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Vol 61, No 10 (2025)
ОБЗОРНЫЕ И ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКИЕ СТАТЬИ
Epigenetics of Aggression: Recent Advances and Perspectives on Animal Models
Abstract
Aggressive behavior is a complex trait with numerous variations. This review outlines the findings from epigenetic research conducted in recent years on different model organisms, highlighting traditional model species like Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Danio rerio, in addition to natural model organisms with supergenes” linked to aggressive behavior, such as Zonotrichia albicollis and Tachycineta bicolor. Specifically, the impact of alterations in the methylation levels of VIPR1 and ACLY gene promoters, posttranslational histone modifications through enhanced acetyltransferase activity of the ncoa-1 gene, and ncRNA-driven silencing of the Maoa gene by MAALIN ncRNA was illustrated, alongside the influence of stress and medicinal plants on the epigenetic regulation of aggressive behavior. In summary, the data indicates that epigenetic alterations affecting the regulation of aggressive behavior involve multiple genes. In this context, promising research directions in the epigenetics of aggressive behavior may encompass the utilization of comprehensive genomic and omics technologies, as well as studies utilizing animal models derived from longitudinal research and specific behavioral breeding paradigms.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):3-13
3-13
Mechanisms of epigenetic factors involvement in the development of bladder cancer
Abstract
Bladder cancer is associated with various polymorphisms in the human genome, many of which are localized in intergenic, regulatory and intronic regions where genes for non-coding RNA and mobile elements are located. Therefore, the discovered associations exert their influence on bladder cancer development by changing the activity of non-coding RNAs and mobile elements. This is reflected in DNA methylation abnormalities, since miRNAs serve as guides for RNA-dependent DNA methylation and retroelements are competing endogenous RNAs for miRNAs. Scientific literature analysis has shown the involvement of a large number of long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs in bladder cancer development. These molecules can function as oncogenes and as tumor suppressors depending on their target genes. A combined effect of long non-coding RNAs with microRNAs (TINCR/miR7, RP11-89/miR-129-5p, CASC11/miR-150, LUCAT1/miR-181c-5p, KCNQ1OT1/miR-218-5p, GAS6-AS6/miR-298, BCCE4/miR-328-3p, KCNMB2-AS1/miR-374a, SNHG1/miR-493, TUG1/miR-582-5p, UCA1/miR-582-5p, LINC00958/miR-625, DDX11-AS1/miR-2355-5p, ARAP1-AS1/miR-3918, BACH1-IT2/miR-4786) was revealed, as well as the role of 28 retroelement-derived microRNAs in bladder cancer carcinogenesis. The activation of retroelements, which serve as drivers of epigenetic regulation, has been described and confirmed in a number of clinical studies.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):14-28
14-28
Repetitive Sequences in the Anthrax Pathogen Genome – Use in Molecular Epidemiology and Influence on the Structure of Encoded Proteins
Abstract
The genome of the anthrax pathogen Bacillus anthracis, like the genomes of other organisms, contains tandem repeat loci of different sizes: from single-nucleotide to large repetitive regions encoding repeats of several dozen amino acids. Tandem repeats are characterized by an increased mutation rate, which changes the number of repeats in tandem. Many repeats are located inside the open reading frames, and if the repeat size is a multiple of three nucleotides, changing the number of repeats does not shift the frame, but changes the amino acid sequence of the corresponding proteins and may even have an adaptive advantage. Most of the proteins corresponding to the open reading frames, for which a functional role is known, are more or less related to the surface structures of the bacterial cell of B. anthracis. This review provides an analysis of the literature from different years, which describes tandem repeats in the genes and proteins encoded by them for the causative agent of anthrax and their possible effect on the phenotype.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):29-40
29-40
Origin of Domestic Dogs in Light of Recent Genetic Data
Abstract
The review is devoted to the problem of the origin of domestic dog according to recent DNA analysis data, including consideration of versions of the possible ancestor(s) of the dog. An analysis of publications concerning fossils of dog-like canine with signs of domestication and the genetic differentiation of ancient and modern dogs suggests that domestication occurred in the Upper Paleolithic from Pleistocene wolves, most likely in East Asia. However, the polycentric hypothesis cannot be rejected at the level of modern knowledge either.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):41-52
41-52
Dolgans: Genetic Portrait of Young Ethnic Group of Siberia
Abstract
This review summarizes the results of molecular genetic studies of the Dolgans, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group of Siberia which was formed in Taimyr during the 19th-20th centuries, incorporating lineages of the Tungus, Sakha (Yakuts), Russian old-settlers, Enets and Nenets. The features of the genetic structure of the Dolgans are described according to the analysis of the Y-chromosome, mitochondrial DNA and autosomal loci. The composition and ratio of the components of the gene pool of different origins and genetic relationships with populations of neighboring regions are considered in the context of historical and linguistic data.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):53-61
53-61
ГЕНЕТИКА РАСТЕНИЙ
Endemic Oxytropis Species of the Section Orobia (Fabaceae) in Asian Russia: Genetic Diversity and Demographic Dynamics
Abstract
Based on nucleotide polymorphism of cpDNA intergenic spacers psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, and trnS-trnG, the genetic diversity and demographic dynamics of endemic Oxytropis species of the section Orobia were studied in two speciation centers: Southern Siberia and northeast Asia. Of the 34 studied populations of endemic species, five were monomorphic, such populations were found only in species from northeast Asia, 18 populations (52.9%) were characterized by high haplotype diversity (h varies 0.600 to 1.000) and 24 populations (70.6%) were characterized by low nucleotide diversity (π varies from 0.0001 to 0.0029). Reconstruction of the demographic histories of 16 populations of endemic species showed that only four populations had a bimodal mismatch distribution corresponding to the demographic equilibrium model, while all others showed a unimodal distribution corresponding to the expanding population model. Two populations of endemic species O. leucantha subsp. tschukotcensis and O. popoviana (in the Magadan Region and Buryatia, respectively) with a high level of genetic diversity in a state of population stability were identified. They are probably located on the territory of ancient refugia and are of particular interest from the point of view of preserving the gene pool of species.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):78-98
78-98
ГЕНЕТИКА ЖИВОТНЫХ
Monitoring the genetic structure of domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.): mainland and island populations of the north-east of Russia
Abstract
A comparative analysis of the genetic structure of domesticated reindeer populations of the Chukotka and Koryak Highlands (northeastern edge of the species range) was performed using a panel of 16 microsatellite loci. The statistical analysis data show a high level of consolidation of the studied Chukotka reindeer breed and a high degree of differentiation with the breeds of the western and central parts of the range. One of the important objectives of the study was to monitor the genetic structure of the populations of the Chukotka and Evenki reindeer breeds, based on a comparative analysis of samples from populations of the mid-20th century and modern populations. The obtained research results indicate a high level of stability of the main indicators of the genetic structure of the species.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):99-107
99-107
ГЕНЕТИКА ЧЕЛОВЕКА
Polymorphism of Genes Encoding Selenoproteins in the Indigenous Population of Siberia: Adaptive Variant rs1133238-A of the SEPHS2 Gene
Abstract
In the present study, we analyzed the distribution of polymorphism variants of 25 genes encoding selenoproteins in indigenous Siberian populations, based on data on the variability of exons and adjacent noncoding DNA sequences. The study showed that there are virtually no polymorphism variants in the indigenous population of Siberia that differ greatly in frequency from those in the East Asian population, which could indicate the effect of selection on genes encoding selenoproteins. Nevertheless, we have proposed a set of loci in exons (rs3732532 of TXNRD3 gene, rs1050450 of GPX1 gene, rs6748996 of SELENOI gene, rs225014 of DIO2 gene) and noncoding region of genes (rs2291250 of SELENOS gene, rs201938903 of SELENOW gene, rs11258324 of SEPHS1 gene), further study of their polymorphism in different ethnic groups of Siberia is quite reasonable. The most promising locus is rs1133238 of the SEPHS2 gene. The frequency of the rs1133238-A variant was found to exceed 30% in northeastern Siberia, although its frequency is significantly lower (~12%) in other regions of Siberia. Considering the association between the rs1133238-A variant and blood mercury levels in Canadian Eskimos, it is suggested that the increased frequency of the rs1133238-A variant in populations of the coastal regions of Northeast Siberia (Koryaks, Chukchi, Eskimo) may be due to the protective role of this allele against the effects of mercury compounds on the body.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):108-124
108-124
МОЛЕКУЛЯРНАЯ ГЕНЕТИКА
Evolutionary Dynamics and Transcriptional Activity of Tc1/mariner Transposons of the Pacific Oyster Magallana gigas (Thunberg, 1793)
Abstract
The Tc1/mariner DNA transposon superfamily is one of the most widespread among eukaryotes. This study investigates the evolutionary dynamics and transcriptional activity of Tc1/mariner elements in different individuals of the Pacific oyster Magallana (Crassostrea) gigas (Thunberg, 1793). Transcriptional analysis revealed that the transposase gene of more than half of Tc1/mariner transposons is expressed, sometimes at high levels. Cases of gene activity dependence on environmental conditions, developmental stages, and tissues were also identified. Data on evolutionary dynamics demonstrate that despite the presence of potentially functional copies in over half of Tc1/mariner transposons, only a few elements have shown transpositional activity in the recent past. The following scenarios are considered: 1) Tc1/mariner transposon activity in oysters is strongly suppressed by RNA interference, requiring more extreme and/or prolonged stress exposure to overcome this repression; 2) During evolution, oyster Tc1/mariner transposons accumulated mutations that did not visibly alter the protein sequence but impaired or inactivated DNA-binding and/or catalytic domains, leaving promoters active (transcription occurs) while rendering the transposase incapable of catalyzing transposition. Since some elements remain transcriptionally active, it is plausible that a combination of favorable factors could trigger transposition events. Studying the evolutionary dynamics of transposable elements (TEs) at the intraspecific level enhances our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms and population genetic structure.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):62-77
62-77
КРАТКИЕ СООБЩЕНИЯ
Comparative Analysis of Variability of Mitochondrial DNA Markers in Scots Pine
Abstract
The experience of using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers for population genetic studies of Pinus sylvestris L. throughout the range indicates the need to use a large number of these markers to identify the variability structure in the eastern part of the range. We investigated the variability of 9 mtDNA markers in 17 southern and eastern populations of Scots pine. These markers were previously used to study the phylogeography of Scots pine and were expected to detect variability in a number of southern and eastern populations of Scots pine that are not variable in other mtDNA markers. However, our study did not reveal any variability in these areas.
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):125-128
125-128
PERSONALITIES
17 OKTYaBRYa 2025 G. ISPOLNILOS' 90 LET VYDAYuShchEMUSYa UChENOMU NITs «KURChATOVSKIY INSTITUT» AKADEMIKU VLADIMIRU GEORGIEVIChU DEBABOVU
Russian Journal of Genetics. 2025;61(10):129-130
129-130