[Patterns of protein biosynthesis in the embryo and endosperm during embryogenesis in Pinus sylvestris L]. / Zakonomernosti biosinteza belkov zarodysha i éndosperma v protsesse émbriogeneza u Pinus sylvestris L.

The patterns of protein biosynthesis in the embryo and endosperm during embryogenesis in the Scots pine were studied using electrophoresis and biochemistry methods. Proteins of the albumin-globulin fraction were visualized already at the early embryonic stages. The main polypeptide components (48-60, 37-39, and 20-22 kDa) were gradually accumulated in the course of maturation. A high synchrony was noted between the stages of embryogenesis and molecular events related to protein biosynthesis and accumulation in the developing seed.

[Free and bound amino acids during germination of maize seeds with implemented foreign prolamines]. / Svobodnye i sviazannye aminokisloty semian kukuruzy s vnedrennymi chuzherodnymi prolaminami pri prorastanii.

Wheat prolamines were preincorporated into the endosperm of maize seed, and concentrations of free and bound amino acids were measured in the endosperm and seedlings during seed germination. Incorporation of foreign prolamines lowered the decrease rate of free proline concentration in both the endosperm (sprouting and shoots) and the embryo (sprouting). The seedlings at the stage of shoots were characterized by higher concentrations of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and tyrosine. At the stage of transition to autotrophic nutrition, the pool of amino acids that are physiologically important for the plant growth was greater in maize seedlings with incorporated wheat prolamines.

[Systematic relationships of podocarpales, cephalotaxales, and taxales based on comparative seed anatomy and biochemistry data]. / Sistematicheskoe polozhenie poriadkov Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales i Taxales po dannym sravnitel'noi anatomii i biokhimiii semian.

The morphology of female reproductive organs and anatomy, ultrastructure, and ultrasculpture of seed integuments were studied in more than 150 species of Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales. The main trends of morphological-evolutionary transformations of female fructifications were established in three studied groups of gymnosperms. The taxonomic weight of structural features of the female reproductive organs of Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales was determined. Seeds of 20 species of these orders were investigated using amino acid and Western blot analysis. The index of remoteness from the least specialized hypothetical taxon and degree of difference between taxa were calculated from data on amino acid composition of seeds and embryos. The differences in the degree of similarity between Podocarpales and other groups of gymnosperms were demonstrated. An original concept was proposed for phylogenetic relations between Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales.

[Application of the serological method for evaluation of relations between gymnosperms and dicotyledonous plants]. / Ispol'zovanie serologicheskogo metoda dlia otsenki otnoshenii golosemennykh i dvudol'nykh.

An attempt has been undertaken to evaluate interrelations of gymnospermous and dicotyledonous plants on the basis of immunochemical studies of seed proteins. For this purpose, 12 antisera were raised to proteins of taxa representing four gymnosperm classes: Ginkgoopsida, Cycadopsida, Coniferopsida, and Gnetopsida. Seed proteins of eight dicotyledonous subclasses (after Takhtadzhyan, 1987) were used. The representatives of all dicotyledonous subclasses gave immunochemical reactions with those of all gymnospermous classes. The data obtained suggest the presence of sufficiently close immunochemical relations between gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Samples were found among the representatives of subclasses Dilleniidae, Hamamelididae, and Rosidae, which gave satisfactory reactions with eight to ten antisera to proteins of dicotyledonous seeds. Analysis of the data we obtained suggests that gymnospermous and dicotyledonous plants took their origin from a common pragymnospermous ancestor and later evolved independently or that dicotyledons separated from gymnosperms at an early stage of their evolution before divergence of the latter into several phyletic lineages.

[Evolutionary changes in amino acid composition of dicotyledonous seeds]. / Izmenenie v aminokislotnom sostave semian dvudol'nykh rastenii v protsesse évoliutsii.

Amino acid composition of dicotyledonous seeds of 82 genera, 67 families, 48 orders, and 8 subclasses (after Takhtadzhyan, 1987). Within the frames of hypothesis of amino acid composition of the least specialized hypothetical taxon we have established a universal trend for all dicotyledonous classes--increased proportion of glutamic acid and arginine. Divergent processes are pronounced in the evolution of amino acid composition within the families and orders. Pairwise comparison of amino acid composition in all analyzed taxons demonstrated high similarity between taxons from different subclasses and at different levels of biochemical specialization. Within the frames of the system proposed by Takhtadzhyan (1987) we interpret this as a clearly pronounced parallel variability of the seed amino acid composition realized during evolution of taxons in various dicotyledonous orders and subclasses.

[Adaptive types of prolamins--specialized proteins from cereal seeds (Poaceae Banrh.)]. / Adaptivnye tipy prolaminov, spetsializirovannykh belkov semian zlakov (Poaceae Barnh.).

Amino acid composition of prolamins and the whole seed in representatives of 52 cereal genera and 22 tribes, as well as amino acid composition of seed protein fractions in representatives of 9 cereal genera are presented. In terms of proposed directed evolution of the seed proteins and adaptive role of prolamins in evolution and distribution of cereals, generalized data on their content in seed protein complex, electrophoretic, immunochemical, and amino acid composition of the seeds, we develop the notion of prolamins biochemical specialization and their polyphyletic origin during evolution of cereal seed protein complex. Seven adaptive types of prolamins are recognized: Sasa, Molinia, Chloris, Zingeria, Poa, Triticum, and Panicum types. Adaptive types of prolamins were formed in response to an ecological request of the environment where taxon ancestors existed and a taxon appeared and in relation to phylogenetic history of a taxon and its assignment to particular tribe and subfamily.

[Estimation of the relationship of the gymnosperms and angiosperms on the basis of the data obtained by biochemical methods]. / Otsenka otnoshenii golosemennykh i pokrytosemennykh rastenii na osnove ispol'zovaniia biokhimicheskikh metodov.

The phylogenetic relationships of gymnospermous and angiospermous plants were studied. To this end, 13 antisera to seed proteins of plant taxa representing all the four classes of the gymnosperms were obtained. The antigens used in immunochemical reactions with these antisera included the proteins of 134 seed samples representing 91 families from all the 11 subclasses of dicotyledons and 64 seed samples representing 33 families from five out of six classes of monocotyledons (according to Takhtajan, 1996). Immunochemical analysis was performed by the methods of double immunodiffusion in agar gel (two variants) and immunoelectroblotting. In addition, some samples of seed proteins were analyzed for amino acid composition. The results corroborate the concept that the seed plants are a monophyletic taxon. The angiosperms have apparently originated from a progymnospermous ancestor or have branched from the main stem of gymnosperms prior to its division into the recent phyla. No common ancestor of all subclasses of the angiosperms has been identified.