Failure of testicular development associated with a rearrangement of 9p24.1 proximal to the SNF2 gene

In 46,XY individuals, testes are determined by the activity of the SRY gene (sex-determining region Y), located on the short arm of the Ychromosome. The other genetic components of the cascade that leads to testis formation are unknown and may be located on the Xchromosome or on the autosomes. Evidence for the existence of several loci associated with failure of male sexual development is indicated by reports of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis associated with structural abnormalities of the Xchromosome or of autosomes (chromosomes9, 10, 11 and 17). In this report, we describe the investigation of a child presenting with multiple congenital abnormalities, mental retardation and partial testicular failure. The patient had a homogeneous de novo 46,XY,inv dup(9)(pter→p24.1::p21.1 →p23.3::p24.1→qter) chromosome complement. No deletion was found by either cytogenetic or molecular analysis. The SRY gene and DSS region showed no abnormalities. Southern blotting dosage analysis with 9p probes and fluorescent in situ hybridisation data indicated that the distal breakpoint of the duplicated fragment was located at 9p24.1, proximal to the SNF2 gene. We therefore suggest that a gene involved in normal testicular development and/or maintenance is present at this position on chromosome 9. Received: 20 January 1997 / Accepted: 5 November 1997     

Uptake,accumulation and metabolism of auxins in tobacco leaf protoplasts

Uptake and metabolism of exogenous naphthalene-1-acetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) have been studied in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) mesophyll protoplasts. Both auxins entered protoplasts by diffusion under the action of the transmembrane pH gradient without any detectable participation of an influx carrier. Molecules were accumulated by an anion-trapping mechanism and most of them were metabolized within hours, essentially as glucose-ester and amino-acid conjugates. Protoplasts were equipped with a functional auxin-efflux carrier as evidenced by the inhibitory effect of naphthylphtalamic acid on IAA efflux. Basically, similar mechanisms of NAA and IAA uptake occurred in protoplasts. However, the two auxins differed in their levels of accumulation, due to different membrane-transport characteristics, and the nature of the metabolites produced. This shows the need to estimate the accumulation and the metabolism of auxins when analyzing their effects in a given cell system. The internal auxin concentration could be modulated by changing the transmembrane pH gradient, giving an interesting perspective for discriminating between the effects of intra- and extracellular auxin on physiological processes.Abbreviations BA benzoic acid - C_i/C_e accumulation ratio of auxin - IAAasp N-[3-indolylacetyl]-dl-aspartic acid - NAA naphthalene-1-acetic acid - NAAasp N-[1-naphthylacetyl]-l-aspartic acid - NPA N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid The authors thank Dr. M. Caboche (I.N.R.A, Versailles, France) for his generous gifts of some amide derivatives of 1-NAA, Mr. P. Varennes and Dr. B. Das (I.C.S.N., C.N.R.S., Gif-sur-Yvette, France) for recording and interpreting the mass spectra of NAA glucose ester, and Prof. P. Manigault (Institut des Sciences Végétales, Gif-sur-Yvette) for microscopy measurements of protoplast dimensions. This work was supported by funds from the C.N.R.S, I.N.R.A, and E.E.C.     

Reduction of oxidized inorganic nitrogen compounds by a new strain of Thiobacillus denitrificans

Denitrification by Thiobacillus denitrificans "RT" strain was investigated using manometry and gas chromatography. 1. From nitrate, resting cells produced only nitrogen anaerobically with thiosulfate as the electron donor. The data suggest that nitrate was assimilated and dissimilated by the same nitrate reductase, assayed with benzyl-viologen as the electron donor. 2. From nitrite, whole cells produced nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and nitrogen, using thiosulfate as the electron donor; nitrogen was the final product of the reduction. Crude extract reduced nitrite to nitrogen with p-phenylene-diamine and dimethyl-p-phenylene diamine as the electron donors, and produced nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and nitrogen with tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine as the electron donor. Nitrite was reduced to nitric oxide and nitrous oxide by crude extract using ascorbate-phenazine methosulfate as the electron donor. 3. From nitric oxide, whole cells produced nitrous oxide and nitrogen using thiosulfate as the electron donor, nitrogen was the final reduction product. Nitric oxide was reduced to nitrous oxide by crude extract with the ascorbate-phenazine methosulfate system. 4. Whole cells reduced nitrous oxide to nitrogen with thiosulfate as the electron donor. It was not possible to detect any nitrous oxide reductase activity in crude extract. 5. A scheme was of denitrification by Thiobacillus denitrificans "RT" strain.     

Messinian palaeoenvironments and hydrology in Sicily (Italy): The dinoflagellate cyst record

Hydrological conditions prevailing before, during and after the Messinian salinity crisis in Sicily have been approached using dinoflagellate cyst records. The synthetic sequence considered is based on five classical sections from the Caltanissetta Basin. Our interpretations are based on the recognition of autochthonous, allochthonous and reworked population among the dinocyst assemblages. For the first time, sea-surface temperatures and seasonal salinity contrasts were tentatively reconstructed using a “Mutual Climatic Range Method”. Sicilian late Tortonian deposits correspond to marine environment with significant terrestrial inputs favourable to eutrophic dinocyst species. Immediately after the beginning of the Messinian Stage, euryhaline assemblages took place, followed by meso-hyperhaline taxa, within a general trend to shallowing. At the end of the Tripoli diatomitic Formation, environment appears confined, with regular oceanic inflows. Such marine inflows remain persistent during the deposition of the salt Member, witnessing the probable persistence of nearby normal marine sea-surface water conditions in the Mediterranean Sea but with possible reduced hydrological circulation and/or low nutrient component. Such inflows are slightly decreasing up to the top of the Sicilian Upper Evaporites. At the same time, river inputs appear weak during the salt deposition, as the consequence of a rather dry climatic context. As shown by reworking activity, terrestrial inputs increase progressively from the base of the Upper Evaporites. During the Lago Mare period, while climate remains rather dry (absence of freshwater algae inputs, very low amount in trees requiring humid conditions), local deposition environment is confined with mesohaline to hypohaline sea-surface waters, in a context with relatively high seasonal sea-surface salinity contrast (up to 6‰). The very high reworking observed in the Arenazzolo silts, in addition to slightly increasing water depth, led us to consider the presence of a discontinuity between the Lago Mare and the Arenazzolo Fms. We consider the Arenazzolo Formation as a transgressive facies following a deep downcutting period. The Arenazzolo Formation presents a two-step development. The first one, correlative with the presence of a G. etrusca (a species with Paratethyan affinities), corresponds to a relative high-stand sea-level with oceanic influxes, low seasonal sea-surface salinity contrast and probable more humid context, as revealed by the important freshwater algal inputs. During the second step, salinity becomes much more variable, with a clear increase of seasonal sea-surface salinity contrast, a possible slight mean sea-surface temperature increase (only few degrees) and a clear weakening of the river inputs. Taking the proposed Zanclean position of the Arenazzolo Fm. into consideration, we state that mean sea-surface temperature did not change significantly from the base of the Messinian to the earliest Zanclean. At 5.33 Ma, the suddenly achieved flooding restored a fair, deep oceanic environment characterized, at the beginning, by a clear mean sea-surface temperature cooling (up to 6-7 °C) and a nutrient depletion, associated with the basins starvation. Sea-surface salinities were normal, with very low seasonal contrast. Hydrodynamics then nutrient supply became then quite normal from c.a. 5.08 Ma. The status of the Sicilian Caltanissetta Basin as a marginal basin although fastly deepening and the stratigraphical location of the Messinian discontinuity at the base of the Arenazzolo is the scenario that best matches our dinocyst record.     

Purification and identification of sperm surface proteins and changes during epididymal maturation

Surface membrane proteins have a key role in the sequential interactions between spermatozoa and oocytes. The aim of this study was to characterize protein changes occurring during post-testicular differentiation using a new overall approach to study surface membrane proteins of spermatozoa. A dedicated protocol based on specific purification of surface membrane proteins labeled with sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin was developed for this purpose. Appropriate gel electrophoresis separation and purification methods combined with standard proteomic methods were then used to identify and quantify surface membrane proteins from immature and mature spermatozoa. Membrane-associated proteins were discriminated from integral membrane proteins by differential solubilization. Protein regionalization on the spermatozoon surface was achieved by comparative analysis of the surface protein extracts from the entire spermatozoa and from periacrosomal sperm plasma membranes. Identification of several known proteins and of new proteins related to the process of epididymal maturation showed the reliability of this protocol for specific purification of a subproteome and identification of new sperm membrane proteins. This approach opens up a new area in the search for male fertility markers.     

Respiratory variations of aortic VTI: a new index of hypovolemia and fluid responsiveness

In 12 mechanically ventilated and anesthetized rabbits, we investigated whether the magnitude of respiratory changes in the aortic velocity time integral (VTI(Ao)), recorded by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during a stepwise blood withdrawal and restitution, could be used as a reliable indicator of volume depletion and responsiveness. At each step, left and right ventricular dimensions and the aortic diameter and VTI(Ao) were recorded to calculate stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO). Respiratory changes of VTI(Ao) (maximal - minimal values divided by their respective means) were calculated. The amount of blood withdrawal correlated negatively with left and right ventricular diastolic diameters, VTI(Ao), SV, and CO and correlated directly with respiratory changes of VTI(Ao). Respiratory VTI(Ao) variations (but not other parameters) at the last blood withdrawal step was also correlated with changes in SV after blood restitution (r = 0.83, P < 0.001). In conclusion, respiratory variations in VTI(Ao) using TTE appear to be a sensitive index of blood volume depletion and restitution. This dynamic parameter predicted fluid responsiveness more reliably than static markers of cardiac preload.     

Bacterial dynamics in steady-state biofilters: beyond functional stability

The spatial and temporal dynamics of microbial community structure and function were surveyed in duplicated woodchip-biofilters operated under constant conditions for 231 days. The contaminated gaseous stream for treatment was representative of composting emissions, included ammonia, dimethyl disulfide and a mixture of five oxygenated volatile organic compounds. The community structure and diversity were investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis on 16S rRNA gene fragments. During the first 42 days, microbial acclimatization revealed the influence of operating conditions and contaminant loading on the biofiltration community structure and diversity, as well as the limited impact of inoculum compared to the greater persistence of the endogenous woodchip community. During long-term operation, a high and stable removal efficiency was maintained despite a highly dynamic microbial community, suggesting the probable functional redundancy of the community. Most of the contaminant removal occurred in the first compartment, near the gas inlet, where the microbial diversity was the highest. The stratification of the microbial structures along the filter bed was statistically correlated to the longitudinal distribution of environmental conditions (selective pressure imposed by contaminant concentrations) and function (contaminant elimination capacity), highlighting the central role of the bacterial community. The reproducibility of microbial succession in replicates suggests that the community changes were presumably driven by a deterministic process.     

New nitrogen mustards structurally related to (L)-carnitine

Enantiopure nitrogen mustards which mimic (L)-carnitine framework are prepared by a multi-step synthesis from the (R)-di-tert-butyl malate and their antitumor properties evaluated.     

A two-dimensional proteome map of maize endosperm

We have established a proteome reference map for maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification with LC-MS/MS analysis. This investigation focussed on proteins in major spots in a 4-7 pI range and 10-100 kDa M(r) range. Among the 632 protein spots processed, 496 were identified by matching against the NCBInr and ZMtuc-tus databases (using the SEQUEST software). Forty-two per cent of the proteins were identified against maize sequences, 23% against rice sequences and 21% against Arabidopsis sequences. Identified proteins were not only cytoplasmic but also nuclear, mitochondrial or amyloplastic. Metabolic processes, protein destination, protein synthesis, cell rescue, defense, cell death and ageing are the most abundant functional categories, comprising almost half of the 632 proteins analyzed in our study. This proteome map constitutes a powerful tool for physiological studies and is the first step for investigating the maize endosperm development.