Impairment of the Viability of Transformed Chinese Hamster Cells in a Nonsubcultured Culture under the Influence of Exogenous Oxidized Guanoside is Manifested Only in the Stationary Phase of Growth

Despite the fact that oxidation products of nucleotides and nucleosides are markers of oxidative stress, reports of the paradoxical ability of these compounds to protect cells from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species began to appear more often. Among all nitrogenous bases, guanine is most susceptible to the influence of oxidative stress; therefore, guanosine is oxidized more often than other bases. In the present work, the effect of exogenous 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine on the growth and “stationary phase aging” (accumulation of “age-related” changes in cultured cells during cell proliferation slowing down within a single passage and subsequent “aging” in the stationary growth phase) of nonsubcultured transformed Chinese hamster cells was studied. We showed that the nucleoside is rapidly absorbed by the cells from the medium, but it does not affect the growth of the culture, and impairs the viability of the cells in the late stationary growth phase. Thus, no mitogenic or geroprotective effect of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine was found.     

Characterization of recombinant soluble macrophage scavenger receptor MARCO

MARCO is a type II transmembrane protein of the class A scavenger receptor family. It has a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain, and a large extracellular part composed of a 75-residue long spacer domain, a 270-residue collagenous domain, and a 99-residue long scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain. Previous studies have indicated a role for this receptor in anti-microbial host defense functions. In this work we have produced the extracellular part of MARCO as a recombinant protein, and analyzed its binding properties. The production of this protein, soluble MARCO (sMARCO), has made it possible for the first time to study MARCO and its binding properties in a cell-free system. Using circular dichroism analyses, a protease-sensitive assay, and rotary shadowing electron microscopy, sMARCO was shown to have a triple-helical collagenous structure. Rotary shadowing also demonstrated that the molecules often associate with each other via the globes. sMARCO was found to bind avidly both heat-killed and living bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide, an important component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, was shown to be a ligand of MARCO. Studies with different bacterial strains indicated that the O-side chain of lipopolysaccharide is not needed for the bacterial recognition. Finally, the C-terminal SRCR domain was also produced as a recombinant protein, and its bacteria-binding capability was studied. Although the transfection experiments with transmembrane MARCO variants have indicated a crucial role for this domain in bacterial binding, the monomeric domain exhibited low, barely detectable bacteria-binding activity. Thus, it is possible that cooperation between the SRCR domain and the collagenous domain is needed for high-affinity bacterial binding, or that the SRCR domain has to be in a trimeric form to effectively bind to bacteria.     

A Crosstalk between the Biorhythms and Gatekeepers of Longevity: Dual Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3

Biochemistry (Moscow) - This review discusses genetic and molecular pathways that link circadian timing with metabolism, resulting in the emergence of positive and negative regulatory feedback...     

Lumazine synthase from Candida albicans as an anti-fungal target enzyme: structural and biochemical basis for drug design

Lumazine synthase is an enzyme involved in riboflavin biosynthesis in many plants and microorganisms, including numerous human pathogens. The fact that the enzymes of the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway are not present in the human or animal host makes them potential targets for anti-infective agents. The crystal structure of lumazine synthase from Candida albicans was solved by molecular replacement and refined at 2.5-Angstrom resolution. The results of crystallographic investigations and sedimentation equilibrium experiments clearly indicated the presence of pentameric assemblies of the enzyme either in crystals or in solution. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements of the binding reactions of four different inhibitors revealed high affinity for all four compounds with binding constants in the micromolar range. Structural comparison with previously determined structures of the enzyme.ligand complexes of other orthologue allowed modeling of the binding of four different inhibitors into the active site of lumazine synthase from Candida albicans.     

Diurnal rhythms of locomotor activity, changes in body mass and fat reserves, standard metabolic rate, and respiratory quotient in the free-living coal tit (Parus ater) in the autumn-winter period

These studies were conducted in 1999–2010 on the territory of the Zvenigorod Biological Station of Moscow State University (western Moscow suburbs, 55°44′ N, 36°51′ E). Birds (Parus ater) were caught by mist-nets. All the birds were banded and weighed, and their fat reserves were determined; then, the birds were released. A total of 85 individuals were caught. The standard metabolic rate and respiratory quotient (by the method of indirect calorimetry) were measured in 46 experiments with 16 birds. Two peaks were distinguished in the daily locomotor activity: a strongly pronounced daily peak (from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and a weak evening peak (from 6 to 10 p.m.). The body mass did not change during the day. However, some trend for an increase in the mean body mass toward the middle and end of the day was noted. The fat reserves drastically changed during the day. The metabolic rate and respiratory quotient had a well-pronounced diurnal rhythm with minimal values at night (from 12 p.m. to 4 a.m.) and maximum values in the afternoon (from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The total energy budget of Parus ater in the autumn-winter period, energy balance, and the maintenance of constant flying weight along with the dynamics of fat reserves are discussed.