Remembering Navasard V. Karapetyan (1936-2015).

Navasard Vaganovich Karapetyan (September 6, 1936-March 6, 2015) began his scientific career at the Bach Institute of Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, and was associated with this institute for over 56 years. He worked in the area of biochemistry and biophysics of photosynthesis and was especially known for his studies on chlorophyll a fluorescence in higher plants and cyanobacteria, molecular organization of Photosystem I, photoprotective energy dissipation, and dynamics of energy migration in the two photosystems. We present here a brief biography and comments on the work of Navasard Karapetyan.

Antioxidant and HSP70B responses in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genotypes with different resistance to oxidative stress.

Today, the information from model species that differ in their resistance to oxidative stress and the determination of suitable plant markers for screening stress-resistant genotypes are essential for better understanding of plant stress responses and for selection. Here we aimed to assess the differences in antioxidant and HSP70B responses to paraquat treatment between genotypes susceptible and resistant to oxidative stress. Four genotypes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were chosen as a model of plant cells: two susceptible genotypes: wild type and paraquat-sensitive; and two paraquat-resistant genotypes: with high and moderate resistance.

Heat shock protein HSP70B as a marker for genotype resistance to environmental stress in Chlorella species from contrasting habitats.

The cellular response of three Chlorella species that differ in their temperature preferences and tolerance - Chlorella vulgaris - Antarctic, C. vulgaris strain 8/1 - thermophilic, and Chlorella kesslery - mesophilic - is analysed. Interspecies variability is found for the sensitivity of the species, with respect to the constitutive and induced levels of HSP70B.