Laboratory of Molecular-Genetics Systems

Head V.A.Ratner, Dr.Biol.Sci., Prof.

Designations:
K - upper rate limit in the control;
300 R and other - doses of gamma irradiation;
LHS - light heat shock;
HHS - heavy heat shock.
Transposition frequency is expressed as event number per MGE site, per haploid genome, per generation

Induction of transpositions of mobile genetic elements (MGE) Dm-412 by stress factors in Drosophila

The general research line of the Laboratory is development of the theory of molecular genetic control systems (MGCS) in the cell and experimental proof of the theory. The major contributions include: the concept of the MGCS and sizers, the genetic language, branches of molecular evolution theory, population genetics of mobile genetic elements (MGE) and polygenes, the theory of polygenic systems.

The group investigating molecular genetic systems in Drosophila

Head: L.A.Vasilieva, Dr.Biol.Sci., V.A.Ratner, Dr.Biol.Sci.

A combined study of the MGE systems and their influence on the expression and variability, response to selection and involvement in evolution of polygenes. The discoveries made in recent years are as follows: the phenomenon of transposition of MGE gamma-irradiation, isogenisation; induction of regulatory variability in polygenes by MGE insertions; MGE response patterns to selection of a trait, including cases of adaptive involvement of MGE copies. A computer model for population dynamics of MGE patterns and polygenes was built. A theoretical concept of MGE viewing them as "mobile cassettes of functional sites" in the Drosophila genome.

The group of computer analysis

A.E. Kel, Ph.D., senior researcher, V.A.Ratner, Dr.Biol. Sci.

Study on the structural patterns of functional sites: modeling of gene networks; development of databases for functional sites. The following results were obtained:

1. A unique database COMPEL was established. Information about composite regulatory elements (CE), the key units of combinatorial regulation of transcription detectable in the regulatory regions of the eukaryotic genes, were accumulated and classified in COMPEL.

2. Two new divisions of the database TRRD were developed. They contain detailed information about the specific features of the regulation of the expression of the cell cycle genes and the immune response genes, as well as about the structure of the transcriptional regulatory sequences in these genes.

3. Computer programs for search of CE in genome sequences were developed. New genes involved in the regulation of the immune response and cell cycle were identified with the programs.

4. An integral regulatory network for the cell cycle genes was built. The network is enriched with potential regulatory relationships predicted from the regulatory sequences of these genes. This gene network is used for modeling the regulation of the cell cycle.