Monomers for oligonucleotide synthesis with linkers carrying reactive residues: I. Synthesis of deoxynucleoside derivatives with methoxyoxalamide groups in heterocyclic bases

A number of monomers for the standard phosphoamidite oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis that carry reactive methoxyoxalamide groups attached to the thymidine, 2'-deoxycytidine, and 2'-deoxyadenosine heterocyclic bases were prepared. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Effects of myostatin and other growth factors on cultured human cells

A dedicated cell-based biological test system was used for studying specific effects of myostatin and other human growth factors on the proliferation of cultured myoblasts and fibroblasts. Myostatin inhibited myoblast growth without affecting human fibroblasts. In this test system, human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I acted as antagonists of myostatin, which indicates that these agents have a potential for blocking its effects in vivo.     

Laccase-Catalyzed Heterocoupling of Dihydroquercetin and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Aminobenzoic Acid: Effect of the Reaction Product on Cultured Cells

Derivatization of the natural flavonoid dihydroquercetin with p-aminobenzoic acid was carried out in an ethyl acetate/citric buffer biphasic system using laccase from the fungus Trametes hirsuta. The main reaction product yield was ~68 mol %. The product was characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and its structure was elucidated. The reaction product affected viability of cultured human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD cell line) in a dose-dependent manner and, therefore, can be of interest to pharmaceutical industry.     

Two-dimensional map of membrane proteins from human erythrocytes

Human erythrocyte membrane proteins were analyzed by a modified two-dimensional electrophoresis performed according to O'Farrell. This method was used to construct a two-dimensional map of human erythrocyte membrane proteins. The map plotted in the coordinates "relative molecular mass versus relative electrophoretic mobility during IEF" was used for the characterization of 189 proteins. The position of major membrane proteins in the map was determined on the basis of their Mr, pI as well as literature data. Carboanhydrase was positioned by coelectrophoresis. A comparative analysis of erythrocyte membrane and cytosol preparations by two-dimensional protein mapping revealed that some of erythrocyte proteins have dual localization.     

Identification of the functional activity of synthetic polyamine analogues using a biotest system based on highly proliferating cultured human cells

A new biotest system was developed based on highly proliferating human cell cultures (lines LNCaP and PC-3). With the help of this system, two known synthetic polyamines—α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and methylglioxalbis(guanylhydrason) (MGBG)—as well as four new synthetic analogues difenylcontaining amines (DFCA-1-DFCA-4) with molecular weights of 725.5 (DFCA-1), 755.5 (DFCA-2), 655.5 (DFCA-3), and 681.5 Da (DFCA-4) were tested. In this biotest system, DFMO (0.1–400 μM) did not reveal functional activity, whereas for MGBG a cytotoxic effect was registered (100–200 μM). DFCA-1, DFCA-2, and DFCA-4 had a similar effect at concentrations of 10 μM and higher; DFCA-3, at a concentration of 50 μM and higher. Thus, DFCA-1 has a higher level of antiproliferating activity and may be considered as the most potent cytostatic agent.     

Identification of an allelic variant of isoform MLC1-V/sB (human myosin light chain)

A study of 250 specimens of human myocardium by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed an allelic variant of isoform MLC1-V/sB, which was identified by immunoblotting with monoclonal antibody against MLC1-V/sB and peptide mapping afterin situ tryptic digestion of electroblotted proteins. The substitution Asn-144 for His-144 was found in this new allelic variant of MLC1-V/sB.This work was supported by a grant from Russian Human Genome Project.     

The application of proteomic technologies for the analysis of muscle proteins of farm animals used in the meat industry (Review)

The review briefly summarizes the data on the development of proteomic technologies that became actively used in studies of the muscular proteins of farm animals used in the meat industry in 2006–2013. It has been noted that the main research trends are connected with the detection of changes in muscle proteins during post-mortem autolysis and the search for species-specific and other protein biomarkers. Particular publications regarding the development of methods based on proteomic technologies for monitoring the state of muscle proteins are considered. According to the analyzed data, we can conclude that the field is promising for the solution of a number of pressing problems in applied biochemistry.     

Supramolecular diversity and magnetic properties of novel heterometallic Cu(II)/Cr(III) complexes prepared from copper powder, Reineckes salt and ethylenediamine

Three novel heterometallic complexes [Cu(en)₂Cr(NCS)₄(NH₃)₂][Cr(NCS)₄(NH₃)₂] · 6dmf (1), [Cu(en)₂Cr(NCS)₄(NH₃)₂](OAc) (2) and [{Cu(en)₂}₃{Cr(NCS)₄(NH₃)₂}₂(NCS)₂](NCS)₂ (3) have been synthesized in a one-pot reaction from copper powder, Reineckes salt, NH₄X [X⁻ = OAc⁻ (2), NCS⁻ (3)] in a dmf (1) or CH₃CN (2, 3) solution of ethylenediamine (en). X-ray studies showed that 1 and 2 consist of cationic polymeric chains, formed by and building blocks that bridged through thiocyanate anions. In both complexes, distinct hydrogen bonds are present and serve to increase the dimensionality of the compound from one to two (in 1) or three (in 2). The main structural feature of 3 is the pentanuclear Cu₃Cr₂ cation which is H-bonded with uncoordinated thiocyanate groups generating a 3D supramolecular assembly. The shortest Cu?Cr distances are 5.840(1) Å for 1, 5.856(1) and 6.018(3) Å for 2 and 6.009(9) and 6.465(9) Å for 3. Compounds 1 and 2 are essentially paramagnets whereas compound 3 shows a weak antiferromagnetic coupling. The magnetic properties are simulated and discussed in terms of the structural features.