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Strains of basidiomycete yeasts isolated from different sources were studied in order to determine the content of carotenoid pigments and ubiquinone Q10 for subsequent selection work to obtain producers of these substances. High specific productivity of carotenoids (600-700 mg/g) was revealed in the representatives of the following species: Cystofilobasidium capitatum. Rhodosporidium diobovatum, R. sphaerocarpum. Rhodotorula glutinis, Rh. minuta, and Sporobolomyces roseus. The ratio of the major pigments (torulene, torularhodine, and beta-carotene) in the representatives of different species was studied. Certain specific features of pigment formation in relation to the taxonomic position of the yeasts were determined. Eurybiont species with substantial ecological lability are the most active producers of carotenoids and ubiquinone Q10 among the epiphytes. It is the first time a comparative analysis of the coenzyme Q10 content in different taxa has been performed using several strains of the same species. The maximal coenzyme Q10 production (1.84 mg/g of dry biomass) was found in the yeast species R. sphaerocarpum.

To specify mechanisms of paraneoplastic alterations of redox-status of tissues in experimental malignant tumor growth, we investigated electronic paramagnetic centers of blood, skeletal muscle and liver with electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. We also studied the concentration and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Our experiments on adult white male rats of mixed population with sarcoma C-45 and mice with Ehrlich carcinoma have shown that malignant tumor growth leads to enhanced lipid peroxidation (LPO): production of potent LPO promoters - Fe2+, Mn+2+, NO, ubiquinone; depression of antioxidant defence - reduced production of total ceruloplasmin, elevated blood levels of oxidized ceruloplasmin and enhanced catalase activity. It is suggested that malignant tumor growth is associated with marked paraneoplastic shifts in tissue redox-potential. These alterations are involved in mechanisms of paraneoplastic changes of red cells, microhemocirculation and circulation intensity. All these interrelated processes result in generalized paraneoplastic hypoxia of the organs and tissues. Basing on our and literature data, we propose an original scheme of the mechanisms of paraneoplastic disorders of tissue redox-status, microcirculation and erythrocytes.

The content of ubiquinone and vitamin E and functioning of ubiquinone-dependent enzyme systems in myocardial mitochondria and blood leucocytes of rats under experimental microfocal myocard damage, and the effect of vitamin E under given pathology have been studied. Direct dependence between the content of ubiquinone, vitamin E and activity of succinateubiquinone reductase system of blood leucocytes has been established. Vitamin E demonstrates the normalizing effect on the subjects of our study.

Within 3 days after dextralateral nephrectomy the weight of left kidney was increased by 24.0%, yield of mitochondrial protein--on the average, by 38.0%, the succinate dehydrogenase activity--by 40.0%. Content of ubiquinone was essentially unaltered in kidney within 3 days after the nephrectomy; in mitochondria concentration of the coenzyme (calculated per mg of protein) was decreased at the 3-rd day after the operation. Biosynthesis of ubiquinone was increased at the 2-nd day after the nephrectomy in slices of hypertrophied kidney; it was studied by incorporation of 1-14C-acetate. Biosynthesis of cholesterol was increased at the same time, especially within the 1-st and 2-nd days after the operation. Content of cholesterol was increased in hypertrophied kidney within the 3-rd day after the operation.

The content of ubiquinones (Co Q) of the Astasia longa and Crithidia oncopelti protozoa was studied. The protozoa were grown on an artificial nutrient broth. The cells were separated, washed, freeze-dried, and refluxed with KOH and pyrogallol in ethanol media. The hydrolyzate was concentrated. The residue was stored at -20 degrees and filtered. An ubiquinone fraction was isolated from the filtrate by TLC on silica gel. Identification of the ubiquinone homologues was carried out by reverse phase TLC and mass spectrometry. Ubiquinones were quantitated with respect to the difference in the density between the oxidized and reduced forms of Co Q at 275 nm. The A. longa and C. oncopelti flagellates were shown to contain ubiquinone-9 (Co Q9) at a concentration of 0.48 and 1.14 mumole/g dry cells, respectively. The higher Co Q level in zooflagellates as compared to that in phytoflagellates is discussed.