The Percentage of Cytoskeleton-Bound Polysomes as Affected by the Physiological Condition of Plant Cells

The effects of illumination, temperature, deficiency of water or oxygen, phytohormones, and seedling age on the proportion of cytoskeleton-bound polysomes (CBP) in plant tissues were studied. This proportion was shown to vary depending on factors affecting protein synthesis: it decreased under the influence of factors inhibiting protein synthesis and reducing the relative content of polysomes in tissues (oxygen and water deficiencies, seedling aging) and vice versaincreased under the influence of the factors promoting translation (cytokinin, light). The significance of reversible polysome attachment to the cytoskeleton as a mechanism controlling protein synthesis is discussed.     

Molecular genetic polymorphism of androgen receptor gene (AR) in African populations of Hadza and Datoga

The molecular genetic analysis of the polymorphic variants of the CAG repeat-containing locus of the androgen receptor (AR) gene was performed in the populations of Hadza and Datoga. Allele frequency distribution patterns were established. Alleles containing 20–25 repeats were the most abundant in both populations. The populations studied were compared with Asians (Han), white Americans, and Africans (Ariaal). Statistically significant difference between populations of Hadza and Datoga in the distribution of the AR allelic variants was demonstrated.     

Proteasome Functioning in Breast Cancer: Connection with Clinical-Pathological Factors

Breast cancer is one of four oncology diseases that are most widespread in the world. Moreover, breast cancer is one of leading causes of cancer-related deaths in female population within economically developed regions of the world. So far, detection of new mechanisms of breast cancer development is very important for discovery of novel areas in which therapy approaches may be elaborated. The objective of the present study is to investigate involvement of proteasomes, which cleave up to 90% of cellular proteins and regulate numerous cellular processes, in mechanisms of breast cancer development. Proteasome characteristics in 106 patient breast carcinomas and adjacent tissues, as well as relationships of detected proteasome parameters with clinical-pathological factors, were investigated. Proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity was evaluated by hydrolysis of fluorogenic peptide Suc-LLVY-AMC. The expression of proteasome subunits was studied by Western-blotting and immunohistochemistry. The wide range of chymotrypsin-like activity in tumors was detected. Activity in tumors was higher if compared to adjacent tissues in 76 from 106 patients. Multiple analysis of generalized linear models discovered that in estrogen α-receptor absence, tumor growth was connected with the enhanced expression of proteasome immune subunit LMP2 and proteasome activator PA700 in tumor (at 95% confidence interval). Besides, by this analysis we detected some phenomena in adjacent tissue, which are important for tumor growth and progression of lymph node metastasis in estrogen α-receptor absence. These phenomena are related to the enhanced expression of activator PA700 and immune subunit LMP7. Thus, breast cancer development is connected with functioning of immune proteasome forms and activator PA700 in patients without estrogen α-receptors in tumor cells. These results could indicate a field for search of new therapy approaches for this category of patients, which has the worst prognosis of health recovery.     

Effect of hypothyroidism on 5-HT1A-, 5-HT2A-receptors and serotonin transporter in the rat brain

Effects of thyroid hormone deficiency on 5-HT1A receptors, 5-HT2A receptors and serotonin transporter in the brain were studied in thyroidectomised Wistar rats receiving an iodine-free diet and receiving 15 micrograms/kg of thyroxine for 21 days. Binding of 3H-8-OH-DPAT to 5-HT1A receptors and 3H-cytalopram to serotonin transporter were unchanged in hypothyroid rats as compared to the control. 3H-ketanserin binding to 5-HT2A receptors was significantly decreased in the frontal cortex in hypothyroid rats. The cortical 3H-ketanserin binding in thyroidectomised rats was normalised after thyroxine replacement. The data suggest that the decrease in the cortical 5-HT2A receptors is the main consequence of impairing effect of hypothyroidism on serotonin neurotransmission.     

Pifithrin-α Inhibits Neural Differentiation of Newborn Cells in the Subgranular Zone of the Dentate Gyrus at Initial Stages of Audiogenic Kindling in Krushinsky–Molodkina Rat Strain

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - One of the main challenges of modern neurobiology is finding approaches to prevent structural abnormalities in the brain, specifically, in the...     

Phage Particles in Ground Arctic Ice

Microbiology - This is the first report on investigation of bacteriophages in ancient Arctic ground ice of various genesis and geological age. Electron microscopy revealed phage particles in all...