Purification and characterisation of recombinant Bacteroides fragilis toxin-2

Fragilysin (BFT) is metalloprotease that is secreted by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis. Studying the mechanism of BFT interaction with intestinal epithelial cells requires a pure protein sample. In this study, we cloned DNA-fragments coding for the catalytic domain of fragilysin-2 and profragilysin-2 into an E. coli expression vector. Purification methods for the recombinant fragilysin-2 catalytic domain and profragilysin-2 were developed. In addition, we obtained mature active fragilysin-2 from recombinant proprotein by limited tryptic digestion. We tested the biological activity of the recombinant protein samples and revealed that E-cadherin was cleaved when HT-29 cells were treated with mature fragilysin-2 but not with profragilysin-2. Azocoll, azocasein and gelatin were not proteolytically cleaved by mature fragilysin-2. Proteins released in culture medium after HT-29 cells treatment with mature active BFT-2 were identified.     

Family Linoproductidae Stehli, (Brachiopoda) from the Upper Moscovian of the Middle Carboniferous of the Moscow Region

Species from the family Linoproductidae sensu str. from the Podolskian-Myachkovian deposits of the Moscow Region are revised and redescribed. The peculiarities of the arrangement of spines on the ventral valve are used as a basis for a new taxonomic structure. A new genus Linipalus, which appeared in the Podolskian time and was widespread in the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian, is established. Three new species of the genus Linispinus Lazarev, 2006, and one new species of the genus Linipalus gen. nov. are described.     

Picosecond flash photolysis of Halobacterium halobium bacteriorhodopsin at room and low temperatures

The primary stage of photoexcitation of bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium halobium upon the action of ultrashort (tau equal to 25 ps) laser impulse of 530 nm wavelength and of energy 2.5.10(-3) J has been studied. The primary photoproduct with a maximum of 630 nm is shown to occur in the differential spectrum in a time less than 25 ps both at room temperature (+20 degrees C) and at a low temperature (-150 degrees C).     

Changes in the static electric field in restrained animals

The paper states that restraint of an animal causes transition from one quasistationary level of the static electric field to another.