Prognostic of Yield of Potatoes of Promising Domestic Varieties under the Impact of Stress Abiotic Factors.

Twenty-four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties differing in ripening groups (early, middle-early, and mid-season-ripening) were studied. Potatoes were grown under the conditions of the Middle Volga region of Russia in 2019-2021. It was found statistically that the yield (t/ha) of the early and mid-season-ripening varieties was negatively correlated with the increase in average temperatures during the growing season from May to August (R = -0.97, p = 0.04). Soil moisture content at a depth of 20 cm was positively correlated with the yield of middle-early varieties (R = 0.97, p = 0.04). The average tuber weight in the early varieties was sensitive to the increase in average temperatures (R = -0.95, p = 0.04). An increase in soil moisture content was beneficial to the average tuber weight (R = 0.98, p = 0.04), though only in the middle-early and mid-season-ripening groups. However, the soil moisture content and the tuber numbers in the mid-season-ripening varieties were negatively correlated (R = -0.96, p = 0.05).

Productivity and Dynamics of Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Parameters of Potatoes in Arid Climate.

Interrelation between the morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and productivity of potato plants was shown for the first time using the example of a mid-season-ripening variety (v.) Siversky and a mid-early Tretyakovka v. The yield of Siversky v. turned out to be 1.6 times higher than the yield of Tretyakovka. Aboveground biomass of Siversky v. was distinguished by an increased content of photosynthetic pigments, a greater variability of the protein and lipid metabolism indicators, and more intense oxidation processes and antioxidant protection, which can be the key to its greater productivity. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the greatest relationship in the climatic conditions of central Russia in 2020 was found for productivity and such indicators as the stomata number per unit leaf area, the number of stems, and the content of pigments, phospholipids, neutral lipids, and water-soluble part of the protein. Thus, both morphological and physiological-biochemical properties can influence the course and direction of the production process, and, hence, the yield of a certain variety.

Physiological and Biochemical Strategies of Adaptation in Halophytes.

The relationship between the ecological adaptive strategies of some halophyte groups and their metabolism has been demonstrated; this correlation determines their competitive capabilities and place in the ecosystem. The features of the content of total and membrane lipids, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and membrane and water-soluble proteins, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation, hydration of photosynthetic organs, and sodium accumulation in euhalophytes, crynohalophytes, and glycohalophytes, which are confined to different levels of soil salinity, have been established.

[Polar lipid pool modification in leaves of hoary plantain (Plantago media L.) plants during their light adaptation under natural conditions].

Polar glycerolipids and photosynthetic pigments of Plantago media L. plants, growing on limestone outcrops of the Southern Timan, have been studied. Leaves of plants growing on well insolated and heated slopes are characterized by an intensive lipoperoxidation; the accumulation of chlorophylls and carotenoids in these plants is 1.5-2 times less and the content of polar lipids is 15-20% less than in plants growing in dense grass at the bottom of slopes. The accumulation of some classes of glycerolipids in leaves in the daytime provides for stabilization of photosystem complexes and the formation of the pool of zeaxanthin, a protective xanthophyll. Changes in the content and ratio of lipids represent an important part of the adaptive reorganizations of the photosynthetic apparatus caused by excess radiation under natural conditions.

[Regulation of gene expression in type II restriction-modification system].

Type II restriction-modification systems are comprised of a restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase. The enzymes are coded by individual genes and recognize the same DNA sequence. Endonuclease makes a double-stranded break in the recognition site, and methyltransferase covalently modifies the DNA bases within the recognition site, thereby down-regulating endonuclease activity. Coordinated action of these enzymes plays a role of primitive immune system and protects bacterial host cell from the invasion of foreign (for example, viral) DNA. However, uncontrolled expression of the restriction-modification system genes can result in the death of bacterial host cell because of the endonuclease cleavage of host DNA. In the present review, the data on the expression regulation of the type II restriction-modification enzymes are discussed.

[Mercury-resistant bacteria from permafrost sediments and prospects for their use in comparative studies of mercury resistance determinants]. / Rezistentnye k soedineniiam rtuti bakterii iz mnogoletnemerzlykh otlozhenii i perspektivy ikh ispol'zovaniia v sravnitel'nykh issledovaniiakh determinant rtut'-ustoichivosti.

Mercury-resistant bacteria were isolated from permafrost sediments of Kolyma lowland and Canada existing over five thousand to two million years. Their content was shown to vary within the range 0.001-2.9% and to depend on the amount of mercury in sampling sites (coefficient of correlation 0.75). A collection of mercury-resistant bacterial strains was created. In this collection, various representatives of both Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, Micrococcus, Arthrobacter) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Plesiomonas, Myxobacteriales) were identified. Most resistant bacteria were found to contain determinants homologous to mer-operons of contemporary bacteria. The isolated strains of paleobacteria are proposed to be used for a comparative structural study of contemporary and ancient plasmids and transposons carrying mercury resistance determinants.

[Horizontal transfer of mercury resistance genes in natural bacterial populations]. / Gorizontal'nyi perenos genov ustoichivosti k soedineniiam rtuti v prirodnykh populiatsiiakh bakterii.

The results of studying the horizontal transfer of mercury resistance determinants in environmental bacterial populations are reviewed. Identical or highly homologous mercury resistance (mer) operons and transposons were found in bacteria of different taxonomic groups from geographically distant regions. Recombinant mer operons and transposons were revealed. The data suggest high frequencies of horizontal transfer and of recombination for mercury resistance determinants. The mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer were elucidated in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. New transposons were found and analyzed.

Horizontal spread of mer operons among gram-positive bacteria in natural environments.

Horizontal dissemination of the genes responsible for resistance to toxic pollutants may play a key role in the adaptation of bacterial populations to environmental contaminants. However, the frequency and extent of gene dissemination in natural environments is not known. A natural horizontal spread of two distinct mercury resistance (mer) operon variants, which occurred amongst diverse Bacillus and related species over wide geographical areas, is reported. One mer variant encodes a mercuric reductase with a single N-terminal domain, whilst the other encodes a reductase with a duplicated N-terminal domain. The strains containing the former mer operon types are sensitive to organomercurials, and are most common in the terrestrial mercury-resistant Bacillus populations studied in this work. The strains containing the latter operon types are resistant to organomercurials, and dominate in a Minamata Bay mercury-resistant Bacillus population, previously described in the literature. At least three distinct transposons (related to a class II vancomycin-resistance transposon, Tn1546, from a clinical Enterococcus strain) and conjugative plasmids are implicated as mediators of the spread of these mer operons.

Mercuric reductase in environmental gram-positive bacteria sensitive to mercury.

According to existing data, mercury resistance operons (mer operons) are in general thought to be rare in bacteria, other than those from mercury-contaminated sites. We have found that a high proportion of strains in environmental isolates of Gram-positive bacteria express mercuric reductase (MerA protein): the majority of these strains are apparently sensitive to mercury. The expression of MerA was also inducible in all cases. These results imply the presence of phenotypically cryptic mer resistance operons, with both the merA (mercuric reductase) and merR (regulatory) genes still present, but the possible absence of the transport function required to complete the resistance mechanism. This indicates that mer operons or parts thereof are more widely spread in nature than is suggested by the frequency of mercury-resistant bacteria.

Occurrence of two structural types of mercury reductases among gram-positive bacteria.

Structural variants of mercury reductase containing the N-terminal domain, which is easily cleaved by trypsin, have been found in Gram-positive bacteria with a low genomic G + C content (Bacillus, Staphylococcus and, possibly, some other genera). Mercury reductases without the N-terminal domain and relatively resistant to limited proteolysis are typical for Gram-positive bacteria with a high genomic G + C content (Arthrobacter, Citreobacterium, Micrococcus, Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus). Both types of mercury reductase genes may be located on plasmids.

Two structural types of mercury reductases and possible ways of their evolution.

Structural differences have been revealed among mercury reductases of immunologically unrelated types from Gram-positive bacteria: enzymes of one immunological type have a molecular mass of 62-69 kDa and seem to contain an N-terminal extension of 5-15 kDa, which is easily cleaved by trypsin and chymotrypsin; enzymes of the other immunological type have a molecular mass of 52-57 kDa and are resistant to proteolysis. The existence of at least two different lines in the evolution of mercury reductases is surmised.

[Study of the horizontal transfer of mercury resistance genes in natural populations of bacteria using antibodies to mercury reductases]. / Izuchenie gorizontal'nogo perenosa genov ustoichivosti k rtuti v prirodnykh populiatsiiakh bakterii s pomoshch'iu antitel k rtut'-reduktazam.

Mercury resistant soil and intestinal bacteria were isolated from different mercury deposit areas of the USSR. Mercury reductases from all gram negative bacteria studied (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Enterobacterial species) with a single exception (Flavobacterium sp.) were immunologically cross reactive. Two immunological types of mercury reductases were found among gram positive bacteria (Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Coryneform species). Further subdivisions were done by "spur" formation tests. Despite considerable diversity of mercury reductases revealed in this study, we found several strains which belonged to distant genera but contained immunologically indistinguishable enzymes. This suggested that the horizontal spread of the corresponding genes occurred in these genera in relatively recent time.

The diversity of mercury reductases among mercury-resistant bacteria.

Two immunologically non-cross-reactive types of mercury reductases were found among Gram-negative and two among Gram-positive mercury-resistant environmental bacteria. Mercury reductases were further discriminated by 'spur' formation immunodiffusion tests. Immunologically indistinguishable mercury reductases were found among strains belonging to phylogenetically distant genera. This suggests a horizontal transfer of mercury resistance genes between these strains.

[Histone H1, polylysine and spermine--factors of nucleosome assembly in vitro]. / Giston H1, polilizin i spermin--faktory sborki nukleosom v usloviiakh in vitro.

We studied nucleosome assemble in vitro in a system containing the relaxed DNA CoIE1, core histones and a crude extract Drosophila embryos. Supercoiling is a criterium for making conclusions about forming nucleosomes. Supercoiling raises more if nucleosome assemble takes place in the presence of histone H1, polylysine of the 20 000 molecular weight or spermine. These agents do not stimulate the relaxation, and they are more effective when they are added earlier. Thus histone H1, spermine and polylysine can facilitate nucleosome assemble in vitro and with two former agents it may be possibly that the same process takes place in vivo.

H1 histone, polylysine and spermine facilitate nucleosome assembly in vitro.

Nucleosome formation has been studied in a system containing relaxed Col E1 DNA, core histones and an extract of Drosophila embryos. The formation of nucleosomes was established by the introduction of supercoils into DNA. The degree of DNA supercoiling was shown to be higher if nucleosomes were assembled in the presence of the H1 histone, polylysine (Mr 20 000) or spermine. These agents do not stimulate relaxation and are the more effective the earlier they are added to the reaction. Thus, the H1 histone, polylysine and spermine facilitate nucleosome assembly in vitro.

[Interactions of subunits of DNA gyrase]. / Vzaimodeistvie sub"edinits DNK-girazy.

Interaction of DNA gyrase A- and B-subunits during the process of DNA supercoiling was studied. For this purpose a E. coli Cour-1 mutant resistant to coumermycin and containing a mutation in the B-subunit of DNA gyrase was isolated and the influence of the DNA gyrase A-subunit specific inhibitor-nalidixic acid-on DNA supercoiling by wild-type and mutant enzymes was investigated. It turned out that the enzyme from the Cour-1 mutant strain was more sensitive to nalidixic acid than the DNA gyrase from the wild-type strain. Hence, the mutation affecting the B-subunit is capable to change A-subunit properties. That makes it possible to draw the conclusion about a close structural interaction of DNA gyrase subunits during DNA supercoiling.

Changed properties of the A subunit in DNA gyrase with a B subunit mutation.

To investigate the interaction of subunits A and B of DNA gyrase during DNA supercoiling, a Cour mutant of Escherichia coli was obtained and the effect of nalidixic acid on the supercoiling of DNA by wild-type and mutant enzymes was assayed. The enzyme of the Cour strain proved to be more sensitive to nalidixic acid than the wild-type DNA gyrase. Hence the mutation affecting the B subunit can also change the properties of the A subunit, which fact suggests that the two subunits of DNA gyrase are in contact during DNA supercoiling.