[Polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) in the populations of Russia and neighboring countries].

Allele and genotype frequencies for the locus encoding apolipoprotein E, involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism (APOE), were evaluated in 16 populations representing 12 ethnic groups (a total of 1103 subjects) from Russia and neighboring countries. In the populations examined, the frequencies of allele epsilon4, which is the risk factor of Alzheimer's disease and coronary heart disease, varied from less than 5 to more than 20%, while the variation of the major epsilon3 allele in these populations ranged from less than 75 to 95%. The frequencies of alleles epsilon3 and epsilon4 were 0.714 and 0.205 in Saami, 0.734 and 0.149 in Maris, 0.841 and 0.122 in Evenks, 0.788 and 0.163 in Buryats, 0.764 and 0.202 in Chukchi, 0.875 and 0.075 in Iranians, 0.956 and 0.044 in mountain-dwellers of the Pamirs, 0.771 and 0.094 in Ukrainians, and 0.795 and 0.091 in Belarussians, respectively. In Russians from different regions of the country, the frequencies of these alleles were 0.728 and 0.139 (Kostroma), 0.795 and 0.105 (Moscow), 0.857 and 0.092 (Rostov-on-Don), and 0.824 and 0.083 (Krasnodar), respectively. The latitudinal distribution of the APOE epsilon3 and epsilon4 allele frequencies in the populations examined was comparable to the frequency distribution pattern of these alleles in other populations of Eurasia.

[Key role of Asp16 in proteolysis of influenza A NP protein by caspases in infected cells]. / Kliuchevaia rol' Asp16 v proteolize belka NP virusa grippa A kaspazami v infitsirovannykh kletkakh.

The main nucleocapsid protein NP (molecular weight--56 kD) of human influenza A virus (IAV) was found to be subject to the N-terminal proteolysis in position Asp16 with production of aNP (molecular weight--53 kD) in the infected cells' apoptosis. It was assumed that NP of avian and animal influenza viruses was not subject to proteolysis since it has Gly16. To verify the above assumption the NP chimeric gene of human influenza virus was developed; Asp16 was replaced by Gly by means of "site-oriented" mutagenesis in the above gene, after that, the A/WSN/33 (H1N1) mutant of human influenza virus with "avian" NP and with point mutation (Gly16) was developed by using the method of "reverse genetics". The "human" influenza virus with "avian" chimeric NP/Gly16 turned out to be viable but had a lower replication velocity versus its wild-nature counterpart. It is noteworthy, that the mutant virus caused the cellular apoptosis in the remote infection period the way the wild virus did; however, NP of the former was found to be resistant to cellular caspasas and was not subject to proteolysis in infected cells. The conclusion is that Asp16 in NP molecule of human IAV is involved into the regulation process of virus replication and is the key element in NP proteolysis by cellular caspasas in cells' apoptosis.