Production and properties of an immobilized enzyme preparation with peptidase activity

A heterogeneous multienzyme preparation with the peptidase activity, isolated from the cells of Pseudomonadacea bacteria, was immobilized on alumina. The specific activity of the immobilized enzyme complex is not a simple function of the bound protein quantity, but depends on immobilization conditions. An additional glutaraldehyde treatment results in higher thermostability of the immobilized enzyme preparation. The substrate specificity of the preparation retains after immobilization, and it becomes less sensitive to pH changes.     

Thermophilic Myceliophthora thermophila decomposes cellulose

A thermophilic microscopic fungus was isolated from cattle rumen and identified as Myceliophthora thermophila (Apinis) van Oorschot. The culture synthesized cellulolytic enzymes and xylanase when it was grown in media containing cellulase at 50 degrees C under the conditions of submerged cultivation. The morphological and physiological characteristics of the culture are described and its taxonomic position is discussed.     

Transport properties of two extremely thermophilic species ofThermus

Thermus flavus and T. ruber grew optimally at 75 and 60 °C, respectively, but transport of monosaccharides (D-quinovose) and ammo acids (2-aminoisobutyric acid) had optima about 20 °C lower. Both transports were active, inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol but hardly at all by uranyl(2+) ions. Several transport systems are apparently involved with each class of compounds. Preincubation with glucose curtailed subsequent transport severely. Practical cessation of transport below 35 °C may be associated with the rather uniform composition of membrane lipids where iso- and anteiso-C₁₅ and C₁₇ acids are practically the only components.     

Change in Bacillus anthracoides spores and their content of dipicolinic acid during germination]

The content of dipicolinic acid (DPA) was assayed in the spores of Bacillus anthracoides 96 during various stages of its growth. The content of DPA was ca. 10.7 per cent of the dry biomass weight in the seven-day-old culture containing 96 to 99 per cent of the spores in a "starvation" medium. The morphology of the culture was modified, and the content of DPA in the spores fell to 3.6 per cent half an hour after the inoculation into the medium favourable for the growth (MPA). During the following one to four hours of the germination, the refraction index of the spores and the content of DPA in them decreased (the content of DPA to 2 per cent).     

Isolation and identification of the smallpox virus which caused iatrogenic vaccinia in children in the city of Vladivostok

The comparative study of the specimens of the morphological elements of exanthema obtained from 8 children with the clinical diagnosis of secondary exogenic vaccinia, dried smallpox vaccine and the cultures of other orthopoxviruses (rabbit pox, monkey pox and buffalo pox viruses) was made. The isolation and identification of the causative agents from the specimens was carried out with the use of modern virological, electron microscopic and molecular methods. The study proved the fact that 8 children had orthopoxvirus infection with its causative agent identified as vaccinia virus.     

The specific blocks of heterochromatin on metaphase chromosomes of horse and Prjewalski horse detected by in situ digestion with restriction endonucleases

Restriction endonuclease in situ digestion of metaphase chromosomes gives an opportunity to reveal strips with different structure within GC-rich pericentric heterochromatin of the domestic horse and the wild Przewalski horse. Blocks of heterochromatin, which are insensitive to HaeIII and brightly stained with chromomycin A3 after restriction enzyme digestion, are localized on the border with euchromatin in the majority of chromosomes of Equus caballus and E. przewalskii. In contrast to chromosome 5 of E. caballus, acrocentric chromosomes of E. prezewalskii which are homologous to this chromosome have RE-CMA-blocks. We discuss a possible nature of the specific heterochromatin, which is insensitive to restriction enzyme digestion, and its role in the karyotype evolution.