Vol 60, No 3 (2024)

An increase in the leafiness of protein-rich alfalfa (Medicago) is possible not only through selection to change the size of the leaf blade. Some of the first reports on the study of the phenomenon of the formation of additional leaves, afterwards called multifoliate, date back to the 30 years of the XX century. This review article mentions the main articles related to the study of the trait. The structure of the leaf is described and information is collected on the correlations of multifoliate with height, internodes, day length and temperature. The influence of germplasm and research methods on obtaining contradictory data is indicated. The assumptions initially put forward by researchers about the atavistic nature of the manifestation of the trait, and later about the presence of a recessive mutation with 2 additive genes regulating expression, are considered. The method of finding the index of evaluation of the expression of multifoliate proposed by Craig Sheaffer and confirming the strong character of inheritance of the trait in classical selection through recurrent selection is shown. In conclusion, the most significant genes and gene families that directly or indirectly affect the manifestation of multifoliate, including PALM1 and KNOX, are collected.

The cytogeography of the polyploid complex Bassia prostrata s. l. was studied by flow cytometry (FCM) on material from 39 populations in Armenia, Kazakhstan and Russia. Based on the determination of the DNA content in the nuclei (2C-value), three cytotypes were identified: diploid (2n = 18), tetraploid (2n = 36) and hexaploid (2n = 54). Verification of the ploidy level determined by DNA content was carried out by parallel direct counting of the chromosome number. Most of the studied populations are represented by a single cytotype; in three populations mixed ploidy is noted, when tetraploids or hexaploids are found along with diploids. The genetic isolation of chloroplast DNA of diploid and polyploid cytotypes was revealed. Presumable variants of the evolutionary relationship of cytotypes are shown based on cpDNA restriction spectra.

Patterns of introgression of several genetic markers across the hybrid zone between allied species of the common vole Microtus arvalis s. str. и M. obscurus were studied in four its sections: in northwest Nizhny Novgorod region, east Vladimir and southwest of Nizhny Novgorod regions, south Lipetsk region, and northwest Voronezh region. Analysis of the clinal variability for three molecular-genetic markers (cytb, tp53, SMCY11) and for karyotypes showed a structural similarity between the “Vladimir – Nizhny Novgorod”, “Nizhny Novgorod”, and “Voronezh” sections. The maximal width was shown for the cytb cline, the minimal width – for the SMCY11 cline; the tp53 cline and chromosomal cline occupy intermediate position for this parameter. Furthermore, in these transects the centre of the cline for the cytb is shifted southeastward (into the distribution range of M. obscurus) from the centres of three other clines. The revealed asymmetric introgression of mitochondrial genome from M. arvalis to M. obscurus may be explained by the fact that the hybrid zone was formed as a result of invasion of M. obscurus into the range of M. arvalis. The “Lipetsk” transect differs from three above-mentioned transects by very narrow clines with nearly coinciding centres. Such characteristics of the “Lipetsk” transect are obviously caused by localization of the hybrid zone in this section along river Voronezh. The obtained results led us to suppose that the structure of the studied hybrid zone is determined mainly by coinciding (or non-coinciding) of its centre with local physical barriers.

The study of Caucasian rock lizards of the Darevskia raddei complex, represented by several subspecies, is of great interest and scientific significance in connection with their participation in interspecific hybridizations with the formation of five of the seven known unisexual (parthenogenetic) species of the genus Darevskia. Here are presented genetic parameters for populations (subspecies) of D. r. raddei and D. r. nairensis based on the analysis of the variability of 10 microsatellite loci of 230 individuals from 17 populations of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. According to these parameters, D. r. raddei are characterized by greater diversity in the number of alleles and genotypes compared to D. r. nairensis. Genetic differentiation analysis showed that D. r. raddei populations are divided into two groups, one of which is genetically closer to D. r. nairensis than D. r. raddei. Analysis of the association index showed the absence of free recombination of alleles between subspecies, which indicates their isolation and the absence of crossing between individuals. Thus, based on the expanded population sample and the developed panel of microsatellite markers, new data on the population structure of D. raddei species, genetic diversity and differentiation of D. r. raddei and D. r. nairensis were obtained.

The interaction of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors underlies the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Allergic rhinitis and atopic bronchial asthma are closely related and often concurrent respiratory allergic diseases. The chronic recurrent course of these diseases establishes the importance of further and more profound studies of the mechanisms underlying the development of these pathologies. Histamine is one of the most significant inflammatory mediators secreted during allergic reactions. The aim of the research was to study the role of polymorphic variants of AOC1, HRH2, HRH3, ALDH7A1, ADCYAP1, HNMT, PSAP, SCG3, genes involved in the histamine metabolism in the development of different endophenotypes of the allergic airway diseases in individuals living in the Republic of Bashkortostan. DNA samples of 358 individuals with allergic diseases of the respiratory tract of different ethnicity (Russians – 165, Tatars – 143, Bashkirs – 50) and 200 controls with unweighted heredity in allergic diseases (Russians – 75, Tatars – 83, Bashkirs – 42). Genotyping of polymorphic variants was performed by real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP analysis. It was revealed that the rs104979793*CC genotype and the rs104979793*C allele of the AOC1 gene were associated with allergic diseases of the respiratory tract and asthma with concomitant allergic rhinitis in Russians. A significant increase of total IgE level was revealed in Russian patients with allergic diseases of the respiratory tract with the rs1049793*CC genotype of the AOC1 gene compared to carriers of the rs1049793*CG and rs1049793*GG genotypes. The association of the C allele of the rs17525472 polymorphic variant localized near the SCG3 gene with allergic rhinitis in Russians was established. The results revealed that AOC1 and SCG3 genes involved in the metabolism of histamine are related to the development of different endophenotypes of airway diseases in children.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant kidney tumor with a poor prognosis and difficult to treat. Despite significant advances in the treatment of ccRCC, immune checkpoint in-hibitors (ICI) still have limited therapeutic efficacy. A growing body of work has demonstrated that exosomal microRNAs are key modulators of tumor signaling and determinants of the tumor microenvironment. Disruption of microRNA regulation may affect ccRCC immunogenicity and response to ICI therapy, making them attractive for use as prognostic molecular genetic bi-omarkers. We evaluated exosomal miRNAs (miRNA-424,-146a,-503, -144) expression levels before and after ICI therapy in plasma samples obtained from 42 ccRCC patients. Expression analysis was performed by real-time PCR method. The results showed that the expression levels of miRNA-424 and miRNA-146a were upregulated after ICI therapy treatment (miRNA-424 = Mean ± SEM 1.202 ± 0.15 and miRNA-146a = 12.22 ± 1.45) compared expression levels before therapy (miRNA-424=Mean±SEM 0.63 ± 0.17; p-value = 0.03 and miRNA-146a = 7.03 ± 0.90; p-value = 0.006). miRNA-424 and miRNA-146a can be used to create a panel of molecular markers for evaluating the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy. Even though this is very preliminary and requires further studying on a larger sample, it further increases the interest in using microRNAs, as additional ICI therapeutic markers capable of modulating immune tolerance.

Is known that the neurohormone oxytocin plays an important role in the pathogenesis of mental illness, and also models the relationship between stress factors, especially those acting in the early stages of development, and the development of mental disorders. Based on these data, we investigated the effects of the interaction of the environmental factor, which was considered the adversity of childhood (ND) and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genotypes in the polymorphic sites rs4686302 and rs7632287, on the severity of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The study involved 592 patients with schizophrenia (headings F20. according to ICD-10). Information about the presence of ND was obtained from case histories and patient interviews. Analysis of covariance (GML) was used for statistical data processing; in post-hoc pairwise comparison, Tukey’s test was used. A significant effect of the interaction between ND and OXTR gene polymorphism rs7632287(G/A) on the severity of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia was revealed. In patients without ND, polymorphisms did not have a significant effect on the studied phenotype. Thus, our study showed for the first time that the rs7632287(G/A) polymorphism and ND have a mutual effect on the severity of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.