Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Access granted  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Vol 53, No 3 (2017)

Reviews

Role of functional blocks in the evolution of exotrophy in vertebrates (as exemplified by fish and mammals)

Kuz’mina V.V.

Abstract

The review reports the data on the presence in fish and mammals of the identical elementary or universal functional blocks (FBs)—molecules and supramolecular complexes providing exotrophic processes, with a special focus on those involved in the regulation of feeding behavior, digestion and transport of nutrients. When describing FBs implementing symbiotic digestion and induced autolysis, the data on the bacterial and mammalian enzymes have been analyzed. It is assumed that the structural and functional similarity of FBs in different organisms, which maintains the existence of trophic networks, is based on the need to perform similar functions and hence to develop similar mechanisms of FB adaptation in organisms phylogenetically distant from each other (bacteria, invertebrates, fish and mammals).

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):171-179
pages 171-179 views

Mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of proinsulin C-peptide

Shpakov A.O.

Abstract

C-peptide generated by proinsulin proteolysis is not only a chaperone for insulin in β-cells, but also a signaling molecule that regulates many physiological and biochemical processes via specific C-peptide receptors. Regulatory effects of C-peptide are tissue-specific and largely depend on the physiological state of an organism, C-peptide concentration, and its ability to form complexes. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by a C-peptide deficiency, C-peptide replacement therapy prevents the development of inflammation in vascular endothelial cells, whereas C-peptide excess, in contrast, reveals its pro-inflammatory properties. By affecting a number of effector proteins and transcription factors in the retinal pigment epithelium, C-peptide prevents both blood–retinal barrier damage and retinal neovascularization, which makes it one of the most promising drugs to treat and prevent diabetic retinopathy. C-peptide has been established to be involved in the regulation of synthesis and secretion of adipokines, which is indicative of its role in controlling energy homeostasis. Considering the efficiency of C-peptide in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy, C-peptide medicinal forms are now being developed. Among these forms, of greatest interest are C-peptide analogs modified by polyethylene glycol, C-peptide complexes with zinc cations and albumin, and C-terminal fragments of C-peptide comparable by their biological activity to a full-length molecule.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):180-190
pages 180-190 views

Comparative and Ontogenic Biochemistry

In silico analysis of paraoxon binding by human and bovine serum albumin

Belinskaya D.A., Shmurak V.I., Taborskaya K.I., Avdonin P.P., Avdonin P.V., Goncharov N.V.

Abstract

Albumin is known to be able to cleave ether bonds in organophosphates (OPs). Amino acids responsible for esterase and pseudo-esterase albumin activity towards OPs are not yet finally identified. Presumably, Sudlow’s site I with the Tyr150 residue shows a “true” esterase activity, while Sudlow’s II site with the Tyr411 residue—a pseudo-esterase one. Both human (HSA) and bovine (BSA) serum albumins were used in in vitro studies of albumin (pseudo)esterase activity towards OPs. There is a body of evidence that the efficiency of interaction of different xenobiotics differs for these two proteins. Using paraoxon as an example, the aim of this study was to conduct an in silico study of the OP interaction with the previously identified potential sites of HSA and BSA (pseudo)esterase activity, to estimate the possibility of enzymatic reactions at these sites, to comparatively analyze these proteins from the evolutionary viewpoint, and to assess the possibility of extrapolating the experimental data obtained on BSA to a human organism. Molecular docking of paraoxon into the sites of HSA and BSA potential (pseudo)esterase activity has been performed. Conformational changes occurring in the resultant complexes with time have been studied by molecular dynamics simulation. It has been shown that Sudlow’s site II is less liable to evolutionary changes. Binding of modulators at other sites is not required for productive sorption of OPs and the phosphorylation reaction at Sudlow’s site II. It has been concluded that simi lar results for HSA and BSA could be expected for the irreversible binding of OPs at Sudlow’s site II. Since Sudlow’s site I is less conservative, diff erent binding efficiency could be expected for rigid molecules or optically active compounds. Both for HSA and BSA, productive binding of OPs at Sudlow’s site I is possible only after changes in the albumin molecule structure induced by binding of modulators at other sites.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):191-199
pages 191-199 views

Gangliosides GM1 and GD1a normalize respiratory rates of rat brain mitochondria reduced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide

Korotkov S.M., Sokolova T.V., Avrova N.F.

Abstract

The rate of oxygen consumption by glutamate- and malate-energized rat brain mitochondria, which was stimulated by an uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), declined in the presence of a prooxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Preincubation with gangliosides GM1 or GD1a at micromolar (but not nanomolar) concentrations significantly slowed down this decline in the mitochondrial respiration, as shown by measuring absolute respiratory rates and ratios of the mitochondrial respiratory rate in the presence of DNP to the basal respiratory rate (VDNP/V0). Gangliosides GM1 and GD1a also slowed down a decline in the DNP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration induced by long-term incubation (“aging”) of mitochondria on ice. The data obtained are likely to reflect a prooxidant-induced reduction in the activity of enzymes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as a GM1- and GD1a-induced decrease in the degree of their inactivation. Interestingly, in the presence of the Trk receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (K252a) this effect of gangliosides was not manifested in any way. Our data suggest that the direct impact of gangliosides on mitochondrial signaling pathways, specifically on the Trk receptor tyrosine kinase, plays a certain role in the mechanism of their protective effect on cerebral neurons and, probably, neuroglia.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):200-207
pages 200-207 views

Comparative and Ontogenic Physiology

Developmental features of cerebrovascular reaction to functional tests as revealed by transcranial Doppler sonography

Moskalenko Y.E., Andreeva Y.V., Panov A.A., Semernya V.N., Sabirov M.A.

Abstract

The paper addresses developmental features of the cerebrovascular reaction to functional tests as studied in volunteers of different ages without any signs of cerebrovascular pathology. Using transcranial Doppler sonography, it was shown that a significant decrease in the degree of manifestation of the cerebrovascular response to dosated functional loads occurs with age. A study of developmental features of this reaction to functional tests caused by autonomic regulation allowed distinguishing four types of its implementation: highly reactive, reactive, areactive and paradoxical. The data obtained support the informational significance of transcranial Doppler sonography and cerebrovascular reactivity for the identification of early changes in the state of the cerebrovascular system and its adaptive and compensatory abilities.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):208-214
pages 208-214 views

Tubular protein uptake pattern in the frog model (Rana temporaria): The effect of previous protein loading

Seliverstova E.V., Prutskova N.P.

Abstract

The effect of increasing protein load on subsequent receptor-mediated protein uptake was studied in the kidney of the common frog Rana temporaria L. Results of in vivo experiments were analyzed in fixed kidney sections using fluorescent or confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Lysozyme was used for daily tubular loading in short-term experiments. Reabsorption of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in the proximal tubule (PT) was tested 60 min after introduction into the dorsal lymphatic sac. YFP uptake decreased progressively with increasing duration of lysozyme preload from 2 to 4 days. Lysozyme loading and single protein injections did not change the morphological characteristics of frog glomeruli and PTs, as shown by light and electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. Cessation of loading led to a decrease in the amount of lysozyme accumulated in PT cells. Reduced YFP uptake gradually recovered after cessation of the 4-day load. Restoration of YFP reabsorption was accompanied by increasing expression of endocytic receptors, megalin and cubilin. Based on the data obtained, the frog model can be successfully used for studying both morphological and functional changes in the nephron caused by tubular or glomerular proteinuria and molecular mechanisms involved in the process of renal protein reabsorption.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):215-224
pages 215-224 views

Influence of the White Sea sponge Halichondria panicea (Pallas, 1766) on physiological state of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus, 1758), as evaluated by heart rate characteristics

Khalaman V.V., Sharov A.N., Kholodkevich S.V., Komendantov A.Y., Kuznetsova T.V.

Abstract

During laboratory testing it was shown that the presence of the White Sea sponge Halichondria panicea on the shell of the mussel Mytilus edulis negatively affects the functional state of the mollusk as expressed in the increased heart rate recovery time after functional test loads (a 50% water salinity drop for 1 hour). It was found that the degree of this negative influence rises with an increase both in the projective cover of mussel shells by the sponge and in the size/age parameters of mussels.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):225-232
pages 225-232 views

Morphological Basics for Evolution of Functions

Architectonics of GABAergic inhibitory network in the sensorimotor area of the rat neocortex in the early postnatal period under normal conditions and after acute perinatal hypoxia

Khozhai L.I., Otellin V.A.

Abstract

The distribution of GABAergic interneurons as well as terminal and synaptic networks in different layers of the rat sensorimotor neocortex were studied at different stages of the postnatal period under normal conditions and after exposure to perinatal hypoxia. In control animals, the architectonics of the inhibitory network in different layers of the sensorimotor neocortex was shown to display distinctive features at different stages of the postnatal development. At early postnatal stages, a significant portion of neurons in layers II–V are immunopositive for GAD-67, indicative of a high level of GABA expression, however, GABA transmission is extremely weak, thus supporting the presence in the neuropil of only sporadic GABAergic terminals and synapses. By the juvenile age, a dramatic drop in the number of GABAergic neurons and an increase in the density of the network of GABA-immunopositive processes and synaptic structures occur in the neuropil, suggesting a considerable increase in GABA transmission. A higher level of GABA transmission is revealed in layers IV and V, persisting over the prepubertal period. Our results demonstrate that acute perinatal hypoxia affects the state of the inhibitory GABAergic network in the rat sensorimotor neocortex during the postnatal period. GABA expression and transmission were shown to change virtually in all layers.

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):233-240
pages 233-240 views

Short Communications

Perception of noises with temporally unstable frequency modulation of tonal components by the dolphin Tursiops truncatus

Zaitseva K.A., Korolev V.I., Akhi A.V., Butyrskii E.Y.
Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):241-244
pages 241-244 views

Comparative study of free oxidation and ATP synthesis in mitochondria in the liver of different animal species

Samartsev V.N., Vedernikov A.A., Khoroshavina E.I., Dubinin M.V.
Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology. 2017;53(3):245-247
pages 245-247 views