Vol 71, No 3 (2016)

A complex morphological description based on a wide range of somatic features (30 characteristics) is presented for two modern indigenous ethnic groups of Indonesia: Minahasans (N = 93) and Sangirese (N = 76). These groups have not yet been extensively described in scientific publications from the standpoint of physical anthropology. To collect the data used in the research, the authors organized an anthropological expedition to the islands of Indonesia, Sulawesi, and Sangir. The examination program included the assessment of skin and iris pigmentation, estimation of hair shape and color, and measurements of body and limbs. It was shown that the Minahasans had a more sturdy build than the Sangirese by most morphological characteristics and typological features. The body proportions of the Minahasans and Sangirese were compared with the corresponding parameters in representatives of other Mongoloid and Equatorial populations of Asia, Oceania, and Australia using multidimensional statistical methods. It was concluded that the Sangirese were the closest to the Equatorial anthropological type by body characteristics among the studied Mongoloid groups of Southeast Asia.

The stem anatomy of the vine Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve and that of the self-supporting plant Polygonum patulum M. Bieb. is described. Two groups of tracheary system—few wide elements and many narrow ones—are present in the xylem of the herbaceous vine. The maximum vessel diameters are far greater in Fallopia convolvulus than in Polygonum patulum. Such traits are typical of woody lianas and their self-supporting relatives. The cambium can give rise to wide vessels inward of separate phloem strands in Fallopia convolvulus. The newly formed vessels may substitute for the injured ones. This favors xylem recovery from a drought-induced embolism.

An open access information system (http://botany-collection.bio.msu.ru) consolidating digital data on palynological, carpological, and wood anatomy collections has been established at the Department of Higher Plants of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University. The database includes both digital images and short morphological descriptions of samples collected during the last 70 years. The system has a joint interactive catalogue of all samples included and allows a user to make a search by the names of species, genera, families, and life forms. In addition, each collection has a separate catalogue with various search parameters. The complete catalogues of all collections are also available in Excel file format.

Currently, virions and virus-like particles (VLPs) of plant viruses are considered as the basis for the development of new biotechnologies for human and veterinary medicine, including production of modern and safe vaccines, targeted delivery systems, and novel diagnostic preparations, as well as for production of therapeutic proteins in plants. Despite the fact that plant viruses cannot replicate in vertebrates, there are data that they are able to reproduce one or another phase of the infectious cycle in mammalian cells. Moreover, it was shown that plant viruses can be permanently present in a human and animal organism and can use it as a vector. In the review, the results of biocompatibility, toxicity, teratogenicity, and distribution of plant viruses are presented. Based on recent data, it can be affirmed that plant viruses are safe for humans and animals. It was shown that the virions are biodegradable and are easily eliminated from an organism of laboratory animals. Furthermore the virions and VLPs of plant viruses are highly immunogenic and presentation of antigenic determinant of human and animal pathogens on their surface allow to simulate a safe viral particle that is able to replace live attenuated vaccines.

The species composition and phytoplankton biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll “a” (Chl) and nutrients in the surface water layer, and accompanying hydrophysical conditions were studied in Onega Bay of the White Sea in June 2015. The temperature and salinity of surface water layer and the water column stability varied greatly in the bay. The nutrients' concentrations exceeded the limiting threshold necessary for the phytoplankton development. The phytoplankton abundance was relatively low, averaged as 13.46 ± 9.00 mg C/m³ (total phytoplankton biomass), 0.78 ± 0.43 mg/m³ (concentration of chlorophyll “a”), and 0.18 ± 0.27 mg C/m³ (picophytoplankton biomass). The highest phytoplankton biomass has been registered along the frontal zones. Three phytoplankton communities that differed significantly in their structure have been found.

Effects of local relaxation of the nucleosome structure after DNA unwrapping from the histone octamer are considered in this paper. The influence of charge distribution in histones on the kinetics of DNA rewrapping was studied. It was shown that ionic environment rapidly stabilizes during relaxation simulation of the system by molecular dynamics. In the case of short relaxation, a rapid irreversible restoration of the structure, which is similar to a crystal one, occurs. In the case of longer relaxation, DNA rewrapping does not occur despite the absence of apparent differences in the ionic environment of DNA. The change in the quadrupole moment of the system during relaxation was shown.

The success of cell therapy is directly related to the viability of cells used for transplantation. The cells used for transplantation are in some cases injected in suspension. However, the optimal conditions for the preservation of cell viability upon the preparation and storage of cell suspensions for transplantation have not been defined yet. The aim of the present work consisted in the selection of optimal conditions for the storage of suspensions of human submandibular salivary gland cells, differentiated cells of the submandibular salivary gland, and dermal fibroblasts in biocompatible solutions. Standard procedures of cell isolation and cultivation were used in the study. An automatic cell counter from BioRad was used to count the cells, and viability of the cells was assessed using staining with 4% Trypan Blue. The biocompatible solutions tested included phosphate-buffered saline, physiological saline for injections, and a 2% solution of human albumin in phosphate-buffered saline. The study showed that the human cells under investigation remained viable in suspension at both +4°С and +25°С for at least 24 hours, regardless of the carrier solution used. The highest content of viable cells of the salivary gland (more than 50%) at both temperatures examined was observed when cells were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline. However, the adhesive and proliferative properties of the salivary gland cells were better preserved at +4°С in case of 24 hours of incubation under the conditions described above. Fibroblasts maintained in physiological saline formed a homogeneous single-cell suspension that remained stable for 30 hours at +4°С; virtually no loss of cell viability was observed. The addition of 2% albumin resulted in a decrease of the viability of fibroblasts. Thus, storage and transportation in phosphate- buffered saline at +4°С can be recommended for suspensions of cells of the human submandibular salivary gland, whereas human fibroblast suspensions should be maintained at +4°С in physiological saline.

Cell wall ornamentation of 66 species of the genus Euastrum Ralfs has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. Special depressions of cell wall (scrobicules) have been described for desmids. Scrobicules have been divided into four groups on the basis of morphology, size, and distribution: large with two layers and some pores, grouped around a pore, small without pore, and round with a pore. It has been shown that the first three types of scrobicules are specific only for Euastrum and are proposed as additional criteria for this genus.

For the first time, R- and M-dissociants were isolated from the population of purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, and their growth under different luminance and aeration conditions was studied. Earlier, similar experiments were conducted with R- and M-dissociants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The physiological-biochemical differences of connatural bacterial species correlate with the distinctions of their inhabitation: Rhb.spheroides isolated from the soil is characterized by low speed of growth along with the ability to grow in dark and aerobiotic places demonstrated only by M-dissociant, which offers this species an advantage in adaptation for limited and heterogeneity space. Being extracted from the water, rapidly growing Rhb. capsulatus is better adapted for habitation at a free space.

Histone chaperones are required for the formation of the nucleosome—the basic unit of chromatin that consists of the DNA and histones. In this review, participation of histone chaperones CAF-1, ASF1, NAP1, and FACT in key cellular processes is discussed. Being multifunctional factors, histone chaperones take part in DNA replication, transcription, and repair. During replication, histone chaperones are required to form chromatin structure on both the mother and daughter DNA. They are involved at different stages of genome packaging: from histone transport into the nucleus to nucleosome formation. During transcription, histone chaperones reduce a nucleosome barrier for RNA polymerases accelerating the rate of RNA synthesis and promote nucleosome reassembly. During DNA repair, histone chaperones provide access to the damaged genome region for the repair enzymes, and participate in the chromatin assembly after DNA repair. Mutations in histone chaperones typically result in multiple defects in the cell, underlying the functional importance of these proteins.

Here we present a brief account of current data on immobilization of oxygenic phototrophic microorganisms—cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae—in natural and artificial experimental systems. We emphasize that immobilization e.g. in biofilms is a basic, widespread in nature strategy ensuring the survival of microorganisms. Accordingly, the artificially immobilized microalgal cells might be considered as a special group of biomimetic materials. Special attention is paid to the effect(s) of different immobilization on the physiology of microalgal cells and their stress tolerance as well as productivity of microalgal cultures. A comparison of the advantages and drawbacks of different immobilization techniques and cell carriers is presented. The review concludes with outlook on the possibilities of using of the immobilized phototrophic cells in biotechnology. Specific areas include (but not limited to) the biomass and metabolites production and harvesting, removal of heavy metals, biocapture of nutrients from wastewater and destroying of organic pollutants are explored.