Ethnic Peculiarities of the Lipid Profile in Adolescent Representatives of Some Indigenous Ethnic Groups of Siberia

The indicators of lipid metabolism were analyzed comparatively in 258 adolescent girls and boys representing major ethnic groups of Eastern Siberia: indigenous Tofalars, Evenks and Buryats and alien Europoids (Caucasoids). The adolescent lipid profile in these groups was found to be ethnos-specific. In contemporary Tofalars and Buryats, its indicators are stable, while the overall lipid profile shows an anti-atherogenic trend. By contrast, Evenks and Europoids show an increasing level of cholesterol-containing blood components.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Ebola virus glycoprotein

Balb/С mice were immunized with recombinant Ebola virus glycoprotein. Following the selection, screening, and cloning of murine hybridomas, we obtained five genetically stable clones of monoclonal antibodies GPE118 (IgG), GPE274 (IgM), GPE325 (IgM), GPE463 (IgM), and GPE534 (IgG). These antibodies were isolated and purified from the ascitic fluid of Balb/С mice using Protein G affinity chromatography (for IgG) and euglobulin precipitation (for IgM). To select at least three candidate antibodies for testing in biological assays as components of an antibody cocktail for the prophylaxis and treatment of hemorrhagic fever, we carried out an immunochemical analysis of the epitope specificity of the isolated antibodies. Based on the data of immunoblotting and sandwich ELISA, it became evident that the epitope recognized by GPE 534 differs from the epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies GPE 118 and GPE 325. The last two antibodies also have different epitope specificity: it follows from the immunoblotting data and from the data on the binding of these antibodies with the intact and oxidized (partly deglycosylated) recombinant glycoprotein. For the biological activity studies and the development of recombinant counterparts, we selected three candidate high-affinity monoclonal antibodies GPE 534, GPE 118, and GPE 325.     

Cytomegalovirus infection in Omsk region

Epidemiologic studies of prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) in Omsk region during a period of 15 years showed 1.6-fold increase of population seropositivity to CMV with rate of increase +2.94. In recent years antibodies to CMV were detected in 90.3 - 94.8% of cases. Diagnostics of innate and acquired CMVI was improved. Feasibility of detection of infectious process activity during complex use of new laboratory methods (IgA detection, assessment of IgG avidity, IgG to individual antigens in immunoblotting as well as detection of DNA and "early phase" viral ptoteins) was demonstrated. High rates of infection in population determine the necessity of revision of strategy for examination of children and adults, including screening of pregnant woman, on this infection.     

Unique characteristics of the energy metabolism in Microsporidia as a result of durational adaptation to the intracellular development

Microsporidia is a large group of fungi-related unicellular eukaryotes with obligate intracellular lifestyle infecting a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Long adaptation of the parasites to intracellular development resulted in extraordinary minimization of their metabolic system. The paper summarizes the original results and literature data on the study of microsporidian carbohydrate and energy metabolism. On the basis of the material, it is concluded that minimization of microsporidian cell machinery was accompanied by the acquisition of a number of unique characteristics, which were not found in other eukaryotes.     

Biochemical characterization of human enteropeptidase light chain

The synthetic gene encoding human enteropeptidase light chain (L-HEP) was cloned into plasmid pET-32a downstream from the gene of fusion partner thioredoxin immediately after the DNA sequence encoding the enteropeptidase recognition site. The fusion protein thioredoxin (Trx)/L-HEP was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Autocatalytic cleavage of the fusion protein and activation of recombinant L-HEP were achieved by solubilization of inclusion bodies and refolding of Trx/L-HEP fusion protein. The kinetic parameters of human and bovine enteropeptidases in the presence of different concentrations of Ca2+ and Na+ for cleavage of the specific substrate GD4K-na and nonspecific substrates such as small ester Z-Lys-SBzl and chromogenic substrates Z-Ala-X-Arg-pNA have been comparatively analyzed. It is demonstrated that positively charged ions increased the Michaelis constant (Km) for cleavage of specific substrate GD4K-na, while the catalytic constant (k(cat)) remained practically unchanged. L-HEP demonstrated secondary specificity to the chromogenic substrate Z-Ala-Phe-Arg-pNA with k(cat)/Km 260 mM(-1) x sec(-1). Enzymatic activity of L-HEP was suppressed by inhibitors of trypsin-like and cysteine (E-64), but not metallo-, amino-, or chymotrypsin-like proteinases. L-HEP was active over a broad range of pH (6-9) with optimum activity at pH 7.5, and it demonstrated high stability to different denaturing agents.     

Two closely linked tomato HKT coding genes are positional candidates for the major tomato QTL involved in Na+/K+ homeostasis

The location of major quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to stem and leaf [Na⁺] and [K⁺] was previously reported in chromosome 7 using two connected populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of tomato. HKT1;1 and HKT1;2, two tomato Na⁺‐selective class I‐HKT transporters, were found to be closely linked, where the maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) score for these QTLs located. When a chromosome 7 linkage map based on 278 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used, the maximum LOD score position was only 35 kb from HKT1;1 and HKT1;2. Their expression patterns and phenotypic effects were further investigated in two near‐isogenic lines (NILs): 157‐14 (double homozygote for the cheesmaniae alleles) and 157‐17 (double homozygote for the lycopersicum alleles). The expression pattern for the HKT1;1 and HKT1;2 alleles was complex, possibly because of differences in their promoter sequences. High salinity had very little effect on root dry and fresh weight and consequently on the plant dry weight of NIL 157‐14 in comparison with 157‐17. A significant difference between NILs was also found for [K⁺] and the [Na⁺]/[K⁺] ratio in leaf and stem but not for [Na⁺] arising a disagreement with the corresponding RIL population. Their association with leaf [Na⁺] and salt tolerance in tomato is also discussed.     

Microbial Communities of Soils and Soil-like Bodies in Extreme Conditions of East Antarctica

Paleontological Journal - Results of an integrated study of microbial communities in soils and soil-like bodies formed in the wet intermountain valleys of East Antarctic oases under moss-, lichen-,...     

Development and optimization of a coupled cell-free system for the synthesis of the transmembrane domain of the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB3

A coupled cell-free expression system (CECF) for the production of the transmembrane domain of the human receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB3 (residues from 632 to 675) has been developed based on the Escherichia coli S30 extract. The synthesis of the domain in the soluble form in the presence of various detergents and in the form of an insoluble precipitate of the reaction mixture has been examined. The conditions for the purification of the recombinant domain obtained using the two approaches have been determined. The final yield of the target protein under optimal conditions was 1.8–2.0 mg per 1 ml of the reaction mixture.     

The effect of electroacupuncture on the neuronal responses of the oral trigeminal nucleus in the cat during nociceptive and non-nociceptive stimulation

Effects of electroacupuncture (EAP) on the responses of different functional types of neurons of the oral trigeminal nucleus (OTN) by nociceptive and non-nociceptive stimulation were studied in acute experiments on adult cats. It was demonstrated that the main part of neurons of the OTN is a wide dynamic range of neurons. Characteristic feature of the OTN is neurons with low-threshold pulp afferent input. EAP inhibit nociceptive responses of neurons (preferentially nonspecific neurons), while responses to non-nociceptive stimulation are not changed at all. The results are discussed from the point of view that OTN takes part in nociceptive and non-nociceptive reactions.