Karakterizacija endopeptidaza srednjeg creva larvi Morimus funereus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Application of specific chromogenic substrates, use of class-specific inhibitors, and zymogram analysis enabled us to identify several peptidase classes in extracts of the midgut of Morimus funereus larvae. Zymogram analysis with gelatin as a peptidase substrate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride as an inhibitor showed that serine peptidases were the most abundant endopeptidases in the midgut of M. funereus larvae. By zymogram analysis with gelatin as a peptidase substrate and 1,10-phenanthroline as an inhibitor, metallopeptidases were also detected. Analyses of serine peptidases with specific chromogenic substrates revealed dominance of elastase-like peptidases in extracts of the midgut of M. funereus larvae, with less pronounced chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like activities.Primenom specifičnih hromogenih supstrata, klasno-specifičnih inhibitora i zimogramske analize identifikovano je nekoliko klasa peptidaza u sirovom ekstraktu srednjeg creva larvi koleoptere Morimus funereus. Zimogramskom analizom sa želatinom kao supstratom i fenilmetilsulfonil-fluoridom kao inhibitorom utvrđeno je da su serin-peptidaze najzastupljenije peptidaze u ekstraktu srednjeg creva larvi M. funereus. Zimogramskom analizom sa želatinom kao supstratom i 1,10-fenantrolinom kaoinhibitorom takođe su detektovane metalopeptidaze. Analizom serin-peptidaza, upotrebom specifičnih hromogenih supstrata, dokazano je da su dominantni elastazi-slični enzimi u sirovom ekstraktu srednjeg creva larvi M. funereus, dok su himotripsinima- i tripsinima-slični enzimi manje zastupljeni

Uporedna analiza izoformi α-amilaze iz srednjeg creva larvi Cerambyx cerdo L. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) iz prirode i gajenih na veštačkoj podlozi

alpha-Amylase isoforms of Cerambyx cerdo larvae from the wild (ML and SL) and reared in the laboratory (ADL) were compared. Three amylase isoforms were presented in the SL and ML extracts while two isoforms were presented in the ADL according to zymogram after isoelectric focusing (IEF). All C. cerdo amylase isoforms were acidic proteins (pI lt 3.5). Seven amylase isoforms (ACC 1-7) from the midgut of C. cerdo larvae were found in the ML midgut extract, six in the SL extract, and four in the ADL extract according to native PAGE zymogram. The ADL amylase had the highest activity. All crude midgut extracts of C. cerdo larvae were fractionated on a Superose 12 HR column. The molecular mass of the ACC was estimated to be 34 kDa.Upoređene su izoforme α-amilaze larvi Cerambyx cerdo sakupljenih iz prirode (ML i SL) i gajenih na veštačkoj podlozi u laboratoriji (ADL). Zimogramskom detekcijom posle IEF-a po tri izoforme su detektovane u ML i SL ekstraktima, a u ADL dve izoforme. Sve amilazne izoforme iz C. cerdo su bile kisele (pI lt 3.5). Zimogramskom detekcijom posle nativne elektroforeze sedam izoformi je detektovano u ML ekstraktu, šest u SL ekstraktu i četiri u ADL ekstraktu. Najveća amilazna aktivnost je detektovana u ADL ekstraktu. Svi ekstrakti srednjih creva larvi C. cerdo su frakcionisani na koloni Superose 12 HR. Molekulska masa ACC-a je bila 34 kDa

Brain Coordination Dynamics in Altered States of Consciousness in Children

The brain is a complex dynamic and self-organizing system. Normal brain function emerges from synchronized neuronal firing between local neurons which are integrated into large scale networks via white matter tracts. Normal brain function and consciousness arise from the continual integration and dissolution of neuronal networks, and this fluctuation in synchronization is termed variability. Brain electrical activity is recorded as local field potentials using electroencephalography (EEG). The phase synchrony and variability of EEG waveforms can be quantified. The healthy brain exhibits a relatively low degree of phase synchrony and a high degree of variability. Clinicians are interested in using a complex system approach to brain function to provide dynamic information on neuronal physiology and pathology not available by other evaluation methods. A common challenge in paediatric critical care is evaluation of the comatose child post brain injury. Coma and medical interventions confound the clinical examination making monitoring and prognostication of outcome difficult. Brain cells and white matter tracts are disrupted post injury altering the phase synchrony between neuronal networks. It is proposed in this thesis that the estimation of the variability in EEG phase synchrony can evaluate paediatric brain function. The EEG recordings of normal children and patients in coma post brain injury are used, in a series of studies, to test the main hypothesis that slow EEG wave brain states associated with brain injury have higher magnitudes of EEG phase synchrony and lower variability values than those of EEG waves associated with consciousness. Further, the effects of age, brain development brain and the effect of a conscious slow wave EEG state (hyperventilation) on phase synchrony and variability are evaluated. Results of the studies showed that EEG phase synchrony is increased in all slow wave states and is highest in comatose children with poor neurological outcome. Younger children’s brains have higher phase synchrony than older children. The variability of the EEG phase synchrony differentiates between the awake (higher values) and unconscious states (lower values). Physiologic models underlying EEG phase synchrony are discussed. The EEG phase synchrony and variability measures provide new insight into paediatric brain function.Ph

Neurohormones in insect stress: A review

The neurohormones are the master regulators of all life processes in insects and they create a strategy of stress protecting events. Neurohormones are synthesized mainly in insect brain neurosecretory neurons. Various stressors of different intensity cause specific changes which influence on neurosecretory neurons activity and synthesis of neurohormones (biogene amines, ecdysiotropins, ecdysiostatins, allatoregulatory neurohormones, adipokinetic neurohormones, etc.). Biogene amines in insects may function as neurohormones controlling carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as the primary response of the insects to the effect of stressors. Intermediary metabolism in insects is mainly regulated by adipokinetic hormones which supply organism by energy especially in extreme conditions. Stress induces changes in release of ecdysioregulatory and allatoregulatory neurohormones and modificates ecdysones and juvenile hormones synthesis in prothoracic gland and corpora allata. The involvement of hormones of an ecdysteroid or JH type in response to stress creates the danger of an untimely induction of morphogenetic process in target cells. Limiting the quantity of secreted hormones and shortening the period when target cells are sensitive to morphogenetic stimuli removes this danger

Purification and properties of midgut alpha-amylase isolated from Morimus funereus (Coleoptera : Cerambycidae) larvae

Using soluble starch as a substrate five isoforms of alpha-amylase were identified in a crude extract of Morimus funereus larvae. The main alpha-amylase (termed AMF-3) was purified by gel filtration chromatography and anion exchange chromatography to obtain a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its enzymatic purity was confirmed by an in-gel activity assay after SDS-PAGE. The purity of AMF-3 was increased 112-fold with a 15.4% yield. AMF-3 had apparent molecular masses of 33 and 31 kDa when analysed using SDS-PAGE and Superdex 75 FPLC gel filtration chromatography, respectively and a calculated isoelectric point of 3.2. Purified AMF-3 showed maximal activity at pH 5.2 and had an optimum activity temperature of 45 degrees C. AMF-3 retained over 90% of its maximum activity at temperatures from 45 to 60 degrees C. AMF-3 exhibited a high affinity towards soluble starch with a K-m value of 0.43 mg/mL. Maximal AMF-3 activity was achieved in the presence of 0.1 mM CaCl2, while at higher concentrations its activity decreased. AMF-3 activity increased with increasing NaCl concentration. AMF-3 activity was significantly inhibited by alpha-amylase wheat inhibitor. Using a number of raw starch substrates maximum AMF-3 activity was achieved with horse-radish starch, in contrast to undetectable activity towards potato starch. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Purification and properties of trypsin-like enzyme from the midgut of morimus funereus (coleoptera, cerambycidae) larvae

Trypsin-like enzyme (TLE) from the anterior midgut of Morimus funereus larvae was purified by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography and characterized. Specific TLE activity was increased 322-fold by purification of the crude midgut extract. The purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 9.0 (optimum pH range 8.5-9.5) and temperature optimum of 45 degrees C with the KM ratio of 0.065 mM for benzoyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA). Among a number of inhibitors tested, the most efficient was benzamidine (K-I value of 0.012 mM, Ic(50) value of 0.204 mM) while inhibition of TLE activity by SBTI, TLCK, and PMSF was partial. Almost all divalent cations tested enhanced the enzyme activity, amongst them Co2+ and Mn2+ stimulated TLE activity for 2.5 times. The purified TLE (after gel-filtration on Superose 12 column) had a molecular mass of 37.5 kDa with an isoelectric point over 9.3. Sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed one band of 38 kDa, suggesting that the enzyme is a monomer