New PNM Mutation in SUP35

A number of [PSI+]-no-more (PNM) mutations, eliminating [PSI+] prion, were previously described in SUP35. In this study, we designed and analyzed a new PNM mutation based on the parallel in-register β-structure of Sup35 prion fibrils suggested by the known experimental data. In such an arrangement, substitution of non-charged residues by charged ones may destabilize the fibril structure. We introduced Q33K/A34K amino acid substitutions into the Sup35 protein, corresponding allele was called sup35-M0. The mutagenized residues were chosen based on ArchCandy in silico prediction of high inhibitory effect on the amyloidogenic potential of Sup35. The experiments confirmed that Sup35-M0 leads to the elimination of [PSI+] with high efficiency. Our data suggested that the elimination of the [PSI+] prion is associated with the decreased aggregation properties of the protein. The new mutation can induce the prion with very low efficiency and is able to propagate only weak [PSI+] prion variants. We also showed that Sup35-M0 protein co-aggregates with the wild-type Sup35 in vivo. Moreover, our data confirmed the utility of the strategy of substitution of non-charged residues by charged ones to design new mutations to inhibit a prion formationRFBR grant 19-04-00173, RFBR grant 17-54-150002, and PRC CNRS grant PRC1524,18-34-00536, RSF grant 18-14-0005

Aviation in the agricultural sector: experiments with aviation in the USSR in the 1930-ies

The article analyzes the experience of agricultural aviation usage for sowing of grain crops in the Soviet Union in the 1930s. A historiographical review of this problem has been carried out, which testifies to its indisputable scientific, theoretical and applied relevance. The motives for aircraft attracting to sowing operations in the first half of the 1930s have been indicated, and the methods and scale of experiments for conducting aerial sowing have been revealed. By analyzing the scientific literature, archival documents and periodicals of the 1930s, the effectiveness of sowing operations using aviation has been established. The reasons have been revealed, according to which the Party-Soviet leadership eventually abandoned the usage of aircraft as an “air seeder”, having focused the air group efforts on the fight against agricultural pests, firefighting, etc

Biological parameters of juveniles of

The paper continues the series of studies aimed on analyzing the biological processes taking place in the coastal zone of the Barents Sea. The size and weight parameters, age and sex structure, as well as the feeding of juveniles of Atlantic cod and saithe in the intertidal zone. There are pronounced seasonal changes in the studied parameters. Gammaridae play a large role in nutrition, but cannibalism is well-pronounced. Malformation of the otolith structure is recorded. The data obtained may be used for further monitoring or applied for the ecosystem modeling

Electric and gas-generating tractors in the agricultural sector of the South of Russia in the 1930s: mass-staffs and application features

The article is based on the materials of the Don, Kuban and Stavropol regions as the most important agricultural regions of Russia, highlights the process of development and introduction of gas-generating tractors in Soviet agriculture during the 1930s, which represented a special direction of mechanization of agricultural production in the period under review. The author’s statement that in the 1930s the author’s work was carried out is convincingly justified. Representatives of the Party-Soviet leadership paid close attention to the development of gas-generating equipment as consuming cheaper fuel in comparison with petroleum products and it led to the rapid development of these technical devices and their quantitative growth, including in Soviet and collective farms. It was proved that, despite the efforts of the designers, gas-generating tractors had a number of significant drawbacks, which made their operation difficult and became one of the most important reasons for their usage stopping in agriculture

SEC-DAD - Effective method for the characterization of π-conjugated polymers

In the article we present a unique analytical tool for the characterization of conjugated polymers – SEC-DAD (Size Exclusion Chromatography – Diode Array Detector). The chromatographic separation is performed in a conventional SEC mode which provides narrow molecular-weight fractions of the analyzed polymer. The uniqueness of the SEC-DAD combination comes out with the utilization of DAD for the monitoring the absorption characteristics of particular fractions along the molecular weight distribution. If applied in the characterization of the conjugated polymers, SEC-DAD helps to reveal the dependencies of (i) the extent of conjugation and (ii) covalent and configuration structure of the polymer on the molecular weight. © 2016 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

Stability of MEH-PPV: Poly{[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene]vinylene} in solutions exposed to air in the dark and at daylight at laboratory temperature

The long-term stability of poly{[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene]vinylene} (MEH-PPV) in solutions exposed to air at daylight and in the dark at room temperature has been studied using the size exclusion chromatography (SEC), UV/vis, fluorescence and IR spectra of aged samples, and comparison of UV/vis spectra of SEC fractions. Solvents currently used in the preparation, analysis and processing of MEH-PPV were used: tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform (CHCl3) and chlorobenzene (PhCl). The SEC-DAD data revealed a serious decrease in the delocalization of electrons in MEH-PPV chains, even in the large ones, which proves a deep damage to the structure of the chains prior to their cleavage. The IR spectra of aged samples show that the saturation of main-chain double bonds and the changes in the substitution of phenylene rings are the main chemical structure defects present in chains of aged MEH-PPV. The rate as well as the extent of the overall degradation process is ca ten to fifty times enhanced by the ordinary daylight. The rate of cleavage and the damage to the structure of MEH-PPV molecules are significantly influenced by the choice of the solvent; they increase in the order: PhCl < CHCl3< THF. PhCl can be recommended as one of the best solvents for MEH-PPV processing from solutions

Which Fish Benefit from the Combined Influence of Eutrophication and Warming in the Dnipro River (Ukraine)?

The effects of climate warming and eutrophication on aquatic organisms are well established, but we lack a deep understanding of the selective mechanisms of fish communities towards eutrophication and warming in tandem. The aim of the study was to identify fish traits that were positively related to eutrophication and ongoing warming. The research was conducted for 19 years in the Dnipro River channel and floodplain water system of the “Dnipro-Orylskiy” Nature Reserve. Both categorical and continuous fish traits were considered. The study area is characterized by a more intense warming trend than the average for Europe, which reflects an increase in the maximum summer air temperature. At the same time, the concentration of chlorophyll-a had a monotonic tendency to decrease during the study period. Phytophilic, limnophilic, and freshwater fish species are increasing in abundance, while rheophilic and lithophilic fish are decreasing due to global warming. Fish species with greater vulnerability and resilience have selective advantages in terms of global warming. Pelagic fish species are the most resistant to eutrophication, while benthopelagic and phytolithophilic fish species are the most sensitive. Brackish-water demersal self-settled species of marine origin have a competitive advantage over other native freshwater species in the face of increasing symptoms of eutrophication and a warming climate

NOS1AP Interacts with α-Synuclein and Aggregates in Yeast and Mammalian Cells

The NOS1AP gene encodes a cytosolic protein that binds to the signaling cascade component neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). It is associated with many different disorders, such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, cardiovascular disorders, and breast cancer. The NOS1AP (also known as CAPON) protein mediates signaling within a complex which includes the NMDA receptor, PSD-95, and nNOS. This adapter protein is involved in neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthesis regulation via its association with nNOS (NOS1). Our bioinformatics analysis revealed NOS1AP as an aggregation-prone protein, interacting with α-synuclein. Further investigation showed that NOS1AP forms detergent-resistant non-amyloid aggregates when overproduced. Overexpression of NOS1AP was found in rat models for nervous system injury as well as in schizophrenia patients. Thus, we can assume for the first time that the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders include misfolding and aggregation of NOS1AP. We show that NOS1AP interacts with α-synuclein, allowing us to suggest that this protein may be implicated in the development of synucleinopathies and that its aggregation may explain the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia