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.     

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.     

Scolécodontes,assemblage et appareil de vers annelidespolychetes errantes de l'aptien de la région d'Agadir,Maroc

From the Aptian scolecodonts inventory of the Agadir area one jaw apparatus and one joining of polychetes are reconstructed. One is the elementary species Schistomeringos expectatusSzaniawski & Gazdzicki, 1978, the oldest representative of the multielementary family Dorvilleidae Chamberlin 1919. The other is a representative of either the multielementary families Atraktoprionidae Kielan Jaworowska 1966 emend. Kozur, 1970 or Arabellidae Hartman 1944. This joining is considered as an hypothesis since all the necessary criteria, defined by H. Szaniawski & A. Gazdzicki 1978, are not all present.     

Obtention de lignées permanentes d'hémocytes de blatte. Caractéristiques physiologiques et ultrastructurales

Two new cell lines were established from larval and adult cockroach haemolymph. The cells show typical characteristics of plasmatocytes, but under different conditions of cultivation, they modulate from small dividing cells (prohaemocytes) to large storing cells (granulocytes, adipohaemocytes etc.). Consequently, the very confusing haemocyte nomenclature must be reconsidered taking into account the cell physiology. Biochemical analysis of the metabolized culture medium established bacteriolytic activity and chitinase secretion (two enzymes). Moreover, in the same medium we found a macromolecular factor inducing spermatogenesis in cultured germinal cysts of the Cynthia silkworm. All these characteristics of in vitro haemocytes are discussed to explain the involvement of blood cells in insect physiology and especially in immunity, gametogenesis, and ecdysis.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Action de l'ecdystérone sur l'apolysis et l'ecdysis de divers crustacés isopodes

Ecdysterone acts differently according to the period of the moulting cycle when it is applied. In period C it induces apolysis, while at the beginning of apolysis it delays ecdysis. Experiments show that the exoskeleton cannot be rejected in the presence of ecdysterone. The possibility of stopping exuviation or ecdysis with ecdysterone seems to prove that this phenomenon is controlled by a particular factor called the factor of exuviation or the ecdysis factor. Ecdysterone would control only the release of this specific factor but would not prevent its action.     

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.     

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.     

Trace nouvelle de locomotion de Chélonienet figures d'émersion associées dans les calcaires lithographiques de Cerin (Kimméridgien supérieur,Ain, France)

The first tetrapod Vertebrate track discovered in the late Kimmeridgian lithographic limestones of Cerin (Ain-France), is descrbed as a new ichnospecies, named Chelonichnium cerinense. The characteristics of the track, which is about 7 m long, suggest that it was made by a large Chelonian, but none of the fossil turtles known so far from Cerin is likely to be the author of these footprints. The ground on which the animal walked was apparently very wet, superficially soft, and sloping. Moreover, this track is associated to soft sediment slides, confirming emersion and slope. The depositional environment is interpreted as a platform located behind a «ribbon of islands. This irregular surface was at times emerged and terrestrial tetrapods could then leave tracks on the superficial layer.     

Évolution des constituants biochimiques des principaux compartiments de l'oursin Arbacia lixula (L.) au cours d'un cycle sexuel et effets d'un jeûne de courte durée au cours de la maturation sexuelle

The importance of the different compartments of the body in Arbacia lixula (L.) has been investigated by means of short duration starvation experiments carried out during periods of sexual rest and of maturity. The oxygen consumption was also determined during those two phases of the sexual cycle. The amount of calories furnished by the transformation of the biochemical constituents where significant lowering of the levels has been noted, cover largely the needs of standard metabolism.Annual variations of the protein, lipid and carbohydrate percentage in the 3 compartments: test, gut, gonads, have been followed from September 1973 to May 1974. An increase in the proteins is observed in the gonads from the beginning of growth to maturity, as well as an increase in the carbohydrates and the lipids during the period of growth. The carbohydrates of the gut increase in winter and the lipids in spring.An estimate has been made of the quantity of energy liberated by the 3 compartments on the death of the sea urchin.     

Faunes d'oiseaux du pléistocène de France: Systématique, évolution et adaptation,interprétation paléoclimatique

Statistical comparison between bird populations from Lower and Middle Pleistocene and present ones makes it possible to demonstrate evolutionnary shifts such as increase in size or, on the contrary, decrease in size in some lineages and to discover some species or subspecies already found in Central Europe, in layers of the same epoch. In some other lineages the observed variations seem to be regarded as possible adaptations to local geographical conditions.Moreover the study of the birds contributes richly to the reconstitution of climates and biotops. The percentage variations of «cold birds in a given site makes it possible to confirm climatic fluctuations already discovered by other methods of study.     

Figures sédimentaireset traces d'origine biologique du Trias moyen de la bordure orientale du Massif Central signification sédimentologique et paléoécologique

The sandstones with foot-prints of reptiles and saltcasts from the Middle Triassic of the eastern border of the Massif Central (France) show a striking reptilian ichnofauna. The numerous sedimentary figures and trace fossils which are described here allow to deduce the following characteristics of the depositional environment: shallow water, lower flow regime, periodical increase of salinity. The reptiles used to pass through that environment where numerous stretches of water alternated with emerged, plant overgrown areas.     

Influence du piclorame sur l'activité phénylalanine-ammoniac lyase de Nicotiana tabacum induite par la réaction d'hypersensibilité au virus de la mosaïque du tabac

In Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi n.c. phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity, which increases significantly during the hypersensitivity reaction to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), is only partially affected when plants are treated with piclorame, which is known to be an inhibitor of PAL in vivo. Using piclorame together with TMV, it has been possible to distinguish between that increase in PAL activity due to the virus and that dependent on the photoperiod.     

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.