Synthesis of positively charged galactose-bearing surfactants

An approach to the synthesis of cationic carbohydrate surfactants with potential antimicrobial and transfecting activities is proposed.     

A spectroscopic examination on intermolecular interaction of ergosterol with lecithin

The ergosterol and lecithin absorption IR-spectra were studied in a nonpolar anhydrous medium. The thermodynamical and spectral characteristics of dimeric associates and the enthalpy value for trimeric associates of this sterol are determined. Thermodynamical and spectral parameters of ergosterol intermolecular associates with lecithin in a nonpolar anhydrous medium are found. It is established that the intermolecular interaction of lecithin with ergosterol occurs according to the mechanism of hydrogen bond. A conclusion is drawn that the presence of binary bonds and methyl groups in the cyclic and aliphatic parts of the sterol molecule affects greatly the structure of the model membrane and its strength. It is shown that under conditions of the experiment the oxygen of the phosphate group contributes to formation of the molecular associates of lecithin with sterols and not that of the carbonyl group. The obtained experimental data may be at use when studying structural disturbances of native membranes in norm and with different pathologies.     

Characteristics of ribosomal RNA synthesis in the blood lymphocytes of chronic lympholeukemia patients

A study was made of the number of silver grains over the nucleoli and of the content of ribosomes in the lymphocyte cytoplasm for six healthy persons and for 20 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia. Besides ratios of compact, nucleolonemic and ring types of nucleoli were evaluated in addition to counts of the specific radioactivity of mature 28S rRNA in lymphocytes. In the majority of cases examined, cells with 1 or 2 nucleoli of compact and nucleolonemic types were seen dominating. The number of silver grains over the nucleoli in the control healthy persons did not differ from that in patients who did not receive any treatment, which contrasted with high value grain counts in the treated patients. The lymphocyte ribosome contents varied within the normal and decreased values in both the patient groups. The specific radioactivity in 28S rRNA leukemic lymphocytes was significantly lower in groups of patients with low ribosome contents than in those with the normal ones. The data suggest that in the leukemic cells with a high or unaltered activity of ribosome cistrons and low ribosome levels rRNA processing is broken.     

Reparative regeneration of microvascular anastomosis

Dynamics of reparative regeneration of the sutural anastomosis of the abdominal aorta has been studied in 90 white mice during the time from 1 day up to 1 year. The operation has been performed by means of microsurgical technique. Histological, histochemical, electron microscopic and radioautographic (3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine labelling) methods have been used. By the 7th day fibrin is organized on the adventitia, the scar along the resection line is formed, endothelial lining and middle layer of the vascular wall are restored. As sources of regeneration in the anastomosis serve cellular elements preserved in the lesion margins. Further maturation of the formed structures and formation of the initial thickening by migrating smooth muscle cells of the middle layer take place. Completeness and typicity depend on preservation of the elastic carcass in the middle layer and adventitia.     

Vitamin D-dependent protein of smooth endoplasmic reticulum membranes of rat enterocytes

DEAE-cellulose chromatography and SDS-PAAG electrophoresis were used to study proteins from endoplasmic reticulum of smooth and rough enterocyte membranes in the vitamin D-replete and deficient rat. The membrane-bound vitamin-D-dependent protein with a molecular weight of 21-25 kDa is shown to consist of the endoplasmic reticulum of smooth membranes. The intensive binding of calcium by these membranes is established.     

Non-Phosphorus Lipids As New Antitumor Drug Prototypes

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The main classes of antitumor drugs (antimetabolites, anthracyclines, taxanes, and alkylating agents) act via DNA damage, inhibit DNA synthesis, and/or...     

Genetic diversity of Besermyans inferred from mitochondrial DNA polymorphism

The first data are presented on mtDNA diversity in Besermyans, the Finno-Ugric ethnic group related to Udmurts. An analysis of mtDNA polymorphism showed that Besermyans stood out from the other populations of Volga-Ural region due to the presence of a large proportion of the Mongoloid component. The sample of Besermyans contained East Eurasian haplotypes not detected in ethnic populations of the Volga region and Cisurals, while they were detected in South Siberia, mostly among Turkic-speaking populations. An analysis of the genetic distances between Besermyans and the neighboring ethnic groups showed that Besermyans were distant from other populations of Volga-Ural region and close to Turkic-speaking populations of South Siberia. Thus, the data obtained favor the suggestion on the mixed Udmurto-Turkic origin of Besermyans.     

Some features of mitochondrial gene pool of Maeotis in light of their relation to Cis-Asov nomads

New data on mitochondrial gene pool polymorphism of Maeotis (1st–3rd centuries CE) in the light of their relation with Sarmatian nomads are presented. Maeotis are more genetically various, compared to Sarmatians; both the age of Maeotian gene pool and their close interactions with neighboring tribes can be reasons for this. The study of relationships of Maeotis and Sarmatians suggests an intensive gene interchange between them, which influences significantly on the formation of the Maeotian gene pool.