Phenotypic plasticity, i.e., the ability of a genotype to produce various phenotypes in response to changes in the environment, plays an important, although poorly understood and often underestimated, role in evolution. Both adaptive and non-adaptive phenotypic plasticity modulate the strength and direction of selection acting on population and can, depending on conditions, either accelerate or inhibit adaptation, divergence and speciation. Phenotypic plasticity also affects the direction of evolutionary change which can either coincide with the direction of plastic changes (genetic assimilation) or be the opposite (genetic compensation). A special case of phenotypic plasticity is phenotypic change of the host caused by changes in its symbiotic microbiota. In the current review, we discuss the main forms of phenotypic plasticity and the current data on their impact on the rate and direction of evolutionary change. Special attention is paid to the results of recent experimental work, including the long-term evolutionary experiment on Drosophila melanogaster which is being held at the Department of Evolutionary Biology,SchoolofBiology,MoscowStateUniversity. 

The article provides information on the mean age of death (MAD) of 54256 men engaged professionally in research work and assigned to one of six categories: physics, chemistry, mathematics, economics, medicine and biology, humanities. In addition, the effect of teaching activity of scientists of different specialties on MAD and longevity was evaluated. Special attention has been paid to the analysis of MAD for members of theRussianAcademyof Sciences, including members of theAcademyofSciencesof theUSSR(1724–2013). The minimum MAD was found for scientists involved in mathematics (72.1±0.21 years) and the maximum MAD — for economists (74.6±0.26 years). The relative numbers of surviving ≥90 years and ≥100 years were minimal for mathematicians (7.59% and 0.37%, respectively), while economists had the maximum values of these parameters (10.26% and 0.96%, respectively). Indicators of MAD and the proportion of centenarians among the scientists, who received public recognition, strongly depended on the specialty. Among the members of theRussianAcademyof Sciences, the highest MAD also belonged to economists (74.7±1.05 years) and the lowest — to mathematicians (70.6±0.74 years). MAD was 3.5 years higher for scientists involved in teaching in university or college in comparison with those who were not involved in the teaching activities. In this case, the “gain” was very high, ranging from 3.1 years for economists to 4.9 years for mathematicians. The results of the study allow to conclude that intensive scientific work contributes to an increase in life expectancy and longevity. 

A number of experimental and epidemiological investigations have provided evidence that the health status and aging rate may largely depend on the conditions in which an organism’s early development takes place. In several recent studies, data are obtained suggesting that the effects of stresses in an early development can be inherited transgenerationally, causing changes of various characteristics in subsequent generations. There have been shown that epigenetic regulation of genetic expression, including DNA methylation, histone and microRNAs modifications, can play a key role in transgenerational inheritance. Until now, it has been generally accepted that the complete erasure of epigenetic marks takes place during the gametogenesis and early embryogenesis. In recent years, however, data were provided demonstrating that epigenetic marks could be not erased completely during these periods of early ontogenesis and some of them can likely be transmitted to the descendants of several generations affecting their phenotype. In this review, the data of epidemiological and experimental studies are provided showing the possibility of inheritance of life expectancy and associated with longevity traits in several generations. 

In the review the main types of autophagy (macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperonemediated autophagy) are shortly described. Data about character of influence of autophagy on the aging process and on the development of some neurodegenerative diseases in various organisms are analyzed. It is noted that this effect is usually (though not always) beneficial. Results of investigations of the phenomenon in experiments on mice, nematodes, fruit flies, bacteria, yeasts, and higher organisms’ cell cultures are considered. Obvious relationship between autophagy activation and cell proliferation restriction is emphasized. The latter the authors believe to be the main cause of age-related accumulation in cells and tissues of various defects (the most important — DNA damage) that leads to the increase of death probability — i.e., to aging. It is concluded that studies of the role of autophagy in the aging process on the models of chronological aging in yeast or stationary phase aging of cell cultures could be considered as the most appropriate approach to the problem solution.

We have developed microcarriers made from silk fibroins. Microcarriers can be used as a substrate for cell cultivation and cell delivery during cell-based therapy, and for the construction of bioengineered tissue. Fibroin microcarriers were mineralized, which led to the appearance of calcium phosphate crystals on their surface. The ability of mineralized and non-mineralized microcarriers to support osteogenic differentiation of the osteoblast-like cell line MG-63 was estimated by alkaline phosphatase activity, an early marker of bone formation. The experiment showed cells actively proliferating on the surface of both mineralized and non-modified microcarriers. Culturing MG-63 on the surface of fibroin microcarriers resulted in an increase of alkaline phosphatase activity indicative of osteogenic differentiation of MG-63 cells in the absence of inductors. The level of alkaline phosphatase was higher when mineralized microcarriers were used. Alkaline phosphatase activity of MG-63 cells cultivated using traditional two-dimensional approaches were close to zero. As opposed to conventional monolayer culturing, microcarriers culture cells in a three-dimensional environment that is closer to physiological conditions. This can have a significant impact on their morphology and functional properties. During this study we also characterized mechanical properties of porous scaffolds used for microcarriers.

In the study of marine mycobiota of decaying plant materials near the N.A. Pertsov White Sea Biological Station numerous fungi were found, two of them are new to the White Sea. Residues of littoral halophytes were collected in August 2009 and 2015 in the supralittoral area; the work carried out by non-cultural methods. New to the White Sea species Phaeosphaeria neomaritima (R.V. Gessner et Kohlm.) Shoemaker et C.E. Babc. were found on 11 fragments, mostly on the residues of halophyte plants Juncus atrofuscus (rush). P. neomaritima was detected in both years the research in different points of the investigated area. Ascocarps of this fungus were immature. Apparently, on the White Sea they mature later than mid-August. The second species, Pleospora triglochinicola Webster., it is new not only for White Sea, but for all Russian Seas. It was found in the 12 fragments of halophyte Triglochin maritima (triglochin), in both year of the study, on different points of investigated area. Obviously, both species are common in the study area. The article contains descriptions and photographs of findings, as well as discussion on the environmental and geographical distribution of these species.

The ability to synthesize of milk-clotting (rennet) proteinase in 8 strainsbasidiomycetesI.lacteus was studied. It is found that the investigated strains ofI.lacteus differ in enzyme activity of the culture liquid. Maximum milk-clotting activity ofstrainsI.lacteus 2425, 2426 and 2427 was observed in the exponential growth phase on the 15th day of cultivation on glucose-peptone medium. These strains ofI.lacteus are the most perspective producers of the milk-clotting enzymes for further research and practical application. Strains ofI.lacteus 2421, 2422, 2423, 2424 and 2428 showed lower values of enzymatic activity and require additional research on the selection of the optimal culture conditions. 

Biotesting on bacterial luminescence model for 30 minutes investigated characteristics of four samples of natural water in urban and rural environment and the effectiveness of new purification agent — potassium ferrate K₂FeO₄ were studied. It was revealed that two samples of water from urban areas were toxic, while the other two (one from urban and one from rural environment) — are non-toxic. Numerous data received concerning the increase in the time toxicity index allow us to make reasonable conclusions about the chemical nature of substances containing in the test water samples. Toxic natural water samples is likely to contain heavy metals and are well cleaned potassium ferrate on the mechanism of their sorption by the product of ferrates degradation. In non-toxic natural water samples investigated under addition of potassium ferrate were probably formed complexes with the toxic organic compounds contained in water. These are oriented to further study the properties of potassium ferrate complexes with organic compounds. The bioassay based on the bacterial luminescence is a promising method for the rapid evaluation of the properties of various water sources (and their putative integral toxicity of the chemical composition), and cleaning them of new reagents (effective concentrations of bactericidal and mechanisms of action in connection with heavy metals and organic substances of the water). 

Amplification of sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides L. 5S rDNA non-transcribed spacer with coding border anneal primers showed existence of single fragment. The fragment was cloned and sequenced. It was shown that length of the Hippophae rhamnoides L. 5S rDNA nontranscribed spacer is 807 bp. Analysis of the sequence allowed to detect a high homology with early described microsatellite locuses of Hippophae rhamnoides L., russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia L. and Calligonum mongolicum Turcz., that include a (GA)9 motif. These results may be useful to study a ribosomal RNA gene organization. 

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) is an important enzyme, which is involved in DNA repair, replication, and transcription. Prospective anti-cancer drug gossypol inhibits human PARP1, but the mechanism of inhibition remains unknown. Previously it has been shown that gossypol interacts with purified BRCA1 C-terminus (BRCT) domain in vitro, but it remains unclear whether it inhibits PARP1 through BRCT domain in the context of the full length protein. Here it is shown that the BRCT domain within the full-length PARP1 protein is not required for inhibition of catalytic activity of PARP1 by gossypol. Our data obtained using a series of PARP1 mutations and H4-dependent pathway of PARP1 activation also show that Zinc fingers, the DNA binding domains of PARP1, are not involved in the inhibition of PARP1 catalytic activity by gossypol. Thus the likely candidate target(s) for gossypol action are other domains of PARP1 or interdomain linkers. 

Protective effect of the natural dipeptide carnosine on the antioxidant system of rats in conditions of oxidative stress caused by the chronic cadmium administration was investigated. Oxidative status of experimental animals were evaluated on a number of informative parameters of iron-induced chemiluminescence. It is shown that the introduction of cadmium for 7 days reduces the duration of the latent period of chemiluminescence in the brain, liver and blood plasma suggesting the depletion of endogenous antioxidant defense. Co-exposure to carnosine and cadmium led to significant increase in the level of antioxidant protection in plasma, liver and brain of animals. Carnosine also prevented the increase of lipid hydroperoxides in the brain and prevented the development of lipid peroxidation content in liver and plasma of animals. Mechanism of the protective effect of carnosine in conditions of oxidative stress inducing by cadmium administration shown on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell culture. Adding to the incubation medium to a final concentration of cadmium 5 μM reduced cell viability of a culture that was determined by MTT assay; simultaneously introducing carnosine (0.25 mM final concentration) with cadmium resulted in increased cell viability at 24 hours of incubation. Thus carnosine in a final concentration of 1 mM effectively prevented the development of necrotic lesions neuroblastoma cells, inhibiting the formation of reactive oxygen species as measured by flow cytometry. The results indicate the ability of carnosine to prevent the development of oxidative stress under the toxic action of cadmium. 

Neurotrophic factors play a key role in ontogenetic changes of the nervous system functioning. In six decades of active studying of neurotrophic structure and function the most well characterized neurotrophic factors among other neurotrophins are nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Complex coordination of synthesis, transport, secretion and interaction of proneurotrophins and mature neurotrophins as well as its receptors — tyrosine kinase Trk receptors and p75NTR receptor — leads to a wide range of its biological activities. In embryogenesis, neurotrophic factors are involved in the formation of the nervous system regulating the division, differentiation, survival, growth and migration of neurons and neurites as well as the apoptosis. In the mature brain neurotrophins are involved in maintaining the functional state of neurons and glial cells and regulation of synaptic plasticity. Therefore, development of processes associated with advanced age and neurodegenerative diseases is closely related to impairments of neurotrophic supplementation of the brain. Such impairments may be caused by disturbances in neurotrophic metabolism as well as modification of its availability due to changes in neuronal microenvironment. Restoring of the balance of neurotrophic factors is considered as a promising approach to the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. 

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between individual characteristics the electroencephalogram in the resting state and the level of non-verbal intelligence. The study involved 77 students of Yaroslavl State University. Analyzing the relationship between IQ and spectral parameters of EEG theta, alpha and two sub bands of beta oscillations, we have found out that amplitude and power of alpha-band EEG oscillations and low frequency beta-bend EEG oscillations were positively correlated with test performance. The variety of brain periodic regimes was assessed by using correlation dimension of EEG. The correlation dimension can be used to quantify the degree of complexity of nonlinear dynamical system. It was found to be EEG correlation dimension was positively associated with the level of intelligence. To study the periodicity of the EEG signal was used the autocorrelation EEG analysis. It was shown that autocorrelogram duration was negatively associated with non-verbal intelligence level, and autocorrelogram amplitude was positively associated with IQ. We have deduced the regression equation which allows to predict the level of non-verbal intelligence based on individual EEG characteristics.