Characterization of mariner transposon from the genome of Himasthla elongata fluke

A novel DNA-transposon Hemar1 has been identified and characterized in the genome of the flatworm Himasthla elongata. This transposon is a representative of the mariner family, which is widely spread in eukaryotes; it belongs to the capitata subfamily and is highly homologous to the mariner element of the freshwater turbellarian worm Dugesia tigrina. The Hemar1 transposon has been established as a dispersed repeat and accounts for about 0.01% of the H. elongata genome. The identified Hemar1 element is a convenient tool for the further study of the functioning of mobile elements in the H. elongata genome.     

Effect of sociobiological factors on the formation of adaptive responses in school students during puberty

Analysis of psychological, social, and psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the formation of adaptive responses during puberty demonstrated a significant dependence of adolescent behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine parameters on sociobiological factors that determine the identification and individualization of genetically determined behavioral programs. Comparison of the adaptive capabilities of students from an innovative educational institution and from a vocational school showed that the levels of completeness of their adaptation were different and depended on social support, typological features, and autonomic regulation.     

Effect of a highly dispersed copper powder on superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in experimental myocardial infarct

Administration of highly dispersed copper powder in a dose 0.2 mg/kg three days before modelled coronary-occlusion myocardial infarction caused transitory increase in activity of antioxidant enzymes--superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the necrotic zone of myocardium of rats, and also staunch increase in the activity of these enzymes in noninfarction region.     

Effect of donor immunization with different influenza vaccines on the insulin level of the blood serum

Materials on the study of relationship between the activity of immunoreactive insulin and the degree of an increase in the level of anti-influenza antibodies, induced by vaccine strains, are presented. A short-term decrease in the activity of insulin, more pronounced in donors immunized with adsorbed chemical influenza vaccine, and an increase in the antibody level, mainly in the group of donors receiving killed influenza vaccine, have been noted.     

Effect of parasympathetic agents on renin secretion in vitro

A study was made of the effect of the parasympathetic agents on renin secretion by rat kidney sections after blockade of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors by obsidan and dihydroergotamine. The substances under study were administered at the concentrations 10(-8), 10(-6) or 10(-4) M. Renin activity was determined by radioimmunoassay. n-Cholinomimetics (nicotine, cytiton) were discovered to have a marked inhibitory action on renin secretion, reducing it to almost zero at a concentration of 10(-4) M. n-Cholinolytics (spasmolytin, benzohexonium) produced a dose-dependent stimulation of renin secretion with a 10-20-fold maximal increase. m-Cholinomimetics (aceclidin, proserin) and quateron provoked a 3-5-fold increase in secretion without a dose-dependent effect, whereas galanthamine exerted a negligible effect. Pilocarpine and m-cholinolytics (platyphylline, atropine) reduced the secretion by 2 times without a dose-dependent effect. It is assumed that the renal cortex contains n-cholinoreactive systems that have a direct or mediated action on renin secretion and m-cholinoreactive systems that modulate the activity of the former systems.     

Flagellin as an object for supramolecular engineering

A model of tertiary and quaternary structure of E. coli flagellin is suggested. According to this model, the molecule consists of two independent parts. One of them is formed by the N- and C-terminal regions of the polypeptide chain and is responsible for polymerization properties. The other consists of the central region of the polypeptide chain and composes that part of the molecular globule that forms the flagella surface. It is suggested that different artificial supramolecular structures can be constructed from flagellin molecules by varying the surface domain, i.e. the central part of the polypeptide chain, and by using the domain responsible for polymerization properties as a universal block for assembly. The simplest possible artificial supramolecular structures that can be constructed from flagellins of different strains are discussed.     

An outbreak of ornithosis at a textile factory

For the first time an outbreak of ornithosis at a textile factory is described. The data on the specific epidemiological features of the outbreak, the specific clinical features of the disease, the results of catamnestic observations and the study of the titers of specific antibodies in the complement fixation test are presented.     

Estimation of the thermal and photochemical stabilities of pheromones

The correlation between the kinetic stability of molecules against temperature and variations in their geometric structure under optical excitation is investigated by the example of different organic pheromone molecules sensitive to temperature or ultraviolet radiation using the density functional theory. The kinetic stability is determined by the previously developed method based on the calculation of the probability of extension of any structural bond by a value exceeding the limit value L_мах corresponding to the breaking of the bond under temperature excitation. The kinetic stability calculation only requires the eigenfrequencies and vibrational mode vectors in the molecule ground state to be calculated, without determining the transition states. The weakest bonds in molecules determined by the kinetic stability method are compared with the bond length variations in molecules in the excited state upon absorption of light by a molecule. Good agreement between the results obtained is demonstrated and the difference between them is discussed. The universality of formulations within both approaches used to estimate the stability of different pheromone molecules containing strained cycles and conjugated, double, and single bonds allows these approaches to be applied for studying other molecules.

Open image in new window

Graphical Abstract Estimation of the thermal and photochemical stabilities of pheromones