Interaction of cyanobacteria with volcanic ashes

Capacity for growth in water suspensions of volcanic ashes was shown for two oscillatorian cyanobacterial isolates from different environments. Growth dynamics depended on the physicochemical characteristics of the ashes and on pH of the medium. During cyanobacterial growth, some elements were leached, which either stimulated or inhibited growth. These solubilized elements could be adsorbed on the mucous sheaths, mineralizing the trichomes. The extracellular polysaccharides excreted by cyanobacteria facilitated adhesion between the ash particles and the changes in their composition. These results suggest an analogy between the processes in the modern volcanogenic areas and the biological weathering on volcanic soils during the early period of life on Earth.     

Biochemical characteristics of new thermosensitive secretory mutants of yeasts

New thermosensitive mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which block the secretion of periplasmic enzymes at restriction temperature have been obtained. These mutants accumulate active low molecular weight and mature invertase species in the cell; the buoyant density of the cells in a Percoll gradient is higher than that in the wild strain cells. The mutant cells transferred to permissive temperature (25 degrees C) in the absence of protein synthesis can secrete some amount of accumulated invertase. It was found that the secretory defects of conditional mutants do not affect the activity of cytoplasmic enzymes (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase) or the level of total protein synthesis and glycosylation and do not induce non-specific disturbances in energy metabolism and plasma membrane functions at restriction temperature. Some strains of new secretory mutants revealed uncoupled defective secretion of periplasmic enzymes and intrinsic membrane proteins (proline permease). The possibility of branching of the secretory pathway for periplasmic enzymes and cytoplasmic membrane proteins is discussed.     

Diversity and ecology of algae from the Nahal Qishon river,northern Israel

In 59 samples of periphyton and phytoplankton collected in 2002 - 2003 from the Nahal Qishon (Qishon River), northern Israel, we found 178 species from seven divisions of algae and cyanoprocaryotes. Diatoms, clorophytes, and cyanoprocaryotes prevail. Nitzschia and Navicula (Bacillariophyta) are the most abundant. Most of the species are cosmopolitan or widespread, except Lagynion janei (Chrysophyta), which is endemic for the Mediterranean Realm. About 17% of species (26) are new for Israel and five of them represent the first recorded genera: Crinalium endophyticum Crow, Actinocyclus normanii (Gregory) Hustedt, Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum (Agardh) Kütz (Chlorophyta), Lagynion janei Bourelly, and Stylococcus aureus Chodat. Most of them come from a rare riverine assemblage with red alga Audouinella pygmea, as well as from the estuarine assemblage. Alkaliphiles predominate among the indicators of acidity, with few acidophiles confined to the communities under the impact of industrial wastes. Among the indicators of salinity, most numerous are the oligohalobien-indifferents and species adapted to a moderate salinity level. The relative species richness of ecological groups and the indices of saprobity are correlated with changes in conductivity, pH, and N-nitrate concentration. Indicators of organic pollution fall in the range of betameso- to alfamesosaprobic self-purification grades. Our studies show ecological significance of the Nahal Qishon as a model for a strongly disturbed aquatic ecosystem in the coastal zone of eastern Mediterranean.     

Phase-Dependent Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation on Regulation of Kinematics of Human Stepping Motions

The effect of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation on the kinematic parameters of movement of the ipsilateral and contralateral legs in healthy subjects during treadmill walking at speeds of 1.5 to 1.7 km/h has been studied. The stimulation electrodes were placed 2.5 cm lateral from the right and left sides of the spinal midline at L1 and T11 levels. During the stance phase, stimulation was administered at L1 level at a frequency of 15 Hz; during the swing phase the stimuli was delivered to T11 at a frequency of 30 Hz, followed by alternating stimulation at L1 and T11. The stimulation during the swing phase (T11) was more effective than that during the stance phase (L1); the most impressive changes in kinematic parameters were observed when combined delivery of stimulations to L1 and T11 was performed. With unilateral spinal stimulation, the amplitude of the angles in the hip, knee and/or ankle joints, the length of the transfer, and the height of the leg elevation increased in the ipsilateral leg. Similar but less pronounced changes were observed in the contralateral leg. A 10% increase in the duration of stimulation in the swing phase caused a change in the kinematic stepping parameters both in ipsilateral and contralateral legs. The maximum effect was observed when bilateral alternating stimulation was used. These data show that phasic transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation, using a wide range of natural walking speeds, can be applied to control kinematic movement parameters.

     

Effects of Phase Shifts of Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation on the Kinematic Characteristics of Stepping Movements in Humans

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - Transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (SсТS) was carried out in different phases of the stepping cycle in order to...     

Effects of the season and growth stage on the contents of lipids and photosynthetic pigments in brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Undaria pinnatifida</Emphasis>

Seasonal changes in the contents of lipids and photosynthetic pigments (PSP) in the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar (Phaeophyceae, Alariaceae) on different stages of its growth were studied. Lipids of all plant growth group comprised glyceroglycolipids (GL), phospholipids, and neutral lipids (NL). The ratio between these lipid groups and the content of particular lipids depended on the season and algal growth stage: NL predominated in seedlings; juvenile algae comprised approximately similar amounts of NL and GL; and in adult algae, GL predominated. In winter and spring, algal tissues contained relatively more free sterols than in summer. Total lipid content in seedlings and juvenile algae was higher then in adult plants. Lipid fatty acid (FA) composition was similar on all growth stages, but the content of major components differed; this is mainly related to 18:4 n-3, 20:4 n-6, and 20:5 n-3 acids. The predominant FAs in seedling lipids were saturated FAs, whereas in the lipids of juvenile and adult algae, polyunsaturated FAs predominated.     

Mechanical stimulation of the support zones of soles: The method of noninvasive activation of the stepping movement generators in humans

The effects of mechanical stimulation of the soles’ support zones in the modes of slow and fast walking (75 and 120 steps per minute) were studied using the model of supportlessness (legs suspension). 20 healthy subjects participated in the study. EMG activity of hip and shin muscles was recorded. Kinematics of leg movements was assessed with the use of videoanalysis system. In 80% of cases support stimulation was followed by leg movements, in 69% of which they had characteristics of locomotions being accompanied by the burst-like electromyographic activities. The order of involvement of leg muscles and organization of antagonistic muscles activities were analogous to those of voluntary walking. The latencies of electromyographic activity in hip and shin muscles composed 5.17 ± 1.08 and 14.01 ± 2.82 s, respectively, the frequencies of bursts differed significantly depending on stimulation frequency. In 31% of cases the electromyographical activity following the stimulation of the soles’ support zones had not burst-like but uninterrupted pattern. Its amplitude rose smoothly reaching a certain level that was subsequently maintained. Results of the study showed that soles’ support zones stimulation in the mode of locomotion could activate a locomotor generator provoking the appearance of locomotion-like activity and that effect evoked by this stimulation includes not only rhythmical but also non-rhythmical (probably postural) components of walking.     

Initiation of locomotor activity in spinalized cats by epidural stimulation of the spinal cord]

An area initiating locomotor activity under conditions of the spinal cord surface stimulation (SCS) was found at the upper border of the lumbar enlargement (L4-5 spinal segments). Parameters of the SCS for activation of the spinal stepping generator (SSG) were identified. Activation of the SSG under the SCS was shown to occur because of interaction of the spinal and peripheral mechanisms. Primary role in the SSG initiation during the SCS belongs to the propriospinal system of the dorsolateral funiculi.     

Transformation of carbonate minerals in a cyano-bacterial mat in the course of laboratory modeling

A laboratory model of a cyano-bacterial mat with mineral layers of carbonates was used to examine the dynamics of the transformation of calcium-magnesium carbonate under the conditions of a soda lake. The activity of various organisms of the cyanobacterial community results in conditions under which the Ca-Mg carbonate precipitate undergoes changes. The crystal lattice of the initial carbonate is restructured; its mineralogical composition changes depending on the conditions of the mat. In magnesium calcites, which are formed under such low-temperature conditions, a rudimentary cation adjustment can occur with the formation of dolomite domains. These experiments confirm the hypothesis that the dolomite found in stromatolites is of a secondary origin and can be formed in the course of transformation of Ca-Mg carbonates under alkaline conditions in an alkaliphilic cyanobacterial community.     

Visualizing formation and dynamics of vacuoles in living cells using contrasting dextran-bound indicator: endocytic and nonendocytic vacuoles

Here we describe a technique that allows us to visualize in real time the formation and dynamics (fusion, changes of shape, and translocation) of vacuoles in living cells. The technique involves infusion of a dextran-bound fluorescent probe into the cytosol of the cell via a patch pipette, using the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. Experiments were conducted on pancreatic acinar cells stimulated with supramaximal concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK). The vacuoles, forming in the cytoplasm of the cell, were revealed as dark imprints on a bright fluorescence background, produced by the probe and visualized by confocal microscopy. A combination of two dextran-bound probes, one infused into the cytosol and the second added to the extracellular solution, was used to identify endocytic and nonendocytic vacuoles. The cytosolic dextran-bound probe was also used together with a Golgi indicator to illustrate the possibility of combining the probes and identifying the localization of vacuoles with respect to other cellular organelles in pancreatic acinar cells. Combinations of cytosolic dextran-bound probes with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or mitochondrial probes were also used to simultaneously visualize vacuoles and corresponding organelles. We expect that the new technique will also be applicable and useful for studies of vacuole dynamics in other cell types.