Effet de la farnesylacetone sur les syntheses proteiques de l'ovaire chez le crabe Carcinus maenas

Summary

We have analysed in vitro the effect of farnesylacetone, a substance produced by the androgenic gland of Crustacea, in a concentration of 20 ng/ml, on the protein synthesis in the ovary of Carcinus maenas. In winter, the farneslyacetone seems to be ineffective; the incorporation of labelled precursor per mass unity is then related to the weight of the sample. In summer, an activation of protein synthesis can be observed. These results do not depend on ovary maturation and concern all the proteins of the gonad.     

Analyse comparative de la séquence sexuelle chez les Ipopodes Oniscoidea de la série ligienne en relation avec le développement de la volvation chez les Armadillidiidae et les Armadillidae

A comparative study of the sexual sequence is carried out in four Oniscoidea of the ligiid series Porcellio laevis, Metoponorthus sexfasciatus (Porcellionidae), Armadillidium vulgare (Armadillidiidae) and Armadillo officinalis (Armadillidae). The differences between the four species chiefly appear in the precopulatory manoeuvres. The integration of coiling or uncoiling reactions in the sexual sequence of coiling forms is studied in two genera: Armadillidium and Armadillo. Results of the behavioral study provide information about the evolution of the group.     

Analyse formelle de circuits de régulation génétique: le contrôle de l'immunité chez les bactériophages lambdoïdes

This paper is an attempt to describe and analyze in formal terms a genetic circuit which is rather complex and reasonably well disentangled: the control of immunity in lambdoid bacteriophages. Known models are expressed as logic equations, which relate the stade of activity of genes to variables of three kinds: genetic variables which describe the genotype of the organism, environmental variables like temperature and memorization variables. The value of each memorization variable (presence or absence of a gene product) is related to the value of the corresponding function (operation or not of the gene) by two characteristic time delays, an «establishment delay and a «decay delay.From the equations, one can derive matrices which facilitate comparison between models by showing which stable states are predicted by each model. Implications of current models, which had apparently remained cryptic, have been realized and experimentally tested.From the matrices, one can derive graphs which show the pathways (sequences of states) consistent with each model. These graphs are frequently branched and in these cases one has to analyze which conditions determine that one pathway rather than another one, is followed.     

Evolution des activités protéolytiques digestives chez les Jeunes Mulgilidae

Proteolytic activity in the stomach, pyloric caeca and intestine decreases with increasing size in the three fish species Mugil auratus, M. capito and M. saliens. Differences between these species are found mainly in the gastric proteolytic activity which appears to be related to diet. This activity is pronounced in M. saliens whose diet is mainly carnivorous. Comparison of regression lines relating gastric proteolytic activity to size reveals differences which distinguish M. auratus from both of the other species. Total proteolytic activity exhibits high variability depending on the types of diet.     

Etude experimentale de L′auto-association des molécules modèles dipeptidiques. III. Influence de la dimerisation stéréosélective sur les spectres de résonance magnétique protonique

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of model dipeptide molecules R₁–C′₁O₁–N₂H₂–CHR₂–C′₂O₂–N₃H₃–R₃ in CCl₄ solutions exhibit splited signals when investigating on mixtures of L and D enantiomers differing from the racemic composition. The major effect is observed on amide proton signals which are the ones most sensitive to the ratio of aggregation. The stereoselective dimerization of enantiomeric molecules in the so-called C₅ conformational state is shown to be responsible for such a phenomenon, the intensity of which depends on the bulkiness of the side chain R₂. A theoretical approach is proposed which gives predictions in close agreement with our own experimental findings.     

Variations des zymogrammes estérasiques chez les larves de Palaemon serratus soumises à différentes durées de choc thermique

Palaemon serratus at larval stage 2, acclimatized at 16°, were subjected to a temperature increase of 15° for periods of 5, 20 or 40 min with or without return to the initial temperature for 12 h. The soluble protein concentration of larvae subjected to a thermal shock of 20 min duration is lower than in control larvae. Total esterase-2C activity per mg of soluble protein after a thermal shock of 20 min duration is less than in control larvae but, in contrast with larvae subjected to a shock of 40 min duration, the initial activity is restored after 12 hours. Esterase-2C activity zymograms, after polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, show twelve isozymes. The activity of each isozyme examined varies according to the duration of the thermal shock.