Adeno-associated viral tools to trace neural development and connectivity across amphibians.

Amphibians, by virtue of their phylogenetic position, provide invaluable insights on nervous system evolution, development, and remodeling. The genetic toolkit for amphibians, however, remains limited. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) are a powerful alternative to transgenesis for labeling and manipulating neurons.

Desert Ants Learn to Avoid Pitfall Traps While Foraging.

Central-place foragers, such as social insects or nesting birds, repeatedly use the same routes from and to their nests when foraging for food. Such species forage more efficiently after accumulating experience. We examined, here, a relatively neglected aspect of such an improvement with experience-the avoidance of pitfall traps.

The HydS C-terminal domain of the Thiocapsa bogorovii HydSL hydrogenase is involved in membrane anchoring and electron transfer.

Thiocapsa bogorovii BBS (former name Thiocapsa roseopersicina) contains HydSL hydrogenase belonging to 1e subgroup of NiFe hydrogenases (isp-type). The operon of these hydrogenases contains gene for small subunit (hydS), gene for large subunit (hupL), and genes isp1 and isp2 between them. It is predicted that last two genes code electron transport careers for electron transfer from/to HydSL hydrogenase.

[Immunoregulatory proteins and cytokines in the blood of patients with Graves' disease].

Background: Immunoregulatory proteins (alpha-2-macroglobulin, lactoferrin) actively participate in inflammatory and autoimmune processes, affect synthesis and transport of hormones and cytokines, and control cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease (GD) is poorly understood. Objective - the study objective was to determine blood levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2-MG), lactoferrin (LF), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ) in GD.

Interaction of HydSL hydrogenase from Thiocapsa roseopersicina with cyanide leads to destruction of iron-sulfur clusters.

The effects of cyanide on enzymatic activity and absorption spectra in the visible and mid-IR (2150-1850cm) regions were characterized for purified HydSL hydrogenase from the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa (T.) roseopersicina BBS. Prolonged incubation (over hours) of T.

[Interaction of Membrane and Calcium Oscillators in Cardiac Pacemaker Cells: Mathematical Modeling].

An integrative model of the calcium dynamics in cardiac pacemaker cells is developed taking into account a synergetic effect of the interaction between an outer membrane oscillator and an intracellular calcium oscillator ("membrane and Ca(2+)-clock"). The main feature of the model is a description of the stochastic dynamics of Ca2+ release units within the electron-conformational mechanism of the functioning of ryanodine-sensitive calcium channels. It is shown that interaction of two cellular oscillators provides a stable action potential generation in the cardiac pacemaker cells even in the case of the stochastic Ca2+ dynamics.

[The regulatory transport proteins in diagnostic and prognosis of preeclampsia].

The article considers the results of analysis of content of regulative transport proteins in blood serum and urine of pregnant women (term III) in case of uncomplicated pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia and eclampsia for elaborating their pathogenic role and evaluating prognostic significance. It is established that the more severe eclampsia is the higher is the level of a2-macroglobulin and the lower is the content of lactoferrin in blood. At that, excretion of a2-macroglobulin and albumin with urine increases with aggravation of severity of processes and in urine is detected a1-antitrypsin previously undetected.

Preparation of Hydrogenase and Viologen-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Composites for Electrochemical Oxidation of Hydrogen.

Bionanocomposites of hydrogenase and viologen-functionalized carbon nanotubes (H2ase/V-MWNTs) were prepared and characterized by using infrared spectra and scanning electron microscope. Cyclic voltammograms revealed two couples of redox waves corresponded to the electron transfer processes of viologens and [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ clusters of hydrogenase. The current intensity was enhanced in the H2 atmosphere, which suggested that the present bio-nanocomposites could be used as heterogeneous bio-catalyst to catalyze reversible reaction between protons and H2.

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Enolase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus: Evidence for a Thermophilic Origin.

Enolase catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate during both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and is required by all three domains of life. Here, we report the purification and biochemical and structural characterization of enolase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus, a thermophilic anoxygenic phototroph affiliated with the green non-sulfur bacteria. The protein was purified as a homodimer with a subunit molecular weight of 46 kDa.

Pd(II)-Directed Encapsulation of Hydrogenase within the Layer-by-Layer Multilayers of Carbon Nanotube Polyelectrolyte Used as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Oxidation of Hydrogen.

A metal-directed assembling approach has been developed to encapsulate hydrogenase (H2ase) within a layer-by-layer (LBL) multilayer of carbon nanotube polyelectrolyte (MWNT-PVPMe), which showed efficient biocatalytic oxidation of H2 gas. The MWNT-PVPMe was prepared via a diazonium process and addition reactions with poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) and methyl iodide (MeI). The covalently attached polymers and organic substituents in the polyelectrolyte comprised 60-70% of the total weight.

[The influence of local and combined acute suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis on the serum lactoferrin and interleukin-8 levels in the children].

The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of isolated and combined acute suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis on the serum lactoferrin (LF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in the children. A total of 70 children at the age varying from 4 to 15 years were available for the examination. Twenty of them constituted the control group, 29 presented with acute suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis, in 21 cildren this condition was combined with frontitis, ethmoiditis, otitis, and adenoiditis.

Interaction of HydSL hydrogenase from the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina BBS with methyl viologen and positively charged polypeptides.

The effect of polypeptides having different charge on the activity of Thiocapsa roseopersicina HydSL hydrogenase was studied. Strong inhibition was shown for poly-L-lysine bearing positive charge. The inhibition was reversible and competitive to methyl viologen, an electron acceptor, in the reaction of hydrogen oxidation catalyzed by the hydrogenase.

Turning cellulose waste into electricity: hydrogen conversion by a hydrogenase electrode.

Hydrogen-producing thermophilic cellulolytic microorganisms were isolated from cow faeces. Rates of cellulose hydrolysis and hydrogen formation were 0.2 mM L(-1) h(-1) and 1 mM L(-1) h(-1), respectively.

[Protein components of innate immunity in protection from pathogenic invasion (literature review)].

System of innate immunity is a set of effector molecules and cells counteracting invasion of pathogens and their products. Alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2-MG) and lactoferrin (LF) play a significant role in primary protection of organism. A wide spectrum of transport and regulatory functions, high affinity to endocytosis receptor as well as structural features of these proteins allow them not only to effectively protect the organism during direct contact with pathogen but also to have an immunomodulatory impact on immunocompetent cells of adaptive immunity.

[Macroglobulin signaling system].

This review will focus on the systematization of knowledge about structure of macroglobulin signaling system, which includes macroglobulin family proteins (alpha-2-macroglobulin, alpha-2-glycoprotein, pregnancy associated plasma protein A), their receptors (LRP, grp78), ligands (proteinases, cytokines, hormones, lipids, et al.) transforming and transcriptional factors for regulation of macroglobulins synthesis. After reviewing the functions of macroglobulin signaling system, and mechanisms of their realization, we discuss the complex and significant role of this system in different physiological and pathological processes.

[The reactants of acute phase of inflammation and anti-inflammatory cytokines under various complications of cardiac infarction].

The article presents the results of analysis of blood serum from 60 patients (aged 58.9 +/- 1.5 years) with Q-genous complicated and non-complicated cardiac infarction.

[Macroglobulin family proteins in breast cancer].

Determined serum levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2-MG) and pregnancy-associate alpha-2-glycoprotein (a2-PAG) in 98 breast cancer patients stage I-IV prior to the special antitumor treatment. Statistically significant negative correlative dependence of the a2-PAG in the blood and lifetime of patients is proved. We believe that the definition of pre-treatment level of a serum a2-MG and a2-PAG concentrations for patients with breast cancer, can be used as an additional predictor of life expectancy.

Photo-induced H2 production by [NiFe]-hydrogenase from T. roseopersicina covalently linked to a Ru(II) photosensitizer.

The potential of hydrogen as a clean renewable fuel source and the finite reserves of platinum metal to be utilized in hydrogen production catalysts have provided the motivation for the development of non-noble metal-based solutions for catalytic hydrogen production. There are a number of microorganisms that possess highly efficient hydrogen production catalysts termed hydrogenases that generate hydrogen under certain metabolic conditions. Although hydrogenases occur in photosynthetic microorganisms, the oxygen sensitivity of these enzymes represents a significant barrier in directly coupling hydrogen production to oxygenic photosynthesis.

Demonstration of hydrogenase electrode operation in a bioreactor.

This work describes the first step towards combination of the bioreactor with a starch-degrading microbial consortium and hydrogenase electrode (HE) in one unit for electricity generation. For this purpose, the bioreactor for microbial fermentation was designed with a set of electrodes (pH-sensor, Ag|AgCl reference electrode, Pt-electrode, and HE) inside the bioreactor. Potentials of all electrodes and H(2) accumulation were monitored in the system under the precise pH control.

[Peculiaries of interactions between proteins of the macroglobulin family and with the endocytic receptors (a possible mechanism of transmembrane transfer)].

We have conducted a series of experiments, for specification of mechanisms which proteins of the macroglobulin family deliver regulatory substances inside of a cells. We have shown that all members of the family are not only compete for binding to proteinases, but also can interact with each other. We have confirmed that only a complex of alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2-MG) with proteinase is capable to react with the major endocytic receptor (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, LRP).

Langmuir-Blodgett films of pyridyldithio-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a support to immobilize hydrogenase.

Pyridylthio-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (pythio-MWNTs) have been prepared by a reaction of the oxidized MWNTs with S-(2-aminoethylthio)-2-thiopyridine hydrochloride. The obtained pythio-MWNTs nanocomposites formed stable floating monolayers at the air-water interface, which were transferred onto substrate surfaces by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Compositions and morphologies of the LB films were characterized by absorption, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectra as well as by scan electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

[Cytokine and acute phase inflammation reactant levels in men with myocardial infarction].

The role of cytokines, their putative transporters, and other acute phase reactants was studied in 17 men aged 57.2 +/- 9.6 yr with microfocal myocardial infarction (MI) and in 21 ones with macrofocal MI.

The use of tenoten (pediatric formulation) in the therapy of chronic tension-type headaches in children.

Tension-type headaches are the most common type of headaches in children. No effective treatment for this disease is developed yet. After treatment with tenoten, the number of days with headache in 9-17-years-old children decreased by 40.

[Various acute phase reactants in different types of proliferative diseases of the uterine appendages].

The authors examined serum in patients with ovarian cancer (OC; a disseminated process), ovarian cystadenoma (OCA), or external endometriosis (EM) before treatment and in apparently healthy females (a control) for the content of some acute-phase proteins and cytokines to clarify the specific features of changes in their concentrations in relation to the type of the proliferative process. It was shown that in OC, there were significant reductions in the levels of alpha2-macroglobulin (MG), plasmin (PL), alpha1-antitrypsin (AT) and statistically significantly increases in the content of lactoferrin (LF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, Ig, and the regulatory transport complex of P--M. In M, the concentrations of AT were lower and those of IL-6, IL-8, and PL-MG were higher (to a lesser degree than those in OC).

Hydrogen enhances nickel tolerance in the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina.

A common microbial strategy for detoxifying metals involves redox transformation which often results in metal precipitation and/or immobilization. In the present study, the influence of ionic nickel [Ni(II)] on growth of the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina was investigated. The results suggest that Ni(II) in the bulk medium at micromolar concentrations results in growth inhibition, specifically an increase in the lag phase of growth, a decrease in the specific growth rate, and a decrease in total protein concentration when compared to growth controls containing no added Ni(II).