Stable Aqueous Colloidal Solutions of Nd: LaF Nanoparticles, Promising for Luminescent Bioimaging in the Near-Infrared Spectral Range.

Two series of stable aqueous colloidal solutions of Nd: LaF single-phase well-crystallized nanoparticles (NPs), possessing a fluorcerite structure with different activator concentrations in each series, were synthesized. A hydrothermal method involving microwave-assisted heating (HTMW) in two Berghof speedwave devices equipped with one magnetron (type I) or two magnetrons (type II) was used. The average sizes of NPs are 15.

A Comparative Study to Decipher the Structural and Dynamics Determinants Underlying the Activity and Thermal Stability of GH-11 Xylanases.

With the growing need for renewable sources of energy, the interest for enzymes capable of biomass degradation has been increasing. In this paper, we consider two different xylanases from the GH-11 family: the particularly active GH-11 xylanase from , Xyn11A, and the hyper-thermostable mutant of the environmentally isolated GH-11 xylanase, Xyn11. Our aim is to identify the molecular determinants underlying the enhanced capacities of these two enzymes to ultimately graft the abilities of one on the other.

[An Overlap between Splicing Sites in RNA and Homo-Repeats in Human Proteins].

Proteins with homo-repeats of more than 4 amino acid residues in length were examined to understand whether some splicing sites in pre-mRNA may be attributed to homo-repeats in human proteins. The human proteome was found to contain a total of 404 proteins with homo-repeats that account for at least one splicing site in pre-mRNA. Pre-mRNA splicing sites were more often found in the C-terminal part (67%) than in the middle orN-terminal part of a homo-repeat.

Odorant Receptor 7D4 Activation Dynamics.

Deciphering how an odorant activates an odorant receptor (OR) and how changes in specific OR residues affect its responsiveness are central to understanding our sense of smell. A joint approach combining site-directed mutagenesis and functional assays with computational modeling has been used to explore the signaling mechanics of OR7D4. In this OR, a genetic polymorphism affects our perception of androstenone.

[STAGES OF OPIOID THERAPY OF CHRONIC PAIN IN RUSSIA: ANCIENT AND COMING].

There is history of the introduction and development of systemic and invasive opioid treatment of chronic cancer pain in Russia presented by the authors--experts with experience in thisfield over 30 years. The earliest researchers are no more among us, but their memory is still alive in the publications of the early 1980's. Along with the analysis of accumulated by Russian specialists positive clinical experience of opioids using, authors discuss main problems of organization and availability of adequate opioid therapy of chronic pain in Russia.

[Influence of the orthosteric ligands binding on the conformational dynamics of the B-2-adrenergic receptor by means of essential dynamics sampling simulation].

The influence of binding of the orthosteric ligands on the conformational dynamics of the beta-2-adrenoreceptor was identified using the molecular dynamics method. It was found that there was alittle fraction of the active states of the receptor in its apo (ligand free) ensemble. Analysis of the MD trajectories indicated that such spontaneous activation of the receptor is accompanied by the motion of its VI helix.

Investigation of the influence of external factors on the conformational dynamics of rhodopsin-like receptors by means of molecular dynamics simulation.

The study reports about the influence of binding of orthosteric ligands on the conformational dynamics of β-2-adrenoreceptor. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we found that there was a little fraction of active states of the receptor in its apo (ligand-free) ensemble. Analysis of MD trajectories indicated that such spontaneous activation of the receptor is accompanied by the motion in intracellular part of its alpha-helices.

[Investigation of the conformational dynamics of the adenosine A2A receptor by means of molecular dynamics simulation].

In this work structural behavior of apo form of the adenosine A2A receptor in the implicit membrane-mimicking environment was investigated by means of molecular dynamics (MD) technique. For better interpretation of the obtained data they were analyzed using principal components analysis. The principal components analysis technique was applied to both MD snapshots as well as X-ray structures of the adenosine receptor.

[Functionally-relevant conformational dynamics of water-soluble proteins].

A study is reported of the functional-relevant dynamics of three typical water-soluble proteins: Calmodulin, Src-tyrosine kinase as well as repressor of Trp operon. Application of the state-of-art methods of structural bioinformatics allowed to identify dynamics seen in the X-ray structures of the investigated proteins associated with their specific biological functions. In addition, Normal Mode analysis technique revealed the most probable directions of the functionally-relevant motions for all that proteins were also predicted.

Study of structural dynamics of ligand-activated membrane receptors by means of principal component analysis.

The structural dynamics of three different ligand-activated G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the photoreactive receptor rhodopsin from mammals were comparatively studied. As a result, diagrams demonstrating the main structural differences between the studied membrane receptors were obtained. These diagrams represent the projection of the crystal structures of rhodopsin photointermediates and ligand-activated receptors onto the plane defined by the principal components.

Classification of rhodopsin structures by modern methods of structural bioinformatics.

We report a classification of the crystallographic structures of bovine and squid rhodopsins corresponding to different stages of their photocycles. Using the resource Protein (Structure) Comparison, Knowledge, Similarity, and Information server (ProCKSI, http://www.procksi.

Allozyme variability in populations of trout (Salmo trutta) from the rivers of Russia and Iran.

For the first time, an analysis was carried out of allozyme variability in trout (Salmo trutta) from three rivers of Iran. We studied 23 gene loci coding enzymes: glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AAT), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), malic enzyme [NADP-dependent MDH] (MEP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), esterase (EST), and esterase D (EST-D). The obtained data demonstrate the similarity between the trout samples from different rivers of Iran according to genetic characteristics.

[Effects and molecular mechanisms of the biological action of weak and extremely weak magnetic fields].

A number of effects of weak combined (static and alternating) magnetic fields with an alternating component of tens and hundreds nT at a collinear static field of 42 microT, which is equivalent to the geomagnetic field, have been found: the activation of fission and regeneration of planarians Dugesia tigrina, the inhibition of the growth of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice, the stimulation of the production of the tumor necrosis factor by macrophages, a decrease in the protection of chromatin against the action of DNase 1, and the enhancement of protein hydrolysis in systems in vivo and in vitro. The frequency and amplitude ranges for the alternating component of weak combined magnetic fields have been determined at which it affects various biological systems. Thus, the optimal amplitude at a frequency of 4.

[Effect of weak combined static and low-frequency alternating magnetic fields on the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice].

The parameters of the low-frequency (1, 4.4, 16.5 Hz or the sum of these frequencies) extremely weak (300, 100, 150-300 nT, according to frequencies) alternating component of combined magnetic fields have been found, which in combination with a weak collinear static constant field of 42 nT (the induction corresponds to the range of the geomagnetic field) has a marked antitumor activity.

Effect of weak combined static and extremely low-frequency alternating magnetic fields on tumor growth in mice inoculated with the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

It has been shown that the ultralow-frequency extremely weak alternating component of combined magnetic fields (MFs) exhibits a marked antitumor activity. The parameters of this component have been found (frequency 1, 4.4, 16.

[Morphofunctional characteristic of the rat distal spinal cord after its complete experimental section with subsequent treadbun training of the animal].

Motor activity of rats has been studied after complete experimental section of spinal cord at the lower thoracic level. A treadbun training performed one day after the operation has been shown to lead to the appearance of movement of hindlimbs and to restoration of function of support of the body weight. In our opinion, the key moment in initiation of locomotor movements is stimulation of foot.

[Selective effect of the duration of the critical temperature period on some allozyme loci of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. (Salmonidae)].

Genetic structure of juvenile fish from the populations of the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar inhabiting the rivers of Murmansk oblast, Arkhangelsk oblast, and Karelia, as well as of juveniles from hatcheries was examined at five allozymic loci: aspartate aminotransferase (AAT-4*), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHP-3*), iditol dehydrogenase (IDDH-2*), esterase D (ESTD*), and malic enzyme (MEP-2*). High genetic differentiation of both natural and "hatchery" juvenile fish was revealed. It was demonstrated that the gene pool of juveniles at three of the five loci tested was to a considerable degree formed by natural selection.