Activity and substrate specificity of the alcohol dehydrogenases of n-alkane oxidizing yeasts

The activity and substrate specificity of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) in the fractions of cytosol and membrane particles were compared in the yeasts Torulopsis candida, Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis grown in media with glucose and hexadecane. In all studied yeast cultures growing in the medium with hexadecane, NAD-dependent ADH specifically dehydrogenating only medium and higher alcohols are induced in the membrane structures of the cells. Soluble ADH are found in the cytosol of the cultures grown either on glucose or on hexadecane. These ADH oxidize all alcohols with the carbon chain length from C2 to C16. As was found by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, the number of ADH molecular forms in the cytosol fraction of the cultures depends on the carbon growth substrate being used and the peculiarities of yeast culture.     

Analysis of the spatial organization of the endothelium of several major vessels

The aim of the investigation was to appreciate quantitatively the degree of endothelial heteromorphy and its spatial organization according to some indices allowing morphofunctional interpretation of their importance. Endothelium of the rabbit protal and jugular veins was studied in the flat film preparations along the length of 16--20 mm continuously. To elucidate changeability in tissue state, autocorrelative function was calculated with the following determination of spectral density. The latter makes it possible to reveal the presence of a monotonous trend and rhythmicity in vessel structure. Spectral analysis demonstrated that in different parts of endothelium the indices involved varied in their character. The parameters reflecting cell histophysiology are characterized by a marked monotonous trend. The parameters influenced by hemodynamic conditions change rhythmically. Nearly all the indices in the portal vein, evidently because of its peculiar physiological conditions, distinguish themselves by their more complex spectral composition than those of the jugular vein. The quantitative data obtained support heteromorphic character of endothelium and demonstrate that physiology and hemodynamics of the vessel are responsible for its degree of significance as there is a constant interrelation between the vessel and blood.     

Influence of osmolytes on in vivo glucose monitoring using optical coherence tomography

Diabetes mellitus and its complications are the third leading cause of death in the world, exceeded only by cardiovascular disease and cancer. Tighter monitoring and control of blood glucose could minimize complications associated with diabetes. Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) for noninvasive glucose monitoring was proposed and tested in vivo. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of changes in blood glucose concentration ([glu]) and sodium concentration ([Na+]) on the OCT signal. We also investigated the influence of other important analytes on the sensitivity of glucose monitoring with OCT. The experiments were carried out in anesthetized female pigs. The OCT images were acquired continuously from skin, while [glu] and [Na+] were experimentally varied within their physiological ranges. Correlations of the OCT signal slope with [glu] and [Na+] were studied at different tissue depths. The tissue area probed with OCT was marked and cut for histological examination. The correlation of blood [glu] and [Na+] with the OCT signal slope was observed in separate tissue layers. On average, equimolar changes in [glu] produced 2.26 +/- 1.15 greater alterations of the OCT signal slope than changes in [Na+]. Variation of concentrations of other analytes did not influence the OCT signal slope. The influence of [Na+] on relative changes in the OCT signal slope was generally less than [glu]-induced changes. OCT is a promising method for noninvasive glucose monitoring because of its ability to track the influence of changing [glu] on individual tissue layers.     

Synthesis and Pharmacological Activity of Betulin Dinicotinate

The assignment of NMR resonances of lupane triterpenoids was refined by the example of 3O,28O-dinicotinoylbetulin, obtained by acylation of betulin. Hepatoprotective, antiulcer, antiinflammatory, reparative, and anti-HIV activities were found for the compound. In addition, it was demonstrated to have immunomodulatory activity, for the first time detected among lupane triterpenoids.     

Changes in the lungs in the early period of closed trauma of the thorax in rats

In experiments on rats it has been demonstrated that in the acute period of uninjured parts of the lungs periodic changes of protein, lipid and glucose concentrations developed. In uninjured parts of the lungs one can observe more concentration of lipids and in injured parts-more glucose. The changes of substrates, concentrations in the lungs are due to not only the changes of venous blood excess in the lungs, but are connected with metabolic changes in the cells of the injured and uninjured parts of the lungs. The metabolic changes in the lungs in the acute period of chest trauma influence the creation of such indices of gas exchange as PaCO2 and PACO2.     

Nucleosome histones isolated from normal and tumor cells and the effect of bivalent metals on their conformation

A change of the secondary structure of histones isolated from tumor cells was observed. This changed structure showed increased percentage of elongated left helix of poly-l-proline II type. It is concerned with an increased content of bivalent Ca++ and Mg++ ions.     

Comparative study of nucleosome particles in chromatin from normal and tumor cells. I. Structural parameters

The composition and structure of nucleosomic fragments isolated from the ascitic hepatoma 22A cells, liver and from cells of C3HA mice in norm and after partial hepatectomy were investigated. Via electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel with the emplogment of reperic restrictive DNA fragments and with the help of mathematical processing, the value of the nucleosomic DNA repeat in ascitic hepatoma 22A was calculated to be 187 b.p., and in regenerating liver--196 b.p. The absence of the H1 degree subfraction in chromatin of ascitic hepatoma 22A cells was found. Lower electrophoretic mobility in 5% polyacrylamid gel of nucleosomic chromatin fragments of ascitic hepatoma 22A as compared with their counterparts from healthy mice liver was established. The method of circular dichroism allowed to reveal differences in the RNA and protein structural state in nucleosomes of normal and tumour cells. The structure of nucleosomes of regenerating mice liver of the C3HA strain did not differ from that of normal liver of the same mice.     

Lipid composition in muscle and liver of sympatric coregonid fishes from Lake Baikal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus</Emphasis> spp.) under common garden experiment

The content of total lipids, total phospholipids, and fatty acids of total lipids in muscles and liver of juvenile Lake Baikal sympatric coregonid fishes have been analyzed for the first time under a common garden experiment. Baikal omul, Coregonus migratorius Georgi, is an active migrant of the pelagic zones of the lake. Baikal (lacustrine) whitefish, C. baicalensis Dybowski, is a colonizer of the bottom habitats, which are relevant to the pelagic zones of the littoral and underwater slope. Structural lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol) dominated in total lipids of the tissues of all fish under study. Spare lipids significantly prevailed in omul muscles when compared to whitefish. The highest variability of fatty acid composition was reported in muscles of coregonid fishes. Statistically significant differences were revealed in the content of the ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscles of lacustrine whitefish and omul. Associations of lipid compositions revealed in tissues of the whitefishes under the study with their respective ecotypes have been discussed.     

Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ levels in histone fractions from normal and tumor cells

Distribution of some bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+) in histones isolated from healthy mice liver and ascitic hepatoma 22A cells has been investigated by atomic-absorption analysis. It has been shown that the content of these cations is higher in normal and diseased H3, H2B and H1 fractions and lower--in H2A; however, in the H4 fraction these metals are not detected. A significant increase of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ levels has been established in ascitic H3, H2B and H1 fractions. An increase of bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+) content in some histone fractions apparently is bound with the changes of histone--histone and histone--DNA interactions.