Mosaic patterns of transgene expression in plants

The review describes the phenomenon of mosaic transgene (gene) expression in plants. Parallels with the mosaic transgene (gene) expression in other organisms are presented. Parallels with the mosaic patterns of gene (transgene) expression in other organisms (Drosophila, transgenic animals, and others) are made.     

Structure-based computational analysis of protein binding sites for function and druggability prediction

Protein binding sites are the places where molecular interactions occur. Thus, the analysis of protein binding sites is of crucial importance to understand the biological processes proteins are involved in. Herein, we focus on the computational analysis of protein binding sites and present structure-based methods that enable function prediction for orphan proteins and prediction of target druggability. We present the general ideas behind these methods, with a special emphasis on the scopes and limitations of these methods and their validation. Additionally, we present some successful applications of computational binding site analysis to emphasize the practical importance of these methods for biotechnology/bioeconomy and drug discovery.     

Changes of the state of rat kidneys under guerin carcinoma development and use of cytostatics

It was shown that development of the Guerin carcinoma and introduction of cisplatin led to the damage of the kidneys of rats that was confirmed by a relative increase of weight, proteinuria, change of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the urea and tissue homogenates of the kidneys, by a decrease of relative reabsorption and glomerular filtration. Introduction of nanoliposomal forms of the rhenium cluster compounds led to normalization of above mentioned diagnostic indexes and to reduction of the toxic cisplatin influence that was confirmed by biochemical and morphological investigations.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa: characteristics of biofilm process

Definition of the biofilm process as one of the types of intercellular bacterial communications is presented. The modern data concerning the structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm matrix and genetic mechanisms necessary for its production are described. Active and passive rejections of biofilm bacteria, which are the basis of bacterial spreading to new surfaces, are discussed. The complexity and chain type of the reactions associated with biofilm formation are emphasized.     

Reconstruction of associative protein networks connected with processes of sodium exchange' regulation and sodium deposition in healthy volunteers by urine proteome analysis

The study was conducted during the experiment with 105-day isolation in experimental complex. In the present investigation we collected urine samples from 6 healthy volunteers. The physical activity, diurnal rhythm, temperature parameters and level of oxygen and carbon dioxide were controlled during the experiment. According to the program, food intake (electrolytes, water, calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, etc.) on each stage of experiment was normalized. All samples were analyzed using mass spectrometer of an ionic cyclotron resonance with transformation of Fure LTQ FT MS (Thermo) on the basis of the AMT-tags (accurate mass and time tags) approach. Among more than 20 000 we found out 690 proteotypical proteins and we identified about 600 urine proteins. For physiological interpretation of the proteome data we used computer systems ANDCell and ANDVisio. Clustering of proteins and application of these systems revealed proteins that are most closely associated with the regime of sodium intake, as well as build the network of their interactions.     

Synthesis and cardioprotective properties of apelin-12 and its structural analogs

The apelin-12 and a number of its analogs, resistant to degradation of proteases, were synthesized by Fmoc- method of SPPS. By-products of synthesis were examined. It was found that serine hydroxyl group was sulfating during the final deprotection of apelin-12 (I) and its analogs. Sulfate moiety of Arg-protecting group transfer into hydroxyl group of Ser. Amount of by-product depends on presence of water in cleavage mixture. Furthermore, the final deprotection of amide analogs of apelin-12 (III, IV) is closed with formation of by-product--4-hydroxybenzylamide, its amount range on 20-8% on reaction mixture accordance HPLC data and also depend on composition of cleavage mixture. Effects of the synthesized peptides on recovery of cardiac function after ischemia were examined in a model of isolated perfused rat heart. Infusions of any of the peptides (I-V) before ischemia resulted in a significant improvement of contractile and pump function recovery compared to the control. Cardioptotective efficacy of the peptides increased in the following rank (I) < (II) = (III) < (IV) = (V).     

Affine sorbent with typtophil-threonil-tirosine for binding immunoglobulin G: sorption characteristics and aspects of practical application

New chromatographic material based on tryptophil-threonil-tirosine was prepared. This sorbent effectively binds human, sheep, goat and cow immunoglobulins G. New sorbent shows high selectivity for removing immunoglobulins from blood plasma. Effective sorption capacity is 15-25 mg of immunoglobulin G per ml of matrix. Optimal method of covalent attachment ligand to polysaccharide matrix allows achieving high stability of the sorbents in terms of use and storage. This sorbent can be used in medicine and biotechnology.     

A new approach for study of structural and functional properties of proteins with unknown functions

Selected proteins were produced in Escherichia coli bacterial expression system--three proteins from extremophil bacteria: a putative monooxygenase from Deinococcus radiodurans, a putative nucleotidyltransferase from Thermotoga maritima, a putative oxidoreductase from Exiguobacterium sibiricum; and a shaperon from Homo sapiens DJ-1. The protocol of isolation & purification of recombinant proteins were developed that allowed to obtain expression products with the purity of no less than 96%. Conditions for the crystallization have been selected that allowed a stable growth of crystals. Preliminary x-ray experiments were conducted in order to confirm the quality of produced crystals; the resolution of obtained structural data was from 1.2 to 1.8 angstrom.     

Mutants of Burkholderia cenocepacia with a change in synthesis of N-acyl-homoserine lactones--signal molecules of Quorum Sensing regulation

By means of plasposon mutagenesis, mutants of Burkholderia cenocepacia 370 with the change in production of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), signal molecules of the Quorum Sensing system of regulation, were obtained. To localize plasposon insertions in mutant strains, fragments of chromosomal DNA containing plasposons were cloned, adjacent DNA regions sequenced, and a search for homologous nucleotide sequences in the GeneBank was initiated. It has been shown that the insertion of plasposon into gene lon encoding lon proteinase drastically decreases AHL synthesis. Upon insertion of plasposon into gene pps encoding phosphoenolpyruvate-synthase, enhancement of AHL production is observed. In mutant carrying inactivated gene lon, a strong decline of extracellular protease activity, hemolytic, and chitinolytic activities was observed in comparison with the original strain; lipase activity was not changed in this mutant. Mutation in gene pps did not affect these properties of B. cenocepacia 370. Mutations in genes lon and pps reduced the virulence of bacteria upon infection of mice.     

Cytogenetic comparison of N-genome Aegilops L. species

Differential C-banding and in situ hybridization were employed in a cytogenetic comparison of thee N-genome Aegilops species: diploid Ae. uniaristata, tetraploid Ae. ventricosa, and hexaploid Ae. recta. The formation of Ae. recta was shown to involve only minor functional modifications of the parental genomes, while intraspecific divergence was accompanied by large genome rearrangements, namely, translocations involving the total chromosome arms of all of the three genomes. The formation of tetraploid Ae. ventricosa involved substantial structural chromosome rearrangements, including a partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5D, including the nucleolus-organizing region; a redistribution of C bands on chromosomes of the D and N genomes along with a reduction of the heterochromatin content; and a considerable decrease in the hybridization intensity of the pAs1 repeat. Chromosomes of the Ae. ventricosa D genome were more similar to chromosomes of the Ae. crassa D1 genome than to Ae. tauschii chromosomes.