Vol 50, No 4 (2016)

The phenotypic changes in the root system of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in transgenic lines with overexpression and suppressed gene expression of serine-threonine protein kinase KIN10, under conditions of energy shortage and under normal conditions, were shown. The normal growth and development of KIN10 overexpressing plants under energy deficiency conditions were detected. The significant inhibition of the development of these plant lines was observed under normal conditions. The levels of KIN10 gene expression under normal conditions in different organs of Arabidopsis thaliana, particularly in the roots, stems, leaves and flowers were analyzed. The highest-level expression of the gene was found in the leaves.

The mechanism underlying the impairment of the function of the cellular component of the immune response and its regulation by vitamin D³ in diabetes mellitus remains incompletely characterized. The present study addresses the specific features of the functioning of the T-cell link of immune response and the humoral response to injecyion of an artificial antigen in a diabetes model and after prolonged administration of vitamin D³. Chronic hyperglycemia occurring in diabetes induced a 2.3-fold decrease of the content of the marker substance 25OHD³, the major precursor of hormonally active forms of vitamin D³, in the serum. The development of vitamin D³ deficiency is accompanied by an impairment of the proliferative activity of T cells and a change in relative numbers of regulatory (CD4⁺) and cytotoxic (CD8⁺) lymphocytes. An increase of the content of the phosphorylated p65 subunit of the nuclear factor κB and more intensive translocation of this protein to the nucleus were detected in total lysates of T lymphocytes from the spleen. Moreover, enhancement of the humoral IgG response to intraperitoneal administration of a recombinant B subunit of diphtheria toxin was demonstrated. Impairment of the cellular component of the immune response was accompanied by increased apoptotic death of splenocytes, as is evident from the increased binding of the Annexin V-GFP tag to phosphatidyl serine residues exposed on the external side of the plasmalemma during apoptosis. Prolonged administration of vitamin D₃ (during 2 months; dose 20 IU) promoted the normalization of proliferative activity and the relative size of T-cell subpopulations, led to a decrease of the content of the phosphorylated p65 subunit of NF-κB, and improved the balance of the secretion of IgG targeting the artificial antigen in diabetic animals. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in the number of apoptotic events in the entire splenocyte population. The results of the present study demonstrate the important role of vitamin D₃ in the regulation of the functions of the immune system in type 1 diabetes.

Polyphasic taxonomic analysis was carried out for Bacillus sp. strain C6, as the antagonist of phytopathogenic bacteria and micromycetes. The combination of cultural, morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of the strain has enabled researchers to refer it to the Bacillus subtilis group. It has been shown that the fatty acids of the strain’s cell walls were predominantly represented by branched iso- and anteiso-C15:0 and C17:0 fatty acids (over 85%), which was typical for the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens species. The molecular genetic analysis carried out on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, and the profiling of polymorphic nucleotides have enabled researchers to refer the strain in question to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum.