Chronobiological Characteristics of the Development and Course of Gestosis during the First Pregnancy

The regularities of the development and the course of gestosis were studied as dependent on the seasonal and individual annual rhythms of the woman. It was revealed that the maximum prevalence of this complication took place in the fourth quarter of the woman’s individual annual cycle and in winter. The results can be used for early prevention of gestosis in obstetric practice.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 92–95.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kalent’eva, Barbarash.     

Extra- and Intracellular Mechanisms of Changes in Erythrocyte Aggregation

Reversible aggregation is a form of erythrocyte behavior. The presence of α- and β-adrenergic receptors on erythrocyte membranes suggests that aggregation can be influenced by agonists of these receptors. Human erythrocyte aggregation (EA) was studied in the presence of α- and β-agonists of adrenergic receptors (in the concentration range from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁸ M). The α₂-agonist clonidine stimulated EA most strongly (by 163%, P < 0.01). The cell reaction decreased from the α-agonist clonidine to the β-agonist metaproterenol. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine and the penetrating cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP (dB-cAMP) increased the intracellular cAMP and decreased EA by 46–50% (P < 0.05). Clonidine-induced stimulation of EA sharply decreased upon erythrocyte incubation in the presence of clonidine + dB-cAMP and became even lower than in the control. Thus, α-agonists of adrenergic receptors markedly stimulated EA. The adenylate cyclase-cAMP system is likely involved as an intracellular signaling pathway.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 108–112.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by A. V. Murav’ev, A. A. Murav’ev.     

A Proteomic Approach to Study of the Function of the Sec14P-Like p45 Protein

We undertook a search for proteins interacting with protein p45 using the method of two-hybrid screening in order to determine the function of the Sec14p-like protein p45. A screening of the yeast library of rat lung cDNA allowed the identification of six proteins specifically activating the reporter genes of a two-hybrid system and 21 unlikely protein partners of protein p45. The most likely candidate for the role of a p45 partner is the surfactant protein C (Sftpc). These results and previous studies led us to the hypothesis that protein p45 fulfills its protective function by participating in the biogenesis of cell membranes.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 280–287.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Merkulova, Radchenko, Il’nitskaya, Shuvaeva, Lipkin.     

A Phase-Transfer Glucosamination of Phenols Catalyzed by Polyethylene Glycol

Glycosylation of phenols with α-D-glucosaminyl chloride peracetate catalyzed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) was carried out in a solid-liquid phase transfer system at room temperature. The results were compared with those previously obtained for the catalysis with various crown ethers. The catalytic activity of PEG in this reaction was found to be comparable with those of 15-crown-5 and aromatic crown ethers.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 335–336.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kur’yanov, Priskoka, Chupakhina, Chirva.     

The Structure of Uncommon Lipid A from the Marine Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marinomonas communis</Emphasis> ATCC 27118<Superscript>T</Superscript>

Lipid A was obtained in a high yield (27%) by the hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide from the marine gamma proteobacterium Marinomonas communis ATCC 27118^T with 1% AcOH. Using chemical analysis and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric methods, it was shown to be β-1′,6-linked D-glucosaminobiose 1-phosphate acylated with (R)-3-dodecanoyl- or (R)-3-decanoyloxydecanoic acid, (R)-3-{(R)-3-hydroxydecanoyloxy)]decanoic acid and (R)-3-hydroxydecanoic acid at the C2, C2′ and C3 positions, respectively. Uncommon structural peculiarities (a low acylation and phosphorylation degree) of the M .communis lipid A in comparison with those of terrestrial bacteria may be of pharmacological interest. The potential physiological meaning of this lipid A and compounds of similar structure are discussed.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 404–413.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vorob’eva, A. Dmitrenok, P. Dmitrenok, Isakov, Krasikova, Solov’eva.The article was translated by the authors.     

Selection and Characterization of Phage Miniantibodies to Actins of Different Origin

Single-chain miniantibodies (scFv’s) to actin were obtained by the phage display method. A naive combinatorial phage display library of murine scFv’s (containing 2·10⁸ independent recombinant clones) was used to select miniantibodies. After three rounds of selection two clones producing miniantibodies to chicken smooth muscle actin with affinity constants of 1.4·10⁷ and 1.2·10⁶ M⁻¹ were chosen. The isolated miniantibodies could specifically detect various plant and animal actins.__________Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 8, 2005, pp. 1070–1077.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kostesha, Laman, Shepelyakovskaya, Zaitseva, Orlov, Dykman, Brovko, Sokolov.     

The Effect of Reproduction Biotopes on the Genetic Differentiation of Populations of Sockeye Salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus nerka</Emphasis>

Variation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was examined in nine populations from three lake-river systems of Chukotka and Kamchatka. Significant differences were found between most of the sockeye salmon samples studied. The genetic differences among populations were not high and often did not correlate with the geographical distances between them. The low population divergence is explained by a short time of existence of most of them, having been formed after the recession of the upper Pleistocene glacier. When the populations were grouped according to their spawning biotopes (river or lake), they in general appeared more genetically similar than upon their grouping by geographical location (the lake-river systems). The differences between the river and lake populations in the lake-river systems increased from north to south.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 635–645.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Brykov, Polyakova, Podlesnykh, E. Golub’, A. Golub’, Zhdanova.     

The Marriage Migration Characteristics of the Rostov Oblast Population

Marriage records have been used to study the marriage migration structure of five raions of the Rostov oblast. The mean ethnic marriage assortativeness in the Russian and Ukrainian rural populations are 1.16 and 1.6, respectively. The endogamy index of the urban population varies from 0.19 to 0.34; and that of the rural population, from 0.21 to 0.54. Malecot’s isolation by distance parameters have been calculated. Genetic landscapes have been constructed.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 981–985.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kriventsova, El’chinova, Amelina, Zinchenko.     

Control of Aerobic Training with Individualized Physical Loads

A method was used for organizing training for aerobic working capacity. Its salient feature was individualization of the main components of the training process: dosing of the physical load at a level of 90–95% of the anaerobic threshold and optimizing the duration of rest on the basis of revealing the phase of superrecovery of the aerobic working capacity. The study, which enrolled 64 healthy males and females aged 16–20 years, provided evidence for the high effectiveness of the method. After 12 weeks of training, the anaerobic threshold, the systolic work index, and the results of Cooper’s 12-min test increased, respectively, by 9.7, 24, and 16% in the males and by 9.2, 32, and 25% in the females. The method of organizing the training process is proposed not only for the development of aerobic working capacity in healthy individuals but also for primary and secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 131–133.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by El’chaninova, Varshavskii, Ladanov, Kalachev, Filippova.     

Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Short- and Long-Term Memory in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the right and the left frontotemporal areas on the short- and long-term verbal memory was studied in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson’s disease. TMS with a magnetic induction of more than 1.2 T at 10 Hz was found to affect the short-term memory when applied to the left frontotemporal area and to have no significant effect on this type of memory when applied to the right frontotemporal area. In healthy subjects, TMS applied to the left or the right hemisphere did not affect the long-term memory. However, in patients with Parkinson’s disease, significant changes in the long-term memory were observed upon TMS of either the left or the right hemisphere. The effect was more evident on TMS of the right hemisphere.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 33–36.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Gimranov, Mal’tseva.     

Social correlates of fecal testosterone in male ursine colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus): the effect of male reproductive competition in aseasonal breeders

Male testosterone (T) levels are thought to be linked with the mating system, degree of parental care, and male–male aggression in reproductive contexts (The ‘challenge hypothesis’; Wingfield et al., 1990). In many species though, T increases associated with mating behavior cannot be separated from those associated with male–male aggression. We tested the challenge hypothesis on aseasonally breeding ursine colobus (Colobus vellerosus), where male–male competition is intense outside of mating contexts. Fecal samples (N = 109) were collected from > 27 subadult and adult males in seven groups during 13-months of research in Ghana in 2004–2005. Fecal T (fT) levels were determined by enzyme immunosorbant assays. Behavioral data was collected using focal-animal and ad libitum sampling. The number of receptive females in each group did not positively correlate with male fT. There was a trend for adult males to have higher fT than subadult males; however there was no effect of rank on fT. The level of male–male aggression experienced was positively correlated with fT and individual males showed higher mean fT during ‘challenge’ than during ‘non-challenge’ periods. The number of male incursions experienced positively correlated with fT whereas the number of between-group encounters did not. Males attempt to gain reproductive opportunities during incursions, thus these results support the ‘challenge hypothesis’ in C. vellerosus. Outside of mating contexts, higher male fT levels are associated with increased aggression. Male parental investment in the form of infant defense was associated with increased fT, rather than the decline expected from other forms of paternal care.     

Regulation of the Fish Alimentary Behavior: Role of Humoral Component

Based on our own personal experimental data and literature data, role of some metabolites and hormones in regulation of the fish alimentary behavior is considered. The main statements of the synthetic theory of regulation of the alimentary behavior are presented.__________Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 224–235.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuz’mina.     

Study of Development of Function of Kidneys and Their Regulation on the Background of Pathological Process

By the example of reabsorption of sodium ions in kidney, it is shown that this process, alongside with establishment of the system of osmotic concentration, plays the key role in evolution of renal function. There is shown a similarity of tendencies of changes of the total sodium ion reabsorption in children’s kidney in the process of development and in a series of representatives of various vertebrate classes. An opposite tendency is revealed during the kidney dysfunction produced by chronic renal failure. At all stages of postnatal ontogenesis in healthy children and in adults, kidney maintains the same parameters of the blood serum ion composition and osmolality. A new approach to study evolution of functions is proposed, which is based on a combination of two L.A. Orbeli’s methods—ontogenetic and clinical, by the example of study of renal function and its regulation during development of a pathological process on the background of formation of function in postnatal ontogenesis. When using such approach in children with nocturnal enuresis, significance of autacoids in regulation of urine formation is established. In the case of acute pneumonia in children, a possibility of extrapituitary production of vasopressin-like substances in lungs is shown. In norm, in postnatal ontogenesis of healthy children, in regulation of renal functions and of diuresis system, effects of efferent nerves and hormones (vasopressin) dominate, while significance of autacoids is minimal. But at a dysfunction produced by a pathological process, a change of ratio of activities of these regulatory systems is revealed. The obtained data indicate importance of the clinical and experimental methods proposed by L.A. Orbeli in analysis of evolution of renal functions and study of the nature of regulations. A combination of several methods of evolutionary physiology in one study allows revealing new mechanisms underlying regulation of function and promotes formation of concepts about regularities of evolution of functions.__________Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 277–284.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsova, Natochin.     

Neurodegenerative Disorders: The Role of Genetic Factors in Their Origin and the Efficiency of Treatment

The review considers the main molecular physiological causes of neurodegenerative disorders. The genetic factors involved in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases are conventionally divided into pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic. The former are analyzed at the levels of dopamine (DA) neurons and polymorphism of the D₁, D₂, and D₃ DA receptors. The role of polymorphisms of some proteins such as parkin (PARK1-PARK10) and α-synuclein in generation of Lewy bodies is described. The pharmacokinetic factors play a role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) at the level of metabolism of DA, dioxyphenylalanine, and tyrosine and include polymorphisms of enzymes and proteins involved in the relevant metabolic reactions. The profile of DA metabolites may contribute to neurotoxicity and the development of PD. Prospects of drug therapy of PD and the risk of adverse drug effects such as mental disorders and dyskinesia are considered in terms of polymorphisms of enzymes and transport proteins.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 119–130.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sukhanov, Ionov, Piruzyan.     

Construction of Rye-Wheat Amphidiploids with the Cytoplasm of Rye—Secalotriticum (RRAABB, 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 42): Meiosis Characteristics in Rye-Triticale F<Subscript>1</Subscript> Hybrids (RRABR, 5<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 35)

Results of cytogenetic analysis of microsporogenesis in rye-triticale F₁ hybrids (RRABR, 5x = 35) are presented. Meiosis of pentaploids is described as the key stage in the synthesis of secalotriticum, lines with intergenomic substitutions of chromosomes, or alloplasmic rye and wheat lines. Properties of meiotic processes and cytological mechanisms in formation of functional gametes and plants of various genomic and chromosomal composition are discussed.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 902–909.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lyusikov, Bel’ko, Shchet’ko, Gordei.     

Initiation and Development of Chilling Injury in Leaves of Chilling-Sensitive Plants

Based on author’s own and literature data, possible mechanisms of initiation, development, and reparation of cell damages in chilling-sensitive plants during and after chilling are reviewed. A conception of initiation and development of chilling injury, based on a key role of oxidative stress, is put forward. Possible mechanisms of structural and functional changes in cells of chilling-sensitive plants subjected to chilling stress are discussed.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 4, 2005, pp. 608–613.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lukatkin.     

Development of a Biochip for Analyzing Polymorphism of the Biotransformation Genes

Large-scale population studies, diagnosis of genetic predisposition to a broad range of multifactorial diseases, and screening of polymorphic loci associated with individual drug resistance need efficient, accurate, and rapid techniques for identifying many mutations. One of the most promising techniques is hybridization on an oligonucleotide microarray (biochip). The efficiency of this method in assessing genetic polymorphism was demonstrated using an example of mutations in CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and MTHFR. The biochip constructed provides a convenient tool for pharmacogenetic research.__________Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2005, pp. 403–412.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Glotov, Nasedkina, Ivaschenko, Urasov, Surzhikov, Pan’kov, Chudinov, Baranov, Zasedatelev.     

Extracellular Proteolytic Enzymes of Azospirillum brasilense Strain Sp7 and Regulation of Their Activity by a Homologous Lectin

It was found that Azospirillum brasilense strain Sp7 is able to produce extracellular proteolytic enzymes. The enzymes were active within a broad range of pH values, with two peaks of activity being located in the acid and alkaline pH areas; required calcium ions; and exhibited substrate specificity with respect to azogelatin. Zymography allowed at least four proteolytic enzymes with molecular weights of 32, 45, 52, and 174 kDa to be detected in A. brasilense Sp7 culture liquid. It was shown that the lectin from A. brasilense Sp7 can inhibit proteolytic enzymes.__________Translated from Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 41, No. 4, 2005, pp. 444–448.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Chernyshova, Alen’kina, Nikitina, Ignatov.     

Possible Involvement of Hydrogen Peroxide and Salicylic Acid in the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis

H₂O₂ content was studied in the roots and epicotyls of pea (Pisum sativum L.) with normal (cultivar Marat) and disturbed (non-nodulating mutant K14a and hypernodulating mutant Nod3) regulation of root nodulation after inoculation with active industrial strain of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae 250a/CIAM 1026. Pea biotypes differed by H₂O₂ content in roots and epicotyls. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) (0.2 mM) affected H₂O₂ and SA levels in roots in an inoculation-dependent manner. The involvement of hydrogen peroxide and SA as signaling molecules as well as of antibacterial agents in the pea-rhizobium interaction at the initial stages of symbiosis is proposed.__________Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 300–305.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Glyan’ko, Makarova, Vasil’eva, Mironova.