[The role of the components of the renin-angiotensin system in the ocular tissues in norm and pathology].

Different components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), whose content and activity are predetermined by local factors, are generated in the ocular tissue structures. The local eye RAS plays an important role in pathogenesis of different eye diseases and in the local manifestations of general pathological processes. Therefore, a study of the eye RAS components in norm and in disease contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of eye diseases and opens up new possibilities for an adequate treatment.

[Phase transition in the matrix as a regulator of enzymatic activity of proteinases].

The kinetic behavior of proteolytic enzymes immobilized in thermosensitive hydrogels was studied at the phase transition (collapse) of the carriers. The dependence of the activity of immobilized enzymes on the state of the matrix allows the use of the hydrogel phase transition to regulate the activity of immobilized enzymes. Several cases of such regulation were demonstrated.

[Structure and biological properties of a conjugate of Bowman-Birk type soy proteinase inhibitor with a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide].

The structure of the conjugate of Bowman-Birk soybean proteinase inhibitor (BBI) with the block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (proxanol) containing five moles of proxanol per mole of protein, has been studied. Data from reverse phase hydrophobic HPLC suggest that the conjugate is less hydrophobic compared to native BBI. A shift of the second derivative UV absorption spectrum for the conjugate towards the shortwave region indicates a greater accessibility of the Tyr-59 residue localized in the interdomain region of the BBI molecule for the solvent.

[Inhibition of elastin hydrolysis, catalyzed by human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G, by the Bowman-Birk type soy inhibitor].

Cathepsin G stimulates the hydrolysis of elastin from bovine neck ligament catalyzed by human leukocyte elastase. Stimulation factor depends on the ratio of the enzyme concentrations and ionic strength and equals 1.0-2.

[Determination of solvent accessibility of residues of aromatic amino acids in proteins using the second derivative of the UV-absorption spectrum].

A new method for determining the solvent accessibility of tyrosine and tryptophan residues in proteins from the wavelengths of absorption peak maxima in secondary derivatives of UV absorption spectra has been developed. Analytical expressions for calculating the number of groups in latent and exposed states of amino acid residues in protein globules were obtained on the basis of the previously elaborated mathematical model of spectral changes observed during the transition between those respective states. The new procedure was used to analyze sixteen proteins and showed a good correlation between the experimental results and literary data.