NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase from methylotrophic bacteria. Isolation and properties]

NAD-Dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) has been isolated from methylotrophyc strain Bacterium sp 1 by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation of cell extract, ion-exchange chromatography and preparative isotachophoresis. Preparation of FDH is homogeneous in analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and under ultracentrifugation. Sedimentation coefficient of FDH is 4.9S. Mikhaelis constants are 1.1-10(-4) M for NAD and 1.5-10(-2) M for formate. In the absence of sulfhydril compounds FDH is unstable, but it is stable in the presence of mercaptoethanol or ditiotreitol.     

Efficacy and safety of cefepime in the treatment of bronchopulmonary disease exacerbation in pediatric patients with mucoviscidosis]

Clinicobacteriological effect of cefepime (in combination with amikacin) was studies in 25 pediatric patients of the age of 7 to 17 years with a mixed form of mucoviscidosis at the stage of the bronchopulmonary infection exacerbation. The basic pathogens isolated from the sputum were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa sm., P. aeruginosa muc. (67.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (29.1%). The 2-week treatment course resulted in a marked clinical effect with improvement of the lung functional indices and eradication of the majority of the S. aureus strains (81.2%) and half of the P. aeruginosa strains (49.6%). The only side effect was moderate diarrhea not requiring discontinuation of the drug use.     

Effect of marinobufagenin on the primary reinforcing effect of ethanol]

Intraperitoneal administration of marinobufagenin resulted in a reliable and dose-dependent suppression of ethanol self-administration in drug- and experimentally naive DBA/2 mice. The findings suggest that Na/K-ATPase contributes to both mediation of the ethanol reinforcing properties and the mood regulation.     

Haemophilus influenzae antibiotic resistant strains isolated in Moscow in 2002-2004]

The results of 3-year observation on emergence of H. influenzae antibiotic resistant strains in Moscow are summarized. The study included 566 strains isolated from patients in 2002-2004. The susceptibility was determined by the 2-fold microdilution method on the Haemophilus test medium. The percentage of the resistant strains isolated in 2002, 2003 and 2004 was the following: ampicillin --4.9, 3.2 and 3.6%, tetracycline--3.3, 3.2 and 1.8% and co-trimoxazole--10.9, 20.9 and 20% respectively. The strains isolated in 2003 and 2004 were resistant to azithromycin in 0.6 and 1.8% of the isolates and to clarithromycin in 1.3 and 3.2% of the isolates respectively. Five isolates differed by the minimum resistance to ampicillin whereas producing no beta-lactamase (BLNAR strains). The drugs of choice for the treatment of respiratory tract infections mainly due to H. influenzae, i.e. acute otitis and sinusitis, chronic bronchitis exacerbation and sometimes pneumonia remain betalactam antibiotics. From the microbiological viewpoint the inhibitor-protected aminopenicillins, cefuroxime and cefotaxime have no significant advantages vs. amoxycillin. The use of cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol should be considered inexpedient.     

Mechanisms of long-term synaptic depression in the hippocampus]

Long-term depression (LTD) was studied in hippocampal slices obtained from neonatal rats at the synapses between CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons. The induction of the LTD required pairing of Ca2+ influx into the postsynaptic CA1 neuron through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels with activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. The expression of this form of LTD is at least partly presynaptic, suggesting the need for a retrograde messenger. We present evidence that arachidonic acid might serve such a function. Thus applications of arachidonic acid simulate LTD whereas blockade of arachiidonic acid release inhibits LTD.     

Determination of interproton distances in peptides by two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY). Conformation of a cyclic analog of substance P in a solution

Quantitative method is developed for evaluation interproton distances in peptides in solution. The method is based on the measurement of the relative intensities of the cross-peaks in the pure-phase absorption NOESY spectra. The ratios of the cross-peak intensities IN alpha/I alpha N and INN/I alpha N enable to determine the corresponding interproton distances dN alpha, d alpha N and dNN for several amino acid residues. These distances can be used to estimate other distances with cross-peaks in NOESY spectra. As example, the interproton distances are determined in a cyclic hexapeptide, namely cyclic analogue of substance P: cyclo [H-Glu-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH(CH2)3-NH-]. The spatial structure of the molecule in dimethylsulphoxide solution is established.     

Purification of acetylcholinesterase from horse erythrocytes using affinity chromatography

A commercial preparation of water-soluble acetylcholinesterase from horse red cells has been purified to a specific activity of 2380 U/mg of protein (a 1660-fold purification) by a twofold affinity chromatography on the known sorbent of Sepharose-p-[NH-(CH2)5-C(O)NH(CH2)5C(O)NH-]-C6H4-N+(CH3)3 X Br- at pH 7.5. A selective elution of the enzyme was carried out from 10 mM of the phosphate buffer solution which contains 0.2% of triton X-100. Subsequent desorption of the enzyme proceeded with 5 mM of phenyltrimethylammonium bromide introduced into the buffer. Such effective preparations of acetylcholinesterase have not been previously produced. Effectiveness of the affinity sorbents considerably depends on the nature of the ligand which is covalent-linked with a Sepharose matrix and on the length of the attachment spacer arm ("insert") between them. A reversible inhibitory effect of certain ligands (tetramethylammonium, phenyltrimethylammonium) and their derivatives on acetylcholinesterase is estimated in comparison.     

Characteristics of the expression of globin genes in blood cells of patients with homozygotic beta-thalassemia from Tadzhikistan

The synthesis of globin protein in blood reticulocytes of patients from Tajikistan suffering from homozygous beta-thalassemia was studied. Beta-thalassemia has been revealed in all cases, with synthesis of beta-globin being retained though essentially reduced. It was shown that, unlike homozygous beta+-thalassemia of other populations, beta +thalassemia with sharp inhibition of the beta-globin protein synthesis is most representative for the region (alpha/beta greater than 10).     

Effect of exogenous DNAses on various stages of DNA replication in microorganisms

Effect of DNAase 1 on DNA synthesis and cell division was studied in microorganisms deficient in some stages of DNA replication initiation. The DNA synthesis induced by exogenous DNAase was found to be a replicative origin since it was registered from the "origin" of chromosomal replication under the conditions of initiation of proteins functioning. Stimulation of DNA synthesis in bacterial cells having mutations in DNA B and DNA G genes by DNAase 1 indicates that exogenous DNAases participate in replicative fork during the DNA synthesis.