We compared the changes in miniature endplate potential (MEPP) parameters of the mouse diaphragm caused by exogenous application of two classical endocannabinoids – 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) (1 μM) and anandamide (AEA) (30 μM). 2-AG caused a slowly developing stable increase in MEPP amplitude by 50%, without affecting the frequency of the MEPPs. This effect was prevented by AM-251, an inverse agonist of CB1-receptors, as well as by vesamicol, a blocker of the vesicular ACh transporter. On the contrary, AEA did not cause significant changes in the MEPP amplitude, but induced a slowly developing (within 2 hours) increase in MEPP frequency by on average 75%. The effect of AEA was prevented by AM-251 (1 μM) as well as by blocking of L-type Ca²⁺-channels with nitrendipine (1 μM) and inhibition of PKA activity by H89 (1 μM). We concluded that both 2-AG and AEA are able to exert a noncanonical facilitating presynaptic effect on spontaneous ACh release. Even though these endocannabinoids activate the same type of CB-receptors, their facilitating effects do not overlap and are strictly aimed either at potentiating the size of ACh quanta (in case of 2-AG) or increasing the frequency of MEPP (in case of AEA). We assume that different intracellular targets and signaling pathways may be involved in the differentiated facilitating effects of 2-AG and AEA in mouse neuromuscular junctions.

Lysine-and arginine-containing peptides Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro and Lys-Arg-Arg-LysPro-Gly-Pro were administered intranasal way (daily single dose of 100 mcg/kg for 7 days) to animals (laboratory rats) with experimental metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction. Metabolic syndrome was modeled by a high-calorie diet throughout the experiment period, and endothelial dysfunction was modeled by intraperitoneal injection of L-NAME (daily single dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 days). It was found that these peptides had anti-clotting, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterol effects and reduced body weight gain in experimental animals. Peptides treatments affected both primary (vascular-platelet) hemostasis, reducing platelet aggregation, and all links of plasma hemostasis, increasing anticoagulant, fibrindepolymerization and enzymatic fibrinolytic activity, as well as antifibrinstabilizing properties of plasma and reducing the concentration of fibrinogen in it. At the same time, the studied peptides reduced the content of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, increasing the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These effects were observed 20 hrs after the last administration of peptides and persisted, although to a lesser extent, 7 days (168 hrs) after stopping treatment. In this regard, we can talk about the prolonged action of both glyproline peptides, which have lysine and arginine amino acid residues in their structure, and their ability to protect the body from the development of metabolic diseases and endothelial dysfunction. The maximum effects  were provided by the LysArg-Arg-Lys-Pro-Gly-Pro peptide, which may be due to its structural features.

The effect of low molecular weight (MW) chitosans with a MW of 5, 6, 10, 25, 45 kDa and a deacetylation degree (DD) of 85–99% obtained by chemical depolymerization and enzymatic hydrolysis on the cells of the epidermis of pea leaves was analyzed. Low MW chitosans induced guard cells plasma membrane damage, which was estimated from the change in its permeability for the fluorescent dye propidium iodide, and programmed death of epidermal cells determined from destruction of cell nuclei. These effects are similar to those of commercial high MW chitosan with a MW of 290 kDa, a DD of 90%, which was manifested at higher concentrations than with low MW chitosan. The destructive effect of chitosan on the cells was predominantly DD-dependent, and it was not produced at concentrations up to 10 μg/ml inclusive. Low MW chitosan enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species in the epidermis, which was detected by monitoring the fluorescence of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein. The antioxidants nitroblue tetrazolium and propyl gallate inhibited, and Н₂О₂ accelerated this process.

Among actinobacteria associated with various species of ants, their nests and intact soils, cellulolytic activity was screened on a medium with carboxymethyl cellulose using Congo red dye. Assessment of culture broses of tested strains on the CMC-plates and comparing them with titred solutions of the commercial cellulase preparation allowed to quantify their activity. This data were confirmed by the method of evaluating endo-1,4-gluconase activity according to the DNS method. The three most active strains of actinobacteria were isolated from the ants Camponotus vagus, Lasius niger, and Formica cunicularia and belong to the genus Streptomyces. The 16S rDNA sequences of the Streptomyces sp. Fu₂, Streptomyces sp. Ln9, and Streptomyces sp. Pe₃ strains were deposited in the GenBank under the numbers MN227506, MN227508, and MG 705182 respectively. Specific endoglucanase and β-glucosidase activity of this strains corresponds to that of celluloseand lignin-destroying streptomycetes described in the literature.

The aim of the study was to analyze the association between complex of anthropogenetic and environmental factors with subcutaneous and visceral fat indices measured by local configurations of bioimpedance analysis in group of ethnic Altaians. In this study we examined whether anthropogenetic and environmental factors contributed to subcutaneous (SFI) and visceral fat indexes (FVI) measured by local configurations of bioimpedance analysis among ethnic Altaians. The study included 110 relatively healthy participants aged 17 to 35 years; 48 were female (44%). The examination program included anthropometric measurements, buccal swabs collection for genetic analysis (UCP1-3, rs1800592, rs660339, rs1800849) and body composition assessment by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (ABC-02 “Medass”), which was applied using a conventional whole-body «wrist-to-ankle» measurement configuration and two local measurement configurations in the abdominal region for the assessment of subcutaneous and visceral fat. Significant gender-related differences were found in the most morphological and functional characteristics. Maximal correlations were shown for subcutaneous and visceral fat indexes with WHtR and body fat percentage. Endogenous factors such as sex, age and genotype were not found to have significant effect on SFI and VFI in the examined group. Informative feature selection was performed by random forest and Boruta algorithm and WHtR and body fat percentage were revealed as the key predictors of abdominal fat deposition indexes.

Currently, an increasing place in antiviral therapy given to various polyelectrolytes. For polyelectrolyte polyallylamine with a molecular weight of 6000 Da, antiviral activity shown against influenza viruses, measles, herpes simplex type 1 and cytomegalovirus. A non-toxic concentration of 30 was determined, at which the antiviral effect for measles and flu is preserved, but there is no toxic effect on cells. At the same time, it known that the simultaneous effect of physical environmental factors and chemical compounds on the virus contributes to a more pronounced decrease in the infectivity of the virus. One of these physical factors is the temperature, the effect of which on the virus leads to its inactivation. The study of thermal inactivation parameters is of great practical importance in the development of influenza vaccines, as well as for studying the decrease in the infectious activity of viral particles when they settle on various surfaces. In this connection, it is of particular interest to study the kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the process of thermal inactivation of the influenza virus in the presence of the antiviral compound polyallylamine. In this paper, we have shown that the process of thermal inactivation of the influenza virus in the presence of polyallylamine in the temperature range 38–60°C described by the first-order reaction kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters of thermal inactivation indicate the involvement of surface proteins of the influenza virus in the process of inactivation as result of the interaction of polyallylamine with them. The results obtained indicate the possibility of using polyallylamine as a compound that accelerates the process of thermal inactivation of the influenza virus. 

Correction to: “Chinese hamster cells in biotechnological and gerontological research”

https://vestnik-bio-msu.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/933