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Analysis of 30 tomato cultivars with different fruit locule numbers revealed four cultivars with multi-locular fruits carrying a null mutation in the SlFAS gene. It was shown that cultivars with more than two fruit locules contain two SNPs, associated with the multi-locule trait, at the locule number locus. Co-expression profile of SlFAS, SlYABBY2 and SlYABBY5 genes was determined in a young bud and at three stages of fruit development in three tomato cultivars contrasting in the fruit locule number. In the Cœur de bœuf cultivar (≥10 locules), SlFAS transcripts were absent in all analyzed tissues. In addition, compared with the Red Cherry (2 locules) and Viking (5–6 locules) cultivars, in the Cœur de bœuf bud and fruits, the transcription levels of SlYABBY2 and SlYABBY5 were considerably lower and higher, respectively.

The sequences of the apoplastic invertase inhibitor gene INVINH1 were identified in 71 maize accessions from the collection of the Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). In total, 35 INVINH1 allelic variants were found. In 21 maize accessions, at position –95 from the start codon, INVINH1 contained an extended insertion (143, 190, 192, or 210 bp). In INVINH1 proteins, 21 amino acid substitutions were identified, six of which (A49V, A49G, A65P, S97I, C99R, and D108Y), predicted to be radical, were localized in the PMEI functional domain.

This manuscript collects all the efforts of the Russian Consortium, bottlenecks revealed in the course of the C-HPP realization, and ways of their overcoming. One of the main bottlenecks in the C-HPP is the insufficient sensitivity of proteomic technologies, hampering the detection of low- and ultralow-copy number proteins forming the "dark part" of the human proteome. In the frame of MP-Challenge, to increase proteome coverage we suggest an experimental workflow based on a combination of shotgun technology and selected reaction monitoring with two-dimensional alkaline fractionation. Further, to detect proteins that cannot be identified by such technologies, nanotechnologies such as combined atomic force microscopy with molecular fishing and/or nanowire detection may be useful. These technologies provide a powerful tool for single molecule analysis, by analogy with nanopore sequencing during genome analysis. To systematically analyze the functional features of some proteins (CP50 Challenge), we created a mathematical model that predicts the number of proteins differing in amino acid sequence: proteoforms. According to our data, we should expect about 100 000 different proteoforms in the liver tissue and a little more in the HepG2 cell line. The variety of proteins forming the whole human proteome significantly exceeds these results due to post-translational modifications (PTMs). As PTMs determine the functional specificity of the protein, we propose using a combination of gene-centric transcriptome-proteomic analysis with preliminary fractionation by two-dimensional electrophoresis to identify chemically modified proteoforms. Despite the complexity of the proposed solutions, such integrative approaches could be fruitful for MP50 and CP50 Challenges in the framework of the C-HPP.

Strain LBB-42T was isolated from sediment sampled at Lake Beloe Bordukovskoe, located in the Moscow region (Russia). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing results assigned the strain to the genus Magnetospirillum . Major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9/C18 : 1 ω7. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 4.40 Mbp and a G+C content of 63.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values suggested that strain LBB-42T represents a new species, for which we propose the name Magnetospirillum kuznetsovii sp. nov., with the type strain LBB-42T (=VKM B-3270T=KCTC 15749T).

Transcriptome analysis of leaf and pitcher at different developmental stages in the carnivorous plant Nepenthes sp. identified 20 cDNAs of the SWEET gene family encoding sugar uniporters of classes I–IV. The structure of NSWEET proteins generally corresponded to the 3-1-3 scheme typical of SWEET proteins in eukaryotes. The variability in the expression of NSWEET genes in the mature leaf and in the three stages of pitcher development indicates the possible functional diversity of these genes. It has been suggested that class I transporters (NSWEET2d, 2f, and 2h) may participate in export of sugars from the leaf to the site of pitcher meristem initiation, while proteins NSWEET1, 2a, 2k (class I), 4a, 4b, 4d (II), and 12c (III) may participate in the delivery of sugars for the primary development of the pitcher. In subsequent stages, they can be replaced by NSWEET2b, 2c, 2e, 2i, 2j (class I), 4c (II), and 12b (III), delivering hexoses and sucrose to the growing pitcher. In the fully formed pitcher, proteins NSWEET12a (III), 2g (I), and 16 (IV) can export sugars from the digestive fluid to the leaf.

A new mathematical method for potential reading frameshift detection in protein-coding sequences (cds) was developed. The algorithm is adjusted to the triplet periodicity of each analysed sequence using dynamic programming and a genetic algorithm. This does not require any preliminary training. Using the developed method, cds from the Arabidopsis thaliana genome were analysed. In total, the algorithm found 9,930 sequences containing one or more potential reading frameshift(s). This is ∼21% of all analysed sequences of the genome. The Type I and Type II error rates were estimated as 11% and 30%, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the genomes of Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens, Rattus norvegicus and Xenopus tropicalis. Also, the developed algorithm was tested on 17 bacterial genomes. We compared our results with the previously obtained data on the search for potential reading frameshifts in these genomes. This study discussed the possibility that the reading frameshift seems like a relatively frequently encountered mutation; and this mutation could participate in the creation of new genes and proteins.

The structure and phylogeny of MADS-box genes HAM91 of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and CDM115 of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) were characterized. It is shown that these genes encode MADS-domain transcription factors, which are orthologs of TM6 (Solanum lycopersicum) and APETALA3 (Arabidopsis thaliana), respectively. We obtained two types of transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) with constitutive expression of HAM91 and CDM115 genes. Both types of plants flowered later than the control plants and formed more flowers and seed pods. The weight of seeds of 35S::CDM115 plants was significantly lower than in the control and 35S::HAM91 plants, which may indicate to a change in the identity of ovules in 35S::CDM115.

The structure of the MADS-box gene HAM31 of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was characterized. It is shown that the product of this gene is an ortholog of the B-class MADS transcription factor PISTILLATA (Arabidopsis thaliana). Two types of transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) with the constitutive expression of the HAM31 gene in the sense and antisense orientation were obtained. The 35S::HAM31s plants formed flowers with an altered gynoecium identity, whereas 35S::HAM31as plants did not differ from the control.

Three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a well-known model organism that is routinely used to explore microevolution processes and speciation, and the number of studies related to this fish has been growing recently. The main reason for the increased interest is the processes of freshwater adaptation taking place in natural populations of this species. Freshwater three-spined stickleback populations form when marine water three-spined sticklebacks fish start spending their entire lifecycle in freshwater lakes and streams. To boot, these freshwater populations acquire novel biological traits during their adaptation to a freshwater environment. The processes taking place in these populations are of great interest to evolutionary biologists. Here, we present differential gene expression profiling in G. aculeatus gills, which was performed in marine and freshwater populations of sticklebacks. In total, 2,982 differentially expressed genes between marine and freshwater populations were discovered. We assumed that differentially expressed genes were distributed not randomly along stickleback chromosomes and that they are regularly observed in the divergence islands that are responsible for stickleback freshwater adaptation.

Monotropa hypopitysis a mycoheterotrophic, nonphotosynthetic plant acquiring nutrients from the roots of autotrophic trees through mycorrhizal symbiosis, and, similar to other extant plants, forming asymmetrical lateral organs during development. The members of the YABBY family of transcription factors are important players in the establishment of leaf and leaf-like organ polarity in plants. This is the first report on the identification ofYABBYgenes in a mycoheterotrophic plant devoid of aboveground vegetative organs. SevenM. hypopitys YABBYmembers were identified and classified into four clades. By structural analysis of putative encoded proteins, we confirmed the presence of YABBY-defining conserved domains and identified novel clade-specific motifs. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses of different tissues revealedMhyYABBYtranscriptional patterns, which were similar to those of orthologousYABBYgenes from other angiosperms. These data should contribute to the understanding of the role of theYABBYgenes in the regulation of developmental and physiological processes in achlorophyllous leafless plants.

Pinesap Monotropa hypopitys is a myco-heterotrophic non-photosynthetic higher angiosperm perennial plant devoid of vegetative organs and with standard flower arrangement. The MADS-domain transcription factor family has multiple regulatory functions in plant life cycle and is implicated in flower evolution and diversity. This study is the first to describe the MADS-box genes in a myco-heterotrophic eudicot. By performing the M. hypopitys transcriptome-wide analysis, we identified 30 MADS-box genes belonging to the major clades in the MIKCc and MIKC* lineages. Among them, MhyMADS18 is suggested as an ancestral gene of the cluster comprising AP1/FUL, FLC, SEP, and AGL6 clades. The RNA-seq profiling of the MhyMADS expression in the flowering plant revealed mRNAs specific to bracts, flowers, and roots with adventitious buds. Our results represent systematic and expression analysis of the pinesap MADS-box genes that may be involved in seed dormancy regulation, flowering time control, and flower organ identity specification. The obtained data should further our understanding of the roles played by the MADS-box genes in developmental regulation of myco-heterotrophic plants.

Background The history of human populations occupying the plains and mountain ridges separating Europe from Asia has been eventful, as these natural obstacles were crossed westward by multiple waves of Turkic and Uralic-speaking migrants as well as eastward by Europeans. Unfortunately, the material records of history of this region are not dense enough to reconstruct details of population history. These considerations stimulate growing interest to obtain a genetic picture of the demographic history of migrations and admixture in Northern Eurasia. Results We genotyped and analyzed 1076 individuals from 30 populations with geographical coverage spanning from Baltic Sea to Baikal Lake. Our dense sampling allowed us to describe in detail the population structure, provide insight into genomic history of numerous European and Asian populations, and significantly increase quantity of genetic data available for modern populations in region of North Eurasia. Our study doubles the amount of genome-wide profiles available for this region. We detected unusually high amount of shared identical-by-descent (IBD) genomic segments between several Siberian populations, such as Khanty and Ket, providing evidence of genetic relatedness across vast geographic distances and between speakers of different language families. Additionally, we observed excessive IBD sharing between Khanty and Bashkir, a group of Turkic speakers from Southern Urals region. While adding some weight to the “Finno-Ugric” origin of Bashkir, our studies highlighted that the Bashkir genepool lacks the main “core”, being a multi-layered amalgamation of Turkic, Ugric, Finnish and Indo-European contributions, which points at intricacy of genetic interface between Turkic and Uralic populations. Comparison of the genetic structure of Siberian ethnicities and the geography of the region they inhabit point at existence of the “Great Siberian Vortex” directing genetic exchanges in populations across the Siberian part of Asia. Slavic speakers of Eastern Europe are, in general, very similar in their genetic composition. Ukrainians, Belarusians and Russians have almost identical proportions of Caucasus and Northern European components and have virtually no Asian influence. We capitalized on wide geographic span of our sampling to address intriguing question about the place of origin of Russian Starovers, an enigmatic Eastern Orthodox Old Believers religious group relocated to Siberia in seventeenth century. A comparative reAdmix analysis, complemented by IBD sharing, placed their roots in the region of the Northern European Plain, occupied by North Russians and Finno-Ugric Komi and Karelian people. Russians from Novosibirsk and Russian Starover exhibit ancestral proportions close to that of European Eastern Slavs, however, they also include between five to 10 % of Central Siberian ancestry, not present at this level in their European counterparts. Conclusions Our project has patched the hole in the genetic map of Eurasia: we demonstrated complexity of genetic structure of Northern Eurasians, existence of East-West and North-South genetic gradients, and assessed different inputs of ancient populations into modern populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12863-017-0578-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

New full-length genes encoding the LeMADS-MC transcription factor orthologues were identified and functionally characterized in wild tomato species S. cheesmaniae and S. habrochaites. A comparative analysis of the encoded proteins and LeMADS-MC of the cultivated tomato species S. lycopersicum revealed two major amino acid residues substitutions: V155E in the K-domain of ShaMADS-MC (S. habrochaites) and S80L in the I-region of SchMADS-MC (S. cheesmaniae). Structural differences of the C-terminal regions of MC and the canonical euAP1 proteins indicate possible chromosomal rearrangements in the Solanoideae subfamily, which, however, did not change the main known conserved euAP1 functions.

The gene encoding the transcription factor LEAFY was identified in the genome of the mycoheterotrophic plant, pinesap Monotropa hypopitys. In the transcriptomes of roots, bracts, and flowers of flowering pinesaps, the MhyLFY gene expression was absent. These data suggest the conservativeness of the LFY-dependent mechanism of flower meristem identity and flower formation in heterotrophic species with some differences associated to the specificity of development and the structure of such plants. The pinesap flowering under the control of the transcription factor MhyLFY may be initiated either in an embryonic inflorescence during spring dormancy release of adventitious root buds or in an inflorescence of a growing reproductive stem after photoperiodic induction.

Plant organ formation is based on the balance of the programmed cell division and positional differentiation maintained by intercellular communication mediated by signaling molecules and receptors. In Arabidopsis thaliana, two paralogous leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases, GASSHO1 and GASSHO2, redundantly participate in the regulation of various root cells identity and functioning and the proper epidermis patterning. The GASSHO genes are characterized mainly in A. thaliana. Their significance in combination with the conservation of basic developmental processes justifies the study of GASSHO kinases in other plant species with different nutrition and developmental features. The aim of this work was to identify the GASSHO genes in an angiosperm plant, pinesap Monotropa hypopitys, which is a non-photosynthetic achlorophyllous mycoheterotroph. In different tissues (roots with buds, bracts, and flowers) of two individual plants at the late flowering stage, the transcriptomic data search identified 3’-partial mRNAs of two paralogous genes, MhyGASSHO1 (MhyGSO1) and MhyGSO2. Structural analysis of the encoded amino acid sequences revealed conserved domains, specific for leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases, in MhyGSO1, and the N-terminal leucine-rich domain in MhyGSO2. Phylogenetic analysis of MhyGASSHOs confirmed their homology with GSO1 and GSO2 kinases of the Rosids and Asterids representatives. The closest homologues of MhyGSO1 and MhyGSO2 were GSO1 and GSO2, respectively, of the Solanales members (Asterids). Quantification of the MhyGSO1 and MhyGSO2 transcripts revealed expression of both genes in flowers and bracts, and MhyGSO1 – also in roots with buds. In combination with known data about GSO1 and GSO2, it allowed us to assume the redundant activity of MhyGASSHO paralogues in signaling pathways, in particular, in response to exogenous sucrose and in development of reproductive organs and embryonic inflorescences.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast rps2 gene is determined and the polymorphism of this gene in 26 Monotropa hypopitys accessions from the populations of the European part of Russia is analyzed. The studied accessions can be divided into two groups on the basis of the rps2 gene length. In the first group, the rps2 gene sequence length is 711 bp, and in the second group, it is 753 bp. Also, the groups differ from each other by 42 SNPs, which lead to 11 radical and 15 conservative amino acid substitutions in the amino acid sequence of the protein. They also differ in the position of regulatory elements in the 5'-untranslated region of the gene.

Miniaturization is an evolutionary process that is widely represented in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Miniaturization frequently affects not only the size of the organism and its constituent cells, but also changes the genome structure and functioning. The structure of the main heat shock genes (hsp70 and hsp83) was studied in one of the smallest insects, the Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitic wasp, which is comparable in size with unicellular organisms. An analysis of the sequenced genome has detected six genes that relate to the hsp70 family, some of which are apparently induced upon heat shock. Both induced and constitutively expressed hsp70 genes contain a large number of introns, which is not typical for the genes of this family. Moreover, none of the found genes form clusters, and they are all very heterogeneous (individual copies are only 75-85% identical), which indicates the absence of gene conversion, which provides the identity of genes of this family in Drosophila and other organisms. Two hsp83 genes, one of which contains an intron, have also been found in the M. amalphitanum genome.

The formation and maintenance of plant stem cell populations are controlled by the WOX family of homeobox-containing transcription factors. The evolution of WOX genes is considered one of the main reasons for the morphology of flowers and the diversity in plant architecture. The stem cell regulation mechanism is considered to be conserved among flowering plants and most thoroughly studied in Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. The angiosperms morphological diversity implies that there are species-specific features inherent in this mechanism, while the basic signaling is maintained. The unique flowering achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypopitys obtains nutrients from the tree roots through the mycorrhizal symbiosis. In inductive conditions, the reproductive stem with bracts and an inflorescence at the top is developed from an adventitious root bud. Like other plants, M. hypopitys forms the inflorescence, flower and root meristems, presumably using the conserved mechanisms regulating the stem cell niche. The study of M. hypopitys homeobox genes should contribute to the knowledge about the function of WOX transcription factors and the further understanding of the stem cells’ control mechanisms in the mycoheterotrophic species. The aim of this study is to analyze the M. hypopitys root, bracts, and flower transcriptomes obtained from two individual flowering plants. In total, five WOX genes have been identified and characterized by their structure, phylogeny, expression pattern, and possible functions. The assumption is that the MhyWUS1 and MhyWUS2 genes maintain the stem cell population in the inflorescence and flower meristems; MhyWOX13 has a role in controlling the root stem cell niche, seed pod formation, flowering initiation, and basic cellular processes; MhyWOX4 controls the cambium stem cells; and MhyWOX2 participates in the differentiation of egg cells and zygotes.

The precise spatial-temporal coordination of cell division and differentiation is necessary for the correct formation of tissues, organs, and the organism as a whole. This coordination has been implemented by the intercellular communication mediated by signaling molecules and receptors that selectively recognize them. Membrane receptor kinases of ERECTA family regulate inflorescence and flower structure, the formation of root epidermis and adaptation responses. The characterization of the ERECTA genes of flowering plant pinesap Monotropa hypopitys with unique development features can enrich the knowledge about the kinase ERECTA functions and conserved development processes with their participation. Transcriptomic and genomic search with the subsequent structural-phylogenetic analysis identified the mRNA of a gene of serine-threonine kinase receptor with leucine-rich repeats of MhyERL1, which is the only ortholog of the ERECTA family kinases of pinesap. A quantitative analysis of the MhyERL1 gene transcripts has revealed its expression in all analyzed pinesap tissues with maximum levels in the flowers. MhyERL1 is probably involved in defining the inflorescence and flower architecture, and the formation of the pinesap root epidermis. The cascades involving ERL1 are apparently conserved. The exception are pathways associated with the development of above-ground vegetative structures, and the immune response to fungal pathogens probably lost in the process of the pinesap adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions.

The formation and maintenance of plant stem cell populations are controlled by the WOX family of homeobox-containing transcription factors. The evolution of WOX genes is considered one of the main reasons for the morphology of flowers and the diversity in plant architecture. The stem cell regulation mechanism is considered to be conserved among flowering plants and most thoroughly studied in Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. The angiosperms morphological diversity implies that there are species-specific features inherent in this mechanism, while the basic signaling is maintained. The unique flowering achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypopitys obtains nutrients from the tree roots through the mycorrhizal symbiosis. In inductive conditions, the reproductive stem with bracts and an inflorescence at the top is developed from an adventitious root bud. Like other plants, M. hypopitys forms the inflorescence, flower and root meristems, presumably using the conserved mechanisms regulating the stem cell niche. The study of M. hypopitys homeobox genes should contribute to the knowledge about the function of WOX transcription factors and the further understanding of the stem cells’ control mechanisms in the mycoheterotrophic species. The aim of this study is to analyze the M. hypopitys root, bracts, and flower transcriptomes obtained from two individual flowering plants. In total, five WOX genes have been identified and characterized by their structure, phylogeny, expression pattern, and possible functions. The assumption is that the MhyWUS1 and MhyWUS2 genes maintain the stem cell population in the inflorescence and flower meristems; MhyWOX13 has a role in controlling the root stem cell niche, seed pod formation, flowering initiation, and basic cellular processes; MhyWOX4 controls the cambium stem cells; and MhyWOX2 participates in the differentiation of egg cells and zygotes.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has an undisputed genetic component and a stable 2:1 male to female sex ratio in its incidence across populations, suggesting possible sexual dimorphism in its genetic susceptibility. We conducted the first sex-specific genome-wide association analysis of RCC for men (3227 cases, 4916 controls) and women (1992 cases, 3095 controls) of European ancestry from two RCC genome-wide scans and replicated the top findings using an additional series of men (2261 cases, 5852 controls) and women (1399 cases, 1575 controls) from two independent cohorts of European origin. Our study confirmed sex-specific associations for two known RCC risk loci at 14q24.2 (DPF3) and 2p21(EPAS1). We also identified two additional suggestive male-specific loci at 6q24.3 (SAMD5, male odds ratio (OR(male)) = 0.83 [95% CI = 0.78-0.89], P(male) = 1.71 × 10(−8) compared with female odds ratio (OR(female)) = 0.98 [95% CI = 0.90–1.07], P(female) = 0.68) and 12q23.3 (intergenic, OR(male) = 0.75 [95% CI = 0.68-0.83], P(male) = 1.59 × 10(−8) compared with OR(female) = 0.93 [95% CI = 0.82–1.06], P(female) = 0.21) that attained genome-wide significance in the joint meta-analysis. Herein, we provide evidence of sex-specific associations in RCC genetic susceptibility and advocate the necessity of larger genetic and genomic studies to unravel the endogenous causes of sex bias in sexually dimorphic traits and diseases like RCC.

Background The three epidemiologically important Opisthorchiidae liver flukes Opisthorchis felineus, O. viverrini, and Clonorchis sinensis, are believed to harbour similar potencies to provoke hepatobiliary diseases in their definitive hosts, although their populations have substantially different ecogeographical aspects including habitat, preferred hosts, population structure. Lack of O. felineus genomic data is an obstacle to the development of comparative molecular biological approaches necessary to obtain new knowledge about the biology of Opisthorchiidae trematodes, to identify essential pathways linked to parasite-host interaction, to predict genes that contribute to liver fluke pathogenesis and for the effective prevention and control of the disease. Results Here we present the first draft genome assembly of O. felineus and its gene repertoire accompanied by a comparative analysis with that of O. viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis. We observed both noticeably high heterozygosity of the sequenced individual and substantial genetic diversity in a pooled sample. This indicates that potency of O. felineus population for rapid adaptive response to control and preventive measures of opisthorchiasis is higher than in O. viverrini and C. sinensis. We also have found that all three species are characterized by more intensive involvement of trans-splicing in RNA processing compared to other trematodes. Conclusion All revealed peculiarities of structural organization of genomes are of extreme importance for a proper description of genes and their products in these parasitic species. This should be taken into account both in academic and applied research of epidemiologically important liver flukes. Further comparative genomics studies of liver flukes and non-carcinogenic flatworms allow for generation of well-grounded hypotheses on the mechanisms underlying development of cholangiocarcinoma associated with opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis as well as species-specific mechanisms of these diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5752-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Body size reduction, also known as miniaturization, is an important evolutionary process that affects a number of physiological and phenotypic traits and helps animals to conquer new ecological niches. However, this process is poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we report genomic and transcriptomic features of arguably the smallest known insect – the parasitoid wasp, Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In contrast to expectations, we find that the genome and transcriptome sizes of this parasitoid wasp are comparable to other members of the Chalcidoidea superfamily. Moreover, the gene content of M. amalphitanum compared to other chalcid wasps is remarkably conserved. Among the very rare cases of apparent gene loss is centrosomin, which encodes an important centrosome component; the absence of this protein might be related to the large number of anucleate neurons in M. amalphitanum. Intriguingly, we also observed significant changes in M. amalphitanum transposable element dynamics over time, whereby an initial burst was followed by suppression of activity, possibly due to a recent reinforcement of the genome defense machinery. Thus, while the M. amalphitanum genomic data reveal certain features that may be linked to the unusual biological properties of this organism, miniaturization is not associated with a large decrease in genome complexity.

Body size reduction, also known as miniaturization, is an important evolutionary process that affects a number of physiological and phenotypic traits and helps animals conquer new ecological niches. However, this process is poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we report genomic and transcriptomic features of arguably the smallest known insect-the parasitoid wasp, Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In contrast to expectations, we find that the genome and transcriptome sizes of this parasitoid wasp are comparable to other members of the Chalcidoidea superfamily. Moreover, compared to other chalcid wasps the gene content of M. amalphitanum is remarkably conserved. Intriguingly, we observed significant changes in M. amalphitanum transposable element dynamics over time, in which an initial burst was followed by suppression of activity, possibly due to a recent reinforcement of the genome defense machinery. Overall, while the M. amalphitanum genomic data reveal certain features that may be linked to the unusual biological properties of this organism, miniaturization is not associated with a large decrease in genome complexity.

Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, is widely used for treatment of fertility disorders and is subject to biosimilars development. Cell lines with high specific productivities may simplify the FSH production process. Here, we used our previously established expression system based on vector p1.1 to create new cell lines secreting heterodimeric FSH protein. To this end, we linked open reading frames of both FSH subunits by the wild-type internal ribosome entry site from the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV IRES). Intact and double-negative for the dihydrofolate reductase CHO cells were stably transfected by the FSH-coding plasmids. Stably transfected intact cells showed higher level of the FSH secretion and were utilized for subsequent methotrexate-driven transgene amplification, which doubled their productivity. The excess of the free α-subunit was corrected by transfecting the cells by the additional p1.1-based plasmid encoding the β-subunit of the FSH. Clonal cell lines obtained secreted mostly the heterodimeric FSH and possessed specific productivities up to 12.3±1.7 pg/cell/day. Candidate clonal cell line C-P1.3-FSH-G4 maintained a constant specific productivity for at least 2 months of culturing without the section pressure. The resulting FSH protein conformed to the international pharmaceutical quality criteria as evidenced by the receptor binding kinetics, distribution pattern of hormone isoforms and biological activity. In conclusion, our expression system offers a simple and cost-effective approach to production of FSH.

A new mathematical method was used for the first time to search for tandem repeats with insertions and deletions in the full-length sequence of the A. thaliana genome. The method is based on a new algorithm for multiple alignment of sequences of certain periods without using paired comparisons of sequences. We identified 13997 periodic sites 2 to 50 characters long, only approximately 30% of which were known earlier. The possible origin and use of the identified sites with tandem repeats are discussed.

Here, we performed comparative miRNA profiling in wild type and early flowering transgenic Chrysanthemum morifolium with constitutive expression of APETALA1 (AP1)-like gene, HAM92 (Helianthus annuus). Six sRNA libraries constructed from leaves and shoot apexes after the short day photoperiod initiation, as well as from opened inflorescence after anthesis were sequenced and analyzed. A total of 324 members (163 families) of putative conserved miRNAs and 30 candidate novel miRNAs specific for C. morifolium (cmo-miRNAs) were identified. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 427 and 138 potential mRNA targets for conserved and novel cmo-miRNAs, respectively. These genes were described in Gene Ontology terms and found to be implicated in a broad range of signaling pathways. Plant- and tissue-specific expression of 9 highly conserved cmo-miRNAs was compared between wild type and transgenic chrysanthemum lines with ectopic expression of AP1-like genes HAM92 and CDM111 (C. morifolium), using RT-qPCR and cmo-miR162a as a reference miRNA. The results of our study provide a framework for further investigation of miRNA evolution and functions in higher plants, as well as their roles in flowering control.

A gene-centric approach was applied for a large-scale study of expression products of a single chromosome. Transcriptome profiling of liver tissue and HepG2 cell line was independently performed using two RNA-Seq platforms (SOLiD and Illumina) and also by Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) and quantitative RT-PCR. Proteome profiling was performed using shotgun LC-MS/MS as well as selected reaction monitoring with stable isotope-labeled standards (SRM/SIS) for liver tissue and HepG2 cells. On the basis of SRM/SIS measurements, protein copy numbers were estimated for the Chromosome 18 (Chr 18) encoded proteins in the selected types of biological material. These values were compared with expression levels of corresponding mRNA. As a result, we obtained information about 158 and 142 transcripts for HepG2 cell line and liver tissue, respectively. SRM/SIS measurements and shotgun LC-MS/MS allowed us to detect 91 Chr 18-encoded proteins in total, while an intersection between the HepG2 cell line and liver tissue proteomes was ∼66%. In total, there were 16 proteins specifically observed in HepG2 cell line, while 15 proteins were found solely in the liver tissue. Comparison between proteome and transcriptome revealed a poor correlation (R

A multistep random UV mutagenesis of an eremomycin-producing strain Amycolatopsis orientalis VKPM Ac-1125 with rather low productivity (0.5 g/L) and the further selection of the most high-yield mutant strains have resulted in a highly productive E 13-26 strain. After optimization of the fermentation medium by multifactor analysis, the most efficient composition for the fermentation medium was established, %: glycerol, 8; soybean meals, 2.0; MgCl2, 0.02; KH2PO4, 0.02; KNO3, 0.6; CaCl2, 0.3; skim milk powder, 0.46; and glucose, 0.8. The maximum productivity of this strain on the optimized medium reached 3.42 ± 0.17 g/L. Therefore, the obtained strain is considered to be very promising for further use in the selection and development of technology for the large-scale eremomycin production.

The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) is an important model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms of speciation and adaptation to salinity. Despite increased interest to microRNA discovery and recent publication on microRNA prediction in the three-spined stickleback using bioinformatics approaches, there is still a lack of experimental support for these data. In this paper, high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to identify microRNA genes in gills of the three-spined stickleback. In total, 595 miRNA genes were discovered; half of them were predicted in previous computational studies and were confirmed here as microRNAs expressed in gill tissue. Moreover, 298 novel microRNA genes were identified. The presence of miRNA genes in selected 'divergence islands' was analysed and 10 miRNA genes were identified as not randomly located in 'divergence islands'. Regulatory regions of miRNA genes were found enriched with selective SNPs that may play a role in freshwater adaptation.

Nucleotide sequences of b/c intron of the mitochondrial gene nad1 were determined for the first time and analyzed in 24 plants of Monotropa hypopitys and in three related Ericaceae species. Two mitotypes of b/c intron of the nad1 gene, differing in sequence lengths and the presence of a number of single nucleotide substitutions and indels, were revealed in M. hypopitys. For the first time, a possible pre-mRNA secondary structure of M. hypopitys b/c intron was determined and IBS/EBS binding sites and the borders of six functional domains were identified.

A pronounced pleiotropic effect of thyroid hormones on the regulation of gene expression in fish in postembryogenesis was demonstrated for the first time using larvae and juveniles of the blue bream Ballerus ballerus as an example. Genome-wide transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) identified 1212 differentially expressed genes in the brain and liver of fish kept in triiodothyronine solution (0.25 ng/mL). Our data show that the regulation of gene expression by thyroid hormones is widespread in nature: it involves not only the structural genes but also the regulatory genes. A significant number of genes under the control of thyroid hormones are involved in the determination of morphological traits.

Intraspecific sequence polymorphism in the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal operon was examined in ten populations of the parasitic plant Monotropa hypopitys from Belgorod region, Vologda region, and Kaluga region of Russia. Based on an analysis of the identified nucleotide substitutions and indels in the ITS regions, the M. hypopitys populations were divided into two groups (A and B). Four new ITS haplotypes of M. hypopitys were identified.

From swabs of surfaces of equipment and air samples of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, nine strains of spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus belonging to the species B. pumilus, B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. amyloliquefaciens were isolated. The last species of bacilli on the equipment of RS ISS was detected for the first time. For these species of bacilli, there are known strains that can be opportunistic to humans, and their metabolites can cause biodegradation of equipment and materials. B. pumilus found on ISS belongs to the group of bacteria that exhibits a particularly high resistance to adverse environmental conditions, such as dehydration, ultraviolet and gamma radiation, and chemical disinfection.

Genes encoding six chitinases, five of which belong to classes I (MhCHI3 and MhCHI4), IV (MhCHI1), V (MhCHI5), and VII (MhCHI2), were identified in the transcriptome of the parasitic mixoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypopitys. The transcription level of MhCHI5 and MhCHI1 was low; however, in the leaves (bracts) and roots it was higher than in flowers. MhCHI4 transcripts were detected primarily in the flowers and were almost absent in the roots, whereas the expression level of MhCHI3 was relatively high in all organs but maximum in the leaves (bracts).

Miniaturization of organisms is one of the most interesting evolutionary phenomena. This is a very common process and is widely represented in multicellular organisms: invertebrates (nemertean, nematodes, brachiopods, mollusks, arachnids, and insects), and vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, birds, and even mammals). Miniaturization leads to a significant reduction in the body size and simplification of some systems and organs without loss of species viability. Typically, this complex evolutionary modification is associated with occupation of the new ecological niches by the species. Reduction can affect not only the overall size of the organism but also the size of its cells as well as promote changes in the genome and the structure of specific genes. Parasitoid wasp Megaphragma amalphitanum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is considered one of the smallest insects described to date. Therefore, it represents an attractive object for the studies of genetic aspects of body size reduction during evolution. Whole genome sequencing of M. amalphitanum and subsequent genome annotation and transcriptome assembly allow us to define the changes in the genetic material during organism miniaturization in relation to the larger Hymenoptera species. Our preliminary analysis revealed that genome size of M. amalphitanum is 346 Mb and transcriptome size is 27.5 Mb.

Fifteen chitinases of classes I-V were identified in the transcriptomes of pitchers and adult leaves of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes sp. Ten of these chitinases were identified for the first time, including the chitinases of classes II and V. The expression levels of all found chitinase genes in leaves and at three stages of pitcher development were determined. The maximum level of transcriptional activity in an open pitcher was observed for the genes encoding chitinase NChi4 (class II) and its isoforms. The expression levels of these genes significantly increased as the pitcher developed. In addition, for the first time, transcription of the genes encoding chitinases of all five classes was detected in the leaves of this plant.