Synthetic fragments of the NS1 protein of the tick-borne encephalitis virus exhibiting a protective effect

Potentially immunoactive regions of the NS1 nonstructural protein of the tick-borne encephalitis virus that can stimulate the antibody formation in vivo and protect animals from this disease were chosen on the basis of theoretical calculations. Eleven 16-to 27-aa peptides containing the chosen regions were synthesized. The ability of the free peptides (without any high-molecular-mass carrier) to stimulate the production of antipeptide antibodies in mice of three lines and ensure the formation of protective immunity was studied. Most of these peptides were shown to exhibit the immunogenic activity in a free state. Five fragments that can protect mice from the infection by a lethal dose of tick-borne encephalitis virus were found.     

Centriolar complex in somatic cell hybrids (mouse X Chinese hamster)

The ultrastructure of centriolar complex in interphase cells and in for a long time dividing somatic hybrid cells (mouse X Chinese hamster) has been investigated. It was found that in the majority of hybrid cells (about 80%) the centriolar complex consists of a higher quantity of centrioles than in the parent cells; the fine structure of the centriolar complex has features characteristic of the centrioles of both the parents; the numerous centrioles have a capacity of organizing individual poles of the spindle of division to constitute the ground for multipolar mitosis in the hybrid cells. Besides that, hybrid cells were found with the centriole number corresponding to that in diploid cells. According to our preliminary data, the ultrastructure of these hybrid centrioles is like that in murine cells.     

Bioinformatic analysis of maize granule-bound starch synthase gene

Alignment of the Wx-gene and its homolog sequences has been conducted. A dendrogram displaying phylogenetic relationship between Poaceae family members has been built. Transfer of ancient Wx-gene from Zea mays to Dimeria lawsonii has been assumed. Primers for the exons 8–10 of polymorphic region have been designed. In silico PCR analysis has been conducted.     

Position of caesium ions in crystalline B-form DNA determined by synchrotron radiation diffraction. Preliminary results

The diffraction patterns of CsDNA taken with copper X-irradiation are considerably impaired because of the strong X-ray absorption by caesium ions. The use of high power synchrotron radiation of wavelength λ = 1.2 Å has yielded photographs suitable for intensity measurements.The structure of phage T2 CsDNA at 76% relative humidity is isomorphous to the crystalline B-form of LiDNA, and the disposition of cations appears to conform to the 10-fold screw symmetry of B-DNA. The structure factor amplitudes of 20 reflections in the diffraction pattern of phage T2 CsDNA are noticeably different from those of the same reflections in the LiDNA diffraction pattern, and the positions of the Cs⁺ ions could thus be found. The best model has the cations located significantly close to dyad axes lying between the planes of successive nucleotide pairs. One of the two cations “belonging” to a nucleotide pair touches the surface of the narrow groove of the B-DNA double helix, while the other is on the wide groove side, rather far from its “own” DNA molecule.     

Activity of Respiratory Pathways in Cultured Yam Cells under the Influence of Furostanol Glycosides

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - The role of furostanol glycosides (FGs) in the intensification of main metabolic processes in cultured yam (Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.) cells was shown. The...