Conservation of the secondary structure elements of the 5''-untranslated region of cardio- and aphthovirus RNAs.

An analysis of published nucleotide sequences of the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of 7 cardioviruses and 3 aphthoviruses has allowed us to derive a consensus secondary structure model that differs from that previously proposed for the 5'-UTR of entero- and rhinoviruses, though all these viruses belong to the same family, Picornaviridae. The theoretical model derived here was experimentally supported by investigating the accessibility of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA to modifications with dimethyl sulfate and its susceptibility to S1 and cobra venom nucleases. The possible involvement of the 5"-UTR secondary structure domains in the translational control is briefly discussed.     

Mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivatives as tools to interrupt execution of the aging program. 5. SkQ1 prolongs lifespan and prevents development of traits of senescence

Very low (nano- and subnanomolar) concentrations of 10-(6′-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SkQ1) were found to prolong lifespan of a fungus (Podospora anserina), a crustacean (Ceriodaphnia affinis), an insect (Drosophila melanogaster), and a mammal (mouse). In the latter case, median lifespan is doubled if animals live in a non-sterile vivarium. The lifespan increase is accompanied by rectangularization of the survival curves (an increase in survival is much larger at early than at late ages) and disappearance of typical traits of senescence or retardation of their development. Data summarized here and in the preceding papers of this series suggest that mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 is competent in slowing down execution of an aging program responsible for development of age-related senescence. Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 12, pp. 1655–1670.     

Mitochondria-targeted plastoquinone derivatives as tools to interrupt execution of the aging program. 4. Age-related eye disease. SkQ1 returns vision to blind animals

Mitochondria-targeted cationic plastoquinone derivative SkQ1 (10-(6′-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium) has been investigated as a potential tool for treating a number of ROS-related ocular diseases. In OXYS rats suffering from a ROS-induced progeria, very small amounts of SkQ1 (50 nmol/kg per day) added to food were found to prevent development of age_induced cataract and retinopathies of the eye, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in skeletal muscles, as well as a decrease in bone mineralization. Instillation of drops of 250 nM SkQ1 reversed cataract and retinopathies in 3-12-month-old (but not in 24-month-old) OXYS rats. In rabbits, experimental uveitis and glaucoma were induced by immunization with arrestin and injections of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose to the eye anterior sector, respectively. Uveitis was found to be prevented or reversed by instillation of 250 nM SkQ1 drops (four drops per day). Development of glaucoma was retarded by drops of 5 μM SkQ1 (one drop daily). SkQ1 was tested in veterinarian practice. A totally of 271 animals (dogs, cats, and horses) suffering from retinopathies, uveitis, conjunctivitis, and cornea diseases were treated with drops of 250 nM SkQ1. In 242 cases, positive therapeutic effect was obvious. Among animals suffering from retinopathies, 89 were blind. In 67 cases, vision returned after SkQ1 treatment. In ex vivo studies of cultivated posterior retina sector, it was found that 20 nM SkQ1 strongly decreased macrophagal transformation of the retinal pigmented epithelial cells, an effect which might explain some of the above SkQ1 activities. It is concluded that low concentrations of SkQ1 are promising in treating retinopathies, cataract, uveitis, glaucoma, and some other ocular diseases. Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 12, pp. 1641–1654.     

Cross-talk between orientation-dependent recognition determinants of a complex control RNA element, the enterovirus oriR

The coxsackie B3 virus oriR is an element of viral RNA thought to promote the assembly of a ribonucleoprotein complex involved in the initiation of genome replication. The mutual orientation of its two helical domains X and Y is determined by a kissing interaction between the loops of these domains. Here, a genetic approach was worked out to identify spatial orientation-dependent recognition signals in these helices. Spatial orientation changes (due to linear and rotational shifts) were introduced by appropriate insertions/deletions of a single base pair into one or both of the domains, and phenotypic consequences caused by these mutations were studied. The insertion of a base pair into domain Y caused a defect in viral reproduction that could be suppressed by a base-pair insertion into domain X. Similarly, a defect in viral replication caused by a base-pair deletion from domain X could be suppressed by a base-pair deletion from domain Y. Thus, certain areas of the two domains should cross-talk to one another in the sense that a change of space position of one of them required an adequate reply (change of space position) from the other. Phenotypic effects of the local rotation of one or more base pairs (and of some other mutations) in either domain X or domain Y suggested that the two most distal base pairs of these domains served as orientation-dependent recognizable signals. The results were also consistent with the notion that the recognition of the distal base pair of domain Y involved a mechanism similar to the intercalation of an amino acid residue.     

Effects of the alleles of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rht8</Emphasis> gene on the agricultural traits of bread winter wheat under conditions of the steppe region of the Southern Ukraine

Resistance to frost and winter hardiness, as well as crop capacity and its components, were studied in the recombinant-inbred F₅ Odesskaya and 16/Bezostayal lines and also in 61 lines of winter wheat carrying different alleles of the Rht8 gene. We observed no influence of different alleles of the Rht8 gene on the traits under consideration. The preponderance of the Rht8c allele in modern wheat lines developed at the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute is therefore a result of its being the most frequently used allele in the genetic pool since 1959.     

A change in the state of silica in water under external weak influences

The role of silica impurities, which can significantly contribute to the state of water environment and its response to external factors, has been studied. The nonequilibrium state of silica in water, its evolution with time, and its dependence on the prehistory of a water sample were shown. Reversible freezing-thawing of water induces long-term changes in the ratio of the monomeric and polymeric forms of silica, which slowly relax to the initial state. It was shown that the “field-free” magnetic vector potential has a real effect on freezing. With the use of the alternating vector potential, its maximum effect was registered at frequencies of 3.5–4 Hz. It was proposed that this results from the stochastic resonance during the polymerization of silicic acid.     

Structural modifications of astrocytes in the hippocampus after experimental cerebral ischemia in gerbils

We studied reactions of astrocytes in the CA1 hippocampal zone of the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) after experimental short-lasting (7 min) cerebral ischemia resulting from bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries. Immunocytochemical staining of hippocampal sections with antibodies against an astrocytes marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), was used. We measured the density of labelled cells in the layers of the CA1 zone at different time intervals (from 1 to 30 days) after cerebral ischemization. The number of labelled astrocytes within this period increased, and the dynamics of their density in different layers demonstrated significant dissimilarities. The earliest manifestations of reactive astrogliosis were observed in the hilus. The greatest rise in the number of astrocytes was found in the str. lacunosum-moleculare and str. moleculare on the 7th day, while in the str. pyramidale the maximum was reached only on the 14th day, which corresponded to the period of the highest intensity of delayed postischemic neuronal death. Thus, the intensity of morphological changes of the neurons and the level of reactivity of the astrocytes demonstrate a rather clear correlation; this fact can be one of the aspects of the dynamics of postischemic damage to the hippocampal neurons. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 37, Nos. 5/6, pp. 410–415, September–December, 2005.     

Synthesis and properties of an acyclic analog of 9-deazainosine and related compounds

An acyclic analogue of 9-deazainosine, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-9-deazahypoxanthine, and related compounds have been synthesized starting from 9-(hydroxyethyl)-9-deazahypoxanthine. The acyclo-9-deazainosine exhibited some cytotoxic activity.     

Culture properties of the causative agent of tularemia isolated in natural foci in Stavropol Territory, the Kalmyk ASSR and the Armenian SSR

The strains isolated in natural foci of the Stavropol Territory and the Armenian SSR have been found to belong to the holarctic race of Francisella tularensis, biovar II. In natural foci of the Kalmyk ASSR the strains belonging to biovars I and II have been isolated. The study of the tularecinogenicity of the cultures has revealed the existence of strains which are not sensitive to their own tularecins. The phenomenon of tularecinogenicity in F. novocida has been established. Avirulent strain 319/38 belonging to the non-arctic race is recommended as an indicator strain for the determination of tularecinogenicity.