From the mechanisms of genetic transposition to the functional genomics

Pioneer works on studying molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis were published in the journal Genetika in the 1960s. In the laboratory of S.I. Alikhanian, studies on molecular mechanisms of genetic transposition were initiated in the late 1960s on the model of bacteriophage transposon Mu (Mutator). Parallel to these studies conducted in the laboratory of plant molecular genetics (Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR), which was later named the Laboratory of Functional Genomics (Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences), studies on transposition of Ti-plasmid T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and works on construction of transgenic plants began in this laboratory. Transgenic plants with the expressed bacterial genes provided a model for the functional genomics. This topic is considered here in detail.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 4, 2005, pp. 440–454.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Piruzian.In connection with the anniversary of the Russian Journal of Genetics, this review is dedicated to the memory of one of the founders of this journal, an outstanding Russian geneticist, my mentor Professor S.I. Alikhanyan.     

The genetics of behavior

A review of the papers published in the Journal of Higher Nervous Activity dedicated to behavioral and neurophysiological studies carried out using the genetic approach is presented. The review is based on classification, which subdivides the diversity of behavioral phenomena into three large categories: instinctive, acquired behavior, and elementary reasoning phenomena. The main contribution to these publications was made by researches at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch (Novosibirsk), Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (St.-Petersburg), and Department of Physiology of Higher Nervous Activity, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov State University (Moscow). The traditional lines of investigations are: behavioral and neurochemical consequences of domestication, numerous physiological correlations in rat strains selected for high and low excitability levels, and genetic studies of animal reasoning.     

An interview with Dr. Alexander Strunnikov on his highly cited paper published in Cell Cycle

Dr. Strunnikov was educated in Russia and received his bachelor degree in Biology and Genetics from St. Petersburg University in 1984 and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in cell biology from the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His current work focuses on chromosome stability mechanisms, the regulation and structure of mitotic chromatin, as well as genomic and proteomic aspects of mitotic chromosome organization.     

Medical genetic research on the Khanty population of the Ovgort rural district of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous territory

The results of medico-genetical studies of the Khanty from the Lower Ob river carried out by Tomsk Department of Institute of Medical Genetics of Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR are presented. The population is characterized by a relatively high index of endogamy (0.54) and a low inbreeding coefficient (0.0011). Diseases of the polygenic mode of inheritance predominate among nosological forms of hereditary pathology.     

死亡信号传递: 叶绿体与线粒体间信号交流调控植物程序性细胞死亡

程序性细胞死亡(PCD)是生物体受遗传调控的自主细胞死亡现象, 在植物生长发育和抵抗环境胁迫中起重要作用。PCD的发生可受线粒体中活性氧(ROS)诱导。中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所李家洋研究组早期的研究发现了1个拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)细胞死亡突变体mod1, 并暗示植物细胞中存在叶绿体与线粒体之间的信号交流调控PCD, 但其中的具体作用机制尚不清楚。最近, 他们通过大规模筛选mod1突变体的抑制突变体, 克隆了3个新的抑制基因plNAD- MDH、DiT1和mMDH1。此3个基因分别编码质体定位的NAD依赖的苹果酸脱氢酶、叶绿体被膜定位的二羧酸转运蛋白1和线粒体定位的苹果酸脱氢酶1, 突变后都可抑制mod1中ROS的积累及PCD的发生。通过对这些基因进行深入的功能分析, 他们论证了苹果酸从叶绿体到线粒体的转运对线粒体中ROS的产生及随后PCD的诱导起重要作用。该研究拓展了我们对植物细胞中细胞器间交流的认识, 为我们深入理解植物PCD发生机制提供了新线索, 是该领域的一项突破性进展。     

Instructions for authors

Journal of Genetics and Genomics (JGG, formerly known as Acta Genetica Sinica) is one of the China's leading journals in the life science. JGG is sponsored by the Genetics Society of China and the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and jointly published by Elsevier Ltd.     

重金属污染生态学研究现状与展望

重金属污染生态学的研究迄今已有近 5 0 a的历史 ,在土壤重金属元素背景值和环境标准的制定、重金属在环境中的迁移转化、重金属污染治理、元素分析测定方法和规范、对生物体的毒性及生物体的响应等方面取得了很多研究成果 ,出版了很多专著。在对重金属污染生态学研究进行简要回顾的基础上 ,以重金属在生物体内的行为特征 (吸收、迁移、富集、毒害、解毒和抗性等 )为主线 ,从微观和宏观水平 ,系统综述了目前该领域的研究现状 ,分析了尚存在的一些问题 ,最后从生物对重金属污染适应的分子机理、治理方法和技术的创新性、复合污染下环境标准制定的科学化以及重金属污染条件下全球生物进化的趋势预测等方面作了研究展望     

General and molecular microbiology and microbial genetics in the IM CAS

This review summarizes the main results obtained in the fields of general and molecular microbiology and microbial genetics at the Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AS CR) [formerly Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (CAS)] over more than 50 years. Contribution of the founder of the Institute, academician Ivan Málek, to the introduction of these topics into the scientific program of the Institute of Microbiology and to further development of these studies is also included.     

飞蝗型变分子机理研究前沿

飞蝗的型变是重要的科学问题,也是防治害虫的理论基础。近年来,我国昆虫学家围绕飞蝗型变的分子机制方面取得一系列开创性的工作进展,鉴定了多个飞蝗型变的关键基因及其生物学功能,提出了飞蝗型变的分子机制。这些研究成果在PNAS,PLoS Genetics,Genome Biology,Bioinformatics,Insect Molecular Biology,Journal of Insect Physiology,PLoS One等国际著名刊物发表,极大地提高了我国在该领域的研究水平,为今后彻底解决飞蝗型变这一科学难题奠定了基础。     

中国被子植物2新记录种——蒙古水毛茛和山地柳叶菜

基于对国内外大量文献研究以及对国内外多个标本馆的植物标本的广泛检视,同时针对2个物种开展了分子系统发生分析。根据形态学与分子系统学证据,报道了发现于新疆阿勒泰地区的2种中国新分布记录被子植物,分别为蒙古水毛茛[Ranunculus mongolicus(Krylov)Serg.]和山地柳叶菜(Epilobium montanum L.)。凭证标本保存于北京林业大学标本馆(BJFC)、中国科学院植物研究所标本馆(PE)和中国科学院昆明植物研究所标本馆(KUN)。     

Preservation of the plant and animal gene pools in Siberia]

The results of the work on preservation of the gene pools performed at the two experimental bases of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Division of Academy of Sciences of the USSR are summarized. The collections obtained are represented by a number of aboriginal animal breeds (cattle, sheep, foxes, etc.) and plant variables (300 specimens belong to 113 species of 25 families.     

分子生态学研究进展

介绍了这个新学科的基本内容,其特征是ＤＮＡ标记的应用。结合我国最近几年动植物自然种群的分子研究,介绍国际分子生态学各个领域的进展：①分子生态学的技术;②分子种群生物学;③分子环境遗传学;④分子适应。实验结果显示：只要方法灵敏,ＤＮＡ具有最高水平的多样性。即使是原先认为遗传变异很少的大熊猫和野生大豆,使用灵敏的方法,也能证实生物个体遗传组成的唯一性。种群内ＤＮＡ的高度多态性,不同景观生态类型种群之间低水平遗传分化,说明自然种群绝大多数多态ＤＮＡ位点是中性、近中性突变。至今没有发现盐渍条件下植物个体耐盐性水平与多态ＤＮＡ有相关性,更证实这一点。发现少数多态ＤＮＡ位点与形态分化有关或呈明显的地理梯度,暗示其适应意义。自然种群这两种生态学功能不同的多态ＤＮＡ的存在,说明有必要重新讨论遗传多样性研究和保存中的取样策略。分子遗传研究也指导生态系统和物种的保育。文章最后从分子生物学的方法论和已经阐明的生态过程的众多分子信息提出分子生态学的新思路。建议分解生态系统,找出一个或少数物种和环境构成生态系统的基本功能单位,研究所涉及的基因及基因对基因的相互作用。进一步提议首先分析最简单的生态系统里发生的专一过程的分子细节。     

Transgenic cell cultures that synthesize neurotrophic factors and the possibility of therapeutic use of its cells

Under the leadership of Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences L.I. Korochkin, the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Developmental Genetics (Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences) for many years has been conducting studies of nervous system development, neural cell differentiation, and application of gene and cell technology to cure neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the study initiated by L.I. Korochkin and continued by his scientific successors support the direction of allocation of transgenic neurotrofic factors and heat-shock proteins as neuroprotectors for cell therapy. Potential for usage of promoter of HSP70 heat-shock gene of Drosophila to create transgenic constructs for therapy has been shown. Further improvement of technology of nonvirus transfer for therapeutic genes, as well as production of multicomponent genetic constructs coding several therapeutic factors with synergy effect, would stimulate creation of efficient cell medicals to cure neurodegenerative diseases.     

STEME系统:一种助力体内定向进化的新工具

通过定向进化(directed evolution)可以快速进行蛋白工程改良及重要基因功能研究,以获得新型农艺性状突变体。近期,中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所高彩霞团队和李家洋团队合作构建了新型的饱和靶向内源诱变编辑器(saturated targeted endogenous mutagenesis editors, STEMEs),并在植物中实现了基因的定向进化和功能筛选。该系统融合了现有的2种单碱基编辑技术,成功实现在植物体内同时诱导C:G>T:A、A:T>G:C双碱基编辑,通过靶向OsACC羧基转移酶结构域编码序列定向进化出水稻除草剂抗性植株。这种在体内进行基因定向进化的新方法,对于今后农作物重要农艺性状的筛选和功能基因研究具有重要作用。本文对STEME系统的组成、编辑效率和应用原理进行介绍,并与已有的定向进化方法进行比较,为加速作物种质资源创新研究提供参考。     

中国叶蚜亚科分类学研究(同翅目,蚜科)

中国叶蚜亚科Phyllaphidinae已知4属,迪叶蚜属Diphyllaphis Takahashi,1960,楠叶蚜属Machilaphis Takahashi,1960,叶蚜属Phyllaphis Koch,1856和群斑蚜属Thelazacallis Zhang,2000;4个种,栎迪叶蚜Diphyllaphis quercus (Takahashi,1960),楠叶蚜Machilaphis machili(Takahashi,1928),山毛榉叶蚜Phyllaphis fagi(Linnacus,1767)和毛茛群斑蚜Thelazacallis ranunculicola Qiao et Zhang,2000.其中叶蚜属和山毛榉叶蚜为中国新纪录.文中提供了分属检索表,各属提供了鉴别特征,所有分类单元提供了文献引证、寄主植物、地理分布和检视标本的记录.新纪录种有详细的形态记述和特征图.研究标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆.     

我国科学家在程序性细胞死亡机制研究领域取得重大突破

程序性细胞死亡在调控植物发育和胁迫响应中具有重要作用, 而活性氧是导致程序性细胞死亡的关键因子。日前, 中科院遗传与发育所李家洋研究组对活性氧调控程序性细胞死亡的分子机制进行了深度解析, 首次阐明了苹果酸作为信号分子, 经由叶绿体-线粒体穿梭途径而引发活性氧产生, 继而导致细胞死亡。该研究成果是程序性细胞死亡调控机制领域的重大突破。     

Transgenic cell cultures that synthesize neurotrophic factors and the possibility of therapeutic use of its cells

Under the leadership of Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences L.I. Korochkin, the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Developmental Genetics (Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences) for many years has been conducting studies of nervous system development, neural cell differentiation, and application of gene and cell technology to cure neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the study initiated by L.I. Korochkin and continued by his scientific successors support the direction of allocation of transgenic neurotrofic factors and heat-shock proteins as neuroprotectors for cell therapy. Potential for usage of promoter of HSP70 heat-shock gene of Drosophila to create transgenic constructs for therapy has been shown. Further improvement of technology of nonvirus transfer for therapeutic genes, as well as production of multicomponent genetic constructs coding several therapeutic factors with synergy effect, would stimulate creation of efficient cell medicals to cure neurodegenerative diseases.     

香姜,越南植物一新记录种（英文）

据已有文献记载,香姜(姜科)(Alpinia coriandriodora D. Fang)仅分布于广西,现首次在越南发现其分布。该种在形态上与竹叶山姜(A. bambusifolia D. Fang)相近,但其叶片椭圆状披针形、唇瓣浅黄色及带红褐色条纹和花药附属体三角状而与后者有别。提供该种详细的形态学描述以及图版,亦包括在越南的分布及生态的资料。凭证标本保存于越南国立自然博物馆(VNMN)和中国科学院华南植物园(IBSC)。     

Laureates of the Palladin Premium of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine

The article presents a short information about the Resolution of Ukr.SSR Soviet of Ministers on establishing the nominal premium of Presidium the Academy of Sciences of Ukr.SSR (of NAS of Ukraine, now) in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology dedicated to the famous scientists, founder of the Ukrainian biochemical school and the Institute of Biochemistry named after him--academician O. V. Palladin. There is a chronologically sequential list presenting all Laureates (with photo pictures) awarded by this honourable bonus with displaying their scientific works for which they received this reward.