A new chromatographic method for the preparative isolation of phosphoinositides and other anionic phospholipids

A new chromatographic procedure for preparative isolation of mono-, di- and triphosphoinositides and other anionic phospholipids with the use of adsorbents containing primary amino groups is described. Sorbents with immobilized neomycin, L-lysine and aminoalkyl groups were tested. Conditions for isolation of chromatographically pure phospholipids of separate classes on the above sorbents were developed. Isolation of polyphosphoinositides on the amino sorbents represents a new type of chromatography involving bioaffinity and ion-exchange interaction.     

Catalytic antibodies in the bone marrow and other organs of Th mice during spontaneous development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis associated with cell differentiation

Exact mechanisms of autoimmune disease development are still yet unknown. However, it is known that the development of autoimmune diseases is associated with defects in the immune system, namely, the violation of the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiation profiles. Different characteristics of autoimmune reaction development in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) prone Th mice characterizing T-lymphocytes response were analyzed using standard approaches. Profiles of several HSCs differentiation of bone marrow (BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM, T- and B-lymphocytes) of Th male and female mice during spontaneous development of EAE were noticeably different. Patterns of total lymphocytes, B- and T-cells proliferation in several different organs (bone marrow, blood, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) were also remarkably different. In addition, there were in time noticeable differences in their changes for some organs of male and female mice. Characters of changes in the profiles of CD4 and CD8 cells proliferation in some organs not always coincide with those for total T lymphocytes. The changes in the differentiation profiles of HSCs and the level of lymphocytes proliferation in the bone marrow and other organs were associated with the increase in the concentration of antibodies against DNA, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and catalytic antibodies hydrolyzing these substrates. Despite some differences in changes in the analyzed parameters, in general, the spontaneous development of EAE in male and female mice occurs to some extent in a comparable way.

     

The biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental significance of Lower Cambrian (Botomian) trilobites from the Ak-Kaya section of the Altai Mountains (southern Siberia,Russia)

The presence of one of the oldest records of polycystine Radiolaria in the Lower Cambrian sedimentary sequence of the Ak-Kaya section (Gorny Altai) requires a biostratigraphic dating. The trilobites found recently a few tens of meters below the radiolarian-bearing level belong to Calodiscus resimus Repina, Serrodiscus fossuliferus Repina and Alacephalus aff. contortus Repina; they suggest that this part of the Shashkunar Formation can be correlated with the lower part of the Botomian stage. The absence of eyes in the two former species suggests a mode of life buried in the fine pelagic sediments. Indications of the presence of a strongly developed musculature on the third species point to a palaeoenvironment characterized by a relatively high hydrodynamic regime.     

Lower Cambrian (Botomian) polycystine Radiolaria from the Altai Mountains (southern Siberia, Russia)

Relatively well-preserved polycystine Radiolaria are here described from Lower Cambrian (Botomian) strata of the Shashkunar Formation, Altai Mountains in southern Siberia (Russia). These radiolarians display a test formed of a disorderly and three-dimensionally interwoven meshwork of numerous straight and curved bars branching from a five-rayed point-centered spicule located within the inner shell surface. The shell structure allows their assignment to the family Archeoentactiniidae, thus extending the known age range of the family down to the Lower Cambrian. The Botomian age is based essentially on trilobites (Parapagetia-Serrodiscus zone), but also on archaeocyathids identified in earlier publications. The study of the radiolarian-bearing sedimentary sequence confirms the presence of polycystine radiolaria in the external platform environments of Lower Cambrian ecosystems.     

New tanystropheids (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic of Europe

A new prolacertilian species and genus, Augustaburiania vatagini gen. et sp. nov. (Reptilia: Archosauromorpha), from the Lower Triassic of the Don River Basin is described. It is the first representative of the Tanystropheidae in the Eastern Europe and the world oldest member of this family. Another new genus (Protanystropheus gen. nov.) from Central and Western Europe is also established. The diversity, systematics, phylogeny, evolution, and stratigraphic and geographical distribution of prolacertilians are discussed. The ecological role of prolacertilians in Early Triassic communities and adaptation to marine environments are analyzed.     

On the dynamics of the formation of the niche space during the exploration of land by vertebrates

The dynamics of the formation and filling the niche space during the exploration of land by vertebrates and probable relationships of the packing density and structural pattern of the niche space with ecological crises (mass extinctions) in the geological past are considered.     

Evolution of the Permian and Triassic tetrapod communities of Eastern Europe

The Permo-Triassic terrestrial and freshwater tetrapod communities of Eastern Europe are reconstructed as food-webs. The Late Permian theriodont-dinocephalian community (Ocher, Mezen, Isheyevo) changes to a latest Permian theriodont-pareiasaur community (North Dvina, Vyazniki). After a major extinction, the Triassic thecodontian-dicynodont communities appear, a lystrosaurid one in the Early Triassic (Lower and ?Upper Vetluga), and a kannemeyerid one in the later Early Triassic (?Yarenga) and the Mid Triassic (Donguz, Bukobay). Similar stages are represented in the evolution of aquatic communities: the Late Permian temnospondyl community (Ocher, Isheyevo), the latest Permian chroniosuchian one (North Dvina, Vyazniki), the Lower and Middle Triassic new temnospondyl one (from Vetluga to Bukobay). The faunal changes in Eastern Europe are mirrored in other parts of the world, although there are some endemic Russian forms.