Effect of Poly(methacrylic acid) on the Cytokine Level in an In Vivo Tumor Model.

Unlabelled: Cancer is a leading cause of mortality globally. Despite remarkable improvements in cancer-treatment approaches, disease recurrence and progression remain major obstacles to therapy. While chemotherapy is still a first-line treatment for a variety of cancers, the focus has shifted to the development and application of new approaches to therapy.

Insight into redox regulation of apoptosis in cancer cells with multiparametric live-cell microscopy.

Cellular redox status and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important regulators of apoptotic potential, playing a crucial role in the growth of cancer cell and their resistance to apoptosis. However, the relationships between the redox status and ROS production during apoptosis remain poorly explored. In this study, we present an investigation on the correlations between the production of ROS, the redox ratio FAD/NAD(P)H, the proportions of the reduced nicotinamide cofactors NADH and NADPH, and caspase-3 activity in cancer cells at the level of individual cells.

Immunopharmacological Properties of Methacrylic Acid Polymers as Potential Polymeric Carrier Constituents of Anticancer Drugs.

Cytostatic chemotherapeutics provide a classical means to treat cancer, but conventional treatments have not increased in efficacy in the past years, warranting a search for new approaches to therapy. The aim of the study was, therefore, to obtain methacrylic acid (MAA) (co)polymers and to study their immunopharmacological properties. 4-Cyano-4-[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl] pentanoic acid (CDSPA) and 2-cyano-2-propyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate (CPDT) were used as reversible chain transfer agents.

FUCCI-Red: a single-color cell cycle indicator for fluorescence lifetime imaging.

The phase of the cell cycle determines numerous aspects of cancer cell behaviour including invasiveness, ability to migrate and responsiveness to cytotoxic drugs. To non-invasively monitor progression of cell cycle in vivo, a family of genetically encoded fluorescent indicators, FUCCI (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator), has been developed. Existing versions of FUCCI are based on fluorescent proteins of two or more different colors fused to cell-cycle-dependent degradation motifs.

Tumor-associated macrophages: Role in the pathological process of tumorigenesis and prospective therapeutic use (Review).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current body of knowledge regarding tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their potential use in antitumor therapy, based on their role in the pathological process of tumorigenesis. For this purpose, a critical analysis of published data and summarization of the findings available from original studies, focusing on the role of TAMs in the pathological process, and their potential therapeutic application was performed. Promising key avenues of research were identified in this field.

A New Cofilin-Dependent Mechanism for the Regulation of Brain Mitochondria Biogenesis and Degradation.

Unlabelled: Was to study the role of post-translational modifications of cofilin in the regulation of respiration and autophagy in murine brain mitochondria.

Materials And Methods: The experiments were performed with C57BL/6 mice. To obtain cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fractions of the brain tissue, differential centrifugation was used.

Participation of GABA Receptors of Parafacial Respiratory Group in the Regulation of Respiration in Rats.

The respiratory effects of microinjections of baclofen and 2-hydroxysaclofen into the parafacial respiratory group were studied in experiments on rats. It was shown that activation of GABA receptors of the parafacial respiratory group suppressed external respiration due to a decrease in the tidal volume and inspiratory flow rate. In parallel, we observed a decrease in the amplitude and an increase in the duration of inspiratory bursts of the diaphragm.

The Administration of the New Pyrimidine Derivative-4-{2-[2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-Vinyl]-6-Ethyl-4-Oxo-5-Phenyl-4H-Pyrimidine-1-Il}Benzsulfamide Restores the Activity of Brain Cells in Experimental Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy by Maintaining Mitochondrial Function.

To evaluate the effect of a new pyrimidine derivative on the change of mitochondrial function in experimental chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The study was performed on male mice of the BALB/c line (acute toxicity was assessed) and male rats of the Wistar line, which were modeled chronic traumatic encephalopathy by the method of free fall of the load (weight 150 g from a 50 cm height). The injury to rats was reproduced once a day for 7 days.

Role of GABA Receptors of Parafacial Respiratory Group in Control of Respiration in Rats.

The role of GABAergic inhibition in the regulation of activity of the parafacial respiratory group was studied on narcotized mature rats. Microinjections of GABA agonist muscimol into the parafacial respiratory group inhibited external respiration and bioelectrical activity of the diaphragmatic muscle resulting in diminished tidal volume and decreased respiration rate accompanied by prolonged inspiration, expiration, and intervals between the inspiratory bursts in the phrenic electromyogram. In contrast, microinjections of GABA antagonist bicuculline into this group stimulated respiration and markedly increased its volumetric parameters.

[Investigation of mechanisms of interaction between inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus and the matrices of ion-exchange resins and fiber].

It is established that ion exchange resins AV-17-2P, KU-2, AV-16-GS, AM 21A, IMAC-HP, PUROLITE and fiber VION KN-1 can be applied as carriers for inulinase immobilization. The analysis of IR spectra for an enzyme, carriers and heterogeneous enzyme preparations showed that inulinase binding to matrices of various carriers occurs in general through electrostatic interactions. It is assumed that the mechanisms of interaction between inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus and the matrices of cation- and anion exchange polymers differ essentially from each other: different sites of protein molecule take part in adsorption that causes various conformational reorganizations in an enzyme molecule.

[Inulinases from various producers: the features of their permolecular organization].

The structural organization of inulinases from yeasts, fungi, and plants are researched. For studying their sizes, molecular weight, and permolecular organization, an approach consisting of a combination of atomic force microscopy with methods of dynamic light scattering, gel chromatography, and electrophoresis was used. It is shown that inulinases from Kluyveromyces marxianus and Aspergillus niger form geterodimers and inulinases from tubers of Helianthus tuberosus are present as both dimers and monomers.

[Structural and functional properties of inulinases. Ways to regulate their activity].

The presented review is devoted to the analysis of structural and functional properties of inulinases from various producers. A special attention is given to the questions of molecular and permolecular organization of enzymes, description of their functional features depending upon their structural conditions and in various microenvironment. Perspectives of the development of biotechnological processes with the use of free and immobilized inulinases are discussed from a biophysical viewpoint.

[Influence of UV-radiation on physical-chemical and functional properties of free immobilized glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori].

The effect of UV light (240-390 nm) at the doses of 151-1510 J/m2 on the catalytic activity of free and im- mobilized glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori was investigated. It was established that the loss of catalytic activity of the enzyme was associated with photochemical transformations of Trp-120, which is part of the active site of glucoamylase. It was shown that the use of collagen as a carrier for immobilization of glucoamylase reduces the constant photoinactivation of the enzyme.

[The surgical correction of vascular tracheal rings in children].

The aortic arch and its branches anomalia compound 1-3.8% of all vessel inborn diseases. The treatment of such anomalia as tracheal vessel ring aims the liquidation of esophageal and tracheal compression.

Immobilization of lipase on poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone).

Immobilization of lipase from Rhizopus niveus on poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) was carried out and optimal conditions for manifestation of catalytic activity of this enzyme were determined. Kinetic aspects of substrate hydrolysis by free and immobilized lipase were studied.

[Investigation of permolecular structure of lipase from Rhizopus niveus].

It has been shown by classical biophysical and biochemical methods in combination with atomic microscopy that lipase from Rhizopus niveus exists in a water solution as a dimer with a molecular weight of 96 kDa. The rate of splitting of triglycerides by a dimeric molecules is twice that of monomers. The heat stability of the monomeric form of lipase at temperatures of 20-60 degrees C is significantly higher than that of the native molecule.

[Thermal inactivation of free and immobilized inulinase].

Thermal inactivation of the Kluyveromyces marxianus inulinase in a free form and immobilized on VION KN-1 cation exchange fiber was studied. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated an oligomeric structure of this enzyme, composed of two subunits differing in their size. It was assumed that the intersubunit contacts were destroyed at 60 degrees C, and the inulinase molecule dissociated into two monomers located separately.

[Oligomeric structure and physicochemical properties of inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus Y-303].

It has been found using a combination of atomic force microscopy with infrared spectroscopy, gel chromatography, and electrophoresis that inulinase from Kluyveromyces marxianus Y-303 has oligomeric structure, which includes two subunits differing in size, molecular mass, and catalytic activity. It has been shown that the division of the inulinase dimer into monomers leads to an increase in the number of irregular sites by 6% for subunit 1 (54.8 kDa) and by 10% for subunit 2 (8.

Inulinase immobilization on macroporous anion-exchange resins by different methods.

Inulinase was immobilized on AV-16-GS macroporous anion-exchange resin by physical and chemical methods. Binding of the enzyme to the carrier by the studied methods led to a shift of catalysis optimal temperature towards higher values and to extension of the range of optimum pH values. Our modification of glutaraldehyde method of inulinase immobilization increased catalytic activity of the preparation in comparison with the common glutaraldehyde method.

Evaluation of the number of ionogenic groups of inulinase by acid-base titration.

Acid base titration showed that Aspergillus awamori inulinase includes 178 asparaginic and glutamic acid residues, 20 histidine, 10 serine, and 34 lysine and tyrosine residues. Denaturation temperature for this enzyme was calculated using analysis of the proportion of stabilizing and destabilizing amino acids in the molecule.

Computer-aided analysis of spatial structure of some hydrolytic enzymes.

Using the MolScript version 2.1 computer program for protein molecule modeling and X-ray structure analysis data the spatial structures of several hydrolytic enzymes have been compared. These include glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori and Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and lipases from Rhizopus japonicus.

[Consumption of the triazine herbicide atrazine by laccase and laccase-free variants of the soil fungus Mycelia sterilia INBI-2-26].

Asporogenic fungus Mycelia sterilia INBI 2-26 isolated from tropical soils with high residual dioxin content (as a result of Agent Orange defoliant treatment during the Vietnamese-American war) and capable of atrazine decomposition was treated to obtain protoplasts. This technique resulted in isolation of laccase-positive and laccase-negative clones. Atrazine consumption by liquid surface cultures of Mycelia sterilia INBI 2-26 was monitored by using enzyme immune assay and reversed phase HPLC.

[Kinetic-thermodynamic aspects of catalysis of polysaccharides by native end immobilized amylases].

It was shown that covalent immobilization of 1.4-alpha-glucanohydrolase (glucoamylase) and 2.1-beta-D-fructanfructanohydrolase (inulase) on ionites leads to an increase in the activation energy Eact of hydrolysis of polysaccharides and a change in entalphy delta H as compared with native enzymes.