[The structure and specific features of the cDNA expression of the human gene MRPL37]. / Struktura i osobennosti ékspressii kDNK gena MRPL37 cheloveka.

A 147-bp cDNA fragment was isolated from human lymphocytes activated with concanavalin A using the method of direct selection. A complete copy of the selected gene having total homology with the mitochondrial ribosomal gene MRPL37 was obtained by the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technique. The MRPL37 gene was localized on human chromosome 1 using a DNA panel composed of somatic cellular human-hamster hybrids. The Northern blotting and RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) demonstrated that the RNA of the human MRPL37 gene is widely represented in the lymphoma populations of Raji B cells and MT4 T cells, as well as in pancreas, liver, and lung embryonic fibroblasts WI-38 and LEH. The highest expression level of the MRPL37 mouse homologue was found in the cells of skeletal muscles, the heart, and organs of reproductive system: the uterus, ovaries, and testicles. A comparative analysis of the MRPL37 amino acid sequence with those of proteins represented in the Fasta33 and GenBank databases showed a homologous region in MRPL37 and PDCD9 (programmed cell death 9, MPRS30) proteins. The chicken homologue of PDCD9 is interesting because its overexpression causes apoptosis of the mouse fibroblasts C3H10T1/2. The existence of a common domain indicates possible similar functional peculiarities of the PDCD9 and MRPL37 genes and may imply the MRPL37 involvement in the process of apoptosis. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 5; see also http: // www.maik.ru.

The human RIL gene: mapping to human chromosome 5q31.1, genomic organization and alternative transcripts.

The ril gene encoding a LIM domain protein of an unknown function was previously identified by differential expression cloning as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in rat fibroblasts (Kiess, M., Scharm, B., Aguzzi, A., Hajnal, A., Klemenz, R., Schwarte-Waldhoff, I., Schafer, R., 1995. Expression of ril, a novel LIM domain gene, is down-regulated in HRAS-transformed cells and restored in phenotypic revertants. Oncogene 10, 61-68). Searching for novel genes on human chromosome 5q31.1 by the cDNA selection technique, we isolated a cDNA clone identical with the cDNA of the human RIL gene (GenBank Accession No. X93510). The human 5q31.1 region is of interest because it contains the cytokine gene cluster and is frequently deleted in the malignant cells of patients with myelodysplasia and myeloid leukemia. Using Southern blot analysis and restriction mapping of genomic YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) and cosmid clones, we located the human RIL gene 240-260 kb telomeric to the IRF1 gene and characterized its genomic structure. PCR analysis indicated the presence of two alternative RIL transcripts in human fetal brain mRNA. The major transcript is identical with the RIL cDNA previously deposited in GenBank and contains seven exons distributed over 14.5 kb of genomic DNA with the two last 3'-exons coding a LIM domain. The minor transcript lacks the sixth exon compared with the major transcript, which leads to the loss of the LIM domain. We also identified two putative transcription start points (tsp) and sequenced the 5'-flanking region of RIL to reveal potential binding sites for transcriptional factors.

[Effect of the topography of the signal peptidase site on the effectiveness of secretion of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor into Escherichia coli periplasm]. / Vliianie topografii saita signal'noi peptidazy na éffektivnost' sekretsii v periplazmu Escherichia coli rekombinantnogo granulotsitarno-makrofagal'nogo koloniestimuliruiushchego faktora cheloveka.

Synthesis of an artificial gene encoding the signal peptide of the Yersinia pestis capsule antigen (Caf1) was accomplished. A set of plasmids coding for hybrid proteins in which a modified sequence of the Caf1 signal peptide is connected to the amino acid sequence of the mature granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were constructed. Topography of the cleavage site of signal proteases was studied. The presence of an arginine residue within the N-terminal part of the mature human GM-CSF was shown to hinder the proper processing and translocation of the precursor through periplasmic membrane. A number of E. coli strains secreting biologically active mutants of human GM-CSF were obtained.

[Cytotoxic activity of normal killers and the lymphocytic proliferative response to specific viral antigens in influenza in mice]. / Tsitotoksicheskaia aktivnost' normal'nykh killerov i proliferativnyi otvet limfotsitov na spetsificheskie virusnye antigeny pri grippoznoi infektsii u myshei.

Inoculation of CBA mice with pathogenic influenza A/PR8/34 (H1N1) virus and non-pathogenic A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) virus demonstrated that the pathogenic strain enhanced the synthesis of serum interferon and activated the function of normal killers, but had a relatively low capacity of causing in vitro proliferative response of spleen lymphocytes of intact and in vivo primed animals. In contrast, the nonpathogenic virus had less marked interferon-inducing capacity and that of activating normal killers, but induced a very high proliferative response of lymphocytes in culture.

[Cytotoxic activity of the lymphocytes of mice immunized with the influenza virus and its membrane protein]. / Tsitotoksicheskaia aktivnost' limfotsitov myshei, immunizirovannykh virusom grippa i ego membrannym belkom.

The cytotoxic activity of spleen lymphocytes of mice C3H and C3HA lines immunized with whole virions and membrane protein of influenza A/PR8/34 virus strain was studied. The cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes of mice immunized with whole virions was found to be higher for cells of primary mouse kidney cultures inoculated with the homologous virus than for cells of a continuous L929 line. The cytotoxic lymphocytes formed in response to the inoculation with membrane protein have a higher lysing activity for target cells of the continuous L929 line.

[Immune response of mice to experimental influenza]. / Immunnyi otvet u myshei na éksperimental'nuiu grippoznuiu infektsiiu.

The immune response of BALB/c mice to a pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of influenza type A virus was studied. In this system of experimental influenza infection the pathogenic influenza A/PR8/34 (HON1) virus was found to induce sensitization of T-lymphocytes and production of clones cytotoxic for syngeneic target cells. Nonpathogenic influenza A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) virus had a less marked capacity to induce sensitization of lymphocytes and production of clones cytotoxic for syngeneic target cells. But the nonpathogenic virus strain had a sufficiently high mitogenic activity and stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes sensitized by a heterogenous influenza virus strain.