculated with a marine fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3

ABSTRACT

A new isoflavone derivative compound 1 (psoralenone) was isolated from soybean inoculated with a marine fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3, together with seven known compounds including isoflavones 2–6, butyrolactone I (7) and blumenol A (8). Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR, and ECD. Psoralenone displayed moderate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell model. Compound 2 (genistein) showed moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity whereas compounds 2, 5 (biochanin A), 6 (psoralenol), and 7 exhibited potent larvicidal activity against brine shrimp. Compounds 3 (daidzein), 4 (4?-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyisoflavone), and 5–7 showed broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity, and compound 7 also showed moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity.     

The first complete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mag</Emphasis> family retrotransposons discovered in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>

A retrotransposon of the Mag family was found in the Drosophila simulans genome for the first time. We also identified novel transposable elements representing the Mag family in seven Drosophila species. The high similarity between the 3’ and 5’ long terminal repeats in the found copies of transposable elements indicates that their retrotransposition has occurred relatively recently. Thus, the Mag family of retrotransposons is quite common for the genus Drosophila.     

Effective selection and analysis of IS1 element transposition using the oLpLN region of phage lambda

The plasmid pNT6 permits selection of IS1-element insertions into the plasmid occurring with the frequency about 10%. The bacteriophage promoter pL cloned in pNT6 is a hot-spot region for IS1-element insertion. The frequency of IS1 transposition into pL depends on genotype. The plasmid pNT6 may be considered to be a useful target DNA for screening and analysis of IS1-element transposition.     

Strategy for DNA sequencing: use of transposing elements

A variety of approaches to determine the complete sequence of large DNA fragments is summarized. Main attention is paid to a transposon-based DNA sequencing strategy.     

Evidence for recent horizontal transfer of gypsy-homologous LTR-retrotransposon gtwin into Drosophila erecta followed by its amplification with multiple aberrations

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon gtwin was initially discovered in silico, and then it was isolated as gypsy-homologous sequence from Drosophila melanogaster strain, G32. The presence of ORF3 suggests, that gtwin, like gypsy, may be an endogenous retrovirus, which can leave the cell and infect another one. Therefore, in this study we decided to investigate the distribution of gtwin in different species of the melanogaster subgroup in order to find out whether gtwin can be transferred horizontally as well as vertically. Gtwin was found in all 9 species of this subgroup, hence it seems to have inhabited the host genomes for a long time. In addition, we have shown that in the Drosophila erecta genome two gtwin families are present. The first one has 93% of identity to D. melanogaster element and is likely to be a descendant of gtwin that existed in Drosophila before the divergence of the melanogaster subgroup species. The other one has >99% of identity to D. melanogaster gtwin. The most reasonable explanation is that this element has been recently horizontally transferred between D. melanogaster and D. erecta. The number and variety of gtwin copies from the "infectious" family suggest that after the horizontal transfer into D. erecta genome, gtwin underwent amplification and aberrations, leading to the rise of its diverse variants.