Production of proteinases in the process of developing cultures of Streptomyces thermovulgaris T-54

The secretion of some proteolytic enzymes by Streptomyces thermovulgaris T 54 was studied using artificial chromogenic substrates of proteinases. Maximum accumulation of the enzymes hydrolysing Z-Glu-pNA and Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNA occurred during autolysis of the culture. Two peaks of activity were observed, when DNP-Gly-Gly-Ile-Arg was used as a substrate, one of them being correspondent to prevalence of dense colonies in the culture and the other to the prevalence of friable networks of hyphae.     

Orthologous gene-expression profiling in multi-species models: search for candidate genes

Microarray-driven gene-expression profiles are generally produced and analyzed for a single specific experimental model. We have assessed an analytical approach that simultaneously evaluates multi-species experimental models within a particular biological condition using orthologous genes as linkers for the various Affymetrix microarray platforms on multi-species models of ventilator-associated lung injury. The results suggest that this approach may be a useful tool in the evaluation of biological processes of interest and selection of process-related candidate genes.     

Optimization of cultivation medium for the production of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 glutamyl endopeptidase

The effect of some components of cultivation medium on the growth of the streptomycin-resistant Bacillus intermedius strain 3-19 and on the production of glutamyl endopeptidase was investigated using factorial experimental design, which allowed the concentrations of peptone and inorganic phosphate to be optimized for the maximum production of the enzyme. Experiments with different peptones and casamino acids showed that the enzyme production is maximum with peptone 3 of plant origin. The addition of casamino acids or amino acids to the peptone-containing cultivation medium inhibited the production of glutamyl endopeptidase.     

Hereditary diseases of nervous system in the population of Vladimir province

The first population genetic study of hereditary disorders of the nervous system (HDNS) in Vladimir oblast was carried out. A total of 1,622,900 subjects, including 1,306,200 from the urban and 316,700 from the rural population, were tested. The population examined was characterized by virtually homogenous ethnic structure, with Russians constituting 95.76%. Pooled prevalence of HDNS in Vladimir oblast corresponded to the average prevalence for other Russian populations. Substantial differences between urban and rural populations in respect of the population load of HDNS and its nosological structure were not observed. A total of 22 nosological forms of HDNS were revealed, including thirteen autosomal dominant (193 families with 272 affected individuals), seven autosomal recessive (59 families with 66 affected individuals), and two X-linked (15 families with 17 affected individuals) diseases. The composition of the HDNS spectrum "nucleus" in Vladimir oblast displayed a number of differences from that in the majority of other populations examined. The HDNS in different regions of the area tested were characterized by different prevalence and spectrum. The data obtained may constitute a basis for regional registration of HDNS in Vladimir oblast.     

Brachyurins--serine collagenolytic enzymes from crabs

The properties of brachyurins, proteolytic enzymes belonging to a new subfamily of chymotrypsin-like proteases, are considered. These enzymes, found in various species of crustacean, exhibit mixed substrate specificity and a marked collagenolytic activity. The enzymatic and physicochemical properties of brachyurins I and their primary and spatial structures are discussed in detail. A separate chapter is devoted to the preparations of collagenases from the hepatopancreas of king crab: their action on the damaged skin and use in medicine.     

Effect of culture media components on accumulation of glutaminyl endopeptidase in culture liquid of Bacillus intermedius 3-19

The effect of nutrients and growth conditions on the accumulation of glutamyl endopeptidase in the culture liquid of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 was studied. Glucose and other readily metabolizable carbon sources were found to suppress the production of the enzyme, while inorganic phosphate and ammonium cations enhanced it. Protein substrates, such as casein, gelatin, and hemoglobin, did not affect enzyme production. Some bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+) increased the production of glutamyl endopeptidase, but others (Zn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+) acted in the opposite way. The rate of enzyme accumulation in the culture liquid increased as the growth rate of the bacterium decreased, so that the maximum enzyme activity was observed in the stationary growth phase. Based on the results of this investigation, an optimal medium for the maximum production of glutamyl endopeptidase by B. intermedius 3-19 was elaborated.     

Physiological Heterothallism and Sexuality in Euascomycetes: A Partial History

Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Medico-genetical study of the population of the Kostroma Region. IV. Genetic load and diversity of hereditary pathology in 5 districts

Data on the prevalence of hereditary diseases in five regions of the Kostroma province were obtained and analysed. 28 autosomal recessive, 25 autosomal dominant and 4 X-linked recessive disorders were found. Segregation analysis proved the rightness of the material subdivision, according to the type of inheritance. The load of hereditary diseases in five regions was: 0.86 +/- 0.09 X 10(3) for autosomal recessive, 0.97 +/- 0.1 X 10(3) for autosomal dominant and 0.36 +/- 0.09 X 10(3) for X-linked recessive disorders. The problems of prevalence of hereditary diseases connected with population structure is discussed.     

Isolation and properties of carboxypeptidase from Streptomyces spheroides, strain 35

Extracellular carboxypeptidase was isolated from culture filtrates of Str. spheroides strain 35, using affinity chromatography on bacitracin-silochrome, bacitracin-Sepharose and CABS-Sepharose. The electrophoretically homogenous enzyme was obtained with a 44% yield and 4160-fold purification. The enzyme-molecular weight is 33,000 Da; pI is 4.7. The amino acid composition of carboxypeptidase is as follows: Asp43, Thr30, Ser35, Glu33, Pro30, Gly47-50, Ala38, 1/2 Cys5-6, Val16, Met2, Ile11, Leu15, Tyr8, Phe10, Lys10, His6, Arg9. The enzyme shows an activity optimum at pH 7.5 is stable at pH 6-8, is completely inhibited with EDTA and can be reactivated by Ca2+. The carboxypeptidase from Str. spheroides strain 35 has a dual substrate specificity, i. e., it splits N-substituted di-, three- and tetrapeptides having both neutral and basic amino acids at the C-ends similar to mammalian carboxypeptidases A and B. The enzyme belongs to the family of metallocarboxypeptidases; its properties are very similar to those of carboxypeptidase S from Str. griseus K-1 and of carboxypeptidase T from Thermoactinomyces sp.