Effect of cytokinins on expression of radish CLE genes

CLE (CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION) peptides are peptide phytohormones playing the important role in the regulation of various type meristem development and also in the interaction between plants and parasites and symbionts. At the same time, the interaction of CLE peptides with other phytohormones, participating in these processes, is essentially unstudied. Using real-time RT-PCR, we analyzed expression of some genes encoding CLE peptides in radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula Pers.) under normal conditions and after treatment with the cytokinin 6-benzyladenine. Even after short-term (30 min) action of cytokinin, expression of group A CLE genes was manifold suppressed, whereas cytokinin did not affect expression of group B CLE genes. Radish lines contrasting in the trait “spontaneous tumor formation” demonstrated similar dynamics of CLE gene expression in response to cytokinin treatment but differed in the levels of their expression. A possibility of interaction between CLE peptides and cytokinins in the spontaneous development of tumors in radish lines is discussed. The important part of the work was the selection of optimal reference genes for the analysis of radish gene expression by real-time RT-PCR method. Most stable expression was observed for the genes of ubiquitin (RsUBQ) and glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (RsGAPDH).     

Influence of Fe0 nanoparticles,magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles,and iron (II) sulfate (FeSO4) solutions on the content of photosynthetic pigments in Triticum vulgare

Seeds and seedlings of soft wheat (Triticum vulgare Vill.) were used to study seed germination, leaf elongation, and the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids) as affected by five concentrations of iron-containing nanoparticles (NP): spherical Fe⁰ NP with the diameter of 80 ± 5 nm and the magnetite Fe₃O₄ NP measuring 50–80 nm in width and 4–10 nm in height. The effects of FeSO₄ solutions were also tested for comparison. The parameters examined varied as a function of the exogenous agent applied, the agent concentration, and the exposure duration. The highest sensitivity of seedlings was observed in the presence of increasing concentrations of iron (II) sulfate in the nutrient medium. This was evident from the decrease in seed germination percentage, inhibition of leaf growth, and the diminished content of photosynthetic pigments. The apparent toxicity of iron nanoforms varied depending on the parameter examined. (1) The strongest inhibition of germination was exerted by Fe⁰ NP (toxicity assessed from germination percentage was 3.3% higher with Fe⁰ NP than with magnetite NP); (2) the inhibition of leaf elongation on the 4th day after germination was most evident in the presence of Fe⁰ NP (a 12% stronger inhibition in the presence of Fe⁰ NP than in the presence of magnetite NP), whereas on the 7th day the inhibition was most pronounced with magnetite NP (a 9% stronger inhibition in the presence of Fe₃SO₄ NP than in the presence of Fe⁰ NP); (3) the lowest total content of photosynthetic pigments on the 4th day of seedling growth was noted in the presence of magnetite NP (8% lower in the presence of Fe₃SO₄ NP than in the presence of Fe⁰ NP), whereas on the 7th day the lowest pigment pool was observed in the presence Fe⁰ NP (a 3% reduction compared to that in the presence of magnetite NP). The highest content of photosynthetic pigments was recorded in the presence of 0.125 and 0.001 g/L of Fe⁰ NP, 0.5 g/L and 1 μg/L of Fe₃O₄ NP, and 1 mg/L FeSO₄.     

Genetic study of a new color of the beet Beta vulgaris L

A new genetic character of the beet Beta vulgaris L., named stem color, was described and studied genetically. This character was shown to be dominant trait and monogenically inherited. The first-year beet plants with the genotype Stc/_have red leafstalks, weakly colored central rib, and colored storage root; however, the root itself is not colored. The second-year plants have a red-colored low third of the floral shoot. The plants with the genotype stc/stc are uncolored. The Stc gene was localized to the first linkage group at a distance of 17.5 +/- 2.1 crossing over units from the gene B (Bolting), which controls the annual-perennial habit of beet.     

Analysis of Specific RAPD and ISSR Fragments in Maize (Zea mays L.) Somaclones and Development of SCAR Markers on Their Basis

RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) markers were used to analyse the genetic divergence between the regenerated plants derived from callus cultures and the original maize line A188. Analysis of polymorphism by using 38 RAPD- and 10 ISSR-oligonucleotide primers showed that the differences between eight examined somaclones and the original line ranged from 6.5 to 23%. As confirmed using new primers, the regenerants derived from callus cultures grouped into two clusters according to their origin. The regenerants isolated from calluses grown for eight months differed from one another and the original line to a larger extent than the regenerants obtained from two-month callus cultures. In some somaclones, molecular marking of the regenerants revealed specific RAPD and ISSR fragments that were absent in other somaclones or the original maize line. On the basis of six specific fragments (five RAPD and one ISSR), SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) markers were developed. Specific polymorphism revealed with random primers was completely confirmed using five SCAR markers. Polymorphism of one SCAR marker differed from that revealed with random primers. Five SCAR fragments were inherited as simple dominant traits. One SCAR fragment displayed codominant inheritance.     

Disruption of vitellogenin gene function in adult honeybees by intra-abdominal injection of double-stranded RNA

Background  

The ability to manipulate the genetic networks underlying the physiological and behavioural repertoires of the adult honeybee worker (Apis mellifera) is likely to deepen our understanding of issues such as learning and memory generation, ageing, and the regulatory anatomy of social systems in proximate as well as evolutionary terms. Here we assess two methods for probing gene function by RNA interference (RNAi) in adult honeybees.     

Synthetic analogue of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fridericia</Emphasis> luciferin with improved spectral properties

New bioluminescent analogue of Fridericia luciferin was synthesized for the first time. Bioluminescence emission maximum of the compound demonstrates a 50-nm bathochromic shift compared to the luciferin. The obtained analogue may find use in the novel in vivo bioimaging applications.     

Creation of a SCAR Marker in Pea Pisum sativumL. Using RAPD Analysis

A polymorphic 750-bp fragment, RAPD marker, specific to particular pea genotypes (line L-111 and the Nord cultivar) was identified. Using this RAPD marker, SCAR was obtained. SCAR inheritance in the first and second generations was studied and its dominant character was shown.     

An electrophoretic analysis of human glycoprotein hormones and their subunits]

Stability of heterodimers of human glycoprotein hormones with gonadotropic and thyrotropic activities in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) under non-reducing conditions at low temperature permits to resolve the native molecules of these hormones in SDS-PAG and to distinguish from their dissociated subunits by electrophoretical mobility. The analysis of dimers and alpha-, beta-subunits in one polyacrylamide gel allows to detect certain human glycoprotein hormones and to study some of their physico-chemical properties. Using two polyclonal antisera against human LH and FSH by the Western blot immunoassay it was shown that heterodimers as well as alpha and beta subunits after SDS-PAGE retain antigenic activity of native hormones. The method gave possibility to characterize the specificity of the given sera to different glycoprotein hormones.     

The protein admixture content in a tick-borne encephalitis vaccine and its purification by means of microfiltration]

The method of rocket immunoelectrophoresis permits the detection of all antigenic admixtures in tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine. Human serum albumin constitutes the main part of protein admixtures in the preparation. Purification by microfiltration is an effective stage of the technological process of obtaining purified TBE vaccine.