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Vadim M Govorun

Publications and source records attributed to Vadim M Govorun.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Phenylethynylpyrene-labeled oligonucleotide probes for excimer fluorescence SNP analysis of 23S rRNA gene in clarithromycin-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains.

The use of phenylethynylpyrene excimer forming pair in the design of specific fluorescent probes for determination of A2144G (A2143G and/or A2143C) mutations in 23S rRNA gene of Helicobacter pylori is described. Analysis of fluorescence spectra of model duplexes revealed optimal positions of fluorophore residues in the probe sequences for maximum efficiency of SNP detection. Application of excimer forming probes for analysis of DNA samples isolated from natural bacterial strains of H. pylori was demonstrated.

Base Sequence↗

Nanotechnologies in proteomics.

Progress in proteomic researches is largely determined by development and implementation of new methods for the revelation and identification of proteins in biological material in a wide concentration range (from 10(-3) M to single molecules). The most perspective approaches to address this problem involve (i) nanotechnological physicochemical procedures for the separation of multicomponent protein mixtures; among these of particular interest are biospecific nanotechnological procedures for selection of proteins from multicomponent protein mixtures with their subsequent concentration on solid support; (ii) identification and counting of single molecules by use of molecular detectors. The prototypes of biospecific nanotechnological procedures, based on the capture of ligand biomolecules by biomolecules of immobilized ligate and the concentration of the captured ligands on appropriate surfaces, are well known; these are affinity chromatography, magnetic biobeads technology, different biosensor methods, etc. Here, we review the most promising nanotechnological approaches for selection of proteins and kinetic characterization of their complexes based on these biospecific methods with subsequent MS/MS identification of proteins and protein complexes. Two major groups of methods for the analysis and identification of individual molecules and their complexes by use of molecular detectors will be reviewed: scanning probe microscopy (SPM) (including atomic-force microscopy) and cryomassdetector technology.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Coexpressionfinder: a new algorithm for finding groups of coexpressed genes.

RESULTS: A new algorithm is developed which is intended to find groups of genes whose expression values change in a concordant manner in a series of experiments with DNA arrays. This algorithm is named as CoexpressionFinder. It can find more complete and internally coordinated groups of gene expression vectors than hierarchical clustering. Also, it finds more genes having coordinated expression. The algorithm's design allows parallel execution. AVAILABILITY: The algorithm is implemented as a Java application which is freely available at: http://www.bioinformatics.ru/cf/index.jsp and http://bioinformatics.ru/cf/index.jsp.

Algorithms↗

Autoantibodies to myelin basic protein catalyze site-specific degradation of their antigen.

Autoantibody-mediated tissue destruction is among the main features of organ-specific autoimmunity. This report describes "an antibody enzyme" (abzyme) contribution to the site-specific degradation of a neural antigen. We detected proteolytic activity toward myelin basic protein (MBP) in the fraction of antibodies purified from the sera of humans with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mice with induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Chromatography and zymography data demonstrated that the proteolytic activity of this preparation was exclusively associated with the antibodies. No activity was found in the IgG fraction of healthy donors. The human and murine abzymes efficiently cleaved MBP but not other protein substrates tested. The sites of MBP cleavage determined by mass spectrometry were localized within immunodominant regions of MBP. The abzymes could also cleave recombinant substrates containing encephalytogenic MBP(85-101) peptide. An established MS therapeutic Copaxone appeared to be a specific abzyme inhibitor. Thus, the discovered epitope-specific antibody-mediated degradation of MBP suggests a mechanistic explanation of the slow development of neurodegeneration associated with MS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (mass spectrometry) for hepatitis C virus genotyping.

Determination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype has become accepted as the standard procedure in laboratory practice. Genotype assignment helps in disease prognosis and assists in establishing the appropriate duration of treatment. More than 10 types and 70 subtypes of HCV have been described. In Russia the most common subtypes are 1a, 1b, 2a, and 3a, and the types 4 and 5 are relatively rare. The "gold standard" for testing is gene sequencing. However, a variety of other assays had been developed to provide more rapid and cheaper forms of testing. The aim of this study was to determine the HCV genotype by minisequencing followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Fragments of 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome were amplified. Three oligonucleotide primers were designed to detect two sets of genotype-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. The primer extension reaction was performed using modified thermostable DNA polymerase and in the presence of dideoxynucleosides. The molecular weights of the reaction products were analyzed with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. The HCV genotype was determined by registering the particles of the expected molecular weights. The method was used to genotype HCV from HCV-positive blood sera or plasma. The 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4 genotype HCVs were determined in the samples examined. The data were confirmed by direct sequencing. Thus, we propose a new accurate and efficient method for HCV genotyping based on minisequencing followed by mass spectrometry.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Database search post-processing by neural network: Advanced facilities for identification of components in protein mixtures using mass spectrometric peptide mapping.

Database search post-processing by neural network was employed in peptide mapping experiments. The database search was performed using both the known algorithms and score functions, such as Bayesian, MOWSE, Z-score, correlations between calculated and actual peptide length fractional abundance, and, in addition, the probability of protein digest pattern in peptide fingerprint, all embedded in locally developed program. The new signal-processing algorithm based on neural network improves signal-noise separation and is acceptable for automatic protein identification in mixtures. Its power was tested on Helicobacter pylori protein inventory after preceding protein separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Increase in protein identification success rate was observed, and about 100 proteins were identified with no need of human participation in database search estimation.

Algorithms↗

Induced expression of the antimicrobial peptide melittin inhibits experimental infection by Mycoplasma gallisepticum in chickens.

The in vivo action of the antimicrobial peptide melittin, expressed from a recombinant plasmid vector, on chickens experimentally infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum was studied. The plasmid vector pBI/mel2/rtTA includes the melittin gene under the control of an inducible tetracycline-dependent human cytomegalovirus promoter and the gene coding for the trans-activation protein rtTA. Aerosol administration of the vector, followed by infecting the chickens with M. gallisepticum 1226, is shown to inhibit development of infection. The inhibitory action was confirmed by a complex of clinical, pathomorphological, histological and serological studies, and also by comparing the M. gallisepticum reisolation frequency from the respiratory tract and internal organs. The data suggest that plasmid vectors expressing genes of antimicrobial peptides can be considered as potential agents for the prevention and treatment of mycoplasma infections in poultry farming.

Air Sacs↗

Protein-protein interactions as a target for drugs in proteomics.

Protein-protein interactions play a central role in numerous processes in the cell and are one of the main fields of functional proteomics. This review highlights the methods of bioinformatics and functional proteomics of protein-protein interaction investigation. The structures and properties of contact surfaces, forces involved in protein-protein interactions, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of these reactions were considered. The properties of protein contact surfaces depend on their functions. The contact surfaces of permanent complexes resemble domain contacts or the protein core and it is reasonable to consider such complex formation as a continuation of protein folding. Characteristics of contact surfaces of temporary protein complexes share some similarities with active sites of enzymes. The contact surfaces of the temporary protein complexes have unique structure and properties and they are more conservative in comparison with active site of enzymes. So they represent prospective targets for a new generation of drugs. During the last decade, numerous investigations were undertaken to find or design small molecules that block protein dimerization or protein(peptide)-receptor interaction, or, on the contrary, to induce protein dimerization.

Computational Biology↗