The photodynamic inactivation of Candida guilliermondii in the presence of photodithazine

Photodithazine, a glucosamine salt of chlorin e6, enhanced the inactivation of Candida guilliermondii cells by visible light. The sensitizing effect of photodithazine was found to be related to free or cell surface-bound molecules of this dye. Sodium azide (a singlet oxygen quencher) and propyl gallate (an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation) protected yeast cells from the photodithazine-enhanced photoinactivation.     

Effects of extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation on the immune system and systemic regulation of homeostasis

Low-intensity of electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequencies (EHF EMR) is effectively used in medical practice for diagnostics, prevention and treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases of different etiology. However, in spite of existence of many hypotheses about mechanisms of EHF EMR effects on the molecular and cellular levels of organization of living systems, there is not conception that could explain all diversity of the EHF-therapy effects from unified approach. In our opinion, the problem of determination of mechanisms of EHF EMR effects on living organism is divided into two basic tasks: first, determining subcellular structures which can receive radiation, and, second, studying physiological reactions of the organism which are caused by radiation. It is obviously, that investigation of functions of single cells and subcellular elements can not entirely explain therapeutic effects and mechanisms of EHF EMR influence on multicellular organism on the whole. Plenty of functional relationships between organs and systems of organs should be taken into account. In the present review, a realization of the EHF-therapy effects due to the influence on immune system functions and start of system mechanisms of maintenance of the homeostasis on the organism level is hypothesized. Potential targets for EHF EMR acception on the level of different systems of the organism are analysed. The material is formed so that functional relations between immune system and other regulatory systems (nervous and endocrine systems) are traced.     

PCR-based evaluation of sequence specificity of DNA fragmentation by ultrasound

Ultrasonic fragmentation, which is a simple and convenient method for the mechanical degradation of DNA, is widely used in modern genome studies as one of the sample preparation steps. It has been recently found that the DNA breaks occur more often in the regions containing 5'-CG-3' dinucleotides. We studied the influence of the 5'-CG-3' dinucleotides on the efficiency of the 28S rRNA gene amplification during PCR with sonicated DNA of Mantis religiosa. It was shown that the amplification rate depends on the template length and the number of 5'-CG-3' dinucleotides. Amplification of the DNA regions with a higher 5'-CG-3' density is less efficient because of their higher sensitivity to ultrasound. The amount of the amplified DNA templates is inversely proportional to the 5'-CG-3'number.     

Strain variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Irpex Lacteus</Emphasis> basidiomycetes in the synthesis of specific milk-clotting proteinases

The ability to synthesize milk-clotting (rennet) proteinases was studied in eight strains of Irpex Lacteus basidiomycetes. It was found that the studied I. lacteus strains are characterized by different enzyme activities in their culture liquid. For I. lacteus strains 2425, 2426, and 2427, the maximum milk-clotting activity was detected during the exponential growth phase on the 15th day of cultivation on glucose–peptone medium. These I. lacteus strains are the most prospective milk-clotting enzyme producers for further research and practical application. I. lacteus strains 2421, 2422, 2423, 2424, and 2428 showed lower values of the enzyme activity and require additional research to determine the optimal culture conditions.     

The timing of alpha-gustducin expression during cell renewal in rat vallate taste buds

The G protein subunit alpha-gustducin is expressed in a subset of light (Type II) but not in dark (Type I) cells in rat vallate taste buds. The thymidine analogue 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) is incorporated into DNA during the S-phase of the cell cycle and can be used to determine the time of origin of a cell. In this study, 31 rats were injected with BrdU (50 mg/kg i.p.) and perfused at various times, from 2.5 to 10.5 days, following BrdU administration. Vallate papillae were embedded in polyester wax, cut into 4 microm transverse sections, and characterized with antibodies to BrdU and alpha-gustducin. Sections were processed for indirect immunofluorescence or with an immunoperoxidase procedure. From immunoperoxidase material on 21 rats, counts of alpha-gustducin- and BrdU-labeled cells were obtained from 300-800 taste bud profiles at each survival time; a total of 4122 taste bud profiles were examined. Cells with nuclei immunoreactive for BrdU occurred within the taste buds at 2.5 days and double-labeled cells were clearly evident at 3.5 days; a small number of double-labeled cells were seen as early as 2.5 days. Double-labeled cells reached a peak at 6.5 days and did not decline significantly by 10.5 days. Cells labeled for BrdU but not alpha-gustducin peaked at 5.5 days and showed a significant decline by 8.5 days. These latter cells included light cells not expressing alpha- gustducin and dark cells, which have previously been shown to have a shorter life span than light cells. These data suggest that expression of alpha-gustducin appears very early in a cell's life span and that these cells are longer lived than many of the cells that do not express this G protein.      

Growth of Transgenic Tobacco Plants with Changed Expression of Genes Encoding Expansins under the Action of Stress Factors

The peculiarities of root growth and stress tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants with constitutive expression of NtEXPA1 and NtEXPA5 genes, as well as plants with reduced expression of NtEXPA4 gene encoding α-expansins of Nicotiana tabacum, were studied during prolonged cultivation under conditions of drought, salinity, and low positive temperatures. Increased expression of expansin genes led to an increase in the growth rate and root length both under normal plant growth conditions and at 12°C and 50 mM NaCl. Increased expression of expansin genes influenced the changes in the fresh and dry mass of a shoot, leading to an increase in their exposure to hypothermia. Transgenic plants with a reduced level of NtEXPA4 expansin gene expression were characterized by a reduction in the fresh and dry weight of a shoot due to drought and low positive temperatures. The totality of the data obtained may indicate the involvement of NtEXPA1, NtEXPA4, and NtEXPA5 tobacco expansin genes in the regulation of growth under hypothermia, drought, and salinity.     

Dose-inward current relationships for current-carrying calcium and strontium ions in isolated Limnea stagnalis neurons

The dose-inward current relationships for current-carrying Ca⁺⁺ and Sr⁺⁺ ions were studied by means of intracellular dialysis and voltage clamp methods in isolated neurons ofLimnea stagnalis. These relationships rose to a ceiling for these ions. The data are explained in terms of an activation theory using a double-barrier model of the calcium channels. Relative values of velocity constantsv _X for passage of ion X²⁺ across the second energy barrier and of the constant K_X, defining the binding effectiveness at the entrance to the channel were determined:vCa:vSr = 1:2; K_Ca = 1400 M^–1; K_Sr = 270 M^–1.Research Institute of Physiology and Pathology of the Cardiovascular System, Medical Institute, Ministry of Higher Middle and Specialized Education of the Lithuanian SSR, Kaunas; Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Pushchino-on-Oka. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 362–366, July–August, 1979.     

The carbohydrate-binding sequences in lectins of the clovers trifolium repens, T. pratense, and T. trichocephalum

The carbohydrate-binding sequences (CBS) in the lectin genes of Trijilium repens, T. pratense, and T. tri-chocephalum were sequenced. The gene regions encoding lectin CBS of T. pratense and T. repens displayed a considerable similarity; however, the CBS of these species differed essentially. Moreover, T. repens formed a compact cluster with Melilotus albus and M. officinalis in the phylogenetic trees constructed according to the nucleotide sequences and the corresponding CBS of legume lectins. T. trichocephalum does not fall into the group of the tribe Trifolieae members according to both the amino acid sequence of lectin carbohydrate-binding region and the nucleotide sequence of lectin gene.     

Amplification and cloning of dahlia mosaic virus and carnation etched ring virus promoters

Amplification and cloning of dahlia mosaic virus promoter were carried out for the first time. Sequence analysis showed homology between this promoter and the promoters of other caulimoviruses. In addition, amplification and cloning of the carnation etched ring virus promoter was performed.     

Thermoelastic excitation of acoustic waves in biological models under the effect of the high peak-power pulsed electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency

The capability of high peak-power pulsed electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency (35,27 GHz, pulse widths of 100 and 600 ns, peak power of 20 kW) to excite acoustic waves in model water-containing objects and muscular tissue of animals has been experimentally shown for the first time. The amplitude and duration of excited acoustic pulses are within the limits of accuracy of theoretical assessments and have a complex nonlinear dependence on the energy input of electromagnetic radiation supplied. The velocity of propagation of acoustic pulses in water-containing models and isolated muscular tissue of animals was close to the reference data. The excitation of acoustic waves in biological systems under the action of high peak-power pulsed electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency is the important phenomenon, which essentially contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of biological effects of these electromagnetic fields.