Modalités d'installation et d'évolutiondes Harpocératinés (ammonitina A) au Domérien inférieur dans le sud-Ouest de l'Europe (France,Portugal)

In Mesogea, the Harpoceratinae were known asearly as the end of the Lower Carixian. They later reached the sub-boreal province through the Alps or the South of the Iberic Peninsula. The analysis of the populations met in four crosssections of the Lower Domerian (Causses, Mâconnais, Franche-Comté, Portugal) showed the settling down of the Protogrammoceras isseli group that set up and evoluated in a similar way in the different areas in spite of a certain originality.On the one hand, it gave the cladogenetic groupP. monestieri-nitescens by diminution of the ribing density, strengthening of the ribs and simplification of the suture.On the other hand, a slower evolution give, near the end of the Stokesi zone, P. normanianum in the Paris Basin and in Burgundy, and P. lusitanicum in Portugal. At the same time, a new invader, P. celebratum, arrived in the Causses (and in Portugal).     

Sur le caractère probablement artificiel d'un C-benzyl flavonoïde obtenu à partir d'un hydrolysat de feuilles d'Hymenosporum flavum

Besides quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, at least three other flavonoids can be obtained from the leaves of Hymenosporum flavum after acid hydrolysis. One of these, a kaempferol derivative: p-hydroxyphenyl,(3,4′,5,7 -tetrahydroxy)-8-flavonyl, methylmethane or 8-α-methyl-C-(p-hydroxybenzyl)kaempferol has been identified by study of its spectral properties. It is probably an artifact formed during hydrochloric acid treatment of the leaves.     

Découverte de microfaunes de l'Albienmoyen et supérieur dans la vallée de Joux (Jura Vaudois,Suisse)

The discovery of Foraminifera and Ostracodesin the dark green, sandy-glauconitic marl clay in the Joux Valley (in the Vaudois Jura) suggests to date these sediments Middle and Upper Albian. The Ostracode associations are similar to those found in the Paris Basin, but different from those which characterize the subalpine region.     

Biogéographied'un groupe d'Échinides cénozoiques (Echinolampas et ses sous-genres Conolampas et Hypsoclypus)

Echinolampas is a subtropical genus living in rather shallow water; one may regards it as a climatic marker. The theory of continental drift affords a rather good explanation for its distribution in space during Cenozoic era. It appears in Old Wolrd during Paleocene and it occurs in Central America during Middle Eocene; that implies it had to cross the already broad Atlantic Ocean; but at that time this ocean is not as broad at it is now. Migration along the shelf area which rimmed North Atlantic might have been impossible, owing to disruption of land connection between Europe and North America. Probably the migration occured in low latitudes and pelagic larvae were transported by one of the two equatorial currents. Diversity of the genus has much decreased during Late Eocene. The cause may be chiefly due to climatic deterioration, resulting from marine communication between North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. Echinolampas occurs for the first time in Australia during Oligocene. One may suggest the possibility of a link between this late evidence and the quite remote position till then of Australian continent. During Miocene, the relative decrease in Echinolampas diversity in the Mediterranean Basin occurs as a result of the welding between Asia and Africa.     

Ammonites diartianus d'Orbigny, 1850,Vascoceratidae du cénomanien supérieur de saint-calais (Sarthe)

Ammonites diartianus d'Orbigny is a Vascocerasoof late Cenomanian (Sciponoceras gracile Zone) age, occuring in both Sarthe (France) and southern England. It is the earliest vascoceratid known from France, and its recognition is of great significance, lending support to recent suggestions that the classic Vascoceras gamai - mundaeChoffat group are of Upper Cenomanian age.     

Purification de l'alcool deshydrogénase de tomate par chromatographie d'affinité

Tomato alcohol dehydrogenase has been purified 99-fold by affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B with 37% yield. The enzyme so obtained is homogenous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By adding 20% glycerol to the extraction and purification buffers, an enzyme is obtained which is stable for several months at 4°. The molecular weight values determined by gel filtration (Sephadex G 200) and polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis on one hand and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate on the other, show that the enzyme exists in dimeric form.     

Relation métabolique entre l'arginine et l'acide γ-aminobutyrique dans le fruit de Castanea sativa: étude préliminaire de l'arginase

Analysis of the free amino acid pool in the chestnut fruit (Castanea sativa) shows that it is high in γ-aminobutyric acid. A metabolic connection between arginine and γ-aminobutyric acid is evident. Three enzymatic activities are involved: L-arginine ureohydrolase, L-ornithine 2-oxo-acid aminotransferase and L-glutamate carboxylyase.     

Nanisme écologique de deux espèces d'échinides irréguliers dans l'Hauterivien de la région de Castellane (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

Three species of irregular see-urchins form the settlement of a marly level (lower Hauterivian) of the Castellane area. Two of them are strongly smaller than the norm. Their stunting is prouved by ontogenic, mecanical, sedimentological and ecological arguments. The ecological grounds of stunting are discussed.     

Caracterisation d'une ATP-ase membranaire en presence d'une phosphatase acide dans les lutoïdes du latex d'Hevea brasiliensis

Latex lutoids constitute a polydispersed vacuole with lysosomal character. Lutoids possess a membrane which retains ATP-ase and acid phosphatase activity. Acid phosphatase may be inhibited by ammonium molybdate or phosphate, making it possible to characterize an ATP-ase with an optimum pH of between 7·5 and 8·0. This ATP-ase is Mg²⁺ dependent, does not require K⁺ specifically but is affected by the ionic concentration of the medium.     

Découverte du genre actuelTrigonognathus (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) dans le Lutétien des Landes (sud-ouest de la France). Remarques sur la denture de l’espèce actuelleTrigonognathus kabeyai

The dental morphology of the Recent squaliformTrigonognathus kabeyai is described and figured in detail for the first time. Some enigmatic teeth recently collected in the Lutetian of Landes (southwestern France) can be interpreted and identified as a new species (T. virginiae n. sp.) thanks to the study of the Recent genus. The discovery of a very specialized genus as early as the Lutetian indicates an early colonization of the bathyal habitat.     

Structure d'adhérencedes grains de pollen en tétrade du genre Classopollis PFLUG, 1953, de l'Hettangien de Saint-Fromont,Manche (France)

Palynological inventory of Saint-Fromont pit 0815 (Manche, France) related to Hettangian seems to show the conspecificity of Classopollis chateaunoviReyre, 1970, Classopollis kieseriReyre, 1970 and Classopollis harisiiMuir & Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, 1970. SEM pictures exibit some sculptural elements interpreted as structural attachments of grains in tetrad and compared to those of genus DicheiropollisTrevisan, 1971.     

Détection des différentes formes du prostate-specific antigen et autres kallicréines dans le cancer de la prostate

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 50 years old and the second leading cause of cancer death. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for the diagnosis and follow-up of prostate cancer. PSA, also called kallikrein 3, is a member of the human kallikrein-type serine protease family and circulates in the blood stream in the form of complexes with serum protease inhibitors and in free form. However, free PSA is also a heterogeneous mixture of different molecular PSA forms: proPSA, intact and clived mature forms. The clinical significance of these different forms is still unclear but their specific measurement in serum could improve the specificity of PSA for detecting cancer or predicting treatment outcome. Others kallikreins including kallikrein 2, 4, 11, 14 and 15 are also emerging as complementary markers to PSA for prostate cancer. Multiple detection of the different molecular forms of PSA, as well as of these kallikreins, in addition to total PSA, could significantly increase the diagnostic utility of PSA and may add prognostic value by bringing clinical information on the cancer progression.     

Analyse biostratigraphique et paléontologique de l'Albien marin d'Estremadura (Portugal)

The marine Albain from Estremadura is splited up into four Orbitolinidae zones, adjusted to biostratigraphic scales from mesogean province: zone with Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) minuta (lower to middle Albian); zone with Neorbitolinopsis conulus (base of upper Albian); zone with Orbitolina (Orbitolina) concava (top of upper Albian) and zone with Orbitolina (Orbitolina) duranddelgai (Vraconian). The vertical extension of the main fossils is replaced in the framework of these zones. The most interesting species for biostratigraphy, paleoecology or taxinomy are summarily described.     

Structure cristalline d'une deuxième forme de mélézitose monohydrate. Effet de l'environnement sur la géométrie d'un oligosaccharide

Melezitose [O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-fructofuranosyl α-d-glucopyranoside] monohydrate crystallizes in two polymorphic forms (I and II). The structure of form II, studied by X-ray crystallography, shows an orthorhombic cell having a 7.135 (4), b 15.362 (8), c 19.134 (8) Å, space group P2₁2₁2₁, and Z 4. The structure, solved by direct methods, was refined to a final value of R 0.045. The molecule of form II seems to be more constrained by its crystalline environment than that of form I. These constraints imply not only little variations in glycosidic bonds, but also a change of conformation for the furanose ring, and a perceptible deformation of the sucrose pyranose ring. This study gives an example of estimation of oligosaccharide molecular-flexibility.     

A propos des fossiles du Pliocène d'Aguilas(Sud d'Almeria,Espagne) découverte de Cirripèdes operculés (Crustacés) et discussion sur l'étho-écologie des formes épizoaires

A benthic taphocoenose from the Pliocene I of Aguilas (provinces of Murcia-Almeria, Southern Spain) conseals four Cirripedia (family of BalanidaeLeach): Balanus (Balanus) perforatus angustusGmelin, B. (B.) amphitriteDarwin, B. (Megabalanus) tintinnabulum tintinnabulumLinné and Creusia (Withersia) phryxaPajaud.The study of the last one is especially interestingfrom an ecological point of view. Indeed, all species, well-known in the Creusia-Pyrgoma group are more or less dependent on Anthozoa since Miocene, the cuplike basis of their shell buried on corallites. But not corallites were gathered in the deposits of Aguilas and the morphology of Creusia phryxa leads us to believe a fixation of the shell on a flaccid substratum. From which we may suppose that the host of this Cirriped was perhaps an Actiniaria.     

Role de l'intensite lumineuse rouge (630–670 nm) dans le determinisme photoperiodique de la diapause nymphale de Pieris brassicae

In previous communications we have reported the role of red light on the determinism of the pupal diapause of Pieris brassicae (630 to 670 nm, wavelengths corresponding to the maximum of absorption of pterobilin, the blue bile pigment present in the integument and haemolymph).Red light suppresses the diapausing effect of the 9-hr/24-hr photophase of white light (identical energy in both and similar to the energy under natural conditions). The activity of red light in two experimental conditions: 9-hr white light followed by 15 hr of red lights of different intensities, and 9-hr red lights of different intensities followed by 15 hr darkness is examined. The photoperiodic determinism of pupal diapause is discussed.