[Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex as Tissue-Specific Cofactor during Germinal Cell Differentiation in Drosophila Testes].

During the process of spermatogenesis, the proliferation of spermatogonia (stem cell descendants) is replaced by their differentiation in growing spermatocytes responsible for the preparation to meiosis, which is accompanied by a cardinal change in transcriptional programs. We have demonstrated that, in drosophila, this process is accompanied by a splash of the expression of β-subunit of nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) associated by ribosomes. Nascent polypeptide-associated complex is known as a chaperone involved in co-translational protein folding.

Drying enhances immunoactivity of spent brewer's yeast cell wall β-D-glucans.

Due to immunological activity, microbial cell wall polysaccharides are defined as 'biological response modifiers' (BRM). Cell walls of spent brewer's yeast also have some BRM activity. However, up to date there is no consensus on the use of spent brewer's yeast D-glucan as specific BRM in humans or animals.

[Multifunctional protein complex NAC (nascent polypeptide associated complex].

The functions of the evolutionary conservative complex NAC (Nascent polypepetide Associated Complex) and its subunits are discussed. The heterodimeric NAC protein contains alpha- and beta-subunits and is found to be reversibly bounded to the ribosome in all eukaryotes, from yeast to humans. NAC contacts the nascent polypeptide and protects it from proteolysis.

Cytosolic Hsp60 can modulate proteasome activity in yeast.

Hsp60, an essential oligomeric molecular mitochondrial chaperone, has been subject to rigorous basic and clinical research. With yeast as a model system, we provide evidence for the ability of cytosolic yHsp60 to inhibit the yeast proteasome. (i) Following biological turnover of murine Bax (a proteasome substrate), we show that co-expression of cytosolic yHsp60 stabilizes Bax, enhances its association with mitochondria, and enhances its killing capacity.

Measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters from muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis beam.

The T2K Collaboration reports a precision measurement of muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. Near detector measurements are used to constrain the neutrino flux and cross section parameters.

Expansion and evolution of the X-linked testis specific multigene families in the melanogaster species subgroup.

The testis specific X-linked genes whose evolution is traced here in the melanogaster species subgroup are thought to undergo fast rate of diversification. The CK2ßtes and NACβtes gene families encode the diverged regulatory β-subunits of protein kinase CK2 and the homologs of β-subunit of nascent peptide associated complex, respectively. We annotated the CK2βtes-like genes related to CK2ßtes family in the D.

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam.

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector.

Protective effects of manganese(II) chloride on hyaluronan degradation by oxidative system ascorbate plus cupric chloride.

The degradation of several high-molar-mass hyaluronan samples was investigated in the presence of ascorbic acid itself and further by an oxidative system composed of ascorbic acid plus transition metal ions, i.e. Fe(II) or Cu(II) ions.

Catabolism of hyaluronan: involvement of transition metals.

One of the very complex structures in the vertebrates is the joint. The main component of the joint is the synovial fluid with its high-molar-mass glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, which turnover is approximately twelve hours. Since the synovial fluid does not contain any hyaluronidases, the fast hyaluronan catabolism is caused primarily by reductive-oxidative processes.

Beauvericin decreases cell viability of wheat.

Recently, beauvericin (BEA) has been recognized as an important toxic compound synthesized by several Fusarium strains, infecting maize, wheat, and rice, worldwide. The effects of BEA on mammalian cells have been studied; however, its effects on the function of host plant cells are largely unknown. The purpose of our work was to assess whether BEA can affect the root and leaf cells of wheat cultivar (cv.

[Molecular variability of testes-specific betaNACtes genes in Drosophila melanogaster genome].

Family of betaNACtes genes in the Drosophila melanogaster genome is a model to investigate the mechanisms of molecular evolution of recently evolved genes. The betaNACtes genes encode proteins, homologous to beta subunit of nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), are expressed in testes and localized on the X chromosome as two two-gene clusters and one separate copy. We collected population polymorphism data for betaNACtes genes using several wild-type stocks of D.

Glucomannan reduces neutrophil free radical production in vitro and in rats with adjuvant arthritis.

The effect of glucomannan (GM), a natural polysaccharide isolated from the yeast Candida utilis, on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human neutrophils in vitro and in rats with Mycobacterium butyricum induced adjuvant arthritis (AA) was tested by the luminol/isoluminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) method. In vitro, GM (500 microg/ml) significantly decreased spontaneous CL of human whole blood, while PMA (4beta-phorbol-12beta-myristate-alpha13acetate)-stimulated CL was decreased by GM in the concentrations of 100 and 500 microg/ml. To specify the site of action of GM, its effect on extra- and intracellular ROS generation in isolated neutrophils was evaluated.

Degradation of high-molar-mass hyaluronan by ascorbate plus cupric ions: effects of D-penicillamine addition.

Pro- and anti-oxidative effects of an anti-rheumatoid drug, D-penicillamine (D-PN), on the kinetics of high-molar-mass hyaluronan (HA) degradation were monitored using the method of rotational viscometry. The degradation of the dissolved HA macromolecules was attained by applying the Weissberger's system comprising ascorbic acid plus cupric ions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to identify the generated free radicals.

Characterization of the novel chemically modified fungal polysaccharides as the macrophage stimulators.

By means of carboxymethylation, a novel water-soluble carboxymethyl chitin-glucan (CM-CG) was prepared from the mycelium of Aspergillus niger, and its ability to stimulate macrophages was assessed and compared to that of the previously studied carboxymethylated glucan (CMG) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was demonstrated that single intraperitoneal (i.p.

Regulation of the phenolic profile of berries can increase their antioxidant activity.

The changes of the antioxidant activities (AOA), antiradical activities (ARA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, and total contents of phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonols, hydroxybenzoic acids, and hydroxycinnamic acids in black currant and black chokeberry, after treatment with ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, a polyamine inhibitor (O-phosphoethanolamine, KF), and a phenol biosynthesis stimulator (carboxymethyl chitin glucan, CCHG), were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Gallic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, and selected flavonol contents was analyzed by RP-HPLC. Both regulators increased the AOA measured as inhibition of peroxidation (IP) in black chokeberry, 1.

Glucomannan in prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation occurring in adjuvant arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a biological response modifier, glucomannan (GM), isolated from Candida utilis, on the progress of adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats.

Methods: Adjuvant arthrithis was induced in Lewis rats by a single intradermal injection of Mycobacterium butyricum. GM was administered in two different doses of 5 and 7.

Prostatic Zn determination for prostate cancer diagnosis.

We present our studies of prostatic Zn concentration measurements, carried out in the light of a novel prostate cancer (CAP) diagnosis method proposed by us. The method is based on in vivo prostatic Zn mapping by XRF trans-rectal probe. We report on the extensive clinical studies, intended to assess the validity of the novel proposed diagnostic method.

Lectinomics II. A highway to biomedical/clinical diagnostics.

The review assesses current status and attempts to forecast trends in the development of lectin biorecognition technology. The progressive trend is characterized scientometrically and reflects the current transient situation, when standard low-throughput lectin-based techniques are being replaced by a novel microarray-based techniques offering high-throughput of detection. The technology is still in its infancy (validation phase), but already shows promise as an efficient tool to decipher the enormous complexity of the glycocode that influences physiological status of the cell.

Yeast cell wall polysaccharides as antioxidants and antimutagens: can they fight cancer?

Polysaccharides represent the major part of the yeast cell wall dry weight and build the skeletal carcass defining cell wall stability and cell morphology (beta-D-glucans) or constitute amorphous matrix and cell surface fibrous material (mannans and mannoproteins). It is known that yeast cell wall beta-D-glucans reveal immunomodulating properties, which allows for their application in anti-infective and antitumor therapy. Recent data also suggest that polysaccharides reveal antioxidant activity that can result in their protective function as antioxidants, antimutagens, and antigenotoxic agents.

Reduction of genotoxic effects of N-nitrosomorpholine in human hepatoma cells and hamster lung cells by carboxymethyl chitin-glucan.

N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) belongs to the group of N-nitrosamines and represents a known hepatocarcinogen. Exposure to this compound is considered to be a potential health hazard to humans. There is, however, considerable evidence that the effect of many carcinogenic agents can be markedly influenced or altered by various natural substances.

Impact of treatment with praziquantel, silymarin and/or beta-glucan on pathophysiological markers of liver damage and fibrosis in mice infected with Mesocestoides vogae (Cestoda) tetrathyridia.

Mesocestoides vogae tetrathyridia infection in mice causes hepatocyte injury, hepatic granulomatous inflammmation, liver fibrosis and chronic peritonitis manifested with portal hypertension. To reduce the detrimental effect of parasites on the host liver, the effect of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (PZQ) in combination with natural products silymarin (an antioxidant) and beta-glucan (an immunomodulator) was investigated. The therapeutic effect of drugs was assessed by means of aminotransferase (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) activities, content of albumin, total proteins and hyaluronic acid (HA) in sera of ICR mice infected with M.

Clinical assessment of the cancer diagnostic value of prostatic zinc: a comprehensive needle-biopsy study.

Background: The correlation between Zinc concentration in the prostate's peripheral zone to the onset or presence of malignant process needs to be evaluated in detail.

Methods: Zinc concentration was measured in approximately 1-4 mm3 segments of fresh needle-biopsy cores, with X-ray fluorescence, and correlated with the histological findings of these tissue segments.

Results: Local Zinc concentration is correlated with the presence of cancer (PCa); the higher the Gleason score the greater the Local Zinc depletion.

Enhanced antioxidant formula based on a selenium-supplemented carotenoid-producing yeast biomass.

Carotenoid-producing yeast species such as Rhodotorula glutinis and Sporobolomyces roseus efficiently accumulated selenium from the growth medium. It was observed that incorporation of selenium into yeast cells during the growth inhibited production of beta-carotenoid and other carotenoid precursors (torularhodin and torulene). The yeasts with high content of the carotenoid pigments and selenium may be used for the preparation of a new type of antioxidant formula that could be directly applied for various human and animal diets.

Evaluation of follow-up of therapy with fenbendazole incorporated into stabilized liposomes and immunomodulator glucan in mice infected with Toxocara canis larvae.

Anthelmintic activity of benzimidazole carbamate anthelmintics is low against dormant Toxocara canis larvae during late infections in paratenic hosts. The present study was conducted to examine the efficacy of pure fenbendazole, or drug incorporated into sterically stabilized liposomes (SL-FBZ) administered to T. canis-infected mice alone and after its co-administration with the immunomodulator (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan against larvae localized in muscles and brains.