Vol 51, No 6 (2017)

The nearest plant homologues of animal protein kinase BRSK were identified using the methods of classical and structural bioinformatics. The selection was performed based on the sequence comparison, results of phylogenetic clustering, and analysis of domain architecture. Spatial structures of human BRSK1 and KIN10 from A. thaliana were compared. The relationship between KIN10 and the regulation of primary microtubule nucleation centers in A. thaliana was revealed. Obvious homology of plant KIN10 and mammalian BRSK1 evidence to suggest that this plant protein kinase is associated with the regulation of the structure and function of primary microtubule nucleation centers and is able to phosphorylate γ-tubulin from Arabidopsis (TUBG1 and TUBG2) at Ser131, affecting the γTuSC monomer structure as well as the γTuRC complex assembly. The effect of the modification on the TUBG1-GACP3 interaction was suggested.

The composition and quantity of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits plays an important role in determining the bread-making quality of wheat. Molecular-genetic analysis of allelic composition of high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in 102 bread wheat cultivars and lines from different geographical regions was conducted. Three alleles at the Glu-A1 locus, nine alleles at the Glu-B1 locus, and two alleles at the Glu-D1 locus were identified. Among the investigated cultivars and lines, 21 were characterized by intracultivar polymorphism. High allelic variation of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes was shown for the collection: 21 and 9 combinations were defined in monomorphic and polymorphic cultivars and lines, respectively. However, the major part of the collection (66.7%) contained four allelic combinations: Glu-A1b Glu-B1c Glu-D1d, Glu-A1b Glu-B1c Glu-D1-2a, Glu-A1a Glu-B1c Glu-D1d, and Glu-A1b Glu-B1c Glu-D1d/Glu-D1-2a. Fourteen cultivars of bread wheat were selected, and they were characterized by a favorable allelic composition of Glu-1 loci.

In this work, the effect of ascorbic and gibberellic acids and pH of medium on embryogenesis and regeneration in anther culture of spring triticale was studied. The study of androgenesis was conducted on two model samples YaTKh-327-11 and YaTKh-18-11. The research revealed that the addition of the antioxidant ascorbic acid at a concentration of 2–8 mg/L into the culture medium to induce embryogenesis enhanced the formation of androgen structures and regeneration of green plants. The addition of gibberellic acid into the culture medium to induce embryogenesis gave negative effects. The average yield of green plants in the anther culture of spring triticale was 2 pcs/100 anthers. According to the research, 277 green plants were received and spontaneous doubling of chromosomes was recorded in 26.7%.

The effects of pulsed femtosecond laser irradiation in the near ultraviolet region on the levels of cytokines in the thymus, blood, and skin of irradiated mice have been studied. Irradiation of the thymus projection area with low-intensity laser radiation in the near UV region of the spectrum showed significant changes in cytokine levels in the skin and thymus and, to a lesser extent, in the blood of irradiated mice. Laser irradiation with a power density of 20 mW/cm² affects the cytokine profile in the thymus: IFN-γ, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, eotaxin, GM-CSF, and chemokine KC–factors that can affect differentiation and proliferation of the cells of the immune system in the gland. Conclusions: It is assumed that changes in the expression of cytokines in the thymus after laser irradiation are explained by the rearrangement of biochemical processes possibly associated with the maturation of cells in the gland.

Salt stress severely affects plant growth and regulation; however knowledge about its effect on cytological changes is limited. In this report, studies were carried out to reveal the morphological and cytogenetic responses of the Allium cepa roots after prolonged (7, 14, 20 days) exposure to salt stress in tissue culture conditions. Roots of plants were treated with different concentrations (100, 200, 300 mM) of NaCl and KCl added to the culture medium. Both salts caused root growth reduction and showed cytotoxic effect reflected in reduction of root tip cells mitotic activity and increase of different abnormalities such as chromosome breaks and bridges and formation of micronuclei. This experiment showed differences of the action of excessive amounts of both tested salts at the cellular level, as KCl induced higher frequencies of abnormalities during cell divisions, whereas NaCl showed more mitodepressive effect and more frequently led to the root meristem cell death.