Long-term hyperthermia impairs activity of both photosystems

This is the first study to perform a simultaneous analysis of the activity of photosystem 1 and photosystem 2 after long-term exposure to elevated temperature. It was found that the quantum yield of photochemical reactions decreases in both photosystems. It is shown that, in photosystem 2, the regulated nonphotochemical quenching decreases whereas the unregulated non-photochemical quenching increases. In photosystem 1, limitation on both acceptor and donor sides increases.     

Effect of nitrate and cytokinin on nitrate reductase activity in isolated corncockle embryos]

The effects of cytokinin and nitrate on the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) in isolated embryos of Agrostemma githago L. were studied. It was shown that the effects of cytokinin and NO-3 on the induction of NR is additive during 8, 12 and 18 hrs of embryos incubation in the solutions of the two inducers. Anticytokinin decreased the cytokinin induced NR by 35--39% and had no effect on the NR induction by nitrate. The substrate and hormonal induction of NR differed in the duration of the lag period. This difference dependent on the physiological state of the embryos at the beginning of incubation. The data obtained are indicative of the independence of cytokinin and NO-3 effects on the NR synthesis in isolated embryos of Agrostemma githago L. Abscisic acid supressed cytokinin- and nitrate-induced NR and had practically no effect on total incorporation of the label into the protein. It is assumed that the induced synthesis of the protein is more sensitive to the action of abscisic acid that the total protein synthesis.     

Molecular mechanisms of antitumor activity of the polymeric form of niclosamide with respect to human colorectal cancer cells

Using poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid a polymeric form of niclosamide (PFN) has been developed and its antitumor activity against human colorectal cancer cell lines SW837, Caco-2, COLO 320 HSR has been investigated in comparison with free niclosamide. PFN was shown to be more cytotoxic against cancer cells and less cytotoxic against normal cells (human embryonic lung fibroblasts) as compared to niclosamide. Free niclosamide and PFN share a common mechanism of the cytotoxic action on tumor cells, which is associated with mitochondrial damage (evaluated as a decrease in rhodamine 123 accumulation), and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, particularly mitochondrial superoxide anion, causing oxidative damage of intracellular targets. The action of niclosamide and PFN was accompanied by G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest.     

Computer analysis of the dynamics of two tumor foci with respect to circulating immune cells]

A mathematical model of the bilocal immunogenic tumors was analysed by a computer. An increase of the intensity or/and growth of asymmetry in cytotoxic cells migration between two tumor centres could lead to bifurcations in the system. This approach allows interpretation of a number of paradoxes in the interrelations between the original tumor and metastases.     

Inability of large granular lymphocytes to recirculate through blood-lymph barriers

The level of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) has been determined in thoracic lymph duct and peripheral blood of cattle. It has been shown that in contrast to the blood, these cells are present in the lymph in minor quantities. Unlike blood LGL, lymph LGL have smaller granules in cytoplasm. It is concluded that LGL do not recirculate from blood to central lymph.     

Regulation of gene expression governing proline metabolism in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thellungiella salsuginea</Emphasis> by NaCl and paraquat

Differential expression of the proline metabolism genes in Thellungiella salsuginea (Pall) E. Schulz was investigated under salinity (100 and 300 mM NaCl), upon the effect of paraquat (0.1 μM), and at their joint action. It was shown that, depending on the intensity of stress factor, expression of the P5CS1 gene was induced in the leaves (at 100 mM NaCl) or roots (at 300 mM NaCl). When the plants on control medium were treated with paraquat, the proline content changed only in the leaves. Time course of proline content in the leaves complied with the dynamic of P5CS1 gene expression, while expression of PDH gene essentially did not change. When the plants, which experienced salt stress, were treated with paraquat, the content of proline and the P5CS1 mRNA level increased even more. The obtained results suggest a complicated nature of signaling between the organs of the halophyte Th. salsuginea causing expression of the proline biosynthesis genes in the leaves and roots under the effect of salinity, paraquat, or upon their joint action. The proline catabolism in these plants was maintained essentially unchanged, which is probably related to the participation of proline and/or the products of its degradation in the pathways of other metabolite biosynthesis. We suggested that proline took part in ROS scavenging process and proline level was under strong control in Th. salsuginea.     

Catalytic properties of aspartate aminotransferase

Analysis of Michaelis--Menten kinetics revealed that the enzyme in solution and the crystalline cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) possess a functional nonequivalence of active sites of the enzyme dimer for two substrates--aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate.