Intracellular Localization of 3H-IAA in the Apical Bud of Lycopersicon esculentum

Driss-Ecole, D. and Perbal, G. 1987. Intracellular localizationof ³H-IAA in the apical bud of Lycopersicon esculentum.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 1362–1372. High resolution autoradiography of ³H-IAA was performed on ultra-thinsections of the apical bud of Lycopersicon esculentum treatedby DCC or glutaraldehyde. A quantitative study of the localizationof the labelling in the compartments (cell wall, cytoplasm,vacuoles and nucleus) of four types of cells (cells of the lateralzone of the apex, cells of the pith meristem, proximal and distalcells of the upper part of the pith) was made. The statisticalanalysis of the results has proved that the variability of thelabelling of the cell compartments in the four cell types wassimilar after treatment by DCC or glutaraldehyde. The densityof labelling is higher in each compartment of the meristematiccells compared with those of the differentiating cells. Thecells of the pith meristem can be distinguished from the meristematiccells of the lateral zone of the apex by a greater density oflabelling in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. These two cellulartypes contain a high density of radioactivity in vacuoles. Byconsidering the percentage of labelling of each compartmentrelative to the total labelling in the cell, it can be shownthat the meristematic cells are characterized by a high percentagein the nucleus whereas the vacuoles of the differentiating cellscontain the highest percentage of radioactivity. Key words: ³H-IAA, tomato shoot     

The Mechanism of Geoperception in Lentil Roots

The sediment of the amyloplasts in the statocytes of lentilroots was analysed in two different samples of seedlings. Theroots of the first sample (HP) were grown in a horizatal position,whereas thoes of the second sample (VP+20) were grown in a horizontalposition and then exposure to give a response). It is demonstratedthat the statolish can almost enter into contact with the plasmamembrane lining the longitudinal wall of the statocytes of theHP sample. However, these organelles in the VP+20 sample areable to provoke a geotropic stimulation though they are sedimentedat a distance of 0.1350–0.2600 µm from the plasmalemma.From these data it is concluded that the cytoplasmic structureswhich may play a role in the geotropic stimulation are: (1)the endoplasmic reticulum located along the longitudianl wallof the statocytes and (2) the microtubules or the plasmalemmaif the action of the statoliths is transmitted by the parietalcytoplasm. The large aggregations of endoplasmic reticulum whichare situated in the distal part of the central root cap cellswould not have any role in the perception of gravity by roots.These results are discussed in the light of recent work showingthe action of a growth inibitor in the geotropic reaction ofroots.     

Perception et réaction géotropiques de l'épicotyle d'Asparagus officinalis

Geoperception and georeaction in Asparagus officinalis epicotyls The location and the role of the statenchyma were investigated in Asparagus officinalis epicotyls 1, 2 or 3 cm in length. The statocytes represent a monocellular sheath which comprises the outer layer of the pericycle. Three phases of differentiation (S₁, S₂, S₃) of the statocytes may be distinguished by criteria of cell length, the state of vacuolisation and the sedimentation of amyloplasts and nuclei with respect to gravity. The statenchyma was found to be located only in the first 10 mm of the epicotyl 1, 2 or 3 cm in length; in effect the oldest statocytes (S₃) differentiate into sclerenchyma beneath this level. The geotropic curvature of the epicotyls begins with a positive (downward) curvature and the negative (upward) response is only realized after 15–30 min of geotropic stimulation. The upper limit of the bending is located in the zone containing the mature statocytes (S₃), while the lower limit is located much closer to the base of the epicotyl. Experiments on decapitation of the epicotyls have indicated that the S₁ and S₂ statocytes do not play an important role in the perception of gravity. However, with S₃ statocytes, it has been demonstrated that there is a statistical correlation between the initial rate of curvature of the epicotyls and the length of their sheaths. Thus, the longer the sheath, the more the epicotyls curve. From the results obtained it is proposed that the statocytes are responsible for the geotropic perception of Asparagus officinalis epicotyls.     

THE ‘WARRIOR GENE’ AND THE MÃORI PEOPLE: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GENETICISTS

The ‘gene of’ is a teleosemantic expression that conveys a simplistic and linear relationship between a gene and a phenotype. Throughout the 20th century, geneticists studied these genes of traits. The studies were often polemical when they concerned human traits: the ‘crime gene’, ‘poverty gene’, ‘IQ gene’, ‘gay gene’ or ‘gene of alcoholism’. Quite recently, a controversy occurred in 2006 in New Zealand that started with the claim that a ‘warrior gene’ exists in the Mãori community. This claim came from a geneticist working on the MAOA gene. This article is interested in the responsibility of that researcher regarding the origin of the controversy. Several errors were made: overestimation of results, abusive use of the ‘gene of’ kind of expression, poor communication with the media and a lack of scientific culture. The issues of the debate were not taken into account sufficiently, either from the political, social, ethical or even the genetic points of view. After more than 100 years of debates around ‘genes of’ all kinds (here, the ‘warrior gene’), geneticists may not hide themselves behind the media when a controversy occurs. Responsibilities have to be assumed.     

Relation entre réaction géotropique et évolution du statenchyme dans la racine d'Asperge

Relationship between the Geotropic Response and the Evolution of the Statenchyma in Roots of Asparagus officinalis. The evolution of the statenchyma in roots of Asparagus of ficinalis seedlings, grown in obscurity, was followed during the first 17 days. After 7 days of etiolation, a decrease of both the average diameter of the amyloplasts and the average number of these organelles was observed in the central root cap cells. If the seedlings were illuminated (with white light) from the 7th day, the average number of statoliths increased rapidly in the statocytes. The volume of these organelles undergoes the same variation in etiolated and in illuminated plants. The initial rate of curvature (V_i) of the roots (stimulated in a horizontal position) and the volume of amyloplasts (V_ac) in their caps were analysed as a function of the time of germination in obscurity (from the 8th to the 17th day). It was found that V_i increased as a linear function of the logarithm of V_ac, which confirms that the weight of the amyloplasts of the statocytes may play a role in the geotropic stimulation of the roots.     

nov基因的研究

nov基因是最近发现的一种新的细胞癌基因,在细胞的增殖、癌变及胚胎发育过程中可能起着重要的调节作用.文章综述了nov基因的发现、结构功能、表达调节特点以及与相关基因的关系.