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The result of an extra factory method of reproduction of a chum (Oncorhynchus keta) is presented. The method is tested in small tributaries river Mulka (bass. The Sea of Okhotsk, Strait of Tartary) and in Savushkin's river (bass. Sea of Okhotsk, Second Kuril passage). The original devices representing the flattened container in which in 6 tiers incubatory modules with flutes for caviar are placed are used. The nest allows to incubate during the winter the impregnated caviar of salmon species of fish and to receive the durable larvae which are independently settled in a threshold of the river or forcibly taken from devices in pools in the spring. The device has the increased capacity for the incubated caviar to 10000 berries of a chum on the device, the volume method of loading of caviar in the device is applied, time of equipment and installation of a nest to the river doesn't exceed 15 minutes. In general efficiency of hatching of larvae has made 96%. An exit of larvae has averaged 42,5%. At insignificant completion the device can be used for restoration of number of a chum and other salmon species of fish in the small rivers where factory reproduction is for various reasons unprofitable.

The size of the nuclear genome in eukaryotes is mostly determined by mobile elements and noncoding sequences and may vary within wide limits. It can differ signif icantly both among higher-order taxa and closely related species within a genus; genome size is known to be uncorrelated with organism complexity (the so-called C-paradox). Less is known about intraspecif ic variation of this parameter. Typically, genome size is stable within a species, and the known exceptions turn out be cryptic taxa. The Eisenia nordenskioldi complex encompasses several closely related earthworm species. They are widely distributed in the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East, as well as adjacent regions. This complex is characterized by signif icant morphological, chromosomal, ecological, and genetic variation. The aim of our study was to estimate the nuclear genome size in several genetic lineages of the E. nordenskioldi complex using f low cytometry. The genome size in different genetic lineages differed strongly, which supports the hypothesis that they are separate species. We found two groups of lineages, with small (250-500 Mbp) and large (2300-3500 Mbp) genomes. Moreover, different populations within one lineage also demonstrated variation in genome size (15-25 %). We compared the obtained data to phylogenetic trees based on transcriptome data. Genome size in ancestral population was more likely to be big. It increased or decreased independently in different lineages, and these processes could be associated with changes in genome size and/or transition to endogeic lifestyle.Размеры ядерного генома у большинства эукариот определяются преимущественно содержа- нием мобильных элементов и некодирующих последовательностей и варьируют в широких пределах. Они могут значительно различаться как между крупными таксонами (причем размер генома не коррелирует со сложностью организма – так называемый С-парадокс), так и между близкородственными видами в преде- лах рода. В то же время размах внутривидовой изменчивости по этому параметру изучен значительно хуже. Комплекс Eisenia nordenskioldi объединяет несколько близкородственных видов дождевых червей, широко распространенных на Урале, в Сибири и на Дальнем Востоке России, заходящих своими ареалами и в сопре- дельные регионы. Для этого комплекса характерна значительная морфологическая, кариотипическая, эко- логическая и генетическая изменчивость. Целью настоящей работы было оценить размеры ядерного генома у нескольких филогенетических линий комплекса E. nordenskioldi при помощи проточной цитофотометрии. Получены данные о размерах генома для 13 популяций, относящихся к семи филогенетическим линиям E. nordenskioldi. Наши результаты показали, что между линиями комплекса наблюдается заметный разброс по размерам, что является еще одним подтверждением их видовой самостоятельности. В целом по разме- ру генома выборки разделены на две группы. В одну вошли три популяции с небольшим (250–500 м. п. н.), во вторую – с крупным (2300–3500 м. п. н.) размером генома. Кроме того, разные популяции в пределах одной филогенетической линии также имели заметные различия в размере генома (15–25 %). Полученные данные были сопоставлены с филогенетическими деревьями, построенными на основе транскриптомных данных Судя по топологии филогенетических деревьев, предковые популяции комплекса с большей вероятностью имели большой размер генома, а уменьшение или увеличение его размера происходило в разных линиях независимо и, возможно, было связано с изменением размеров тела и/или переходом к собственно почвен- ному образу жизни.

The antiradical properties of essential oils from the inflorescences of Filipendula ulmaria (L). Maxim, herbages Hypericum perforatum L. and Pulmonaria mollis Wulfen ex HORNEM., growing on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk territory were studied. For this purpose, the reaction of essential oil components with a stable free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical was used. Essential oil of the plants under study received comprehensive hydroponically. The component composition of the oils was determined by chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main components of essential oil of F. ulmaria inflorescences are methyl salicylate (28.2%), salicylic aldehyde (2.8 %) and linalool (4.9%), essential oil of H. perforatum – γ - amorphene (30.7%), δ-cadinen (7.1%), (E, E)-β-farnesene (5.5%), caryophyllene (5.0%), ledol (5.0%), essential oil of P. mollis – di-n-butyl phthalate (18.7%), docosan (13.4%), tetracosan (11.6 %). The results of the DPPH test showed that the essential oils of the inflorescences of F. ulmaria and the aboveground part of H. perforatum and P. mollis exhibit antiradical activity (ARA). According to the size of the ARA of essential oils, the studied plants can be arranged in the following row: P. mollis > F. ulmaria > H. perforatum.

For the first time, using the example of a key object of the peat river valleys of the Kuznetsk Alatau occupied by spruce forests, it is shown that swamp waters are clearly differentiated by the content of the main ions due to forest–peat fires. Swamp waters objectively form three groups: (1) waters of the original type of mineral nutrition (fresh, soft), (2) waters of peatland covered by a medium fire (fresh, hard), (3) waters of peatland covered by a high fire (slightly saline, very hard). Magnesium ions and bicarbonates have the highest discriminating power (95%) in the determination of swamp waters. The swamp waters of the post-pyrogenic peatland do not lose the ratio of the main ions, which is similar to waters of the original type, and retain the hydro-carbonate calcium–magnesium composition.

Biochemical adaptations of energy metabolism and some pathways of glucose oxidation during a change in salinity of the environment in larvae and smolts of the pink salmonOncorhynchus gorbuscha(Walb.) inhabiting the White Sea were studied. We assayed the activity of energy and carbohydrate metabolism enzymes (cytochromecoxidase (COХ), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 1-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (1-GPDH), and aldolase) in pink salmon larvae in a short-term aquarium experiment and in pink salmon smolts in a long-term cage experiment simulating the transition of juveniles from freshwater to a marine environment. A decrease in the activity of COX, LDH, 1‑GPDH, and aldolase already in the first hour after the transfer of larvae to seawater was shown. Smolts kept in the estuary and in the sea had low levels of activity of 1-GPDH and aldolase in comparison with individuals from the river. Most likely, in the salmon juveniles studied, there was a redistribution of carbohydrates between the reactions of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in favor of anaerobic ATP synthesis. No changes in the enzyme activity of the pentose phosphate pathway, G-6-PDH, were found in either larvae or smolts compared with the individuals kept in freshwater. Maintenance of the required levels of anaerobic metabolism and of the pentose phosphate pathway is probably one of the mechanisms of biochemical adaptation of pink salmon to changes in salinity.

The experimental study yielded new data on changes in the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase and the level of cortisol in juvenile pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha that left the spawning nests (Olkhovka River, White Sea basin) during their transfer from fresh water to sea water (25‰) and back. The development of tolerance to increased salinity in juvenile pink salmon is accompanied by activation of Na+/K+-ATPase after 1 h and 24 h of maintaining in seawater and by cortisol content increase after 1 h of this exposure, followed by a return to the initial level after 24 h. The results obtained indicate the readiness of juvenile pink salmon to downstream migration into the marine environment immediately after leaving spawning nests. With the subsequent transfer of fish from salt water to freshwater after 24 h, the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase and the content of cortisol in them decrease, which may indicate the plasticity of the osmoregulatory reaction of pink salmon smolts.

Aim. Study of DNA polymorphism of 7 coenopopulations of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica) growing in theKuznetsk Alatau. Methods. Nuclear microsatellite loci developed for P. sibirica were used as genetic markers. Results. 44 allelic variants were identified from 11 nuclear microsatellite loci, which significantly differ in the composition and frequency of occurrence of the studied P. sibirica coenopopulations. The highest level of allelic diversity is found in loci Ps_80612 and Ps_1502048, where 8 and 7 alleles were identified, respectively. The calculation of the main parameters of genetic diversity showed a relatively low level of polymorphism in the studied samples (NA = 3.078; NE = 1.877; HE = 0.445; HO = 0.401). The assessment of the degree of genetic differences between populations using the Nei genetic distance (DN) showed that, despite the low genetic differentiation (DN varies from 0.019 to 0.061), the differences between them can be traced quite clearly. Conclusions. Differences in the level of genetic polymorphism of P. sibirica is defined by the presence of orographic and phytocoenotic barriers between coenopopulations, as well as a high degree of ecological and anthropogenic extremity of individual growth sites. Keywords: Pinus sibirica, Kuznetsk Alatau, microsatellites, genetic diversity, heterozygosity.

Background/aim We compared the therapeutic efficacy of two recently developed experimental anticancer technologies: 1) in situ vaccination based on local immunotherapy with CpG oligonucleotides and anti-OX40 antibodies to activate antitumor immune response and 2) "Karanahan" technology [from the Sanskrit kāraṇa ('source') + han ('to kill')] based on the combined injection of cyclophosphamide and double-stranded DNA to eradicate cancer stem cells. Materials and methods The anticancer approaches were compared on three types of mouse malignant tumors with different grades of immunogenicity: weakly immunogenic carcinoma Krebs-2, moderately immunogenic Lewis carcinoma, and highly immunogenic A20 В-cellular lymphoma. Results Our results indicated that in situ vaccination was the most effective against the highly immunogenic tumor А20. In addition, "Karanahan" demonstrated high efficiency in all types of tumors, regardless of their immunogenicity or size. Conclusion "Karanahan" therapy showed higher efficacy relative to in situ vaccination with CpG oligonucleotides and anti-OX40 antibodies.

An assessment of the degree of contrast in the physicochemical properties of pyrogenic peat soils and fire-induced carbon losses 20 years after a major fire that partially destroyed a swamp spruce forest (Picea obovata Ledeb.) located within a complex of small river valleys in Kuznetsk Alatau, Republic of Khakassia, is made. The area affected by the fire is currently occupied by a shrub–sedge–green moss–hypnum birch forest (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) belonging to the group of short-term–secondary postfire grass forests. The pyrogenic peat soils (i.e., mechanical and chemical underburning) that formed as a result of passive smoldering (i.e., thermal impact below the ignition point) feature a high variability of physicochemical parameters (Cv = 26–37%). The application of multivariate statistical analysis techniques (cluster, discriminant, and canonical analysis) has made it possible to distinguish and statistically substantiate four clusters that correlate with the series of pyrogenic peat soils. Organic carbon makes the greatest (83%) input into the total contribution of chemical parameters to the differentiation of clusters, while the input of the volumetric water content is significantly less (15%). Based on the diversity and abundance of fire traces in the profile of pyrogenic peat soils, the distinguished clusters have been conditionally associated with slight, moderate, medium, and strong thermal impacts. Proportionally to the fire impact intensity, the soil clusters are enriched with ash components by 1.6–2.7 times (the ash content varies from 18.9 to 77%) and compacted by 2.2–4.3 times (the bulk weight reaches 0.147–0.421 g/cm3), while their pH value gradually changes from 6.8 to 7.6. A new approach to assessing carbon losses that occur in the course of passive peat smoldering is proposed. The new approach is based on the difference in the carbon content before and after the fire; it supplements the traditional method based on the peat-deposit incineration depth. The additional carbon losses in the 0- to 20-cm layer of pyrogenic peat soils vary in the range from 1.6 to 4.0 kg/m2, which is equivalent to 5.9–14.8 kg/m2 in CO2 emissions. The data on additional carbon losses at the stage of passive peat deposit smoldering are presented for the first time.

Introduction. Male infertility is a common problem in andrology and occurs in 45 % of infertile couples. Some cases of male infertility caused by genetic reasons: point mutations at some monogenic diseases, AZF deletions or a CFTR mutation compounds; reduced fertility is also associated with polymorphic variants of the genes AR and GSTT1/GSTM1. At the same time, increasing amount of data are being published about the role of epigenetic mechanisms (aberrant methylation and imprinting alterations) in defective spermatogenesis.Materials and methods. We have studied 49 sperm samples obtained from unrelated infertile men using polymerase chain reaction, fragment analysis, and sequencing.Results. Five patients were excluded from the initial cohort: one with a repeat length of 29 (CAG) in the first exon of the AR, three with null genotypes in the GSTT1 and GSTM1, and one with the delF508/5T heterozygous compound in the CFTR. Thereafter, methylation of the imprinted gene SNRPN was determined using methyl-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing. Aberrant SNRPN methylation was detected in 11.4 % of male infertility samples. In total, molecular genetic and epigenetic alterations were determined in 20 % of patients.Conclusions. Obtained data demonstrate a significant proportion of (epi)genetic disorders in a heterogeneous cohort of men with reduced fertility.

The conditions for cohabitation of juvenile Salmo salar and Margaritifera margaritifera in the River Kamennaya (River Kem catchment, White Sea drainage basin, Russia) were studied. The M. margaritifera population in the River Kamennaya contains about 1000 specimens. The only intermediate host capable of sustaining the existence of this rare North European mussel is the juvenile S. salar. In this study, we investigated a set of parameters and processes to get a more comprehensive insight into the ecology of the M. margaritifera. One of such parameters is the individual linear growth, which was investigated in freshwater mussels from the River Kamennaya. Growth deceleration coefficients varied widely and differed significantly among specimens. The population-averaged coefficient of growth deceleration was 0.076. The growth of mussels in the River Kamennaya involves three regular biorhythms with the following periods: 11.5, 6.4 and 4.0 years. The biorhythm periods were roughly constant both through an individual's ontogeny and among different individuals. A comparison of our results with data on other M. margaritifera populations in the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk Region reveals a reliable (p < 0.01) negative correlation between growth deceleration coefficients and mean annual temperature in the M. margaritifera habitat. The abundance, spatial distribution and age structure of juvenile S. salar and M. margaritifera are presented. The rates of glochidial infection in S. salar juveniles at different ages were estimated. The developmental stages and the status of glochidia encysted on juvenile S. salar gills were observed and described using histological methods. The results of this study will be used to suggest activities and measures aimed to preserve populations of M. margaritifera and S. salar in the River Kamennaya, primarily to promote juvenile S. salar numbers and M. margaritifera settlement in rapids with a high density of young individuals.

Fertility of pollen grains is their ability to induce full fertilization. This parameter is one of the most important in the selection of pairs when crossing all fruit crops, including sour cherry. The determination of this parameter in selected and elite forms of sour cherry is an urgent direction in breeding. The purpose of these studies was to determine the fertility of pollen in four selected and elite forms of sour cherry breeding in the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crops Breeding (RRIFCB). The studies were conducted at the laboratory of cytoembryology over 2 years, from 2019 to 2020, and their results are preliminary. As objects of research, 4 selected and elite forms of sour cherry, with high taste and marketability, were taken. The sour cherry variety Turgenevka, obtained at RRIFCB, was chosen as a control. The collection of pollen from cherry forms to determine fertility was carried out during the period of mass flowering of trees in the first ten days of May. The anthers removed from the flowers were dried at room temperature, opened, and the spilled pollen was poured into parchment paper bags and stored in a desiccator over calcium chloride. Fertility was determined by the method of pollen staining with acetocarmine. According to the research results, it was established that, on average, over 2 years of research, cherry accessions 84847, 84854, 84735 stand out for a high degree of pollen fertility (more than 58.64 % in almost all forms), which makes it possible to recommend them for use in crosses to obtain new hybrids . The highest degree of fertility was observed in pollen of the control variety Turgenevka — it was 76.80 % on average over two years. The lowest fertility was observed in the sour cherry form 84595. In this case, it was only 29.61 %.

The antiradical properties of essential oil and water-alcohol extracts of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), which grows in the Krasnoyarsk territory, were studied in model reactions with a free stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. Essential oil is obtained by exhaustive hydro-distillation. Separate fractions of oil: first 10 minutes from the start of the distillation, the second – after 20 min, the third after 40 min, and the fourth in 80 minutes, a fifth fraction was collected after the end of hydroponically. The results of the DPPH test showed that all the studied samples of essential oil exhibit anti-radical activity (ARA), the values of which increase from 30.4% (the first fraction) to 51.0% (the fifth). The ARA of O. vulgare whole oil was 36.1%. The ARA values of O. vulgare water-alcohol extracts vary from 56.6 to 100% depending on the alcohol concentration and the volume of the added extract. The highest anti-radical activity is 70% extract, and the lowest – 96%. According to the ARA value, the studied extracts and essential oil are O. vulgare, which grows in the Siberian region, can be arranged in the following order: 70% water-alcohol extract > 40% extract > 20% extract > water extract > 96% alcohol extract > essential oil.

In the present study, the PSY1 and PSY2 homologous genes were identified in five accessions of three pepper species Capsicum annuum, Capsicum chinense, and Capsicum frutescens, differing in fruit pigmentation pattern. Within the group of studied accessions, the variability of PSY1 and PSY2 genomic and cDNA sequences was determined. The PSY1 and PSY2 sequences were 82% similar and differed in the N- and C-terminal NAGLRYSD and KLTSSSL indels, as well as in the conserved motifs characteristic of the PSY2 and PSY1 homologs. The expression of PSY1 and PSY2 was analyzed in leaves, sepals, petals, and ovaries, as well as in the peel and pulp of the fruits at the three stages of ripening in all five analyzed accessions. The maximum level of PSY1 expression was shown in the petals and in the pericarp of mature fruits of C. annuum and C. frutescens accessions. In the C. chinense cv. Pimenta da Neyde, PSY1 was expressed only in leaves. PSY2 transcripts were found in all analyzed organs of all pepper accessions; the maximum level was in the leaves, and the minimum level was in the fruit pericarp. The obtained data suggest that the PSY1 and PSY2 homologs of pepper species retained conserved key functions in the carotenoid synthesis in fruits (PSY1) and photosynthetic tissues (PSY2).

In mammals, about 40 isoforms of voltage-gated potassium channels (KVs) have been found. To study such a variety of KVs, substances are needed that are able to selectively bind to them and change their properties. We have previously reported on the isolation and pharmacological characterization of MeKTx13-3, a peptide toxin from the venom of the scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus. The toxin has shown high affinity to a number of KVs, with little selectivity for the KV1.1 isoform. In this paper, we describe the production of an artificial derivative of MeKTx13-3, named MeKTx13-3_RMRH, using rational design. The selectivity of MeKTx13-3_RMRH in relation to KV1.1 is increased by an order of magnitude making it one of the most specific ligands of this KV isoform. Finally, using computer simulations, we demonstrate that the preference of the new ligand to KV1.1 can be realized through a specific positioning of the toxin in complex with the channel.

This paper considers various aspects of pro-gress, as a problem touched upon in the article by A.L. Nikiforov. The author suggests an assumption about the heuristic significance of the idea of progress in social philosophy as a kind of research tool, which is effective in the analysis of various social processes and allows to trace their directed development accord-ing to some criterion. It is argued that in this case, it is necessary to comply with a number of conditions: one requirement (a clear formulation of the criterion) and three prohibitions – a prohibition on subjective assess-ment, on discussion about criteria, and on absolutizing a criterion.

Relevance. One of the most important directions in the breeding and variety study of fruits, in particular domestic plum European, is the breeding of cultivars with high commercial and consumer qualities of fruits. In this regard, the assessment of some commercial and consumer qualities of fruits in plum cultivars of the RRIFCB gene pool was of great practical and scientific interest. Material and methods. As objects of research, we used 8 plum cultivars of the RRIFCB gene pool and a control cultivar of the RRIFCB breeding Bolkhovchanka. The studies were carried out on the basis of the laboratory of breeding and variety study of stone fruit crops of RRIFCB in 2015-2019. Determination of color, shape, average weight, taste, size of fruit, size and shape of the stone, density of pulp, separation and length of the stalk, color of the juice were carried out in accordance with the "Program and methodology for the variety study of stone fruit crops" and "Pomology". Results. Most of the studied plum cultivars from the gene pool of the Russian Research Institute for Fruit Crops Breeding have valuable commercial and consumer qualities of fruits, which will allow them to be used in further breeding for this trait. Cultivars Californiyskaya krupnaya, Zarechnaya rannyaya, Volgogradskaya can be recommended for further use in breeding as sources of high fruit mass. Cultivars Californiyskaya krupnaya and Bolkhovchanka can be recommended for further use in breeding as sources of high pulp content in fruits and fruit sizes. On the basis of the tasting assessment of the fresh fruits, the fruits of the cultivar Volgogradskaya stood out positively.

By the method of exhaustive hydroparodistillation, essential oil was obtained from Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.), growing on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk territory. Separate fractions of oil were obtained: the first one after 45 min from the beginning of distillation, the second – after 2 hours, the third – after 5 hours, the fourth-after 10 hours, the fifth fraction was collected after the end of hydrodistillation. The antimicrobial activity of separate fractions of essential oil of P. sibirica and A. sibirica was studied against strains of opportunistic microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus 209p, Micrococcus luteus, Acinetobacter baumanii, Candida albicans. The performed studies showed that all the studied samples of essential oils showed either bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity against the strains of microorganisms taken in the experiment, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The type of activity displayed depended on the type of strain and sample of essential oil. It is noted that the sensitivity of the experimental strains to the components of the essential oils of P. sibirica and A. sibirica decreases during the transition from the first to the last fraction. We assume that, apparently, this is due to a decrease in the number of monoterpenes in the composition of oils.To study the antiradical activity, the reaction of essential oil components with a stable free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical was used. Antiradical activity of both whole essential oils of P. sibirica and A. sibirica and their separate fractions was established. There was an increase in antiradical activity with a decrease in the content of monoterpenes in the composition of essential oil.

In the current report, the effect of bioactive compounds of the M2 macrophage secretome on transcription of hippocampal genes in mice with a depression-like condition caused by social stress has been investigated. Surgically resected hippocampus was used for mRNA isolation with following RNA sequencing procedures. Comparative analysis of transcriptomes from the control depressive mice treated with physiological saline solution and mice after intranasal administration of M2 macrophages-conditioned medium revealed that remission of the depressive-like state is associated with a significant up- and downregulation of a number of genes, which were found to participate in restoration/regulation of ATP/Adenosine balance. Among the events associated with positive changes in behavioral pattern of depressive mice, the switch of microglial environment from a pro-inflammatory phenotype to an anti-inflammatory one, and subsequent restoration of compromised cannabinoid and glutamatergic transmitter pathways has been predicted.

The fruits of various pepper cultivars are characterized by a different colour, which is determined by the pigment ratio; carotenoids dominate in ripe fruits, while chlorophylls, in immature fruits. A key regulator of carotenoid biosynthesis is the phytoene synthase encoded by the PSY gene. The Capsicum annuum genome contains two isoforms of this enzyme, localized in leaf (PSY2) and fruit (PSY1) plastids. In this work, the complete PSY1 and PSY2 genes were identified in nine C. annuum cultivars, which differ in ripe fruit colour. PSY1 and PSY2 sequence variability was 2.43 % (69 SNPs) and 1.21 % (36 SNPs). The most variable were PSY1 proteins of the cultivars ‘Maria’ (red-fruited) and ‘Sladkij shokolad’ (red-brown-fruited). All identified PSY1 and PSY2 homologs contained the phytoene synthase domain HH-IPPS and the transit peptide. In the PSY1 and PSY2 HH-IPPS domains, functionally significant sites were determined. For all accessions studied, the active sites (YAKTF and RAYV), aspartate-rich substrate-Mg2+-binding sites (DELVD and DVGED), and other functional residues were shown to be conserved. Transit peptides were more variable, and their similarity in the PSY1 and PSY2 proteins did not exceed 78.68 %. According to the biochemical data obtained, the largest amounts of chlorophylls and carotenoids across the cultivars studied were detected in immature and ripe fruits of the cv. ‘Sladkij shokolad’ and ‘Shokoladnyj’. Also, ripe fruits of the cv. ‘Nesozrevayuschij’ (green-fruited) were marked by significant chlorophyll content, but a minimum of carotenoids. The PSY1 and PSY2 expression patterns were determined in the fruit pericarp at three ripening stages in ‘Zheltyj buket’, ‘Sladkij shokolad’, ‘Karmin’ and ‘Nesozrevayuschij’, which have different ripe fruit colours: yellow, red-brown, dark red and green, respectively. In the leaves of the cultivars studied, PSY1 expression levels varied significantly. All cultivars were characterized by increased PSY1 transcription as the fruit ripened; the maximum transcription level was found in the ripe fruit of ‘Sladkij shokolad’, and the lowest, in ‘Nesozrevayuschij’. PSY2 transcripts were detected not only in the leaves and immature fruits, but also in ripe fruits. Assessment of a possible correlation of PSY1 and PSY2 transcription with carotenoid and chlorophyll content revealed a direct relationship between PSY1 expression level and carotenoid pigmentation during fruit ripening. It has been suggested that the absence of a typical pericarp pigmentation pattern in ‘Nesozrevayuschij’ may be associated with impaired chromoplast formation.

The DNA polymorphism of seven coenopopulations of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) growing in a region which is typical for mountain taiga pine forests—the northeastern part of the Kuznetsk Alatau—has been studied. According to the data of 11 nuclear microsatellite loci, 44 allelic variants which significantly differed between the studied coenopopulations in composition and frequency of occurrence are identified. The highest level of allelic diversity is found in the Ps_80612 and Ps_1502048 loci, in which eight and seven alleles are detected, respectively. The calculation of the main parameters of genetic diversity have shown, on the whole, a relatively low level of polymorphism of the studied samples (NA = 3.078, NE = 1.877, HE = 0.445, and HO = 0.401). An analysis of the degree of subdivision of coenopopulations has revealed that about 95% of the total genetic diversity is concentrated within populations, while the interpopulation component accounts for only about 5% (FST = 0.049). The diagnosed differences in the level of P. sibirica genetic polymorphism are determined by several factors: the presence of orographic and phytocenotic barriers between the coenopopulations, which define the directions of seed propagation vectors along the watercourses of river basins that form the Chulym River in the eastern sector of the Kuznetsk Alatau and Tom River in the western sector; a significant level of bioclimatic and environmental extremeness of habitats of coenopopulations in accordance with the height above sea level; and anthropogenic pressure, including periodic deforestation and recreational impact on coenopopulations located near settlements. These factors, which have a significant microevolutionary component, determine the adaptation trends of coenopopulations of P. sibirica and morphological singularities and reproductive potential of trees and, ultimately, they control their genetic polymorphism in the studied part of the Kuznetsk Alatau.

Genes homologous to PSY1 and PSY2 that encode phytoene synthase isoforms in Capsicum species C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. tovarii, C. eximium, and C. chacoense were identified. High conservatism of functionally significant sites of phytoene synthases of the analyzed accessions was revealed. It was found that only PSY1-based clustering of pepper species corresponds to the traditional Capsicum phylogeny; C. eximium was a part of the Purple corolla complex, and C. chacoense was equidistant from Annuum and Baccatum clades. The absence of significant differences between PSY1 and PSY2 of yellow-fruited C. chinense and red-fruited pepper accessions was shown. The yellow color of C. chinense fruit may be the result of both decreased PSY1 expression and increased PSY2 transcription. Thus, it was demonstrated that the acquired fruit pigmentation retains strict phylogenetic limitations, which, however, can be overcome using artificial selection for the activity of phytoene synthase PSY1.

The article presents the results of a long-term study in the conditions of the Orel region of seven varieties of sour cherry, bred in diff erent years in the Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture: Naumovskaya, Zarya Tatarii, Pamyat Sakharova, Truzhenitsa Tatarii, Tveritinovskaya, Shakirovskaya and Sevastyanovskaya. The varieties were graft ed in stone fruit stands of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crops Breeding (RRIFCB, Orel) in 2009. The study was conducted in order to determine the suitability of growing of indicated varieties in the conditions of the Orel region and the possibility of its recommending as sources of economically valuable traits for breeding. The RRIFCB Businka variety was used as a control accession. The study was started in 2010 and lasted until 2018 inclusive. According to the results of research, it was found that all the studied varieties in general correspond to the natural conditions of the Oryol region and can be successfully cultivated in this region. Individual varieties were positively distinguished by a number of parameters. The varieties Pamyat Sakharova and Naumovskaya had the highest fl owering among all the studied accessions. The maximum general degree of fl owering and fruiting stood out for the Truzhenitsa Tatarii variety. Among the studied accessions, all showed a high degree of resistance to the main fungal diseases of this zone – coccomycosis and moniliosis – and did not show a lesion stronger than 2.0 points. Winter hardiness was also relatively high among all the studied accessions, but the varieties Tveritinovskaya, Pamyat Sakharova, and the control variety Businka showed themselves best on this trait. Varieties Sevastyanovskaya and Pamyat Sakharova showed the highest degree of general condition. The variety Pamyat Sakharova, which showed the most positive results in the majority of the studied parameters, can be recommended for cultivation in the production conditions of the Orel region and for further breeding research on sour cherry.

The biomorphological features of Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Royle in tropical and temperate regions of the Eurasian part of the geographical range have been studied. The shoot system is long-growing and sympodial, consisting of (annual)oligoennial monopodial shoots of main and subordinate orders. The number of leaves per node; shape, length, and width of leaf blade; branching peculiarities; and the length of the internode are the most variable signs. Hydrilla verticillata is a perennial (vegetatively oligoennial) polycarpic rooting long-shoot high turion-tuber vegetative–mobile hydrophyte. The flexibility of biomorphs in different biotypes is manifested by the duration of shoot ontogenesis and by a change in the ratio of the specialized vegetative diasporas. Turions and tubers are the two alternative models for maintaining the population.

Introduction. Various cultures of microorganisms have recently been used to accelerate technological processes. In this regard, it appears highly relevant to study the action of beneficial microorganisms on the components of food systems. Study objects and methods. The study objects included a model mixture of beef muscle and pork fat tissue with 2% salt, as well as a model protein. Lactobacillus plantarum and Staphylococcus carnosus were used in an amount of 1×107 CFU/g of raw material. The compositions of free amino and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and other components were analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography with mass-selective detection. Results and discussion. We studied the effect of L. plantarum and S. carnosus on protein, lipid, and carbohydrate components of food systems based on animal raw materials. We found that the combined effect of the cultures was by 25% as effective as their individual use at 4×109 CFU/kg of raw material. The three-week hydrolysis of proteins to free amino acids was almost a third more effective than when the cultures were used separately. The synergistic effect of L. plantarum and S. carnosus on fat components was not detected reliably. Free monosaccharides formed more intensively when the cultures were used together. In particular, the amount of free lactose almost doubled, compared to the cultures’ individual action. Conclusion. We described culture-caused quantitative changes in the main components of animal-based food systems: amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and basic organic compounds. Also, we identified substances that can affect the taste and aroma of final products when the cultures are used together or separately. These results make it possible to obtain products with a wide variety of sensory properties.

Tetra(p-tolyl)antimony 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxide p-Tol4SbOC6H2Cl3-2,4,6 (1) and tetra(p-tolyl)antimony 3,4,5-trifluorobenzoate p-Tol4SbOС(O)C6H2F3-3,4,5 (2) are synthesized by the interaction of penta(p-tolyl)antimony with equimolar amounts of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 3,4,5-trifluorobenzoic acid in a benzene solution. Compounds 1 and 2 are also obtained by ligand redistribution reactions between penta(p-tolyl)antimony and symmetric antimony derivatives p-Tol3SbХ2. The crystal structures and structural features of compounds 1 and 2, in which antimony atoms have a trigonal bipyramidal coordination of substituents with axially located oxygen-containing ligands, are determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Red-colored crystalline gold complexes [p-Tol4Sb][Au(CN)2I2] (I), [Ph3PMe][Au(CN)2I2] (II), and [Ph3PCH2CN][Au(CN)2I2] (III) were synthesized by the reaction of potassium dicyanodiiodoaurate with tetra(para-tolyl)antimony and alkyltriphenylphosphonium halides in water. The structure of the complexes was established by IR and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The tetra(para-tolyl)antimony and alkyltriphenylphosphonium cations have a distorted tetrahedral coordination. The dicyanodiiodoaurate anions have a planar structure with a square coordination of the gold atom. The formation of the 3D crystal network is due to weak CN⋅⋅⋅H−C hydrogen bonds between cations and anions (2.39, 2.59 A (I), 2.70, 2.48, 2.52, 2.68 A (II), 2.73, 2.50, 2.67, 2.44 A (III)). In complex III, anions of one of the two types interact with one another via I⋅⋅⋅I contacts to give 1D ladder-like chains along the crystallographic a axis.

Introduction.The term “cryoglobulinemia” is currently used to identify immunoglobulins in vitro in the blood serum that precipitate at temperatures below 37 °C; in vivo they form immune complexes that can be deposited in small vessels and activate the complement system with the development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Cryoglobulinemia may develop in various lymphoproliferative, autoimmune and infectious diseases.Aim of study.To develop the technique of plasma proteins cryofraction (selective plasmapheresis with the use of heparin as a stimulant of fibronectin opsonic activity and purified autoplasma to compensate for the removed volume), to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of the developed technique in the treatment of patients with cryoglobulinemia.Materials and methods.159 patients were treated (120 women and 39 men aged 21 to 83 years).Research results.Heparinocryofraction technique is a highly effective method of extracorporeal blood purification, which allows to selectively remove from the patients’ plasma such pathological components as cryoglobulins (up to 100% of the initial content), adhesive proteins (up to 84% of the initial content), fibronectin and immune complexes (up to 7% of the initial content). It is possible to reduce significantly and reliably the level of cryoglobulins, circulating immune complexes, non-specific markers of inflammation, daily proteinuria, as well as to normalize the initially reduced concentration of complement components and hemoglobin in the blood of patients with cryoglobulinemia before and after the procedure of cryofractionation. Purified by the proposed method autoplasma is a solution of albumin and normal immunoglobulins, which allows to use it for plasma substitution during a course of cryofractionation procedures, on average 7 procedures with an interval of 1–2 days.Conclusion.The technique of cryofractionation using heparin and purified autoplasma can and should be widely used in the complex treatment of patients with cryoglobulinemia. Carrying out 6–-7 sessions of plasma cryofractionation allows to remove cryoglobulins from plasma effectively and selectively. Application of purified autoplasma allows to avoid using of blood preparations in plasmapheresis. The proposed method allows to significantly improve the efficiency and tolerance of medication therapy and increase the duration of disease remission.

Essential oil from the roots of calamus marsh (Acorus calamus L) was isolated by the method of exhaustive hydroparodistillation, growing on the Krasnoyarsk territory. Separate fractions of essential oil were obtained depending on the duration of isolation. The component composition of the essential oil, the main components of which are acorenone, butyrate α-terpineol, germacrene B, camphor. The antiradical properties of the essential oil of A. сalamus roots growing in the Siberian region, as well as the antiradical properties of its individual fractions were studied for the first time in order to determine the most promising samples as sources of biologically active complexes. To determine the antiradical activity, the reaction of the essential oil components with a stable free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical was used. The antiradical activity of all studied samples of essential oils was established. There was an increase in antiradical activity with a decrease in the content of monoterpenes in the composition of the essential oil. The lowest antiradical activity (17.5%) was shown by the fraction of essential oil with a high content of monoterpenes, the highest (~100%) – fractions with a high content of oxygen-containing compounds. It was revealed that the ability of components of individual fractions of A. сalamus essential oil to inhibit DPPH radicals is comparable with the antiradical activity of ascorbic acid solutions of equivalent concentration.

By the method of exhaustive hydroponically obtained essential oil from beans of Heracleum dissectum Ledeb., growing in the Krasnoyarsk region. Separate fractions of oil were obtained: the first after 45 minutes from the beginning of distillation, the second – after 2 hours, the third-after 5 hours, the fourth fraction was collected after the end of hydro-distillation. The component composition of both whole essential oil and its separate fractions was studied. The main components are octyl acetate (60.0%), octyl-2-methylpropanoate (10.2%), n-hexyl-2-methylbutanoate (9.0%). The main amount of octyl acetate (64.7%) is concentrated in the first fraction of the oil. The antimicrobial activity of various fractions of essential oil of borscht dissected against strains of opportunistic microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus 209p, MRSA, Proteus vulgaris. It was found that, depending on the duration of isolation, the antimicrobial activity of essential oil fractions in relation to Staphylococcus aureus 209p, MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa decreases, and in relation to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris increases. The most pronounced inhibitory effect of the third and fourth fractions of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumonia. The antiradical activity of all studied samples of borscht essential oil dissected in reaction with stable free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical was established. The first fraction showed minimal antiradical activity (15.1%), the fourth – maximum (49.2%).

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has found extensive use in industry. However, recombinant PLA2 production in different expression systems is a difficult task because of its toxicity to cell membranes. We report here the development of an effective method for production of highly active PLA2 from Streptomyces violaceoruber strain A-2688 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The method is based on the use of the PRP8 mini-intein (from Penicillium chrysogenum) inserted into the phospholipase sequence with the purpose of temporal inactivation of the enzyme and its subsequent delayed autoactivation. We demonstrate that the most effective site for intein insertion is Ser76 of the mature phospholipase. As a result of intein-containing precursor secretion from yeast cells and its subsequent autocatalytic splicing, highly active enzyme accumulated in the yeast culture fluid. The properties of the obtained recombinant phospholipase A2 protein were similar to those of the native Streptomyces violaceoruber PLA2 protein. A possible evolutionary role of delayed autoactivation of intein-containing proteins is also discussed.

A review of original and published data on the biochemical status of two salmonid species, the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. and the brown trout Salmo trutta L., encompasses the results on fish embryogenesis and the early development of fry of different ages during the freshwater period of life at different stages of life history (fingerling, parr, smolt) with inhabitation of the riverine biotopes of the northwest Russia, which differ in ecological and hydrological conditions. Data on the total lipid content, reserve lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol ester) and structural lipids (phospholipids and their fractions, cholesterol), fatty acids, activity of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and intracellular proteolysis are considered, along with some molecular-genetic indices of muscular tissue growth (the expression level of genes controlling myogenesis, as well as myostatin and heavy chain of myosin). Biochemical differences are already found in the embryos of the studied salmon fish; they determine the specifics of the interaction of larvae and fry with the habitat. As a result, when leaving the redds, some hatchlings may have certain metabolic advantages that facilitate their settling on better nursery grounds. Among all of the studied age groups, the “youngest” groups (0+, 1+) stand out, both in regard to the level of biochemical metabolism and the degree of difference between phenotypic groups inhabiting microbiotopes with different ecological, trophic, and hydrological conditions.

The feeding habits of brown trout (age 2+ and 3+ years) in the small Orzega River (Lake Onega basin) are analyzed with an autumn decrease in the number of accessible food items. Along with the previously determined mechanisms for compensating for this phenomenon (feeding directly from the bottom and consumption of large items), a sharp increase in the variability of the individual feeding habits of sea trout in October is revealed both by the composition of the contents of its stomachs and by the amount of consumed feed. The food differentiation of individuals makes it possible to expand the food supply of the brown trout population in the river and effectively use the food resources of the small watercourse, which is particularly important during the period of low availability.

The taxonomic composition of section Typha, genus Typha L. (Typhaceae Juss.), is considered. An ecological reconstruction for the Cenozoic geological epochs is proposed. The representatives of section Typha reached acme in the Paleogene (Poltavian flora). Climate cooling, first manifested during the Pliocene, was followed by shrinkage and insularization of the Eurasian living range of the section in the Pleistocene. However, the rapid expansion of cattail populations to the numerous glacial lakes of European Russia started after the regression of the Valdai glacier. Asian populations of the section Typha were formed under the harsh conditions to which the Arctotertiary flora of Eastern Siberia was exposed. The relief of Northeastern and Central Asia was transformed during the Oligocene, as the waters of the Thetys Sea regressed and vast land territories emerged: as a result, many Paleogene (Angarid) cattail populations became extinct. Some were preserved in refugia of the subarctic and Arctic zones. Cattail migrations during the Pleistocene were apparently halted and resumed according to the fluctuations of the water level of the Pacific Ocean and the joining or separation of land at the Beringian isthmus. The hybridization processes triggered by the separation of European and Asian populations attenuated the speciation processes. Cattail populations sensitive to moisture supply were incapable of a broad expansion. This had an especially strong influence on the formation of the northeastern populations. Most of the small autochthonous Angarid populations were eliminated, with some apparently preserved in refugia. The expansions of Pacific cattail populations into these regions were, on average, often disrupted during the Pleistocene due to ocean-level fluctuations, separation or joining of land, and cold periods, which were harsher than those in Europe. The emergence of hybrids and anomalies among the taxa in the living range of the section Typha set a trend for convergence processes.

Isomerization of 9,15,9′-tri-cis-ζ-carotene mediated by 15-cis-ζ-carotene isomerase Z-ISO is a critical step in the biosynthesis of carotenoids, which define fruit color. The tomato clade (Solanum section Lycopersicon) comprises the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and 12 related wild species differing in fruit color and, thus, represents a good model for studying carotenogenesis in fleshy fruit. In this study, we identified homologous Z-ISO genes, including 5′-UTRs and promoter regions, in 12 S. lycopersicum cultivars and 5 wild tomato species (red-fruited Solanum pimpinellifolium, yellow-fruited Solanum cheesmaniae, and green-fruited Solanum chilense, Solanum habrochaites, and Solanum pennellii). Z-ISO homologs had a highly conserved structure, suggesting that Z-ISO performs a similar function in tomato species despite the difference in their fruit color. Z-ISO transcription levels positively correlated with the carotenoid content in ripe fruit of the tomatoes. An analysis of the Z-ISO promoter and 5′-UTR sequences revealed over 130 cis-regulatory elements involved in response to light, stresses, and hormones, and in the binding of transcription factors. Green- and red/yellow-fruited Solanum species differed in the number and position of cis-elements, indicating changes in the transcriptional regulation of Z-ISO expression during tomato evolution, which likely contribute to the difference in fruit color.

Background Hydrocharis L. and Limnobium Rich. are small aquatic genera, including three and two species, respectively. The taxonomic status, phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical history of these genera have remained unclear, owing to the lack of Central African endemic H. chevalieri from all previous studies. We sequenced and assembled plastomes of all three Hydrocharis species and Limnobium laevigatum to explore the phylogenetic and biogeographical history of these aquatic plants. Results All four newly generated plastomes were conserved in genome structure, gene content, and gene order. However, they differed in size, the number of repeat sequences, and inverted repeat borders. Our phylogenomic analyses recovered non-monophyletic Hydrocharis. The African species H. chevalieri was fully supported as sister to the rest of the species, and L. laevigatum was nested in Hydrocharis as a sister to H. dubia. Hydrocharis-Limnobium initially diverged from the remaining genera at ca. 53.3 Ma, then began to diversify at ca. 30.9 Ma. The biogeographic analysis suggested that Hydrocharis probably originated in Europe and Central Africa. Conclusion Based on the phylogenetic results, morphological similarity and small size of the genera, the most reasonable taxonomic solution to the non-monophyly of Hydrocharis is to treat Limnobium as its synonym. The African endemic H. chevalieri is fully supported as a sister to the remaining species. Hydrocharis mainly diversified in the Miocene, during which rapid climate change may have contributed to the speciation and extinctions. The American species of former Limnobium probably dispersed to America through the Bering Land Bridge during the Miocene.

Potato plants with the edited genome were obtained. Edited lines are characterized by changes in root gravitropism, aboveground part development and starch metabolism.

New ionic antimony complexes with a three-coordinated carbon atom in their cations, namely, [(Ph4SbO)3C]+[OSO2C6H3(NO2)2-2,4]– ⋅ 3PhH (32%) and [(p-Tol4SbO)3C]+Br– (traces), have been isolated when the products of reactions between pentaphenylantimony and 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and between penta(p-tolyl)antimony and hydrobromic acid were crystallized from a benzene–octane mixture in air along with the target products, such as tetraphenylantimony 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonate and tetra(p-tolyl)antimony bromide. The cations have nearly planar СO3Sb3 cores. The ОСО and COSb angles are close to 120°, whereas the C–O bonds vary within 1.277(4)–1.290(3) A, and the Sb–O distances (2.266(2)–2.299(2) A) exceed the sum of the covalent radii of antimony and oxygen atoms. It has been experimentally established that these complexes are formed as a result of interactions between the target products of the above-mentioned reactions with bis(tetraarylantimony) carbonates, which are also formed under the conditions of these reactions from pentaarylantimony and atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Temporary “extraembryonic” systems are important for the development of representatives of many Metazoan taxa and are characterized by significant diversity. The yolk syncytial layer (YSL), a component of embryonic and larval teleost yolk complex, is a provisory structure performing morphogenetic, nutritional and immune functions. Despite the crucial role of YSL in the early ontogeny of bony fishes, the data concerning YSL structure and morphological diversity is scant. Here, we describe YSL organization in the postembryonic development of the green terror cichlid, Andinoacara rivulatus, studied by the analysis of serial histological sections. YSL cytoplasm contains numerous yolk inclusions decreasing in size from basal to apical surface of YSL. The mode of yolk engulfment is one of the most variable YSL characteristics in the species studied. The yolk syncytial nuclei (YSN) have especially complex shape, and large nucleoli are well distinguished. The yolk mass consists of homogenous globules. It contains the oil globules, many of which are in contact with the basal surface of YSL. The YSL thickness is very uneven due to its interaction with oil globules. Significant part of the apical YSL surface is associated with the blood vessels and pigment cells. During the period of mixed feeding the yolk complex locates anterior to the liver. Thus, the yolk complex of green terror cichlid has a well-differentiated structure. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the morphology of fish temporary systems and allow clarifying their common and species-specific features.

β thalassaemia intermedia (βTI) are a heterogeneous group of disorders known to be extremely phenotypically diverse. This group is more complex to manage as no definitive treatment guidelines exist unlike for β thalassaemia major (βTM). There are only a few studies looking at genotype phenotype associations of βTI outside the Mediterranean region. The reasons for the diverse clinical phenotype in βTI are unknown. We categorized fifty Sri Lankan patients diagnosed with βTI as mild, moderate or severe according to published criteria. DNA samples were genotyped for β thalassaemia mutations, α globin genotype and copy number and known genetic modifiers of haemoglobin F production. There were 26/50 (52.0%) in mild group and 12/50 (24.0%) each in moderate and sever categories. 18/26 (69.2%) classified as mild were β heterozygotes and 17/18 (94.4%) had excess α globin genes. 11/12 (91.6%) classified as moderate were β heterozygotes and 8/11 (72.2%) had excess α globin genes. In contrast, 8/12 (66.7%) classified as severe were β homozygotes and 7/8(87.5%) had α globin gene deletions. In Sri Lanka, co-inheritance of either excess α globin genes in β thalassaemia heterozygotes or α globin gene deletions in β thalassaemia homozygotes is a significant factor in modulating disease severity.

A comparative study of lipid and fatty acid status at the early stages of pink salmon’s ontogenesis has been carried out in prespawn eggs, at the stage of eye pigmentation, and in the hatched prelarvae under ecological conditions of a natural environment (Indera River, Kola Peninsula). It is shown that the high plasticity of pink salmon is due to the activation and combination of complex biochemical mechanisms at the early stages of development, providing both the sensitivity and the sustainability of the species, which contributes to the formation of the species’ high potential at high latitudes. Metabolically mature pink salmon eggs are characterized by a high level of total lipids with a high amount of the structural and energetic components that provide optimal development of the embryos. Metabolic processes are activated at the stage of eye pigmentation in autumn, which affects the changes in the spectrum of individual classes of lipids and fatty acids and their ratio indicators. The prelarvae that hatched in winter at temperatures below zero have a low content of phospholipids, triacylglycerols, and 16:1ω-7, 18:3ω-3, and 20:5ω-3 fatty acids as well as high level of cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and a ratio index of 20:4ω-6/18:2ω-6 fatty acids, while the high content of dominant 18:1ω-9 and 22:6ω-3 fatty acids remains the same. Multidirectional changes of lipid and fatty acid levels at the stage of eye pigmentation (the most sensitive stage of embryogenesis) and in pink salmon prelarvae after hatching are caused by specific processes of metabolism intensification of the developing organism.

Elodea canadensis was found in July 2016 in the Ust-Tarksky district of Novosibirsk Region. In July 2016 and in July–August 2018, it was found in three bays of the Novosibirsk Reservoir: Ordynsky, Sharapsky, and Karakansky. In the Sharapsky Bay, elodea (Canadian waterweed) formed thickets of about 34 000 m2 in area, which were characterized by high productivity with a maximum aboveground phytomass ranging from 417 to 1352 g/m2 of absolute dry weight. The records appear to be the first confirmed data for Novosibirsk Region, because all earlier mentions are the result of an erroneous definition, or do not have any documentary evidence, or were cited from earlier publications. The reasons for the fact that E. canadensis has just begun its expansion on the territory of Novosibirsk Region with a significant area of 177 800 km2, while in many regions of Siberia it manifests itself as an active invasive species, are discussed. It was concluded that the leading factors limiting the distribution of E. canadensis in Novosibirsk Region include the composition and degree of mineralization of natural waters and a high representation of the local species Hydrilla verticillata in the water bodies, which are potentially suitable for the growth of elodea.

The analysis of conditions and possible mechanisms of activation of 96 genes providing a malignant/pluripotent phenotype of Krebs-2 cancer stem cells have been performed. Three stress factors combined into the single concept of "generalized cellular stress", which are supposed to regulate the expression of these genes, are determined. Additionally, for these genes, the presence of binding sites for transcription factors that are being activated in response to factors of generalized cellular stress has been established. The data obtained suggest the existence of a mechanism for the de novo formation of a pluripotent/stem-like phenotype of tumor cells under conditions of generalized cellular stress.

Morphological variation, genotypic stability and genetic distances among micropropagated tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze] cv. ‘Kolkhida’ plantlets after 7 years of propagation in vitro and among plantlets regenerated from callus were compared. Fifteen individuals, randomly chosen amongst a set of 100 plantlets regenerated from callus, and ten individuals, randomly chosen from a set of 100 micropropagated plants were used in the study. Morphological descriptors showed higher variability among callus-derived regenerants than in micropropagated plants. Flow cytometry analysis showed no significant variability of nuclear DNA content among micropropagated plants, however changes in DNA indicated aneuploidy in three out of ten callus-derived regenerants. ISSR analysis showed lesser genetic distances among micropropagated plantlets and maternal cultivar ‘Kolkhida’ compared with callus derived plantlets. Yet, there is some degree of genetic instability after long-term micropropagation. Results confirmed the hypothesis of genetic instability of some species during long term in vitro conservation. Tea vegetative explants plants were propagated in vitro for 7 years. A comparison of tea plantlets derived from callus with plantlets from long-term in vitro propagation revealed genetic variability and confirmed the hypothesis of genotype instability of tea plant.

Alzheimer's disease is an age-related pathology associated with accumulation of amyloid-β peptides, products of enzymatic cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by secretases. Several familial mutations causing early onset of the disease have been identified in the APP transmembrane (TM) domain. The mutations influence production of amyloid-β, but the molecular mechanisms of this effect are unclear. The "Australian" (L723P) mutation located in the C-termini of APP TM domain is associated with autosomal-dominant, early onset Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we describe the impact of familial L723P mutation on the structural-dynamic behavior of APP TM domain studied by high-resolution NMR in membrane-mimicking micelles and augmented by molecular dynamics simulations in explicit lipid bilayer. We found L723P mutation to cause local unfolding of the C-terminal turn of the APP TM domain helix and increase its accessibility to water required for cleavage of the protein backbone by γ-secretase in the ε-site, thus switching between alternative ("pathogenic" and "non-pathogenic") cleavage cascades. These findings suggest a straightforward mechanism of the pathogenesis associated with this mutation, and are of generic import for understanding the molecular-level events associated with APP sequential proteolysis resulting in accumulation of the pathogenic forms of amyloid-β. Moreover, age-related onset of Alzheimer's disease can be explained by a similar mechanism, where the effect of mutation is emulated by the impact of local environmental factors, such as oxidative stress and/or membrane lipid composition. Knowledge of the mechanisms regulating generation of amyloidogenic peptides of different lengths is essential for development of novel treatment strategies of the Alzheimer's disease.