Recent applications of ATR FTIR spectroscopy and imaging to proteins

Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a label-free, non-destructive analytical technique that can be used extensively to study a wide variety of different molecules in a range of different conditions. The aim of this review is to discuss and highlight the recent advances in the applications of ATR FTIR spectroscopic imaging to proteins. It briefly covers the basic principles of ATR FTIR spectroscopy and ATR FTIR spectroscopic imaging as well as their advantages to the study of proteins compared to other techniques and other forms of FTIR spectroscopy. It will then go on to examine the advances that have been made within the field over the last several years, particularly the use of ATR FTIR spectroscopy for the understanding and development of protein interaction with surfaces. Additionally, the growing potential of Surface Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy (SEIRAS) within this area of applications will be discussed. The review includes the applications of ATR FTIR imaging to protein crystallisation and for high-throughput studies, highlighting the future potential of the technology within the field of protein structural studies and beyond.     

Analysis of electrical activities of the junction region of the ureter with bladder and surrounding zones in rats

Spontaneous electrical activity of the rat ureters per bladder zone was studied. In area of ureter connection with bladder, slow-wave activity was revealed. In bladder bordering ureter zone, rapid spike activity was found that was fully correlated with the genesis of upper located fluctuation processes.     

Comparative analysis of spontaneous unit activity of the cerebellum fastigial nucleus' neurons in different periods of vibration influence

In conditions of acute experiment on white rats anaesthetized with Nembutal (40 mg/kg, interperitonially) recording and analysis of spontaneous impulse activity of the fastigial nucleus' neurons in norm and after 5, 10 and 15 days of vibration influence on the organism were carried out. Distribution of the neurons was evaluated by the dynamics of neuronal current flow and the modality of the interspike interval hystograms, as well as the statistical parameters: the average discharge frequency and the coefficient of the interspike interval variation. It is shown that more significant changes in neuronal activity of fastigial nucleus cells are formed during the first 10 days of vibration influence. On the 15th day, there was a tendency towards return to control levels of the parameters under study.     

The role of the pallidum in regulating cortical activity]

Bilateral ablation of the pallidum halves the duration of extinction of conditioned motor food reflexes and contributes to 30 to 50% extinction of the electro-defensive reflexes. Pallidum functional depression by potassium chloride or novacaine leads to a temporary total depression of conditioned motor food reflexes. Depending on the frequency of pallidum stimulation, synchronization or desynchronization of the cortical bioelectrical activity is observed. Ablation of the pallidum in anaesthetized cats results in a high amplitude and low-frequency cortical activity. Injection of large doses of potassium chloride into the pallidum results in a forced running forward which lasts 30 to 40 min. The pallidum is considreed as a structure controlling the cortex activity, which takes part in the mechanisms of sensory information processes in the course of adaptive behaviour.     

Morphogenic Regulation of Pathotoxin Synthesis in Cochliobolus carbonum

The fungus Cochliobolus carbonum causes leaf spot disease of maize. Highly virulent isolates of the pathogen produce a host-selective, peptide toxin that is active against susceptible genotypes of maize. Prior to infection, spores must germinate and differentiate appressoria, structures specialized for leaf penetration. Analysis of spore germination fluids by plasma desorption mass spectrometry, which allowed detection of as little as 0.5 ng toxin, revealed that spores induced to form appressoria in vitro synthesized and released the toxin at a time coincident with maturation of appressoria. Spores incubated under conditions that did not induce appressorium formation failed to produce toxin. These observations indicate that synthesis of the host-selective toxin, which is essential for successful pathogenesis of maize by C. carbonum, is regulated by infection-related morphogenesis.     

The role of Na+/Ca2+ exchange in the generation of delayed electrical activity of smooth muscle cells

It was shown that electrogenic 3Na+/Ca2+ antiport evoked depolarization of the membranes and Ca2+ ions influx through Ca2+ activated channels which lead to the appearance of stable self-oscillation of the membrane potential (MP), as well as Na+ and Ca2+ ions intracellular concentrations.     

Use of the principle of reverse problems for detecting processes, occurring in cells suspended in culture. I. Distribution in the exponential growth phase of the age component of the cell population by its dynamic characteristics]

A mathematical model of age distribution in the suspension culture was verified. This model used the principle of reverse problems and allowed determination of age distribution from the cell numbers dynamics in the population. The verification was based on the complex non-destructive measurement of the microorganism parameters, which allowed simultaneous determination of the cell population dynamics and the distribution of cells according to their projection areas. The experiments were carried out on E. coli culture.     

The mitotic cycle and DNA repair in UV-irradiated murine neuroblastoma cells]

A correlation has been shown between a reduced rate of movement of UV-irradiated neuroblastoma cells from G1 into S phase, an essential increase of cells in S phase while progressing through the cell cycle, and a defect in free DNA synthesis on a damaged template. These indices may reflect one and the same cell response to the UV light.     

Isolation of (ADP-ribose)polymerases from the calf testis and thymus and comparison of their basic physico-chemical properties

Highly purified preparations of (ADP-ribose) polymerase were obtained from calf testis and thymus by chromatography on DNA-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and gel filtration. It was shown that the enzymes isolated from both sources under identical conditions have similar values of Mr, Vmax and Km in the reactions of autoribosylation and poly(ADP-ribosylation) of histone H1 as well as similar pH-dependencies of the catalyzed reactions.