Recombinant Endopeptidases IdeS and IdeZ and Their Potential Application.

Endopeptidases IdeS and IdeZ (streptococcal virulence factors that specifically cleave IgG heavy chains) are of particular interest because of their potential use in biotechnology, medicine, and veterinary. Genes encoding these enzymes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli heterologous expression system (ideS was cloned from a Streptococcus pyogenes collection strain; ideZ from Streptococcus zooepidemicus was synthesized). The 6His-tag was introduced into the amino acid sequence of each endopeptidase, and IdeS and IdeZ were purified by metal affinity chromatography to an apparent homogeneity (according to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis).

A rapid synthesis of nanofibrillar cellulose/polystyrene composite via ultrasonic treatment.

A new method of the synthesis of nanofibrillar cellulose/polystyrene composite based on ultrasonic treatment of styrene emulsion in cellulose-water solution was elaborated. A new approach does not require additional heating and proposes a significantly faster synthesis (15 min, 45 °C) of the target composite compared to the methods described previously. A comprehensive analysis did not reveal any significant differences between mechanical, physical and biodegradable properties of the composite obtained by ultrasonic method and that one obtained by conventional thermal method, which requires much higher temperature (above 75 °C) and reaction duration (from 3 h).

Influence of NaCl and pH on lysostaphin catalytic activity, cell binding, and bacteriolytic activity.

Peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes are a group of proteins intensively studied as novel antibacterials, with some of them having reached pre-clinical and clinical stages of research. Many peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes have modular organization and consist of a catalytic and a cell wall binding domain. This property has been exploited in enzyme engineering efforts, and many new peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes were generated through domain exchange.

A Simple Protocol for the Determination of Lysostaphin Enzymatic Activity.

Antibacterial lysins are enzymes that hydrolyze bacterial peptidoglycan, which results in the rapid death of bacterial cells due to osmotic lysis. Lysostaphin is one of the most potent and well-studied lysins active against important nosocomial pathogen . Similarly to most other lysins, lysostaphin is composed of enzymatic and peptidoglycan-binding domains, and both domains influence its antibacterial activity.

[Formation of protodioscin and deltoside isomers in suspension cultures of Nepal yam (Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.) cells].

Changes in the content of the furostanol glycosides protodioscin and deltoside, particularly that of the (25S)-isomers of the glycosides, during suspension cultivation of different lines of Nepal yam (Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.) cells of the strain IFR-DM-0.5 has been investigated.

Morphine to codeine concentration ratio in blood and urine as a marker of illicit heroin use in forensic autopsy samples.

A morphine to codeine ratio greater than unity (M/C>1) has been suggested as an indicator of heroin use in living individuals. The aim of this study was to examine the morphine to codeine ratio in a large population (N=2438) of forensically examined autopsy cases positive for 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and/or morphine in blood and/or urine. Blood and urine concentrations of 6-MAM, morphine and codeine were examined using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS methods.

[Prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic prospects of using adiponectine as a biomarker in cardiobascular diseases].

The role of adipose tissue as an important endocrine organ is today beyond doubt. The adipose tissue is known to be a source of many biologically active substances, adipocitokines, one of them being the adiponectine possessing anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and cardioprotective properties; it is believed to be one of prospective biomarkers for risk assessment, for diagnostics and, possibly, for therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

Choline in anxiety and depression: the Hordaland Health Study.

Background: Despite its importance in the central nervous system as a precursor for acetylcholine and membrane phosphatidylcholine, the role of choline in mental illness has been little studied.

Objective: We examined the cross-sectional association between plasma choline concentrations and scores of anxiety and depression symptoms in a general population sample.

Design: We studied a subsample (n = 5918) of the Hordaland Health Study, including both sexes and 2 age groups of 46-49 and 70-74 y who had valid information on plasma choline concentrations and symptoms of anxiety and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale--the latter 2 as continuous measures and dichotomized at a score > or =8 for both subscales.

Dietary patterns, food groups, and nutrients as predictors of plasma choline and betaine in middle-aged and elderly men and women.

Background: Choline and betaine are linked to phospholipid and one-carbon metabolism. Blood concentrations or dietary intake of these quaternary amines have been related to the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and the metabolic syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to determine dietary predictors of plasma choline and betaine among middle-aged and elderly subjects recruited from an area without folic acid fortification.

Divergent associations of plasma choline and betaine with components of metabolic syndrome in middle age and elderly men and women.

Choline is involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, including blood lipids, and is the immediate precursor of betaine, which serves as a methyl group donor in a reaction converting homocysteine to methionine. Several cardiovascular risk factors are associated with plasma homocysteine, whereas little is known about their relationship to choline and betaine. We examined the relation of plasma choline and betaine to smoking, physical activity, BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipids, and glucose in a population-based study of 7074 men and women aged 47-49 and 71-74 y.

Plasma creatinine as a determinant of plasma total homocysteine concentrations in the Hordaland Homocysteine Study: use of statistical modeling to determine reference limits.

Objectives: We established population-based reference limits for plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) according to creatinine.

Design And Methods: In 7042 middle-aged and elderly subjects from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study, we used statistical modeling to establish nomograms for tHcy according to creatinine in the whole population and in folate-replete and healthy subgroups.

Results: When plotted against creatinine, tHcy 97.

Dietary fat and plasma total homocysteine concentrations in 2 adult age groups: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

Background: The intake of n-3 (formerly called omega-3) fatty acids (FAs) may be inversely associated with plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations, but the epidemiologic data are sparse.

Objective: We examined the association between dietary fat and tHcy in a Norwegian population.

Design: A cross-sectional, population-based study of 5917 subjects in 2 age groups (47-49 and 71-74 y old) was conducted with the use of food-frequency questionnaires and measurement of plasma tHcy concentrations.

Dietary predictors of plasma total homocysteine in the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

Established dietary predictors of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) include folate, riboflavin, and vitamins B6 and B12, while information is scarce regarding other dietary components. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between a variety of food groups, food items and nutrients, and plasma tHcy in a large population-based study. The study population included 5812 men and women aged 47-49 and 71-74 years who completed a 169-item FFQ.

In vivo effects of amtolmetin guacyl on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defence systems in different models of gastrointestinal injury.

1. The in vivo effects of the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) amtolmetin guacyl (AMG) on lipid peroxidation (LP) and on antioxidant enzyme and non-enzyme defence systems were investigated in models of stomach and colon damages, induced by other NSAIDs, by ethanol or by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). 2.

Effect of dietary copper and iron restriction on aconitase activity and antioxidant capacity of liver, kidney and heart from growing rats.

Dietary copper- and iron restriction was achieved by application of the whole milk diet to growing rats in the course of 50 days. Three distinct responses of cytosolic and mitochondrial aconitases as well as of antioxidant defense system (CuZnSOD, MnSOD, catalase and GSH) to the dietary copper- and iron deficiency were established in liver, kidney and heart from experimental rats. The results were discussed with a view to the participation of ROS-generating processes in copper- and iron-deficient state.

Studies on paraquat-induced oxidative stress in rat liver.

Oxidative injury of liver was studied 20 hr after a single oral administration of 150 mg/kg paraquat (PQ) to rats. PQ exerted no effect on cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity but increased mitochondrial SOD activity by 14%. The level of GSH was decreased by 30%, and GSH/GSSG ratio was diminished almost twice.

Aconitase activity in rat liver.

This paper presents data about the subcellular distribution of aconitases in rat liver and some properties of the aconitase activity in cytosol, mitochondria and soluble mitochondrial protein (SMP). The cytosolic and mitochondrial aconitase activity was 64.8% or 61.

[The electron microscopic study of the cytoplast mitochondria of an ESK cell culture after the action of actinomycin D. Embryonic swine kidney].

The inhibitor of RNA synthesis actinomycin D substantially changed mitochondrial morphology and ultrastructure of cytoplasts in comparison with mitochondria of intact cells. These changes included an increase of matrix condensation, the number of cristae, and extension of intercristal and intracristal spaces. We suggest that mitochondria are characterized by significant independence from the nucleus that possibly controls a considerable part of mitochondrial RNA.

Immunoelectron microscopic study of the distribution of porin on outer membranes of rat heart mitochondria.

The distribution of porin on the outer membranes of rat heart mitochondria has been studied by means of immunogold labelling with antibodies to the N-terminal part of the human protein. It was found that only a minority of isolated, unfixed mitochondria are labelled by these antibodies, with the gold particles frequently organized in threads or bands. Extensive immunogold labelling is frequently observed on regions of outer membranes stripped away from mitochondria and on regions separating two mitochondrial compartments whose cristae display different configurations (possibly representing two mitoplasts covered by a common outer membrane).

[Current problems of microbial safety of the interior environment of orbital stations after extended period of operation].

The authors give considerations to one of the core hygienic problems arising in the process of long-term operation of orbital stations, i.e. ensuring microbial health of the milieu interior.

[Detection of porin in inter-mitochondrial contacts].

The binding of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the N-terminal part of VDAC with freshly isolated, unfixed rat heart mitochondria has been studied. It was established that mAb do not react with the main portion of the mitochondria. At the same time, successful binding to some of those was observed.

Do indomethacin and cimetidine or Cu(cimetadine)2 affect the nature of superoxide dismutase activity in the liver of copper-deficient rats?

1. Control and copper-deficient rats were treated with: (i) indomethacin; (ii) indomethacin in the presence of cimetidine; and (iii) indomethacin in the presence of Cu(cimetidine)2. The levels of copper, zinc and manganese as well as the nature of superoxide dismutase activity in the liver were studied.

Liver superoxide dismutases after copper deficiency and/or indomethacin treatment of rats.

Copper deficiency in rats resulted in a decrease of liver cytosolic and lysosomal CuZnSOD activity (by 71% and by 55%, respectively) and in an increase of mitochondrial MnSOD (by 185%). The content of copper and zinc decreased by 64% and 38%, respectively, and that of manganese increased by 47%. Cytosolic CuZnSOD activity, both in control and copper-deficient rats, increased (by 71.