Six catalytic activities and cytotoxicity of immunoglobulin G and secretory immunoglobulin A from human milk.

In the milk of healthy women, antibodies were found with different catalytic activities (abzymes), which are absent in the sera of other healthy people. Moreover, it was previously shown that DNase antibodies-abzymes of patients with autoimmune diseases are cytotoxic to cancer cells. In this work, it was first shown that IgG and secretory IgA (sIgA) do not possess embryotoxicity; they practically do not affect the development of fertilized eggs of sea urchins but demonstrate sperm toxicity.

New dihydrobenzofuranoid from the marine-derived fungus KMM 4664.

One new dihydrobenzofuran derivative (), known depsipeptide emericellamide A (), three known drimanes () and two artifact drimane derivatives (, ) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus KMM 4664. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and by comparison with related known compounds. The absolute configuration of was determined by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations of ECD spectra.

Effects of Carrageenans on Biological Properties of Echinochrome.

Sea urchin pigment echinochrome A (Ech), a water-insoluble compound, is the active substance in the cardioprotective and antioxidant drug Histochrome (PIBOC FEB RAS, Moscow, Russia). It has been established that Ech dissolves in aqueous solutions of carrageenans (CRGs). Herein, we describe the effects of different types of CRGs on some properties of Ech.

Extremely stable high molecular mass soluble multiprotein complex from eggs of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius with phosphatase activity.

It was proposed that most biological processes are performed by different protein complexes. In contrast to individual proteins and enzymes, their complexes usually have other biological functions, and their formation may be important system process for the expansion of diversity and biological functions of different molecules. Identification and characterization of embryonic components including proteins and their multiprotein complexes seem to be very important for an understanding of embryo function.

Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent DNase involvement in apoptotic effects in spermatozoa of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius induced by two-headed sphingolipid rhizochalin.

Previously, we have purified three distinct DNases from spermatozoa of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius and we suppose the role of Ca(2+), Mg(2+)-dependent DNase (Ca, Mg-DNase) in apoptosis of spermatozoa. Two-headed sphingolipid rhizochalin (Rhz) induced characteristic apoptotic nuclear chromatin changes, internucleosomal DNA cleavage, and activation of caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 in spermatozoa as was shown by fluorescence Hoechst 33342/PI/FDA analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and fluorescence caspase inhibitors FAM-LEHD-fmk, FAM-IETD-fmk, and FAM-DEVD-fmk, respectively. Inhibitor of caspase-3 z-DEVD-fmk subdued Rhz-induced internucleosomal ladder formation, which confirmed the major role of caspase-3 in apoptotic DNA cleavage probably through Ca, Mg-DNase activation.

Isolation, characterization and molecular cloning of duplex-specific nuclease from the hepatopancreas of the Kamchatka crab.

Background: Nucleases, which are key components of biologically diverse processes such as DNA replication, repair and recombination, antiviral defense, apoptosis and digestion, have revolutionized the field of molecular biology. Indeed many standard molecular strategies, including molecular cloning, studies of DNA-protein interactions, and analysis of nucleic acid structures, would be virtually impossible without these versatile enzymes. The discovery of nucleases with unique properties has often served as the basis for the development of modern molecular biology methods.