[Low-Molecular Thiols as a Factor Improving the Sensitivity of Escherichia coli Mutants with Impaired ADP-Heptose Synthesis to Antibiotics].

Low molecular-weight thiols as glutathione and cysteine are an important part of the cell's redox regulation system. Previously, we have shown that inactivation of ADP-heptose synthesis in Escherichia coli with a gmhA deletion induces the oxidative stress. It is accompanied by rearrangement of thiol homeostasis and increased sensitivity to antibiotics.

Enhancement of the Bactericidal Effect of Antibiotics by Inhibition of Enzymes Involved in Production of Hydrogen Sulfide in Bacteria.

Counteraction of the origin and distribution of multidrug-resistant pathogens responsible for intra-hospital infections is a worldwide issue in medicine. In this brief review, we discuss the results of our recent investigations, which argue that many antibiotics, along with inactivation of their traditional biochemical targets, can induce oxidative stress (ROS production), thus resulting in increased bactericidal efficiency. As we previously showed, hydrogen sulfide, which is produced in the cells of different pathogens protects them not only against oxidative stress but also against bactericidal antibiotics.

[Enhancement of the Bactericidal Effect of Antibiotics by Inhibition of Enzymes Involved in Production of Hydrogen Sulfide in Bacteria].

Counteraction of the origin and distribution of multidrug-resistant pathogens responsible for intra-hospital infections is a worldwide issue in medicine. In this brief review, we discuss the results of our recent investigations, which argue that many antibiotics, along with inactivation of their traditional biochemical targets, can induce oxidative stress (ROS production), thus resulting in increased bactericidal efficiency. As we previously showed, hydrogen sulfide, which is produced in the cells of different pathogens protects them not only against oxidative stress but also against bactericidal antibiotics.

[Inactivation of Terminal Oxidase bd-I Leads to Supersensitivity of E. coli to Quinolone and Beta-Lactam Antibiotics].

In cells of Escherichia coli, terminal oxidase bd-I encoded by the cydAB gene catalyzes the reduction of O2 to water using hydroquinone as an electron donor. In addition to the cydAB operon, two other genes, cydC and cydD, encoding the heterodimeric ATP-binding cassette-type transporter are essential for the assembly of cytochrome bd-I. It was shown that inactivation of cytochrome bd-I by the introduction of cydB or cydD deletions into the E.

Compressional wave velocity measurements on mafic-ultramafic rocks under high aqueous fluid pressure and temperature help to explain low-velocity zones in the lithosphere.

Deep seismic studies have revealed that low-velocity zones mainly occurred in the continental lithosphere at the depth of 100-150 km. Their origin has not been clearly explained yet. The article demonstrates the possible scale of Vp changes in crystalline rocks of different composition.

Exceptional Concentrations of Gold Nanoparticles in 1,7 Ga Fluid Inclusions From the Kola Superdeep Borehole, Northwest Russia.

In the drill core of the Kola super-deep borehole (SG-3, 12,262 m depth) gold-bearing rocks of Archaean age have been located at depths of 9,500 to 11,000 m. In veins, between 9,052 and 10,744 m, within this gold zone, quartz contains fluid inclusions with gold nanoparticles. There are 4 types of fluid inclusions (1) gas inclusions of dense CO, (2) liquid-vapor two-phase aqueous inclusions, (3) three-phase inclusions with NaCl daughter crystals, and (4) CO-aqueous inclusions.

Acadesine Triggers Non-apoptotic Death in Tumor Cells.

We studied the cytotoxicity of acadesine (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside) for tumor and normal cells of various species and tissue origin. In tumor cells, acadesine triggered non-apoptotic death; the potency of the compound to normal cells was substantially lower. Acadesine was toxic for tumor cells with multidrug resistant phenotypes caused by the transmembrane transporter Р-glycoprotein or lack of proapoptotic p53.

[Mutation analysis of the purine operon leader region in Bacillus subtilis].

Expression of Bacillus subtilis purine (purE) operon is a subject of double negative control involving repressor protein PurR and a transcription terminator located in the operon leader region. We have performed site-directed mutagenesis of the specific motives, which are involved in formation of alternative hairpin structures, one of which produces transcription termination at the leader region ofpurEoperon. In vivo and in vitro analyses of the generated mutants have shown that purine bases, guanine and hypoxantine, serve as effector metabolites capable of increasing stability of terminating hairpin within the leader mRNA.

Reconstruction of Purine Metabolism in Bacillus subtilis to Obtain the Strain Producer of AICAR: A New Drug with a Wide Range of Therapeutic Applications.

AICAR is a natural compound, an analogue and precursor of adenosine. As activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), AICAR has a broad therapeutic potential, since it normalizes the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells. The synthesis of AICAR inBacillus subtiliscells is controlled by the enzymes of purine biosynthesis; their genes constituting purine operon (pur-operon).

[Mutations altering the specificity of the sensor RNA encoded by the Bacillus subtilis pbuE gene].

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to study the leader region of the Bacillus subtilis pbuE gene, which codes for adenine-specific sensor RNA. Two nucleotide substitutions, 70U --> C and A100 --> G, in the conserved region (A box) of the leader changed the specificity of the sensor RNA in vivo: guanine acted as a positive transcription effector in place of adenine.