Hydration Shells of DPPC Liposomes from the Point of View of Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy.

Analysis of structural and dynamic properties of water in suspensions of liposomes composed from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in three phase states (gel, rippled gel, liquid crystalline phase) by means of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in 0.3-3.3 THz range was conducted in the current work.

Effect of betulin and betulonic acid on isolated rat liver mitochondria and liposomes.

The paper considers the effects of plant triterpenoid betulin and its derivative betulonic acid on rat liver mitochondria and liposomes. It was found that betulonic acid and, to a lesser extent, betulin, activate mitochondrial respiration in states 2 and 4 and inhibit ADP- and DNP-stimulated (uncoupled) respiration. The effect of betulonic acid resulted in a significant decrease of the respiratory control and ADP/O ratios and decrease in Δψ.

First evidence of serotoninergic components in the nervous system of the monogenean Chimaericola leptogaster (Chimaericolidae, Polyopisthocotylea), a gill parasite of the relict holocephalan fish.

The localisation and distribution of the serotoninergic nerve elements was studied for the first time in the flatworm Chimaericola leptogaster (Leuckart, 1830) using immunocytochemical methodology and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The musculature was investigated by histochemical staining of actin filaments; scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the sensory structures on the worm's surface. Uniciliated, bi-ciliated and multiciliated sensory endings have been described on the worm's surface.

Membranotropic effects of ω-hydroxypalmitic acid and Ca on rat liver mitochondria and lecithin liposomes. Aggregation and membrane permeabilization.

The paper examines membranotropic Ca-dependent effects of ω-hydroxypalmitic acid (HPA), a product of ω-oxidation of fatty acids, on the isolated rat liver mitochondria and artificial membrane systems (liposomes). It was established that in the presence of Ca, HPA induced aggregation of liver mitochondria, which was accompanied by the release of cytochrome c from the organelles. It was further demonstrated that the addition of Ca to HPA-containing liposomes induced their aggregation and/or fusion.

Study of the mechanism of permeabilization of lecithin liposomes and rat liver mitochondria by the antimicrobial drug triclosan.

The effect of the antimicrobial compound triclosan (5-chloro-2'-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) on the permeability of lecithin liposomes and rat liver mitochondria was studied. It was found that triclosan was able to increase nonspecific permeability of liposomes in a dose-dependent manner, which was detected by the release of the fluorescent probe sulforhodamine B (SRB) from vesicles. A partial release of SRB occurs instantly at the moment of triclosan addition, which is followed by a slow leakage of the dye.

A Study of the Effect of a Protein on the Structure of Water in Solution Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy.

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to determine the spectra (range = 1.2-120 cm) of aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH range 2.5-10.

Extrathymic production of thymulin induced by oxidative stress, heat shock, apoptosis, or necrosis.

Thymic peptides are immune regulators produced mainly in the thymus. However, thymic peptides such as thymosin-α and thymopoietin have precursors widely expressed outside the thymus, localized in cell nuclei, and involved in vital nuclear functions. In stress-related conditions, they can relocalize.

Terahertz Spectroscopy Applied for Investigation of Water Structure.

The absorption spectra of liquid water and various aqueous solutions were analyzed in a terahertz frequency domain (from 6 to 200 cm(-1)) which characterize the collective dynamics of water molecules. Particular attention was paid to the relaxation process in the range of ∼6-80 cm(-1). The physical essence of this process on the molecular level is still unclear.