Institute of Basic Biological Problems

The development and implementation of microbial consortium-based biofertilizers represent a promising direction in sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of the ongoing global ecological and agricultural crisis. This article examines the agroecological and economic impacts of applying microbial consortiums and explores the mechanisms of technology transfer using the example of two countries with differing levels of scientific and technological advancement–China and Kazakhstan. The analysis of the Chinese experience reveals that the successful integration of microbial biofertilizers into agricultural practice is made possible by a well-established institutional framework that includes strong governmental support for R&D, a robust scientific infrastructure, and effective coordination with the private sector. In contrast, Kazakhstan, despite its favorable agroecological conditions and growing interest among farmers in environmentally friendly technologies, faces several challenges from limited funding to a fragmented technology transfer system. The comparative study demonstrates that adapting Chinese models requires consideration of local specificities and the strengthening of intergovernmental cooperation. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to establish a multi-level innovation ecosystem encompassing the entire cycle of development and deployment of microbial biofertilizers, as a prerequisite for improving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security in countries at different stages of economic development.

Photosynthesis is the most important process on Earth because it provides molecular oxygen and enables the growth of higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria by allowing them to produce organic matter from carbon dioxide [...].

Methods of site-directed mutagenesis are successfully used in structural and functional studies of photosynthetic reaction centers(RCs). It has been noted that many mutations near electron transfer cofactors reduce temperature stability of the Cereibacter sphaeroidesRCs and affect amount of RCs in the membranes. We previously reported [Selikhanovetal. (2023) Membranes, 25, 154] that introduction of inter-subunit disulfide bridges on the periplasmic or cytoplasmic surface of the complex promotes increase in thermal stability of the C.sphaeroidesRCs. In this work, an attempt was made to increase thermal stability of the mutant RC with the IleM206- Gln substitution by introducing inter-subunit disulfide bonds. This RC is of considerable interest for studying mechanisms of early electron transfer processes in RCs. The effect of mutations on the amount of RCs in chromatophores was analyzed and it was found that the I(M206)Q mutation leads to twofold decrease in the RC content in chromatophores, introduction of disulfide bonds on the cytoplasmic or periplasmic sides of the complex reduces the amount of RCs in membranes by one third, the triple substitution I(M206)Q/G(M19)C/T(L214)C reduces the amount of RCs in membranes almost 4-fold, and the substitutions I(M206)Q/V(M84)C/G(L278)C lead to disruption of RC assembly in the membrane. It was shown that introduction of the inter-subunit S-S bond on the cytoplasmic surface of the complex did not have a significant effect on thermal stability of the I(M206)QRC. Our own and literature data on the factors influencing assembly processes and ensuring stability of the structure of integral membrane complexes are discussed.

Thousands of tons of waste accumulate, as a result of the activities of the pulp and paper industry, which is often stored in the form of dumps. However, intensifying the use of lignocellulose for more efficient bioremediation remains highly challenging. Therefore, the study of microbiomes with potentially desirable characteristics for the decomposition of pulp and paper wastes is currently an important task. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of the microbiota biodiversity of these dumps was carried out using high-throughput, high-resolution sequencing. In study 472 million high-quality clean reads assembled into 6,413,337 contigs with a total length of 4306Mb, of which 3,633,174 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. The core microbiome was composed of four phyla from Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia. Representatives of phylum Proteobacteria prevailed in samples. Annotation using the KEGG database in the Metabolism category resulted in 654,234 ORFs and 5138 ORFs encoding enzymes/proteins involved in degradation of lignocellulose which formed main pool of the wastes. By use of the created database, the search for lignocellulose degradation genes showed that genera Shewanella, Achromobacter, and Delftia covered significant part of the reads. The results indicate that the established microbiome of local landfills can be considered as an important source for improving lignocellulose bioremediation, provided that lignocellulosic fungi are sufficiently active. In whole, these new data can be used as a scientific basis to form an efficient eco-biotechnology for auto-remediation of pulp and paper industry waste.

The absence of α-carbonic anhydrase 2 (α-CA2) in Arabidopsis thaliana leads to higher contents of chlorophylls a and b, and to a reduced chlorophyll a/b ratio, suggesting an increased PSII antenna compared to wild type (WT). The evaluation of OJIP kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves of WT and α-carbonic anhydrase 2 knockout (α-CA2-KO) plants revealed higher apparent photosystem II (PSII) light harvesting antenna size in the mutants. The higher levels of both Lhcb1 and Lhcb2 proteins in α-CA2-KO plants compared to WT plants were demonstrated, using immunoblotting. Gene expression analysis showed an increased lhcb1 expression levels in mutants, whereas lhcb2 and lhcb3 genes were downregulated. The content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in leaves, as well as the production of H2O2 within the thylakoid membranes (“membrane” H2O2) were lower in α-CA2-KO plants as compared with WT plants. The expression levels of the genes encoding regulating proteins, which are involved in retrograde chloroplast-nucleus signaling was lower in α-CA2-KO than in WT. The changes of the PSII light-harvesting complex size in the absence of α-CA2 correlates with decreased accumulation of H2O2 in the leaves of mutants. It is suggested that this led to lower expression levels of the genes related to retrograde signal transduction from the chloroplast to the nucleus. The results of this study support previous conclusions regarding the involvement of α-CA2 in photosynthetic processes and its location within the chloroplasts of Arabidopsis.

IntroductionDeveloping sustainable hydrogen production is critical for advancing renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Cyanobacteria, which harness solar energy through photosynthesis, provide a promising biological platform for hydrogen generation. However, improving hydrogen yields requires strategic metabolic and genetic modifications to optimize energy flow and overcome photosynthetic limitations.MethodsFour cyanobacterial species were evaluated for their hydrogen production capacities under varying experimental conditions. Photosynthesis was partially inhibited using distinct chemical inhibitors, including 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). Exogenous glycerol was introduced as a supplementary carbon source. Hydrogen production was monitored over time, and rates were normalized to chlorophyll a content. Genomic analysis of transporter proteins was conducted to identify potential genetic loci for further enhancement of hydrogen output.ResultsNitrogen-fixing Dolichospermum sp. exhibited significantly higher hydrogen production compared to the other tested species. Supplementation with glycerol notably increased both the rate and duration of hydrogen evolution, far exceeding previously established benchmarks. The maximum hydrogen production rate for Dolichospermum sp. reached 132.3 μmol H₂/mg Chl a/h—representing a 30-fold enhancement over the rates observed with DCMU. Genomic screening revealed key transporter proteins with putative roles in carbon uptake and hydrogen metabolism.DiscussionThese findings underscore the potential of cyanobacteria, particularly Dolichospermum sp., as robust platforms for sustainable hydrogen production. The substantial improvements in hydrogen yield highlight the importance of targeted metabolic engineering and carbon supplementation strategies. Future work focused on optimizing identified transporter proteins and refining genetic interventions could further enhance biohydrogen efficiency. By leveraging the inherent photosynthetic machinery of cyanobacteria, this platform offers a renewable hydrogen source with significant promise for global energy sustainability.

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The collection includes scientific articles of participants of the International University Science Forum, the purpose of which is to present significant results of scientific research in the field of humanities, natural and technical sciences; the formation of a modern level of scientific knowledge, experience in transformation of theoretical science into the sphere of practical application of innovations; generalization of research and practical experience.The forum is a tool for establishing sustainable ties, as well as the exchange of experience between teachers and researchers of universities and research organizations.Le recueil comprend des articles scientifiques des participants du Forum Scientifique International des Universits, dont l'objectif est la prsentation des rsultats significatifs de la recherche dans le domaine des sciences humaines, de la nature et de l'ingnieur; la formation du niveau contemporain des connaissances scientifiques, de l'exprience de la transformation de la science thorique au champ de l'application pratique des innovations; la synthse de l'exprience des recherches scientifiques et pratiques.Le forum est un instrument permettant d'tablir des liens durables et d'changer des donnes d'exprience entre les enseignants et les chercheurs des universits et les organisations scientifiques.