Plasmid expression vectors with elements of the E. coli alkaline phosphatase gene

A family of plasmid expression vectors, containing fragments of the E. coli alkaline phosphatase gene (phoA), has been constructed for the lambda PR promoter-directed thermoinducible superproduction of fusions of heterologous polypeptides to the N- or C-terminus of E. coli alkaline phosphatase and its leader peptide. Effective expression and export to periplasm of resulting fusion proteins, which may retain enzymatic activity of the phosphatase, has been shown.     

ON THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL GANGLIOSIDES FROM THE BRAIN OF ELASMOBRANCHES

Gangliosides with a short carbohydrate chain: II³(NeuAc)₂-LacCer, II³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₃Cer, II₃(NeuAc)₃-LacCer, II³NeuAc-LacCer, and II³NeuAC-GgOse₃ Cer, were found to be predominant in the brain of 8 species of cartilaginous fish, elasmobranches. N-acetylneuraminic acid was the only sialic acid found in these gangliosides, the N-glycolyl derivative being practically absent. 4-Sphingenine was shown to be the predominant sphingoid in elasmobranch brain gangliosides. The sequential enzymatic hydrolysis of II³(NeuAc)₂ -LacCer from shark and ray brain by acylneur-aminyl hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.18) and β-D-galactoside-galactohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.23), as well as permethylation studies, provide further evidence for the following structure of this major elasmobranch brain ganglioside:     

A neuromorphological analysis of the motor area of the cerebral cortex in rat pups subjected to prenatal exposure to normal and pathological blood serum]

Morphological quantitative and qualitative analysis of the pyramidal neurones in the motor cortex of rat puppies after administration of the blood serum from human donors with central motor disorders reveals the dependence of the quality and quantity of neurones from the effect of corresponding blood sera. Pathologic blood serum decreases the number and induces degradation of dendritic organization of the pyramidal neurones. The effect of the blood sera on quantitative and qualitative properties of the pyramidal neurones in rat puppies depends on the age of donor infants with central motor disorders. Blood serum from newborn babies with motor dysfunctions significantly decreases the number of labeled pyramidal neurones and results in degradation of dendritic organization, whereas sera from 11-13-year infants only insignificantly affect these characteristics.     

Active immunization to exogenous and endogenous antidepressants. The formation of antibodies to biogenic amines and peptide regulators

The active immunization of rabbits and white rats to antidepressant sydnophen results in the formation of antibodies binding norepinephrine, dophamine, serotonine as well peptide regulatory compounds: substance P, pynorphine, vasopressin and beta-endorphin. The immunization against endogenic antidepressant thyroliberin induces the formation of antibodies to the same biogenic amines and to the gamma-aminobutyric acid, oxytocin and leu encephalin. The data obtained are discussed in connection with some physiological and biochemical changes found earlier during immunization to antidepressants.     

Participation of the hippocampus in regulating a pathologic inactive motor reaction in dogs

A local pathological inert motor reaction, involving a forced flexion of the forepaw, was formed after simultaneous stimulation with NaCl solution of a part of the tongue brought out to the cheek and electrical stimulation of the forepaw. The reaction decreased (by 70 to 80%) after electrical stimulation of the dorsal hippocampus (beyond CA3). At the same time the animal's emotional stress diminished, as evidenced by the reduced heart rate and a reduced theta-rhythm in the hippocampus.     

Sensitive fluorescence in situ hybridization signal detection in maize using directly labeled probes produced by high concentration DNA polymerase nick translation

The signal produced by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) often is inconsistent among cells and sensitivity is low. Small DNA targets on the chromatin are difficult to detect. We report here an improved nick translation procedure for Texas red and Alexa Fluor 488 direct labeling of FISH probes. Brighter probes can be obtained by adding excess DNA polymerase I. Using such probes, a 30?kb yeast transgene, and the rp1, rp3 and zein multigene clusters were clearly detected.     

Biodeterioration of Mayan buildings at uxmal and tulum,Mexico

Uxmal and Tulum are two important Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. The buildings are mainly composed of limestone and grey/black discoloration is seen on exposed walls and copious greenish biofilms on inner walls. The principal microorganisms detected on interior walls at both Uxmal and Tulum were cyanobacteria; heterotrophic bacteria and filamentous fungi were also present. A dark‐pigmented mitosporic fungus and Bacillus cereus, both isolated from Uxmal, were shown to be acidogenic in laboratory cultures. Cyanobacteria belonging to rock‐degrading genera Synechocystis and Gloeocapsa were identified at both sites. Surface analysis previously showed that calcium ions were present in the biofilms on buildings at Uxmal and Tulum, suggesting the deposition of biosolubilized stone. Apart from their potential to degrade the substrate, the coccoid cyanobacteria supply organic nutrients for bacteria and fungi, which can produce organic acids, further increasing stone degradation.     

The inheritance of endosperm storage proteins by the line of the Saratovskaya 29 cultivar of common wheat from its parental forms

We ran a comparative analysis of storage proteins (gliadins, high(HMW) and low-molecularweight (LMW) glutenins, puroindolines, and exogenous pest alpha-amylase inhibitors) in the Saratovskaya 29 cultivar line from the collection of a genetic engineering laboratory, its parental forms (Albidum 24 and Lutescens 55/11), and distant ancestors (Poltavka, Selivanovskiy Rusak, Sarroza, and tetraploid Beloturka). It was confirmed that the allelic states of storage proteins in the Gli-1, Gli-2 and Glu-1 loci originate from ancestral forms from the collection of the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry. Moreover, new alleles were found in Lutescens 55/11 (Glu-A1a) and Selivanovskiy Rusak (Glu-B1b) cultivars from the collection of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics. A new allelic state, Ha, was observed in the loci of the Poltavka cultivar as a soft-grain cultivar, and the ha allele was found in the hard-grain Albidum 24 and Sarroza cultivars. It was found that the expression rate of exogenous pest alpha-amylase inhibitors in the Saratovskaya 29 cultivar line is lower than that of ancestral cultivars (Albidum 24, Sarroza, Poltavka, and Beloturka). Such inhibitors are absent in the paternal form Lutescens 55/11. A high expression rate of protein pest inhibitors for exogenous α-amylases and puroindolines was observed in the Poltavka cultivar. The allelic composition of Glu-1 loci was newly studied in the Sarroza cultivar, which has some promising features. The Saratovskaya 29 cultivar line, on the basis of which a wide range of diverse lines were created in the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, is isogenic for all of the studied traits.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Lipid Extracts of Echinoderms in the Nhatrang Bay (South China Sea)

Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics - The obtained results on the study of the antimicrobial activity of lipid extracts of tissues of starfishes Linckia laevigata and Culcita novaeguineae and sea...