Genetic Variation of Wild Soybean Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. in the Far East Region of the Russian Federation

Polymorphism of RAPD markers was analyzed in the wild soybean populations from the Far East region of Russia. The level of RAPD marker polymorphism was significantly higher in the wild than in the cultivated soybean. The results obtained suggest active development of genetically different groups of wild soybean. Geographically isolated subpopulations showed maximum distance from the main population of wild soybean.     

Calcitonin antibodies in experimental diabetes mellitus

Antibodies to calcitonin appear in blood of rats with experimental alloxan diabetes. This phenomenon is observed only under high blood sugar. At the stage of latent diabetes, i.e. during alloxan administration to the body and low blood sugar no antibodies to calcitonin are detected. It is possible that appearance of autoantibodies to calcitonin is one of pathogenetic factors of hyperglycemia development in rats with alloxan diabetes.     

Immune response to a synthetic polysaccharide and protein conjugate

Synthetic polysaccharide (S-PS) containing aglycone-spacer with a free amino group was really alpha 1,6-mannan with Cn approximately 10. S-PS was transformed into isothiocyanate derivative by treating it with thiophosgene and engaged into reaction with amino group of bovine serum albumin (BSA) lysine residues. Rabbits were immunized with S-PS-BSA conjugate and antibodies to S-PS titres were estimated by means of ELISA. S-PS-BSA conjugate was proved to provoke specific anti-polysaccharide antibodies formation in rabbits.     

Preferential DNA photocleavage potency of Zn(II) over Ni(II) derivatives of carboxymethyl tetracationic porphyrin: the role of the mode of binding to DNA

The porphyrin-based photosensitizers capable of binding to DNA are perspective drug candidates. Here we report the interactions with calf thymus DNA of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-carboxymethyl-4-pyridinium)porphyrin (P1) and its derivatives containing Zn(II) or Ni(II) in the coordination sphere. These interactions were studied with absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. NiP1 and ZnP1 formed different types of complexes with DNA. NiP1 intercalated into the double helix, whereas ZnP1 bound the DNA groove. Compound P1 displayed both binding modes. The ZnP1-DNA binding constant was approximately three times smaller than the respective values for P1-DNA and NiP1-DNA complexes. Light induced degradation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) trap 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran in the presence of P1 and its metal derivatives revealed that NiP1 was a weaker photooxidative agent, whereas P1 and ZnP1 generated ROS to similar extents. Nevertheless, the DNA photodamaging effect of ZnP1 was the most pronounced. Illumination of the supercoiled plasmid caused single-strand DNA photocleavage in the presence of P1 and ZnP1; double strand breaks were detectable with micromolar concentrations of ZnP1. The concentration of ZnP1 required for plasmid photonicking was two times smaller than that of P1 and ~20 times lower than that for NiP1. Thus, the modes of P1, NiP1 and ZnP1 binding to DNA determine the differential photodamaging potency of these porphyrins. A greater accessibility to the solvent of the groove binder ZnP1, compared to the shielded intercalator NiP1 and the intercalated P1 molecules, allows for an efficient local generation of ROS followed by DNA photocleavage.     

Effect of Bacillus Bacteria on Hydrogen Peroxide Content and Gene Expression of Hydrolase Inhibitors in Potato Plants Infected with Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Late blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary was studied in respect to the disease resistance...     

Features of Structural Changes in the Plankton Community of an Alpine Lake with Increasing Fish Density in Summer and Autumn

Biology Bulletin - It is found that a large species of the order Cladocera, Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) magna Straus, has disappeared from the zooplankton composition in the alpine Lake Sevan, Armenia,...     

Detection of Mycoplasma arthritidis and Mycoplasma fermentans antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients by an immunoenzyme method

The optimum parameters of the immunoenzyme assay system for the identification of antibodies to M. arthritidis and M. fermentans in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been established. The investigation has shown that the products obtained by the ultrasonic disintegration of the biomass of M. arthritidis and M. fermentans can be used as soluble antigens for adsorption on the polystyrene surface of plates. The use of the immunonenzyme assay, specially modified, has made it possible to establish that antibodies to M. arthritidis can be detected in 6.5% of cases, antibodies to M. fermentans, in 41.9% of cases and the association of antibodies to M. arthritidis and M. fermentans, in 41.9% of cases. At the same time antibodies to M. arthritidis have been found to belong mainly to IgM and antibodies to M. fermentans, to IgG or to IgG and IgM simultaneously.