Penicillium sp. 23 alpha-galactosidase: purification and substrate specificity

α-Galactosidase, a glycoprotein with carbohydrate and protein in ratio 1:6, has been isolated from liquid culture of micromycete Penicillium sp. 23 and purified to homogeneous state by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography on TSK-gels. The Penicillium sp. 23 α-galactosidase specificity against a series of natural and synthetic substrates has been studied. The enzyme was found to exhibit strict specificity towards the glycon and hydrolyze exclusively α- -galactosides such as p-nitrophenyl-α- -galactopyranoside (p-NPhGal), melibiose, raffinose and stachyose. The configuration at C1 and C4 atoms of substrate as well as substitution at C2 and C6 of substrate made an important contribution to the interaction with the enzyme. The tested α-galactosidase exerted the highest affinity (K_m) with respect to the synthetic substrate p-NPhGal and maximal rate of hydrolysis (V_max), about 10 times higher, comparing with natural substrates (melibiose, raffinose and stachiose). The Penicillium sp. 23 α-galactosidase possesses wide specificity towards α-galactosidase hydrolysis link type, splitting off at varying rates the terminal galactose from disaccharides, attached by α-1,2-, α-1,3- and α-1,6-links. The enzyme is ineffective towards disaccharides with α-1,4-link. The enzyme showed potential to splitting off α-1,3-bound terminal galactose residues from antigens of the human blood group B(III) erythrocytes.     

Seasonal and Spatial Distribution of Phosphates,Nitrates, and Silicates in Lake Champlain,U.S.A.

A study of the limnological characteristics was conducted from January through November, 1970 of Lake Champlain, Vermont and New York, U.S.A. The seasonal and spatial distribution of soluble nitrate, total phosphate and reactive silicate concentrations from 20 stations are presented here. Results for soluble nitrate concentrations indicate that concentrations in the northeast area of the lake are significantly lower throughout the year than the open lake and bay stations in the western main portion of the lake. Three of the shallow bay stations generally had higher concentrations of nitrate than all other stations. Concentrations of reactive silicon dioxide do not show the same general trends as the nitrata data. Silicate concentrations in the western open portions are higher in the winter and lower in the summer than other areas. The northeast arm does not show the dramatic difference in silicates as for nitrate concentrations. The shallow bays had significantly higher silicate concentrations also, especially during peak spring runoff. No detectable soluble phosphate was measured in the surface waters of the lake. Total particulate phosphate concentrations remained relatively constant from station to station, and throughout the season. The results of the measurements of soluble nitrate and silicate generally support the hypothesis that Lake Champlain is composed of a number of distinct water masses. The general pattern of total phosphate concentrations however, does not support this hypothesis. A comparison of the three major nutrients in Lake Champlain with the St. Lawrence Great Lake indicates that the trophic status of Lake Champlain is generally higher than Lake Superior and very similar to the open waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.     

Retrospective analysis of invasive methods of prenatal diagnostics

The retrospective analysis of invasive methods of prenatal diagnostics has been carried out in 346 women with hazard of fetal pathology. The following factors of hazard of inherent and heritable pathologies are established: complicated genetical and reproductive anamnesis (49.7%), extragynecological (37.0%) and gynecologial pathologies (13.6%), complicated course of pregnancy (48.6%). Using of invasive methods of prenatal diagnostics in the pregnant women of these groups made it possible to detect the innate malformations in 13.0% cases and heritable pathologies in 4.6% cases.     

Predicting Positive Citizenship from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: The Effects of a Civic Context

Researchers have theorized that programs to promote positive citizenship should begin with an opportunity for adolescents to participate in civic activities, such as community service or political volunteering. In this article we extend the theory by arguing that a more systemic approach is needed, in which a civic context is developed to promote citizenship. We hypothesize that living within a consistent civic context leads to civic engagement in late adolescence and into young adulthood. We use a diverse, longitudinal dataset to test this hypothesis. We find that social interactions with peers, parent modeling of civic behaviors, and cultural factors, such as ethnicity-specific practices, cumulatively result in a higher level of civic activities among youth and that a continued context that includes these factors results in a higher level of civic activities into adulthood. The implications of our findings are discussed with regard to program and policy development.     

Predicting Positive Citizenship from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: The Effects of a Civic Context

Researchers have theorized that programs to promote positive citizenship should begin with an opportunity for adolescents to participate in civic activities, such as community service or political volunteering. In this article we extend the theory by arguing that a more systemic approach is needed, in which a civic context is developed to promote citizenship. We hypothesize that living within a consistent civic context leads to civic engagement in late adolescence and into young adulthood. We use a diverse, longitudinal dataset to test this hypothesis. We find that social interactions with peers, parent modeling of civic behaviors, and cultural factors, such as ethnicity-specific practices, cumulatively result in a higher level of civic activities among youth and that a continued context that includes these factors results in a higher level of civic activities into adulthood. The implications of our findings are discussed with regard to program and policy development.     

Programs of mass and selective screening of pregnant women in prenatal studies. Screening of alpha fetoprotein in the blood serum of the mother]

The total of 38479 echography studies and 25147 alpha-fetoprotein estimations in mother blood serum have been performed upon prenatal screening. 445 congenital developmental defects are revealed. AFP base and limiting values (2.5 MoM and 0.5 MoM) are found. AFP values and echocardiography results in the nor and in genetic syndromes of multiple congenital developmental defects are compared. It is found that AFP values are higher than MoM or only slightly higher than Me in the same syndromes. The different level of AFP for the same syndromes appeared to be associated with the phenomenon of overlapping due to the clinical polymorphism and type of injury of the nervous system and with the extent of changes in placenta, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord were revealed in 99% of syndromes. The increased AFP level can be considered as a marker to detect signs of the genetic syndromes. Low AFP level peculiar to aneuploidy appeared to be normal or increased. The AFP test can be used as a marker of changed embryogenesis.     

A key metabolic integrator,coenzyme A,modulates the activity of peroxiredoxin 5 via covalent modification

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Cisplatin has been extensively used as a chemotherapeutic agent since around 40 years, though its usage is limited due to severe adverse effects like...