Temperature reconstruction in the Ob River valley based on ring widths of three coniferous tree species

Tree core samples of larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) and pine (Pinus sibirica Du-Tour.) from the northern taiga of West Siberia were collected to assess their potential for summer temperature reconstructions in the Ob River region. Bootstrapped response functions showed that annual growth was mainly influenced by May to June temperatures in pine and by June to July temperatures in spruce and larch. Spruce and pine chronologies showed high positive correlations with previous October temperature. June–July temperatures were reconstructed based on spruce (1795–1996) and larch (1615–1999) tree ring chronologies. The pine chronology could not be used for a reliable temperature reconstruction, due to low values of explained May–June temperature variance (11–15%) but the species has a high potential to help clarify the May–June and October climatic influence on ring width observed in all three species. We explained the effect of the early vegetation period (May–July) and the differences in the temperature signals between spruce and larch tree ring chronologies with the influence of previous September and October temperature on tree growth with the warming effect of the Ob River and differences of the species’ photosynthetic possibilities and the activity of chloroplasts and bud meristem tissues.     

Identification and characterization of a new family of C-type lectin-like genes from planaria Girardia tigrina

A novel family of C-type lectin-like genes, denoted multidomain free lectin (MDFL), was identified in the freshwater planaria Girardia (Dugesia) tigrina. We cloned several genes that encode proteins comprising a signal peptide and a number of consecutive C-type lectin-like domains (CTLDs) interconnected by short linker stretches. Analyses of genomic organization, CTLD amino acid sequences, and the overall architecture of these proteins indicate that planarian proteins are a separate family of C-type lectin-like proteins. These genes are expressed in specifically differentiated gland cells of planaria and the corresponding proteins are excreted as components of the planarian body surface mucus.     

A Natural Fluorescent Protein That Changes Its Fluorescence Color during Maturation

The gene of a new red fluorescent protein zoan2RFP from coral polyp Zoanthus sp., a homologue of the known green fluorescent protein from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, was cloned. At early stages of maturation, zoan2RFP exhibits green fluorescence, which then turns to the red one. A similar phenomenon was recently reported for the E5 mutant of the red fluorescent coral protein DsRed. Zoan2RFP differs from E5 by faster maturation kinetics and the complete disappearance of green fluorescence in the mature protein. Naturally occurring proteins of this type can be considered as intermediate forms between the green and red fluorescent proteins, which are formed during the microevolution of fluorescent proteins.     

Structural Basis for Phototoxicity of the Genetically Encoded Photosensitizer KillerRed

KillerRed is the only known fluorescent protein that demonstrates notable phototoxicity, exceeding that of the other green and red fluorescent proteins by at least 1,000-fold. KillerRed could serve as an instrument to inactivate target proteins or to kill cell populations in photodynamic therapy. However, the nature of KillerRed phototoxicity has remained unclear, impeding the development of more phototoxic variants. Here we present the results of a high resolution crystallographic study of KillerRed in the active fluorescent and in the photobleached non-fluorescent states. A unique and striking feature of the structure is a water-filled channel reaching the chromophore area from the end cap of the β-barrel that is probably one of the key structural features responsible for phototoxicity. A study of the structure-function relationship of KillerRed, supported by structure-based, site-directed mutagenesis, has also revealed the key residues most likely responsible for the phototoxic effect. In particular, Glu⁶⁸ and Ser¹¹⁹, located adjacent to the chromophore, have been assigned as the primary trigger of the reaction chain.     

The influence of the lower Ob River runoff on radial growth of trees

The influence of the Ob River runoff in its lower reaches on the radial growth of main forest-forming tree species-the Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.), Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour.), and larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.)-was studied in the north of Western Siberia in various test sites both at the riverside and at a distance of 3 to 80 km from the Ob River floodplain. Differences in responses of the radial growth to air temperature in October and repeated frost damage of tree annual rings are observed in the Siberian spruce and Siberian stone pine depending on the distance from the river. The correlations of the radial growth of trees and frost damage with the effect of the Ob River runoff are discussed.     

GFP-like chromoproteins as a source of far-red fluorescent proteins.

We have employed a new approach to generate novel fluorescent proteins (FPs) from red absorbing chromoproteins. An identical single amino acid substitution converted novel chromoproteins from the species Anthozoa (Heteractis crispa, Condylactis gigantea, and Goniopora tenuidens) into far-red FPs (emission lambda(max)=615-640 nm). Moreover, coupled site-directed and random mutagenesis of the chromoprotein from H. crispa resulted in a unique far-red FP (HcRed) that exhibited bright emission at 645 nm. A clear red shift in fluorescence of HcRed, compared to drFP583 (by more than 60 nm), makes it an ideal additional color for multi-color labeling. Importantly, HcRed is excitable by 600 nm dye laser, thus promoting new detection channels for multi-color flow cytometry applications. In addition, we generated a dimeric mutant with similar maturation and spectral properties to tetrameric HcRed.     

New pyrimidine cyclonucleosides with hydrogenated aglycones: synthesis and X-ray structures

Acid catalysed transformations of (6S)-6,5'-anhydro-6-hydroxy-1-(2',3'-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)hexahydropyrimidine-2-thione are studied. (6R)-6,2'-anhydro-6-hydroxy-1-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl)hexahydropyrimidine-2-thione was formed as a thermodynamically stable product. Two intermediates, (6S)-6,5'-anhydro-6-hydroxy-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)hexahydropyrimidine-2-thione and 6-hydroxy-1-(D-ribosyl)hexahydropyrimidine-2-thione and products of cleavage of glycosidic bond were identified in the reaction mixtures. Results of X-ray structural determination of the synthesised nucleosides are presented.     

Synthesis and properties of 3′-C-methylnucleosides and their phosphoric esters

3′-C-Methyluridine and 3′-C-methylcytidine were synthesized in 11 steps starting from d-glucose. The conformation of 3′-C-methylnucleosides was studied in solution and in the crystal by using the techniques of c.d., ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. 3′-C-Methyluridine 2′,3′-cyclophosphate was prepared, and its hydrolysis with nucleases was studied. 3′-C-Methyluridine 5′- mono- and 5′-tri-phosphate were also synthesized.