Protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation system: Changes in development and aging as well as due to restriction of cell proliferation

It is well known that the number of dividing cells in an organism decreases with age. The average rate of cell division in tissues and organs of a mature organism sharply decreases, which is probably a trigger for accumulation of damage leading to disturbance of genome integrity. This can be a cause for the development of many age-related diseases and appearance of phenotypic and physiological signs of aging. In this connection, the protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation system, which is activated in response to appearance of various DNA damage, attracts great interest. This review summarizes and analyzes data on changes in the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation system during development and aging in vivo and in vitro, and due to restriction of cell proliferation. Special attention is given to methodological aspects of determination of activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). Analysis of relevant publications and our own data has led us to the conclusion that PARP activity upon the addition of free DNA ends (in this review referred to as stimulated PARP activity) is steadily decreasing with age. However, the dynamics of PARP activity measured without additional activation of the enzyme (in this review referred to as unstimulated activity) does not have such a clear trend: in many studies, the presented differences are statistically non-significant, although it is well known that the number of unrepaired DNA lesions steadily increases with aging. Apparently, the cell has additional regulatory systems that limit its own capability of reacting to DNA damage. Special attention is given to the influence of the cell proliferative status on PARP activity. We have systematized and analyzed data on changes in PARP activity during development and aging of an organism, as well as data on differences in the dynamics of this activity in the presence/absence of additional stimulation and on cellular processes that are associated with activation of these enzymes. Moreover, data obtained in different models of cellular aging are compared.     

Age‐related AMP‐activated protein kinase alterations: From cellular energetics to longevity

5’ adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of energy in the cell, which allows the cell/organism to survive with deficit of ATP. Since AMPK is involved in the adaptation to caloric restriction, the role of age‐related changes in AMPK activity in both the aging organism and the aging cell is actively investigated in gerontology. Studies on yeast, worms, flies, rodents, and primates have demonstrated an important effect of this regulator on key signalling pathways involved in the aging process. In some cases, researchers conclude that AMPK promotes aging. However, in our opinion, in such cases, we observe a disturbance in the adaptive ability because of the prolonged cell/organism presence in stressful conditions because the functional capacity of any adaptation system is limited. Interestingly, AMPK can regulate metabolic processes in noncell‐autonomous manner. The main effects of AMPK activation in the cell are realized in restriction of proliferation and launching autophagy. In tissues of an aging organism, the ability of AMPK to respond to energy deficit decreases; this fact is especially critical for organs that contain postmitotic cells. In this review, we have tried to consider the involvement of AMPK in age‐related changes in the cell and in the organism.     

Optical rotary dispersion of some heptaene antibiotics]

Experimental differences in the curves of the optic rotation dispersion (ORD) of cystrans-heptaenic antibiotics were found. The ORD curves of amphotericin B, mycoheptin, levorin components and isolevorin A2, components of criptomycin and candidin were registered. The curves of the ORD which were smooth had been prepared in dimethylsulphoxide in the spectral range at 450 to 600 nm. In the spectral range at 300 to 420 nm the ORD curves appeared to be anomal with a complex Kotton effect, they were prepared in methyl alcohol. The Kotton effect was probably due to asymmetry of the electron membranes of polyenic chromophore induced by the other part of the polyen molecule. This was evident from the fact that the curve of the Kotton effect was situated in the same spectral range as the absorption bond of the polyenic chromophore. The oscillating structure in the absorption spectrum and the curve of the complex Kotton effect were analogous.     

Isolation of isoforms and crystallization of endonucleases of Serratia marcescens

Two isoforms of an extracellular endonuclease, nuclease Sm1 and nuclease Sm2, were isolated from the culture filtrate of Serratia marcescens strain B10 M1 by the ligand-exchange chromatography on iminodiacetate-agarose in Cu2(+)-form, and chromatography on phosphocellulose and DEAE-Toyopearl 650S. The pI for nucleases Sm1 and Sm2 were found to be 7.1 and 6.7, respectively. The amino acid analysis and N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the proteins showed a significant degree of homology between the enzymes. The secondary structure of nuclease Sm2 was calculated. Crystals of nuclease Sm2 were obtained with the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a 69.0; b 106.7; c 74.8 A.     

Study of components of standard samples of polyene macrolide antibiotics by the methods of high performance liquid chromatography and SIEAP mass spectrometry]

The component composition of reference samples of polyenic macrolide antibiotics such as nystatin, mycoheptin, amphotericin B and levorin was studied by HPLC and chromatographic mass spectrometry in comparison to the WHO standards. It was shown that the samples were close by their component composition to the analogous samples of the WHO standards.