Pineal gland as an endocrine gravitational lunasensor: Manifestation of moon-phase dependent morphological changes in mice

We found that some morphological properties of the pineal gland and submandibular salivary gland of mice are significantly distinct at the new and full moon. We suppose that the differences are initiated by the displacements of the electron-dense concretions in the secretory vesicles of pinealocytes. This presumably occurs under the influence of the gravitational field, which periodically changes during different phases of the moon. It seems that the pinealocyte is both an endocrine and gravisensory cell. A periodic secretion of the pineal gland probably stimulates, in a lunaphasic mode, the neuroendocrine system that, in turn, periodically exerts influence on different organs of the body. The observed effect probably serves, within the lifelong clock of a brain, to control development and aging in time.     

A Review of the Book by L. I. Korochkin,Vvedenie v genetiku razvitiya (Introduction to Developmental Genetics), Moscow: Nauka, 1999

Russian Journal of Developmental Biology -     

I.F. Zhimulev,General and Molecular Genetics,Novosibirsk: Novosibirsk Univ., Sib. Univ. Izd., 2002

Russian Journal of Genetics -     

Use of the Aggregate-Hemagglutination Technique for Determining Exo-Enterotoxin of Bacillus cereus

The possibility of using the aggregate-hemagglutination technique for detection of Bacillus cereus exo-enterotoxin in foodstuffs and culture media is shown. A 0.004-μg quantity of enterotoxin per ml can be detected by this method.     

piRNA clusters as a main source of small RNAs in the animal germline

PIWI subfamily Argonaute proteins and small RNAs bound to them (PIWI interacting RNA, piRNA) control mobilization of transposable elements (TE) in the animal germline. piRNAs are generated by distinct genomic regions termed piRNA clusters. piRNA clusters are often extensive loci enriched in damaged fragments of TEs. New TE integration into piRNA clusters causes production of TE-specific piRNAs and repression of cognate sequences. piRNAs are thought to be generated from long single-stranded precursors encoded by piRNA clusters. Special chromatin structures might be essential to distinguish these genomic loci as a source for piRNAs. In this review, we present recent findings on the structural organization of piRNA clusters and piRNA biogenesis in Drosophila and other organisms, which are important for understanding a key epigenetic mechanism that provides defense against TE expansion.