Anticonvulsive properties of enomelanin

Antiepileptic effects of enomelanin (natural oligomer obtained from pressed grapes) were analysed on the models of focal and clonic-tonic epileptic activity (EA). Electrocorticographic and motor manifestations of EA have been studied. Enomelanin in EA models used was shown to possess marked anticonvulsive properties.     

Polymorphism of the Serotonin System Genes in Some Finno-Ugric Populations

Polymorphic sites in the genes encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), serotonin transporter (hSERT) and 5-HT_2A receptor were typed in Khant and Komi ethnic groups with the purpose of revealing possible inerpopulation differences in genotype and allele frequencies. No statistically significant differences in the hSERT and 5-HT_2A gene frequencies were detected. At the same time, the populations examined had statistically significantly different MAO-A genotype and allele frequencies. These results obtained indicate the prevalence of the site gain alleles of theEcoRV and Fnu4HI RFLP loci at the MAO-A gene in Komis and the of the corresponding site loss alleles in Khants.     

Effect of the lethal Bacillus anthracis toxin on phagocytosis and the dynamics of the change in the enzyme activity of the antioxidative system of peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes in mice with differing hereditary immunity to anthrax

It was demonstrated, that the lethal in vitro suppressed the phagocytic activity of peritoneal mononuclear phagocyte (Mph) and enhanced the level activity of glutathione peroxidase to H2O2 (GP-H2O2) in Mph of resistant to anthrax BALB mice. In Mph BALB the authors observed dependent-dose enhancement of GP-H2O2 activity and reduction of the ratio of level glutathione reductase (GR) to GP-H2O2 (GR/GP-H2O2). The enhancement of activity GR-H2O2 in Mph CBA was not dependent on the doses of toxin. The coefficient GR/GP-H2O2 was similar to the control. The mechanisms of hereditary resistance to anthrax were discussed.     

Oxidation of glycerolipids by maize 9-lipoxygenase and its A562G mutant

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of oxylipins, the diverse class of bioregulators involved into developmental processes, signalling and defence. This work was undertaken to better understand how LOXs control production of hydroperoxides with different positional and stereochemistry. A number of glycerolipids were tested as substrates for maize 9-LOX (ZmLOX) and its A562G mutant form. Both the wild type (WT) ZmLOX and A562G mutant were shown to dioxygenate monolinolenoylglycerol (MLG) and 2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (lysoPC). Both the WT ZmLOX and A562G mutant form oxidized the MLG predominantly into (9S)-hydroperoxide. The A562G mutation did not affect the relative yield of 13-hydroperoxide, but increased the proportion of (13R)-enantiomer. LysoPC was a poor substrate for both wild type and A562G mutant form of ZmLOX. The oxidation of lysoPC exhibited the limited regio- and stereospecificity. Nevertheless, the WT ZmLOX produced some predominance of (13S)-hydroperoxide. In contrast, the A562G mutant produced some excess of (9S)-hydroperoxide of lysoPC. The bulky polar heads of glycerolipids like MLG and lysoPC cannot penetrate into the LOX active site. Thus, the obtained data indicate that both (9S)- and (13S)-hydroperoxides can be produced when substrate is arranged within LOX active site in the “methyl end first” orientation.     

Lateral meristems of higher plants: Phytohormonal and genetic control

Lateral meristems (pericycle, procambium and cambium, phellogen) are positioned in parallel to the lateral surface of the organ, where they are present, and produce concentric layers of undifferentiated cells. Primary lateral meristems, procambium and pericycle, arise during embryogenesis; secondary lateral meristems, cambium and phellogen, — during post embryonic development. Pericycle is most pluripotent plant meristem, as it may give rise to a variety of other types of meristems: lateral meristems (cambium, phellogen), apical meristems of lateral roots, and also shoot meristems during plant in vitro regeneration. Procambium and cambium developing from it give rise to the vascular tissues of the stems and roots, ensuring their thickening. The review considers the genetic control of lateral meristem development and the role of phytohormones in the control of their activities.     

Theory and practice of combining coagulant fixation and microwave histoprocessing

The German, F. Blum, introduced formalin as a fixative in 1893. Formalin rapidly became popular for hardening and preserving gross human and animal specimens. As a result, microscopy for diagnostic pathology by combining paraffin embedding and formalin fixation was developed. Alcohol-based fixatives have coagulation of proteins as their main preservative effect. Because there is no cross-linking, immunostaining is not compromised, and DNA and RNA is not damaged. Ethyl alcohol was used by Dutch scientists of the 18th century, but was replaced by the cheaper formalin. Addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) optimized the coagulant fixative, Kryofix. The polyethylene glycol prevents excessive hardening and enhances the speed of coagulation of proteins. Kryofix was used on a large scale for skin biopsies in Leiden between 1987 and 2001. DNA preservation by the formulated coagulant fixative, BoonFix, is related to the concentration of ethyl alcohol, PEG and acetic acid. BoonFix has been used since 2004 in Leiden for over 40,000 diagnostic skin biopsies and more than 100,000 cervical samples. A literature review and three decades of experience with coagulant, formalin-free fixatives in pathology suggest that when health authorities realize that formalin invalidates expensive tests, it might eventually be eliminated legislatively from diagnostic pathology. Finally, coagulant fixation is optimal for microwave histoprocessing where ethyl alcohol is followed by isopropanol.     

The gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">transformer-2</Emphasis> of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anastrepha</Emphasis>fruit flies (Diptera,Tephritidae) and its evolution in insects

Background  

In the tephritids Ceratitis, Bactrocera and Anastrepha, the gene transformer provides the memory device for sex determination via its auto-regulation; only in females is functional Tra protein produced. To date, the isolation and characterisation of the gene transformer-2 in the tephritids has only been undertaken in Ceratitis, and it has been shown that its function is required for the female-specific splicing of doublesex and transformer pre-mRNA. It therefore participates in transformer auto-regulatory function. In this work, the characterisation of this gene in eleven tephritid species belonging to the less extensively analysed genus Anastrepha was undertaken in order to throw light on the evolution of transformer-2.     

The four hexamerin genes in the honey bee: structure,molecular evolution and function deduced from expression patterns in queens,workers and drones

Background  

Hexamerins are hemocyanin-derived proteins that have lost the ability to bind copper ions and transport oxygen; instead, they became storage proteins. The current study aimed to broaden our knowledge on the hexamerin genes found in the honey bee genome by exploring their structural characteristics, expression profiles, evolution, and functions in the life cycle of workers, drones and queens.     

Hexadecanoid pathway in plants: Lipoxygenase dioxygenation of (7<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>,10<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>,13<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-hexadecatrienoic acid

7,10,13-Hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3) is abundant in many plant species. However, its metabolism through the lipoxygenase pathway is not sufficiently understood. The goal of present work was to investigate the oxygenation of 16:3 by different plant lipoxygenases and to study the occurrence of oxygenated derivatives of 16:3 in plant seedlings. The recombinant maize 9-lipoxygenase specifically converted 16:3 into (7S)-hydroperoxide. Identification of this novel oxylipin was substantiated by data of GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, ¹H-NMR, and 2D-COSY as well as by deuterium labeling from [²H₆]16:3. Soybean lipoxygenase 1 produced 91% (11S)-hydroperoxide and 6% racemic 14-hydroperoxide. Recombinant soybean lipoxygenase 2 (specifically oxidizing linoleate into 13-hydroperoxide) lacked any specificity towards 16:3. Lipoxygenase 2 produced 7-, 8-, 10-, 11-, 13-, and 14-hydroperoxides of 16:3, as well as a significant amount of bis-allylic 9-hydroperoxide. Seedlings of several examined plant species possessed free hydroxy derivatives of 16:3 (HHTs), as well as their ethyl esters. Interestingly, HHTs occur not only in “16:3 plants”, but also in typical “18:3 plants” like pea and soybean seedlings.