Henriks ZENKEVICS
Born: July 4, 1937, Riga, Latvia
Interests:
- Biochemistry of Vertebrate Pituitary Protein-like Hormones and Related Substances
- Biochemistry and Structure-Functional Aspects of Protein and Peptide Bioregulators
- Structure-Functional Investigations of Fish Gonadotropin(s).
Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus; A.güldenstädti) and salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha,
Salmo salar) gonadotropic hormone (GTH) , its dimeric structure and the functional role of
individual subunits as the specific components of the dimeric molecule has been
investigated since 1975. For the first time chromatographically purified sturgeon and
salmon GTH was isolated and it was shown that the pituitary gland of the fishes produces
molecular charge variants or isoforms of GTH with different properties. It was shown that
the quaternary structure of fish GTH is an asymmetric heterodimer, built like a mammalian
GTH-s, consisting of two chemically heterologic subunits which differ functionally and are
mutually bound noncovalently.
Also, structure-functional significance of some side chain radicals and sugar moiety
were investigated using selective chemical modifications of both dimeric GTH and
individual subunits.
The chemical structure of carbohydrate chains of the fish GTH and its subunits has been
investigated by means of HPLC. It was shown that the sugar moieties play an important role
in both molecular conformation and biological function of the hormone, individual subunits
and its isoforms.The content and structure-functional role of sialic acids were determined
in the sturgeon GTH.
In summary, the basic aspects of molecular properties and biological function of the
fish GTH were investigated. The data obtained turned out to be valuable for better
understanding both the GTH molecular composition and specificity of the molecular
mechanisms of gametogenesis in the fish.
Languages: Latvian, Russian, English.
Education:
- University of Latvia (Faculty of Biology), 1963
- Dr.biol. (Candidate of Science in former USSR, Ph.D. in Western countries), Institute of
Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Moscow, Russia, 1972
- Dr.habil.biol. (Doctor of Science in former USSR), I.Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary
Physiology and Biochemistry, Leningrad, Russia, 1987
Experience:
- Lecturer, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, 1963-1965
- Engineer, Central Research Laboratory of Chemical Plant in Olaine, Latvia, 1965-1967
- Postgraduate, Institute of Chemistry for Natural Compounds, Moscow, Russia, 1968-1970
- Junior Researcher, Institute of Biology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1971-1976
- Senior Researcher, Head of Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology,
1976-
- Deputy Director for Science , Institute of
Biology, 1980 -
Honours and Awards:
Professional Activities and Memberships:
- Member, Latvian Council of Science, 1997- 2007
- Chairman, Commission of Promotion, Latvian Council of Science,
1997- 2007
- Member, State Commission for Scientific Qualification, 1999 - 2010
- Member, Latvian Council of Science Expert Committee for Biological Sciences, 1997- 2000
- Member of Editorial Advisory Board for Proceedings of Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1997-
2000;
Vice-Chairman, 2000 -
- Member of the Appelant Comission, Latvian Council of Science, 2007 -
- Member, Latvian Council for Election of State Emeritus Scientists , 2009 - 2010
Recent/Representative Publications:
- Monograph: H.A. Zenkevich. Fish Gonadotropic Hormone. Isolation and properties , 1992
, Riga: Zinatne Press, 224 pp. (in Russian, Summary in English)
- H.A. Zenkevich, V.P. Slanke , A.R. Valdman. Functional role of C-terminal part of the
Russian sturgeon gonadotropin subunits. - Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 1991, vol.
319, pp.1485-1487 (in Russian)
- H.A.Zenkevich, N.P.Arbatsky, V.P. Slanke, A.O. Zheltova, V.A. Derevitskaya. The
structure of the carbohydrate chains of dimeric molecule and individual subunits of the
Russian sturgeon gonadotropin. - Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, 1992, vol. 18, pp.
226-234 (in Russian)
- H.A.Zenkevich, V.P. Slanke, Z.M. Lace, A.R. Valdman. Role of sialic acids in the
sturgeon gonadotropin polymorphism. - Transact. (Doklady) Russian
Acad. Sci., 1993, vol. 331, pp. 632-635 (in Russian)
- H.A. Zenkevich, N.P. Arbatsky, A.O. Zheltova, V.P. Slanke, Z.M. Lace.
Characterization of the hydrocarbon chains of the humpback salmon gonadotropin molecular
forms isolated using Concanavalin-A sepharose. - Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, 1994,
vol. 20, N 6, pp. 686-690 (in Russian).
- H. Zenkevics . Fish gonadotropic hormone: Structural-functional investigation. - Proc.
Latv. Acad. Sci., 1994, N 5/6, pp. 82-89.
- H. Zenkevics, V. Slanke, V. Vose. Isohormone-inhibitor of biological activity of Baltic
salmon Salmo salar L. gonadotropin. - Transact. (Doklady) Russian
Acad. Sci., 1996, vol. 347, pp. 818-820 (in Russian).
- H. Zenkevics, V. Vose, I. Vosekalne, A. Bucena. Functional role of sugar moiety of
the ß-subunit in sturgeon gonadotropin. - Transact. (Doklady)
Russian Acad. Sci., 1999, vol. 364, N 6, pp. 828-831 (in Russian).
- H. Zenkevics, V. Vose, I. Vosekalne, A. Bucena. Partial degycosylation of alpha subunit
modifies sturgeon gonadotropin function. - Acta Biochim. Pol., 2000, vol.47, N 3,
pp. 815-819.
- V. Vose, H. Zenkevics, A. Bucena. Copper ions influences sturgeon gonadropin function.
- Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., B, 2000, vol. 54, N 1/2, pp. 46-47.
- H. Zenkevics, V. Vose, A. Bucena. Molecular form of the sturgeon gonadotropin
which does not adsorb on ConcanavalinA. - Transact. (Doklady) Russian
Acad. Sci., 2001, vol. 376, N 3, pp. 401- 403.
- V.Vose, H.Zenkevics, A.Bucena. Cadmium reduces the hormonal sensivity of frog oocytes.
- Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., B, 2002, vol. 56, N 1/2, pp. 61-64.
- H.Zenkevics. Fifty years of the Institute of Biology: retrospective view on the
development and research of the Institue. - Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., B,
2002, vol. 56, N 4/5, pp. 193-206.
- H. Zenkevics, V. Vose, A. Bucena. Functional role of tryptophan residues in
sturgeon gonadotropic hormone. - Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., B, 2003, vol.
57, pp. 187-191.
- H.Zenkevics, V.Vose, I.Vosekalna, A.Bucena. Structural-functional role of
disulphide bonds in sturgeon gonadotropin. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., B,
2004, vol. 58, N3/4, pp. 127-130.
- H.Zenkevics, M.Klavins, V.Vose, A.Bucena. Humic acid reduces gonadotropin activity and
hormonal sensivity of frog oocytes. - Aquatic Toxicology, 2005, vol. 75,
pp.380-383.
- H.Zenkevics, V.Vose, I.Vosekalna, A.Bucena. Secondary structure of sturgeon
gonadotropin ß subunit isoforms. - - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., B, 2006,
vol. 60, N 2/3, pp. 77-80.
- H.Zenkevics, V.Vose, A.Butsena. The key role of guanidine groups in the hormonal
function of gonadotropin of the Russian sturgeon. - - Doklady Biochemistry and
Biophysics, 2006, vol. 410, pp. 278-289.
- H.Zenkevics, I.Vosekalna, V.Vose. Role of carboxyl groups in the secondary structure and
function of sturgeon gonadotropin. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., B, 2008, vol. 62, N
3, pp. 110-114.
- H.Zenkevics, I.Vosekalna, V.Vose. Sugar moiety has a direct influence on the secondary
structure and properties of sturgeon gonadotropin. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci.,
B, 2009, vol. 63, N 3, pp. 111-115.
- H.Zenkevics, I.Vosekalna, V.Vose. Significance of arginine radicals for sturgeon
gonadotropin secondary structure and function. - Proc. Latvian Acad.
Sci., B, 2010, vol. 64, N 3/4, pp. 144-148.
- H.Zenkevics, V.Vose. Frog oocyte in vitro maturation testa as a method to
investigate Ni+2 toxicity. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci.,
B, 2011, vol. 65, N 1/2, pp. 29-31.
Research Projects:
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of the Relationship between the Molecular
Properties and Specific Function of Fish Gonadotropin. Latvian Council of Science
(1991-1993).
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of Molecular and Biological Properties of
Protein-like Hormones from Fish Pituitary: Possible Relationship with Some Hydroecological
Factors. Latvian Council of Science (1993-1996).
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of Regularities in Fish Gonadotropic
Hormone Molecular Properties and Biological Functions. Latvian Council of Science
(1996-2000).
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of Fish Reproduction Regulator -
Gonadotropic Hormone Molecular Forms and Analogues. Latvian Council of Science (2001
-2004).
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of Fish Reproduction Regulator
Gonadotropic Hormone Molecular Forms and Analogues. Latvian Council of Science (2005 -
2008).
- H.Zenkevics (Head of Project). Investigation of Molecular-Functional Mechanisms of Fish
Gonadotropin and Functional Significance of Microsatellite Structural Reorganization in
Eucariots. Latvian Council of Science (2009 - 2011).
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Last update 11.11.2011