TESTING POTATO COLLECTION SAMPLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF GENES FOR RESISTANCE TO PHYTOPATHOGENS BY MEANS OF DNA MARKERS

The development of phytopathogen-resistant varieties is the most reliable and economic way to reduce potato yield losses. Breeding of such varieties is possible by using genetic sources of resistance. The use of DNA markers for identification of valuable genotypes, including forms with several resistance genes, makes it possible to significantly improve breeding efficiency. The development of a multiplex PCR technique and using it to simultaneously test varieties and breeding lines for several genes that control the resistance to viruses and nematodes is a new approach to using DNA markers. This study is aimed at screening samples from the collection of the Narym Department of  Breeding and Seed Production of the Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat (the Branch of the Siberian Federal Agrobiotechnology Research Center, the Russian Academy of Sciences) using the multiplex PCR technique, for genes for resistance to Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallidas, potato wart disease, viruses X and Y. 40 samples were tested by means of genetic markers to identify genes for resistance to potato wart disease (Sen1), virus X (Rx), virus Y (Ryadg, Rychc, Rysto), Globodera rostochiensis (H1, Gro1-4) and Globodera pallida (Gpa2), in the genome. The sample included two varieties, three populations produced by self-pollination of the Ideal variety, and 35 individually selected potato hybrids. As a result, we identified marker NL25 (Sen1) in 19 samples; marker PVX (Rx) in 13 samples; marker RYSC3312 (Ryadg) in 10 samples; marker YES3-3A341 (Rysto) in 5 samples; markers TG 689141, 57R450, N195337 (H1) in 12 samples; marker Gro1-4-1602 (Gro1-4) in 6 samples; marker Gpa2-2452 (Gpa2) in 13 samples. In terms of economically valuable traits, sample С-31-15 is noted for high yield and quality indicators. It carries genes for resistance to potato virus X (Rx), Y (Rysto), Globodera rostochiensis (H1, Gro1-4), and Globodera pallida (Gpa2)

Particle spectrum in the modified NMSSM in the strong Yukawa coupling limit

A theoretical analysis of solutions of renormalisation group equations in the MSSM corresponding to the quasi-fixed point conditions shows that the mass of the lightest Higgs boson in this case does not exceed $94\pm 5\text{GeV}$. It means that a substantial part of the parameter space of the MSSM is practically excluded by existing experimental data from LEP II. In the NMSSM the upper bound on the lightest Higgs boson mass reaches its maximum in the strong Yukawa coupling regime, when Yukawa constants are considerably larger the gauge ones on the Grand Unification scale. In this paper a particle spectrum in a simple modification of NMSSM which leads to a self-consistent solution in the considered region of the parameter space is studied. This model allows one to get $m_h\sim 125\text{GeV}$ even for comparatively low values of $\tan\beta\ge 1.9$. For an analysis of the Higgs boson spectrum and neutralino spectrum a method for diagonalisation of mass matrices proposed formerly is used. The mass of the lightest Higgs boson in this model does not exceed $130.5\pm 3.5\text{GeV}$.Comment: 34 pages, 5 figures included, LaTeX 2

Can the Universe Create Itself?

The question of first-cause has troubled philosophers and cosmologists alike. Now that it is apparent that our universe began in a Big Bang explosion, the question of what happened before the Big Bang arises. Inflation seems like a very promising answer, but as Borde and Vilenkin have shown, the inflationary state preceding the Big Bang must have had a beginning also. Ultimately, the difficult question seems to be how to make something out of nothing. This paper explores the idea that this is the wrong question --- that that is not how the Universe got here. Instead, we explore the idea of whether there is anything in the laws of physics that would prevent the Universe from creating itself. Because spacetimes can be curved and multiply connected, general relativity allows for the possibility of closed timelike curves (CTCs). Thus, tracing backwards in time through the original inflationary state we may eventually encounter a region of CTCs giving no first-cause. This region of CTCs, may well be over by now (being bounded toward the future by a Cauchy horizon). We illustrate that such models --- with CTCs --- are not necessarily inconsistent by demonstrating self-consistent vacuums for Misner space and a multiply connected de Sitter space in which the renormalized energy-momentum tensor does not diverge as one approaches the Cauchy horizon and solves Einstein's equations. We show such a Universe can be classically stable and self-consistent if and only if the potentials are retarded, giving a natural explanation of the arrow of time. Some specific scenarios (out of many possible ones) for this type of model are described. For example: an inflationary universe gives rise to baby universes, one of which turns out to be itself. Interestingly, the laws of physics may allow the Universe to be its own mother.Comment: 48 pages, 8 figure

A Novel Efficient Producer of Human ω-Amidase (Nit2) in Escherichia Coli

Nit2/ω-amidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-ketoglutaramate (KGM, the α-keto acid analogue of glutamine) to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia. The enzyme also catalyzes the amide hydrolysis of monoamides of 4- and 5-C-dicarboxylates, including α-ketosuccinamate (KSM, the α-keto acid analogue of asparagine) and succinamate (SM). Here we describe an inexpensive procedure for high-yield expression of human Nit2 (hNit2) in Escherichia coli and purification of the expressed protein. This work includes: 1) the design of a genetic construct (pQE-Nit22) obtained from the previously described construct (pQE-Nit2) by replacing rare codons within an 81 bp-long DNA fragment preferred by E. coli near the translation initiation site; 2) methods for producing and maintaining the pQE-Nit22 construct; 3) purification of recombinant hNit2; and 4) activity measurements of the purified enzyme with KGM and SM. Important features of the hNit2 gene within the pQE-Nit22 construct are: 1) optimized codon composition, 2) the presence of an N-terminus His6 tag immediately after the initiating codon ATG (Met) that permits efficient purification of the end-product on a Ni-NTA-agarose column. We anticipate that the availability of high yield hNit2/ω-amidase will be helpful in elucidating the normal and pathological roles of this enzyme and in the design of specific inhibitors