Synthesis and antibacterial activity of eremomycin esters through the carboxyl group]

Methyl, benzyl and diphenylmethyl esters of the glycopeptide antibiotic eremomycin were obtained by its treatment with corresponding diazoalkanes. The esters have high antibacterial activity but are less active than the parent antibiotic.     

Inhibition of the development of the reproductive tract in parasitized snails

Summary

Myoblasts, muscle cells with the capacity to divide, have been detected in “Anlagen” of the male copulation organ of Lymnaea stagnalis. They only occur in the apical part of the penis. Here they could be found throughout life. Mitotic activity of these cells can be demonstrated by using an antiserum to a S-phase specific cell cycle marker, PCNA [see, e.g., Baserga (1991)]. The number/percentage of PCNA positive myoblasts is a good parameter for growth of this male copulation organ and hence also for inhibition of its growth and development as occurs in parasitized snails. In transplantation experiments, “Anlagen” of the copulation organ were used from snails 7–9 weeks after being parasitized as they can be excised in this stage and transplanted into either parasitized or nonparasitized snails. These experiments have indicated that humoral, parasitic excretory/secretory factors can be responsible for the inhibition of growth and differentiation of the copulation organ in parasitized snails as reflected by a relatively low number of PCNA positive myoblasts compared to the controls. Data obtained in in vitro experiments showed a significant decrease of the number of myoblasts in “Anlagen” cultured in the presence of parasitic E/S products. The fact that no significant effect was found on the relative low number of PCNA positive myoblasts is discussed. The effect of parasitic E/S products on these myoblasts appeared to be exerted in a direct way, not mediated by CNS-derived factors or by factors from cells in the connective tissue sheath around the CNS. Although it appears possible to use transplantation and/or in vitro culturing of these “Anlagen” as a bioassay for identification of the parasitic factor(s) responsible for the inhibitory effects on myoblasts, the methods are very laborious and do not seem very appropriate for testing many fractions of E/S products.     

Promising Molecular Targets for Design of Antitumor Drugs Based on Ras Protein Signaling Cascades

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Oncological diseases have always been among the most significant pathologies. Therefore, development of effective antitumor drugs is considered one of the...     

The development of thalamocortical connections studied by using carbocyanine dyes in the early ontogeny of rats]

We studied the differentiation of neurons and development of their connections in the occipital cortex and thalamic areas of the brain in early ontogenesis of rats: from day 11 of embryogenesis until day 19 of postnatal development. We used the method of staining of brain tissues by carbocyanine dyes after its preliminary fixation in aldehydes. Three carbocyanine dyes were used: DiI, DiO and DiA. We showed the dynamics of structural differentiation of the cortical neurons and lateral geniculate body of the thalamus and the specificity of formation of the axonal pathways between the neocortex and thalamic areas. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis on ordered spatial-temporal growth of the cortical and thalamic fibers in early embryogenesis and revealed synchronous development of both classes of neurons of the lateral geniculate body. Retrograde and anterograde staining of the nerve cells processes by DiI and DiO showed fine morphological details of their structure. DiI provided for a good staining of the cells until day 19 of postnatal ontogenesis and DiO, until the end of embryogenesis, while DiA was not capable of diffusion in the fixed tissue.     

A new bioreactor with a semi-fixed packing: investigation of degradation of phenol

A new bioreactor using a semi-fixed packing of frames with “sacks” made of a fabric of “Raschell” type stretched on them is proposed. The construction provides not only a large surface area of the biofilm carrier per unit volume of the apparatus, but also the possibility for an easy removal of the biomass after reaching a certain thickness of the biofilm increasing the gas velocity. Aerobic degradation of phenol in the new bioreactor, using microorganisms of the strain Pseudomonas putida, was studied. The experiments are carried out using water containing 0.7?g/l of phenol at a temperature of 27–30?°C. Different specific surface area of the packing (within 176 and 387?m²/m³) are studied. Degradation rates from 60 to 140?mg/(1?h) are attained. A retardation of the process at the end is observed, probably due to inhibition effect. This rate is 5–6 times higher than the rate observed when using free cells. At air velocity of 0.03–0.035?m/s (related to the total cross section of the bioreactor) the vibrations of the packing material lead to destruction and removal of the old biomass.     

Monitoring of Microbial Degraders in Manned Space Stations

Samples of microorganisms from the surface of constructions of Mir Space Station (Mir SS) were taken and examined after 13 years of operation. The following microorganisms were isolated and identified: 12 fungal species belonging to the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Aureobasidium; 3 yeast species belonging to the genera Debaryomyces, Candida, and Rhodotorula; and 4 bacterial species belonging to the genera Bacillus, Myxococcus, and Rhodococcus. The predominant species in all samples was Penicillium chrisogenum. It was shown that the fungi isolated could damage polymers and induce corrosion of aluminum-magnesium alloys. We commenced a study of microbial degraders on constructions of the Russian section of the International Space Station (RS ISS). Twenty-six species of fungi, bacteria, yeasts, and actinomycetes, known as active biodegraders, were identified in three sample sets taken at intervals. We founded a collection of microorganisms surviving throughout space flights. This collection can be used to test spacecraft production materials, in order to determine their resistance to biodegradation.__________Translated from Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 41, No. 4, 2005, pp. 435–443.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Alekhova, Aleksandrova, Novozhilova, Lysak, Zagustina, Bezborodov.