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A whole genome sequencing of natural and mutant producer strains is the best way to analyze the genome and to search for mutations that could cause the acquisition of a number of properties valuable for biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry.The main goal of current research was to identify mutations that had been induced by chemical mutagenesis in the genome of the mutant strain Рseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca B-162/15 resistant to hydrogen peroxide. It would give an opportunity to discover new genes potentially participating in phenazine compounds biosynthesis. Such an approach also makes it possible to identify genes, whose products do not directly participate in the phenazine synthesis, but influence the phenazine detoxification, excretion, and optimization of antioxidant system activity. Most of all, it could help us to discover new unpredicted enzyme systems that might be involved into this process.The genome size of P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca B-162/15 was 7109863 b. p. It contained 6493 open reading frames and 66 sequences encoding transport and ribosomal RNA. Comparison of a wild-type strain and B-162/15 mutant genomes revealed 16 mutations, 13 of which were located in coding sequences and 3 were located in intergenic regions. Six mutations led to radical replacements in amino acid sequences of coded proteins (with a Grantham distance of more than 80). We managed to identify four potential gene-candidates, which could influence the phenazine metabolism and provided the ability of mutant strain to superproductivity. They were arginine N-succinyltransferase, phosphoenolpyruvate synthase, iron-contain-ing redox enzyme family protein, membrane-associated proteins in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism. Three prophage regions were identified, two regions of which were intact and one region was incomplete. The prophage genes, as well as the bacterial genes were inside these regions. We also managed to identify two genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens inside prophage region 2. It was possible that these regions were introduced into the genome of studied strain by viral transduction.

Proteomic analysis is a highly effective method for bacteria identification and the elucidation of protein's content in prokaryotic cells at different growth conditions. To our knowledge this approach is hardly ever used for characterization of producers of biologically active substances. The understanding of the changes in protein profile in mutant strains capable of biologically active substances overproduction helps to recognize the biochemical and molecular basis of metabolic changes which lead to overproduction. So that, proteomic analysis could be especially useful for optimization the producer's creation techniques.The purpose of current research was to carry out proteomic profiling of bacteria P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca mutant strains capable of overproduction of phenazine antibiotics. Microbiological and biochemical methods were used for these aims.In current research a proteomic analysis of strains of P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca producing phenazines was carried out. An early (during log-phase) onset of expression of individual genes of phz-operon which codes enzymes for phenazines synthesis was demonstrated. It was also found that the wild type strain has the highest level of PhzO protein. The gene encoding this protein is located outside the phz-operon. We weren't able to establish the correlation among PhzO protein content and concentration of the derivatives for which appearance PhzO is responsible. A general tendency of producer strains towards the accumulation of enzymes and proteins of the antioxidant defense system was revealed. Producer strains also demonstrate a significant increase in the concentration of proteins involved in DNA repair as well as chaperones involved in the native protein conformation maintenance.

For the bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca B-162 (wild type) and two mutant strains B-162/255 and B-162/17 capable of overproduction of phenazines, a quantitative evaluation of the phz-operon gene expression was carried out during the cultivation of bacteria on full (PMA) and minimal (M9) nutrient media in different phases of culture growth. It was shown that for P. chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca, the most optimal reference genes are the genes encoding pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (p5cr) and the DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA). An inverse relationship between the expression levels of phzA and phzB genes was registered for B-162/255 and B-162/17 strains. The expression pattern of the phzC and phzD genes of the B-162/17 strain cultivated on the M9 medium differs markedly from that in the other studied strains grown on both nutrient media. For all the studied strains, a clear relationship between the phzE gene expression and the nutrient medium was established. PCR-products of phzF and phzG genes in the strain B-162/255 were registered from 12 to 18 hours of cultivation, and in the strain B-162/17 they were registered on the 4th-6th day of cultivation, while in the B-162 strain the expression of these genes was not observed at the studied time points.

Background. The article describes a clinical case of a successful surgical treatment of a large size follicular cyst pushing the anterior-inferior wall of the left maxillary sinus and the lower nasal concha, with the maxillary alveolar process osteoplasty. Clinical case description. According to the results of cone beam computed tomography, the size of the follicular cyst before the treatment was 45.423.339.7 mm. After the endodontic treatment, cystectomy, cystostomy, plastic surgery of the alveolar process of the upper jaw, the bone defect is reduced by two times, disconnected from the oral cavity. Conclusion. By the example of the presented clinical case, it has been shown that large jaw cysts require a multi-stage treatment with the participation of narrow specialists of related profiles.

Objective: evaluate the incidence of diphtheria in Russia from the beginning of mass immunization of children to date and analysis of long-term studies of coverage of vaccination and the state of antitoxic antidiphtheria immunity of the population. Materials and methods. Presents the incidence of diphtheria in 1955 - 2016 and analysis of the condition of antidiphtheria antitoxic immunity of the population of Russia (2010 - 2016) according to seromonitoring of the 83 subjects of the Russian Federation. We examined 367 031 people, of which 65 557 children, 74 033 teenagers and 277 441 adults and examined 13 785 control of blood serum of indicator groups of 52 subjects of the Russian Federation (2 888 children, teenagers and adults 1 639 - 9 258 people) to assess the uality of seromonitoring in the subjects of the Russian Federation and the data associated with the level of previtali of the population. The level of antitoxic antidiphtheria immunity was determined using the reaction of passive hemagglutination antigen of the antigenic. The immunity level was evaluated by the content of medium and high titers of antibodies in serum. The aggregation of data in the work were used the methods of parametric statistics. Results and discussion. Before 1959, in Russia the incidence of iphtheria was very high - 68 0 - 93 0 per 100 thousand population Mass immunization of children was carried out only since 1959 (decree No. 323 «On the elimination of the incidence of diphtheria in the USSR», approved by the USSR health Ministry, 1959 June 23). After the introduction of the Order of the mass immunization of children since 1959, the incidence began to decline sharply - annually by 30 - 40%. In 1968, the incidence rate was 0.89 and in 1975 - 0.03. Total sick 51. However, from 1980 to 1985 marked rise in the incidence (0.2 - 0.9) were mostly ill adults, and since 1990 began a new expansion of morbidity. In 1994, the incidence rate was equal to 26.8 per 100 thousand population. Was 39 703 cases, died 1 104 people, of whom 254 of the child. according to the Ministry of health report the reason for the rise - sereznye deficiencies in the organization and conduct of immunization. After the mass immunization of the entire population in 1993 - 1995 the incidence began to decline after the 2nd booster vaccination in adults (2005) incidence rates were at the level of hundredths per 100 thousand population - 0.06 - -0.01 and in 2011 at the evel of thousandths - 0.006 - 0.001. Since 2009 was not registered fatal cases. The level of immunization of the population of the Russian Federation from 2005 - 2016. was consistently high in children, 96.6 - 97.1% among adolescents of 96.8 - 99.6% in adults in total and by age groups, consistent with the requirements of the who - 97.7 - 98.3%. Information on high levels of vaccination coverage are confirmed by the results of serological monitoring and data control studies of serum. In 2010 - 2015 in children antibody on the protective level was identified 95.2± 0.2% 97.0 ± 0.15% serum in high tension immunity (77.1 ± 0.37% 88.5 ± 0.3%); among teenagers - 97.6 ± 0.13% 98.2 ± 0.12% and 88.1 ± 0.26% - 91.0 ± 0.26%; in adults 91.1 ± 0.17% - 94.5 ± 0.19% and 74.1 ± 0.26% - 84.0 ± 0.18% respectively. By age group adults in Russia on average the condition of antidiphtheria immunity in all years was high at 96.6 ± 0.37% - 97.5% ± 0.17% and somewhat lower in older age groups - 88.0 ± 0.48% - 90.3 ± 0.43% (50 - 59, 60 years old and >). Data control studies of blood serum of children, teenagers and adults: 90.7 ± 0.89% 99.5 ± 0.5%; 92.2 ± 0.6% - 100% и 87.1 ± 1.03% 95.6 ± 0 . 64% respectively. Conclusion: long-time study of the condition of antidiphtheria immunity of the population and control studies of serum of indicator groups, allowed to estimate objectively high level of specific protection of the population against diphtheria. This has contributed to stabilizing the incidence at a sporadic level, with sporadic cases; no deaths and will continue to provide a favorable prognosis for diphtheria in the country

Baikal endemic Benedictia fragilis gastropods distributed in a wide range of depths (from sublittoral to abyssal) of three lake basins are studied. The analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the COI mitochondrial gene fragment and internal transcribed nuclear DNA spacer (ITS1) demonstrates that the studied gastropods are represented in Lake Baikal by three genetic groups. The results of the studies on genetic diversity, phenotypic traits, and distribution allow us to assume that the detected groups are incipient allopatric (geographical) species. On the basis of the data obtained and geological and climatic history of Baikal, possible pathways of the B. fragilis resettlement in the lake and the emergence of three genetic groups are hypothesized.

Telomeres are the end regions of eukaryotic chromosomes. In addition to maintaining the integrity of the genome, they are involved in aging, regeneration, stress, and disease. We study the telomere biology in Baikal and Siberian planarians, mollusks, and fish. Using these hydrobionts as an example, we study how changes in body size, life expectancy, reproductive strategy, and habitat have reflected in telomeres during evolution, how telomere length changes during ontogeny, and whether stress factors affect its dynamics. We observe both the common features in the telomere biology of such different hydrobionts and their species-specific features. The obtained data indicatea possible influence of physiological and environmental features on the functioning of telomeres.

Background: Depression and anxiety can potentially influence treatment results of diabetic complications. Objective: Of our study was to explore: (1) prevalence of these disorders in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU); (2) possible risk factors of depression and anxiety; (3) possible links between ulcer treatment results and depression/anxiety status. Methods: 285 outpatients with diabetes and foot or leg ulcers were tested for depression and anxiety with self-report scales: CES-D and the anxiety subscale from HADS. Ulcer treatment results, incidence of new ulcers and number of hospital admissions were assessed after 1.5 years of follow-up. Results: Depression was detected in 110 patients (39%), anxiety in 103 (36%). Females had depression and anxiety more often than males (48% and 46% vs. 27% and 25% respectively). A combined score based on diabetes duration, insulin treatment, history of myocardial infarction, history of foot ulcers and recent foot surgery was higher in patients with than without depression (3.0 vs. 2.0, p=0.02). Every of these or other potential risk factors alone was not associated with depression or anxiety. Patients with depression did not demonstrate poorer prognosis except higher mortality in subgroup of severely depressed patients without ulcer history. For anxiety we got similar results as its presence strongly correlated with depression. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety in DFU patients is compatible with other diabetic populations. Various parameters of ulcer severity and duration did not influence the probability of depression and anxiety occurrence. Depression in general was not associated with poorer ulcer treatment results.

The climate changes of recent decades are mainly due to human activities and an abnormal increase in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide released by the soil during emission is of particular importance. Soil carbon dioxide emissions are closely associated with the microbiological activity of the soil and the intensity of the mineralization of organic matter, which depends on the technologies used in agriculture. One of the ways to reduce the level of CO2 in the atmosphere is to increase its content in soils. Based on experimental studies, the paper provides a comparative assessment of methods of soil use influencing the intensity of soil CO2 emission under a moderately arid and forest-outlier steppe of the Altai Krai. The paper reveals that the traditional technology of soil use significantly enhances the intensity of CO2 emission. It negatively affects the humus state and soil fertility indicators and increases carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. The use of minimal technology contributes to the conservation of carbon in the soil.

Three morpho- or ecotypes (‘ribbed’, ‘middle’ or ‘ribless’ shell and ‘smooth’) of lithophilous Maackia herderiana (Lindholm, 1909) (Caenogastropoda: Baicaliidae) were investigated along the hydrodynamic zones of four locations on the southwestern littoral of Lake Baikal in southeast Siberia. We found a prevalence of the ribbed-shell morphotype inhabiting stones at a depth of 1.2–2.0 m, corresponding to the hydrodynamic zone of strong wave activity, and a predominance of the smooth-shell morphotype living on cliffy canyons at 21–31 m depth in the hydrodynamic zone where wave action is very weak or totally absent. Mixed groups of snails with ribbed, ribless and/or smooth shells were present on stony-boulder substrates at 3 to 15–19 m depth of the wave-cut and wave-weakening hydrodynamic zones. Ribbed-morphotype snails living in inshore and wave-cut hydrodynamic zones had a smaller shell size than did smooth-morphotype snails inhabiting zones where wave activity was weak or totally absent. The thickn...

The structure of telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n was determined and the length of telomeric DNA (tDNA) was measured in three species of gastropods from the family Benedictiidae that are endemic to Lake Baikal. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed the localization of a telomeric repeat at the chromosome ends. The sizes of tDNA in “giant” eurybathic, psammo-pelobiontic species Benedictia fragilis and shallow water litho-psammobiontic species B. baicalensis with medium shell sizes were similar (16 ± 2.9 and 15 ± 2.1 kb, respectively), but they had a greater length than that of the shallow water spongio-litobiontic species Kobeltocochlea martensiana with small shells (10.5 ± 1.5 kb). We discuss tendencies in age-related changes in tDNA length in snails and a possible mechanism for maintaining tDNA size in ontogeny.

Sixty one patients were diagnosed with anxiety-depressive disorder. According to the Hamilton depression rating scale and Hamilton anxiety rating scale, the scores were 21.83 and 30.0, respectively, which corresponds to the major depressive disorder and severe anxiety. In 43 of 61 patients with anxiety-depressive disorder, we studied a number of neurochemical (activity of monoamine oxidase of platelets and semicarbazide-sensitive amineoxidase of blood serum, level of middle molecules, and the functional characteristics of serum albumin) and hormonal (levels of cortisol, testosterone, and estradiol in serum) indices. Patients had disturbances in all parameters we studied. The contribution of disturbed neurochemical and hormonal systems, as well as endogenous intoxication to pathogenetic mechanisms of anxiety-depressive disorder is discussed.

Background/Objectives: The paper provides the structure of titanium and palladium tablets saturated with deuterium and intended for increasing the energy of deuterons. Methods/Statistical analysis: The tablets have a double-sided oxide layer on the surface of deuterated palladium and titanium. The target is heated in the oxygen environment up to a temperature of 1200 0C. Heating during free oxygen access on the both sides of the tablet leads to the fact that the tablet is oxidized to form TiOx and PdOy oxides. The thickness of the oxide layer is varied from 0.02 to 0.05 microns. The energy of deuterons increases by more than two orders of magnitude during irradiation of tablets by an electron beam with an energy of 30 keV on the both sides as compared to the thermal energy. The proposed method allows us to obtain a greater number of deuterons with an energy exceeding the energy released during one-sided irradiation. Findings: The high kinetic energy of atoms (D) can be achieved due to acceleration in a strong electric field formed during electron irradiation. The effective acceleration energy can be estimated as follows eff WD =􀀀 + eE(TiO2 )h(TiO2 ), where 􀀀 = 3 eV is the average primary energy of the ion in the target caused by the generation of plasmons; E(TiO2) ≈ 3.107 V/cm is the electric field intensity in the target; h(TiO2) = 1.5 .10-5 cm is the thickness of the oxide layer on the target surface. Estimations provide the maximum acceleration energy of deuterons 500 effD W 􀀀 eV . Applications/Improvements: This paper presents the study of structural characteristics of the tablets made of titanium and palladium and intended for the increase in energy of deuterons during electron irradiation of deuterated metals.

Several forms of pathologies, referred to as Yakut hereditary diseases, have been distinguished on the basis of the results of genetic epidemiological studies of Mendelian diseases in the population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): spinocerebellar ataxia type I, myotonic dystrophy, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, hereditary enzymopenic methemoglobinemia, and 3-M syndrome. These diseases are characterized by a high prevalence among Yakuts as compared to their global incidence in the. Data on the molecular nature of mutations in genes responsible for these hereditary diseases are presented.

The genetic variability of the DMPK locus has been studied in relation to six SNP markers (rs2070736, rs572634, rs1799894, rs527221, rs915915, and rs10415988) in Yakuts with myotonic dystrophy (MD) in the Yakut population and in populations of northern Eurasia. Significant differences were observed in the allele frequencies between patients and a population sample of Yakuts for three SNP loci (rs915915, rs1799894, and rs10415988) associated with a high chance of disease manifestation. The odds ratios (OR) of MD development in representatives of the Yakut population for these three loci were 2.59 (95% CI, p = 0,004), 4.99 (95% CI, p = 0.000), and 3.15 (95% CI, p = 0.01), respectively. Haplotype TTTCTC, which is associated with MD, and haplotype GTCCTT, which was observed only in Yakut MD patients (never in MD patients of non-Yakut origin), were revealed. A low level of variability in the locus of DMRK gene in Yakuts (H(e) = 0.283) compared with other examined populations was noted. An analysis of pairwise genetic relationships between populations revealed their significant differentiation for all the examined loci. In addition, a low level of differentiation in territorial groups of Yakut populations (F(ST) = 0.79%), which was related to the high subdivision of the northern Eurasian population (F(ST) = 11.83%), was observed.

The structure of telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n was determined and the length of telomeric DNA (tDNA) was measured in three species of gastropods from the family Benedictiidae that are endemic to Lake Baikal. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed the localization of a telomeric repeat at the chromosome ends. The sizes of tDNA in "giant" eurybathic, psammo-pelobiontic species Benedictia fragilis and shallow water litho-psammobiontic species B. baicalensis with medium shell sizes were similar (16 ± 2.9 and 15 ± 2.1 kb, respectively), but they had a greater length than that of the shallow water spongio-litobiontic species Kobeltocochlea martensiana with small shells (10.5 ± 1.5 kb). We discuss tendencies in age-related changes in tDNA length in snails and a possible mechanism for maintaining tDNA size in ontogeny.

Biochemical aspects of the relationship between monoaminergic and hormonal systems in the pathogenesis of anxious depression are analyzed on the basis of literature and own results published earlier. Significant alterations in biogenic monoamine metabolism and changes in the hormonal status, that reflects homeostasis disturbance in whole, are inherent to anxious depression. The biochemical mechanisms of imbalance between serotonergic and noradrenergic systems and a role of cortisol in this process are discussed.В статье рассмотрены биохимические аспекты связи моноаминергической и гормональной систем в патогенезе тревожной депрессии на основе данных литературы, включая опубликованные ранее собственные исследования авторов. Было установлено, что больным тревожной депрессией присущи значительные нарушения обмена биогенных моноаминов и изменение гормонального статуса, что является отражением нарушенного гомеостаза в целом. Обсуждаются биохимические механизмы нарушения баланса между серотонинергической и норадренергической системами и роль кортизола в этом процессе.

Based on the results of matings with interrupted conjugation and analysis of marker joint inheritance frequencies, distances between 26 genetic determinants were estimated and a genetic map of Pseudomonas mendocina bacteria was constructed.

Donor strains of the Hfr type were isolated using plasmid pRK2013 with transposons Tn10 and B21 as a chromosome-mobilizing factor. The isolated strains were shown to promote transfer of donor chromosome from different origins in different directions during isogenic matings of Pseudomonas mendocina bacteria. The created collection of donors and polyauxotrophic recipient bacteria permitted mapping 26 genetic determinants on the bacterial chromosome and identifying the genome of these microorganisms as a circular DNA molecule.

The elevation of intracellular cAMP content is accompanied by expression of genes whose promoter contains a Ca2+-cAMP responsive element. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), activation of cAMP signaling blocks apoptosis triggered by serum deprivation. In the present study we investigated the role of gene expression in the inhibition of apoptosis by cAMP. In VSMC transfected with E1A adenovirus, incubation in the absence of serum for 6 h led to 20-fold elevation of chromatin fragmentation and 10-fold activation of caspase-3 activity, these being employed as markers of apoptosis. Forskolin induced activation of cAMP signaling was accompanied by 50% elevation of RNA synthesis and completely abolished the development of apoptosis during the initial 6 h incubation in growth factor-free medium. In 12 h apoptosis in forskolin-treated VSMC was slowly developed and after 24 h the content of chromatin fragments was 2-fold less than in control cells. Addition of actinomycin D and cycloheximide completely blocked RNA synthesis and decreased protein synthesis by 80%, respectively. Neither compound affected baseline apoptosis or its inhibition by forskolin. More than 70 newly phosphorylated proteins were observed by 2D-electrophoresis of VSMC after incubation with forskolin for 3 h; in 24 h the number of phosphoproteins triggered by forskolin was decreased by 2-3-fold. These results show that suppression of VSMC apoptosis under activation of cAMP signaling is mediated via posttranslational modification of pre-existing intermediates of the apoptotic machinery rather than by de novo synthesis of inhibitors of programmed cell death.

To assess trophic partitioning among sympatric gastropod species in ancient lakes, we quantified diatoms in the guts of two coexistent Baikal gastropod species and tested for differences in species, size, and fracturing of large and small diatoms by taenioglossan radulae. In May 2010, the diatom Synedra acus dominated the littoral phytoplankton and gut contents of Baicalia turriformis and Teratobaikalia ciliata (Baicaliidae), both inhabiting the rocky Baikal littoral. In laboratory experiments, both ctenidial filter-feeding gastropods were fed with two diets of cultivated Synedra acus of different cell sizes: >150 μm and

A cohort study of depression in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders was conducted in four Russian regional mental health services with the use of simultaneous one-day census on October 20, 2011. The total number of patients in this study was 1269: 753 patients were receiving outpatient treatment, 143 patients were served in day clinics and 373 patients were in-patients in psychiatric hospitals. Depressive symptoms were present in 6.0% of outpatients, 50.3% of day clinic patients, and 36.5% of inpatients. The average duration of current depressive symptoms in weeks was 10.0, 8.1, 9.0, respectively. The periods of depressive symptoms during the last 2 years were revealed in 30.8% of outpatients, 67.8% of day clinic patients, and 42.1% of inpatients with the average duration of each such period in weeks 10.9, 12.2, 8.3, respectively. In outpatient settings, 28.8% of patients received antidepressants in addition to antipsychotic therapy. The proportion of inpatients receiving this treatment was 42.1%, and two thirds of patients received antidepressants in day clinics.

Ultrastructural changes in the retina under conditions of experimental hypoestrogenia were studied. Hypoestrogenic status was induced in female rabbits by extirpation of both uterine horns with appendages. Clinical status of the eyes was evaluated after 9 months by ophthalmoscopy and optical coherent tomography. Changes in the retinal layers under conditions of experimental estrogenia were detected: thickened retinal pigmented epithelium layer, a lesser layer of nerve fibrils, and thinning of the choriocapillary layer. A relationship between thinning of the choroid and thickening of the pigmented epithelium of the retina was detected.

The paper deals with the existence of nontrivial nonnegative generalized solutions to a broad class of second-order differential inequalities in the line as well as to some classes of inequalities involving differential operators contained in the nonstationary filtration-type equations. The results obtained are related to the uniqueness of nonnegative solutions to the Cauchy problem for the nonstationary filtration-type equations. Close results are also established for equations with changing time direction. Bibliography: 6 titles.

The state of binding centers in albumin molecule in patients with anxious depression was studied by the method of quenching of fluorescence of molecular probe (dimethyl-aminonaphthaleic acid carboxyphenylimide) with nitrate ions. Serum samples from 24 donors without somatic and mental diseases and 26 patients were analyzed. In the absence of the quenching agent, specific fluorescence of the probe (standardized by albumin concentration) was lower in patients with depression. The fluorescence quenching constant and the percentage of fluorescence available for quenching were also lower in serum samples from patients. These data indicate that the parameters of binding centers in albumin molecule in patients with anxious depression are significantly modified in comparison with normal subjects. The detected changes can play a role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders.

This paper describes a semiconductor gas sensor and a portable device for the simultaneous determination of the composition of three gas components. The device consists of a gas chamber and an electron device, which includes a measurement module, microprocessor block and an indicator. The device can be used in control systems for emergency prevention in metal mining industry and chemical, oil and gas production and reprocessing enterprises as well as in servicing oil trunk pipelines and in ecological monitoring of the environment.

The elevation of intracellular cAMP content is accompanied by expression of genes whose promoter contains a Ca(2+)-cAMP responsive element. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), activation of cAMP signaling blocks apoptosis triggered by serum deprivation. In the present study we investigated the role of gene expression in the inhibition of apoptosis by cAMP. In VSMC transfected with E1A adenovirus, incubation in the absence of serum for 6 h led to 20-fold elevation of chromatin fragmentation and 10-fold activation of caspase-3 activity, these being employed as markers of apoptosis. Forskolin-induced activation of cAMP signaling was accompanied by 50% elevation of RNA synthesis and completely abolished the development of apoptosis during the initial 6 h incubation in growth factor-free medium. In 12 h apoptosis in forskolin-treated VSMC was slowly developed and after 24 h the content of chromatin fragments was 2-fold less than in control cells. Addition of actinomycin D and cycloheximide completely blocked RNA synthesis and decreased protein synthesis by 80%, respectively. Neither compound affected baseline apoptosis or its inhibition by forskolin. More than 70 newly phosphorylated proteins were observed by 2D-electrophoresis of VSMC after incubation with forskolin for 3 h; in 24 h the number of phosphoproteins triggered by forskolin was decreased by 2-3-fold. These results show that suppression of VSMC apoptosis under activation of cAMP signaling is mediated via posttranslational modification of pre-existing intermediates of the apoptotic machinery rather than by de novo synthesis of inhibitors of programmed cell death.

The hypersensitive cell death providing resistance of plants in race-cultivar systems are based on a specific recognition of certain metabolites of pathogen microorganisms |1|. It was found that main part of elicitor activity of Phytophthora infestans is attributed to lipids and due to eicosatetraand eicosapentaenoic fatty acids (EPUFA) |2–4|. However, these experiments were carried out with mycelial extracts and it is not clear whether the EPUFA are responsible for the events occuring in vivo. In this article we report the results of fatty acid analysis in the zoospores of P. infestans and the effect of modification their fatty acid composition on the compatibility of the fungus with potato plants.

The genetic variability of the DMPK locus has been studied in relation to six SNP markers (rs2070736, rs572634, rs1799894, rs527221, rs915915, and rs10415988) in Yakuts with myotonic dystrophy (MD) in the Yakut population and in populations of northern Eurasia. Significant differences were observed in the allele frequencies between patients and a population sample of Yakuts for three SNP loci (rs915915, rs1799894, and rs10415988) associated with a high chance of disease manifestation. The odds ratios (OR) of MD development in representatives of the Yakut population for these three loci were 2.59 (95% CI, p = 0,004), 4.99 (95% CI, p = 0.000), and 3.15 (95% CI, p = 0.01), respectively. Haplotype TTTCTC, which is associated with MD, and haplotype GTCCTT, which was observed only in Yakut MD patients (never in MD patients of non-Yakut origin), were revealed. A low level of variability in the locus of DMRK gene in Yakuts (H(e) = 0.283) compared with other examined populations was noted. An analysis of pairwise genetic relationships between populations revealed their significant differentiation for all the examined loci. In addition, a low level of differentiation in territorial groups of Yakut populations (F(ST) = 0.79%), which was related to the high subdivision of the northern Eurasian population (F(ST) = 11.83%), was observed.