Isolation and properties of neutral SH-dependent proteinase from bovine spleen]

A neutral SH-dependent proteinase was isolated from bovine spleen by a slight modification of the previous method (1) and its action on some natural and synthetic substrates was studied. The activity of the enzyme was increased 2000--2500-fold as compared to that of the original extract. The enzyme hydrolyzed various histones (H1, H2a, H2b, H3), casein and protamine but did not split hemoglobin, serum albumin and 14C-tryptophane-labelled total protein from chicken embryos. The enzyme possessed neither collagenolytic nor elastase activity; it did not inactivate aldolase, hexokinase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which makes the enzyme different from cathepsin B1 and some other previously described proteinases. The enzyme did not split BAPA, BAEE, ATEE, Boc-Ala-ONP, Leu-beta-NA and some other peptides. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be about 15 000.     

Conjugated dinitrocompound dianions as inhibitors of the oxidative deamination of monoamines

The conjugated derivatives--1.4-dinitrobutene-2, 1,4-dinitro-2-methylbutene-2, 1,4-dinitro-2,3-diphenylbutene-2 sodium salts, as well as dinitromethane sodium salt and beta-nitrostyrol, the inhibitors of oxidative deamination of serotonin, tyramine, tryptamine and benzylamine in bovine liver mitochondria, were studied. All the derivatives under study were found to be active inhibitors of monoamine oxidase catalyzing the oxidative deamination of serotonin, tyramine and tryptamine. In a far lesser degree these preparations inhibited the deamination of benzylamine, a specific substrate for monoamine oxidase B. All the dinitrocompound dianions, with the exception of 1,4-dinitro-2,3-diphenylbutene-2 disodium salt, a non-competitive inhibitor of oxidative deamination of the four substrates under study, cause competitive reversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase.     

Vaccine from the cell fragments of Bordetella pertussis. I. Protective, sensitizing properties and morphological characteristics of the vaccine]

The authors present the results of studying the protective and sensitizing properties of a new preparation made of a ultrasonic disintegrate of pertussis microbes treated by ethyl ether. As shown by electron microscopy, the preparation consisted of the cell wall elements (the membrane), remnants of the cytoplasm and protectosome, i.e. it represented a vaccine consisting of cell fragments. In crude and sorbed condition it possessed marked protective properties (a test on mice). The content of protective units in the adsorbed preparation increased 1.5-3 times. The vaccine produced no sensitizing action, and its histamine-sensitizing activity was 3-5 times lower by protein and 5-10 times--by IOU than that of the whole-cell vaccine prepared form the same microbial suspension.     

Geographical Variability of the Craniological Characters in Eversmann’s Hamsters and the Taxonomic Structure of the Genus Allocricetulus (Cricetidae)

Biology Bulletin - The genus Allocricetulus at presently includes three taxa. The taxonomic status of two of them, A. eversmanni (Eversmann’s hamster) and A. curtatus (Mongolian...     

Rapid method of determining the dry mass of whooping cough microbes

A colorimetric method for the rapid determination of the quantitative content of microbial mass in B. pertussis suspensions has been developed. The method is based on the indirect determination of carbon in microbial suspensions by its oxidation with the mixture consisting of potassium bichromate in concentrated sulfuric acid and the subsequent colorimetric analysis of the products of this reaction. The method ensures sufficient accuracy, the determination procedure is simple, takes not more than 2 hours and requires no complex reagents. The results thus obtained are well comparable with those obtained by the classical gravimetric method. The new method permits the determination of microbial mass in B. pertussis suspensions with a minimum concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. The method is recommended for the determination of dry microbial mass in B. pertussis suspensions.     

Inhibition of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte transformation by neutral SH-dependent proteinase of the spleen

The effect of neutral SH-dependent proteinase of the spleen on transformation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes has been studied. Proteinase (1--10 micrograms/ml) inhibits phytohemagglutinin-stimulated (PHA) lymphocyte transformation and has no effect on spontaneous transformation. Proteinase does not alter the mitogenic properties of PHA and possesses no cytotoxicity. Therefore, inhibition of stimulated lymphocyte transformation is either resultant of proteinase direct action on the cell or associated with the inhibitor factor formation.     

River water quality research within the city limits using some biochemical methods

River water containing a complex of pollutants causes substantial changes in the amylolytic activity of human saliva and affects the kinetics of hydrolytic lipolysis under the action of pancreatic lipase. The fish living in polluted water have been revealed to have peculiarities in the distribution of ascorbic acid in the organ tissues, a decrease in the amount of cavitary fat and in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in it. Monoamine exchange has been found to be inhibited in the liver and intestine of fish with the soluble fraction of oil. The applicability of the used biochemical methods for evaluating the quality of natural water is demonstrated.