Spectral features of amines of 2-phenylbenzazoles upon interaction with DNA

Absorption and fluorescent spectra of various synthetic aminophenyl derivatives of benzoxazole, benzothiazole and benzimidazole have been studied to estimate the efficiency of their binding with DNA. The significance of different functional groups of the fluorochromes for their interaction with DNA was determined, and main demands are formulated to the compounds to be used as potential fluorescent probes for DNA studies.     

Conformation-activity relations of dermorphin and its pentapeptide analogs

Low-energy peptide backbone structures of dermorphin (DM), amide of its N-terminal pentapeptide (DM 1-5) and DM 1-5 analogues with substitutions of Gly4 for Leu, D-Gln, Aal or Tal were determined by energy calculations. The above analogues were shown to possess different affinities toward opiate receptors of mu-type. The comparison of low-energy backbone structures of DM, DM 1-5 and its analogues resulted in development of the dermorphin "biologically active" conformation being characteristic of its binding with mu-type receptors. The specific binding of dermorphin to this receptor apparently depends on the conformation of the whole N-terminal pentapeptide.     

Specificity of deletion events in pBR322

The reversion of mutations due to inserts of identical palindromic DNAs just 1-bp apart in the amp gene of plasmid pBR322 varied up to 3000-fold (U. DasGupta, K. Weston-Hafer, and D.E. Berg (1987) Genetics 115, 41-49). The experiments reported here show that the intrinsic frequencies of deletion from these sites are truly very different. Deletions were selected by the joint loss of sacB (sucrose sensitivity) and lacZ alpa genes cloned together at these sites, without requiring restoration of the ampr allele. We found that greater than 90% of deletions at each of these sites do restore the ampr allele. This result reinforces the view that the probability of forming a particular deletion depends strongly on the DNA sequence at its prospective endpoints.     

Purification and immunological properties of an NAD(H) dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from soybean cells (Glycine max L.)

Studies were carried out on glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, EC 1.4.1.2) isolated from the SB1 and SB3 soybean (Glyciene max L. cv. Mandarin) cell cultures. The NAD(H) dependent enzyme from SB1 and SB3 cells was purified to homogeneity, and that from the SB3 cells studied in detail. It was shown to be activated by calcium. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was found to be 263 000 ± 12 000. The molecular weight of the subunits was shown to be 41 000 ± 2000, which indicates that the enzyme has a hexameric structure. Anti-GDH antibodies were produced in rabbits, to GDH purified to homogeneity from both cell cultures. Each antibody preparation reacted with the purified enzyme produced from either cell culture. Antibodies to GDH from SB3 cells were utilized to study the apparent induction of GDH, which occurs when these cells are grown in a medium with ammonium ions as the sole nitrogen source. The increase in GDH activity was shown to be due to de-novo protein synthesis. The anti-SB3-GDH antibody preparation was also tested for cross reactivity with crude GDH preparations from a number of plant sources, and purified GDH from a number of other organisms. The antibody was shown to cross react with a number of the GDH preparations.     

Infectious disease and the Unesco basic education initiative

As part of a Basic Education for All campaign, Unesco is exploring ways to improve health and nutrition in school-age children in order to help them take advantage of the only schooling they may ever receive. At the first international Unesco working meeting on health, nutrition and school performance, intestinal helminths were identified as more appropriate immediate targets than malaria and other infectious diseases. Prevalence and intensity of infection in school-age children, the schools as vehicles of intervention, and the availability of interventions contributed to this choice. However, there are still many gaps in our knowledge of the effects of infectious diseases in schoolchildren. Through the improvement of understanding in this area, the parasitology community may be able to contribute to the Unesco project.     

Proteinchemical and kinetic features of gramicidin S synthetase

The amino-acid compositions of both enzymes of gramicidin S synthetase were determined. These proteins contain a high number of acidic amino-acid residues. Phenylalanine racemase, the light enzyme, was sequenced from the N-terminus until position 10. The kinetics of the thioester formation reactions were studied. The half-life times of these processes under substrate saturation conditions were found in the range between seconds and a few minutes. The valine activation at the heavy enzyme was detected as one of the rate-limiting steps of the biosynthesis of gramicidin S.     

Differential distribution of alpha-tubulin isotypes in Euplotes eurystomus determined by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy

Detergent permeabilized Euplotes eurystomus (a fresh water hypotrichous ciliate) was reacted with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for either detyrosinated or tyrosinated alpha-tubulin (Glu- or Tyr-tubulin). The isolated cytoskeleton-nuclear complex was examined by Western immunoblotting and by immunofluorescent and electron microscopic methods. Both Glu- and Tyr-tubulins were detected by immunoblot analysis. Immunofluorescent microscopy indicated that the alpha-tubulin isotypes are concentrated in different regions of permeabilized cells: Glu-tubulin is located primarily in cirri, membranelles, and surrounding the macro- and micronuclei. Tyr-tubulin is principally at the bases of cirri and membranelles. This differential distribution of alpha-tubulin isotypes is discussed in terms of current concepts concerning the correlation of tubulin post-translational modifications to microtubule stability. Confocal immunofluorescent imaging was of critical importance in clearly differentiating the Glu-tubulin isotype surrounding the macro- and micronuclei from a brilliantly fluorescent environment originating from cytoskeletal structures. In conjunction with conventional and stereo-electron microscopy, confocal optical microscopy provided convincing evidence for a "basket" of microtubules surrounding both nuclei.     

Defensive behaviour in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis: the whole body withdrawal associated with exsanguination

The freshwater snail L. stagnalis is known to be able to respond to a strong, noxious stimulus with a full retraction of the foot and head into the shell accompanied with expelling the blood through the hemal pore. We have found that this behavioural response, besides graded local retractions, can be triggered by mild tactile stimulation provided that the stimulus is repeated several times. Only a complete exsanguination could be obtained, indicating that it is an all-or-none defensive behaviour. In an electrophysiological investigation of isolated brain, a number of similarities were found between this all-or-none behaviour and the so-called input 3 to central neurons, as described by Benjamin and Winlow. These include ability to be selectively activated by high calcium solutions, and blocked by keeping the snails in a spoiled water. Injection of snails with naloxone (0.5-2.0/micrograms/g) or ergotamine (0.4/microgram/g) blocked selectively the whole body withdrawal induced by tactile stimulation, but not that induced by injection of a high calcium saline or acetylcholine solution, indicating that enkephalinergic and/or dopaminergic mechanosensory neurons might be involved. The consideration of available data has led to a working hypothesis that the activity of input 3 might be the neurophysiological correlate of the high threshold all-or-none whole body withdrawal associated with exsanguination.     

Mathematical approach to modeling of the treatment of suppurative processes

Consideration of an inflammation focus as an "open system" provided analogy between microbiological processes in inflamed wounds and in systems of continuous cultivation of microorganisms. Mathematical modeling of such systems is widely used. Some of the methods for the mathematical modeling were applied to chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy of postoperative wounds. In modeling continuous cultivation of microorganisms it is usually necessary to determine optimal conditions for the maximum yield of their biomass. In modeling of wound treatment the aim was to determine the process parameters providing the minimum biomass. The described simple models showed that there could be certain optimal flow rate of the washing fluid in the aspiration-washing procedure for wound treatment at which the drug was not completely washed out while the growth rate of the microbial population was minimal. Such mathematical models were shown valuable in optimizing the use of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics.