The cytoskeletal protein Zyxin interacts with the zinc-finger transcription factor Zic1 and plays the role of a scaffold for Gli1 and Zic1 interactions during early development of Xenopus laevis.

We have shown recently that the cytoskeletal protein Zyxin participates in the fine tuning of the neural plate pattering in Xenopus laevis embryos by modulating activity of one of the effectors of Hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascade, the transcription factor Gli1. In the present work, we show that Zyxin can also interact with the potential modulator of the Shh pathway, the transcription factor Zic1. The interaction of proteins occurs primarily by mean of the zinc-finger domain of Zic1 and 2nd LIM domain of Zyxin.

Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Interleukin-11 Orthologues.

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a multifunctional cytokine implicated in several normal and pathological processes. The decoding of IL-11 function and development of IL-11-targeted drugs dictate the use of laboratory animals and need of the better understanding of species specificity of IL-11 signaling. Here, we present a method for the recombinant interleukin-11 (rIL-11) production from the important model animals, mouse and macaque.

[The Cytoskelrtal Protein Zvxin Interacts with the Hedgehog Receptor Patched].

Earlier, we demonstrated Zyxin influence upon Hedgehog (Hh)-signaling pathway during early patterning of the central neural system (CNS) anlage of the Xenopus laevis embryo. Now we show that Zyxin can physically interact with the transmembrane receptor of Hh, Patched2 (Ptc2). Binding of Hh by this receptor activates signaling pathway, which regulates many events, including numerous types of cell differentiation during the embryonic development.

The cytoskeletal protein Zyxin inhibits Shh signaling during the CNS patterning in Xenopus laevis through interaction with the transcription factor Gli1.

Zyxin is a cytoskeletal protein that controls cell movements by regulating actin filaments assembly, but it can also modulate gene expression owing to its interactions with the proteins involved in signaling cascades. Therefore, identification of proteins that interact with Zyxin in embryonic cells is a promising way to unravel mechanisms responsible for coupling of two major components of embryogenesis: morphogenetic movements and cell differentiation. Now we show that in Xenopus laevis embryos Zyxin can bind to and suppress activity of the primary effector of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascade, the transcription factor Gli1.

[The cytoskeletal protein zyxin--a universal regulator of cell adhesion and gene expression].

The attachment of a cell to an extracellular matrix or the surface of another cells affects not only the cell motility, but also gene expression. In view of this, an important problem is to establish the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction from the receptors of cell adhesion to the nucleus, in particular, to identify and investigate the protein transducers of these signals. One of these transducers, the LIM domain protein zyxin, is predominantly localized at the sites of cell adhesion, where it participates in the assembly of actin filaments.

[Transcriptional factor Xanf1 interacts with the focal adhesion protein zyxin in the early development of the Xenopus laevis brain].

We searched for potential protein partners of the homeodomain transcription repressor Xanf1, a key transcriptional regulator of the early development of the forebrain, using a yeast two-hybrid system and identified for the first time the LIM domain protein zyxin from the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. This protein is interesting because it can play the role of a signal transmitter from cell receptors to the cell nucleus and, thus, participate in the regulation of cell morphogenetic movements and gene expression. The interaction of zyxin with Xanf1 was confirmed by the immunoprecipitation of a complex of endogenous zyxin with the hybrid myc-Xanf1 protein from the lysate of X.

The LIM-domain protein Zyxin binds the homeodomain factor Xanf1/Hesx1 and modulates its activity in the anterior neural plate of Xenopus laevis embryo.

The question of how subdivision of embryo into cell territories acquiring different fates is coordinated with morphogenetic movements shaping the embryonic body still remains poorly resolved. In the present report, we demonstrate that a key regulator of anterior neural plate patterning, the homeodomain transcriptional repressor Xanf1/Hesx1, can bind to the LIM-domain protein Zyxin, which is known to regulate cell morphogenetic movements via influence on actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Using a set of deletion mutants, we found that the Engrailed-type repressor domain of Xanf1 and LIM2-domain of Zyxin are primarily responsible for interaction of these proteins.

[Primary acute rheumatic fever in juveniles from an organized community].

A closed population of juveniles was studied to follow-up manifestations of primary rheumatic fever. In line with other unfavourable factors, the onset of the disease within the first 6 months of the observation was due to cross streptococcal infection (foci of chronic nasopharyngeal infection were detected in 68.6% examinees, rheumatism debut after acute nasopharyngeal infection was in 91.

[Clinico-epidemiologic characteristics of deviant behavior of adolescents].

The relative incidence of pathological forms of deviant behavior (PFDB) was assessed in adolescents undergoing professional training (320), on last years of secondary school education (291), in those registered in regional adolescent legal inspection wards (62), and in psychoneurological outpatients (409). The nosological preference of different forms of PFDB was established with sexual dimorphism in deviant and delinquent behaviors in the groups under investigation. Deviant behavior polymorphism did not depend on the nosological nature of the disorders.

[Spatial-temporal organization of the deep cortex of the lymph node].

In various areas of the deep cortex: central and peripheral parts, as well as T-territory (adjoining the fundus of the germinative center) various cells (small and middle lymphocytes, immunoblasts, plasmoblasts, immature and mature plasma cells and mitotically dividing cells) have been counted. The population density of various immunocompetent cells differs significantly in various areas of the deep cortex. Immunoblasts predominate in the center, cells of the plasmic line--in the periphery of the deep cortex and in the T-territory.

[The temporal organization of the complex nodule in the lymph node].

The aim of the work is to study rhythmic processes at tissue level in the lymph nodule and in the T-territory adjacent to it in order to reveal temporal interrelations in functioning the germinative center, crown and T-territory. The lymph nodule sections are stained with methylene green-pyronine. Small and middle lymphocytes, immunoblasts, plasmoblasts, immature and mature plasma cells, mitotic figures are taken into account.

[Excretion of monoamines, their precursors and metabolites in the hyperactivity syndrome in mentally defective children].

Alterations on dynamics of excretion with urine of dopamine, noradrenaline, vanilylmandelic acid and N1-methyl nicotinamide were detected in 7-11 years old children with mental insufficiency accompanied by effective component of the hyperdynamic syndrome in the course of treatment with sidnocarb and sonapax. Sidnocarb was shown to alter positively the excretion of noradrenaline and sonapax--that of N1-methyl nicotinamide. Clinical features of the hyperdynamic syndrome should be taken into consideration in prescription of drug therapy.

[Chronicity of the rheumatoid process].

The authors considered the problem of chronicity of a rheumatic process as a result of streptococcus persistence in the patient's body. Using a bacteriological method and luminescence microscopy streptococcal bacteremia was found in patients with rheumatic fever in the active phase in 12.5 and 31.

[Structure of mental pathology among various adolescent population groups (clinico-epidemiological study)].

The authors have examined 1455 adolescents aged 15-17 yrs, those followed up at a psychiatric outpatient clinic and from the general population. The study has revealed the distribution of different forms of mental diseases and their syndromal structure. The authors stress the polymorphism of psychopathological appearances and describe some features of mental disturbances in adolescents.

[Behavior disorders in children with mental retardation (data of an epidemiologic study)].

An epidemiological examination of mentally retarded children aged 8-14 years revealed behavioural deviations hindering the patients' adaptation in 31.8%. Behavioural disorders were due to the psychopathy-like syndrome of organic genesis in one group of patients and psychogenic pathological formation of the personality in another.

[Characteristics of the amino acid spectrum of the blood of children with intellectual deficiency].

The amino acid spectrum of blood serum was examined in 10 mentally normal children and 84 children aged 7-11 years (predominantly boys) with different degrees of intellectual deficiency (borderline intellectual deficiency, oligophrenia in the degree of debility) complicated by syndromes of motor disinhibition and torpor. Deviations in the levels of free amino acids in mentally retarded children were not very marked as is the case with hereditary enzymopathies. Most of the children had high blood concentrations of asparaginic acid and ammonia.