Structural-functional study of glycine-and-proline-containing peptides (Glyprolines) as potential neuroprotectors

A synthetic scheme for preparation of (Gly-Pro) _n , (Pro-Gly) _n (n = 2, 3), and (Pro-Gly-Pro) _n (n = 1, 2) peptides was elaborated. The effect of the synthesized peptides and the Gly-Pro and Pro-Gly dipeptides on survival of cultured cells of PC12 rat pheochromocytoma was studied under the conditions of oxidative stress induced by brief incubation of the cells with hydrogen peroxide. Peptides of the general formula (Gly-Pro) _n and the Pro-Gly-Pro peptide at a concentration of 0.2–100 μM were shown to decrease the number of damaged cells. The Gly-Pro peptide was the most active and decreased the number of damaged cells by 49% on average at a concentration of 100 μM.     

Inhibition of Glutamate-Induced Intensification of Free Radical Reactions by Gangliosides: Possible Role in Their Protective Effect in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells and Brain Synaptosomes

The neurotoxic effect of exposure of rat cerebellar granule cells to glutamate (I00 M) is to a large extent prevented by incubation of neurons not only with micromolar, but even with nanomolar concentrations of gangliosides GM1, GD1b, and GT1b. GM1 was also shown to decrease significantly the per cent of dead neurons in culture after induction of lipid peroxidation. Exposure to glutamate was found to cause a significant decrease of the activity of Na⁺, K⁺-ATP-ase in rat brain cortex synaptosomes, but superoxide dismutase, alpha-tocopherol, or 10–100 nM GM1 practically prevented its action. Other data showing the ability of gangliosides to inhibit the intensification of free radical reactions by glutamate (based on the estimation of methemoglobin formation, SH group content, etc.) have been obtained. The results suggest that gangliosides are able to decrease the glutamate-induced activation of free radical reactions in nerve cells. This effect appears to contribute to their protective action against glutamate neurotoxicity.     

不同种源中间锦鸡儿碳氮磷化学计量特征研究

中间锦鸡儿(Caragana liouana)是中国毛乌素沙地的主要灌木建群种,在其主要分布区采集9个不同地理种源的种子,栽种至同质园,并测定不同器官(根、茎、叶)碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,比较种源和器官间碳氮磷化学计量特征的差异及元素之间的相关性。结果显示:(1)不同种源中间锦鸡儿根、茎、叶的C含量差异显著,分别为361.12~426.30mg·g~(-1)、412.32~463.13mg·g~(-1)、419.21~478.94mg·g~(-1);N含量种源间差异显著,分别为20.52~33.67mg·g~(-1)、15.77~23.92mg·g~(-1)、27.60~36.44mg·g~(-1);P含量种源间差异显著,分别为1.52~3.73mg·g~(-1)、1.24~2.14mg·g~(-1)、1.44~2.38mg·g~(-1);不同器官的C/N、C/P、N/P也表现出种源间显著差异。(2)种源和器官对中间锦鸡儿碳氮磷化学计量特征的影响程度存在差异,种源对P、C/P、N/P影响较大,器官对C、N、C/N影响较大。(3)相关性分析表明,N、P分别对C/N和C/P的变异起主导作用,并共同影响N/P的变异。研究表明,中间锦鸡儿的碳氮磷化学计量特征在长期的适应进化过程中已产生遗传分化,并形成了自身的养分利用策略。     

Improvement of the quality control of thioglycol medium

The effect of thimerosal used at different concentrations on the growth of S. haemolyticus, strain Dick I, and A. faecalis, strain 415, has been studied. A. faecalis, strain 415, in contrast to S. haemolyticus, strain Dick I, has been shown to be highly sensitive to thimerosal. The growth and neutralizing properties of a number of lots of thyoglycol medium have been studied with the use of the above-mentioned strains. The advantages of A. faecalis, strain 415, over S. haemolyticus, strain Dick I, for the evaluation of these properties of thioglycol medium have been established. A. faecalis, strain 415, can be recommended for use as a test strain for evaluating the quality of thioglycol medium instead of S. haemolyticus, strain Dick I.     

Detection of carriers of hemophilia A by testing for HindIII polymorphism in the factor VIII gene by PCR

Representatives of 62 families from Moscow and Leningrad with haemophilia A observed in the pedigree were tested for HindIII polymorphism in the factor VIII gene. The proposed scheme of investigation was based on intron 19 of the FVIII gene amplification by the PCR technique followed by restriction analysis with the inner control of hydrolysis. 207 unrelated X-chromosomes were analysed, the frequency of the incidence of the polymorphic HindIII site in the given population found to be 0.29. The frequency of incidence of the HindIII heterozygotes calculated according to Hardy-Weinberg equation was 0.41. This value evidences for relatively high informativity of this polymorphism for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A. 23 families (37%) out of 62 examined in the study were informative for this criteria. The new scheme proved to be effective in testing HindIII polymorphism for haemophilia A carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. The whole procedure takes one day, the radiolabelled probes are not used. The scheme described was inculcated in the All-Union Research Center for Haematology, Ministry of Health, USSR, Moscow, Research Institute for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Leningrad, Institute of Medical Genetics, Greifswald, DDR.     

Hepatocytes in heterokaryons do not retard the nuclei of stimulated fibroblasts entering the S period]

Serum-deprived (0.2%) resting and serum-stimulated (10%) proliferating NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were fused with hepatocytes from intact, regenerating and embryonic mouse livers to elucidate mechanisms of liver cell proliferation, DNA synthesis being investigated in nuclei of heterokaryons and non-fused cells using radioautography. Hepatocytes in heterokaryons were found to have no inhibitory effect on the entry of stimulated fibroblast nuclei into the S-period, but on the contrary they were involved in DNA synthesis. In addition, the nuclei in heterokaryons mutually stimulated each other to enter the S-period. In their turn, the resting fibroblasts did not prevent the proliferating hepatocytes from the regenerating and embryonic livers to enter the S-period. Possible reasons of the absence of inhibitory effect of differentiated cells in heterokaryons are discussed. The data obtained enable us to conclude that the mechanism of proliferative process control in resting immortalized cells differs from that in differentiated cells where proliferation seems to be stopped without affecting the endogenous inhibitor postulated for the resting and ageing fibroblasts.     

The summation properties of the somatosensory system demonstrated via a study of the tactile sensations evoked by an electrical current and by focused ultrasound

Sensational thresholds of the skin of fingers, palm and forearm have been determined in 5 healthy subjects ageing from 20 to 49 years. About 100 summation curves were obtained. Critical duration of the electrical stimuli remained constant in various areas. Critical duration of ultrasonic stimulation increased from fingers to forearm. The data obtained together with those found in literature suggest that critical duration of the stimulus is associated with the diameter of nonmyelin nervous fibers which are affected by the stimulus increasing with the increase in fiber diameter.