Evolutionary History of the Photolyase/Cryptochrome Superfamily in Eukaryotes

Background Photolyases and cryptochromes are evolutionarily related flavoproteins, which however perform distinct physiological functions. Photolyases (PHR) are evolutionarily ancient enzymes. They are activated by light and repair DNA damage caused by UV radiation. Although cryptochromes share structural similarity with DNA photolyases, they lack DNA repair activity. Cryptochrome (CRY) is one of the key elements of the circadian system in animals. In plants, CRY acts as a blue light receptor to entrain circadian rhythms, and mediates a variety of light responses, such as the regulation of flowering and seedling growth. Results We performed a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the CRY/PHR superfamily. The superfamily consists of 7 major subfamilies: CPD class I and CPD class II photolyases, (6-4) photolyases, CRY-DASH, plant PHR2, plant CRY and animal CRY. Although the whole superfamily evolved primarily under strong purifying selection (average omega = 0.0168), some subfamilies did experience strong episodic positive selection during their evolution. Photolyases were lost in higher animals that suggests natural selection apparently became weaker in the late stage of evolutionary history. The evolutionary time estimates suggested that plant and animal CRYs evolved in the Neoproterozoic Era (similar to 1000-541 Mya), which might be a result of adaptation to the major climate and global light regime changes occurred in that period of the Earth's geological history.published_or_final_versio

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Nongenetic determinants of age at menarche: A systematic review

Background. The acceleration of pubertal development is an important medical and social problem, as it may result in increased morbidity and mortality in later life. This systematic review summarizes relevant data about nongenetic factors, which contribute to age at menarche (AAM), and suggests those which may be the most important. Methods. The available literature from 1980 till July 2013 was searched using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Finally, 154 papers were selected for the analysis. Results. Environmental factors, which may affect AAM, vary in populations of different ethnicity. The prenatal, infancy, and early childhood periods are the most susceptible to these factors. Body weight, high animal protein intake, family stressors (e.g., single parenting), and physical activity seem to influence AAM in most populations. Conclusions. The data about influence of nongenetic factors on AAM are still inconsistent. The factors affecting prenatal and early childhood growth seem to have a larger effect on further sexual maturation. Further studies are needed in order to validate the association between other environmental determinants and AAM in different ethnical groups.published_or_final_versio

Circadian input kinases and their homologs in cyanobacteria: Evolutionary constraints versus architectural diversification

The circadian input kinase A (cikA) gene encodes a protein relaying environmental signal to the central circadian oscillator in cyanobacteria. The CikA protein has a variable architecture and usually consists of four tandemly arrayed domains: GAF, histidine kinase (HisKA), histidine kinase-like ATPase (HATPase-c), and a pseudo-receiver (REC). Among them, HisKA and HATPase-c are the least polymorphic, and REC is not present in heterocystic filamentous cyanobacteria. CikA contains several conserved motifs that are likely important for circadian function. There are at least three types of circadian systems, each of which possesses a different set of circadian genes. The originally described circadian system (kaiABC system) possesses both cikA and kaiA, while the others lack either only cikA (kaiABC Δ) or both (kaiBC). The results we obtained allowed us to approximate the time of the cikA origin to be about 2600-2200 MYA and the time of its loss in the species with the kaiABC Δ or kaiBC system between 1100 and 600 MYA. Circadian specialization of CikA, as opposed to its non-circadian homologs, is a result of several factors, including the unique conserved domain architecture and high evolutionary constraints of some domains and regions, which were previously identified as critical for the circadian function of the gene. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.postprin

A bootstrap-based regression method for comprehensive discovery of differential gene expressions: An application to the osteoporosis study

A common purpose of microarray experiments is to study the variation in gene expression across the categories of an experimental factor such as tissue types and drug treatments. However, it is not uncommon that the studied experimental factor is a quantitative variable rather than categorical variable. Loss of information would occur by comparing gene-expression levels between groups that are factitiously defined according to the quantitative threshold values of an experimental factor. Additionally, lack of control for some sensitive clinical factors may bring serious false positive or negative findings.In the present study, we described a bootstrap-based regression method for analyzing gene-expression data from the non-categorical microarray experiments. To illustrate the utility of this method, we applied it to our recent gene-expression study of circulating monocytes in subjects with a wide range of variations in bone mineral density (BMD). This method allows a comprehensive discovery of gene expressions associated with osteoporosis-related traits while controlling other common confounding factors such as height, weight and age. Several genes identified in our study are involved in osteoblast and osteoclast functions and bone remodeling and/or menopause-associated estrogen-dependent pathways, which provide important clues to understand the etiology of osteoporosis. Availability: SAS code is available from the authors upon request. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS.postprin

Genes involved in the regulation of vascular homeostasis determine renal survival rate in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis

In this study, we analyzed association of genes of vascular homeostasis with hypertension and renal survival of CGN patients. The study sample included 238 patients with CGN and 304 healthy subjects of population control. Ten polymorphisms of ten genes of vascular homeostasis were genotyped through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and TaqMan assays. Association of the genotypes with renal survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier estimato

Functionally significant polymorphisms of the MMP9 gene are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma in the population of Russia

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of functionally significant loci of the matrix metalloproteinases genes 1, 3, 9 (MMP1, MMP3, and MMP9) in the development of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Caucasians of the Central region of Russi

РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ САМОАНАЛІЗУ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ПРАВОВОГО, КАДРОВОГО І НАВЧАЛЬНО-МЕТОДИЧНОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПРОЦЕСУ ПІДГОТОВКИ ФАХІВЦІВ ГАЛУЗІ ЗНАНЬ 22 “ОХОРОНА ЗДОРОВʼЯ” У ВДНЗУ “УМСА” ЗА 2017 РІК

The aim of the work – to carry out an in-depth review of the organizational-legal, personnel and educational and methodological support for the process of training specialists in the field of knowledge 22 “Health” at the Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy in 2017.The main body. The article summarizes the results of self-analysis of organizational, law, personnel, educational and methodical framework in the process of training specialists in the field of knowledge 22 “Healthcare” at the Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy over the period of  2017. The Academy’s achievements during the above-stated period have been represented. The conclusions delineate the priority tasks, aimed at enhancing the personnel, educational and methodical framework and, as a result, the competitive ability of the Academy.Conclusion. Conducted self-examination of organizational, legal, personnel and teaching methods for the training of specialists in the field of knowledge 22 “Health” at the Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy for 2017 showed that this provision is in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, testifies to the effective management of direction and the effectiveness of management decisions.Мета роботи – провести самоаналіз організаційно-правового, кадрового та навчально-методичного забезпечення процесу підготовки фахівців галузі знань 22 “Охорона здоровʼя” у ВДНЗУ “УМСА” у 2017 році.Основна частина. Узагальнено результати самоаналізу організаційно-правового, кадрового і навчально-методичного забезпечення процесу підготовки фахівців галузі знань 22 “Охорона здоровʼя” у ВДНЗУ “УМСА” за 2017 рік. Продемонстровано позитивні результати освітньої діяльності академії протягом вказаного періоду. Визначено першочергові завдання, спрямовані на покращення кадрового і навчально-методичного забезпечення освітнього процесу та, як наслідок, конкурентоспроможності академії.Висновок. Проведений самоаналіз організаційно-правового, кадрового і навчально-методичного забезпечення процесу підготовки фахівців галузі знань 22 “Охорона здоровʼя” у ВДНЗУ “УМСА” за 2017 рік засвідчив, що це забезпечення відповідає чинному законодавству України, свідчить про ефективний менеджмент керівництва та ефективність управлінських рішень

Filaggrin gene polymorphisms are associated with atopic dermatitis in women but not in men in the Caucasian population of Central Russia

This study aimed to analyze the gender-specific association of the filaggrin (FLG) gene polymorphisms with atopic dermatitis in Caucasians from the central region of Russi