A Model of Hydrodynamic Interaction Between Swimming Bacteria

We study the dynamics and interaction of two swimming bacteria, modeled by self-propelled dumbbell-type structures. We focus on alignment dynamics of a coplanar pair of elongated swimmers, which propel themselves either by “pushing” or “pulling” both in three- and quasi-two-dimensional geometries of space. We derive asymptotic expressions for the dynamics of the pair, which complemented by numerical experiments, indicate that the tendency of bacteria to swim in or swim off depends strongly on the position of the propulsion force. In particular, we observe that positioning of the effective propulsion force inside the dumbbell results in qualitative agreement with the dynamics observed in experiments, such as mutual alignment of converging bacteria.     

Heterogeneity of the transition/transversion ratio in Drosophila and Hominidae genomes

Mutation rate varies between sites in the genome. Part of this variation can be explained by well-recognized short nucleotide contexts, but a large component of this variation remains cryptic. We used data on interspecies divergence and intraspecies polymorphism in Drosophila and Hominidae to analyze variation of the average rate of the 12 possible kinds of single-nucleotide mutations and in the transition/transversion ratio κ at single-nucleotide resolution. Both the average mutation rate and κ vary by a factor of ~3 between nucleotide sites. The characteristic scale of variation in κ is up to at least ~30 nucleotides in Drosophila and ~5 nucleotides in Hominidae. Genome segments with locally elevated mutation rates possess lower values of κ; however, a substantial fraction of variation in κ cannot be directly explained by the local mutation rates.     

Nitric oxide reacts with the ferryl-oxo catalytic intermediate of the CuB-lacking cytochrome bd terminal oxidase

Cytochrome bd is a bacterial respiratory oxidase carrying three hemes but no copper. We show that nitric oxide (NO) reacts with the intermediate F of cytochrome bd from Azotobacter vinelandii: (i) with a 1:1 stoichiometry, (ii) rapidly (k=1.2 +/- 0.1 x 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) at 20 degrees C), and (iii) yielding the oxidized enzyme with nitrite bound to heme d at the active site. Unexpectedly, the NO reaction mechanism of this catalytic intermediate in the Cu(B)-lacking cytochrome bd appears similar to that of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase, where Cu(B) was proposed to play a key role.     

Time-frequency coherence analysis of phrenic and hypoglossal activity in the decerebrate rat during eupnea, hyperpnea, and gasping

Fast respiratory rhythms include medium- (MFO) and high-frequency oscillations (HFO), which are much faster than the fundamental breathing rhythm. According to previous studies, HFO is characterized by high coherence (Coh) in phrenic (Ph) nerve activity, thereby providing a means of distinguishing between these two types of oscillations. Changes in Coh between the Ph and hypoglossal (XII) nerves during the transition from normal eupnic breathing to gasping have not been characterized. Experiments were performed on nine unanesthetized, chemo- and barodenervated, decerebrate adult rats, in which sustained asphyxia elicited hyperpnea and gasping. A gated time-frequency Coh analysis was developed and applied to whole Ph and medial XII nerve recordings. The results showed dynamic Ph-Ph Coh during eupnea, including MFO and HFO. XII-XII Coh during eupnea was broadband and included four distinct peaks, with low-frequency Coh dominating the epochs preceding the onset of Ph activity. During gasping, only MFO-peaks were present in Ph-Ph Coh. Bilateral XII activity showed a significant reduction in Coh and a shift toward lower frequencies during gasping. In contrast, contralateral Ph-XII Coh progressively increased during state changes from eupnea to gasping, a tendency mirrored in the startup part of the Ph activity. These data suggest significant hypoxia/hypercapnia-induced alterations in synchronization between respiratory outputs during the transition from eupnea to gasping, reflecting a reconfiguration of the respiratory network and/or alterations in the circuitry associated with the motor pools, including dynamic coupling between outputs.     

Experimental hyperthyroidism in rats increases the expression of the ubiquitin ligases atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 and stimulates multiple proteolytic pathways in skeletal muscle

Muscle wasting is commonly seen in patients with hyperthyroidism and is mainly caused by stimulated muscle proteolysis. Loss of muscle mass in several catabolic conditions is associated with increased expression of the muscle‐specific ubiquitin ligases atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 but it is not known if atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 are upregulated in hyperthyroidism. In addition, it is not known if thyroid hormone increases the activity of proteolytic mechanisms other than the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. We tested the hypotheses that experimental hyperthyroidism in rats, induced by daily intraperitoneal injections of 100 µg/100 g body weight of triiodothyronine (T3), upregulates the expression of atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 in skeletal muscle and stimulates lysosomal, including cathepsin L, calpain‐, and caspase‐3‐dependent protein breakdown in addition to proteasome‐dependent protein breakdown. Treatment of rats with T3 for 3 days resulted in an approximately twofold increase in atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 mRNA levels. The same treatment increased proteasome‐, cathepsin L‐, and calpain‐dependent proteolytic rates by approximately 40% but did not influence caspase‐3‐dependent proteolysis. The expression of atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 remained elevated during a more prolonged period (7 days) of T3 treatment. The results provide support for a role of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in muscle wasting during hyperthyroidism and suggest that other proteolytic pathways as well may be activated in the hyperthyroid state. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 963–973, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Block principle of organization and polyfunctional nature of regulatory peptides

Study on the primary structure of more than 100 regulatory peptides was carried out with the view of determining their structural similarity. Practically all regulatory peptides appeared to be related to each other. One regulatory peptide can bear similarity to several regulatory peptides (RPs) which is realized by different fragments. The structural similarity of RPs was in some cases unexpected, e. g., somatocrinin-thymosin, secretin-endorphin, etc. Gastro-intestinal peptides were related to most RPs. It seems likely that these peptides are the most ancient ones among RPs.     

Radiographic diagnosis of fibroadenoma of various histological structure

Breast fibroadenomas are a common disease in females, mainly in those aged 20-40 years. For differential diagnosis of fibroadenomas, it is expedient to apply a comprehensive approach whose leading role is played by mammography. The histological structure of fibroadenomas determines their X-ray and sonographic signs. Indications for choosing a surgical treatment are identified by X-ray and sonographic manifestations of fibroadenomas of various histological structure and by typical changes at a follow-up.     

Intervention studies in breast diseases

Based on results of comprehensive examination of 20,000 females with different breast diseases in a specialized mammological room, the paper presents the most informative invasive techniques that combine diagnostic and therapeutical potentialities, such as ductography, cystography using various sclerosing solution, various types of needle biopsies under X-ray guidance, stereotactic computer devices, ultrasound study, and various labeling modes for nonpalpable formation before surgery. It shows in expedient to make a comprehensive examination under the conditions of a mammological room where the advantages of this or that invisable intervention, including those without a dosage load, are rationally, without duplicating, used depending on the diseases detected, which increases the significance of preoperative diagnosis up to 95-98%, including that of nonpalpable formations by substantially reducing the proportion of surgical interventions into the breast.     

Kinetic study of the H103A mutant yeast transketolase

Data from site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography show that His103 of holotransketolase (holoTK) does not come into contact with thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) but stabilizes the transketolase (TK) reaction intermediate, alpha,beta-dihydroxyethyl-thiamin diphosphate, by forming a hydrogen bond with the oxygen of its beta-hydroxyethyl group [Eur. J. Biochem. 233 (1995) 750; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (2002) 591]. We studied the influence of His103 mutation on ThDP-binding and enzymatic activity. It was found that mutation does not affect the affinity of the coenzyme to apotransketolase (apoTK) in the presence of Ca(2+) (a cation found in the native holoenzyme) but changes all the kinetic parameters of the ThDP-apoTK interaction in the presence of Mg(2+) (a cation commonly used in ThDP-dependent enzymes studies). It was concluded that the structures of TK active centers formed in the presence of Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) are not identical. Mutation of His103 led to a significant acceleration of the one-substrate reaction but a slow down of the two-substrate reaction so that the rates of both types of catalysis became equal. Our results provide evidence for the intermediate-stabilizing function of His103.