Enzymology of DNA in replication in prokaryotes

This review stresses recent developments in the in vitro study of DNA replication in prokaryotes. New insights into the enzymological mechanisms of initiation and elongation of leading and lagging strand DNA synthesis in ongoing studies are emphasized. Data from newly developed systems, such as those replicating oriC containing DNA or which are dependent on the lambda, O, and P proteins, are presented and the information compared to existing mechanisms. Evidence bearing on the coupling of DNA synthesis on both parental strands through protein-protein interactions and on the turnover of the elongation systems are analyzed. The structure of replication origins, and how their tertiary structure affects recognition and interaction with the various replication proteins is discussed.     

Role of microbial enzymes in flavor development in foods

There are four main sources of enzymes in foods—these being the inherent enzymes, enzymes from microbial contaminants, enzymes elaborated by microorganisms added to foods, and specific enzymes added to foods. This study primarily deals with the latter two sources of enzymes in food. Although both plants and animals serve as sources of enzymes, they are not as economical or versatile sources as are enzymes obtained from microorganisms. In the meat industry, proteases are used to tenderize muscle and to obtain flavor precursors. In the preparation of cured meat products such as sausages, lipases, and proteases from bacterial cultures are utilized. Similarly, proteases and lipases are used in the dairy industry to develop flavor compounds. Proteases and amylases also have applications in the baking and milling industries where they are used to produce precursors for the nonenzymatic browning reactions. Carbohydrases such as amylase, amyloglucosidase, and glucose isomerase have found usage in the starch and syrup industry for the production of high dextrose and high fructose syrups. Other enzymes such as glucose oxidase, pectinase, and naringinase are of value to the wine and fruit juice industries. A better understanding of the mode of action of enzymes as well as the mechanisms of development of flavor compounds will further enhance the use of microbial enzymes to develop specific and desired flavors in foods.     

The Formation of Pollen Dimorphism in Paris axialis in Vivo

It is obsreved that the dimorphic populations of pollen are producedin Paris axialis H. Li In vivo. The normal pollen grains and abnormal pollen grainsare 77.1% and 22.9% respectively; more than 70% of abnormal pollen grains conformto the equal nucleus type. The abnormal pollen grains show no delayed development,and thay are stained as dark as the normal ones. During the first mitotic division of microspore, most of the spindles are anticlinal(perpendicular to the intine), the cytokinesis is generally asymmetric, and a completewall is formed. However, a few mitotic spindles of mitotic microspores are periclinal,and the cytokinesis are symmetric. Sometimes a partial wall is observed between twodaughter nuclei, which are produced by the abnormal pollen grains. We believe thatthese phenomena are related to differentiation of the dimorphic pollen.     

Seasonal changes in the count of mites of the family Pyroglyphidae in houses in the city of Cheboksary

The results of human dwelling houses surveying for the presence of home dust mites and study of seasonal changes of their quantity in the town of Cheboksary are given. It has been found that the old wooden houses are inhabited by mites, in modern blocks of flats they are met rather seldom. The quantity of alive mites is maximum in September-October. The common number of mites is the greatest in December-January although the quantity of alive mites at this time is only 6.8%.     

我国蝴蝶产业发展中亟待解决的几个问题

本文简略介绍了我国目前蝴蝶产业的背景情况和发展现状,着重阐述了该产业发展中亟待解决的目标与思路、政策与法律、科研与技术、人才与培养等一系列问题,并针地性提出了相应解决意见。     

Similarities in periodical structures in the position of nucleotides in regions of initiation of replication of bacterial genomes

The regions of initiation of replication of some bacterial genomes were studied by the method of Fourier matrix analysis. A generalized spectral portrait of the primary structures of E. coli-like regions of initiation of replication in bacteria was obtained, which reflects the features of their structural and functional organization. It contains well-pronounced peaks that correspond to the periods T = 2, 11, 17, 27, 86-105 of nucleotides. The peaks corresponding to T = 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 33-35, 45-47, 74-85, 106-110 are less pronounced. The uniqueness of the Fourier spectrum corresponding to the region of initiation of replication of E. coli oriC was considered by the example of the complete genome of E. coli. Some regions of the E. coli genome were identified that differ from oriC in the primary structure but have Fourier spectra resembling the spectrum of oriC. A number of these regions are alternative points of initiation of replication in sdrA(rnh) mutants of E. coli, the others are localized in yet unidentified regions of the E. coli genome but are capable, in our opinion, to participate in the initiation of replication. Thus, from the similarity of spectral portraits of different regions of the genome, it was possible to reveal several regions that have similar functions, i.e., are involved in initiation of replication.     

Epidemiologic situation of West Nile fever in Russia in 2010

Problem of tropical arbovirus infection--West Nile fever (WNF)--spread in Russian Federation is discussed. Biology of WNF is discussed, WNF sources and reservoir are characterized. WNF outbreaks in Russia during the past 2 decades are presented in detail. Outbreaks of different years, possible causes and epidemiology are discussed. Features of WNF clinical course during various outbreaks and WNF diagnostic problems are presented.     

Replication of DNA in UV-irradiatedEscherichia coli in the absence of amino acids

Since pyrimidine dimers are considered to be the cause of the synthesis of short DNA segments, normalization of DNA replication after UV irradiation should be in a temporal correlation with their removal. This correlation holds in exponentially growing excision-proficientEscherichia coli cells. However, when these cells are preincubated and postincubated without amino acids, synthesis of short segments continues although dimers are efficiently excised.     

Possible participation of mitochondria in formation of peroxisomes in yeasts]

The origin of peroxisomes in yeast organisms is still unknown. These organelles are believed to be formed, similar to animal cells, from the endoplasmatic reticulum. However, this has not been confirmed directly. Peroxisomes are often found to be in contact with channels of the endoplasmatic reticulum and, in our experiments, with mitochondria of yeast organisms, especially those which utilize oleic acid, n-alkanes and methanol as a sole source of carbon. In Rhodotorula, peroxisomes are characterized by the same "bean" configuration and paired arrangement imitating "copulation" as mitocondria. In Kloeckera boidinii, a mitochondrion was transformed into a peroxisome and cristae were lost. A part of the peroxisome still possessed a double membrane typical of mitochondria while another part had a single membrane characteristic of peroxisomes. Further studies are being carried out in order to find if this is a general relationship or one of possibilities.     

Biosynthesis of ecdysones in isolated prothoracic glands and oenocytes of Tenebrio molitor in vitro

Isolated prothoracic glands from Tenebrio larvae synthesize in vitro α-ecdysone, but not β-ecdysone from 4-¹⁴C-cholesterol. Isolated abdominal oenocytes from the larvae synthesize mainly β-ecdysone, but only little α-ecdysone. When prothoracic glands and oenocytes are cultured together, the α-ecdysone derived from the prothoracic glands is oxidized by the oenocytes to β-ecdysone. The newly synthesized hormones are not stored in the cells, but are secreted into the medium if sufficient amounts of non-labelled hormones are present. If no unlabelled hormones are added to the culture medium, the newly formed hormones are converted to a large extent into polar conjugates.     

荔枝逆境生理研究进展(综述)

综述了荔枝在温度、水分、矿质营养和环境污染等的逆境条件下生长发育、生理生化等的变化,指出荔枝对逆境适应性脆弱是低产的主要原因,并对今后的研究工作提出建议。     

Progress in theory of instabilities in a rotating plasma

A review is given of the basic results of modern theory of instabilities in a rotating plasma. Both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric perturbations are considered. Main attention is given to the magnetorotational instability (MRI), discovered earlier by Velikhov, and the rotational-convective instability (RCI) discussed in a number of papers of astrophysical trend. For qualitative explanation of the results, a local approach is used which, with equilibrium plasma pressure gradient and/or nonsymmetry of perturbations, requires operation with nonlocal azimuthal perturbed magnetic field. The gravity and effects of pressure anisotropy are taken into account. In addition to hydrodynamic, the electrodynamic approach is formulated. The drift effects are considered. Analyzed are the ideal instabilities and those depending on the dissipative effects: viscosity and heat conductivity. The MRI is considered at presence of the charged dust particles. Besides the local approach, the nonlocal approach is formulated for the plasma model with a steplike profile of angular rotation frequency. Alongside with perturbations which frequencies are small compared to the ion cyclotron frequency, the perturbations are analyzed with frequencies larger than the ion cyclotron frequency. The latter corresponds to the Hall regime and subregime of nonmagnetized plasma.     

森林公园在我国自然保护区系统中的地位

本文针对我国森林公园建设发展迅速的现状,阐述了“森林公园”的自然保护性质和作用,提出“国家自然保护区系统”的概念,将森林公园与自然保护区、风景名胜区三个体系同视为“国家自然保护区系统”中的三个组成部分,并阐述了这三个体系各自的特点、地位及其相互关系。同时,还提出进一步加强森林公园管理的建议。     

Sensory support of tongue movements in the sound-forming process in infants in the lst year of life

The structural and functional formation of tongue tactile sensory formations were correlated in infants. Heterochronicity was recorded both in build up of receptor formations in different areas of the tongue (tip, body, root) and sensory control of its movements related to sound formation. Receptor formations of the root of the tongue are formed first of all, hence the first sounds that are uttered by infants are primarily velar ones, followed by the appearance of the medio-lingual and later by dorsal sounds.     

Roles of interstitial cells of Cajal in regulating gastrointestinal motility: in vitro versus in vivo studies

The aim of this article is to provide a better understanding of the roles of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in regulating gastrointestinal motility by reviewing in vitro and in vivo physiological motility studies. Based on the in vitro studies, ICC are proposed to have the following functions: to generate slow waves, to mediate neurotransmission between the enteric nerves and the gastrointestinal muscles and to act as mechanoreceptors. However, there is limited evidence available for these hypotheses from the in vivo motility studies. In this review, we first introduce the major subtypes of ICC and their established functions. Three Kit mutant mouse and rodent models are presented and the loss of ICC subtypes in these mutants is reviewed. The physiological motility findings from various in vitroand in vivo experiments are discussed to give a critical review on the roles of ICC in generating slow waves, regulating gastrointestinal motility, mediating neural transmission and serving as mechanoreceptors. It is concluded that the role of ICC as pacemakers may be well established, but other cells may also be involved in the generation of slow waves; the theory that ICC are mediators of neurotransmission is challenged by the majority of the in vivo motility studies; the hypothesis that ICC are mechanoreceptors has not found supportive evidence from the in vivo studies yet. More studies are needed to explain discrepancies in motility findings between the in vitro and in vivo experiments.     

The role of cytoskeletal components in the maintenance of intercellular junctions in an insect

Summary Accessory glands of the cockroach are composed of secretory and supportive cells, the latter providing a skeleton-like framework of attentuated cytoplasmic processes into which the former are positioned. These two cell types are associated with one another laterally by adhaering, pleated septate, and gap junctions. Hemi-adhaerens junctions are also found on both luminal and basal surfaces of the gland; the former are associated with the cuticular lining of the lumen and the latter with extracellular matrix. The adhering and septate junctions are flanked by both filaments and microtubules; the former insert into the junctional membranes and are actin-like, binding both rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and the S₁ subfragment of rabbit heavy meromyosin. The role of this cytoskeletal protein with the cellular junctions has been explored by treatment with a disruptive agent, cytochalasin D. Dissociation of actin leads to changes in septate junctions and in microtubular distribution. This suggests that the latter act as anchors for the actin filaments which, in turn, appear bound to certain of the intramembranous junctional components.Supported by a Conicet/Royal Society Visiting Fellowship     

中国草原土壤呼吸作用研究进展

中国草原面积约占国土面积的40%, 且大都位于生态脆弱区, 对气候和环境变化十分敏感, 在未来大气CO₂调控中有着重要的作用。为增进对中国草原土壤呼吸作用的理解, 该文综述了近10年来中国草原土壤呼吸作用的最新研究进展, 指出中国草原土壤呼吸作用的研究主要集中在东北平原、内蒙古高原和青藏高原。草原土壤呼吸作用日动态的主导控制因子是温度, 季节动态的主导控制因子可以是温度、水分或二者的交互作用, 取决于研究地点的限制性环境因子, 而年际动态的主导控制因子为水分。草原土壤呼吸作用还存在着巨大的空间变异, 年降水和土壤全氮含量是不同类型草原土壤呼吸作用空间异质性的主导控制因子。土壤呼吸作用对全球变化的响应比较复杂, 取决于各因子之间相互影响的贡献。现有的土壤呼吸作用模型大多只考虑了水热因子, 很少包含土壤因子和生物因子及其协同作用的影响。在此基础上, 指出未来中国草原土壤呼吸作用拟加强的研究重点: 1)温带荒漠草原土壤呼吸作用研究; 2)非生长季土壤呼吸作用研究; 3)多时空尺度草原土壤呼吸作用的比较研究; 4)草原土壤呼吸作用过程模拟研究; 5)草原土壤呼吸作用的遥感监测评估研究。     

The pattern of changes in physiological parameters in the course of changes in physical exercise intensity

It is well known that metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory indices during exercise of moderate intensity are linearly related to the power of the exercise. After the load reaches a definite level, this relationship becomes nonlinear. Different methods for evaluating the intensity of load at which this transition takes place are discussed. The methods for investigating the time course of the transitional process in the systems of energy supply for muscle contractions with the changing intensity of the contractions are described. The dependence of the dynamic characteristics of physiological indices on the fitness level, which, in turn, depends on the age and level of physical activity, is discussed.     

Methods of embryo scoring in in vitro fertilization

It has been 25 years since the introduction of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for treatment of infertility. During this time very dynamic advances have taken place in all aspects of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The rapid improvement in embryological methods, especially these related to preimplantation embryo evaluation are of great importance. This article is a review of embryo classification systems utilized in ART programs. The most widely used scoring systems of zygotes and embryos (including blastocysts) are described. Additionally, the advantages of advanced embryo classifications in relation to ART success rates are presented.