Search

Thomsen's and Becker's diseases are the most prevalent nondystrophic myotonias. Their frequency varies, according to different sources, from 1 : 100 000 to 1 : 10 000. Thomsen's myotonia is autosomal dominant, and Becker's myotonia is autosomal recessive. Both diseases result from mutations of the CLCN1 gene encoding chloride ion channels of skeletal muscles. Molecular genetic analysis of the CLCN1 gene has been performed in patients with diagnoses of nondystrophic Thomsen's and Becker's myotonias living in the Russian Federation. A sample of 79 unrelated probands with nondystrophic Thomsen's and Becker's myotonias and 44 their relatives has been formed in the Laboratory of DNA Diagnosis of the Medical Genetic Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Forty CLCN1 gene mutations have been found in a total of 118 chromosomes of 66 probands, including 21 familial and 45 sporadic cases. About half the mutations detected (45%) have been found for the first time; they are not described in the SNP database (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The following mutations (substitutions) have been detected in more than one chromosome, accounting for a total of 59.3% of chromosomes with mutations: Glyl90Ser (5.9%), c.1437-1450del14 (9.3%), Ala493Glu (5.1%), Thr550Met (3.4%), Tyr686Stop (5.1%), and Arg894Stop (30.5%).

The influence of the cultivation conditions on Bacillus pumilus KMM 62 growth and effectiveness of the production of a subtilisin-like serine proteinase were investigated. Enzyme accumulation in the culture fluid reached the maximum value after 32 and 46-48 h of growth; it depends on the composition of the nutrient medium. The ratio of the concentrations of two main components of the medium, peptone and inorganic phosphate, which was optimal for enzyme biosynthesis was determined by multifactor experiments. Ammonium salts, when introduced as an additional nitrogen source, had different effects on the proteinase biosynthesis at different growth stages: they suppress enzyme production at the early stationary growth phase and stimulate the biosynthesis of the enzyme after 46-48 h of growth. Complex organic substrates (albumin, casein, hemoglobin, and gelatin) have a repressive effect on the biosynthesis of the enzyme. The effect of amino acids on culture growth and enzyme biosynthesis during the early and late stationary growth phase is different. Hydrophilic amino acids, glutamine, and glutamic acid exhibit the most pronounced repressive action on biosynthesis. The activity of different regulatory mechanisms for the synthesis of this proteinase is assumed at the early and late stationary stages of growth.

The effect of certain nutrients on the growth and production of the Bacillus intermedius subtilisin-like serine proteinase by the recombinant strain Bacillus subtilis AJ73(pCS9) was studied. Glucose was found to inhibit the synthesis of proteinase in the early (28 h of growth) but not in the late stationary phase (48 h of growth). The inhibitory effect of the other mono- and disaccharides studied was less pronounced. Casamino acids added to the medium at concentrations of 0.1-1% as an additional carbon and nitrogen source stimulated enzyme biosynthesis. Individual amino acids (cysteine, asparagine, glutamine, tryptophan, histidine, and glutamate) also stimulated enzyme biosynthesis in the early stationary phase by 25-30%, whereas other amino acids (valine, leucine, alanine, and aspartate) were ineffective or even slightly inhibitory to enzyme production. The stimulatory effect of the first group of amino acids on the synthesis of proteinase in the late stationary phase was negligible. In contrast, the bivalent ions Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ stimulated biosynthesis of proteinase in the late stationary phase (by 20-60%) and not in the early stationary phase. The data indicate that there are differences in the biosyntheses of proteinase by the recombinant B. subtilis strain during the early and late periods of the stationary phases.

The effect of the components of the nutrient medium on growth and production of the Bacillus intermedius subtilisin-like serine proteinase by the recombinant strain Bacillus subtilis AJ73(pCS9) was studied. The production of proteinase was found to be dependent on the composition of the nutrient medium and showed two peaks, at the 28th and 48th h of growth. The concentrations of the main components of the nutrient medium (peptone and inorganic phosphate) optimal for the biosynthesis of subtilisin-like serine proteinase at the 28th and 48th h of growth were determined in factorial experiments. Complex organic substances, casein at concentrations of 0.5-1%, gelatin at concentrations of 0.5-1%, and yeast extract at a concentration of 0.5%, stimulated the production of subtilisin-like serine proteinase by the recombinant strain. The study of the sporulation dynamics in this strain showed that the proteinase peaks at the 28th and 48th h of growth correspond, respectively, to the initial stage of sporulation and to the terminal stages of endospore formation (V-VII stages of sporulation).

We studied the biosynthesis of Bacillus intermedius glutamyl endopeptidase in the recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain AJ73 delta58.21 during the stationary growth phase. We optimized the composition of the culture medium to favor effective enzyme production during the stationary growth phase, and found that the nutritional requirements for glutamyl endopeptidase synthesis were different in the stationary phase and growth retardation phase. Proteinase accumulation was activated by complex organic substrates (casein and gelatin). During final stages of the culture growth, the enzyme production was stimulated by Ca2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ and inhibited by Zn2+, Fe2+, and Cu2+. The synthesis of glutamyl endopeptidase in the late stationary phase was not inhibited by glucose, unlike that in the trophophase during proliferation. We conclude that the regulatory mechanisms of proteinase synthesis during vegetative growth and sporulation are different.

The growth of the recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain AJ73 carrying the Bacillus intermedius 3-19 glutamyl endopeptidase gene on a multicopy plasmid and the effect of some nutrients on the efficiency of extracellular glutamyl endopeptidase production in the stationary growth phase were studied. In this phase, the concentration of glutamyl endopeptidase in the culture liquid peaked at the 48th and 78th h of cultivation and depended on the composition of the cultivation medium. Unlike the synthesis of glutamyl endopeptidase in the trophophase (i.e., during vegetative growth), which was suppressed by glucose, the synthesis of this enzyme during sporulation was resistant to glucose present in the cultivation medium. A multifactorial experimental design allowed optimal proportions between the concentrations of major nutrients (peptone and inorganic phosphate) to be determined. Inorganic phosphate and ammonium ions augmented the production of glutamyl endopeptidase by 30-150%, and complex organic substrates, such as casein and gelatin, enhanced the production of glutamyl endopeptidase by 50-100%. During sporulation, the production of glutamyl endopeptidase was stimulated by some bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Co2+) and inhibited by others (Zn2+, Fe2+, and Cu2+). The inference is drawn that the regulatory mechanisms of glutamyl endopeptidase synthesis during vegetative growth and sporulation are different.

An integrated medical genetic an population genetic study has been performed in two raions (administrative districts) of the Tver oblast (region) of Russia: the Udomlya raion located in the zone affected by the Kalininskaya Nuclear Power Plant and the Ostashkov raion, which served as a control district. No significant differences has been found with respect to the genetic parameters studied. The values of these parameters in the populations of the town of Udomlya, the town of Ostashkov, the Udomlya raion, and the Ostashkov raion, respectively, are the following: random inbreeding, 0.00006, 0.00011, 0.000167, and 0.000366; endogamy index, 0.05, 0.43, 0.30, and 0.42; local inbreeding, 0.0003, 0.00045, 0.0009, and 0.0011; the degree of isolation by distance, 0.0003, 0.00045, 0.0009, and 0.0005; sigma, 2098, 1338, 1473, and 1189; the load of autosomal dominant (AD) diseases, 0.71, 0.92, 0.92, and 1.37; the load of autosomal recessive (AR) diseases, 0.68, 0.69, 0.67, and 0.82; and the load of X-linked diseases, 0.18, 0.64, 0.83, and 0.27.

Proteolytic proteins solubilized from the membrane of Bacillus intermedius were studied by electrophoresis. The content of membrane-bound proteinases was lower in cells grown in the presence of glucose. Proteinase enzymograms revealed four molecular forms of subtilisin and four molecular forms of glutamyl endopeptidase. The electrophoretic mobility of one of the molecular forms was similar to those of the mature extracellular proteinases. Chromatography of membrane proteins on a MonoS column yielded four protein fractions that caused hydrolysis of Z-Glu-pNA and four fractions that caused hydrolysis of Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNA, which is in agreement with the results of electrophoresis. The molecular forms of proteinases identified in the membrane may reflect various stages of biogenesis of the corresponding extracellular enzymes.

In the late stages of sporulation, cells of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 secreted into the medium two proteinases, glutamyl endopeptidase and subtilisin, whose maximum activities were recorded in the 40th and 44th hours of growth, respectively. By estimating beta-galactosidase activity as a marker of cytoplasmic membrane integrity, it was revealed that the accumulation of these proteinases in the medium was a result of their secretion and not of lysis of the cell envelope. Concentrations of peptone and inorganic phosphate ensuring the maximum production of the enzymes were established. Ammonium ions were shown to inhibit the production of proteinases by the mechanism of repression by nitrogen metabolites.

The investigation of the activity of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and sporulation in the bacterium Bacillus intermedius 3-19 showed that the activity of ribonuclease is maximal in the glucose-containing growth medium, in which sporulation is suppressed. At the sporulation stages II-IV, the synthesis of phosphatase was not regulated by the factors that influence this synthesis in the phase of growth retardation. Caseinolytic activity exhibited two peaks. The first peak was observed when thiol-dependent proteinase began accumulating in the medium. The second peak corresponded to the late stages of sporulation, i.e., the stages of spore maturation and the autolysis of sporangium. The regulatory relationship between proteinase synthesis and sporulation and the possible role of extracellular phosphatases and proteinases in the sporulation are discussed.

The effect of some components of cultivation medium on the growth of the streptomycin-resistant Bacillus intermedius strain 3-19 and on the production of glutamyl endopeptidase was investigated using factorial experimental design, which allowed the concentrations of peptone and inorganic phosphate to be optimized for the maximum production of the enzyme. Experiments with different peptones and casamino acids showed that the enzyme production is maximum with peptone 3 of plant origin. The addition of casamino acids or amino acids to the peptone-containing cultivation medium inhibited the production of glutamyl endopeptidase.

The first population genetic study of hereditary disorders of the nervous system (HDNS) in Vladimir oblast was carried out. A total of 1,622,900 subjects, including 1,306,200 from the urban and 316,700 from the rural population, were tested. The population examined was characterized by virtually homogenous ethnic structure, with Russians constituting 95.76%. Pooled prevalence of HDNS in Vladimir oblast corresponded to the average prevalence for other Russian populations. Substantial differences between urban and rural populations in respect of the population load of HDNS and its nosological structure were not observed. A total of 22 nosological forms of HDNS were revealed, including thirteen autosomal dominant (193 families with 272 affected individuals), seven autosomal recessive (59 families with 66 affected individuals), and two X-linked (15 families with 17 affected individuals) diseases. The composition of the HDNS spectrum "nucleus" in Vladimir oblast displayed a number of differences from that in the majority of other populations examined. The HDNS in different regions of the area tested were characterized by different prevalence and spectrum. The data obtained may constitute a basis for regional registration of HDNS in Vladimir oblast.

Comprehensive population genetic and medical genetic studies were performed in three raions (districts) of Chuvashia. The population of these districts is more than 90% Chuvash. About 70% of the families that completed reproduction had two or three children. The proportion of families with four or more children was 18%. The duration of generation was 27.6 years. The differential fertility and differential mortality indices in the Chuvash population were estimated at 0.33 and 0.076, respectively. The total index of differential selection was 0.403, which is typical of modern urbanized populations. Mean values of local inbreeding calculated from Malecot's model of isolation by distance were 0.00124 and 0.00377 for the urban and rural populations, respectively, of the districts studied. The prevalence rates of autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked diseases were found to be 0.47, 0.52, and 0.35 per 1000, respectively, in the urban population and 1.62, 1.14, and 0.31 per 1000, respectively, in the rural population. Significant correlation between the local inbreeding and prevalence rates of AD and AR diseases was found. A total of 43 AD and 43 AR diseases were identified. Some of them were not found in previous studies on other populations.

A nutrient medium was elaborated for the efficient production of glutamyl endopeptidase by the recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain AJ73 bearing the Bacillus intermedius 3-19 glutamyl endopeptidase gene within a multicopy plasmid. Optimal concentrations of the main nutrients, peptone and inorganic phosphate, were found using a multifactor approach. To provide for active growth and efficient glutamyl endopeptidase production, the cultivation medium of the recombinant strain should be enriched in phosphorus, organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, and yeast extract. Complex protein substrates, such as casein and gelatin, enhanced the biosynthesis of glutamyl endopeptidase. At the same time, easily metabolizable carbon sources suppressed it. The production of glutamyl endopeptidase was stimulated by the bivalent cations Ca2+, Mg2+, and Co2+.

The activities of proteinases in the culture fluid and cellular fractions of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 grown under various conditions were studied. Thiol-dependent serine proteinase was the prevalent enzyme in the total pool of extracellular proteinases (70%); its catalytically active form was also detected in the cell membrane and, during active enzyme production, in the cell wall. Another enzyme, glutamyl endopeptidase (10% of the total pool), was detected in the cell membrane; it was also found in the cell wall and cytoplasm during active enzyme secretion into the growth medium. Production of these enzymes was maximal on medium containing inorganic phosphate and gelatin and decreased 2- to 4-fold on medium with glucose and lactate. The level of activity of extracellular enzymes correlated with that of corresponding membrane-bound proteins. The addition of CoCl2 (2 mM) into the medium caused an essential increase in extracellular glutamyl endopeptidase activity and promoted the release of the membrane-bound enzyme into the culture fluid. Proteolytic activity towards casein was also detected in the cytoplasm. The proteinases localized in the cytoplasm were shown to differ in their properties from those secreted.

The effect of nutrients and growth conditions on the accumulation of glutamyl endopeptidase in the culture liquid of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 was studied. Glucose and other readily metabolizable carbon sources were found to suppress the production of the enzyme, while inorganic phosphate and ammonium cations enhanced it. Protein substrates, such as casein, gelatin, and hemoglobin, did not affect enzyme production. Some bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+) increased the production of glutamyl endopeptidase, but others (Zn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+) acted in the opposite way. The rate of enzyme accumulation in the culture liquid increased as the growth rate of the bacterium decreased, so that the maximum enzyme activity was observed in the stationary growth phase. Based on the results of this investigation, an optimal medium for the maximum production of glutamyl endopeptidase by B. intermedius 3-19 was elaborated.

A summary of the medical genetic studies of the Marii El population is presented. A total of 276,900 people, 110,894 and 166,006 urban and rural inhabitants, respectively, were examined. Regarding the ethnic composition, the studied population was mostly Mari (61.96%) and Russian (32.04%). Medical genetic examination revealed 480 subjects from 260 families with autosomal dominant (AD) diseases, 234 subjects from 184 families with autosomal recessive (AR) diseases, and 49 subjects from 41 families with x-linked diseases. Segregation analysis revealed a good agreement between the expected and observed segregation frequencies for families with AR and AD diseases and allowed the frequency of hereditary diseases in the urban and rural, as well as the Russian and Mari, populations, to be estimated. The total frequency of AD diseases in Maris was approximately twice as high as in Russians (1.99 and 0.97%, respectively); substantial differences between district populations were found. The total frequency of AR diseases was also two times higher in Maris than in Russians (1.00 and 0.54%, respectively). The frequencies of AR and AD diseases in different districts were correlated with the levels of random and local inbreeding, population size, and the index of maximum selection.

The spectrum and prevalence rate of hereditary pathology in Kanevskii and Bryukhovetskii raions (districts) of Krasnodar krai (territory) were analyzed. The total size of the studied population was 145,937. The prevalence rate of monogenic hereditary pathology was estimated. This value was 1.08 +/- 0.08, 0.72 +/- 0.07, and 0.20 +/- 0.06 per 1000 people for autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR), and X-linked (XL) recessive diseases, respectively. Forty-two AD (158 affected persons in 82 families), 32 AR (105 affected persons in 82 families), and 6 XL disease entities (13 affected persons in 8 families) were found. A slight genetic subdivision was found in the populations of Kanevskii and Bryukhovetskii raions. However, it was not found to affect the prevalence of hereditary pathology.

The diversity of Mendelian hereditary pathology was studied in Marii El Republic. In total, 276,900 subjects, including 171,151 Maris and 88,714 Russians, living in seven raions (districts) were studied. Fifty-five autosomal dominant disease entities were found, with more than ten diseases having a frequency of 1:50,000 people or higher. In Maris, autosomal recessive hypotrichosis was observed at a relatively high frequency (1:15,337); this disease was not revealed in the Russian population studied earlier. Conversely, no phenylketonuria (PKU) was found in Maris, while it was a relatively common autosomal recessive disease in Russians. Regarding autosomal dominant pathology, 76 disease entities were revealed, with 21 diseases being observed at a frequency of at least 1:50,000. Ten X-linked diseases were found. The numbers of both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant diseases exhibited a linear relationship with the number of subjects examined. The genetic structure of the Mari population was studied on the basis of data on the genes of recessive diseases. A matrix of Nei's genetic distances was calculated from the frequencies of 45 recessive diseases found in the seven districts studied. The average genetic distance calculated for the 45 loci of autosomal recessive diseases was 0.006175 x 10(-3). Similarly, matrix of genetic distances for five Mari populations was obtained (Medvedevskii and Zvenigovskii raions were not included) based on a total of 32 allelic frequencies for ten polymorphic immune and biochemical loci. The average genetic distance calculated from the ten polymorphic loci was 0.001930, i.e., 2.5 orders of magnitude greater than the average genetic distance for recessive diseases. The matrices of genetic distances for the five Mari populations calculated from the gene frequencies for recessive diseases and for the ten polymorphic systems were largely similar to each other. Thus, the main elements of the genetic structure of the Mari population can be estimated on the basis of gene frequencies for hereditary diseases. In this case, the characteristics of individual populations, which are more or less isolated, and of their interaction are the same as in the case of studying genetic structure with the use of polymorphic biological markers.

A medical genetic study of Orshanskii, Morkinskii, Sovetskii, and Semurskii raions (districts) of the Marii El Republic was performed. The total number of subjects examined was 115,743. Meadow Maris and Russians accounted for the most part of the populations of the districts studied. A total of 147 families with presumably autosomal dominant (AD) pathology and 150 families with presumably autosomal recessive (AR) or X-linked pathology (270 and 169 affected persons, respectively) were revealed. Segregation analysis demonstrated a good agreement between the observed and expected segregation frequencies for both AR and AD diseases, as well as a considerable number of sporadic cases of presumably AD diseases. The incidence of hereditary diseases was estimated separately for different population groups. Significant differences in this incidence were revealed between the urban and rural, as well as between the Russian and Mari populations; the average incidence was 2.33 affected subjects per 1000 people. The incidence of AR diseases was significantly higher in Maris than in Russians (1.34 x 10(-3) and 0.82 x 10(-3), respectively). The populations studied exhibited a significant, high correlation between the incidence of AR diseases and the levels of random and local inbreeding. The incidence of X-linked recessive diseases was approximately the same as in Russian populations studied earlier. Its average value was 0.5 per 1000 men; the incidence in the Mari and Russian populations did not differ significantly. The higher AD incidence in the total population studied and the higher AR incidence in the Meadow Mari population compared to the populations studied earlier are discussed.

A medical genetic study on hereditary neural diseases was performed in 21 districts of the Mordovian Republic. The total number of persons examined was 936,800. The population load of autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked recessive diseases was 0.1696 +/- 0.0129, 0.1075 +/- 0.0107, and 0.0341 +/- 0.0010, respectively. Twenty-eight disease entities were revealed, including 10 autosomal recessive (AR), 15 autosomal dominant (AD), 2 X-linked recessive (XR) diseases, and 1 genetically heterogenous disease. These diseases were nonuniformly distributed among different populations of Mordovia. The incidence of AR diseases was highest in the Mordovian and Tatar populations; that of AD diseases, in the Russian population; and that of XR diseases, in the Mordovian population.

A homogeneous serine proteinase PC has been isolated from the Camchatka crab (Paralithodes camtschatica) hepatopancreas using affinity chromatography on arginine-Sepharose, protamine tryptic peptide-agarose and ion-exchange chromatography on Mono-Q, with a 68% yield. The enzyme is completely inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate, a typical inhibitor for serine proteinases. The molecular mass of the proteinase is 29 kDa, pI is 3.0. The proteinase splits Glp-Phe-Ala-pNA optimally at pH 7.5 and 47-55 degrees C; Km is 0.83 mM, kcat is 67 s-1. The enzyme is stable at pH 4-9. Proteinase PC possesses a broad substrate specificity and splits the peptide bonds formed by the carboxyl group of hydrophobic amino acids, arginine and lysine, in peptides and proteins. The enzyme hydrolyzes fibrin and collagen. Its N-terminal sequence, IVGGQEATP, reveals a 90% homology with analogous sequences of collagenolytic proteinases from other crab species.

A population and medical genetic investigation was performed in a number of raions in the Arkhangel' skaya oblast. Random inbreeding coefficients were 0.000358 and 0.000361 in the Vinogradovskii and Krasnoborskii raions. Malecot's local inbreeding coefficients were 0.000565 and 0.000472, respectively. The endogamy indices were 0.37 and 0.54, respectively. In the urban population, the loads of autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked pathology were 1.01 and 0.98 per 1000 individuals, and 0.29 per 1000 men; in the rural population, they were 1.22, 1.55, and 1.08, respectively. In the populations studied, the hereditary pathology spectrum is described.

The population of Gornomariiskii raion, Marii El Republic, primarily made up of mountain Marii, was subjected to medical genetic examination. The size of the entire population is 54853. Estimates of hereditary pathology in urban and rural populations of the raion were obtained. They were 0.68 and 1.11, respectively, for autosomal dominant pathology (AD); 0.55 and 0.81 for autosomal recessive pathology (AR); and 0.45 and 0.20 for X-linked pathology. Twenty-two, 25, and six nosologic forms of autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked diseases were revealed, respectively. We attempted to compare the sample under consideration with previously studied Russian and Finnish populations for rare pathologic recessive genes.

A population genetic study of spinal amyotrophy (SMA) in six Russian and three Central Asian regions was carried out. In total, 29 patients with autosomal recessive (AR) infantile proximal SMA (SMA I-III) and four patients with rare SMA forms with an unspecified type of inheritance were revealed. In Russian populations, the prevalence of SMA I-III is similar (1.5-2.5/100000), it is one of the most common hereditary neurological diseases. A tendency toward nonuniform territorial SMA prevalence is observed in genetically subdivided populations. The lesser SMA I-III prevalence in Central Asian populations might be due in part to inbreeding depression. A segregation frequency of 0.21 is in accordance with AR inheritance; the proportion of sporadic cases is 3%. Clinical genealogical data support the genetic unity of forms I-III. The origin of pedigrees with SMA in distant relatives is discussed.

Extracellular serine proteinase has been isolated from the cultural medium of Bacillus intermedius 3-19 using CM-cellulose chromatography and affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose. The specificity of the proteinase with a wide range of natural and synthetic substrates has been investigated. The greatest activity was observed with tripeptides containing C-terminal Leu or Phe. The enzyme was completely inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and partly inhibited by thiol-specific reagents. It is concluded that B. intermedius proteinase is a thiol-dependent serine proteinase pertaining to the subtilisin group. The amino acid composition of the enzyme has been determined. The enzyme contains one to three 1/2 cysteine residues, one of which is supposedly a Cys residue. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the protein is AQTVPYGIPQIKAPA-.

All the cases of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) in an eastern part of Kirov region (Russian north-east) were ascertained (N = 42 including 11 persons with pre/subclinical forms; m: f = 1). HMSN prevalence is 15.95 +/- 2.47.10(-5) being higher in rural than in urban populations. The distribution of HMSN families (total 16) in 9 districts of the region is uneven. HMSN is the most common of all hereditary muscular disorders in the region. Autosomal dominant inheritance was established in 12 families, AD gene frequency is 10.90 +/- 2.90.10(-5) gene penetrance being 90%. Sporadic cases were few (N = 4; 9.76%). No proven autosomal recessive or X-linked inheritance was found out.

The main purpose of this report is to present the nosological spectrum of hereditary diseases in 9 Districts of Kirov Province and to compare it with that studies earlier in other Russian populations. This comparison is undertaken in an attempt to define a "nucleus" of hereditary diseases in the Russian population studied. During this study 343 families with 546 affected were registered. The spectrum covered 55 different autosomal dominant, 14 autosomal recessive and 11 X-linked recessive hereditary disorders in the population under study. Some of these forms could be considered as common forms for the whole Russian population, because they were met in all Russian populations which were analysed. This conclusion is proved by the cluster analysis of genetic distances calculated on the basis of gene frequencies for autosomal recessive hereditary disorders.

A homogeneous serine proteinase was isolated from cultural filtrates of the extreme halophilic bacteria Halobacterium mediterranei 1538 using affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose, ultrafiltration and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, with a 48% yield and 260-fold purification. The enzyme was completely inactivated by specific inhibitors of serine proteinases, PMSF and DFP, as well as by Hg2+ and PCMB. The enzyme activity was strongly dependent of NaCl concentration, the enzyme being inactivated below 0.75 M NaCl. Inactivation of the enzyme was also seen in the presence of 2-7% organic solvents. The pH optimum for Glp-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNA hydrolysis is 8.0-8.5; Km is 0.14 mM, kcat is 36.9 s-1. The stability optimum lies at pH 5.5-8.0, temperature optimum is at 55 degrees C. The enzyme molecular weight is 41,000 Da; pI is 7.5. The substrate specificity of the enzyme is comparable to that of secretory subtilisins; the extent of protein substrate hydrolysis is similar to that of proteinase K. The N-terminal sequence of Halobacterium mediterranei serine proteinase, Asp-Thr-Ala-Asn-Asp-Pro-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Gln-Tyr-Ala-Pro-Gln-Lys-Val-Asn- Ala- Asp-, reveals a 50% homology with the aminoterminal sequence of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris serine proteinase. Hence, the serine proteinase secreted by halophilic bacteria may be considered as a structural and functional analog of eubacterial enzymes.

Medical-genetic study was carried out in the population of Kirov Province (population size about 120.000). 203 families with 334 affected with hereditary disorders were registered. The correctness of pathology classification for the inheritance type was confirmed by segregational analysis. The load of hereditary diseases in the population was: 1.25 +/- 0.06 for autosomal dominant, 1.37 +/- 0.07 for autosomal recessive and 0.22 +/- 0.06 for X-linked recessive disorders. It is suggested that variability in the values of the load of autosomal recessive disorders is determined to the large extent by genetic structure of the population.

The secretion of some proteolytic enzymes by Streptomyces thermovulgaris T 54 was studied using artificial chromogenic substrates of proteinases. Maximum accumulation of the enzymes hydrolysing Z-Glu-pNA and Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNA occurred during autolysis of the culture. Two peaks of activity were observed, when DNP-Gly-Gly-Ile-Arg was used as a substrate, one of them being correspondent to prevalence of dense colonies in the culture and the other to the prevalence of friable networks of hyphae.

The aminopeptidase was isolated from cell-free extracts of Xanthomonas rubrilineans by protein precipitation by isopropyl ester with subsequent purification by affinity chromatography on CABS-Sepharose, bacitracin-Sepharose, gel filtration through Sephadex G-200 and ultrafiltration, the total yield being 32% with 2200-fold purification. The enzyme was homogeneous during SDS-PAAG electrophoresis. Apart from the broad spectrum of the peptidase activity, aminopeptidase possesses a hydrolase activity towards beta-lactam antibiotics and an esterase activity towards L- and D-amino acids. Besides, this enzyme catalyzes the acetyl transfer reaction during cephalexin synthesis from the D-phenylglycine ester and 7-aminodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid. The maximal enzyme activity during L-Ala-pNA and cephalexin hydrolysis is manifested at pH 6.5. The enzyme is stable at pH 4.0-8.0 and is inhibited by o-phenanthroline, p-chloromercuribenzoate, hydrogen acetate and N-bromosuccinimide. The molecular mass of the enzyme is 270-280 kDa. The enzyme is a tetramer; the molecular mass of each of its four subunits is 70 +/- 2 kDa. The isoelectric point for the enzyme is 6.8. The amino acid composition of the enzyme appears as follows: Asp63, Thr33, Ser32, Glu72, Gly55, 1/2Cys3-4, Val45, Ile24, Leu53, Tyr23, Phe24, Lys23, His16, Arg36, Pro60, Met25, Ala55.

Experiments on male albino rats showed that the thyol-dependent serine proteinase (TSP) dissolved the thrombus in the jugular vein for 2-5 hr. Intravenous injection of TSP activated the fibrinolytic system of intact animals by increasing the levels of the plasminogen activator and plasmin in the euglobulin fraction. The response of the fibrinolytic system on the intravenous injection of TSP (2mg/200 g) was different: in some rats, fibrinolysis was activated, while on others, it was inhibited. TSP in high doses caused the death of 60% of experimental animals.

The cultural filtrates of S. thermovulgaris contain a proteinase which is active towards the chromogenic subtilisin substrate, Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNa, and azocasein. Pure enzyme preparations were obtained by affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose with subsequent rechromatography on the same adsorbent. The proteinase was completely inactivated by PMSF and DFP, the specific inhibitors for serine proteinase, by thiol reagents (HgCl2, PCMB) and by the protein inhibitor from S. jantinus. The pH activity optimum for the enzyme is 7.8-8.2, temperature optimum is 55 degrees C. The enzyme is stable at pH 6-9, has a pI of 5.0 and a molecular mass of 32 kDa. When tested against the peptide substrate, the enzyme shows a specificity characteristic for subtilisins. The N-terminal sequence of the enzyme, Tyr-Thr-Pro-Asn-Asp-Pro-Tyr-Phe-Ser-Ser-Arg-Gln-Tyr-Gly, shows a 100% homology with that of terminase, a thiol-dependent serine proteinase. On the basis of the above considerations the enzyme may be related to the subfamily of thiol-dependent serine proteinases.

Using affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose combined with ion-exchange chromatography on aminosilochrome and isoelectrofocusing, individual serine proteases have been isolated for the first time from surface cultures of T. lignorum and T. koningii. The proteinases have pI values at 6.8 and 6.7 and pH optima of 10.5. Both proteinases are stable within the pH range of 4-11 and have molecular weight of 21 000. The amino acid composition of T. lignorum enzyme is Lys3His4Arg9Asx23Thr17Ser23Glx10Pro8Gly27Ala25Cys3Val13Met2Ile11Leu11Tyr7Phe6Tr p3, that of the T. koningii enzyme is Lys3His4 Arg9Asx23Thr16Ser26Glx10Pro9Gly29Ala26Cys3Val14Met2Ile9Leu11Tyr6Phe5Trp3. The enzymes are completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, diphenylcarbamoylchloride and trypsin inhibitors from beans, Actinomyces janthinus and potato tubers. The enzymatic and molecular properties of the enzymes are similar to those of subtilisins and previously described fungal serine proteinases, especially to those of proteinase K of the fungus Tritirachium album Limber.

Serine proteinase splitting the peptide bonds which are formed by carboxyl groups of dicarboxylic amino acids was isolated from the supernatant of the Staphylococcus aureus culture liquid. It is similar to the enzyme isolated by Drapeau from Staphylococcus aureus strain V8 in its specifidity, molecular weight, amino acid composition, existence of two pH optima (pH 4.6 and 8.2). But there are some differences between the two proteinase in the content of dicarbonic amino acid residues. It was found that the enzyme can exist in two molecular forms.

The frequency of twinning among 9457 children and abolescents suffering epilepsy and epileptiform syndrom was established to be 1,94%, exceeding that in general population and being particularly high in the group of patients with epilepsy (2,65%). The frequency of stillbirths and deaths in one of the co-twins amounted 18,57%. The proportion of same-sexed and opposite-sexed pairs in the sample examined differs from that in general population, dizygous pair exceeding their number expected.

A serine proteinase was isolated from the cultural filtrate of the thermophylic actinomycet Thermoactinomycet vulgaris, strain INMI-4a. The purification procedure included affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose, ion-exchange separation on aminosilochrome, and gel-filtration on Sephadex G-25, resulting in a 194-fold purification and the 55% yield of the enzyme. The molecular weight of the enzyme as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of Na-SDS as well as by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-75 is equal to 28 000; the amino acid composition is: Lys11, His4, Arg5, Asp33, Thr22, Ser24, Glu16, Pro16, Gly30, Ala38, Cys1-2, Val20, Met1, Ile14, Leu8, Tyr16, The4, Trp6-7. The isoelectric point lies at pH 8--9; the pH optimum for the peptide substrate hydrolysis is Z-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Leu-pNA is at 8.2. The enzyme is stable at pH 7--9. The temperature optimum of the proteolytic activity lies at 55 degrees; however, the enzyme is stable to heating for 1 h at 37 degrees. The proteinase is completely inactivated by the serine proteinase specific inhibitors--phenylmethylsulphofluoride and the protein inhibitor IT-AjT from Actinomyces, as well as by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The enzyme shows lytic activity against the cells of E. coli, Micrococcus lysodeicticus and of the yeasts. The Thermoactinomyces vulgaris serine proteinase, being definitely different from the serine proteinases from Actinomyces griseus, also reveals specific differences when compared to bacterial serine proteinases, e. g. subtilisins. There are some indications to the enzyme relationship with the family of carboxypeptidase Y-like serine proteinases.

Using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography and isoelectrofocusing, eight forms of pepsin with pI 1.6, 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.6, were isolated from horse gastric juice. The molecular weights, amino acid composition, N-terminal sequence and functional activity of these multiple forms were determined. Partial primary structure of tryptic peptides of pepsin with pI 2.3 was investigated. The analyzed partial sequences of the forms with pI 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, and 2.6 have identical structures which differ from the amino acid sequence of pepsin with pI 3.2 by four substituents. In terms of their functional activity, horse pepsins differ only insignificantly. Presumably, the pepsins under study (at least the forms with pI 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, 2.6 and 3.2) arose comparatively recently as a result of duplication of the common precursor gene and exist at an early stage of structural and functional divergence. As far as their primary structure and functional properties are concerned, these pepsins are more related to pepsin A than to other isoenzymes of gastric aspartyl proteinases of mammalia, e. g., gastricsin or chymosin.

Pure extracellular serine proteinase has been isolated from a broth filtrate of Bacillus thuringiensis, strain 69-6R by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B derivatives containing p-(omega-aminomethyl)-phenylboronic acid and cyclopeptide bacillichin as ligands. The enzyme is completely inactivated by phenylmethylsolfonyl fluoride, a specific reagent for serine proteinases, has the molecular weight of 29 000 and pI of 8.4, reveals maximal activity and stability at pH 8.5 and is inactivated at pH values below 4 and above 10 and at temperatures above 60 degrees. The enzyme hydrolyzed azokasein, bovine serum albumin and synthetic chromogenic peptide substrates, e.g. benzyloxycarbonyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-leucyl p-nitroanilide and possesses the esterolytic activity. In terms of its physico-chemical characteristics, interaction with specific inhibitors and substrates, extracellular serine proteinase from Bacillus thuringiensis can be related to subtilisins. However, its amino acid composition-Lys16, His4, Arg8, Asx28, Thr16, Ser18, Glx29, Pro12, Gly32, Ala31, Val19, Met5, Ile12, Leu18, Tyr11, Phe10, Trp4 appears to be an intermediate between that of subtilisins and intracellular serine proteinases of Bacilli.

Carboxypeptidase T, an extracellular carboxypeptidase from Thermoactinomyces sp. was isolated and purified by affinity chromatography on bacitracin adsorbents. The enzyme homogeneity was established by SDS electrophoresis (Mr = 38 000) and isoelectrofocusing in PAAG (pI 5.3). Carboxypeptidase T reveals a mixed specificity in comparison with pancreatic carboxypeptidases A and B and cleaves with nearly the same efficiency the peptide bonds formed by the C-terminal residues of basic and neutral hydrophobic amino acids. The enzyme is insensitive to serine and thiol proteinase inhibitors but is completely inhibited by EDTA and o-phenanthroline. The maximal enzyme activity is observed at pH 7-8. With an increase of temperature from 20 to 70 degrees C the enzyme activity is enhanced approximately 10-fold. In the presence of 1 mM Ca2+ the enzyme thermostability is also increased. In terms of some properties, e.g. substrate specificity carboxypeptidase T is similar to metallocarboxypeptidase secreted by Streptomyces griseus. The N-terminal sequence of carboxypeptidase T: Asp-Phe-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Asp-Ser-Gly- Tyr-His-Asn-Tyr-Asn-Glu-Met-Val-Asn-Lys-Ile-Asn-Thr-Val-Ala-Ser-Asn-Tyr- Pro-Asn - Ile-Val-Lys-Thr-Phe-Ser-Ile-Gly-Lys-Val-Tyr-Glu-Gly-Xaa-Gly-Leu- coincides by 21% with that of pancreatic carboxypeptidases A and B. Thus, it may be concluded that these enzymes originate from a common precursor.

6 forms of pepsin are found in horse gastric juice. Amino acid sequence is determined of N-terminal (most variable) part of polypeptide chain of main pepsin components. Equine pepsines, which have pI 2.1 and 2.3, are found to have identical amino acid sequence at least for 31 amino acid residues. The same sequence is observed in the component with pI 2.6 for 10 first residues. The sequence of equine pepsin with pI 3.2 has 3 substitutions for 33 amino acids, when compared with pepsines having pI 2.1 and 2.3. The forms of equine pepsin studied are more similar than the other isoenzyme pair, human pepsin and gastricsin.

The frequency of twinning among 9457 children and abolescents suffering epilepsy and epileptiform syndrom was established to be 1,94%, exceeding that in general population and being particularly high in the group of patients with epilepsy (2,65%). The frequency of stillbirths and deaths in one of the co-twins amounted 18,57%. The proportion of same-sexed and opposite-sexed pairs in the sample examined differs from that in general population, dizygous pair exceeding their number expected.

A carboxylic proteinase has been isolated from a commercial preparation of Trichoderma lignorum used as a source of cellulolytic enzymes. The purification procedure included precipitation by (NH4)2SO4 (65% saturation), gel-filtration through Acrylex P-10, affinity chromatography on gramicidin S bound to an inorganic matrix, gel-filtration through Acrylex P-10, affinity chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose and separation on Ultrogel AcA 54 followed by gel-filtration through Sephadex G-50. A 400-fold purification of enzyme was achieved, the enzyme yield being 7,2%. The molecular weight of carboxylic proteinase as determined by gel-filtration is 33 000; its amino acid composition is found to be similar to that of carboxylic proteinases isolated from other fungal species. The enzyme is stable within the pH range of 3,0-6,0. The enzyme was fully inhibited by the specific inhibitors of carboxyliec proteinases-N-diazoacetyl-N'-2,4-dinitrophenylethylenediamine and pepstatin.

Extracellular carboxypeptidase was isolated from culture filtrates of Str. spheroides strain 35, using affinity chromatography on bacitracin-silochrome, bacitracin-Sepharose and CABS-Sepharose. The electrophoretically homogenous enzyme was obtained with a 44% yield and 4160-fold purification. The enzyme-molecular weight is 33,000 Da; pI is 4.7. The amino acid composition of carboxypeptidase is as follows: Asp43, Thr30, Ser35, Glu33, Pro30, Gly47-50, Ala38, 1/2 Cys5-6, Val16, Met2, Ile11, Leu15, Tyr8, Phe10, Lys10, His6, Arg9. The enzyme shows an activity optimum at pH 7.5 is stable at pH 6-8, is completely inhibited with EDTA and can be reactivated by Ca2+. The carboxypeptidase from Str. spheroides strain 35 has a dual substrate specificity, i. e., it splits N-substituted di-, three- and tetrapeptides having both neutral and basic amino acids at the C-ends similar to mammalian carboxypeptidases A and B. The enzyme belongs to the family of metallocarboxypeptidases; its properties are very similar to those of carboxypeptidase S from Str. griseus K-1 and of carboxypeptidase T from Thermoactinomyces sp.

Data on the prevalence of hereditary diseases in five regions of the Kostroma province were obtained and analysed. 28 autosomal recessive, 25 autosomal dominant and 4 X-linked recessive disorders were found. Segregation analysis proved the rightness of the material subdivision, according to the type of inheritance. The load of hereditary diseases in five regions was: 0.86 +/- 0.09 X 10(3) for autosomal recessive, 0.97 +/- 0.1 X 10(3) for autosomal dominant and 0.36 +/- 0.09 X 10(3) for X-linked recessive disorders. The problems of prevalence of hereditary diseases connected with population structure is discussed.

A carboxylic proteinase has been isolated from a cultural filtrate of the basidiomycet Russula decolorans Fr 0456. A sequential chromatography on biospecific adsorbents containing polypeptide antibiotics gramicidin S and bacitracin used as ligands resulted in a 186-fold purification and 48% yield of the enzyme. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 35 000, pH-optimum of hemoglobin hydrolysis is 2,2, the isoelectric point lies at 4,9. The enzyme revealed a pronounced milk-clotting activity and is completely inactivated by the specific inhibitors of carboxylic proteinases--N-diazo-acetyl-N'-2,4-dinitrophenylethylenediamine and pepstatin. Its amino acid composition was also found to be similar to that of the carboxylic proteinases isolated from microscopic fungi. The data obtained suggest that the carboxylic proteinase from the basidiomycet Russula decolorans Fr 0456 is closely related to pepsin-like carboxylic proteinases, particularly to those produced by microscopic fungi.

A serine proteinase possessing a fibrinolytic activity was isolated from a culture filtrate of Streptomyces spheroides, strain 35. A consecutive use of affinity chromatography on bacillichin-silochrome and bacitracin-sepharose and ion-exchange chromatography on anionie PAP and cationic KMT resulted in a homogeneous proteinase with 1060-fold purification and 19% yield. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 28000; its amino acid composition is Asp31, Ser28, Thr29, Glu9, Pro14, Gly35, Ala42, Val26, Ile14, Leu13, Met2, Tyr9, Phe4, Trp3, His6, Lys4, Arg10. The enzyme has a pI at pH greater than 10 and the activity optimum against Z-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Leu-pNA at pH 10-11. The enzyme is stable within the pH range of 4-11 and in 6 M guanidinium chloride pH 8.0 in the presence of Ca2+. The enzyme is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and benzylsulfofluoride, specific inhibitors of serine proteinases as well as by potato proteinase inhibitor. The serine proteinase SSPB isolated from Str. spheroides, strain 35 can be related to subtilisin-like serine proteinase, especially to those of SGPD and SGPE of Str. griseus.

The diversity of hereditary pathology in Kostroma was studied. An attempt was made to classify all isolated cases by genetic and clinical analysis. 57 nosological forms of autosomal dominants, 41 autosomal recessive and 14 X-linked recessive disorders were found. The analysis of marriage distances in the whole population and in the families of the probands was carried out. The spectra of hereditary pathology in Kostroma and Kostroma Province were compared. The sources of the load of hereditary pathology in Kostroma are discussed.

Fibrinolytic and thrombolytic properties of the subtilisin-like thiol-dependent serine proteinase were studied. At concentrations from 50 to 4000 micrograms/ml the enzyme causes lysis of fibrin plates and activates plasminogen. At concentrations above 100 micrograms/ml it shows a pronounced thrombolytic effect on the clots formed in vitro from both plasma and human and rat blood. Plasma inhibitors partly inactivate the thiol-dependent serine proteinase. The enzyme hydrolyses also fibrinogen, thrombin, plasmin and plasminogen.