Molecularly imprinted hydrophilic polymer sorbents for selective sorption of erythromycin

New hydrophilic polymer sorbents comprising reactionary sites which are complementary to a molecule of antibiotic erythromycin were synthesized by the method of molecular imprinting. A series of similar sorbents without reactionary sites was used for comparison of sorption characteristics. Sorption of erythromycin on both types of polymer sorbents synthesized was studied in a wide range of pH and ionic strength. Selectivity of erythromycin sorption on molecularly imprinted cross-linked polymers was shown to depend on the specific interaction of target molecule with polymer matrix. This type of sorbent is perspective for the development of antibiotic purification directly from a culture medium Saccharopolyspora erythreus.     

Proliferative and Differentiation Potential of Individual Clones Derived from Bone Marrow Stromal Precursor Cells

We present the results of a study on the proliferative and differentiation potential of individual clones of stromal fibroblasts growing in monolayer cultures of bone marrow cells. Each precursor cell yielding a large colony in primary culture is capable of up to 34 doublings in vitro. The transplantation of clones or monoclonal strains of stromal fibroblasts into the open system results in the formation of microenvironment consisting of the bone and reticular tissue and is suitable for the differentiation of all three lines of hemopoiesis. Evidence has been obtained that, in a closed system, individual clones are capable of differentiation into the bone, cartilaginous, and reticular tissues. In other words, the adult organism has a common cell precursor for these tissues.     

Enhancer of Polycomb is a suppressor of position-effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster.

Polycomb group (PcG) genes of Drosophila are negative regulators of homeotic gene expression required for maintenance of determination. Sequence similarity between Polycomb and Su(var)205 led to the suggestion that PcG genes and modifiers of position-effect variegation (PEV) might function analogously in the establishment of chromatin structure. If PcG proteins participate directly in the same process that leads to PEV, PcG mutations should suppress PEV. We show that mutations in E(Pc), an unusual member of the PcG, suppress PEV of four variegating rearrangements: In(l)wm4, B(SV), T(2;3)Sb(V) and In(2R)bw(VDe2). Using reversion of a Pelement insertion, deficiency mapping, and recombination mapping as criteria, homeotic effects and suppression of PEV associated with E(Pc) co-map. Asx is an enhancer of PEV, whereas nine other PcG loci do not affect PEV. These results support the conclusion that there are fewer similarities between PcG genes and modifiers of PEV than previously supposed. However, E(Pc) appears to be an important link between the two groups. We discuss why Asx might act as an enhancer of PEV.     

Comparative analysis of mitochondrial DNA variation in four species of Far Eastern redfins of the genus Tribolodon (Pisces, Cyprinidae)

The variability of mtDNA in four Far Eastern endemic species of the genus Tribolodon was studied in the significant part of their areas. There was no close relationship between the lifetime and the level of mtDNA variability. The relation between the population genetic structure and the level of amphidromic species was revealed. The presence of mtDNA phylogroup differed in three of the four species shows that there was a long period of independent intraspecific divergent evolution in the history of these species. This period falls on aproximately the same historical age, and, apparently, is caused by one and the same factors. The period was not enough long and ended in the integration of genetically independent units into a single species.     

Craniometric differences between karyotypic races of the common shrew Sorex araneus (Mammalia) as a result of limited hybridization

The contact points of four karyotypic races (St. Petersburg, Moscow, Seliger and West Dvina) of the common shrew Sorex araneus L. were studied at the Valdai Hills (European Russia) in an area unimpeded by geographic barriers. The populations of the races are separated by narrow hybrid zones that represent the most complex heterozygous hybrid karyotypes. At these points of contact, the morphometric differentiation of karyotype races was examined in 12 cranial measurements in 190 shrews of a known karyotype. A comparison of the mean values in studied samples of immature shrews revealed statistically significant differences and the correlation of some measurements which describe the level of musculus temporalis. It has been proposed that morphometric differences in the karyotypic races were preserved and accumulated because of a 50% reduction of the frequencies of hybrids. The deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg ration in the frequencies of the genotype and haploid sets of chromosomes in the hybrid zones can be attributed to a number of fatalities of hybrid embryos or the nonrandom mating of karyotypic races. The ethological isolation might arise in the evolution of some karyotypic races from the reduced fitness of the hybrids.     

Diversity and distribution of reptiles in Romania

The reptile fauna of Romania comprises 23 species, out of which 12 species reach here the limit of their geographic range. We compiled and updated a national database of the reptile species occurrences from a variety of sources including our own field surveys, personal communication from specialists, museum collections and the scientific literature. The occurrence records were georeferenced and stored in a geodatabase for additional analysis of their spatial patterns. The spatial analysis revealed a biased sampling effort concentrated in various protected areas, and deficient in the vast agricultural areas of the southern part of Romania. The patterns of species richness showed a higher number of species in the warmer and drier regions, and a relatively low number of species in the rest of the country. Our database provides a starting point for further analyses, and represents a reliable tool for drafting conservation plans.     

Primers for the amplification of sequence‐characterized loci in Cryphonectria cubensis populations

We describe the development of DNA markers for the fungal pathogen of Eucalyptus, Cryphonectria cubensis. These markers originated from cloned intershort sequence repeat polymerase chain reactions, which enrich for medium to highly repetitive DNA sequences. In total, 10 markers were isolated, eight of which were polymorphic, and these can subsequently be applied to study populations of C. cubensis.     

Enzymatic synthesis of ATP from RNA and adenine

Summary The title compound was prepared by a three-stage enzymatic procedure consisting of (i) RNA hydrolysis to a mixture of ribonucleosides using intact mycelium of Spicaria violacea, (ii) transribosylation of exogenous adenine employing whole cells of Escherichia coli as a biocatalyst, and (iii) conversion of formed adenosine into ATP by the enzymes of alcohol fermentation and the kinases extracted from baker's yeast.     

High performance liquid chromatography of nucleic acids and the related compounds on a fluorinated silica gel column.

Separations of nucleic acids and the related compounds were investigated by HPLC on a new fluorinated bonded silica gel column. Polyadenylate (Poly (A)) enzymatic partial hydrolysate sample and the mixture of various polynucleotide samples were sufficiently separated by the reversed-phase mode using a gradient elution with aqueous ammonium acetate/acetonitrile system. Mixed-mode separation on the fluorinated bonded phase coated with a tert-alkylammonium salt was also examined for the separation of the various polynucleotides including tRNAs.