Identification of the gene whose mutation leads to hypocoptyl tropism in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Genetic and molecular analysis of a mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana with bended hypocoptyl from a previously obtained collection of insertion mutants is presented. The examined mutation was shown to be recessive and based on a single insertion of pLD3 vector T-region into the A. thaliana genome. Computer-aided TAIL-PCR analysis of a DNA region adjacent to the left border of the insertion revealed a putative site of T-DNA insertion, the 609-bp At1g15760 gene from chromosome 1 represented by a single exon.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 427–429.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ogarkova, Tomilov, Tomilova, Tarasov.     

Identification of the gene whose mutation leads to the morphological changes in the hypocotyl of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

The results of genetic and molecular genetic analysis of line 176 of Arabidopsis thaliana with reduced hypocotyls obtained from a previously developed collection of insertion mutants, are presented. The examined mutation proved to be recessive and based on a single insertion of the T-DNA vector pLD3 into the A. thaliana genome. Computer-aided analysis of the amplified in TAIL-RCR DNA region adjacent to the left border of the insertion revealed a putative site of T-DNA insertion, the 2.5-kb At2g09920 gene located in the long arm of chromosome 2, near the centromere.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 166–170.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ogarkova, Tomilov, Tomilova, Pogorelko, Tarasov.     

First Isolation of the Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces paradoxus</Emphasis> in Western Siberia

Two ascomycetous yeast strains have been isolated near Novosibirsk from oak exudate. The strains have been identified as Saccharomyces paradoxus Bachinskaya based on the results of biochemical tests. The conspecificity of the isolates with S. paradoxus was confirmed by electrophoretic karyotyping and restriction analysis of the ITS region of its rDNA. This first isolation of S. paradoxus in Siberia provides evidence for the continuity of its natural habitats.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 4, 2005, pp. 533–536.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Yurkov.     

Target site selection by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">mariner</Emphasis>-like element, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mos1</Emphasis>

The eukaryotic transposon Mos1 is a class-II transposable element that moves using a “cut-and-paste” mechanism in which the transposase is the only protein factor required. The formation of the excision complex is well documented, but the integration step has so far received less investigation. Like all mariner-like elements, Mos1 was thought to integrate into a TA dinucleotide without displaying any other target selection preferences. We set out to synthesize what is currently known about Mos1 insertion sites, and to define the characteristics of Mos1 insertion sequences in vitro and in vivo. Statistical analysis can be used to identify the TA dinucleotides that are non-randomly targeted for transposon integration. In vitro, no specific feature determining target choice other than the requirement for a TA dinucleotide has been identified. In vivo, data were obtained from two previously reported integration hotspots: the bacterial cat gene and the Caenorhabditis elegans rDNA locus. Analysis of these insertion sites revealed a preference for TA dinucleotides that are included in TATA or TA × TA motifs, or located within AT-rich regions. Analysis of the physical properties of sequences obtained in vitro and in vivo do not help to explain Mos1 integration preferences, suggesting that other characteristics must be involved in Mos1 target choice.     

Comparative study of the expression of the native,modified, and hybrid <Emphasis Type="Italic">cry</Emphasis>3a genes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

The cry3a gene of Bacillus thuringiensis was cloned. Based on sequence analysis of this gene, a modified gene, cry3aM, was constructed, which has the optimal codon composition for effective expression in eukaryotic cells. Hybrid genes cry3a-licBM2 and cry3aM-licBM2 were constructed, in which the sequences of the native and modified genes are fused with the reporter gene for thermostable lichenase in the reading frame. We have shown that the expression levels of hybrid genes cry3a-licBM2 and cry3aM-licBM2 in Escherichia coli are comparable, being 5% of those for reporter gene licBM2. In cells of a lower eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the expression of hybrid gene cry3aM-licBM2, which contains the modified gene, considerably exceeded the level of expression of cry3a-licBM2 containing the native gene. The presence of lichenase in the composition of hybrid proteins was shown to facilitate selection and analysis of the expression level of hybrid proteins in transgenic organisms.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 171–177.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Salehi Jozani, Komakhin, Piruzian.     

Molecular identification of the exotic slug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arion subfuscus</Emphasis> sensu stricto (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in California,with comments on the source location of introduced populations

Arion subfuscus sensu lato (s. l.) refers to a cryptic slug species complex that is native to Europe and which, from there, has been introduced into the northeastern U.S. The species complex was detected in California for the first time in 2005 and recently 12 specimens were collected during statewide surveys. The genital morphology of these specimens suggested that only A. subfuscus sensu stricto (s. s.) was present and partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S rDNA (443 bp) showed that they all belonged to a single haplotype of the mitochondrial lineage, S1 sensu Pinceel et al. (Genetica 125: 155–171, 2005). This result was corroborated by a parallel analysis of a 655 bp COI DNA barcode. The 16S rDNA S1 haplotype (S1-03) of the Californian specimens is hitherto known only from the northeastern U.S. Hence, it is likely that populations may have been introduced to California from the northeastern states, rather than directly from the native area of the S1 haplogroup in Europe.     

Simple method for fractionation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parmelia sulcata</Emphasis> lichen thalli

Three fractions were isolated from Parmelia sulcata lichen thalli: mycobiont-enriched fraction, highly purified preparation of Trebouxia sp. alga, and a photobiont-enriched fraction, in which the fungal component and symbiotic relations between the bionts were retained. The ratio between the fungal and algal components in all fractions was estimated from the photosynthesis/respiration and chlorophyll/dry weight ratios. Simple methods for lichen thallus fractionation are suggested to study symbiotic relationships of bionts.Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 2, 2005, pp. 306–310.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Maslov, Pavlova.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

The Structure of Uncommon Lipid A from the Marine Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marinomonas communis</Emphasis> ATCC 27118<Superscript>T</Superscript>

Lipid A was obtained in a high yield (27%) by the hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide from the marine gamma proteobacterium Marinomonas communis ATCC 27118^T with 1% AcOH. Using chemical analysis and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric methods, it was shown to be β-1′,6-linked D-glucosaminobiose 1-phosphate acylated with (R)-3-dodecanoyl- or (R)-3-decanoyloxydecanoic acid, (R)-3-{(R)-3-hydroxydecanoyloxy)]decanoic acid and (R)-3-hydroxydecanoic acid at the C2, C2′ and C3 positions, respectively. Uncommon structural peculiarities (a low acylation and phosphorylation degree) of the M .communis lipid A in comparison with those of terrestrial bacteria may be of pharmacological interest. The potential physiological meaning of this lipid A and compounds of similar structure are discussed.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 404–413.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vorob’eva, A. Dmitrenok, P. Dmitrenok, Isakov, Krasikova, Solov’eva.The article was translated by the authors.     

Differential excision patterns of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">En</Emphasis>-transposable element at the <Emphasis Type="Italic">A2</Emphasis> locus in maize relate to the insertion site

Defined mutant alleles with resident transposons display characteristic patterns of germinal and somatic reversion, and heritable changes in the timing and frequency of reversions, which have been termed “change of state” by McClintock, constantly arise. Several mechanisms were proposed to account for these changes. They may be ascribed to the structure and composition of the elements themselves (composition hypothesis) or to their location (position hypothesis). In the current study, insertion positions were determined for three autonomous En-controlled mutable alleles of the A2 locus in maize that show different somatic reversion patterns. A relationship was observed between En insertion positions in the single coding region of the intronless A2 gene and anthocyanin variegation patterns in the aleurone. An insertion in the 5′ region of the coding sequence produced a very late somatic variegation pattern, whereas two early variegation patterns were caused by En insertions in the 3′ region of the coding sequence.     

Structural organization and distribution of the symbiotic bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wolbachia</Emphasis> during spermatogenesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila simulans</Emphasis>

Electron microscopy and morphometric analysis have shown that the symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia occur the testis cells D. simulans during spermatogenesis and are absent in mature spermatids. Bacteria did not affect the structural organization of testis cells, which have a typical morphology during morphogenesis. Bacteria were distributed along the meiotic spindle microtubules near the mitochondria. They increased in number in spermatids at the stage of elongation. Endosymbionts aggregated at the spermatid distal end and contained many vacuoles but were absent at the spermatid proximal end near the nuclei. It was shown for the first time that the diameter of spermatids in a strongly infected line was two of three times that in a noninfected line. We hypothesize that the increase in the number of endosymbionts during spermatid elongation can affect the chromatin condensation in the spermatozoon.Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 1, 2005, pp. 41–50.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Dudkina, Kiseleva.     

Macrogeographic genetic variability in the Gastropod Mollusk <Emphasis Type="Italic">Littorina sitkana</Emphasis> from the Northwest Pacific

Variation at four highly polymorphic allozyme loci (inorganic pyrophosphatase, peptidase, and two esterase loci) was examined in 25 settlements of the marine snail Littorina sitkana (Mollusca, Gastropoda). The sampling localities covered a wide part of the species range: from the Peter the Great Bay (the Sea of Japan) at the southwest to the Mednyi Island (Commander Islands) at the northeast. Like other littorines lacking the pelagic stage, L. sitkana was characterized by significant genetic differentiation (G _ST for the pooled sample was 0.310). Cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling conducted on a matrix of pairwise genetic distances between all of the settlements studied revealed four genetically different groups: southern Primorye, northern Prymorye, Sakhalin, and Kuril-Commanders. The population-genetic structure of the L. sitkana settlements is similar to that described by the isolation-by-distance and stepping-stone models: the geographic and the genetic distances between the most settlements examined are distinctly correlated.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 374–384.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Zaslavskaya, Pudovkin.     

Genetic Divergence of Chars of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus</Emphasis> from Kronotsky Lake (Kamchatka Peninsula)

Chars of the genus Salvelinus, inhabiting lakes and lake-river systems, comprise morphological and ecological forms whose taxonomic status is under dispute. In the present work, we have examined genetic variation and divergence in various chars from the Kronotsky lake basin: the lacustrine chars (white, nose, and longhead) and riverine Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma. The study was conducted using analysis of allozyme and microsatellite loci, myogens, RAPD, and restriction analysis of two mtDNA segments. The estimates of heterozygosity at allozyme and microsatellite loci were similar to the corresponding parameters in populations of northern Dolly Varden and Arctic char. Heterozygote deficit was recorded in both samples of separate forms, and in the total sample of all chars from Kronotsky Lake. For allozyme and microsatellite loci, appreciable genetic differentiation among the samples of different char forms was found, which was comparable to that among the spatially isolated populations of northern Dolly Varden. This result indicates reproductive isolation among the char forms examined. However, this isolation is not complete, because no fixed differences between the forms by any of the genetic systems analyzed were found. The genetic differentiation among different forms of lacustrine chars, which corresponds to the interpopulation rather than interspecific level, is thought to be explained by their comparatively recent divergence.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2005, pp. 1096–1107.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Salmenkova, Omel’chenko, Radchenko, Gordeeva, Rubtsova, Romanov.     

Nuclear rDNA Variability in Laboratory Strains of the German Cockroach <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blattella germanica</Emphasis> L. (Blattellidae)

The polymorphism of nuclear ribosomal DNA has been studied in male German cockroaches. The RFLP analysis has been used to identify seven types of HindIII fragments, the variation of which may serve as the basis for the differentiation of laboratory strains with respect to some population indices, including the average number of fragments per animal (N), the proportion of polymorphic loci (P), and the average pairwise similarity (APS). The interpopulation variation (F _ST) calculated for nine haplotypes is 53.85%.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 590–594.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lazebnaya, Semenova, Lazebnyi, Schal, Mukha.     

Energetics of alkalophilic representatives of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis>

Cytochrome and lipid composition of membranes is considered as the attributes required for adaptation of the alkalophiles to alkaline conditions. Respiratory chains of alkalophilic representatives of the genus Bacillus are discussed. Special attention is paid to the features of the Na⁺-cycle of these bacteria and to the features determining halo- and alkalotolerant phenotype, which have been reported due to recent achievements in genomics.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 2, 2005, pp. 171–176.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Muntyan, Popova, Bloch, Skripnikova, Ustiyan.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the post codes.     

Comparative studies of follicle cells in testes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glyptocephalus stelleri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleuronectes pinnifasciatus</Emphasis> (teleostei,pleuronectidae)

Accessory cells were studied in early spermatogenesis of flatfishes Glyptocephalus stelleri and Pleuronectes pinnifasciatus using transmission electron microscopy. The morphological organization of accessory cells in G. stelleri was similar to that of Sertoli cells. In P. pinnifasciatus, these cells had morphological organization, which had not been previously described.Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 1, 2005, pp. 61–63.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Neznanova, Ivankov, Reunov.     

Intraspecific Genetic and Morphological Variation in Earthworm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia foetida</Emphasis> (Sav.)

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to study the allelic frequency distribution of four polymorphic loci (Pox, Lap, Pgm, and Odh) in 22 samples of Eisenia foetida (Sav.) from distant parts of the range: European Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. A hierarchical population structure was demonstrated for this species: local populations were integrated into spatial groups. Statistical analysis of morphological variation did not support assignment of any taxa rank to the spatial groups recognized on the basis of biochemical and genetic characters.__________Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 442–447.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Bolotetskii, Kodolova.     

Genetics of the cell cycle: Adaptive modification of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">CycB</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">2g</Emphasis></Superscript> mutation expression in dividing cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis>

The effect of mutation CycB ^2g on mitosis in neural ganglia and imaginal disks was studied in third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosome condensation and segregation were shown to be impaired in dividing cells of mutant larvae. During the three-year period of maintenance of the mutation in heterozygote, frequencies of some defects decreased via cellular adaptive modification.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 312–319.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lebedeva, Trunova, Omelyanchuk.     

Phylogeny of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Genes in Haloalkaliphilic Obligately Autotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thioalkalivibrio</Emphasis>

Fragments of genes of the “green-like” form I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) of eight species of haloalkaliphilic obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Thioalkalivibrio have been revealed and sequenced using previously developed oligonucleotide primers. The data obtained are used for the construction of phylogenetic trees on the basis of nucleotide sequences of RuBisCO genes and their conceptual translations into amino acid sequences. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA and RuBisCO gene trees reveals discrepancies between their topologies. According to a RuBisCO gene analysis, the genus Thioalkalivibrio is not monophyletic, and its inner divergence conforms to the significant morphological differences observed between the species. Presumably, horizontal (interspecies) gene transfer was involved in the evolution of the genus Thioalkalivibrio.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2005, pp. 378–386.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Tourova, Spiridonova, Berg, Kuznetsov, Sorokin.