Various elements of the structure of mini-ring kinetoplast DNA of Crithidia fasciculata

The nucleotide sequence of 1.4 kbp SmaI-fragment of minicircle DNA from kinetoplasts of Crithidia fasciculata has been determined and some sequence elements characterized. The sequence contains several oligo(dT)blocks located on the same strand in phase with a period of DNA helix turn, thus representing a "bent helix". Both sides of the bent helix region are flanked by sequences capable of forming a cloverleaf structure. There are also two direct 150 bp repeats located 180 degrees apart on the circular map of the molecule. Each repeat contains the sites of H-strand and L-strand replication origin. The specific stem-loop secondary structure may be folded by the nucleotide sequence within the origins region. The alignment of the sequence determined with two other C. fasciculata minicircle sequences spanning over the bent helix and the adjacent regions has indicated the presence of several conserved sequence blocks, one of them representing the sequence of the bend. The divergence of three sequences occurred mainly by small insertions-deletions. Several open reading frames were found, the largest of which being capable of coding for the approximately 200 amino acids polypeptide.     

Effect of ultrasound on the membrane potential and embryonic development of sea urchin eggs

Eggs of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius were exposed to continuous wave ultrasonic energy at a frequency of 2 MHz for 3 min. Ultrasonic treatment results in the appearance of monstrous embryos that die at the latest stages of their development. The number of dead embryos sharply grows with the increase in the spatial average intensity from 0.4 W/cm2 up to 1.6 W/cm2, when it comprises 100%. Dramatic decrease from 99% to 17% in the absolute value of transmembrane potential for both fertilized and unfertilized eggs was observed after ultrasonic treatment. These results seem to be caused by the action of stable cavitation. The given estimations show that for ultrasonic intensities more than 0.2 W/cm2 and providing the presence of gaseous bubbles in the vicinity of eggs shell the value of shear stress in an egg shell becomes great enough to cause the cytoplasmic gel fragmentation.     

Analysis of the sequence of repeats in divergent regions of maxi-circular DNA from kinetoplasts of Crithidia oncopelti

The nucleotide sequence of direct clustered repeats from the divergent region of the maxicircle kinetoplast (mitochondrial) DNA from the protozoan Crithidia oncopelti was analysed. 10 kbp long divergent region contains 3 clusters composed of 18-23 tandem repeats of 82-83 bp (Sau-repeats) and a single cluster of five 417 bp repeats (EcoRI-repeats). The clusters are interspersed between the regions of nonrepetitive DNA. The details of the structural organization of repeats and their clusters were considered on the nucleotide sequence level. The possible ways of origin of the clusters are discussed.     

Role of Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Infarct-Limiting Effect of Normobaric Hypoxia

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - The study was carried out in male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into normoxic control groups and groups exposed to normobaric...     

Erratum to: Deferrivibrio essentukiensis sp. nov., gen. nov., a Representative of Deferrivibrionaceae fam. nov., Isolated from the Subsurface Aquifer of Caucasian Mineral Drinking Waters

Microbiology - An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S002626172213001X     

In vivo imaging of subcutaneous structures using functional photoacoustic microscopy

Functional photoacoustic microscopy (fPAM) is a hybrid technology that permits noninvasive imaging of the optical absorption contrast in subcutaneous biological tissues. fPAM uses a focused ultrasonic transducer to detect high-frequency photoacoustic (PA) signals. Volumetric images of biological tissues can be formed by two-dimensional raster scanning, and functional parameters can be further extracted from spectral measurements. fPAM is safe and applicable to animals as well as humans. This protocol provides guidelines for parameter selection, system alignment, imaging operation, laser safety and data processing for in vivo fPAM. It currently takes approximately 100 min to carry out this protocol, including approximately 50 min for data acquisition using a 10-Hz pulse-repetition-rate laser system. The data acquisition time, however, can be significantly reduced by using a laser system with a higher pulse repetition rate.     

Role of receptor transactivation in the cardioprotective effects of preconditioning and postconditioning

Analysis of published data indicates that the activity of receptors for adenosine, opioids, bradykinin, calcitonin-gene related peptides (CGRP) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) play important role in triggering the cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning. Cannabinoids mimic the infarct-sparing effects of preconditioning. Endogenous adenosine, opioids, bradykinin and CGRP have also been implicated in infarct-reduction with ischemic postconditioning. Again, cannabinoids also mimic the protective effect of postconditioning. Recent works support heterodimerization of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and GPCR transactivation of EGF receptors. It was found that cross-talk between delta(j)-opioid receptors and adenosine A(1)-receptors is essential to cardiac protection. Furthermore, evidence implicates EGF receptor transactivation in cardioprotective effect of multiple GPCrs including adenosine, acetylcholine, bradykinin, and opioid receptors. Such findings support a convergent pathway in which multiple GPCRs may interact (or function independently) to transactivate EGF receptor-dependent kinase signaling and cytoprotection.     

Prevalence of scoliosis in school-children from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the school-year 2002/2003 a prospective epidemiological study was performed with the aim of evaluating the prevalence and distribution of scoliosis in the population of schoolchildren from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The general check-up of primary-school children covered a total of 2,517 children aged 7-14. The children in which at least one positive symptom of scoliosis was found were directed to undergo orthopedic examination and--if indicated--radiography. Incorrect posture was noted in 33.4% of children, and 11.8% of children were sent to orthopedic specialist examination. The prevalence of structural scoliosis amounted to 3.1%, with the spine curvature threshold being 10 degrees. In eight children (0.32%; 1 boy and 7 girls) a curvature of 20 degrees or more was diagnosed. The most common type of curvature was the thoracal (39%) and the thoraco-lumbar (39%) while 14 children had a double curvature (17.8%). A scoliosis was detected due to here performed check-up in 83.5% of children with scoliosis. No case of serious spine deformity (45 degree or more) was recorded, due to regular general check-ups taking place biannually in this population.     

Synthesis of positively charged galactosurfactants

An approach to synthesis of cationic carbohydrate surfactants with potential antimicrobial or transfected activities is described.