Mutation to rifampicin resistance at the beginning of the RNA polymerase beta subunit gene in Escherichia coli

Summary The unusual recombinant plasmid pRC19 carrying the N-terminal fragment of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase rpoB gene was found to specify high level rifampicin resistance of E. coli cells. Sequence analysis of this plasmid revealed one substitution only: transversion GT, leading to amino acid substitution Val¹⁴⁶Phe. This mutational change marks the second domain of the subunit involved in rifampicin binding.     

Structure and function of enteric alpha defensins in norm and pathology

This review summarizes currently available data on enteric alpha defensins structure, their functions in the innate and adaptive immunity systems and the role in development of intestinal illnesses.     

From the Bay of Naples to the River Don: the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption and the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Eastern Europe

The Campanian Ignimbrite (CI) eruption, dated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and various stratigraphic methods to ca. 39,000 cal BP, generated a massive ash plume from its source in southern Italy across Southeastern and Eastern Europe. At the Kostenki-Borshchevo open-air sites on the Middle Don River in Russia, Upper Paleolithic artifact assemblages are buried below, within, and above the CI tephra (which is redeposited by slope action at most sites) on the second terrace. Luminescence and radiocarbon dating, paleomagnetism, and soil and pollen stratigraphy provide further basis for correlation with the Greenland and North Atlantic climate stratigraphy. The oldest Upper Paleolithic occupation layers at Kostenki-Borshchevo may be broadly correlated with warm intervals that preceded the CI event and Heinrich Event 4 (HE4; Greenland Interstadial: GI 12-GI 9) dating to ca. 45,000-41,000 cal BP. These layers contain an industry not currently recognized in other parts of Europe. Early Upper Paleolithic layers above the CI tephra are correlated with HE4 and warm intervals that occurred during 38,000-30,000 cal BP (GI 8-GI 5), and include an assemblage that is assigned to the Aurigancian industry, associated with skeletal remains of modern humans.     

Identification of proteins overexpressed in papillary thyroid tumors

A modified method of proteome comparative analysis based on preliminary removal of cell structural proteins by extraction using salt buffer and subsequent separation of extracts by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was developed. Identification of differentially expressed proteins by mass spectrometry has revealed three proteins with noticeably increased level of synthesis in most samples of papillary thyroid tumors compared to normal tissues. An increase in ubiquitin content was found for the first time. Oncomarker search efficiencies by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and bioinformatic search were compared.     

Determination of double bonds in the lipid fraction of blood plasma in burn patients using the ADS-4M apparatus

An ADS-4M analyser was employed to study the diagnostic potentialities of the method for determination of double bonds (DB) in lipids of the burnt's blood as a rapid method for revealing alterations in unsaturated fatty acids (USFA). The method was tried in 25 patients with varying gravity of burn injury and in 15 healthy subjects with a purpose of establishing the norm. It was discovered that in patients with burn, the number of DB differed from normal depending on the disease gravity. The time course of changes in the number of DB attests to the necessity of the use of the method under consideration for evaluating abnormalities in the content of USFA.     

Secretion of enteric α-defensin 5 into bloodstream by colon tumors

The screening for enteric α-defensin was performed in the blood serum of oncology patients and healthy donors. Enteric α-defensin was not detected in all serum samples from five healthy donors, while serum samples from two of the five oncology patients had the processed form of this protein. The acquired results allow us to suggest the possibility of the serological diagnostics of large intestinal tumors in high-risk groups.     

Iraida Pavlovna Morozova (1919–2007)

Paleontological Journal -     

Methods of protein immunoanalysis

This review describes the current methods of protein immunoanalysis, including radioimmunoanalysis, ELISA, immuno-PCR, electrochemical analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation, as well as their principal areas of application     

A new DNA reporter construct for immuno-PCR

A new DNA reporter construct has been designed for protein quantification by immuno-PCR. It has been shown that the amplification efficiency of a reporter that contains a fragment of human adenovirus 2 flanked by homoprimer sequences is much higher than standard PCR format based on two different primers. The further application of the new construct and its homoprimer-based detection could represent new ways to increase the sensitivity of the immuno-PCR and the efficiency of single-molecule PCR.