Activité cytokinine de dérivés acylés,alkylés,acyl-alkylés de l'adénine et d'isost`eres azotés de la γ,γ-diméthylallyladénine

The cytokinin activities of various 6-acylaminopurines, 6-alkylaminopurines, 6-acylamino-9-benzyl-purines as well as a series of isosteric-nitrogen derivatives of N⁶-(γ, γ-dimethylallyl)adenine (I⁶Ade) have been tested using the tobacco pith and the pea bud bioassays. The interactions between active, slightly active and inactive compounds have been studied with the last assay. Acylation decreases the biological activity; e.g., N⁶-benzoyl and N⁶-furoyladenines are less active than Na⁶-benzyladenine and kinetin. Substitution at the 9-position reduces (tobacco-pith assay) or suppresses (pea-bud assay) the phytohormonal activity of otherwise active 6-acylaminopurines. In isosteric derivatives, maximum activity occurs when the side chain has the same length as in 1⁶Ade. After the analysis of interactions between more or less active compounds, it is suggested that the differences in cytokinin activity could be related to unequal affinities for a hypothetical receptor site.     

Composés bromés de Rytiphlea tinctoria (Rhodophyceae)

Four aromatic bromo compounds have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of Rytiphlea tinctoria after treatment with diazomethane: 2,4-dibromo-1,3,5-trimethoxy-benzene,5,6,3′,5′-tetrabromo-3,4,2′,4′,6′-pentamethoxydiphenylmethane, 5,6-dibromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl alcohol and its ethyl ether. In addition to sterols, amino acids, this extract also contains quinonoid bromo-pigments which could play a rôle in photosensitisation of chlorophylls, a rôle normally taken by the phycobilins, in other Rhodophyceae.     

Étude de deux cent-cinquante souches de bacilles hétérolactiques isolés de vins

Résumé Les auteurs ont isolé plus de 700 souches de bactéries lactiques à partir de raisins, de moûts, de vins de diverses origines et à différents stades de conservation. Ils étudient ici 253 souches de bacilles hétérofermentaires, dans le but d'établir une classification simple et un catalogue permettant un repérage facile des souches.Il est commode de classer les souches d'après la fermentation des pentoses, en raison de la netteté de ces tests, alors que parfois ceux appliqués à d'autres sucres ont des caractères moins tranchés. On retrouve alors la classification qui avait été déjà donnée par Vaughn, Douglas et Fornachon en 1949.Les bacilles pentoses négatifs (26 souches) forment l'espèce Lactobacillus fructivorans. Ceux qui font fermenter seulement l'arabinose (4 souches) ou seulement le xylose (155 souches) correspondent respectivement à Lactobacillus desidiosus et à Lactobacillus hilgardii. L'espèce Lactobacillus brevis comprend les bacilles pentoses positifs (68 souches).

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A study of two hundred and fifty strains of lactic acid bacteria

Summary The authors have isolated more than 700 strains of lactic acid bacteria found in grapes, musts and wines of various origins and at different states of conservation. They study in this work 253 strains of heterofermentative bacilli in order to work out a classification and a catalogue allowing easy identification of the strains.It is convenient to classify the strains from the fermentation of pentoses, on account of the accuracy of these tests, tests on other sugars having sometimes less specific characters. The results are consistant with the classification already established by Vaughn, Douglas and Fornachon in 1949.Pentose negative bacilli (26 strains) constitute the species Lactobacillus fructivorans. The ones which ferment only arabinose (4 strains) or only xylose (155 strains) correspond to Lactobacillus desidiosus and Lactobacillus hilgardii. The pentose positive strains (68) belong to the species Lactobacillus brevis.

     

Microphytobenthos de deux sédiments subtidaux de Nord Bretagne

The annual variations of chloropigments (Chl. a and phaeopigments) concentrations at two reference stations — a subtidal sand in the Morlaix Bay and a subtidal sandy mud in the Rade de Brest (France) — are discussed. Analysis of correspondance elucidates the relations between the evolution of the microphytobenthic communities and the nitrogen nutrients in the interstitial water in the top layer of the sediments. The springblooms, for the two stations, are directly related to the decrease of nitrogen (NH₄ and NO₃), whereas during summer the results are more complex: competition and inhibitions between microphytes and bacteria are obvious. The obtained in situ results are compared with previously published culture experiments with axenic benthic microphytes, which showed selective absorption of nitrogen compounds.

     

Le comportement de la cellule végétale en présence de toxiques additionnés de substances tensio-actives

Résumé Le présent travail expose quelles sont les réactions de la cellule végétale lorsque cette dernière est soumise à l'association d'un toxique et d'un « mouillant » (Netzmittel).Les variables sont: la nature de la cellule végétale, celle du toxique et celle du mouillant.Alors que les mouillants cationiques, eux-mêmes toxiques, exercent une simple action additive, les mouillants anioniques révèlent dans de nombreux cas une synergie de toxicité. Celle-ci se manifeste surtout avec les champignons et les bactéries Gram+, les végétaux supérieurs se montrant indifférents. Cette synergie varie également avec la structure moléculaire du mouillant.Les mouillants non ioniques peuvent au contraire exercer une action antagoniste, c'est-à-dire diminuer la toxicité.Ce dernier phénomène se produit dans certains cas à la suite d'une réaction chimique entre le mouillant et le toxique; la nature de la cellule est alors indifférente. Dans d'autres cas, il y a absence de réaction chimique et le phénomène ne se produit qu'avec certains types de cellules (champignons surtout).La nature chimique du toxique joue, dans la synergie, un rôle moins important que dans l'antagonisme.Des hypothèses sont formulées pour tenter d'élucider le mécanisme des cas de synergie et d'antagonisme.     

Influence de la congélation sur le taux de fragmentation de l’ADN des spermes normaux à sévèrement altérés

Ejaculated sperm cryopreservation can be proposed in the course of anART procedure, particularly in the case of severe oligozoospermia likely to deteriorate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the freezing-thawing process on sperm DNA fragmentation (analysed by the TUNEL technique). The first step of this work consisted of adapting the TUNEL technique to perform this analysis on very poor quality sperm. A study was then performed on 72 patients divided into 4 groups according to their spermatic characteristics: group 1 [n=20] (“normal” parameters according to WHO), group 2 [n=24] (normal sperm count associated with asthenospermia and/or teratospermia), group 3 [n=16] (total sperm count between 5 and 20 M) and group 4 [n=12] (total sperm count below 5 M). Spermatic parameters and DNA fragmentation (performed by TUNEL in situ technique, 400 spermatozoa read per slide) were evaluated on raw semen - for all patients -, raw migrated sperm - for patients of group 1 and 2 -, migrated frozen-thawed sperm - for all patients-. A TUNEL technique adapted to oligospermic samples was developed, manipulating spermatozoa directly on the slide rather than in suspension, to limit spermatic sample loss. After the whole migration-freezing-thawing process, the mean DNA fragmentation rate decreased for patients in group 1 (2.9 vs 5.1%, p<0.0001) whereas this rate increased for patients in groups 2 (10.5 vs 6.8%, p<0.0001), 3 (10.7 vs 7.6%, p<0.05) and 4 (15.2 vs 8.7%, p<0.005). DNA fragmentation rates from thawed samples were also correlated with initial spermatic parameters. At the intermediary step, migration decreased DNA fragmentation rate in comparison with raw semen rate in both groups (1.9 vs 4.7% [p<0.05] in group 1; 2.5 vs 5.4% [p<0.05] in group 2). DNA fragmentation rate decreases after migration and then increases after freezing-thawing so that this rate is lower than the raw semen rate for “normal“ sperms and higher than the raw semen rate for altered sperms. Nevertheless, this DNA damage induced by cryopreservation on altered sperms remains moderate. Sperm “resistance” to cryopreservation also appears to depend on spermatic parameters. Cryopreservation may positively select spermatozoa, accelerating elimination of senescent spermatozoa by necrosis, so that early apoptotic spermatozoa from fresh ejaculate are not found in thawed samples. These results, that need to be completed by a study on a larger sample of oligospermic patients, encourage us to continue cryopreserving severely altered sperms.     

Chromosomes et hétérochromosomes de ténébrionidés

Sans résumé Avec 81 figures dans le texte     

Taxonomie numérique de lactobacilles isolés du vin

Résumé L'auteur a déterminé les relations taxonomiques existant entre 65 souches de lactobacilles isolés du vin et 4 souches de collection, à l'aide de l'analyse adansonienne. Sept phénons 80 et deux phénons 72 sont décrits: ces deux derniers correspondent aux sous genres Streptobacterium et Betabacterium. Deux phénons 80 sont assimilables aux espèces Lactobacillus casei et Lactobacillus plantarum. Les autres phénons comportant plus d'une souche ne correspondent à aucune espèce décrite.Ce travail montre que l'on peut mettre en évidence les caractères phénétiques les plus représentatifs pour les regrouper ensuite dans une clé d'identification et que l'on peut juger de la valeur taxonomique d'un caractère d'intérêt pratique.

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Numerical taxonomy of lactobacilli isolated from wines

Summary The author has established the taxonomic relationships between 65 strains of lactobacilli isolated from wines and 4 named cultures, by means of adansonian analysis. Seven 80 phenons and two 72 phenons are described. The latter correspond to the subgenera Streptobacterium and Betabacterium. Two 80 phenons answer to the species L. casei and L. plantarum. The others 80 phenons of more than a strain do not correspond to any known species.This study shows that we can isolate the most representative phenetic characters and gather them again in an identification key and that we can appreciate the taxonomic value of a practical character.

     

L'escargot ou les difficultés de l'hermaphrodisme

Summary

The article summarizes the research carried out in Besançon on the stylommatophoran snail Helix aspersa, a pulmonate gastropod mollusc.

The influence that external factors like photoperiod and temperature have on growth and reproduction was studied in this animal. The obtained results made possible a great development of snail breeding.

The potentialities of the hermaphroditism emerge from the observations made on the ovotestis: differentiation and development of the different cell types, presence of fibronectin, richness in neuropeptides, existence of male and female steroids, vitellogenesis processes.

In vivo experiments as well as in vitro cultures demonstrated the involvement of the cerebral complex in the control of reproduction. The dorsal bodies (DB)—(it consists of scattered cells)—stimulate the growth of the oocytes. The DB are under an inhibitory nervous control of the cerebral green cells (CGC); the FMRF-amide might be involved in this process.

A map of the neurons of the cerebral complex has been prepared. It shows the presence and the diversity of neuropeptides. Attention was focused on met-enkephalin and somatostatin. This later peptide seems to be involved in the shell growth. The active molecule, which was isolated from hemolymph and digestive gland is structurally quite similar to vertebrate somatostatin.

The results are compared with those obtained in other molluscs, especially in basommatophora. They reveal that the biological phenomena observed in the snail model are included in the fundamental processes, known in other invertebrates or vertebrates.     

Étude de quelques bacilles homolactiques isolés de vins

Résumé Les auteurs ont étudié 750 bactéries lactiques isolées de vins, en utilisant les tests et le système de classification de Rogosa et Sharpe. Parmi ce grand nombre de souches vingt-trois appartiennent au groupe des bacilles homolactiques et font l'objet du présent travail. Elles se répartissent de la façon suivante: 9 souches de Lactobacillus plantarum, 2 souches de Lactobacillus casei var. casei, 4 souches de Lactobacillus casei var. alactosus et 8 souches de Streptobacterium non classées, différentes des espèces précédentes.Les auteurs discutent la valcur de cette classification, lorsqu'on se place au point de vue technologique. Ils montrent qu'elle s'applique mal aux bactéries lactiques isolées de milieux fermentés acides comme le vin. Elle a peu d'intérêt pratique, car elle ne permet pas de repérer une souche et de prévoir par sa position systématique les constituants du vin que cette souche est susceptible de métaboliser.

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A study of some homofermentative lactic acid bacteria isolated from wines

Summary The authors have studied 750 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from wines. In this study the test and classification of Rogosa and Sharpe were used. Of the strains mentioned 23 belonged to the homolactie bacteria, including 9 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, 2 strains of Lactobacillus casei var. casei, 4 strains of Lactobacillus casei var. alactosus, and 8 strains of a non-identified Streptobacterium species.The authors discuss the value of the classification mentioned from the point of view of wine technology. They conclude that it cannot be applied in the case of lactic acid bacteria isolated from acid fermentation products such as wine. It is only of little practical interest because it does not render the identification of the strains possible, nor does it permit a prediction of the wine constituents which the strains concerned are able to metabolize.

     

Automation: quelques vérités de terrain...

Dans le cadre du forum ouvert sur BioTribune.com sur le thème de l’AUTOMATION, son modérateur, Damien Gruson, vous propose un extrait des discussions entre utilisateurs européens et industriels founisseurs. Au travers de ces dierses expériences, se dégagent quelques conseils souvent préalables à l’implantation de systèmes robotiques ou applicables à leur exploitation. Ces points importants sont tirés d’expériences de terrain, d’emploi quotidien ou résultent de réflexions avant la mise en place de robotique. Ces discussions sont permanentes et ouvertes sur le forum Automation de Bio Tribune.com et sont relancées par l’implantation de cette technologie en Europe et en France.     

Etude de la reponse à un stress hydrique de quelques varietés de riz pluvial et de riz irrigué

Résumé La transpiration de plants de riz cultivés sur sol en chambre de culture, est suivie en continu pendant une séquence déssèchement-irrigation. Les cycles jouraliers de transpiration sont présentés avant et pendant le stress hydrique. Quatre variétés montrent une augmentation de la transpiration nocturne qui disparait lors du stress hydrique. Il apparait que la régulation stomatique est indépendante du potentiel hydrique du sol jusqu'à une valeur seuil au-delà de laquelle la baisse de transpiration est proportionnelle à la baisse du potentiel hydrique. Cette valuer seuil est plus basse pour les variétés de type irrigué.

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Water stress response for some cultivars of upland- and lowland riceI. Effects on transpiration

Summary The transpiration of rice seedlings grown on soil in a growth chamber was observed during a soil drying/rewetting sequence. The diurnal cycles of transpiration are shown before and during the water stress period. Four cultivars showed an increase of transpiration during the night. This increase disappeared during the water stress period. The stomatal regulation appeared not to depend on the soil water potential until a certain value. Below this soil-water threshold, the decrease of transpiration was proportion to the decrease of water potential. This threshold value is lower for the rain-fed cultivars than for the irrigated cultivars.

     

Inhibiteurs anti-trypsine et activités protéolytiques des Albumines de graine de Vigna unguiculata

Summary The extracellular space of tentacles of Drosera capensis L. is divided into two compartments by cuticular material between cells of an endodermoid layer and by the nonporous cuticle of the stalk and neck. The distal compartment includes the mucilaginous secretion as well as the free space of the secretory cap, since the cuticle covering the cap is perforated by numerous 0.05–0.3 m pores. The proximal compartment includes xylem and the intercellular space of the stalk. The existence of the endodermoid partition is consistent with the observation that action potentials recorded extracellularly from the head may be positive-going while those recorded extracellularly from the stalk are negative-going. The partitioning is also consistent with the hypothesis previously proposed to explain why the amplitude of action potentials recorded from the mucilage varies as a function of the amplitude of the receptor potential.The living cells are united by plasmodesmata. Unusually abundant plasmodesmata were observed in the walls between endodermoid cells and neck cells, between neck cells and the next row of outer stalk cells, in the end walls connecting the outer stalk cells, and the end walls connecting the inner stalk cells: these strategically located plasmodesmata presumably permit the electrotonic spread of receptor potentials and action potentials between cells.