I. A. Yamskov

Preparation of affinity sorbents and isolation of individual chitinases from a crude supernatant produced by Streptomyces kurssanovii by a one-step affinity-chromatographic system.

The preparation of two affinity‐chromatography sorbents based on cross‐linked chitin are described. Both sorbents retained selectively one of the four extracellular chitinases in the culture supernatant produced by Streptomyces kurssanovii. Chitinases with molecular masses of 42 kDa and 26 kDa were isolated in homogeneous form using one‐step affinity‐chromatography procedures involving either a fully N‐acetylated or a partially N‐acetylated cross‐linked chitin‐type sorbent. Two other chitinases were not selectively bound by the sorbents and, therefore, were not isolated in a homogeneous form. The affinity sorbents were shown to be stable over the period of separation and could be used repeatedly.

Novel liposomal forms of antifungal antibiotics modified by amphiphilic polymers

A novel method was developed to incorporate macrocyclic polyene antibiotics, nystatin and amphotericin B, into liposomes prepared from the mixture of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (7: 3) or phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and cardiolipin (7: 3: 1). Membranes of the liposomes were modified using the amphiphilic polymer N-vinylpyrrolidone with the molecular mass (MM) of the polymer fragment of 4000 and a single terminal n-octadecyl group. The content of the antibiotic incorporated within such nanosize liposomal carriers can reach 17–22%. The obtained modified liposomes, 150–200 nm in size, were more stable during prolonged storage and more resistant to various destructive factors, such as destabilizing agents (Triton X-100, ethanol) and ultrasound. The liposomal preparations showed higher antifungal activity than non-immobilized antifungal antibiotics.

Synthesis of N-glycyl-β-glycopyranosylamines, human milk fucooligosaccharide derivatives

The action of ammonium carbamate in aqueous methanol in the presence of NH3 on three-, penta-, hexa-, octa-, and nonasaccharides of human milk and on decasaccharide (N-glycan from human immunoglobulin (IgG)) containing one or two a-l-fucose residues led to the corresponding β-glycopyranosylamines. After their N-acylation upon treatment with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-Boc-glycine or N-Boc-glycine anhydride (Boc is the tert-butyloxycarbonyl) with subsequent removal of the Boc group, N-glycyl-β-glycopyranosylamines were obtained in up to 75% yield.

Affinity purification of major chitinases produced by Streptomyces kurssanovii

A highly O-cross-linked chitin-based sorbent resistant toward digestion by the extracellular chitinolytic complex of Streptomyces kurssanovii was prepared by means of cross-linking of N-acetylchitosan with 2,3-epoxypropyl chloride. Not less than four stages of cross-linking were required for the matrix to be fully resistant toward the action of chitinolytic enzymes. The sorbent was shown to be specific for two major endochitinases which were isolated in homogeneous forms quantitatively.

Structural-functional characteristics of a new bioregulator isolated from bovine pigmented epithelium tissue

A new bioregulator operating in ultralow doses corresponding to 10−17 mg/ml has been isolated from tissue of pigmented epithelium of bovine eyes. It has been established that the functional basis of this bioregulator is a complex of a low molecular weight regulatory peptide (4372 Da) and a modulator consisting of a mixture of proteins with molecular weights of 14.980–66.283 kDa. It has been shown that the regulatory peptide is responsible for membranotropic activity of the bioregulator, and the modulator proteins are responsible for biological action in ultralow doses. The data demonstrate an interrelation between nanocondition of the bioregulator and its ability to show activity in ultralow doses.

One-step isolation of a chitinase by affinity chromatography of the chitinolytic enzyme complex produced by Streptomyces kurssanovii.

One of the four chitinases with a molecular mass of 42 kDa existing in the chitinolytic enzyme complex produced by Streptomyces kurssanovii was separated in homogeneous form using one‐step affinity chromatography on cross‐linked and phosphorylated chitin‐type sorbents. Three other chitinases were not selectively bound by the sorbents and were not obtained in homogeneous form. The affinity sorbents were shown to be stable over the time of separation and could be used repeatedly.

Influence of glucosamine on oligochitosan solubility and antibacterial activity

Light scattering studies indicate that oligochitosan (short-chain chitosan) solutions contain aggregates at pH values below the critical pH of phase separation, while at or above this point the gel phase coexists with the aggregate solution. This work demonstrates for the first time that the presence of D-glucosamine in an oligochitosan solution shifts the critical pH to a higher value and improves the oligochitosan antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermis in neutral and slightly alkaline aqueous media. By comparing the results of light scattering studies and antimicrobial assays one can conclude that the antimicrobial activity of oligochitosan is dependent on its unimolecular form, not its supramolecular structures. The widening of the homogeneity region of an oligochitosan solution could lead to promising biomedical applications.

The mechanism of alpha-proton isotope exchange in amino acids catalysed by tyrosine phenol-lyase. What is the role of quinonoid intermediates?

To shed light on the mechanism of isotopic exchange of alpha-protons in amino acids catalyzed by pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes, we studied the kinetics of quinonoid intermediate formation for the reactions of tyrosine phenol-lyase with L-phenylalanine, L-methionine, and their alpha-deuterated analogues in D2O, and we compared the results with the rates of the isotopic exchange under the same conditions. We have found that, in the L-phenylalanine reaction, the internal return of the alpha-proton is operative, and allowing for its effect, the exchange rate is accounted for satisfactorily. Surprisingly, for the reaction with L-methionine, the enzymatic isotope exchange went much faster than might be predicted from the kinetic data for quinonoid intermediate formation. This result allows us to suggest the existence of an alternative, possibly concerted, mechanism of alpha-proton exchange.

[A study of the adhesive glycoprotein-inactivating protein from mammalian blood serum].

A protein with a molecular weight of 70 kDa was isolated from bovine blood serum and purified to a homogenous state. This protein reversibly inhibited the adhesive serum glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 12 kDa, which displayed biological activity at ultralow doses. Amino acid analysis showed that the protein inactivator belongs to the group of prealbumins from vertebrate blood serum. The secondary structure of its molecule was characterized by a considerable number of α-helices. The conditions for inactivation of serum glycoprotein were studied. The interaction between the serum glycoprotein and the protein inactivator occurred over a long period of time (1 day). It should be emphasized that the presence of calcium ions was a necessary condition for the inactivation of the serum glycoprotein. The data suggest that inactivation of serum glycoprotein results from the formation of a molecular complex consisting of the protein inactivator and the glycoprotein, which is related to the carbon–protein interaction.

Synthesis of N-glycyl-β-glycopyranosyl amines, derivatives of natural oligosaccharides — glucose analogs of Lex antigen

Treatment of the natural tri-, tetra-, and pentasaccharides, β-d-Galp-(1→4)-[α-l-Fucp-(1→3)]-d-Glcp, α-l-Fucp-(1→2)-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-[α-l-Fucp-(1→3)]-d-Glcp, and α-l-Fucp-(1→2)-[α-d-GalNAcp-(1→3)]-β-d-Galp-(1→4)-[α-l-Fucp-(1→3)]-d-Glcp, which are glucose analogs of Lex, with ammonium carbamate in aqueous methanol gave the corresponding β-glycopyranosyl amines. After their N-acylation with N-Z-glycine N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester (Z is benzyloxycarbonyl) with subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of Z-group, corresponding N-glycyl-β-glycopyranosyl amines were obtained in yields up to 70%.