New data on sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of Alaska skate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathyraja parmifera</Emphasis> from the northwestern Pacific Ocean

New data on sexual dimorphism and features of reproductive biology of Alaska skate Bathyraja parmifera from the western Bering Sea and the northern Sea of Okhotsk are presented. Based on comparative analysis of 11 external morphological characters, the males differ from the females in the length of the disc and snout length (to the eyes, to the mouth, and to the nostrils). In the western Bering Sea, 50% of the females and 50% of the males reach the first sexual maturity at 84.5 cm TL and 85.2–90.2 cm TL, respectively; in the Sea of Okhotsk, 50% of the males reach their first sexual maturity at 80.8–83.8 cm TL (the assessment depends on the features of the method). Among smaller skates (less than 45 cm TL), the males prevail, but the proportion of the females increases in larger size groups; the sex ratio becomes equal in the exemplars 60–80 cm TL, but the males prevail again among the largest fishes (more than 80 cm TL).     

Micro-evolutionary processes in sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria,based on polymorphism of the two sites of mitochondrial DNA

Sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria is a deep-sea fish, endemic to the North Pacific Ocean, with continuous range from southern California to the central part of Honshu Island, including the Bering and Okhotsk Seas. It is an important commercial species and a promising object for aquaculture [1, 2]. Compared to the eastern part of the range [3, 4] the population structure of sablefish in Asian waters is poorly studied. It is believed that sablefish goes to the Bering Sea and Pacific waters of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands from the northeastern Pacific, and Asian waters are its eviction zone [5]. Other authors suggest that replenishment of sablefish off the eastern Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands is not only due to migration of the adult fish from the Bering Sea along the continental slope, but also due to the drift of yearlings by Aleutian current over the American coast [6].     

A protein whose binding to Na,K-ATPase is regulated by ouabain

Immunoprecipitation of Na,K-ATPase from kidney homogenate by antibodies against alpha1-subunit results in the precipitation of several proteins together with the Na,K-ATPase. A protein with molecular mass of about 67 kD interacting with antibodies against melittin (melittin-like protein, MLP) was found in the precipitate when immunoprecipitation was done in the presence of ouabain. If immunoprecipitation was done using antibodies against melittin, MLP and Na,K-ATPase alpha1-subunit were detected in the precipitate, and the amount of alpha1-subunit in the precipitate was increased after the addition of ouabain to the immunoprecipitation medium. MLP was purified from mouse kidney homogenate using immunoaffinity chromatography with antibodies against melittin. The addition of MLP to purified FITC-labeled Na,K-ATPase decreases fluorescence in medium with K+ and increases it in medium with Na+. The enhancement of fluorescence depends upon the MLP concentration. The N-terminal sequence of MLP determined by the Edman method is the following: HPPKRVRSRLNG. No proteins with such N-terminal sequence were found in the protein sequence databases. However, we revealed five amino acid sequences that contain this peptide in the middle part of the chain at distance 553 amino acids from the C-terminus (that corresponds to protein with molecular mass of about 67 kD). Analysis of amino acid sequence located between C-terminus and HPPKRVRSRLNG in all found sequences has shown that they were highly conservative and include WD40 repeats. It is suggested that the 67-kD MLP either belongs to the found protein family or was a product of proteolysis of one of them.     

Low efficiency of functional translation of ouabain-resistant α2-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase mRNA in C7-MDCK epithelial cells

Na(+),K(+)-ATPase is a heterodimer consisting of catalytic α1-α4 and regulatory β1-β3 subunits. Recently, we reported that transfection with ouabain-resistant α1R-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase rescues renal epithelial C7-MDCK cells exclusively expressing the ouabain-sensitive α1S-isoform from the cytotoxic action of ouabain. To explore the role of α2 subunit in ion transport and cytotoxic action of ouabain, we compared the effect of ouabain on K(+) ((86)Rb) influx and the survival of ouabain-treated C7-MDCK cells stably transfected with α1R- and α2R-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. α2R mRNA in transfected cells was ～8-fold more abundant than α1R mRNA, whereas immunoreactive α2R protein content was 5-fold lower than endogenous α1S protein. A concentration of 10?μmol/L ouabain led to complete inhibition of (86)Rb influx both in mock- and α2R-transfected cells, whereas maximal inhibition of (86)Rb influx in α1R-transfectd cells was observed at 1000?μmol/L ouabain. In contrast to the massive death of mock- and α2R-transfected cells exposed to 3?μmol/L ouabain , α1R-cells survived after 24?h incubation with 1000?μmol/L ouabain. Thus, our results show that unlike α1R, the presence of α2R-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase subunit mRNA and immunoreactive protein does not contribute to Na(+)/K(+) pump activity, and does not rescue C7-MDCK cells from the cytotoxic action of ouabain. Our results also suggest that the lack of impact of transfected α2-Na(+),K(+)-ATPase on Na(+)/K(+) pump activity and cell survival can be attributed to the low efficiency of its translation and (or) delivery to the plasma membrane of renal epithelial cells.     

Mathematical modeling of gas-dynamic and radiative processes in experiments with the use of laser and heavy-ion beams

Results are presented from theoretical and experimental studies of gas-dynamic and radiative processes in the plasma that is planned to be used in future experiments on the stopping of fast heavy-ion beams. These experiments are aimed at measuring the enhanced (as compared to cold substance) plasma stopping power. To reliably interpret the experimental results, it is necessary to create a hydrodynamically stable homogeneous plasma with a uniform temperature and a lifetime exceeding the transit time of the heavy-ion beam (3–5 ns). The method for calculating plasma gas-dynamic characteristics with allowance for radiative heat transfer is described. The specific features of the so-called ion model of plasma, which is used to calculate plasma radiative characteristics, are discussed. The emission spectrum formed as a result of conversion of laser radiation into X-rays and the subsequent passing through a triacetate cellulose (C₁₂H₁₆O₈) target is calculated. The simulated spectrum of transmitted radiation satisfactorily agrees with experimental data.     

Evaluation of potential sustainability of deep-sea fisheries for grenadiers (Macrouridae)

The ability of six grenadier species from the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Ocean to sustain deep-sea fisheries is assessed. These species are captured in high amounts as bycatch and a few are taken in targeted fisheries, yet population status for most is poorly known or known for only a small portion of their range. A productivity and susceptibility analysis showed that none of the species was highly productive, which was not unexpected given their life history characteristics. While grenadiers were ranked more vulnerable than species in the northeastern Pacific groundfish fisheries, none of the investigated species was ranked as highly susceptible or heavily exploited. This result exposed several weaknesses in the PSA technique and attribute scoring. Management actions and regulations are discussed, which, if employed, might make grenadier fisheries sustainable.     

Effects of cation binding on the thermal transitions in calmodulin

The thermal transitions in different forms of bovine brain calmodulin (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 bound Ca2+ ions per molecule) have been studied by means of microcalorimetry, intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence, circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopy. The heating of the apoprotein from 5 to 110 degrees C induces at least three unfolding transitions. The heating of Ca2+-loaded calmodulin causes at least two structural transitions, one of which occurs at relatively low temperatures, from approx. 30 to approx 50 degrees C. The binding of the biologically significant Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ ions has been measured at 12, 20, 28, 37 and 50 degrees C by means of the fluorescence method. The values of the binding parameters for these cations do not depend on temperature within the range 12 to 50 degrees C. It has been proposed that the temperature independence of the metal-ion-binding properties of calmodulin is achieved due to the temperature-induced structural changes, which adjust the protein conformation in such a way that the protein-binding parameters remain constant.     

Obtaining of Agr2 Specific Antibodies and Determination of the Agr2 Protein Distribution Pattern during Early Embryonic Development and Tadpole Regeneration in Xenopus laevis

Russian Journal of Developmental Biology - The Agr (anterior gradient) group proteins belong to the family of proteins with a noncanonical thioredoxin motif and are involved in the regulation of...