Comparative Analysis of MPTP Neurotoxicity in Mice with a Constitutive Knockout of the α-Synuclein Gene

Molecular Biology - Aggregated forms of α-synuclein are core components of pathohistological inclusions known as Lewy bodies in substantia nigra (SN) neurons of patients with Parkinson’s...     

Optimal Method for Disulfide Bond Closure in the Synthesis of Atosiban—Antagonist of Oxytocin Receptors

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - This work is devoted to the large-scale solid-phase synthesis (SPS) of Atosiban, Mpa1-D-Tyr(OEt)-Ile-Thr-Asn-Cys6-Pro-Orn-Gly-NH2 cyclic 1,6 disulfide, the...     

Experimental investigation on spectral-energy efficiency of femtosecond laser ablation of metals

Results of investigation on spectral-energy thresholds, rates, and mass flow rates of laser ablation of structural materials (Cu, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo) of high-energy photonics are presented. The data were obtained by means of an experimental diagnostic module developed for study of multifactor interaction processes between UV-near IR femtosecond laser pulse radiation and condensed media in vacuum.     

Behavioural impairments in mice of a novel FUS transgenic line recapitulate features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Multiple clinical and experimental evidences suggest that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are members of a disease continuum. Pathological inclusions of fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein have been observed in subsets of patients with these diseases but their anatomical distribution is different for two diseases. These structures are present in motor neurons in ALS cases but in cortical neurons in FTLD cases. Expression of a C‐terminally truncated form of human FUS causes an early onset and progressive motor neuron pathology in transgenic mice but only when these neurons express a certain level of this protein. Severe motor dysfunction and early lethality of mice with expression above this level prevent their use for studies of FTLD‐related pathology caused by expression of this form of FUS. In the present study, we used another line of mice expressing the same protein but not developing any signs of motor system dysfunction due to substantially lower level of transgene expression in motor neurons. In a set of tests 5‐month old mice displayed certain behavioural abnormalities, including increased impulsivity, decreased anxiety and compromised social interaction, which recapitulate behaviour characteristics typically seen in FTLD patients.     

Musculature of the ovipositor of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxyna parietina</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera,Tephritidae) and its relation to the larval habits

The structure of the ovipositor sclerites and muscles was studied in the tephritid fly Oxyna parietina (Linnaeus, 1758) inducing galls on the stems of Artemisia vulgaris. Adaptations of the ovipositor structure associated with changes of the oviposition substrate due to new larval habits are analyzed. The ovipositor muscles of Oxyna parietina are compared to those of Campiglossa. The genera Oxyna Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 and Campiglossa Rondani, 1870 belong to the same genus-group of Tephritini, but differ in their host associations and oviposition habits: the larvae of Campiglossa plantaginis (Haliday, 1833) develop in the capitula of Aster tripolium and other asters (Asteraceae). The ovipositor sclerites and muscles are similar in the two genera. Progression of hemolymph into the membranous sheath of the ovipositor and protraction of the aculeus are necessary conditions for laying eggs into the capitula of Asteraceae (Campiglossa plantaginis), as well as for insertion of eggs into the axils of Artemisia leaves (Oxyna parietina). The most significant characters of Oxyna and Campiglossa include the presence of the hyaline apodeme and associated muscles MVM 6 and MVM 7 (instead of the median apodeme in Urophora). Thus, in other tephritid flies similarity in the structure of the ovipositor muscles may reflect similar morphofunctional adaptations to laying eggs into similar substrates, but similarity of Campiglossa and Oxyna in the structure of the ovipositor muscles is due to their close relations.     

Strain Improvement of Streptomyces xanthochromogenes RIA 1098 for Enhanced Pravastatin Production at High Compactin Concentrations

Pravastatin is one of the most popular cholesterol-lowering drugs. Its industrial production represents a two-stage process including the microbial production of compactin and its further biocatalytic conversion to pravastatin. To increase a conversion rate, a higher compactin content in fermentation medium should be used; however, high compactin concentrations inhibit microbial growth. Therefore, the improvement of the compactin resistance of a producer still remains a relevant problem. A multi-step random UV mutagenesis of a Streptomyces xanthochromogenes strain RIA 1098 and the further selection of high-yield compactin-resistant mutants have resulted in a highly productive compactin-resistant strain S 33-1. After the fermentation medium improvement, the maximum bioconversion rate of this strain has reached 91 % at the daily compactin dose equal to 1 g/L and still remained high (83 %) even at the doubled dose (2 g/L). A 1-year study of the mutant strain stability has proved a stable inheritance of its characteristics that provides this strain to be very promising for the pravastatin-producing industry.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12088-015-0537-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Immunocytochemical study of YB-1 nuclear distribution in different cell types

In the present work we studied the distribution of YB-1 in the nuclei of mouse hepatocytes, early embryos and human skin fibroblasts with the use of light and electron microscopy. To reveal YB-1, we applied rat polyclonal antibody against the C-terminal fragment of YB-1 molecule and rabbit polyclonal antibody against full-length YB-1 molecule. YB-1 distribution patterns varied significantly in different cell types. YB-1 was found to be colocalized with RNA polymerase I in mouse hepatocytes and embryos. Besides, YB-1 was revealed in a population of Cajal bodies in 2-cell mouse embryos but not in other cells studied.