Functional Analysis of the Channelrhodopsin Genes from the Green Algae of the White Sea Basin.

Optogenetics, the method of light-controlled regulation of cellular processes is based on the use of the channelrhodopsins that directly generate photoinduced currents. Most of the channelrhodopsin genes have been identified in the green microalgae Chlorophyta, and the demand for increasing the number of functionally characterized channelrhodopsins and the diversity of their photochemical parameters keeps growing. We performed the expression analysis of cation channelrhodopsin (CCR) genes in natural isolates of microalgae of the genera and from the unique Arctic Circle region.

Chilling Upregulates Expression of the PsbS and LhcSR Genes in the Chloroplasts of the Green Microalga Lobosphaera incisa IPPAS C-2047.

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of excited chlorophyll states is essential for protecting the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) from the excessive light-induced damage in all groups of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. The key component of the NPQ mechanism in green algae and some other groups of algae and mosses is the LhcSR protein of the light harvesting complex (LHC) protein superfamily. In vascular plants, LhcSR is replaced by PsbS, another member of the LHC superfamily and a subunit of photosystem II (PSII).

Effect of Brown Algae and Lichen Extracts on the SCOBY Microbiome and Kombucha Properties.

Kombucha tea was made by the fermentation of SCOBY culture of green tea broth with the addition of algae extract, lichen extract and their mixture. Kombucha was also made without the herbal supplements as a control. After 11 days of fermentation, in addition to the yeast and the bacteria and contained in all of the samples, the yeast and bacteria were detected in the samples with the herbal extracts.

Identification of the Channelrhodopsin Genes in the Green and Cryptophytic Algae from the White and Black Seas.

Due to the unique capability of modulating cell membrane potential upon photoactivation, channelrhodopsins of green (Chlorophyta) and cryptophytic (Cryptophyta) algae are widely employed in optogenetics, a modern method of light-dependent regulation of biological processes. To enable the search for new genes perspective for optogenetics, we have developed the PCR tests for the presence of genes of the cation and anion channelrhodopsins. Six isolates of green algae Haematococcus and Bracteacoccus from the White Sea region and 2 specimens of Rhodomonas sp.

Culture-Independent Survey of Thermophilic Microbial Communities of the North Caucasus.

The Greater Caucasus is a part of seismically active Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt and has been a center of significant volcanic activity during the Quaternary period. That led to the formation of the number of hydrothermal habitats, including subterranean thermal aquifers and surface hot springs. However, there are only a limited number of scientific works reporting on the microbial communities of these habitats.

The Effect of Chilling on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Microalga Lobosphaera incisa IPPAS C-2047.

Photosynthetic organisms have developed a set of mechanisms aimed at preventing photo-oxidative reactions in the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) initiated by excessively absorbed light energy. Along with high irradiance, other stressors, e.g.