Spin label study of structural changes at different depths of phospholipid membranes after their peroxidation

Changes of structural organization of liposomal phospholipid membranes, after their Fe2+-induced peroxidation were studied at different depth using nitroxyl derivatives of stearic acid. It was established that during Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation a strong rise in lipid polarity accompanied with immobilization of acyl chains of phospholipids at the depth of 0.6-0.8 nm from the surface was measured. At the same time no significant changes in the structural organization were seen at the depth of 20-22 nm.     

Comparative study of the tRNA-methylases of normal and tumor tissues. II. Positional specificity of renal and carcinoma RA methylases

A comparative study of the position specificity of tRNA-methylases from normal and tumour tissues was performed on yeast tRNA1Val as the substrates using partially purified enzyme preparations from rat kidney and carcinoma RA. As in the case of rat liver and Novikoff hepatoma, two methylated compounds are formed in yeast tRNA1Val under the action of rat kidney and carcinoma enzyme preparations: m5C is formed in the sequence C49--C52 located in the extra loop and A59 in the Tpsi-loop is is converted into m1A. The activity of m5C-methylase [S-Ado-Met-tRNA-(cytosine-5)methyltransferase] (E. C. 2.1.1.29) is approximately equal in both tissues, whereas the activity of m1A-methylase [S-Ado-Met-tRNA-(adenine-1)methyltransferase] (E. C. 2.1.1.36) in carcinoma is twice as high as in the kidney. The two enzymes do not differ in their position specificity.     

The possibility of using the preparation MIGI-K in districts exposed to radioactive contamination following the accident at the Chernobyl AES]

A preparation from mussels, MIGI-K, used as an additive to the diet of people working at the Chernobyl power plant has proved to be efficient in increasing the total resistance of the body, including the resistance to ionizing radiation. In experiments with animals, MIGI-K has been shown to accelerate excretion of 45Ca and 86Rb from the body. The combination of these properties of MIGI-K permits us to consider it an efficient drug to be used within the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.     

Size and mortality rates of Glossina pallidipes in the semi-arid zone of southwestern Kenya

Seasonal changes in the mean size of tsetse, Glossina pallidipes Austen, as indicated by wing vein length, were monitored during 1983-86 at Nguruman, southwestern Kenya. Changes in size of nulliparous females and wing fray category 1 males were shown to be correlated with the relative humidity 2 months before they were captured. Soil temperature when flies were in the pupal stage had much less effect. Size dependent mortality was demonstrated, with the mean size of flies emerging from pupae significantly less than that of field-caught flies. This mortality must occur at emergence, since there was no evidence of size-dependent mortality once the flies became available to the trap. Size was correlated with density-independent mortality acting on the parent population 2 months previously. It might therefore be possible to use size as an index of the intensity of such mortality. This could be useful when assessing the level of additional mortality required to suppress tsetse populations.     

Nuclear DNA sequences from late Pleistocene megafauna

We report the retrieval and characterization of multi- and single-copy nuclear DNA sequences from Alaskan and Siberian mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius). In addition, a nuclear copy of a mitochondrial gene was recovered. Furthermore, a 13,000-year-old ground sloth and a 33,000- year-old cave bear yielded multicopy nuclear DNA sequences. Thus, multicopy and single-copy genes can be analyzed from Pleistocene faunal remains. The results also show that under some circumstances, nucleotide sequence differences between alleles found within one individual can be distinguished from DNA sequence variation caused by postmortem DNA damage. The nuclear sequences retrieved from the mammoths suggest that mammoths were more similar to Asian elephants than to African elephants.      

Comparative study of the tRNA-methylases of normal and tumor tissues. I. Spectrum of renal and carcinoma RA methylases

A comparative study of rat kidney and carcinoma RA tRNA-methylase activity has been carried out using partially purified enzyme preparations and total E. coli tRNA. Also the nuclease activity of the methylase preparations from kidney and carcinoma was compared. It was established that the methylase activity in carcinoma preparations is higher, whereas the nuclease activity is lower in comparison to the enzyme preparations from liver. No formation of some specific methylated compounds could be established in the case of carcinoma. It was established that the relative contribution of individual methylases to the elevated level of total tRNA-methylase activity in carcinoma is different. Maximal enhancement of activity was established for the methylase forming m5U, whereas the activity of the enzymes, transfering the methyl group to the fifth position of C is practically equal in kidney and carcinoma tissues. Experimental results and theoretical evaluation of the hypotheses suggested to explain the higher methylase activity in tumor tissues allowed to reject some of them.