Image, Function, Meaning, and Structure: The Role of Aphorisms in the Kazakh Epic Poem Kyz Zhibek

In this article, the function of aphorisms in folk song, which also contains lyrical and dramatic elements, is analysed and defined through cultural (mostly folklore) literature, and linguistic methods. The main purpose of this paper is to show the role of the gnomic words generated by folk creators in an epic poem’s plot, their main functions in the development of conflict and the aesthetic expression of the work. Therefore, the meaning of symbols has been interpreted in close connection with the actions, archetypes and metaphors inserted in the structure of the song. Using as an example the song “Kyz Zhybek”, which is a prominent creation in Kazakh folklore, and reviewing research papers on the subject, the present article follows the contrastive analysis in researching the echoes of archetypal traditions in a Muslim cultural frame. Ethnos in culture remains in an attempt to recover the identity of a group using what seems specific in folklore, history, and linguistics and to track them in an original ideology articulated on national and universal bases. This paper may help researchers when studying folklore heritage, with understanding the scope of using the aphorisms and the main function actualised by them in folk literature. In addition, the role of aphorisms in a folk song is systematised, and their historical and identity significance is underlined.

Molecular Dynamics Study of DNA Duplex Containing Carbazole-Derived Universal Base

Universal base is a man-made residue that can be incorporated into the DNA double strands without any discrimination against natural bases (A, C, G, T). The MD simulations with AMBER99 force field were employed to investigate the structure and dynamics of the modified 15-mer DNA duplexes containing carbazole-derived universal bases: carbazole (CBZ), 3,6-dicyanocarbazole (DCC), 3,6-dinitrocarbazole (DNC), and 3-nitro-6-cyanocarbazole (NCC), where X = CBZ, DCC, DNC, or NCC, respectively. The RMSD and B-factor of the modified DNAs backbones around the universal base unit fluctuate more than the reference sequence in the same position. The thermodynamic parameter for duplex stability was estimated by using MM-PBSA method. The averaged duplex formation free energy (ΔG) of all modified DNAs exhibited that the stability order was approximately DNC>NCC>CBZ>DCC, which differed from the reference sequence exceptional DNC unit. The averaged ΔG value of the DNC unit is very close to that of the reference sequence. This calculation indicated that the DNC unit can be considered as a good candidate for using as a universal base.

Effect of a Hydrogen Bonding Carboxamide Group on Universal Bases

A number of aromatic universal base analogues have been described in the literature, but most are non-hydrogen bonding. We have examined the effect of introducing hydrogen bonding carboxamide groups onto the pyrrole ring of 5-nitroindole. The modified analogues retain universal base features, but there are no overall effects on duplex stability. This leads to the suggestion that the nitro group is within the hydrogen bonding face of the duplex, and the hydrogen bonding carboxamide group is in the duplex major groove.