DNA-protein cross-links in different organs of mice induced by the combined action of zinc and gamma-irradiation

Fractional whole-body gamma-irradiation of mice at total doses of 0. 5-1.5 Gy induces increased DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) in thymus, spleen, and brain, whereas in liver no DPCs are detected. Chronic administration of zinc ions in drinking water at concentration 10 mg/liter for 20-30 days increased DPCs in thymus, spleen, brain, and liver of mice. The combined action of zinc ions and gamma-radiation produced a significantly lower amount of DPCs than was induced by the separate action of these agents.     

Minor fatty acids of biological fluids of urogenital organs and their significance in the diagnosis of inflammatory processes

Minor lipid components (less than 1%), not occurring in the cells of mammals, have been detected in the profile of fatty acids (FA) in urine and vaginal fluid in females, as well as in ejaculate in males, by the method of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Their origin is supposedly attributed to microorganisms colonizing urogenital organs under normal conditions and in infectious pathology. Minor FA in the biological fluids of the urogenital tract (UGT) in man are compared with the FA composition of pure microbial cultures. The statistical analysis of FA concentrations in 500 specimens of UGT biological fluids indicates that lipid markers of microbial origin (in UGT inflammatory diseases) have a range of quantitative changes exceeding the limits of values characteristic of healthy persons and in a number of cases correlate with the diagnosis of the disease or the results of the bacteriological study. The reliability of the interpretation of the results of the marker analysis is confirmed by the difference in the composition of UGT microorganisms under normal conditions and in pathology, correlation with the clinical picture of pathological deviations, a decrease (to zero or normal values) in the concentration of the markers of pathogens as the result of treatment with antibiotics, as well as by the adequate composition of UGT microorganisms, determined by the marker method in comparison with the cultural biochemical method.     

Low-molecular-weight autoregulatory factors in bacteria Thioalkalivibrio versutus and Thioalkalimicrobium aerophilum

The haloalkaliphilic, lithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing gram-negative bacteria Thioalkalivibrio versutus and Thioalkalimicrobium aerophilum were found to possess a special system for the autoregulation of their growth. The system includes the extracellular autoinducers of anabiosis (the d1 factor) and autolysis (the d2 factor). The principal components of the d1 factor are alkylhydroxybenzenes. The principal components of the d2 factor are free unsaturated fatty acids dominated by oleic acid isomers. Like the respective autoregulators of neutrophilic bacteria, the d1 factor of haloalkaliphilic bacteria presumably controls their growth and transition to a anabiotic state, while the d2 factor controls autolytic processes. Alkylhydroxybenzenes of both microbial and chemical origin were found to influence bacterial respiration. The low-molecular-weight osmoprotectant glycine betaine enhanced the thermostability of trypsin. This suggests that glycine betaine, like the d1 factor, serves as a molecular chaperone.     

Teratogenic effects of incorporated radionuclides

Experimental data on teratogenic effects induced by incorporated alpha, beta and gamma-emitters were analyzed. It was found that the radioactive substances as well as external irradiation induced teratogenic effects. Teratogenesis caused by incorporated radionuclides has some peculiarities compared to the effect caused by fetus exposure to external radiation. These peculiarities are related to the fact of the limited penetration of incorporated radionuclides via placenta barrier so the radiation fetal doses are accumulated within long period of time and radiation dose rates are relatively low. The exposure to incorporated radionuclides does not induce severe developmental defects. Most frequent developmental defects of fetus include its death, general retardation of the development and growth. In such case the earlier pregnancy term was affected by radionuclide the more severe fetal damages occur in fetus because of the gradual increase of absorbed dose even in case of single intake of radionuclide. RBEs of radionuclides if compared to that for external gamma radiation are evaluated as follows: 2-4 (tritium oxide), 20 (241Am), 50 (238Pu) and 3-5 (131I in thyroid).     

Loading of nitrate into the xylem: apoplastic nitrate controls the voltage dependence of X-QUAC,the main anion conductance in xylem-parenchyma cells of barley roots

We report here that NO(3)(-) in the xylem exerts positive feedback on its loading into the xylem through a change in the voltage dependence of the Quickly Activating Anion Conductance, X-QUAC. Properties of this conductance were investigated on xylem-parenchyma protoplasts prepared from roots of Hordeum vulgare by applying the patch-clamp technique. Chord conductances were minimal around -40 mV and increased with plasma membrane depolarisation as well as with hyperpolarisation. Two gates with opposite voltage dependences were postulated. When 30 mM Cl- in the bath was replaced by NO(3)(-), a shift in the midpoint potential of the depolarisation-activated gate by about -60 mV from 43 to -16 mV occurred (K(m) = 3.4 mM). No such effect was seen when chloride was replaced by malate. Addition of 10 mM NO(3)(-)to the pipette solution and reduction of [Cl-] from 124 to 4 mM (to simulate cytoplasmic concentrations) did not interfere with the voltage dependence of X-QUAC activation, nor was it affected by changes in external [K+]. If only the NO(3)(-) effect on gating was considered, an increase of the NO(3)(-) concentration in the xylem sap to 5 mM would result in an enhancement of NO(3)(-) efflux by about 30%. Although the driving force for NO(3)(-) efflux would be reduced simultaneously, NO(3)(-) efflux into the xylem through X-QUAC would be maintained with high NO(3)(-) concentrations in the xylem sap; a situation which occurs for instance during the night.     

Alkaliphilic heliobacterium Heliorestis baculata sp. nov. and emended description of the genus Heliorestis

A rod-shaped heliobacterium motile by peritrichous flagella, designated strain OS-H1, was isolated from a sample of shoreline soil of the soda lake Ostozhe (pH 9.2, total salt content 0.22%) located in the steppe of south-east Siberia. In the first few transfers, the isolate produced heat-resistant endospores. Like other heliobacteria, strain OS-H1 contained bacteriochlorophyll g and lacked intracytoplasmic membranes. The new isolate was a strict anaerobe and photoheterotroph. In the light and in the presence of organic compounds, strain OS-H1 oxidized sulfide to elemental sulfur and polysulfides, but was not capable of photoautotrophic growth. The isolate was an obligate alkaliphile able to grow at pH 8-10.2. The best growth was observed at pH 8.5-9.5, a temperature of 30 degrees C and at 5-10 g sodium carbonate l(-1). Biotin was required as a growth factor. The G+C content of strain OS-H1 was 45.0 mol%. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence to that of phototrophic bacteria showed strain OS-H1 to group within gram-positive bacteria of the family Heliobacteriaceae with the closest relationship to Heliorestis daurensis (95.6% similarity). Based on physiological, genetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the new heliobacterium is described as a new species of the genus Heliorestis, Heliorestis baculata.     

Fine Structure of Fossilized Bacteria in Volyn Kerite

Ultrathin sectioning and cryofracture of fibrouskerite, sampled from 1.8–1.75 billion year old Volynsediments (Ukraine), revealed in bacteria-like bodies thepresence of structures similar to sheath, cell wall,periplasm, cytoplasm, septum, membranes, intramembraneparticles, poly--hydroxybutyrate inclusions. On thestrength of these data and also the fatty acid profilesof these microfossils, we concluded that fibrous keritesare biogenic formations, namely fossilized bacterial mats.     

The Antioxidant and Membrane Activities of the Benzotropalone Pigment Purpurogallin

Biophysics - Abstract—The phenolic compound purpurogallin (PPG) is found in oak nutgalls and is a red pigment with a benzotropolone ring structure. PPG shows pronounced cytoprotective and...     

Halomonas mongoliensis sp. nov. and Halomonas kenyensis sp. nov., new haloalkaliphilic denitrifiers capable of reducing N2O, isolated from soda lakes

In the course of the search for N2O-utilizing microorganisms, two novel strains of haloalkaliphilic denitrifying bacteria, Z-7009 and AIR-2, were isolated from soda lakes of Mongolia and Kenya. These microorganisms are true alkaliphiles and grow in the pH ranges of 8.0-10.5 and 7.5-10.6, respectively. They are facultative anaerobes with an oxidative type of metabolism, able to utilize a wide range of organic substrates and reduce nitrate, nitrous oxide, and, to a lesser extent, nitrite to gaseous nitrogen. They can oxidize sulfide in the presence of acetate as the carbon source and nitrous oxide (strain Z-7009) or nitrate (strain AIR-2) as the electron acceptor. The strains require Na+ ions. They grow at medium mineralization levels of 0.16-2.2 M Na+ (Z-7009) and 0.04-2.2 M Na+ (AIR-2). The G+C contents of the DNA of strains Z-7009 and AIR-2 are 67.9 and 65.5 mol %, respectively. According to the results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization, as well as on the basis of physiological properties, the strains were classified as new species of the genus Halomonas: Halomonas mongoliensis, with the type strain Z-7009T (=DSM 17332, =VKM B2353), and Halomonas kenyensis, with the type strain AIR-2T (=DSM 17331, =VKM B2354).     

Investigation of the photosynthetic activity of bark phelloderm of arboreous plants using the fluorescent method

Seasonal changes in the characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence were studied in the bark of several species of trees originating in various climatic zones: Siberian cedar (Pinus sibirica), larch (Larix sibirica), eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), pendent white birch (Betula pendula), wild black cherry (Padus virginiana), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), red oak (Quercus rubra), Manchurian catalpa (Catalpa bungei), linden (Tilia cordata), goat willow (Salix caprea), Amur cherry (Padus maackii), and apple Korichnaya (Malus domestrica B.). Tree bark has a sufficient amount of chlorophyll for measuring the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence throughout the year. The relative yield of the variable fluorescence of chlorophyll (F _v/F _m) can be used to assess seasonal changes in the physiological state of various trees.