Kinetic aspects of macroscopic fluctuations in solutions of liver alcohol dehydrogenase

Kinetic analysis of macroscopic fluctuations in alcohol dehydrogenase reaction was carried out. The integral form of Michaelis-Menten equation was used. It is shown that reaction rate fluctuations to be observed in experiment are connected with kinetic constants of relative affinity of ADG to NAD and NAD X H.     

Temporal and structural genetic variation in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) associated with the pastoral transition in Northwestern Siberia

Just as the domestication of livestock is often cited as a key element in the Neolithic transition to settled, the emergence of large‐scaled reindeer husbandry was a fundamental social transformation for the indigenous peoples of Arctic Eurasia. To better understand the history of reindeer domestication, and the genetic processes associated with the pastoral transition in the Eurasian Arctic, we analyzed archaeological and contemporary reindeer samples from Northwestern Siberia. The material represents Rangifer genealogies spanning from 15,000 years ago to the 18th century, as well as modern samples from the wild Ta?myr population and from domestic herds managed by Nenetses. The wild and the domestic population are the largest populations of their kind in Northern Eurasia, and some Nenetses hold their domestic reindeer beside their wild cousins. Our analyses of 197 modern and 223 ancient mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed two genetic clusters, which are interpreted as representing the gene pools of contemporary domestic and past wild reindeer. Among a total of 137 different mitochondrial haplotypes identified in both the modern and archaeological samples, only 21 were detected in the modern domestic gene pool, while 11 of these were absent from the wild gene pool. The significant temporal genetic shift that we associate with the pastoral transition suggests that the emergence and spread of reindeer pastoralism in Northwestern Siberia originated with the translocation and subsequent selective breeding of a special type of animal from outside the region. The distinct and persistent domestic characteristics of the haplotype structure since the 18th century suggests little genetic exchange since then. The absence of the typical domestic clade in modern nearby wild populations suggests that the contemporary Nenets domestic breed feature an ancestry from outside its present main distribution, possibly from further South.     

The role of the temporal areas in conditioned reflex activity following section of the brachia of the inferior colliculi]

The role of the neocortex temporal areas in the closing function was studied in chronic experiments on cats in the norm and after section of the posterior colliculi brachia. The techniques of functional elimination of the temporal neocortex by cold and section of the posterior colliculi brachia were used. Functional elimination of the cortical temporal areas prevents formation of a stable conditioned reflex in the first twenty sessions with cooling. Conditioned reflexes elaborated after section of the posterior colliculi brachia are not manifested in the case of cooling of the temporal areas throughout the period of observation (18 sessions). At the same time the conditioned reflexes elaborated before the section, are restored quite rapidly (five to six sessions). Hence, the neocortex temporal areas are more important for setting up conditioned connections than for their preservation and the use of connections previously elaborated.     

Extracellular Carbohydrates and Polysaccharides of the Alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick S-39

In the growing culture of the thermophilic alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick S-39, the amount of extracellular carbohydrates in the medium reached 5–17% of their content in the cells and 20–40% of the total content of extracellular organic matter. Experiments with the enrichment and synchronous algal cultures showed that the accumulation of extracellular carbohydrates and polysaccharides in the media occurred due to their release from the cells, rather than to cell lysis, and depended on cell photosynthetic activity and reproduction. Chromatographic determination of free sugars revealed the presence of saccharose, glucose, and fructose in the culture medium. Extracellular carbohydrates in C. pyrenoidosa cultures were represented mainly by water-soluble polysaccharides containing galactose, mannose, arabinose, xylose, ribose, fucose, and rhamnose.     

Early Toxic Effects of Zinc, Cobalt, and Cadmium on Photosynthetic Activity of the Green AlgaChlorella pyrenoidosaChick S-39

Early toxic effects of heavy metals (HMs) Zn, Co, and Cd at concentrations from 0.01 to 100 mM on photosynthetic activity of the green algaChlorella pyrenoidosaChick S-39 were studied. The early effect of HMs was manifested as a rapid (within 0.5–2 h) reduction of photoinduced oxygen release by the algal cells. The suppressed relative yield of variable chlorophyll fluorescence (F _V /F _m ) by HMs as well as its dynamics inC. pyrenoidosaprovided evidence for rapid inactivation of photosystem II (PS II). Analysis of the induction curve of delayed chlorophyll fluorescence inChlorellacells suggested that the early toxic effects of Zn, Co, and Cd at the above concentrations manifested itself not only in inhibited electron transport in PS II, but also in reduced energization of photosynthetic membranes. Hence, the early toxic effect of Zn, Co, and Cd was primarily related to the decreased efficiency of the light reactions of photosynthesis, which subsequently resulted in reduced productivity of the alga.