[Free and bound amino acids during germination of maize seeds with implemented foreign prolamines]. / Svobodnye i sviazannye aminokisloty semian kukuruzy s vnedrennymi chuzherodnymi prolaminami pri prorastanii.

Wheat prolamines were preincorporated into the endosperm of maize seed, and concentrations of free and bound amino acids were measured in the endosperm and seedlings during seed germination. Incorporation of foreign prolamines lowered the decrease rate of free proline concentration in both the endosperm (sprouting and shoots) and the embryo (sprouting). The seedlings at the stage of shoots were characterized by higher concentrations of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and tyrosine. At the stage of transition to autotrophic nutrition, the pool of amino acids that are physiologically important for the plant growth was greater in maize seedlings with incorporated wheat prolamines.

[Systematic relationships of podocarpales, cephalotaxales, and taxales based on comparative seed anatomy and biochemistry data]. / Sistematicheskoe polozhenie poriadkov Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales i Taxales po dannym sravnitel'noi anatomii i biokhimiii semian.

The morphology of female reproductive organs and anatomy, ultrastructure, and ultrasculpture of seed integuments were studied in more than 150 species of Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales. The main trends of morphological-evolutionary transformations of female fructifications were established in three studied groups of gymnosperms. The taxonomic weight of structural features of the female reproductive organs of Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales was determined. Seeds of 20 species of these orders were investigated using amino acid and Western blot analysis. The index of remoteness from the least specialized hypothetical taxon and degree of difference between taxa were calculated from data on amino acid composition of seeds and embryos. The differences in the degree of similarity between Podocarpales and other groups of gymnosperms were demonstrated. An original concept was proposed for phylogenetic relations between Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales, and Taxales.

[Evolutionary changes in amino acid composition of dicotyledonous seeds]. / Izmenenie v aminokislotnom sostave semian dvudol'nykh rastenii v protsesse évoliutsii.

Amino acid composition of dicotyledonous seeds of 82 genera, 67 families, 48 orders, and 8 subclasses (after Takhtadzhyan, 1987). Within the frames of hypothesis of amino acid composition of the least specialized hypothetical taxon we have established a universal trend for all dicotyledonous classes--increased proportion of glutamic acid and arginine. Divergent processes are pronounced in the evolution of amino acid composition within the families and orders. Pairwise comparison of amino acid composition in all analyzed taxons demonstrated high similarity between taxons from different subclasses and at different levels of biochemical specialization. Within the frames of the system proposed by Takhtadzhyan (1987) we interpret this as a clearly pronounced parallel variability of the seed amino acid composition realized during evolution of taxons in various dicotyledonous orders and subclasses.

[Adaptive types of prolamins--specialized proteins from cereal seeds (Poaceae Banrh.)]. / Adaptivnye tipy prolaminov, spetsializirovannykh belkov semian zlakov (Poaceae Barnh.).

Amino acid composition of prolamins and the whole seed in representatives of 52 cereal genera and 22 tribes, as well as amino acid composition of seed protein fractions in representatives of 9 cereal genera are presented. In terms of proposed directed evolution of the seed proteins and adaptive role of prolamins in evolution and distribution of cereals, generalized data on their content in seed protein complex, electrophoretic, immunochemical, and amino acid composition of the seeds, we develop the notion of prolamins biochemical specialization and their polyphyletic origin during evolution of cereal seed protein complex. Seven adaptive types of prolamins are recognized: Sasa, Molinia, Chloris, Zingeria, Poa, Triticum, and Panicum types. Adaptive types of prolamins were formed in response to an ecological request of the environment where taxon ancestors existed and a taxon appeared and in relation to phylogenetic history of a taxon and its assignment to particular tribe and subfamily.

[Intensification of the initial stage of amino acid metabolism in germinating cereal seeds by exogenous glutamine and proline]. / Intensifikatsiia hachal'nogo étapa aminokislotnogo obmena v prorastaiushchikh semenakh zlakov ékzogennymi glutaminom i prolinom.

The initial stage of amino acid metabolism was intensified in germinating wheat seeds with exogenous glutamine and proline. Exogenous glutamine and proline accumulated over 2 h at 4 degrees C in swelling seeds were spent at different rates over the following 2 h at 20 degrees C, thus compensating for insufficiency of these amino acids during the initial stage of development. Creation of an additional store of glutamine and proline during the initial stage of amino acid metabolism had positive effects on the seed germination and vital activity of the plants.