The Effect of the X-Monosome Cell Clone Frequency on Anthropometric Variation in Patients with Shereshevsky–Turner Syndrome

Using methods of mathematical statistics the relationships were determined between 31 anthropometric traits (ATs) and the frequency of the X-monosome cell clone in 53 patients with either 45,X-monosomy or mosaic forms (45,X/46,XX) of the Shereshevsky–Turner syndrome (STS). AT variations were studied in patients untreated with growth hormone and in 25 control fertile healthy women. In 29 patients, the degree of mosaicism was assessed by interphase FISH analysis using X-centromer-specific DNA probe hybridized to the cell nuclei of two types of tissues differing in embryonic origin (lymphocytes and oral epithelium, originating from meso- and ectoderm, respectively). The level of X-monosome mosaicism had a substantial effect on some AT, which depended similarly on the proportion of X-monosome cells in tissues of different embryonic origin. Statistically significant negative correlations were revealed between the size of X-monosome clone and 13 height–weight, longitudinal, and circumference traits, whereas positive correlations were characteristic of seven mostly width traits. Eleven ATs showed no correlation with the X-monosome cell clone. Discriminant analysis of all ATs, whose variations depended on the frequency of X-monosome cell clone, was found to be an essential tool for precise classification of both STS patients with different degree of mosaicism and healthy women. Based on these results, the set of ATs characteristic of the STS phenotype was identified.     

Protein interaction with hydrated C60 fullerene in aqueous solutions

Physicochemical effects of hydrated C(60) fullerenes (HyFn) on serum albumin molecules were studied using ESR spin labeling and differential scanning microcalorimetry. Molecular-colloidal solution of hydrated C(60) fullerenes and their small spherical fractal clusters in water (C(60)FWS), was shown to stabilize protein hydration, and decrease specific surface energy in water-protein matrix in salt solutions. The mechanism of HyFn interaction with protein is discussed in terms of HyFn induced formation of protein clusters and phase transition of hydration water.     

Lipid composition in muscle and liver of sympatric coregonid fishes from Lake Baikal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus</Emphasis> spp.) under common garden experiment

The content of total lipids, total phospholipids, and fatty acids of total lipids in muscles and liver of juvenile Lake Baikal sympatric coregonid fishes have been analyzed for the first time under a common garden experiment. Baikal omul, Coregonus migratorius Georgi, is an active migrant of the pelagic zones of the lake. Baikal (lacustrine) whitefish, C. baicalensis Dybowski, is a colonizer of the bottom habitats, which are relevant to the pelagic zones of the littoral and underwater slope. Structural lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol) dominated in total lipids of the tissues of all fish under study. Spare lipids significantly prevailed in omul muscles when compared to whitefish. The highest variability of fatty acid composition was reported in muscles of coregonid fishes. Statistically significant differences were revealed in the content of the ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscles of lacustrine whitefish and omul. Associations of lipid compositions revealed in tissues of the whitefishes under the study with their respective ecotypes have been discussed.     

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1: A Regulator of Protein–Nucleic Acid Interactions in Processes Responding to Genotoxic Impact

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a nuclear protein of higher eukaryotes, specifically detects strand breaks in DNA. The enzyme is activated in the presence of such breaks and synthesizes poly(ADP-ribose) covalently bound to certain proteins, with PARP-1 itself being the main acceptor. This protein is involved in the majority of DNA-dependent processes, including replication, recombination, repair, and cell death (apoptosis and necrosis). Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of proteins is regarded as a mechanism which induces a signal of DNA damage and modulates the function of proteins in response to genotoxic actions. Attention in this review is focused on the role of PARP-1 and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in base excision repair (BER), the main process of DNA break repair. The main putative functions of PARP-1 in this process are also considered, namely, its functions as a factor initiating the BER protein complex, a temporary protector of DNA ends, a factor modulating chromatin structure through poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of histones, and a signal in the mechanism recognizing the degree of DNA damage in the cell.     

Expression and functional role of the protein Orai-1 in skeletal myoblasts and myotubes

Expression of channel protein Orai-1 has been demonstrated in cultured skeletal myoblasts and myotubes. In order to evaluate its functional role in Ca²⁺ transport in these cells we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted against mRNA coding for Orai-1. Optimal conditions for the effective transfection of myoblasts and myotubes were found. In experiments using myotubes from an mdx cell line we have shown that inactivation of mRNA coding Orai-1 results in complete suppression of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ entry induced by thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase. The data obtained indicate that Orai-1 is involved in store-activated Ca²⁺ entry into skeletal myotubes.     

Diversity of Polyketide Synthase Genes in the Genomes of Heterotrophic Microorganisms Isolated from Epilithic Biofilms of Lake Baikal

Many bacterial secondary metabolites, including pharmacologically promising compounds, are synthesized by polyketide synthases (PKS) enzyme complexes. In the present work, nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding 16S rRNA and PKS of heterotrophic bacterial strains isolated from epilithic biofilms of the littoral zone of Lake Baikal were determined. On the basis of molecular phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes, six heterotrophic strains were identified: Serratia fonticola 1А and 10А, Pseudomonas umsongensis K10-2 and K10-3, Rheinheimera tilapiae K18, and Flavobacterium sp. 43-09. Sequencing of cloned amplification products for PKS gene cluster revealed 33 sequences. Genes involved in biosynthesis of antibiotics (difficidine, erythromycin, curacin, mixalamide, corallopyronin, and myxothiazol) and cytostatics (romidepsin, spiruchostatin, and disorazol) were found among homologous sequences. The low homology (50–83%) of the PKS amino acid sequences of Baikal bacteria with sequences from GenBank attests to the potential capability of strains to produce new, not yet studied bioactive compounds. The obtained results show that the studied strains may be of practical interest for biotechnological application.     

POTENTIATION OF CAFFEINEINDUCED CONTRACTURE BY RAISING EXTRACELLULAR POTASSIUM IN FROG SKELETAL MUSCLE

用蛙胫前肌小束为材料,研究了提高胞外钾［Ｋ＋］Ｏ对咖啡因挛缩的作用。［Ｋ＋］Ｏ从２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ提高到１０或２５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,由３ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ咖啡因引起的挛缩明显增强。以ＰＫＣ／ＰＣ（ＰＫＣ和ＰＣ分别为在高钾和正常钾条件下的咖啡因挛缩）表示的咖啡因挛缩增强,依赖［Ｋ＋］Ｏ和高钾作用时间。随着１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ［Ｋ＋］Ｏ作用时间延长,直至１０ｍｉｎ,增强逐渐增加。但是,２５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ［Ｋ＋］Ｏ作用１ｍｉｎ时增强达到最大,然后下降到对照。ＰＫＣ／ＰＣ变化时程不能用高钾引起的去极化解释,而与由相似［Ｋ＋］Ｏ引起的胞浆自由钙变化时程相符。提示,至少在蛙骨骼肌,高钾引起的咖啡因挛缩增强主要是由胞浆自由钙升高引起的。     

Kininogenesis and the effect of bradykinin on the level of blood plasma glucocorticoids in irradiated rats

Kininogenesis is activated after irradiation as well as after the injection of hydrocortisone. Bradykinin, the main component of the kinin system, is a factor that limits the level of blood plasma 11-oxycorticosteroids after its intravenous injection to exposed rats.