Relationship between the Social Structure and Potential Reproductive Success in Muroid Rodents (Rodentia,Myomorpha)

Biology Bulletin - In many systematic groups of mammalian species, the evolution of sociality leads to the formation of large social groups (group-size evolution). In rodents, however, the most...     

Computer simulation of plastocyanin-cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> complex formation in the thylakoid lumen

Plastocyanin diffusion in the thylakoid lumen and its binding to cytochrome f (a subunit of the membrane b ₆ f complex) were studied with a direct multiparticle simulation model that could also take account of their electrostatic interaction. Experimental data were used to estimate the model parameters for plastocyanin-cytochrome f complexing in solution. The model was then employed to assess the dependence of the association rate constant on the dimensions of the lumen. Highest rates were obtained at a lumen span of 8–10 nm; narrowing of the lumen below 7 nm resulted in drastic deceleration of complexing. This corresponded to the experimentally observed effect of hyperosmotic stress on the interaction between plastocyanin and cytochrome f in thylakoids.     

Survival and growth rates of pups in common vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Microtus arvalis</Emphasis>) litters depending on the presence of sire

Two groups of litters obtained from individuals captured in natural environments have been monitored under laboratory conditions. The females of one group reared the offspring in the absence of sires; the litters of the other group are raised by both parents. It is ascertained that the presence of sires, especially those who are characterized by higher levels of aggression, has a negative effect on the survival and growth rates of the pups. Therefore, the reproductive success of common vole males can decrease if they enter the family-group composition and depends on the specificity of their behavior, first and foremost, an inclination toward exhibiting aggression.     

Anticonvulsive activity of antiepileptic drugs and quantum-chemical modelling of their interaction with GABA(A) receptor

The results of experimental analysis of the clinical activity of the antiepileptic drugs' (Phenobarbital, Carbamazepine, Valproic acid, Lamotrigine, Topiramate, Felbamate) widely used in clinic, that was carried out using the standard convulsion test with bicuculline in vivo were compared with characteristics of these drugs' interaction with the key aminoacids of GABA(A) receptor calculated by quantum chemical method (program HyperChem7, semi-empirical method AM1 technique). The correlation between the activity of the drugs in the experiment in vivo and energy of system's interaction of the drugs with aminoacid residue Thr201-Thr202-Gly203- Ala204-Tyr205-Pro206 was found out.     

Integrating proteomic and functional genomic technologies in discovery-driven translational breast cancer research

The application of state-of-the-art proteomics and functional genomics technologies to the study of cancer is rapidly shifting toward the analysis of clinically relevant samples derived from patients, as the ultimate aim of translational research is to bring basic discoveries closer to the bedside. Here we describe the essence of a long-term initiative undertaken by The Danish Centre for Translational Breast Cancer Research and currently underway for cancer biomarker discovery using fresh tissue biopsies and bio-fluids. The Centre is a virtual hub that brings together scientists working in various areas of basic cancer research such as cell cycle control, invasion and micro-environmental alterations, apoptosis, cell signaling, and immunology, with clinicians (oncologists, surgeons), pathologists, and epidemiologists, with the aim of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer progression and ultimately of improving patient survival and quality of life. The unifying concept behind our approach is the use of various experimental paradigms for the prospective analysis of clinically relevant samples obtained from the same patient, along with the systematic integration of the biological and clinical data.     

Towards discovery-driven translational research in breast cancer

Discovery-driven translational research in breast cancer is moving steadily from the study of cell lines to the analysis of clinically relevant samples that, together with the ever increasing number of novel and powerful technologies available within genomics, proteomics and functional genomics, promise to have a major impact on the way breast cancer will be diagnosed, treated and monitored in the future. Here we present a brief report on long-term ongoing strategies at the Danish Centre for Translational Breast Cancer Research to search for markers for early detection and targets for therapeutic intervention, to identify signalling pathways affected in individual tumours, as well as to integrate multiplatform 'omic' data sets collected from tissue samples obtained from individual patients. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to coalesce knowledge-based complementary procedures into a systems biology approach to fight breast cancer.     

Production of the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in Escherichia coli and testing of its biological activity in vitro and in vivo

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) represents the osteoinductive protein factor which plays a dominant role in growth and regeneration of a bone tissue. In clinical practice the bone grafting materials on the basis of rhBMP-2 are widely applied; the Russian analogues of similar materials are not produced. The fragment of the bmp2gene coding for a mature protein was cloned in Escherichia coli. The effective overproducing strain of rhBMP-2 was created on a basis of the E. coli BL21 (DE3). The rhBMP-2 production was about 25% of total cell protein. The biologically active dimeric form of rhBMP-2 was obtained by isolation and purification of protein from inclusion bodies with subsequent refolding. The rhBMP-2 sample with more than 80% of the dimeric form was obtained, which is able to interact with specific antibodies to BMP-2. Biological activity of the received rhBMP-2 samples was shown in the in vitro experiments by induction of alkaline phosphatase synthesis in C2C12 and C3H10T1/2 cell cultures. On model of the ectopic osteogenesis it was shown that received rhBMP-2 possesses biological activity in vivo, causing tissue calcification in the place of an injection. The protein activity in vivo depends on way of protein introduction and characteristics of protein sample: rhBMP-2 may be introduced in an acid or basic buffer solution, with or without the carrier. The offered method of rhBMP-2 isolation and purification results in increasing common protein yield as well as the maintenance of biologically active dimeric form in comparison with the analogues described in the literature.     

Azide binding to the trinuclear copper center in laccase and ascorbate oxidase.

Azide binding to the blue copper oxidases laccase and ascorbate oxidase (AO) was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies. As the laccase : azide molar ratio decreases from 1:1 to 1:7, the intensity of the type 2 (T2) Cu(II) EPR signal decreases and a signal at g approximately 1.9 appears. Temperature and microwave power dependent EPR measurements showed that this signal has a relatively short relaxation time and is therefore observed only below 40 K. A g approximately 1.97 signal, with similar saturation characteristics was found in the AO : azide (1:7) sample. The g < 2 signals in both proteins are assigned to an S = 1 dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair whereby the azide binding disrupts the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of the type 3 (T3) Cu(II) pair. Analysis of the position of the g < 2 signals suggests that the distance between the dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair is shorter in laccase than in AO. The proximity of T2 Cu(II) to the S = 1 Cu(II) pair enhances its relaxation rate, reducing its signal intensity relative to that of native protein. The disruption of the T3 anti-ferromagnetic coupling occurs only in part of the protein molecules, and in the remaining part a different azide binding mode is observed. The 130 K EPR spectra of AO and laccase with azide (1:7) exhibit, in addition to an unperturbed T2 Cu(II) signal, new features in the g parallel region that are attributed to a perturbed T2 in protein molecules where the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of T3 has not been disrupted. While these features are also apparent in the AO : azide sample at 10 K, they are absent in the EPR spectra of the laccase : azide sample measured in the range of 6-90 K. Moreover, pulsed ENDOR measurements carried out at 4.2 K on the latter exhibited only a reduction in the intensity of the 20 MHz peak of the 14N histidine coordinated to the T2 Cu(II) but did not resolve any significant changes that could indicate azide binding to this ion. The lack of T2 Cu(II) signal perturbation below 90 K in laccase may be due to temperature dependence of the coupling within the trinuclear : azide complex.