Relative Stabilities of C<Subscript>92</Subscript> IPR Fullerenes

The complete set of 86 isolated-pentagon-rule (IPR) isomers of C₉₂ has been described by the SAM1 quantum-chemical method, and their energetics checked by density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. Although the lowest-energy cage is not identical in both approaches, it still exhibits D ₂ symmetry in both cases. As energetics themselves cannot produce reliable relative stabilities at high temperatures, entropy terms are also computed and the relative-stability problem is treated entirely in terms of the Gibbs function. The lowest-energy structure is not the most populated isomer at higher temperatures – it is replaced by a D ₃ structure. Further stability interchanges are possible at very high temperatures, when C ₃ and C ₁ structures are also important. There is a partial agreement of the computations with available observed data.     

Polymorphisms in ten candidate genes are associated with conformational and locomotive traits in Spanish Purebred horses

The Spanish Purebred horses, also known as Andalusian horses, compete to the highest standards in international dressage events. Gait and conformation could be used as early selection criteria to detect young horses with promising dressage ability. Although the genetic background of equine size variation has been recently uncovered, the genetic basis of horse conformational and locomotive traits is not known, hampered by the complex genetic architecture underlying quantitative traits and the lack of phenotypic data. The aim of this study was to validate the loci associated with size in 144 Spanish Purebred horses, and to seek novel associations between loci previously associated with the development of osteochondrosis (OC) lesions and 20 conformational and locomotive traits. Ten loci were associated with different conformational and locomotive traits (LCORL/NCAPG, HMGA2, USP31, MECR, COL24A1, MGP, FAM184B, PTH1R, KLF3 and SGK1), and the LCORL/NCAPG association with size in the Spanish Purebred horse was validated. Except for HMGA2, all polymorphisms seem to influence both the prevalence of OC lesions and morphological characters, supporting the link between conformation and OC. Also, the implication of most genes in either immune and inflammatory responses and cellular growth, or ossification processes, reinforces the role that these mechanisms have in the aetiology of OC, as well as their reflection on the general conformation of the individual. These polymorphisms could be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) programmes to improve desirable conformational traits, but taking into account their possible detrimental effect on OC prevalence.     

Associations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CTLA4</Emphasis> +49 A/G Dimorphism and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* Alleles With Type 1 Diabetes from South India

The aim of present study was to elucidate the association of CTLA4 +49 A/G and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* gene polymorphism in south Indian T1DM patients. The patients and controls (n?=?196 each) were enrolled for CTLA4 and HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* genotyping by RFLP/PCR-SSP methods. The increased frequencies of CTLA4 ‘AG’ (OR?=?1.99; p?=?0.001), ‘GG’ (OR?=?3.94; p?=?0.001) genotypes, and ‘G’ allele (OR?=?2.42; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) were observed in patients. Reduced frequencies of ‘AA’ (OR?=?0.35; p?=?7.19?×?10^?7) and ‘A’ (OR?=?0.41; p?=?9.26?×?10^?8) in patients revealed protective association. Among HLA-DRB1*/DQB1* alleles, DRB1*04 (OR?=?3.29; p?=?1.0?×?10^?5), DRB1*03 (OR?=?2.81; p?=?1.9?×?10^?6), DQB1*02:01 (OR?=?2.93; p?=?1.65?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02 (OR?=?3.38; p?=?0.0003), and DQB1*03:02 (OR?=?7.72; p?=?0.0003) were in susceptible association. Decreased frequencies of alleles, DRB1*15 (OR?=?0.32; p?=?2.55?×?10^?7), DRB1*10 (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.002), DQB1*06:01 (OR?=?0.43; p?=?0.0001), and DQB1*05:02 (OR?=?0.28; p?=?2.1?×?10^?4) in patients were suggested protective association. The combination of DRB1*03+AG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?1.4?×?10^?6), DRB1*04+AG (OR?=?2.14; p?=?0.053), DRB1*04+GG (OR?=?5.21; p?=?0.036), DQB1*02:01+AG (OR?=?4.44; p?=?3.6?×?10^?5), DQB1*02:02+AG (OR?=?20.9; p?=?9.5?×?10^?4), and DQB1*02:02+GG (OR?=?4.06; p?=?0.036) revealed susceptible association. However, the combination of DRB1*10+AA (OR?=?0.35; p?=?0.003), DRB1*15+AA (OR?=?0.22; p?=?5.3?×?10^?7), DQB1*05:01+AA (OR?=?0.45; p?=?0.007), DQB1*05:02+AA (OR?=?0.17; p?=?1.7?×?10^?4), DQB1*06:01+AA (OR?=?0.40; p?=?0.002), and DQB1*06:02+AG (OR?=?0.34; p?=?0.001) showed decreased frequency in patients, suggesting protective association. In conclusion, CTLA4/HLA-DR/DQ genotypic combinations revealed strong susceptible/protective association toward T1DM in south India. A female preponderance in disease associations was also documented.     

Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">H63D</Emphasis> mutation in hemochromatosis (<Emphasis Type="Italic">HFE</Emphasis>) gene in populations of Central Eurasia

An analysis of the frequency of H63D (c.187C>G) mutations in the HFE gene in 19 populations from Central Eurasia demonstrated that the distribution of the mutation in the region of interest was not uniform and that there were the areas of H63D accumulation. The investigation of three polymorphic variants, c.340+4T>C (rs2071303, IVS2(+4)T>C), c.893-44T>C (rs1800708, IVS4(-44)T>C), and c.1007-47G>A (rs1572982, IVS5(-47)A>G), in the HFE gene in individuals homozygous for H63D mutations in the HFE gene revealed the linkage of H63D with three haplotypes, *CTA, *TTG, and *TTA. These findings indicated the partial spread of the mutation in Central Eurasia from Western Europe, as well as the possible repeated appearance of the mutation on the territory on interest.     

In Vitro Functional Characterisation of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 Allelic Variants <Emphasis Type="Italic">CYP2C19*23</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">CYP2C19*24</Emphasis>

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 is essential for the metabolism of clinically used drugs including omeprazole, proguanil, and S-mephenytoin. This hepatic enzyme exhibits genetic polymorphism with inter-individual variability in catalytic activity. This study aimed to characterise the functional consequences of CYP2C19*23 (271 G>C, 991 A>G) and CYP2C19*24 (991 A>G, 1004 G>A) in vitro. Mutations in CYP2C19 cDNA were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis, and the CYP2C19 wild type (WT) as well as variants proteins were subsequently expressed using Escherichia coli cells. Catalytic activities of CYP2C19 WT and those of variants were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-based essay employing S-mephenytoin and omeprazole as probe substrates. Results showed that the level of S-mephenytoin 4′-hydroxylation activity of CYP2C19*23 (V _max 111.5 ± 16.0 pmol/min/mg, K _m 158.3 ± 88.0 μM) protein relative to CYP2C19 WT (V _max 101.6 + 12.4 pmol/min/mg, K _m 123.0 ± 19.2 μM) protein had no significant difference. In contrast, the K _m of CYP2C19*24 (270.1 ± 57.2 μM) increased significantly as compared to CYP2C19 WT (123.0 ± 19.2 μM) and V _max of CYP2C19*24 (23.6 ± 2.6 pmol/min/mg) protein was significantly lower than that of the WT protein (101.6 ± 12.4 pmol/min/mg). In vitro intrinsic clearance (CL_int = V _max/K _m) for CYP2C19*23 protein was 85.4 % of that of CYP2C19 WT protein. The corresponding CL_int value for CYP2C19*24 protein reduced to 11.0 % of that of WT protein. These findings suggested that catalytic activity of CYP2C19 was not affected by the corresponding amino acid substitutions in CYP2C19*23 protein; and the reverse was true for CYP2C19*24 protein. When omeprazole was employed as the substrate, K _m of CYP2C19*23 (1911 ± 244.73 μM) was at least 100 times higher than that of CYP2C19 WT (18.37 ± 1.64 μM) and V _max of CYP2C19*23 (3.87 ± 0.74 pmol/min/mg) dropped to 13.4 % of the CYP2C19 WT (28.84 ± 0.61 pmol/min/mg) level. Derived from V _max/K _m, the CL_int value of CYP2C19 WT was 785 folds of CYP2C19*23. K _m and V _max values could not be determined for CYP2C19*24 due to its low catalytic activity towards omeprazole 5′-hydroxylation. Therefore, both CYP2C19*23 and CYP2C19*24 showed marked reduced activities of metabolising omeprazole to 5-hydroxyomeprazole. Hence, carriers of CYP2C19*23 and CYP2C19*24 allele are potentially poor metabolisers of CYP2C19-mediated substrates.     

Unsaturated Analogues of the Neurotransmitter GABA: <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-4-Aminocrotonic, <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-4-Aminocrotonic and 4-Aminotetrolic Acids

Analogues of the neurotransmitter GABA containing unsaturated bonds are restricted in the conformations they can attain. This review traces three such analogues from their synthesis to their use as neurochemicals. trans-4-Aminocrotonic acid was the first conformationally restricted analogue to be extensively studied. It acts like GABA across a range of macromolecules from receptors to transporters. It acts similarly to GABA on ionotropic receptors. cis-4-Aminocrotonic acid selectively activates bicuculline-insensitive GABA_C receptors. 4-Aminotetrolic acid, containing a triple bond, activates bicuculline-sensitive GABA_A receptors. These findings indicate that GABA activates GABA_A receptors in extended conformations and GABA_C receptors in folded conformations. These and related analogues are important for the molecular modelling of ionotropic GABA receptors and to the development of new agents acting selectively on these receptors.     

Molecular phylogeny of pectinase genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">PGU</Emphasis> in the yeast genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces</Emphasis>

Using yeast genome databases and literature data, phylogenetic analysis of pectinase PGU genes from 112 Saccharomyces strains assigned to the biological species S. arboricola, S. bayanus (var. uvarum), S. cariocanus, S. cerevisiae, S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae, S. paradoxus, and the hybrid taxon S. pastorianus (syn. S. carlsbergensis) was carried out. A superfamily of divergent PGU genes was found. Natural interspecies transfer of the PGU gene both from S. cerevisiae to S. bayanus and from S. paradoxus to S. cerevisiae may, however, occur. Within the Saccharomyces species, identity of the PGU nucleotide sequences was 98.8–100% for S. cerevisiae, 86.1–95.7% for S. bayanus (var. uvarum), 94–98.3% for S. kudriavzevii, and 96.8–100% for S. paradoxus/S. cariocanus. For the first time, a family of polymeric PGU1b, PGU2b, PGU3b and PGU4b genes is documented for the yeast S. bayanus var. uvarum, a variety important for winemaking.     

Association between relative bone mass and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism

The paper reports a search for association between the relative bone tissue mass (percent of total body mass, %BT) and FokI (rs10735810), BsmI (rs1544410), and TaqαI (rs731236) vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms. The group of apparently healthy young adults born in the central and northern regions of European Russia included 61 men and 60 women aged 16–23 years. No statistical association was detected between the FokI polymorphism and %BT. The carriers of the BsmI *A allele exhibited a higher %BT (p = 0.0172) compared to the subjects bearing the BsmI *G*G allele. The subjects with the *C*C TaqαI genotype were characterized by increased %BT compared to the carriers of the *T allele (p = 0.0018). The data are in good correspondence with the results obtained in the studies involving apparently healthy representatives of Central European and Northern European populations of the corresponding age.     

New Targets for Growth Inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>: Why Do Natural Terpenoids Exhibit Antitubercular Activity?

The article draws the attention of chemists to the literature data reporting the discovery of new targets for growth inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, namely, diterpene cyclase (Rv3377c) and tuberculosinol phosphatase (Rv3378c), which produce diterpenoids of tuberculosinols in the cell membrane of M. tuberculosis, and these diterpenoids ensure the pathogenicity and the virulence of M. tuberculosis. For the first time, by the example of diterpenoid of isosteviol, its binuclear derivatives, triterpenoid betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids, it has been shown by the molecular docking method that the antitubercular activity of natural terpenoids is caused by their ability to bind to the active site of tuberculosinol phosphatase (Rv3378c) of M. tuberculosis. It is suggested that natural and semisynthetic terpenoids represent a promising platform for design of a new generation of antitubercular agents that affect this enzyme.     

Effect of genetic and coexisting polymorphisms on platelet response to clopidogrel in Chinese Han patients with acute coronary syndrome

Polymorphisms of CYP2C19 are associated with platelet response to clopidogrel. This study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of the previously identified polymorphisms to the response of clopidogrel in a cohort of Chinese Han patients. A total of 222 acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention treated with clopidogrel were enrolled from September 2012 to June 2013. Residual platelet aggregations for all patients were measured by the VerifyNow P2Y12 system. Sixteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms among nine genes were genotyped including CYP2C19, ABCB1 and PON1. In this study, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17 were strongly associated with higher platelet aggregation and lower platelet aggregation to clopidogrel treatment, respectively (P<0.001). Patients with CYP2C19*2 allele had a higher risk of high on-treatment platelet reactivity than non carriers (adjusted OR, 5.434; 95% CI, 1.918–15.399, P=0.01). The coexistence of CYP2B6*9 (rs8192719) and P2Y12 (rs2046934) and the coexistence of CYP2B6*1B (rs7254579) and P2Y12 (rs2046934) were also associated with poor response to clopidogrel. No significant relation of CYP2C19*3 and other polymorphisms to the platelet aggregation was found. In conclusion, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17 coexistence of CYP2B6*9 (rs8192719) and P2Y12 (rs2046934) and coexistence of CYP2B6*1B (rs7254579) and P2Y12 (rs2046934) were identified to be associated with response to clopidogrel treatment in Chinese Han patients.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lecanicillium muscarium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Adalia bipunctata</Emphasis> combination for the control of black bean aphid<Emphasis Type="Italic">, Aphis fabae</Emphasis>

The predator Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium, have been considered as potential biological control against aphids. While it can be difficult to achieve a high control level of Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) using only a single beneficial agent, the research presented here aimed to determine the interaction between L. muscarium and A. bipunctata potential for control against A. fabae. Lecanicillium muscarium was found to cause about 30% mortality in A. bipunctata and with a reduction in feeding by about 15%. However, co-application of A. bipunctata and L. muscarium can cause an addititive effect in reducing aphid populations, resulting in about 90% reduction in aphid populations compared with control treatment. Thus, these two biocontrol agents have the potential to be complementary. This research study demonstrates that it is possible to combine A. bipunctata with L. muscarium to provide a sustainable method for management of A. fabae on broad bean cropping system and that field studies are required.     

Evolutionary-inspired probabilistic search for enhancing sampling of local minima in the protein energy surface

Background

Despite computational challenges, elucidating conformations that a protein system assumes under physiologic conditions for the purpose of biological activity is a central problem in computational structural biology. While these conformations are associated with low energies in the energy surface that underlies the protein conformational space, few existing conformational search algorithms focus on explicitly sampling low-energy local minima in the protein energy surface.

Methods

This work proposes a novel probabilistic search framework, PLOW, that explicitly samples low-energy local minima in the protein energy surface. The framework combines algorithmic ingredients from evolutionary computation and computational structural biology to effectively explore the subspace of local minima. A greedy local search maps a conformation sampled in conformational space to a nearby local minimum. A perturbation move jumps out of a local minimum to obtain a new starting conformation for the greedy local search. The process repeats in an iterative fashion, resulting in a trajectory-based exploration of the subspace of local minima.

Results and conclusions

The analysis of PLOW's performance shows that, by navigating only the subspace of local minima, PLOW is able to sample conformations near a protein's native structure, either more effectively or as well as state-of-the-art methods that focus on reproducing the native structure for a protein system. Analysis of the actual subspace of local minima shows that PLOW samples this subspace more effectively that a naive sampling approach. Additional theoretical analysis reveals that the perturbation function employed by PLOW is key to its ability to sample a diverse set of low-energy conformations. This analysis also suggests directions for further research and novel applications for the proposed framework.

     

Taxonomic genetics of methylotrophic yeast genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Komagataella</Emphasis>: New biological species <Emphasis Type="Italic">K. kurtzmanii</Emphasis>

Genetic hybridization analysis revealed that industrially important species Komagataella kurtzmanii has reproductive postzygotic isolation from K. pastoris, K. phaffii, K. populi, K. pseudopastoris, and K. ulmi. Therefore, it represents a new biological species of the genus Komagataella. The genetic data are in perfect agreement with the molecular taxonomy of the genus Komagataella.     

Host specificity of Asian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysochus</Emphasis> Chevr. in Dej. (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) and their potential use for biological control of invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vincetoxicum</Emphasis> species

Three Asian leaf beetles of the genus Chrysochus were investigated as potential biological control agents of Vincetoxicum rossicum and V. nigrum, invasive weeds in northeastern North America. Chrysochus chinensis and Ch. globicollis were collected from a field host in a different genus and subtribe. Preliminary no-choice laboratory tests with Ch. goniostoma showed that its physiological host range is too broad. Based on these data, we are not considering these three species as potential biological control agents of invasive Vincetoxicum species.     

Polymorphism of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">ADH1B</Emphasis> in Eastern Slavic and Iranian-Speaking Populations

Frequencies of alleles and genotypes for alcohol dehydrogenase gene ADH1B (arg47his polymorphism), associated with alcohol tolerance/sensitivity, were determined. It was demonstrated that the frequency of allele ADH1B*47his, corresponding to atypical alcohol dehydrogenase variant in Russians, Ukrainians, Iranians, and mountain-dwellers of the Pamirs constituted 3, 7, 24, and 22%, respectively. The frequencies established were consistent with the allele frequency distribution pattern among the populations of Eurasia. Russians and Ukrainians were indistinguishable from other European populations relative to the frequency of allele ADH1B*47his, and consequently, relative to specific features of ethanol metabolic pathways. The data obtained provide refinement of the geographic pattern of ADH1B*47his frequency distribution in Eurasia.     

Bioactive phytochemicals from shoots and roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia</Emphasis> species

The plants of the genus Salvia L. are important medicinal herbs of the Lamiaceae family and some of them such as S. officinalis (sage), S. miltiorrhiza (red sage, Danshen) and S. sclarea (clary sage) have been used as medicinal plants in the folk medicine of several countries. In this review, we discuss the reports that have examined Salvia species with the aim of isolation of pure compounds with different biological activities. The phytochemical analyses of various sage plants have reported 10 monoterpenoids (1–10), 1 sesquiterpenoid (11), 8 labdane (13–20), 15 ent-kaurane (21–35), 82 abietane, rearranged abietane and tanshinone (36–117), 3 icetexane (118–120), 43 clerodane (121–163), and 3 pimarane (164–166) diterpenoids with cytotoxic and antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, phytotoxic and insecticide effects. The other heavier terpenoids, including 3 sesterterpenes (167–169), 10 triterpenoids and β-sitosterol (170–180) have been introduced as minor bioactive compounds in the sage plants. Sahandinone (107), 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, 7-α-acetoxyroyleanone (40), and tanshinone like diterpenoids have been isolated from the roots’ extracts of different Salvia species. On the other hand, several radical scavenger phenolic compounds like simple phenolics and caffeic acid derivatives (181–201) including rosmarinic acid, flavonoids (202–217) as well as phenolic diterpenoids, such as carnosol and carnosic acid have been isolated from the aerial parts of these plants. One pyrrole (218) and 3 antimicrobial oxylipins (219–221) are among the other less detected constituents in the members of Salvias. Furthermore, sages also synthesize antifungal, antileishmanial and antimalarial phytochemicals in their roots and shoots, which are reviewed in this paper. We also examine the allelopathic phenomena and the ecologically important phytochemicals identified in different parts of the sage plants. Finally, antifeedant and insecticide phenomena, which are due to the presence of volatile monoterpenes and clerodane diterpenes in these plants, are discussed. Considering the presence of diverse biologically active phytochemicals in the sage plants, they can be suggested as suitable candidates for the formulation of valuable natural medicines.     

Ancestral and more recently acquired syntenic relationships of MADS-box genes uncovered by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physcomitrella patens</Emphasis> pseudochromosomal genome assembly

Key message

The Physcomitrella pseudochromosomal genome assembly revealed previously invisible synteny enabling realisation of the full potential of shared synteny as a tool for probing evolution of this plant’s MADS-box gene family.

Abstract

Assembly of the sequenced genome of Physcomitrella patens into 27 mega-scaffolds (pseudochromosomes) has confirmed the major predictions of our earlier model of expansion of the MADS-box gene family in the Physcomitrella lineage. Additionally, microsynteny has been conserved in the immediate vicinity of some recent duplicates of MADS-box genes. However, comparison of non-syntenic MIKC MADS-box genes and neighbouring genes indicates that chromosomal rearrangements and/or sequence degeneration have destroyed shared synteny over longer distances (macrosynteny) around MADS-box genes despite subsets comprising two or three MIKC genes having remained syntenic. In contrast, half of the type I MADS-box genes have been transposed creating new syntenic relations with MIKC genes. This implies that conservation of ancient ancestral synteny of MIKC genes and of more recently acquired synteny of type I and MIKC genes may be selectively advantageous. Our revised model predicts the birth rate of MIKC genes in Physcomitrella is higher than that of type I genes. However, this difference is attributable to an early tandem duplication and an early segmental duplication of MIKC genes prior to the two polyploidisations that account for most of the expansion of the MADS-box gene family in Physcomitrella. Furthermore, this early segmental duplication spawned two chromosomal lineages: one with a MIKC ^C gene, belonging to the PPM2 clade, in close proximity to one or a pair of MIKC* genes and another with a MIKC ^C gene, belonging to the PpMADS-S clade, characterised by greater separation from syntenic MIKC* genes. Our model has evolutionary implications for the Physcomitrella karyotype.

     

Structural organization characteristics of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">DIP1</Emphasis> gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis> strains mutant for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">flamenco</Emphasis> gene

Molecular cloning of the DIP1 gene located in the 20A4-5 region has been performed from the following strains with the flamenco phenotype: flam ^SS (SS) and flam ^MS (MS) characterized by a high transposition rate of retrotransposon gypsy (mdg4), flam ^{py + (P)} carrying the insertion of a construction based on the P element into the region of the flamenco gene, and flamenco ⁺. The results of restriction analysis and sequencing cloned DNA fragments has shown that strains flam ^SS , flam ^MS considerably differ from flam ^{py + (P)}, and flamenco ⁺ in the structure of DIP1. Strains flam ^SS and flam ^MS have no DraI restriction site at position 1765 in the coding region of the gene, specifically, in the domain determining the signal of the nuclear localization of the DIP1 protein. This mutation has been found to consist in a nucleotide substitution in the recognition site of DraI restriction endonuclease, which is transformed from TTTAAA into TTTAAG and, hence, is not recognized by the enzyme. This substitution changes codon AAA into AAG and is translationally insignificant, because both triplets encode the same amino acid, lysine. The DIP1 gene of strains flam ^SS and flam ^MS has been found to contain a 182-bp insertion denoted IdSS (insertion in DIP1 strain SS); it is located in the second intron of the gene. The IdSS sequence is part of the open reading frame encoding the putative transposase of the mobile genetic element HB1 belonging to the Tc1/mariner family. This insertion is presumed to disturb the conformations of DNA and the chromosome, in particular, by forming loops, which alters the expression of DIP1 and, probably, neighboring genes. In strains flamenco ⁺ and flam ^{py + (P)}, the IdSS insertion within the HB1 sequence is deleted. The deletion encompasses five C-terminal amino acid residues of the conserved domain and the entire C-terminal region of the putative HB1 transposase. The obtained data suggest that DIP1 is involved in the control of gypsy transpositions either directly or through interaction with other elements of the genome.