The significance of the genotype and individual behavioral characteristics for the manifestation of the dominant phenotype in mouse micropopulations]

Influence of genotype and such individual characteristics as locomotor and exploratory activity, aggressiveness and emotionality, was studied in male mice. Males F1 and males of the parent line PT had high level of social dominance. F1 had high level of aggressiveness, and low emotionality, medium level of locomotor and exploratory activity. Significance of these individual behavioural characteristics for dominant behaviour is discussed.     

Influence of opioid peptides on nerve tissue in vitro

The influence of opioid peptides (gamma- and beta-endorphins, leu- and met-enkephalins, as well as certain synthetic analogs of enkephalin) was investigated on organotypic cultures of rat spinal and sympathetic ganglia. The cellular composition and size of the zone of growth were evaluated on the basis of intravital observations and an analysis of the specimen obtained using the method of impregnation, according to Holmes and the detection of catecholamines with glyoxylic acid. It was established that under the action of all the investigated substances that possess high affinity for opiate receptors, growth of the neurites from an explant was enhanced, and the number of glial and fibroblastoid cells in the growth zone was increased. The effect was observed most distinctly on a model of sympathetic ganglia. The tested compounds exhibited a significant growth-stimulating effect in the range of concentrations 10^–8–10^–14 M. The maximum size of the growth zone of the explants of the sympathetic ganglia in the case of a mean effective concentration of the peptides 10^–10 M by the third to fifth day of culturing was approximately 2–2.5 times this value in the control. The reaction was similar to the response of the nerve cells to nerve growth factor, used as a standard. Thus, the opioid peptides exhibit a pronounced growth effect on the structures of the nerve tissue under conditions of culture. It is suggested that this group of compounds, together with its currently well-known functions, may play a definite role in processes of the development and regenera-of nerve tissue.Institute of Experimental Cardiology, All-Union Cardiologic Science Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 550–557, July–August, 1985.     

Hereditary syndrome of ectrodactyly, congenital heart defect and cleft lip and palate

A case of a family of he proband suffering from ektrodaktyly, together with heart defect, cleft lip and palate is reported. The parents came to the genetic counselling center to get the genetic prognosis for a next child. All together 3 cases demonstrating different types of radial defects were registered in this pedigree. The authors discuss possible causes of clinical polymorphism and accent the complications of giving genetic prognosis in such cases.     

中国皿蛛科蜘蛛一新属和一新种记述(蛛形纲:蜘蛛目)

本文记述采自新疆的皿蛛科蜘蛛一新届——颚齿蛛属Maxillodens gen.nov.及其一新种——鞭状颚齿蛛M.flageuatus sp.nov。     

How to predict product yield in kinetically controlled enzymatic peptide synthesis

The published theory of kinetically controlled enzymatic peptide synthesis needed experimental verification. We carried out the measurement of the peptide yield and estimation of the key parameters alpha and beta for papain-catalyzed synthesis of Mal-L-Phe-L-Ala-LLeuNH(2) from Mal-L-Phe-L-AlaOMe and L-LeuNH(2). The experimental results demonstrate that this theory adequately describes the real process. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of the synthetic leu-enkephalin analog dalargin on the proliferative activity of glioma C6 cells and on the intensity of their DNA synthesis]

Effect of dalargin, an opioid peptide (a synthetic analogue of Leu-enkephalin), on proliferation and intensity of DNA synthesis of C6 glioma cells was studied. Specific conditions of cultivation were selected, with a low control value of proliferation, which permitted to assess growth-stimulating effect of the peptide. Growth curves were plotted to assess peptide activity, which demonstrated that reaction was a many-phase process: a significant increase in cell number under peptide effect was observed only at the beginning of the logarithm phase and at the beginning of the prestationary phase of the growth curve. Cell number increased on average by 25-27% in the presence of dalargin as compared to control. Reaction of glioma DNA synthesis to dalargin also demonstrates complexity of the process: the peptide changes DNA synthesis, but as a rule, this process has a three-phase character and is not directly associated with the duration of cultivation in the presence of dalargin. Effect of naloxone, an opiate receptor blocker, was analysed to assess the receptor mechanism. It was found that reaction for naloxone and for combined effect of naloxone and dalargin was not the same.     

Experimental and clinical study test of capreomycin]

Data on the experimental and clinical study of capreomycin in the treatment of tuberculosis are presented. It was shown that capreomycin had low activity with respect to the sensitive strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv in vitro and the respective infection caused by it in mice. The activity of capreomycin in vitro with respect to streptomycin resistant strains was the same as that with respect to the sensitive strains, while in vivo it increased 3 times. Capreomycin showed a tendency to decreasing its activity with respect to strains highely resistant to canamycin only in vitro. The effect of capreomycin on tuberculosis infection caused by strains resistant to different concentrations of canamycin was the same as that on tuberculosis infection caused by sensitive strains. Cross resistance between florimycin (viomycin) and capreomycin was shown. Clinical trails of capreomycin revealed its moderate therapeutic efficiency, relatively low toxicity and an allergenizing effect on the host. Transient ventibulopatia without pronounced signs of ototoxic action was observed. The nephrotoxic effect was moderate and transient. It was observed predominantly at the peak of the allergic reactions to the antitubercle drugs. The data obtained during the study allow recommendation of capreomycin use in clinics as reserve drug when the causative agent is not resistant to florimycin. The drug should be used under regular control of the blood picture, electrolyte metabolism, state of the kidneys, auditory and vestibular apparatus.     

Cell wall teichoic acids from Streptomyces daghestanicus VKM Ac-1722T and streptomyces murinus INA-00524T

The structure of cell wall teichoic acids was studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy in the type strains of two actinomycete species of the Streptomyces griseoviridis phenetic cluster: streptomyces daghestanicus and streptomyces murinus. S. daghestanicus VKM Ac-1722^t contained two polymers having a 1,5-poly(ribitol phosphate) structure. In one of them, the ribitol units had -rhamnopyranose and 3-O-methyl--rhamnopyranose substituents; in the other, each ribitol unit was carrying 2,4-ketal-bound pyruvic acid. Such polymers were earlier found in the cell walls of Streptomyces roseolus and Nocardiopsis albus, respectively; however, their simultaneous presence in the cell wall has never been reported. The cell wall teichoic acid of Streptomyces murinus INA-00524^T was a 1,5-poly(glucosylpolyol phosphate), whose repeating unit was [-6)--D-glucopyranosyl-(12)-glycerol phosphate-(3-P-]. Such a teichoic acid was earlier found in Spirilliplanes yamanashiensis. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of this polymer is presented for the first time. The results of the present investigation, together with earlier published data, show that the type strains of four species of the Streptomyces griseoviridis phenetic cluster differ in the composition and structure of their teichoic acids; thus, teichoic acids may serve as chemotaxonomic markers of the species.Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 1, 2005, pp. 48–54.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Streshinskaya, Kozlova, Alferova, Shashkov, Evtushenko.     

The effect of cooling rate, freeze-drying suspending fluid and culture age on the preservation of Campylobacter pylori

The effects of freezing rate, suspending fluid and age of culture on the ability of four strains of Campylobacter pylori to survive and recover from freeze-drying were examined. Freeze-drying by standard procedures generally resulted in an overall loss in viability of between 3 and 7 log units. The exact cause of poor recovery by C. pylori was not established but strain differences were detected, with NCTC 11637 (type strain) surviving better than NCTC 11638 and NCTC 11639. Recovery of the poorest growing strain (NE 26695) was notably more erratic. The largest loss in viability occurred at the primary drying stage. Losses resulting from freezing and secondary drying were less marked and the rate of freezing had only a marginal effect on recovery. Nineteen different freeze-drying suspending fluids were investigated. Overall the best recovery results were obtained with 5% inositol-broth (or horse serum) plus 25% glucose, at pH 7.0, in which loss of viability was typically about 4 log units. Other factors, such as age of culture and number of viable bacteria in the before-dry suspension, did not have a significant effect on survival. We conclude from these results that C. pylori can survive freeze-drying, albeit in small numbers, but the degree of recovery is apparently largely strain dependent.     

Integrins: Structure and Signaling

Integrins are cell surface transmembrane glycoproteins that function as adhesion receptors in cell-extracellular matrix interactions and link the matrix proteins to the cytoskeleton. The family of human integrins comprises 24 members, each of which is a heterodimer consisting of 1 of 18 alpha- and 1 of 8 beta-subunits. Integrins play an important role in the cytoskeleton organization and in transduction of intracellular signals, regulating various processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell migration. This review summarizes current views on the structure of integrins, integrin associated proteins, and biochemical mechanisms underlying their signaling functions.