New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles are described, Andakhudukia ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Metabuprestium ustkivdense sp. nov. from the lowermost Paleogene of the Amur Region. In addition, four new monotypic genera that share some features with jewel beetles are described: Cretoelaterium kazanovense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Eastern Transbaikalia and Cretopoena gratshevi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia have been referred to the families Elateridae and Eucnemidae; Cretofalselaterium baiankhongoricum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Cretogermen turonicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan have been erected for isolated elytra and placed in Coleoptera incertae sedis.     

见血封喉乳汁脂溶性成分及其抗氧化活性研究

首次采用气相色谱.质谱联用技术(GC-MS)对见血封喉(Antiaris toxicaria(Pers.)Lesch.)乳汁的脂溶性成分进行了分析,共鉴定了27个化学成分,占其总量的91.7%.用清除DPPH自由基能力的方法测定了见血封喉乳汁脂溶性部位的抗氧化活性,结果显示出一定的抗氧化活性,SC50值为500μg ml-1.     

Dinucleoside monophosphates containing AZT and 1-methyladenosine or 7-methylguanosine

Dinucleoside monophosphates containing AZT and 1-methyladenosine or 7-methylguanosine were synthesized and their in vitro anti-HIV activity was determined.     

Localized in vivo genotypic and phenotypic correction of the albino mutation in skin by RNA-DNA oligonucleotide

We recently demonstrated that an RNA-DNA oligonucleotide corrected a point mutation in the mouse tyrosinase gene, resulting in permanent and inheritable restoration of tyrosinase enzymatic activity, melanin synthesis, and pigmentation changes in cultured melanocytes. In this study, we extended gene correction of melanocytes from tissue culture to live animals, using a chimeric oligonucleotide designed to correct a point mutation in the tyrosinase gene. Both topical application and intradermal injection of this oligonucleotide to albino BALB/c mouse skin resulted in dark pigmentation of several hairs in a localized area. The restored tyrosinase enzymatic activity was detected by dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPA) staining of hair follicles in the treated skin. Tyrosinase gene correction was also confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing from skin that was positive for DOPA staining and melanin synthesis. Localized gene correction was maintained three months after the last application of the chimeric oligonucleotides. These results demonstrated correction of the tyrosinase gene point mutation by chimeric oligonucleotides in vivo.     

Proteome–Metabolome Profiling of Ovarian Cancer Ascites Reveals Novel Components Involved in Intercellular Communication

Ovarian cancer ascites is a native medium for cancer cells that allows investigation of their secretome in a natural environment. This medium is of interest as a promising source of potential biomarkers, and also as a medium for cell–cell communication. The aim of this study was to elucidate specific features of the malignant ascites metabolome and proteome. In order to omit components of the systemic response to ascites formation, we compared malignant ascites with cirrhosis ascites. Metabolome analysis revealed 41 components that differed significantly between malignant and cirrhosis ascites. Most of the identified cancer-specific metabolites are known to be important signaling molecules. Proteomic analysis identified 2096 and 1855 proteins in the ovarian cancer and cirrhosis ascites, respectively; 424 proteins were specific for the malignant ascites. Functional analysis of the proteome demonstrated that the major differences between cirrhosis and malignant ascites were observed for the cluster of spliceosomal proteins. Additionally, we demonstrate that several splicing RNAs were exclusively detected in malignant ascites, where they probably existed within protein complexes. This result was confirmed in vitro using an ovarian cancer cell line. Identification of spliceosomal proteins and RNAs in an extracellular medium is of particular interest; the finding suggests that they might play a role in the communication between cancer cells. In addition, malignant ascites contains a high number of exosomes that are known to play an important role in signal transduction. Thus our study reveals the specific features of malignant ascites that are associated with its function as a medium of intercellular communication.Ovarian cancer is the sixth most frequently occurring cancer among the gynecological cancers and accounts for about 5% of all new female cancer cases according to the 2012 data (World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer www.globocan.iarc.fr). Epithelial ovarian cancer registered in 90% of ovarian cancer cases. The rate of mortality from ovarian cancer holds first place among the other gynecological cancers, largely because of the asymptomatic progression of the disease, especially at its early stages, and a lack of adequate screening tests, which leads to late detection, typically only after the cancer has spread to adjacent structures. In such a case, the five-year survival rate is only 25% to 40%, whereas it can be as high as 90% if the cancer is diagnosed early. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is diagnosed early in less than 20% of the total number of cases (International Agency for Research on Cancer). The main methods for primary diagnostics include transvaginal ultrasound and blood biomarker analyses such as with cancer antigen 125 (CA125),¹ epididymis protein-4 (HE4), and the OVA1 multiparametric (CA125, β2-microglobulin, transferrin, and apolipoprotein A1) tests. The OVA1 test is mainly applied to evaluate the malignancy of a tumor-like pelvic mass, and the other two markers are used to monitor disease progress and estimate treatment efficacy, as they are not highly specific for ovarian cancer and thus produce a high percentage of false-positive results (1). Therefore, the search for specific and sensitive markers for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is an urgent problem, although the development of new, efficient methods for treatment of the disease at late stages also remains of critical importance.One of the symptoms associated with late-stage ovarian cancer is excessive fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, known as ascites. Mechanisms of malignant ascites formation involve lymph obstruction, activation of mesothelial cells as a result of the metastatic process, and increased vessel permeability due to the secretion of growth factors (2, 3). Therefore, malignant ascites is enriched by tumor cells and soluble growth factors that may be associated with the processes of invasion and metastasis. Thus, ascites provides a native medium for cancer cells and creates an opportunity to investigate the ovarian cancer cell secretome in its natural environment (as distinct from cancer cell cultures in vitro) (2).Omics studies enable us to understand physiological information at different levels (4–7). Considering the highly diverse features of information obtained from each omics platform, one could expect that combinations of different omics should provide highly comprehensive views on special features of the cancer cell secretome. Studies of ascites with the use of omics technologies could not only help us understand the peculiarities of the vital activity of cancer cells in the organism, but also elaborate new therapeutic methods. However, until now, proteomic studies of ovarian cancer ascites have been exceptionally directed at the search for potential biomarkers of this cancer (3, 8–10). Investigation of ascites is also interesting beyond the protein level. In particular, small molecules—metabolites—are known to be involved in intercellular communication. However, in metabolome studies, to our knowledge, metabolites from ovarian cancer ascites have not been explored at all; only metabolomic analysis of urine and serum has been described in the literature for this type of cancer (11–13).It is important to note that ascites accumulation can be caused by various pathologies—for example, liver cirrhosis (81% of all cases), heart diseases (2%), tuberculosis (3%), and 10% of all cases associated with malignancy (10%). The most common cancer associated with ascites is ovarian cancer, accounting for 38% of malignant ascites occurring in females (2). In this study, we compared ascites of different etiologies, formed in the course of ovarian cancer and portal alcoholic cirrhosis. Thus, we not only extended our knowledge of the protein composition and filled in gaps regarding the metabolome, but also elucidated specific features of malignant ascites composition.     

Reconstruction of SNP haplotypes with mutation c.-23+1G&gt;A in human gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">GJB2</Emphasis> (Chromosome 13) in some populations of Eurasia

The c.-23+1G>A splice site mutation is one of the most frequent mutations of gene GJB2 (Cx26, 13q11-q12) associated with congenital non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness. This mutation is characterized by a wide spread from Eastern Siberia and Central Asia to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. It is currently unknown whether this mutation spread over such a vast territory as a result of the founder effect or there were several local centers of origin of this mutation. For the first time, on the basis of the analysis of variability of nine SNP markers, five different haplotypes in deaf patients homozygous for mutation c.-23+1G>A from six Eurasian populations were reconstructed. The structure of the haplotypes revealed in Yakuts, Russians, Evenks, Tuvinians, Mongols, and Turks makes it possible to assume that mutation c.-23+1G>A (GJB2) could have spread across Eurasia as a result of the founder effect. The greatest diversity of haplotypes with c.-23+1G>A was found in patients from Mongolia, which probably refers to the earlier period of expansion of haplotypes carrying this mutation on the territory of Central Asia.     

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) from Cretaceous deposits of Russia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles, Cretalbiana sukatshevae gen. et sp. nov. and C. major sp. nov., are described from the Middle Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of Khetana, Khabarovsk Region, Russia.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of flavocytochrome c(3), the fumarate reductase from Shewanella frigidimarina.

The fumarate reductase (flavocytochrome c(3)) from Shewanella frigidimarina (formerly S. putrefaciens) NCIMB400 has been crystallized in the space group P2(1), with cell dimensions of a = 45.447 A, b = 92.107 A, c = 78.311 A, and beta = 91.038 degrees and one molecule per asymmetric unit. A native data set has been collected to 1.8 A. The gene encoding Fcc(3) from the S. frigidimarina type strain ACAM591 has been cloned and sequenced and the protein crystallized in space group P2(1) with cell dimensions of a = 45.359 A, b = 88.051 A, c = 77.473 A, and beta = 104.499 degrees. Anomalous data have also been collected from the NCIMB400 crystal allowing the heme iron positions to be identified.