Control of the Rate of Fibroblast Migration and Spreading by Defensin Oligopeptide Fragment.

The elaboration of modes for directed regulation of cell transition from the nonmotile fixed status to the motile state, and vice versa, is referred to the most important problems of practical medicine. Nowadays, the creation of biopreparations on the basis of naturally occurring compounds for the minimization or elimination of negative consequences at the cell malignization is an actual problem. The effect of synthetic peptide GERA (a fragment of antimicrobial polypeptides defensins) on the spreading and migration of embryonic fibroblasts was studied. The peptide was found to increase the number of spread cells in cell population compared to the control cells. In addition, the GERA peptide stimulates the directed migration of fibroblasts to wounded zone of cell monolayer (i.e., substrate areas free from cells). The most probable cell targets in spreading and migrating fibroblasts under peptide action are the structural and regulatory components of focal adhesions.

A defensin fragment regulates CHO-K1 cell spreading and induces renewal of fatty acid composition in cell membrane phospholipids.

A tetrapeptide defensin fragment has been shown to stimulate the spreading of CHOK1 cells. The tetrapeptide investigated had virtually no effect on the composition of cell membrane phospholipids but participated in the regulation of the renewal of fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. Incubation of cells with the peptide resulted in a change in the composition of the unsaturated fatty acid residues in the phospholipids investigated: specifically, the content of monoenoic and/or dienoic acids increased and that of polyenoic acids decreased. The possible role of the peptide investigated (1) in the regulation of the functional activity of integrin receptors, and (2) in changes in the packing density of the phospholipid acyl chains in cell membrane microdomains, which affects the rates of integrin clustering and adhesion complex formation, is discussed.

[A current viewpoint on structure and evolution of collagens. II. The fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices].

Fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs) form one of the subfamilies of collagen family. Being minor components of connective tissues in multicellular animals, FACITs play an important role in structurization of extracellular matrix whose peculiarities determine differences among tissues. FACITs take part in regulation of the sizes of banded collagen fibrils and are also a link between diverse components of extracellular matrix and cells in different tissues. The functional characteristics of FACIT molecules are determined by peculiarities of α-chain structure (interruptions in collagenous domains and module structure of N-terminal noncollagenous regions), trimeric molecules (trimerization domains), and supramolecular assemblies (mainly, association with banded fibrils and inability to form homopolymeric suprastructural aggregates). The evolution of FACITs is also discussed. A hypothetical model of structural changes leading to formation of FACIT subfamily is propounded.

[A modern viewpoint on structure and evolution of collagens. I. Fibrillar collagens].

This review summarizes current data on structure of the most representative group of the collagen family--fibrillar collagens. Attention has been focused on structural organization of individual domains and their functional role in the hierarchical stacking of alpha-chains of collagens. There is presented characteristics of the main stages of biosynthesis and of supramolecular processing of fibrillar collagens. Also considered are some aspects of evolution of fibrillar collagens. The role of duplication of genome and genes, intergene rearrangements, and exon shuffling in evolution of collagen genes is discussed.

[The effect of the collagen tripeptide fragment (GER) on the adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts depends on the properties of adhesive surface].

The effect of collagen tripeptide fragment GER on the adhesion and spreading of mouse embryonic fibroblasts STO to different substrates--polystyrene plastic and immobilized on plastic poly-L-lysine, fibronectin or gelatin was studied. Tripeptide GER has been found to participate in the regulation of fibroblast adhesion and spreading. Therewith, the tripeptide effect value on cell response was dependent both on the mode of tripeptide addition to culture medium and on the type of used substrate. During coincubation of fibroblasts with the tripeptide the stimulation of cell attachment and spreading to untreated plastic and plastic coated with fibronectin or gelatin was observed. At the same time the tripeptide did not change cell adhesion to immobilized poly-L-lysine. Preincubation of cells with the tripeptide resulted in partial inhibition of fibroblast adhesion and spreading on fibronectin- and gelatin-coated substrata. In was shown that the extent of activation and inhibition of adhesive processes on fibronectin was higher than such ones on gelatin after tripeptide treating. The data obtained support the assumption about concerted action of tripeptide GER (activity of which was dependent both on the used concentration of the tripeptide and on the mode of tripeptide addition to culture medium) and chemical characteristics of substrate (polymers of styrene and L-lysine, ECM proteins in native (fibronectin) or partly denatured (gelatin) form) on the cell adhesion and spreading. The main targets on which the GER peptide may affect during the formation of cell-substrate interactions are discussed.

[The effect of synthetic polycation polyallylamine on adhesion and viability of CHL V-79 RJK Chinese hamster fibroblasts with different heat resistance].

The effects of synthetic polycation polyallylamine (PAA) on adhesion of CHL V-79 RJK fibroblasts and CHL V-79 RJK40 cells resistant to 40 degrees C, and attachment to these cells to polycation immobilized on polystyrene surface were studied. We have also investigated the cytotoxicity of PAA. It was shown that cell adherence to polystyrene plastic coated with PAA was enhanced or decreased in dependence of the PAA concentration used for surface coating and did not depend on heat resistance of investigated cell lines. The effect of PAA on cell adhesion to uncoated polystyrene surface after cell exposure with PAA depended not only on the polycation concentration, but also on the extent of heat resistance of investigated cell lines. Pretreatment of CHL V-79 RJK cells with PAA at the nontoxic concentrations led to inhibition of cell adhesion, and no change in adhesive properties of thermoresistant cells was found under the same conditions. PAA was toxic for CHL V-79 RJK and CHL V-79 RJK40 cells only at concentrations of 100 microg/ml (MTT assay). PAA-induced acute toxicity was accompanied by necrotic-like cell damage. Possible mechanisms of the PAA effect on the behaviour of cells with different structural and metabolic characteristics that are due to the temperature of cell cultivation are discussed.

[About effect of habitat and motor activity of molluscs on fatty acid composition of triglycerides and phospholipids].

A comparative analysis of fatty acids (FA) in neutral and phospholipids of digestive gland and pedal muscle has been performed in molluscs from various ecological groups differing by belonging to sea or fresh water, trophic types or the associated motor activity. In freshwater pulmonary gastropods Lymnaea stagnalis and Limnaea ovalis and marine prosobranchial molluscs Buccinum undatum and Littorina littorea the total content of omega3-acids in phospholipids of the studied tissues differed more than twice, predominantly due to the combined effect of temperature and salinity of the habitat. The lower viscosity of cell membranes in marine species (omega3/omega6 < 1) is determined to the greatest degree by the presence of eicosapentaenoic acid that accounts for 22-25 % of the FA sum in marine species. Comparison of the molluscs by their trophic belonging has revealed the presence of linoleic acid in triglycerides in digestive glands of phytophages (8-12 %), but the practically complete absence of this acid in the predator B. undulatum (<0.8 %. By mobility, L. littorea inhabiting the high-low tide littoral was inferior to freshwater pulmonary gastropods and to marine predator, as it stops moving twice a day during the low tide. In phospholipids of pedal muscle of this mollusc the amount of long-chain polyunsaturated C:22 FA was 3-6 times lower than that in other studied species, which might possibly indicate the role of these acids in functioning of the pedal muscle contractile tissue. On the whole, use of the FA characteristics as parameters determining belonging to certain ecological group requires a certain caution due to a complex action of biotic and abiotic factors on the animal metabolism. The exception is the omega3/omega6 ratio in total phospholipids of freshwater and marine gastropods.

[About paired correlation of pi-electrons tissue lipid extracts of animals of different evolutionary levels].

With aid of optical methods, the presence of the paired correlations of pi-electrons has been revealed in phospholipids as well as in triacylglyceride molecules. Used for analysis were lipid extracts of individual representatives of animals of various evolutionary levels--cartilaginous and bony fish and mammals differing by the content of unsaturated fatty acids in lipids. It has been established that the necessary condition for formation of electron pairs is interaction of lipid molecules with each other. An opinion is put forward that in the liquid crystal structure of the membrane monolayer there are two zones able to form electron pairs--the zone of location of ester bonds and the zone in the region of double bonds. Besides, the paired correlation in the phospholipid molecule electron system is accompanied by the absence of electric resistance of the membrane monolayer, which provides the monolayer superconductivity at low rates of movement of the "electron fluid". It is to be noted that the very fact of the presence of the electron pair implies transfer of energy by small portions, which does not allow excitation of individual phospholipid molecules in the monolayer and promotes stability of the native membrane. Our data agree with the known statements of A. Pulman and B. Pulman that the life dynamicity is determined by dynamicity of the electron cloud in coupled or partially coupled systems.

[The role of the collagen tripeptide fragment GER in the adhesion activation and modification of fatty acid composition in membrane phospholipids of CHO-K1 cells].

It has been found that multiply repeated tripeptide fragment GER (Gly-Glu-Arg) from different collagen types stimulates nonspecific adhesion of CHO-K1 cells. Activation of cell adhesion is accompanied by modifications in fatty acid composition of cell membrane phospholipids. Cell incubation with the synthetic peptide increases the unsaturation indexes of phosphatidylcholin (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Arachidonic (C20:4omega6) acid is mainly contributed to the increased unsaturation index of PI. In the case of PC and PEA not only arachidonic acid but also other unsaturated fatty acids: docosatetraenoic (C22:4omega6), docosapentaenoic (C22:5omega3) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6omega3) acids are implicated in the index increasing. Besides, the elevation of relative content of molecules with polyenoic fatty acids in the group of PI molecules is accompanied by decrease in monoenoic fatty acids caused mainly by decrease in the oleic (C18:1) acid level. The role of the investigated peptide: 1) in the activation of cell adhesion as a regulator of active or non active state of integrin receptors: 2) in the alterations of fatty acid composition in main classes of phospholipids as modulator of fluidity level in annular lipid zones around these adhesive molecules is discussed.

Analyzing heat capacity profiles of peptide-containing membranes: cluster formation of gramicidin A.

The analysis of peptide and protein partitioning in lipid membranes is of high relevance for the understanding of biomembrane function. We used statistical thermodynamics analysis to demonstrate the effect of peptide mixing behavior on heat capacity profiles of lipid membranes with the aim to predict peptide aggregation from c(P)-profiles. This analysis was applied to interpret calorimetric data on the interaction of the antibiotic peptide gramicidin A with lipid membranes. The shape of the heat capacity profiles was found to be consistent with peptide clustering in both gel and fluid phase. Applying atomic force microscopy, we found gramicidin A aggregates and established a close link between thermodynamics data and microscopic imaging. On the basis of these findings we described the effect of proteins on local fluctuations. It is shown that the elastic properties of the membrane are influenced in the peptide environment.

Histogram method to obtain heat capacities in lipid monolayers, curved bilayers, and membranes containing peptides.

Lipid monolayer chain melting transitions were simulated using a two-state Doniach model, and experimental melting profiles of lipid vesicles were analyzed. We sampled the information of a Monte Carlo simulation into a single broad histogram containing complete information about the distribution of states. The information of the monolayer histogram was first used to calculate the melting behavior of a bilayer constructed from two uncoupled monolayers. We then fitted calorimetric heat profiles of various preparations of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles. This analysis was extended to lipid bilayers. A fixed mean bilayer curvature was shown to result in a broadening of bilayer melting profiles. We furthermore used the histogram method to obtain the chain melting behavior of simple lipid-peptide mixtures.

[Effect of gangliosides on intensity of the lipid peroxidation process and structural changes in neuronal membranes, caused by toxic doses of glutamate]. / Vliianie gangliozidov na intensivnost' protsessov perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov i strukturnye izmeneniia neironal'noi membrany, vyzvannye toksicheskimi dozami glutamata.

We studied effects of gangliosides on the level of lipid peroxides and microviscosity of membrane lipid bilayer in primary dissociated cultures of cerebellar granule cells prepared from 8 day-old rats under conditions of neurotoxic effect of glutamate. It was found that glutamate (100 mkM) treatment of primary cultures activated the processes of lipid peroxidation and decreased microviscosity of neuronal membranes determined as a degree of pyrene excimerization. It was also shown that preincubation of granule cells with gangliosides did not prevent the accumulation of TBA-reactive products induced by glutamate. At the same time gangliosides significantly decreased the membrane-fluidizing effect caused by glutamate.

The influence of pluronics and their conjugates with proteins on the rate of oxygen consumption by liver mitochondria and thymus lymphocytes.

The membranotropic properties of block co-polymers and their protein conjugates were studied by their effect on the rate of oxygen consumption by isolated liver mitochondria and on thymus-derived lymphocytes. The block co-polymers consisted of poly(ethylene oxide) (PoE) [poly(ethylene glycol)] and poly(propylene oxide) (PoP) to give either PoE-PoP or PoE-PoP-PoE. Both types inhibited uncoupled respiration of liver mitochondria in a medium containing glutamate and malate and also of lymphocytes. They also uncoupled respiration in the presence of succinate in K(+)-containing medium and of lymphocytes. A method is described for linking protein to the block polymers to form conjugates. Such conjugates were formed from alpha-chymotrypsin, BSA and cytochrome c, all of which produced similar effects on the respiration of the isolated mitochondria and lymphocytes. The data suggest that both the block co-polymers and their protein conjugates inhibit the NADH dehydrogenase complex and induce a K(+)-conductivity of the mitochondrial inner membrane; the surface activity of the conjugates allows them to pass through the plasma membrane and interact with the mitochondrial inner membrane.

[The effect of new synthetic fragments of thymus hormones on the proliferative response of lymphocytes]. / Vliianie novykh sinteticheskikh fragmentov timusnykh gormonov na proliferativnyi otvet limfotsitov.

Influence of three new artificial fragments of beta-thymosines Phe-Asp-Lys-Ala, Glu-Lys-Phe-Asp-Lys and Thr-Leu-Pro-Thr on phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferative response of human lymphocytes was studied. These peptides studied either stimulated or inhibited incorporation of 3H-thymidine in cell cultures of human lymphocytes. Possible mechanisms of these effects of the peptides on lymphocyte proliferation are discussed.

[Effects of nitroxyl radicals on pathogenic properties of herpesvirus (the spin-label technique in the study of virus-macrophage interactions)]. / Vliianie nitroksil'nykh radikalov na patogennye svoistva virusa Gerpesa (metod spinovogo zondirovaniia v issledovanii vzaimodeistviia virus-makrofag).

The effect of various concentrations of both methyl ether of 5-doxyl-stearic acid (M5DS) and 4-maleimido-TEMPO (4MT) on the pathogenicity of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) was studied. It is known that the reagents modify the lipid matrix and the proteins of virion envelope. The decrease of the HSV-1 pathogenicity was shown when using the concentration of reagents more 5 x 10(-5) M. HSV-1 having high pathogenicity and cytotoxicity was obtained when the concentrations of the reagents were less 5 x 10(-5) M.