Зарайский Андрей Георгиевич

Личная информация

Работает в ИБХ РАН с 1983 г. В настоящее время является руководителем лаборатории молекулярных основ эмбриогенеза ИБХ РАН.

Образование

Период обученияСтрана, городУчебное заведениеДополнительная информация
1978–1983 Россия, Москва Московский государственный университет имени М.В. Ломоносова (МГУ), биологический факультет Диплом биолога
1990 Россия, Москва Московский государственный университет имени М.В. Ломоносова (МГУ), биологический факультет Присуждена учёная степень кандидата биологических наук
2000 Россия, Москва Московский государственный университет имени М.В. Ломоносова (МГУ), биологический факультет Присуждена учёная степень доктора биологических наук

Научные интересы

Основные работы А.Г. Зарайского посвящены структурно-функциональному изучению генов и белков, регулирующих эмбриональное развитие мозга.

Премии и заслуги

Лауреат премий А. А. Баева (2001 г.) и А. О. Ковалевского РАН (2006 г.).

Основные научные результаты

В лаборатории молекулярных основ эмбриогенеза под руководством А. Г. Зарайского были открыты и изучены гомеобоксные гены нового класса Anf. Данные гены кодируют специфические транскрипционные факторы, играющие ключевую роль в развитии переднего мозга в раннем эмбриогенезе позвоночных и, в том числе, человека. Были получены данные о том, что появление Anf генов в эволюции у предков позвоночных послужило предпосылкой для возникновения переднего мозга — эмбрионального отдела мозга, дающего начало таким важным структурам, как большие полушария мозга. Дальнейшие работы по изучению генной сети, связанной с функционированием генов Anf, привели к обнаружению нового, 8-ого, семейства малых ГТФаз, получивших название Ras-dva, которые специфично экспрессируются в зачатке головного мозга и регулируют его раннее развитие. Важным достижением, лаборатории молекулярных основ эмбриогенеза является также открытие двух новых семейства секретируемых белков Noggin регулируемых факторами Anf и способных связывать, и тем самым ингибировать, ряд ростовых факторов из суперсемейства TGF-β.

Членство в научных обществах

А. Г. Зарайский является членом Ученого и Диссертационного советов ИБХ РАН, редколлегий журналов «Молекулярная биология» и «Онтогенез».

Избранные публикации

  1. Bayramov A.V., Eroshkin F.M., Martynova N.Y., Ermakova G.V., Solovieva E.A., Zaraisky A.G. (2011). Novel functions of Noggin proteins: inhibition of Activin/Nodal and Wnt signaling. Development 138 (24), 5345–56 [+]

    The secreted protein Noggin1 is an embryonic inducer that can sequester TGFβ cytokines of the BMP family with extremely high affinity. Owing to this function, ectopic Noggin1 can induce formation of the headless secondary body axis in Xenopus embryos. Here, we show that Noggin1 and its homolog Noggin2 can also bind, albeit less effectively, to ActivinB, Nodal/Xnrs and XWnt8, inactivation of which, together with BMP, is essential for the head induction. In support of this, we show that both Noggin proteins, if ectopically produced in sufficient concentrations in Xenopus embryo, can induce a secondary head, including the forebrain. During normal development, however, Noggin1 mRNA is translated in the presumptive forebrain with low efficiency, which provides the sufficient protein concentration for only its BMP-antagonizing function. By contrast, Noggin2, which is produced in cells of the anterior margin of the neural plate at a higher concentration, also protects the developing forebrain from inhibition by ActivinB and XWnt8 signaling. Thus, besides revealing of novel functions of Noggin proteins, our findings demonstrate that specification of the forebrain requires isolation of its cells from BMP, Activin/Nodal and Wnt signaling not only during gastrulation but also at post-gastrulation stages.

  2. Serebrovskaya E.O., Gorodnicheva T.V., Ermakova G.V., Solovieva E.A., Sharonov G.V., Zagaynova E.V., Chudakov D.M., Lukyanov S., Zaraisky A.G., Lukyanov K.A. (2011). Light-induced blockage of cell division with a chromatin-targeted phototoxic fluorescent protein. Biochem. J. 435 (1), 65–71 [+]

    Proteins of the GFP (green fluorescent protein) family are widely used as passive reporters for live cell imaging. In the present study we used H2B (histone H2B)-tKR (tandem KillerRed) as an active tool to affect cell division with light. We demonstrated that H2B-tKR-expressing cells behave normally in the dark, but transiently cease proliferation following green-light illumination. Complete light-induced blockage of cell division for approx. 24 h was observed in cultured mammalian cells that were either transiently or stably transfected with H2B-tKR. Illuminated cells then returned to normal division rate. XRCC1 (X-ray cross complementing factor 1) showed immediate redistribution in the illuminated nuclei of H2B-tKR-expressing cells, indicating massive light-induced damage of genomic DNA. Notably, nondisjunction of chromosomes was observed for cells that were illuminated during metaphase. In transgenic Xenopus embryos expressing H2B-tKR under the control of tissue-specific promoters, we observed clear retardation of the development of these tissues in green-light-illuminated tadpoles. We believe that H2B-tKR represents a novel optogenetic tool, which can be used to study mitosis and meiosis progression per se, as well as to investigate the roles of specific cell populations in development, regeneration and carcinogenesis in vivo.

  3. Tereshina M.B., Bayramov A.V., Zaraisky A.G. (2011). Expression patterns of genes encoding small GTPases Ras-dva-1 and Ras-dva-2 in the Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Gene Expr. Patterns 11 (1-2), 156–61 [+]

    Small GTPases of the recently discovered Ras-dva family are specific to the Vertebrate phylum. In Xenopus laevis, Ras-dva-1 is expressed during gastrulation and neurulation in the anterior ectoderm where it regulates the early development of the forebrain and cranial placodes (Tereshina et al., 2006). In the present work, we studied the expression of Ras-dva-1 at later developmental stages. As a result, the Ras-dva-1 expression was revealed in the eye retina, epiphysis (pineal gland), hypophysis (pituitary), branchial arches, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach and gall bladder of swimming tadpoles. Additionally, we investigated for the first time the expression pattern of Ras-dva-2. This gene encodes a protein belonging to a novel sub-group of Ras-dva GTPases that we identified by phylogenetic analysis within Ras-dva family. In contrast to Ras-dva-1, Ras-dva-2 is not expressed before the swimming tadpole stage. At the swimming tadpole stage, however, Ras-dva-2 transcripts can be detected in the eye retina and brain. Later in development, the expression of Ras-dva-2 can also be revealed in the mesonephros and stomach.

  4. Shcherbo D., Shemiakina I.I., Ryabova A.V., Luker K.E., Schmidt B.T., Souslova E.A., Gorodnicheva T.V., Strukova L., Shidlovskiy K.M., Britanova O.V., Zaraisky A.G., Lukyanov K.A., Loschenov V.B., Luker G.D., Chudakov D.M. (2010). Near-infrared fluorescent proteins. Nat. Methods 7 (10), 827–9 [+]

    Fluorescent proteins with emission wavelengths in the near-infrared and infrared range are in high demand for whole-body imaging techniques. Here we report near-infrared dimeric fluorescent proteins eqFP650 and eqFP670. To our knowledge, eqFP650 is the brightest fluorescent protein with emission maximum above 635 nm, and eqFP670 displays the most red-shifted emission maximum and high photostability.

  5. Shcherbo D., Murphy C.S., Ermakova G.V., Solovieva E.A., Chepurnykh T.V., Shcheglov A.S., Verkhusha V.V., Pletnev V.Z., Hazelwood K.L., Roche P.M., Lukyanov S., Zaraisky A.G., Davidson M.W., Chudakov D.M. (2009). Far-red fluorescent tags for protein imaging in living tissues. Biochem. J. 418 (3), 567–74 [+]

    Разработан яркий, мономерный, фотостабильный, pH-стабильный, дальне-красный флуоресцентый белок mKate2. Белок mKate2 хорошо показал себя в качестве метки во фьюзах с рядом белков, как в культуре клеток, так и в трансгенных лягушках Xenopus laevis (совместно с лабораторией Молекулярных основ эмбриогенеза ИБХ РАН).

  6. Belintsev B.N., Belousov L.V., Zaraĭskiĭ A.G. (2009). [Model of epithelial morphogenesis based on elastic forces and cell contact polarization]. Ontogenez 16 (1), 5–14 [+]

    It is well known that in embryonic tissues at the key stages of morphogenesis there arise stable, stage--specific tension fields. These fields occur due to particular pattern of morphologically polarized cells. Some basic properties have been understood previously. 1. Morphologically polarized and isotropic shapes correspond to the alternative stable states of embryonic cells. 2. Polarization can be transmitted between the adjacent cells via intercellular contacts. 3. The tension fields at particular stage of development determine the pattern of morphogenetic movements. In this paper the physical model is suggested which interprets the selforganization of tension fields in embryonic tissues. The polarization in some region of tissue is assumed to generate the elastic tension in the surrounding cells thus restricting the propagation of cell polarization. It is shown that the properties underlined are sufficient to provide spontaneous subdivision of the cellular layer into the domains of polarized and unpolarized stretched cells. The proportion of polarized and unpolarized areas is determined and size--invariant.

  7. Zaraĭskiĭ A.G. (2009). [Self-organization in the determination of the size of the axial structures in the embryogenesis of the clawed toad]. Ontogenez 22 (4), 365–74 [+]

    Experiments were performed using X. laevis embryos during gastrulation and neurulation (stages 10, 11 1/2, 12 1/2, 13 1/2, 15 and 18). Part of presumptive epidermis and lateral plate mesoderm was removed, and embryos raised until stage 25. The size of axial structures (notochord, somite mesoderm, central nervous system) was determined using serial histological sections and compared with that of control embryos. In experimental embryos, the size of axial structures was decreased. Until a specific stage of development, close correlation was found between the volume of embryonic compartment corresponding to a particular, structure and the volume of presumptive epidermis and lateral plate mesoderm. This stage is individual for each axial organ: middle gastrula (stage 11 1/2) for notochord, late gastrula (stage 12 1/2) for somite mesoderm, and late neurula (stage 18) for central nervous system. This data suggest that differentiation pattern of ecto-mesodermal rudiment is subject to regulation during gastrulation-neurulation, and subdivision of ectoderm and mesoderm into axial and non-axial tissues is a self-organizing process.

  8. Belousov L.V., Luchinskaia N.N., Zaraĭskiĭ A.G. (2009). [Tensotaxis--a collective movement of embryonic cells up along the gradients of mechanical tensions]. Ontogenez 30 (3), 220–8 [+]

    We have examined the active collective movement of ectodermal cells from early gastrula of Xenopus laevis towards the point source of stretching, using techniques of videomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We define this mode of cell movement as tensotaxis. This movement begins near the source of tension 5-10 min after the beginning of stretching and is spread in a relay fashion to more distant cells. As a result, a considerable fraction of observed cells more towards the source of stretching over a considerable territory at a rate of 0.6-3 mu/min. Subsequently, these movements are replaced by cell intercalation roughly oriented in the direction transverse to that of tissue stretching. It is proposed that tensotaxis is initiated by asymmetric deformation of the embryonic tissue due to the concentration (focusing) of a stretching force and contains both passive and active components. Data are presented supporting the view that, during normal development, tensotaxis may determine the movement of embryonic cells towards the blastopore and can also participate in other morphogenetic processes.

  9. Martynova N.Y., Eroshkin F.M., Ermolina L.V., Ermakova G.V., Korotaeva A.L., Smurova K.M., Gyoeva F.K., Zaraisky A.G. (2008). The LIM-domain protein Zyxin binds the homeodomain factor Xanf1/Hesx1 and modulates its activity in the anterior neural plate of Xenopus laevis embryo. Dev. Dyn. 237 (3), 736–49 [+]

    The question of how subdivision of embryo into cell territories acquiring different fates is coordinated with morphogenetic movements shaping the embryonic body still remains poorly resolved. In the present report, we demonstrate that a key regulator of anterior neural plate patterning, the homeodomain transcriptional repressor Xanf1/Hesx1, can bind to the LIM-domain protein Zyxin, which is known to regulate cell morphogenetic movements via influence on actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Using a set of deletion mutants, we found that the Engrailed-type repressor domain of Xanf1 and LIM2-domain of Zyxin are primarily responsible for interaction of these proteins. We also demonstrate that Zyxin overexpression in Xenopus embryos elicits effects similar to those observed in embryos with downregulated Xanf1. In contrast, when the repressor-fused variant of Zyxin is expressed, the forebrain enlargements typical for embryos overexpressing Xanf1 develop. These results are consistent with a possible role of Zyxin as a negative modulator of Xanf1 transcriptional repressing activity.

  10. Shcherbo D., Merzlyak E.M., Chepurnykh T.V., Fradkov A.F., Ermakova G.V., Solovieva E.A., Lukyanov K.A., Bogdanova E.A., Zaraisky A.G., Lukyanov S., Chudakov D.M. (2007). Bright far-red fluorescent protein for whole-body imaging. Nat. Methods 4 (9), 741–6 [+]

    Разработан новый флуоресцентный белок Katushka, обладающий флуоресценцией в дальне-красной области спектра, которая является предпочтительной для анализа сигнала внутри тканей животных. Katushka в десять раз ярче, чем созданные ранее дальне-красные флуоресцентные белки и характеризуется высокой скоростью созревания, высокой рН-стабильностью и фотостабильностью. Это делает новый белок идеальным инструментом для прижизненного мечения клеток внутри целых организмов. Создан мономерный вариант белка Katushka, названный mKate, для исследования внутриклеточной локализации белков.

  11. Ermakova G.V., Solovieva E.A., Martynova N.Y., Zaraisky A.G. (2007). The homeodomain factor Xanf represses expression of genes in the presumptive rostral forebrain that specify more caudal brain regions. Dev. Biol. 307 (2), 483–97 [+]

    Early development of the rostral forebrain (RF) in vertebrates is accompanied by the inhibition of two homeobox regulators, Otx2 and Pax6 in the rostral sector of the anterior neural plate, further giving rise to the RF. However, the precise molecular mechanism and meaning of this inhibition is still obscure. We now demonstrate that the activity of the Anf homeodomain protein is necessary and sufficient for the anterior inhibition of Otx2 and Pax6. Specifically, we show that knockdown of the Xenopus laevis Anf, Xanf, by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides results in the anterior expansion of Otx2 and Pax6 expression into the presumptive RF territory. Furthermore, by overexpressing hormone-inducible activator- and repressor-fused variants of Xanf in the absence of protein synthesis, we present evidence that Xanf can directly downregulate Otx2 and Pax6 but not the more rostrally expressed Bf1, Bf2, Fgf8 and Nkx2.4. These results explain how the inhibitory activity of Xanf can discriminate RF regulators in favor of posterior forebrain ones. Assuming that the Anf type of homeobox is specific for vertebrates, our data suggest that the emergence of Anf in evolution could be a critical event for RF development in vertebrates through the elimination of homologues of modern posterior forebrain regulators from the rostral sector of the anterior neural plate.

  12. Evdokimov A.G., Pokross M.E., Egorov N.S., Zaraisky A.G., Yampolsky I.V., Merzlyak E.M., Shkoporov A.N., Sander I., Lukyanov K.A., Chudakov D.M. (2006). Structural basis for the fast maturation of Arthropoda green fluorescent protein. EMBO Rep. 7 (10), 1006–12 [+]

    Since the cloning of Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (GFP) in 1992, a family of known GFP-like proteins has been growing rapidly. Today, it includes more than a hundred proteins with different spectral characteristics cloned from Cnidaria species. For some of these proteins, crystal structures have been solved, showing diversity in chromophore modifications and conformational states. However, we are still far from a complete understanding of the origin, functions and evolution of the GFP family. Novel proteins of the family were recently cloned from evolutionarily distant marine Copepoda species, phylum Arthropoda, demonstrating an extremely rapid generation of fluorescent signal. Here, we have generated a non-aggregating mutant of Copepoda fluorescent protein and solved its high-resolution crystal structure. It was found that the protein beta-barrel contains a pore, leading to the chromophore. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we showed that this feature is critical for the fast maturation of the chromophore.

  13. Tereshina M.B., Zaraisky A.G., Novoselov V.V. (2006). Ras-dva, a member of novel family of small GTPases, is required for the anterior ectoderm patterning in the Xenopus laevis embryo. Development 133 (3), 485–94 [+]

    Ras-like small GTPases are involved in the regulation of many processes essential for the specification of the vertebrate body plan. Recently, we identified the gene of novel small GTPase Ras-dva, which is specifically expressed at the anterior margin of the neural plate of the Xenopus laevis embryo. Now, we demonstrate that Ras-dva and its homologs in other species constitute a novel protein family, distinct from the previously known families of small GTPases. We show that the expression of Ras-dva begins during gastrulation throughout the anterior ectoderm and is activated by the homeodomain transcription factor Otx2; however, later on, Ras-dva expression is inhibited in the anterior neural plate by another homeodomain factor Xanf1. Downregulation of Ras-dva functioning by the dominant-negative mutant or by the antisense morpholino oligonucleotides results in severe malformations of the forebrain and derivatives of the cranial placodes. Importantly, although the observed abnormalities can be rescued by co-injection of the Ras-dva mRNA, they cannot be rescued by the mRNA of the closest Ras-dva homolog from another family of small GTPases, Ras. This fact indicates functional specificity of the Ras-dva signaling pathway. At the molecular level, downregulation of Ras-dva inhibits the expression of several regulators of the anterior neural plate and folds patterning, such as Otx2, BF-1 (also known as Foxg1), Xag2, Pax6, Slug and Sox9, and interferes with FGF8 signaling within the anterior ectoderm. By contrast, expression of the epidermal regulator BMP4 and its target genes, Vent1, Vent2b and Msx1, is upregulated. Together, the data obtained indicate that Ras-dva is an essential component of the signaling network that patterns the early anterior neural plate and the adjacent ectoderm in the Xenopus laevis embryos.

  14. Efimov V.A., Birikh K.R., Staroverov D.B., Lukyanov S.A., Tereshina M.B., Zaraisky A.G., Chakhmakhcheva O.G. (2006). Hydroxyproline-based DNA mimics provide an efficient gene silencing in vitro and in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res. 34 (8), 2247–57 [+]

    To be effective, antisense molecules should be stable in biological fluids, non-toxic, form stable and specific duplexes with target RNAs and readily penetrate through cell membranes without non-specific effects on cell function. We report herein that negatively charged DNA mimics representing chiral analogues of peptide nucleic acids with a constrained trans-4-hydroxy-N-acetylpyrrolidine-2-phosphonate backbone (pHypNAs) meet these criteria. To demonstrate this, we compared silencing potency of these compounds with that of previously evaluated as efficient gene knockdown molecules hetero-oligomers consisting of alternating phosphono-PNA monomers and PNA-like monomers based on trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (HypNA-pPNAs). Antisense potential of pHypNA mimics was confirmed in a cell-free translation assay with firefly luciferase as well as in a living cell assay with green fluorescent protein. In both cases, the pHypNA antisense oligomers provided a specific knockdown of a target protein production. Confocal microscopy showed that pHypNAs, when transfected into living cells, demonstrated efficient cellular uptake with distribution in the cytosol and nucleus. Also, the high potency of pHypNAs for down-regulation of Ras-like GTPase Ras-dva in Xenopus embryos was demonstrated in comparison with phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers. Therefore, our data suggest that pHypNAs are novel antisense agents with potential widespread in vitro and in vivo applications in basic research involving live cells and intact organisms.

  15. Eroshkin F.M., Ermakova G.V., Bayramov A.V., Zaraisky A.G. (2006). Multiple noggins in vertebrate genome: cloning and expression of noggin2 and noggin4 in Xenopus laevis. Gene Expr. Patterns 6 (2), 180–6 [+]

    Noggin is a neural inducer secreted by cells of the Spemann organizer. A single noggin gene was identified until very recently in all tested vertebrates. The only exception was zebrafish, in which two close homologs of noggin, named noggin1 and noggin3, and one gene more diverged from them, noggin2, were cloned. Nevertheless, finding of three zebrafish noggins was attributed exclusively to specific genomic duplications in the fish evolutionary branch. However, very recently it was shown that Xenopus tropicalis have additional noggin homolog, called noggin2 [Fletcher, R.B., Watson, A.L., Harland, R.M. (2004). Expression of Xenopus tropicalis noggin1 and noggin2 in early development: two noggin genes in a tetrapod. Gene Expr. Patterns 5, 225-230], which indicates at least two independent noggin genes in vertebrate phylum. Now we report identification of two novel noggin homologs in each of so evolutionary distant species as Xenopus laevis, chicken and fugu. One of these noggins is ortholog of the X. tropicalis and zebrafish noggin2, whereas another, named noggin4, was not known previously. In the X. laevis embryos, the expression of noggin2 very resembles that of its counterpart in X. tropicalis: it begins with neurulation at the anterior margin of the neural plate and, afterward, continues mainly in the forebrain and dorsal hindbrain. At the same time, noggin4 is expressed starting from the beginning of gastrulation, throughout the ectoderm, with a local expression maximum in the prospective anterior neurectoderm. Later, it is widely expressed on the dorsal side of embryo, including neural tube, eyes, otic vesicles, cranial placodes, branchial arches, and somites. The data presented here demonstrate that the vertebrate phylum contains at least three distinct noggin genes.

  16. Bayramov A.V., Martynova N.Y., Eroshkin F.M., Ermakova G.V., Zaraisky A.G. (2004). The homeodomain-containing transcription factor X-nkx-5.1 inhibits expression of the homeobox gene Xanf-1 during the Xenopus laevis forebrain development. Mech. Dev. 121 (12), 1425–41 [+]

    Expression of the homeobox gene Xanf-1 starts within the presumptive forebrain primordium of the Xenopus embryo at the midgastrula stage and is inhibited by the late neurula. Such stage-specific inhibition is essential for the normal development as the experimental prolongation of the Xanf-1 expression elicits severe brain abnormalities. To identify transcriptional regulators that are responsible for the Xanf-1 inhibition, we have used the yeast one-hybrid system and identified a novel Xenopus homeobox gene X-nkx-5.1 that belongs to a family of Nkx-5.1 transcription factors. In terms of gene expression, X-nkx-5.1 shares many common features with its orthologs in other species, including expression in the embryonic brain and in the ciliated cells of the otic and lateral line placodes. However, we have also observed several features specific for X-nkx-5.1, such as expression in precursors of the epidermal ciliated cells that may indicate a possible common evolutionary origin of all ciliated cells derived from the embryonic ectoderm. Another specific feature is that the X-nkx-5.1 expression in the anterior neural plate starts early, within the area overlapping the Xanf-1 expression territory at the midneurula stage, and it correlates with the beginning of the Xanf-1 inhibition. Using various loss and gain-of-function techniques, including microinjections of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and mRNA encoding for the X-nkx-5.1 and its dominant repressor and activator versions, we have shown that X-nkx-5.1 can indeed play a role of stage-specific inhibitor of Xanf-1 in the anterior neural plate during the Xenopus development.

  17. Martynova N., Eroshkin F., Ermakova G., Bayramov A., Gray J., Grainger R., Zaraisky A. (2004). Patterning the forebrain: FoxA4a/Pintallavis and Xvent2 determine the posterior limit of Xanf1 expression in the neural plate. Development 131 (10), 2329–38 [+]

    During early development of the nervous system in vertebrates, expression of the homeobox gene Anf/Hesx1/Rpx is restricted to the anterior neural plate subdomain corresponding to the presumptive forebrain. This expression is essential for normal forebrain development and ectopic expression of Xenopus Anf, Xanf1 (also known as Xanf-1), results in severe forebrain abnormalities. By use of transgenic embryos and a novel bi-colour reporter technique, we have identified a cis-regulatory element responsible for transcriptional repression of Xanf1 that defines its posterior expression limit within the neural plate. Using this element as the target in a yeast one-hybrid system, we identified two transcription factors, FoxA4a/Pintallavis and Xvent2 (also known as Xvent-2), which are normally expressed posterior to Xanf1. Overexpression of normal and dominant-negative versions of these factors, as well as inhibition of their mRNA translation by antisense morpholinos, show that they actually function as transcriptional repressors of Xanf1 just behind its posterior expression limit. The extremely high similarity of the identified Anf cis-regulatory sequences in Xenopus, chick and human, indicates that the mechanism restricting posterior expression of Anf in Xenopus is shared among vertebrates. Our findings support Nieuwkoop's activation-transformation model for neural patterning, according to which the entire neurectoderm is initially specified towards an anterior fate, which is later suppressed posteriorly as part of the trunk formation process.

  18. Verkhusha V.V., Kuznetsova I.M., Stepanenko O.V., Zaraisky A.G., Shavlovsky M.M., Turoverov K.K., Uversky V.N. (2003). High stability of Discosoma DsRed as compared to Aequorea EGFP. Biochemistry 42 (26), 7879–84 [+]

    Comparative analysis of conformational stabilities was performed for two widely used genetic reporters, EGFP and DsRed, proteins exhibiting similar beta-can folds, but possessing different oligomeric organization and chromophore structures. Two factors affecting protein stability in vitro, such as elevated temperatures and a chaotropic agent guanidine hydrochloride, were studied. In vivo tolerance of the fluorescence proteins to proteasomal-based degradation was studied in insect and mammalian cells, and in Xenopus embryos. The apparent rate constants of thermal and GdmCl-induced denaturation were several orders of magnitude lower for DsRed than for EGFP. DsRed lifetimes severalfold longer than those of EGFP were observed in cultured cells and in embryos. The remarkable fluorescence stability of DsRed under the all conditions that have been studied is attributed to a significant extent to its tetrameric organization. Therefore, DsRed can be used as a genetic reporter and advanced population marker with a significantly extended intracellular lifespan.

  19. Novoselov V.V., Alexandrova E.M., Ermakova G.V., Zaraisky A.G. (2003). Expression zones of three novel genes abut the developing anterior neural plate of Xenopus embryo. Gene Expr. Patterns 3 (2), 225–30 [+]

    We identified three novel genes that were expressed within the anterior non-neural ectoderm of Xenopus early neurula embryos. The expression of these genes was observed in the different areas complementary to the expression zone of a homeodomain gene Xanf-1 in the anterior neural plate. One of these genes, a Ras-like GTP-ase Ras-dva, marked the anterior placodal ectoderm area; a second, an Agr family homologous gene, XAgr2, was expressed in the anterior-most ectoderm in the cement gland primordium, and a third, novel gene Nlo was expressed in the lateral neural folds. The genes were transiently expressed in the developing cement and hatching gland primordia, and repressed in the mature cement and hatching glands. XAgr2 and Nlo were also expressed in the otic vesicles, and Ras-dva was expressed in the dorso-lateral column of the neural tube.

  20. Chudakov D.M., Belousov V.V., Zaraisky A.G., Novoselov V.V., Staroverov D.B., Zorov D.B., Lukyanov S., Lukyanov K.A. (2003). Kindling fluorescent proteins for precise in vivo photolabeling. Nat. Biotechnol. 21 (2), 191–4 [+]

    Photobleaching of green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a widely used approach for tracking the movement of subcellular structures and intracellular proteins. Although photobleaching is a powerful technique, it does not allow direct tracking of an object's movement and velocity within a living cell. Direct tracking becomes possible only with the introduction of a photoactivated fluorescent marker. A number of previous studies have reported optically induced changes in the emission spectra of fluorescent proteins. However, the ideal photoactivated fluorescent marker should be a nonfluorescent tag capable of "switching on" (i.e., becoming fluorescent) in response to irradiation by light of a particular wavelength, intensity, and duration. In this report, we generated a mutant of Anemonia sulcata chromoprotein asCP. The mutant protein is capable of unique irreversible photoconversion from the nonfluorescent to a stable bright-red fluorescent form ("kindling"). This "kindling fluorescent protein" (KFP1) can be used for precise in vivo photolabeling to track the movements of cells, organelles, and proteins. We used KFP1 for in vivo cell labeling in mRNA microinjection assays to monitor Xenopus laevis embryo development and to track mitochondrial movement in mammalian cells.

  21. Terskikh A.V., Fradkov A.F., Zaraisky A.G., Kajava A.V., Angres B. (2002). Analysis of DsRed Mutants. Space around the fluorophore accelerates fluorescence development. J. Biol. Chem. 277 (10), 7633–6 [+]

    Earlier mutagenesis of the red fluorescent protein drFP583, also called DsRed, resulted in a mutant named Fluorescent Timer (Terskikh, A., Fradkov, A., Ermakova, G., Zaraisky, A., Tan, P., Kajava, A. V., Zhao, X., Lukyanov, S., Matz, M., Kim, S., Weissman, I., and Siebert, P. (2000) Science 290, 1585--1588). Further mutagenesis generated variants with novel and improved fluorescent properties. The mutant called AG4 exhibits only green fluorescence. The mutant, called E5up (V105A), shows complete fluorophore maturation, eventually eliminating residual green fluorescence present in DsRed. Finally, the mutant, called E57 (V105A, I161T, S197A), matures faster than DsRed as demonstrated in vitro with purified protein and in vivo with recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli and Xenopus leavis. Comparative analysis of the mutants in the context of the crystal structure of DsRed suggests that mutants with free space around the fluorophore mature faster and more completely.

  22. Eroshkin F., Kazanskaya O., Martynova N., Zaraisky A. (2002). Characterization of cis-regulatory elements of the homeobox gene Xanf-1. Gene 285 (1-2), 279–86 [+]

    Investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying early patterning of the nervous system is an important task of modern developmental biology. Previously, we identified a novel homeobox gene, Anf, that is expressed in the most anterior zone at the beginning of neuroectoderm specification. The expression pattern of Anf corresponds to primordia of the telencephalon and the rostral part of the diencephalon. In the present work, we investigated cis-regulation of expression of the Xenopus laevis Anf, Xanf-1. Two elements, highly conserved in Xenopus, chick and human, were identified within the Xanf-1 promoter region. The first element, located near position -500, is necessary for overall enhancement of the Xanf-1 expression. The second element, near position -200, is crucial for maintenance of the Xanf-1 expression at moderate levels and also for specific localization of the expression in the anterior neuroectoderm. Thus, the distal part of this element is responsible for suppression of Xanf-1 posterior to the normal expression domain of this gene. The data obtained corroborate with the Nieuwkoop two-signal model of neural induction. This model states that at the first step of induction, all neuroectoderm acquires potencies to develop toward forebrain structures, but later these potencies are suppressed in posterior regions.

  23. Brockmann B., Smith M.W., Zaraisky A.G., Harrison K., Okada K., Kamiya Y. (2001). Subcellular localization and targeting of glucocorticoid receptor protein fusions expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol. 42 (9), 942–51 [+]

    An animal system of inducible activation of protein fusions with the binding domain of glucocorticoid receptor (BDGR) was tested in Arabidopsis thaliana by monitoring dexamethasone (DEX)-induced nuclear targeting of reporter constructs. Two constructs containing green fluorescent protein (GFP), human homeobox protein Hanf-1 and Xenopus laevis BDGR were used, GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR and GFP/BDGR. The control construct contained GFP alone. In the absence of DEX both fusion proteins were uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of root cells, but showed strong association with plastids in plant aerial parts. DEX treatment of roots prompted a strong and reversible nuclear accumulation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR, but not GFP/BDGR. Thus, in roots, the specific nuclear translocation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR was driven by Hanf-1 and tightly regulated by BDGR. However, in plant aerial parts treated with DEX, nuclear translocation of GFP/Hanf-1/BDGR was observed only in a few cases, and most part of the fusion protein was incorrectly and irreversibly targeted to plastids. Protease X digestion of isolated chloroplasts showed that BDGR fusion proteins were translocated into the chloroplast envelope and bound to envelope membranes, probably due to association with the chloroplast import apparatus. Thus, for efficient use of the glucocorticoid-inducible system in plants, it will be necessary to modify BDGR structure to prevent incorrect targeting of fusion proteins.

  24. Terskikh A., Fradkov A., Ermakova G., Zaraisky A., Tan P., Kajava A.V., Zhao X., Lukyanov S., Matz M., Kim S., Weissman I., Siebert P. (2000). "Fluorescent timer": protein that changes color with time. Science 290 (5496), 1585–8 [+]

    We generated a mutant of the red fluorescent protein drFP583. The mutant (E5) changes its fluorescence from green to red over time. The rate of color conversion is independent of protein concentration and therefore can be used to trace time-dependent expression. We used in vivo labeling with E5 to measure expression from the heat shock-dependent promoter in Caenorhabditis elegans and from the Otx-2 promoter in developing Xenopus embryos. Thus, E5 is a "fluorescent timer" that can be used to monitor both activation and down-regulation of target promoters on the whole-organism scale.

  25. Lukyanov K.A., Fradkov A.F., Gurskaya N.G., Matz M.V., Labas Y.A., Savitsky A.P., Markelov M.L., Zaraisky A.G., Zhao X., Fang Y., Tan W., Lukyanov S.A. (2000). Natural animal coloration can Be determined by a nonfluorescent green fluorescent protein homolog. J. Biol. Chem. 275 (34), 25879–82 [+]

    It is generally accepted that the colors displayed by living organisms are determined by low molecular weight pigments or chromoproteins that require a prosthetic group. The exception to this rule is green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria that forms a fluorophore by self-catalyzed protein backbone modification. Here we found a naturally nonfluorescent homolog of GFP to determine strong purple coloration of tentacles in the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata. Under certain conditions, this novel chromoprotein produces a trace amount of red fluorescence (emission lambda(max) = 595 nm). The fluorescence demonstrates unique behavior: its intensity increases in the presence of green light but is inhibited by blue light. The quantum yield of fluorescence can be enhanced dramatically by single amino acid replacement, which probably restores the ancestral fluorescent state of the protein. Other fluorescent variants of the novel protein have emission peaks that are red-shifted up to 610 nm. They demonstrate that long wavelength fluorescence is attainable in GFP-like fluorescent proteins.

  26. Matz M.V., Fradkov A.F., Labas Y.A., Savitsky A.P., Zaraisky A.G., Markelov M.L., Lukyanov S.A. (1999). Fluorescent proteins from nonbioluminescent Anthozoa species. Nat. Biotechnol. 17 (10), 969–73 [+]

    Открыты новые флуоресцентные белки из коралловых полипов класса Anthozoa с разными цветами флуоресценции от сине-зеленого до красного. Выявление флуоресцентных и окрашенных GFP-подобных белков у неспособных к биолюминесценции коралловых полипов опровергло распространенное мнение, что такие белки функционируют только в составе биолюминисцентных систем и прояснило природу разнообразной флуоресцентной окраски коралловых рифов — явления, которое на протяжении многих лет не находило правильного объяснения.

  27. Ermakova G.V., Alexandrova E.M., Kazanskaya O.V., Vasiliev O.L., Smith M.W., Zaraisky A.G. (1999). The homeobox gene, Xanf-1, can control both neural differentiation and patterning in the presumptive anterior neurectoderm of the Xenopus laevis embryo. Development 126 (20), 4513–23 [+]

    From the onset of neurectoderm differentiation, homeobox genes of the Anf class are expressed within a region corresponding to the presumptive telencephalic and rostral diencephalic primordia. Here we investigate functions of the Xenopus member of Anf, Xanf-1, in the differentiation of the anterior neurectoderm. We demonstrate that ectopic Xanf-1 can expand the neural plate at expense of adjacent non-neural ectoderm. In tadpoles, the expanded regions of the plate developed into abnormal brain outgrowths. At the same time, Xanf-1 can inhibit terminal differentiation of primary neurones. We also show that, during gastrula/neurula stages, the exogenous Xanf-1 can downregulate four transcription regulators, XBF-1, Otx-2, Pax-6 and the endogenous Xanf-1, that are expressed in the anterior neurectoderm. However, during further development, when the exogenous Xanf-1 was presumably degraded, re-activation of XBF-1, Otx-2 and Pax-6 was observed in the abnormal outgrowths developed from blastomeres microinjected with Xanf-1 mRNA. Other effects of the ectopic Xanf-1 include cyclopic phenotype and inhibition of the cement gland, both by Otx-2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Using fusions of Xanf-1 with the repressor domain of Drosophila engrailed or activator domain of herpes virus VP16 protein, we showed that most of the observed effects of Xanf-1 were probably elicited by its functioning as a transcription repressor. Altogether, our data indicate that the repressor function of Xanf-1 may be necessary for regulation of both neural differentiation and patterning in the presumptive anterior neurectoderm.

  28. Bogdanova E., Matz M., Tarabykin V., Usman N., Shagin D., Zaraisky A., Lukyanov S. (1998). Inductive interactions regulating body patterning in planarian, revealed by analysis of expression of novel gene scarf. Dev. Biol. 194 (2), 172–81 [+]

    Subtractive hybridization was used to search for the early difference in gene expression between anteriorly and posteriorly regenerating tissues of the same region of the planarian body. A sequence (named scarf) specific for posteriorly regenerating tissue was isolated, encoding a soluble C-type lectin consisting of two slightly different carbohydrate-recognition domains. Such an unusual bivalent structure allows attribution of the protein to a novel subfamily of C-type lectins. scarf expression in intact planarian is rather abundant and follows a characteristic pattern not linked to any known morphological structure. We performed a series of experiments using scarf as a molecular marker. Its expression was monitored during different types of regeneration by whole-mount in situ hybridization and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The obtained data suggest that scarf expression is positively regulated by anterior tissues closely adjacent to the scarf-expressing region, so that their surgical removal results in rapid scarf switch-off. In turn, tissues expressing scarf seem to inhibit its activation anteriorly. This indicates that at least some of the body patterning events in planarians are based on a system of reciprocal inductive interactions rather than on a global morphogen gradient.

  29. Vasiliev O.L., Lukyanov S.A., Belyavsky A.V., Kazanskaya O.V., Zaraisky A.G. (1997). A novel marker of early epidermal differentiation: cDNA subtractive cloning starting on a single explant of Xenopus laevis gastrula epidermis. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 41 (6), 877–82 [+]

    To understand the molecular mechanism underlying in the earliest steps of the embryonic ectoderm subdivision into epidermis and neuroectoderm, it would be important to isolate differentially expressed genes in presumptive neuroectoderm and epidermis at the gastrula stage, the period of the divergence of the two adjacent ectodermal compartments. Meanwhile, the most direct approach for such a task, i.e. subtractive enrichment of cDNA from neuroectodermal and epidermal explants with differentially expressed gene sequences, was difficult to realize because of the high number of explants needed for this technique. In the present paper we report a novel effective and quite simple method of cDNA subtractive enrichment, based on amplification of cDNA in vitro by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allowing to use a very small amount of initial cDNA samples. With this method we have cloned cDNA of a novel gene of Xenopus laevis, which was named XEP-1 for its specific expression in the presumptive epidermis starting from the midgastrula stage.

  30. Kazanskaya O.V., Severtzova E.A., Barth K.A., Ermakova G.V., Lukyanov S.A., Benyumov A.O., Pannese M., Boncinelli E., Wilson S.W., Zaraisky A.G. (1997). Anf: a novel class of vertebrate homeobox genes expressed at the anterior end of the main embryonic axis. Gene 200 (1-2), 25–34 [+]

    Five novel genes homologous to the homeobox-containing genes Xanf-1 and Xanf-2 of Xenopus and Hesx-1/Rpx of mouse have been identified as a result of a PCR survey of cDNA in sturgeon, zebrafish, newt, chicken and human. Comparative analysis of the homeodomain primary structure of these genes revealed that they belong to a novel class of homeobox genes, which we name Anf. All genes of this class investigated so far have similar patterns of expression during early embryogenesis, characterized by maximal transcript levels being present at the anterior extremity of the main embryonic body axis. The data obtained also suggest that, despite considerable high structural divergence between their homeodomains, all known Anf genes may be orthologues, and thus represent one of the most quickly evolving classes of vertebrate homeobox genes.

  31. Ecochard V., Cayrol C., Foulquier F., Zaraisky A., Duprat A.M. (1995). A novel TGF-beta-like gene, fugacin, specifically expressed in the Spemann organizer of Xenopus. Dev. Biol. 172 (2), 699–703 [+]

    Using a differential screening strategy, we have cloned a novel Xenopus gene, fugacin, related to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. Transcripts were detected primarily in the dorsal marginal zone of late blastula. Thereafter, they became highly localized to the blastopore lip of early gastrula and were not observed at later stages. This gene, which is most homologous to the mouse gene nodal, displays a new pattern of cysteine residues. These findings highlight the potential role of these growth factors during early vertebrate development.

  32. Zaraisky A.G., Ecochard V., Kazanskaya O.V., Lukyanov S.A., Fesenko I.V., Duprat A.M. (1995). The homeobox-containing gene XANF-1 may control development of the Spemann organizer. Development 121 (11), 3839–47 [+]

    At the beginning of gastrulation the homeobox-containing gene, XANF-1, is expressed at a low level throughout the animal hemisphere of Xenopus laevis embryos, with a local maximum of expression in the region of the dorsal blastopore lip. By the end of gastrulation expression ceases everywhere except in the most anterior part of the neurectoderm. We have investigated the functions of this gene by microinjecting XANF-1 mRNA in the blastomeres of the 32-cell stage embryo and have observed the following effects. First, microinjections of the mRNA in the animal blastomeres and the blastomeres of the marginal zone elicited massive migration of cells to the interior of the embryo at the early gastrula stage. Second, overexpression of XANF-1 in the ventral marginal zone (VMZ) resulted in the appearance of an additional centre of gastrulation movements and the formation of a secondary axis. In addition we showed that synthetic XANF-1 mRNA was able to cause dorsal-type differentiation in VMZ explants extirpated from the microinjected embryos at the beginning of gastrulation. These results suggest that XANF-1 may control the main functions of cells of the Spemann organizer.

  33. Lukyanov K.A., Launer G.A., Tarabykin V.S., Zaraisky A.G., Lukyanov S.A. (1995). Inverted terminal repeats permit the average length of amplified DNA fragments to be regulated during preparation of cDNA libraries by polymerase chain reaction. Anal. Biochem. 229 (2), 198–202 [+]

    A simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique for construction of cDNA libraries starting with very small amounts of cells or tissues is described. The technique is based on the insertion of inverted terminal repeats into amplified cDNAs which permit short molecules to generate "pan"-type structures at each cycle of PCR amplification and thus to escape annealing with primers. This allows one to avoid amplification of primer dimers and makes it possible to perform oligonucleotide tailing of the first cDNA strands followed by PCR amplification in the same tube. Moreover, the average size of amplified cDNAs can be controlled by varying the primer concentration.

  34. Zaraisky A.G., Lukyanov S.A., Vasiliev O.L., Smirnov Y.V., Belyavsky A.V., Kazanskaya O.V. (1992). A novel homeobox gene expressed in the anterior neural plate of the Xenopus embryo. Dev. Biol. 152 (2), 373–82 [+]

    To obtain gene sequences controlling the early steps of amphibian neurogenesis, we have performed differential screening of a subtractive cDNA library prepared by a novel PCR-based method from a single presumptive neural plate of a Xenopus laevis late-gastrula embryo. As a result we have isolated a fragment of a novel homeobox gene (named XANF-1, for Xenopus anterior neural folds). This gene is expressed predominantly in the anterior part of the developing nervous system. Such preferential localization of XANF-1 mRNA is established from its initially homogenous distribution in ectoderm of early gastrula. This change in the expression pattern is conditioned by a differential influence of various mesoderm regions on ectoderm: anterior mesoderm activates XANF-1 expression in the overlying ectoderm, whereas posterior axial and ventral mesoderm areas inhibit it. The data obtained demonstrate for the first time that selection of genes for specific expression in the CNS of the early vertebrate embryo is affected not only by chordamesoderm (a neural inductor) but also by ventral mesoderm.

  35. Belintsev B.N., Beloussov L.V., Zaraisky A.G. (1987). Model of pattern formation in epithelial morphogenesis. J. Theor. Biol. 129 (4), 369–94 [+]

    One of the most universal events in morphogenesis is the formation of domains of morphologically polarized cells in the initially homogeneous epithelial sheets. We investigate the possibility of considering this process as a phenomenon of self-organization which is based upon the following experimentally proven mechanochemical cell properties: (1) a capacity of individual cells for morphological polarization considered as a bistable "all-or-none" transition of a cell from a non-polarized to a polarized state; (2) transmission of this capacity from one cell to another on their contacts; (3) feedback relations between co-operative cell polarization and tangential elastic tensions in a cell sheet: cell polarization increases tangential tensions whereas the latter inhibit further cell polarization. We have constructed a phenomenological model which formally expresses the above properties. Its mathematical description includes but few macroscopic parameters available to experimental investigation and controlled changes. The analysis of the collective dynamic regimes of cell polarization demonstrates that variations of some non-specific parameters leads to spontaneous transition in the morphology of cell layers accompanied by symmetry breaking (Turing's instability). Under these conditions either long-range ordered patterns of cell polarization (including hexagonal cell nets) or non-regular spotted structures can emerge. In the particular case of a sheet having fixed complete dimensions and lacking any external elastic bonds a stable macrostate is created; it corresponds to the sheet's binary subdivision into polarized and non-polarized cell domains of size-invariant proportions. The model conclusions are compared with the morphogenetical processes in sea-urchin development, the morphogenesis of skin derivates and artificially induced budding in hydrozoa.

  36. Savic D., Belintzev B.N., Beloussov L.V., Zaraisky A.G. (1986). Morphogenetic activity prepattern in embryonic epithelia. Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 217A, 101–4