[Hsp70 Genes of the Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Parasitic Wasp].

Miniaturization is an evolutionary process that is widely represented in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Miniaturization frequently affects not only the size of the organism and its constituent cells, but also changes the genome structure and functioning. The structure of the main heat shock genes (hsp70 and hsp83) was studied in one of the smallest insects, the Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitic wasp, which is comparable in size with unicellular organisms.

Influence of dicarbonyls on kinetic characteristics of glutathione peroxidase.

Se-containing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) is one of the key enzymes of the body's antioxidant system. The kinetic characteristics of GSH-Px (substrate is tert-butyl hydroperoxide) after modification of the enzyme by various concentrations of natural dicarbonyls (glyoxal, methylglyoxal, malonic dialdehyde) were studied. It was shown that dicarbonyls affected both K and V for GSH-Px.

Overexpression of Adenylyl Cyclase Encoded by the Rv2212 Gene Confers Improved Fitness, Accelerated Recovery from Dormancy and Enhanced Virulence in Mice.

Earlier we demonstrated that the adenylyl cyclase (AC) encoded by the gene plays a key role in the resuscitation and growth of dormant and that overexpression of this gene leads to an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration and prevents the transition of from active growth to dormancy in an extended stationary phase accompanied by medium acidification. We surmised that the homologous gene of (), the main cAMP producer, plays similar physiological roles by supporting, under these conditions, the active state and reactivation of dormant bacteria. To test this hypothesis, we established strain overexpressing and compared its and growth characteristics with a control strain.

Whole-Genome Sequence and Methylome Analysis of the Freshwater Colorless Sulfur Bacterium D3.

In this report, we announce the availability of a whole-genome sequence and methylome analysis of strain D3.

Effects of Chitosan Derivative N-[(2-Hydroxy-3-Trimethylammonium)Propyl]Chloride on Anticoagulant Activity of Guinea Pig Plasma.

Intravenous injection of protamine sulfate or quarternized chitosan derivative to guinea pigs after injection of 70 aIIa U/kg non-fractionated heparin shortened plasma clotting time (shown by partial activated thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time). Intravenous injection of protamine sulfate or quarternized chitosan derivative to guinea pigs after injection of 1 mg/kg (100 aXa U/kg) low-molecular-weight heparin (clexane) led to shortening of plasma clotting time in the ReaClot Heparin test and to prolongation of plasma amidolytic activity in the factor Xa chromogenic substrate test.

Approaches to Controlled Co-Amplification of Genes for Production of Biopharmaceuticals: Study of the Insertion and Amplification Dynamics of Genetic Cassettes in the Genome of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells during Co-Expression of Compatible Pair of Plasmids.

Plasmid vector family p1.1 based on non-coding regions of Chinese hamster housekeeping gene EEF1A and concatemer of Epstein-Barr virus terminal repeat increases the frequency of genome integration and provides rapid amplification of the target genes in the genome. For a pair of fluorescent proteins eGFP and mCherry it was shown that p1.

Wheat germ agglutinin and Lens culinaris agglutinin sensitized anisotropic silver nanoparticles in detection of bacteria: A simple photometric assay.

Efficacy of anisotropic silver nanoparticles sensitized with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) was studied for detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It was demonstrated that interaction of these nanoparticles with bacteria stabilizes them and prevents their aggregation upon addition of sodium chloride; such stabilization depends on bacteria concentration. High concentration of bacteria results in higher stabilization whereas low concentration leads to aggregation of nanoparticles.

A change in the pathway of dithiothreitol-induced aggregation of bovine serum albumin in the presence of polyamines and arginine.

When studying the anti-aggregation activity of chemical chaperones, a kinetic regime of the aggregation process for selected test systems should be established. To elucidate the mechanism of suppression of protein aggregation by polyamines (putrescine, spermidine) and arginine, we used a test system based on dithiothreitol (DTT)-induced aggregation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 45°C (0.1M Na-phosphate buffer, pH 7.

A change in the aggregation pathway of bovine serum albumin in the presence of arginine and its derivatives.

Chemical chaperones including arginine and its derivatives are widely used by biochemists working on the design of agents, which are able to efficiently suppress protein aggregation. To elucidate the mechanisms of anti-aggregation activity of chemical chaperones, methods based on registration of the increment in light scattering intensity must be supplemented with methods for direct detection of the portion of aggregated protein (γ). For this purpose asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation was used in the present work.

Recent biotechnology developments and trends in the Russian Federation.

This paper addresses recent government initiatives in biotechnology and various federal and regional initiatives. It presents an overview of the most visible industrial biotechnology projects under implementation and highlights changes in legislation affecting development of the bioeconomy in the Russian Federation.

Site-directed mutagenesis of GH10 xylanase A from Penicillium canescens for determining factors affecting the enzyme thermostability.

In order to investigate factors affecting the thermostability of GH10 xylanase A from Penicillium canescens (PcXylA) and to obtain its more stable variant, the wild-type (wt) enzyme and its mutant forms, carrying single amino acid substitutions, were cloned and expressed in Penicillium verruculosum B1-537 (niaD-) auxotrophic strain under the control of the cbh1 gene promoter. The recombinant PcXylA-wt and I6V, I6L, L18F, N77D, Y125R, H191R, S246P, A293P mutants were successfully expressed and purified for characterization. The mutations did not affect the enzyme specific activity against xylan from wheat as well as its pH-optimum of activity.

Bacterial co-expression of human Tau protein with protein kinase A and 14-3-3 for studies of 14-3-3/phospho-Tau interaction.

Abundant regulatory 14-3-3 proteins have an extremely wide interactome and coordinate multiple cellular events via interaction with specifically phosphorylated partner proteins. Notwithstanding the key role of 14-3-3/phosphotarget interactions in many physiological and pathological processes, they are dramatically underexplored. Here, we focused on the 14-3-3 interaction with human Tau protein associated with the development of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Ribosome-bound Pub1 modulates stop codon decoding during translation termination in yeast.

In eukaryotes, termination of translation is controlled by polypeptide chain release factors eRF1 and eRF3, of which the former recognizes nonsense codons, while the latter interacts with eRF1 and stimulates polypeptide release from the ribosome in a GTP- dependent manner, and ABCE1, which facilitates ribosome recycling. In this work, we demonstrate that Pub1, a yeast protein known to be involved in stress granule formation, regulation of gene expression, and organization of the tubulin cytoskeleton, also plays a role in translation termination. Pub1 was shown to bind to ribosomes independent of eRF1 and eRF3 and to interact with the N-terminal glutamine-/asparagine-rich prion domain of eRF3 via its short C-terminal glutamine-rich tract.

Antiretroviral Activity Of a Novel Pyrimidyl-Di(Diazaspiroalkane) Derivative.

A novel compound, 3,3'-(5-nitropyrimidine-4,6-diyl)bis-3,12-diaza-6,9-diazoniadispiro[5.2.5.

Alkaline pH induces IRR-mediated phosphorylation of IRS-1 and actin cytoskeleton remodeling in a pancreatic beta cell line.

Secretion of mildly alkaline (pH 8.0-8.5) juice to intestines is one of the key functions of the pancreas.

Free Trehalose Accumulation in Dormant Cells and Its Breakdown in Early Resuscitation Phase.

Under gradual acidification of growth medium resulting in the formation of dormant , a significant accumulation of free trehalose in dormant cells was observed. According to H- and C-NMR spectroscopy up to 64% of total organic substances in the dormant cell extract was represented by trehalose whilst the trehalose content in an extract of active cells taken from early stationary phase was not more than 15%. Trehalose biosynthesis during transition to the dormant state is provided by activation of genes involved in the OtsA-OtsB and TreY-TreZ pathways (according to RT-PCR).

New yeast models for studying mitochondrial morphology as affected by oxidative stress and other factors.

The overwhelming majority of investigations on mitochondrial morphology were performed using S. cerevisiae. In this study we showed the benefits of applying new model organisms including petite-negative D.

Mathematical Model of Serodiagnostic Immunochromatographic Assay.

This article describes the mathematical model for an immunochromatographic assay for the detection of specific immunoglobulins against a target antigen (antibodies) in blood/serum (serodiagnosis). The model utilizes an analytical (non-numerical) approach and allows the calculation of the kinetics of immune complexes' formation in a continuous-flow system using commonly available software, such as Microsoft Excel. The developed model could identify the nature of the influence of immunochemical interaction constants and reagent concentrations on the kinetics of the formation of the detected target complex.

Rpf Proteins Are the Factors of Reactivation of the Dormant Forms of Actinobacteria.

As the response to unfavorable growth conditions, nonsporulating mycobacteria transform into the dormant state with the concomitant formation of the specialized dormant forms characterized by low metabolic activity and resistance to antibiotics. Such dormant cells can be reactivated under the influence of several factors including proteins of Rpf (Resuscitation promoting factor) family, which possess peptidoglycan hydrolase activity and were considered to belong to the group of the autocrine growth factors of the bacteria. Remarkable interest toward Rpf family is determined by its participation in resuscitation of the dormant forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, what in turn is the key element in resuscitation of the latent tuberculosis - an infectious disease that affects one third of the World's population.

Genomics and Biochemistry of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Wine Yeast Strains.

Saccharomyces yeasts have been used for millennia for the production of beer, wine, bread, and other fermented products. Long-term "unconscious" selection and domestication led to the selection of hundreds of strains with desired production traits having significant phenotypic and genetic differences from their wild ancestors. This review summarizes the results of recent research in deciphering the genomes of wine Saccharomyces strains, the use of comparative genomics methods to study the mechanisms of yeast genome evolution under conditions of artificial selection, and the use of genomic and postgenomic approaches to identify the molecular nature of the important characteristics of commercial wine strains of Saccharomyces.

Interaction of the signaling state analog and the apoprotein form of the orange carotenoid protein with the fluorescence recovery protein.

Photoprotection in cyanobacteria relies on the interplay between the orange carotenoid protein (OCP) and the fluorescence recovery protein (FRP) in a process termed non-photochemical quenching, NPQ. Illumination with blue-green light converts OCP from the basic orange state (OCP) into the red-shifted, active state (OCP) that quenches phycobilisome (PBs) fluorescence to avoid excessive energy flow to the photosynthetic reaction centers. Upon binding of FRP, OCP is converted to OCP and dissociates from PBs; however, the mode and site of OCP/FRP interactions remain elusive.

Assembly of photoactive orange carotenoid protein from its domains unravels a carotenoid shuttle mechanism.

The photoswitchable orange carotenoid protein (OCP) is indispensable for cyanobacterial photoprotection by quenching phycobilisome fluorescence upon photoconversion from the orange OCP to the red OCP form. Cyanobacterial genomes frequently harbor, besides genes for orange carotenoid proteins (OCPs), several genes encoding homologs of OCP's N- or C-terminal domains (NTD, CTD). Unlike the well-studied NTD homologs, called Red Carotenoid Proteins (RCPs), the role of CTD homologs remains elusive.

Using an Inducible Promoter of a Gene Encoding Penicillium verruculosum Glucoamylase for Production of Enzyme Preparations with Enhanced Cellulase Performance.

Background: Penicillium verruculosum is an efficient producer of highly active cellulase multienzyme system. One of the approaches for enhancing cellulase performance in hydrolysis of cellulosic substrates is to enrich the reaction system with β -glucosidase and/or accessory enzymes, such as lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO) displaying a synergism with cellulases.

Results: Genes bglI, encoding β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger (AnBGL), and eglIV, encoding LPMO (formerly endoglucanase IV) from Trichoderma reesei (TrLPMO), were cloned and expressed by P.