Holes in the Nuclear Membrane as an Illustration of Gaps in the Understanding of the Biology by Biologists.

At the moment, the conditions are in place to describe how to construct nuclear pores and how they work, missing only real understanding of process. The DNA-RNA-protein paradigm proposed by Crick 53 years ago (Symp Soc Exp Biol 12:138-163, 1958; Nature 227:561-563, 1970) severely hampers our understanding of nuclear pore structure and assembly because the problem lies outside paradigm. DNA in this scheme only plays the role of information storage from which information is transferred to RNA, then from RNA to proteins after which proteins perform all of the functions in the cell.

Isolation of chromatin DNA tightly bound to the nuclear envelope of HeLa cells.

Recent discovery of the role of nuclear pores in transcription, predicted by our early DNA-membrane complex (DMC) model, makes membrane-bound DNA (MBD) isolation from the cell nucleus and analysis of the MBD actual. The method of MBD isolation proposed by us retains DMC integrity during isolation. We used HeLa cells for DMC extraction.

The mechanism of a nuclear pore assembly: a molecular biophysics view.

The basic problem of nuclear pore assembly is the big perinuclear space that must be overcome for nuclear membrane fusion and pore creation. Our investigations of ternary complexes: DNA-PC liposomes-Mg²⁺, and modern conceptions of nuclear pore structure allowed us to introduce a new mechanism of nuclear pore assembly. DNA-induced fusion of liposomes (membrane vesicles) with a single-lipid bilayer or two closely located nuclear membranes is considered.

[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.

Investigation of ternary complexes: DNA-phosphatidylcholine liposomes-Mg2+ by freeze-fracture method and their role in the formation of some cell structures.

Long-term investigations of ternary complexes: DNA-zwitterionic liposomes-divalent metal cations have revealed many details of their structure; but some questions need additional study. The conditions under which fusion or aggregation of liposomes occurs during such complex formation remain obscure. The DNA structure in the ternary complex is still unclear.