The Effect of Formins on the Polymerisation and Dynamic Properties of Actin Filaments

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Forminok hatása az aktin filamentum konformációjára = The effect of formin fragments on the conformation of actin filaments

A pályázat keretei között végzett vizsgálatainkban fluoreszcencia spektroszkópiai, gyors-kinetika és EPR módszereket alkalmaztunk motor fehérjék, és az aktin citoszkeleton felépítésében meghatározó szerepet betöltő aktin nukleációs faktorok tanulmányozására. Kinetikai módszerekkel jellemeztük a speciális és eddig ritkán vizsgált XIV-es miozint, valamint részletesen leírtuk és összevetettük különböző fajokból származó emlős izom miozin izoformák tulajdonságait. Megmutattuk, hogy az aktin nukleációs faktorok közé tartozó forminok kötődése fellazítja az aktin filamentumok szerkezetét. EPR vizsgálataink arra is rávilágítottak, hogy ezek a konformációs módosulások heterogén és összetett módon valósulnak meg. Azt is megmutattuk, hogy forminok által kiváltott konformációs változások visszafordíthatóak tropomiozin kötődésével. | The investigations involved in the project were based on the applications of fluorescence spectroscopic, rapid kinetic and EPR methods. We have studied the kinetic and conformational properties of motor proteins and actin nucleation factors. We described the kinetic behaviour of a special class of myosins, the myosin XIV, and also many isoforms isolated from mammalian muscles of various species. We sowed that the binding of formins - a family of actin nucleation factors - to the actin filaments made the structure of the filaments looser. The EPR data showed that these conformational modifications are complex and heterogeneous. Further studies provided evidence, that the forming-induced structural changes could be reversed by the binding of tropomyosin

Az iskolaválasztás hazai és nemzetközi kontextusa : mi történik hazánkban a "suliváró" foglalkozásoktól az első osztály indulásáig?

In my paper I was looking for the answer to what selection mechanisms are present during the school choice, what happens during the primary school choice process in Hungary? I have previously hypothesized that pre-enrollment “school-waiting” sessions function as a latent selection mechanism, thereby reinforcing educational segregation, and selection is based on the performance during the preparatory sessions and the presumed family background of children. In this case study, I present the results of interviews with principals, educators, and parents. Based on the results, it appears that children’s performance and presumed social background are indeed monitored during the preparatory sessions and, in many places this determines which children will be hired, but practices also vary from municipality to municipality and school to school. The processes revealed suggest that many children are stigmatized during the preparatory sessions and, within most public schools, children deemed problematic are grouped into one or two segregated classes

The Role of Mining Ponds in the Hungarian Greenway Network

The aim of our research is to present the current state of mining ponds, wetlands (created by mining activity in Hungary) and to give support to the mining ponds’ nature protection importance and their role in green infrastructure. This research topic is very important, partly because of the lack of data related to mining ponds, but also because wetlands and their connecting blue and green infrastructure are playing a more important role today in reducing the effects of climate change. A GIS analysis was made using data from the national mining register, the CORINE Land Cover and Agricultural Parcel Identification System base map, non-motorized vehicular route data, and maps of the national nature protection areas. As a first step of the GIS analysis, we selected those wetlands in Hungary that were created by mining activity. With the help of density-analysis, we visualized the national distribution of mining ponds. As a second step, we compared these identified mining ponds with the protected natural areas of Hungary, and then we analyzed their exploration with greenways. We investigated the connection between size, raw material type, age, and the potential for tourism, religious pilgrimages, horseback riding and bicycling, as well as nature protection. Mining activities represent a paradox among environmentally-destructive land use activities. In most cases, the extraction of raw materials below the water-bearing level causes huge damage to the landscape. As a result of this, natural resources have been lost and continue to be destroyed. At the same time, these constructed mining ponds represent significant landscape value and recreational potential. Their natural value is demonstrated by the results of our research, which found that 21.85% of mining ponds are part of some nature protection designation (National Parks, Protected Landscape Areas, National Nature Reserve areas, Natura 2000 Areas and the National Ecological Network). According to our GIS analysis, 34% of mining ponds are incorporated into greenways in Hungary. In the case of proper usage and landscape rehabilitation, mining ponds – due to their nature protection values and beneficial landscape features – are mostly suitable or can be made suitable for being destination areas and stopping points of greenways