Semaphorins Are Likely to Be Involved in the Control of Hibernation

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.Hibernation is unique mammals’ phenotype demonstrated surviving in seasonal adverse environment conditions. During hibernation, all of systems of organs undergo alterations in their metabolic activity and physiology similar to different physiological conditions associated with human diseases and injuries, which represent a proper model for studying new approaches in clinical treatment. In this study, we have analyzed expression of semaphorins in small hibernator edible dormouse (Glis glis). Semaphorins are factors which involved in a key process of axon guidance and cell–cell communication and can act as tumor suppressor. We found that gene coding Semaphorin-3D (SEMA3D), previously reported to be specific for brain and heart of mammals, represents one of the most upregulated transcripts in the muscles of the hibernating dormice. Furthermore, another member of the same family, Semaphorin-5B (SEMA5B), was strongly induced in the spinal cord of hibernating animals. These observations make semaphorin group, recently attracting more attention due to anti-tumor activity, one of the target for in-depth analysis in relation to the molecular mechanisms of hibernation

Effect of a chemical analogue of autoinducers of microbial anabiosis on the Ca2+ response of mycelial fungi

The microbial alkylhydroxybenzenes (AHB), autoinducers of anabiosis, or d1 factors, participate in stress response of mycelial fungi, as determined from changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. By using the genetically modified strain Aspergillus awamori 66A, which produces a recombinant Ca2+-dependent protein aequorin, the dynamics of Ca 2+ was studied in the cytosol of cells exposed to mechanical shock in the presence of the protective doses (0.001-0.01% w/vol) of a chemical AHB analogue, 4-n-hexylresorcinol. Like under stressful conditions, Ca2+ concentration increases in the cell cytosol in response to enhanced AHB level in a growing fungal culture; thus, AHB is perceived by cells as a stress signal. The level of cell response, which was determined from the amplitude of luminescence dependent on the Ca2+ concentration in cytosol was related to the physiological age of the cells and AHB concentration. Micromycete preincubation with AHB was found to protect cells from subsequent stress; this was reflected in the Ca2+ response. The protective AHB effect was manifested as (1) a significant decrease in the amplitude of luminescence and, thus, in Ca2+ accumulation in the cytosol during subsequent mechanical stress (as compared to the control-mechanical stress only); (2) development of the secondary Ca2+ response, which was not observed in the control; (3) a high level of Ca2+ retained in the cytosol for a long time in the presence of AHB (as compared to the control without preincubation with AHB). The mechanisms underlying the AHB effect on the Ca 2+ transport systems are discussed

Effect of a chemical analogue of autoinducers of microbial anabiosis on the Ca2+ response of mycelial fungi

The microbial alkylhydroxybenzenes (AHB), which are anabiosis autoinducers also termed d1 factors, participate in the stress response of mycelial fungi, as determined from changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. By using the genetically modified strain Aspergillus awamori 66A, which produces the recombinant Ca2+ -dependent protein aequorin, the dynamics of Ca2+ was studied in the cytosol of cells exposed to mechanical shock in the presence of protective doses (0.001-0.01% w/vol) of a chemical AHB analogue, 4-n-hexylre-sorcinol. As under stressful conditions, Ca2+ concentration increases in the cell cytosol in response to an enhanced AHB level in a growing fungal culture; thus, AHB is perceived by cells as a stress signal. The level of cell response, which was determined from the amplitude of luminescence dependent on the Ca2+ concentration in the cytosol, was related to the physiological age of the cells and the AHB concentration. Micromycete preincubation with AHB was found to protect cells from subsequent stress; this was reflected in the Ca2+ response. The protective AHB effect was manifested as (1) a significant decrease in the amplitude of luminescence and, thus, in Ca2+ accumulation in the cytosol during subsequent mechanical stress (as compared to the control-mechanical stress only); (2) development of a secondary Ca2+ response, which was not observed in the control; and (3) a high level of Ca 2+ retained in the cytosol for a long time in the presence of AHB (as compared to the control without preincubation with AHB). The mechanisms underlying the AHB effect on Ca2+ transport systems are discussed. © 2004 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica"

Analysis of the Ca2+ response of mycelial fungi to external effects by the recombinant aequorin method

Using the mutant strain Aspergillus awamori 66A producing a recombinant Ca2+-dependent photosensitive protein aequorin, the dynamics of Ca2+ was studied for the first time in the cytosol of the micromycetes exposed to stressful factors, such as an increase in extracellular Ca2+ to 50 mM, hypoosmotic shock, and mechanical shock. Cell response to stress proved to involve an increase in the Ca2+ concentration in the cytosol, which was determined from the amplitude of aequorin luminescence and the time of the amplitude enhancement and relaxation. The level of Ca 2+ response depended on the physiological stimulus. Inhibitory analysis with various agents that block Ca2+ channels and with agonists that specifically enhance the activity of the channels suggested that (1) the level of Ca2+ in the cytosol of micromycetes increases in response to stress because of the ion influx from both the growth medium and intracellular reservoirs and (2) the potential-dependent transport systems play the major role in the Ca2+ influx into the cytosol of the micromycete cells

The First English-Russian and Russian-English Dictionaries Compiled in Russia

Статья посвящена первым отечественным словарям с английским языком, которые были созданы в период второй половины XVIII - начала XIX вв. как учебные словари и использовались в учебном процессе при изучении английского языка и - шире - публикой за пределами учебных заведений. Цель исследования - изучение и анализ текстов первых отечественных англо-русских и русско-английских словарей, причин и контекста их появления.The article is devoted to the first English-Russian and Russian-English educational dictionaries that were compiled in Russia in the period of the second half of the XVIII - the early XIX century. The dictionaries were used in the teaching practice and - by extension - by the general public outside the educational institutions

The Role of CYP1A1 Gene Polymorphism in Patients with Erysipelas

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. The research aims are to study the role of CYP1A1 gene polymorphism in predisposition to erysipelas and reveal connections with the clinical course of the disease. We used the standard techniques of molecular genetic analysis. The DNA samples used in genotyping were extracted from leukocytes of venous blood by deproteinization with a phenol-chloroform mixture. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical data relating to the investigated polymorphic markers were estimated at a 95% confidence level (CL). Genotype frequencies were compared using either the standard Pearson’s chi-squared test or the two-sided Fisher’s exact test. This study presents a comparative analysis of the distribution of gene polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 (Ile462Val, rs1048943) of phase I detoxification (microsomal oxidation) in the experimental group of 71 patients with erysipelas and a control group of 71 healthy individuals. We also analyzed these relationships of CYP1A1 (Ile462Val) gene polymorphisms with the sex of the patients, the severity and multiplicity of the disease, and the nature of the local process in patients with erysipelas. The results of the investigation indicate the presence of a relationship between cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 (Ile462Val, rs1048943) gene polymorphism and the development of erysipelas. Analysis of these relationships of CYP1A1 (Ile462Val) gene polymorphism with the sex of the patients, the severity and multiplicity of the disease, and the nature of the process in the examined group of patients with erysipelas did not reveal any statistically significant differences

Analysis of the Ca2+ response of mycelial fungi to external effects by the recombinant aequorin method

Using the mutant strain Aspergillus awamori 66A, producing the recombinant Ca2+ -dependent photosensitive protein aequorin, the dynamics of Ca2+ was studied for the first time in the cytosol of micromycetes exposed to stressful factors, such as an increase in extracellular Ca 2+ to 50 mM, hypoosmotic shock, and mechanical shock. The cell response to stress proved to involve an increase in the Ca2+ concentration in the cytosol, which was determined from the amplitude of aequorin luminescence and the time of the amplitude enhancement and relaxation. The level of the Ca2+ response depended on the physiological stimulus. Inhibitory analysis with various agents that block Ca2+ channels and with agonists that specifically enhance the activity of the channels suggested that (1) the level of Ca2+ in the cytosol of micromycetes increases in response to stress because of the ion influx from both the growth medium and intracellular reservoirs and (2) potential-dependent transport systems play the major role in the Ca2+ influx into the cytosol of the micromycete cells. © 2004 MAIK "Nauka/ Interperiodica"

Magnetic-field- and temperature-dependent fermi surface of CeBiPt

The half-Heusler compounds CeBiPt and LaBiPt are semimetals with very low charge-carrier concentrations as evidenced by Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) and Hall-effect measurements. Neutron-scattering results reveal a simple antiferromagnetic structure in CeBiPt below TN = 1.15 K. The band structure of CeBiPt sensitively depends on temperature, magnetic field and stoichiometry. Above a certain, sample-dependent, threshold field (B>25 T), the SdH signal disappears and the Hall coefficient reduces significantly. These effects are absent in the non-4f compound LaBiPt. Electronic-band-structure calculations can well explain the observed behaviour by a 4f-polarization-induced Fermi-surface modification