Proteins as Morphogenetic Markers in Callus Cultures of Buckwheat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum tataricum</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn with Different Morphogenetic Potential

The content of soluble proteins and individual polypeptides was studied in calluses of buckwheat Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn with different morphogenic potential. The morphogenic callus had a higher content of soluble proteins and cyclic pattern of changes in this index during passaging, which seems to be due to formation of proembryogenic cell complexes. Comparison of the protein patterns of the calluses demonstrated differences in composition and content of individual components. Morphogenic (35 and 73 kDa) and non-morphogenic callus-specific polypeptides (16 and 62 kDa) have been revealed.__________Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 306–310.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Maksyutova, Galeeva, Rumyantseva, Viktorova.     

Population frequency and age of c.806 C>T mutation in CYB5R3 gene as cause of recessive congenital methemoglobinemia in Yakutia

Type-I recessive congenital methemoglobinemia (RCM) is a rare autosomal disease characterized by a deficiency of the soluble form of nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) and clinically manifests as cyanosis of skin and mucous membranes. In the Russian Federation, type-I RCM is widely disturbed in Yakutia due to the local founder effect. The molecular genetics cause of type-I RCM in Yakutia is mutation c.806C>T in the CYB5R3 gene. In this work we used 13 polymorphic markers, which flanking the CYB5R3 gene to establish the founder haplotype. The age of the mutation was estimated as about 285 ± 135 years. In this work, we have evaluated the frequency of the c.806C>T mutation in Yakutia, which averaged 55 : 1000 Yakuts. The calculated frequency of disease was 1: 1250 Yakuts.     

Characteristics of nonpathogenic Neisseria and Branhamella catarrhalis based on cytopathogenicity

The study of the action of 12 Neisseria species belonging to 112 strains, 6 B. catarrhalis strains and 202 meningococcal strains on the culture of continuous cell line F1 (human amniotic cells) has revealed that nonpathogenic Neisseria are essentially weaker than meningococci in their pathogenicity (expressed in terms of CPD50). Among nonpathogenic Neisseria highly cytopathogenic strains occur in 13.9% of cases, which gives grounds for considering them opportunistic bacteria. Sharply pronounced correlation between the adhesive and pathogenic properties of Neisseria has been observed. The cytopathogenic action of Neisseria is accompanied by the lesion of the chromosomal apparatus of mitotic infected cells.     

Role of sex steroids in development of anxiety in female mice

Level of sex steroid hormones being changed throughout an estrous cycle influences physiological and behavioral features of female subjects. To test how estrogen and progesterone affect the anxiety level in mice the ovariectomy (OVX) followed by hormone treatment was carried out. After 1 week of recovery period estradiol benzonate (20 micrograms, s/c) was injected once a day during 7 consequent days. By the 7th day in addition to EB injection progesterone (500 micrograms, s/c) was also injected. Four hours later the mice were tested in elevated plus-maze to measure the anxiety level. Control animals were treated with sesame oil only. Behavioral data obtained demonstrate that the hormonal treatment altered anxiety state in experimental animals. In plusmaze paradigm, it has been demonstrated that progesterone-treated mice revealed the lowest level of open arm activity. In contrast, these mice showed the highest grooming activity as compared to other experimental groups. Immunohistochemical data on progesterone receptor (PR), immunoreactivity in brain have shown that the manipulation with different hormonal treatments modified the number of PR-ir cells in many brain areas. Our data suggest that sex steroid hormones play an important role in induction of anxiety level, as measured by elevated plus-maze, and this action might be partially mediated through the classical steroid receptors.     

Polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in populations of the Volga-Ural region

Polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene (hSERT) was studied in eight human populations of the Volga-Ural region by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The populations studied belonged to Turkic (Bashkirs, Tatars, and Chuvashes), Finno-Ugric (Maris, Komis, Mordovians, and Udmurts), and Eastern Slavic (Russians) ethnic groups. Comparison of the hSERT polymorphisms in these populations established the population-specific distribution patterns of the main component of this polymorphic system in the region studied and revealed the interethnic differences in hSERT allelic and genotypic frequencies.     

Synthesis and In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of New C-3-Modified Carbapenems

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - New C-3 modified carbapenems have been synthesized by the AdNE-substitution of the enol phosphate group of 4-nitrobenzyl...     

Electron microscopic study of the cytopathogenic action of meningococci in a continuous human amnion cell culture

The electron-microscopic study of the interaction of meningococci with continuous human amnion cell culture F1 has revealed that this process comprises 3 stages. The study has shown that, following the adhesion of meningococci to the surface of cells F1, these cells are invaded by individual coccal forms of meningococci. In response to infection vacuoles appear in the cytoplasm of the cells. Meningococci are either phagocytosed inside these vacuoles, or their release into the intercellular space and the death of the infected by meningococci are observed. When the cells are infected by cytopathogenic strains, the infectious process results in the appearance of degenerative changes in the cells.     

Evaluation of the relative contribution of Caucasoid and Mongoloid components in the formation of ethnic groups of the Volga-Ural region according to data of DNA polymorphism]

For the first time, an attempt was made to quantitatively estimate the relative contributions of major racial components to populations of the Volga-Ural region based on the data on allelic polymorphisms of nine loci of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Comparison of the proportions of Caucasoid and Mongoloid characteristics in the gene pools of Bashkirs, Tatars, Chuvashes, Maris, Mordovians, Udmurts, and Komi revealed a heterogeneous pattern. Data on the proportions of major racial components in the nuclear genome indicated that the Caucasoid component was maximum in Mordovians, Komis, and Udmurts. Mongoloid characters were most prevalent in Bashkirs, Maris, Tatars, and Chuvashes. Data on restriction-deletion polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) also indicated an increased Caucasoid contribution to Mordovian, Udmurt, and Komi gene pools and an increased Mongoloid component in Chuvashes and Tatars. In general, the results obtained agree with ethnic anthropological data indicating the greatest Caucasoid contribution to the Mordovian and Komi gene pools and an increased Mongoloid component in Turkic populations of the Volga-Ural region (Bashkirs, Tatars, and Chuvashes).     

Genetic distances and taxonomic analysis of human populations of the Volga-Ural region based on data on DNA polymorphism]

DNA polymorphism was studied in the human diallelic loci MET and D7S23 linked to the cystic fibrosis gene, diallelic locus PAH (the phenylketonuria gene), polyallelic locus ApoB, and hypervariable DNA sequences identified by means of DNA fingerprinting with phage M13 DNA as a probe. The obtained data were used to calculate genetic distances and perform taxonomic analysis of populations of the Volga-Ural region (Turkic and Finno-Ugric ethnic groups). The DNA polymorphic systems studied were demonstrated to be highly informative; their advantages and disadvantages were revealed. According to the data obtained, the genetic distances that were calculated from DNA fingerprints more adequately reflected the genetic relationships between the populations studied than the distances calculated from the allelic frequencies of four DNA loci. It was also found that, in population studies, it would suffice to analyze only the 3.5-6 kb fingerprint fragment that is most suitable for reading, rather than the entire fingerprint obtained.