Existence of an ejaculatory-like reaction in ewes ovariectomized and treated with androgens in adulthood

The complete behavioral repertoire of male sexual activity can be observed during daily androgen treatment (testosterone propionate, 15 mg/day) of normal ewes ovariectomized as adults. This includes the ejaculatory pattern (deep thrust accompanied by a rapid backwards movement of the head) which is followed by a dramatic decrease in the frequency of sexual interactions, similar to the male's postejaculatory reduction of activity. However, the sexual performances of the genetic females remain lower than those of normal males in ejaculation latency, postejaculation latency, and mount/ejaculation ratio.     

Isolation of the RAD18 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and construction of rad18 deletion mutants

Summary The RAD18 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is involved in mutagenic DNA repair. We describe its isolation from a yeast library introduced into the centromeric YCp50 vector, a low copy number plasmid. The insert was sublconed into YCp50 and into the multicopy YRp7 plasmid. RAD18 is not toxic when present in multiple copies but the UV survival response indicates an heterogeneity in the cell population, a fraction of it being more sensitive. A DNA segment, close to RAD18, is toxic on the multicopy plasmid and may correspond to the tRAN sup61 known to be tightly linked to RAD18. Chromosomal deletions of RAD18 were constructed. The gene is not essential and the deleted strains have the properties of single site mutants. Thus, RAD18 appears to be essentially involved in DNA repair metabolism.     

Detection by DGGE of a new polymorphism closely linked to the adenomatous polyposis coli region

Summary The EF5.44 locus is in close proximity to the chromosome 5 region to which the genetic defect responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis has been mapped. We have devised two oligonucleotides that promote the specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplificiation of a 365-bp sequence in this region. Analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the resulting fragment has unravelled individual differences that could be identified as a single base pair change in aMnlI restriction site. This PCR assayable polymorphism increases the informativeness at this locus, and should be useful in the presymptomatic diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis.     

Introduction dans le Sud-Est de la france d'un parasite:Pauesia cedrobii [Hym.: Aphidiidae] du puceron:Cedrobium laportei [Hom.: Lachnidae] du cèdre de l'atlas:Cedrus atlantica

Résumé Le parasitePauesia cedrobii Stary et Leclant, spécifique du puceron du CèdreCedrobium laportei Remaudière, a été récolté dans le Moyen-Atlas, (Maroc) puis introduit dans un peuplement de cèdre (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) du sud-est de la France au printemps 1981. La méthode utilisée a consisté en une introduction directe des parasites, préalablement isolés sur le lieu de récolte (momies) puis mis à éclore en chambre climatisée de fa?on à éliminer les hyperparasites. Après accouplement, 225 adultes ont été introduits dans des manchons installés sur des rameaux abritant des colonies deC. laportei. L'évolution des populations de l'h?te et du parasite a été suivie au niveau des points de lacher d'une part, et dans la parcelle d'autre part. L'installation définitive du parasite dans la parcelle s'est produite, 1 an après le lacher, grace à un automne et à un hiver particulièrement doux, qui ont favorisé la multiplication de l'h?te. Le parasite est définitivement implanté: il est encore présent 4 années après le lacher. Entre temps, il a été étendu à d'autres forêts de cèdre du sud-est de la France. Huit espèces d'hyperparasites autochtones se sont portés surP. cedrobii, mais ceci ne remet pas en cause la réussite de l'introduction de l'aphidiide. Avec la collaboration technique deE. Robert, A. Chalon, J. Chizky.     

A UV-supersensitive mutant in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Summary A high UV-sensitive mutant was obtained from a UV-sensitive strain of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe after a mutagenic treatment. By genetic analysis, it was possible to distinguish two independent loci. The double mutant is supersensitive, that is more UV-sensitive than either of the two single mutants. This suggests that the mutations involved interfere with two repair pathways that are, at least partially, independent of each other.Some properties of the two single mutants were studied. These mutants differ notably in their response to caffeine, to liquid-holding, to exposure to visible light after UV irradiation, and in their UV-sensitive during the logarithmic growth phase.Comparison of the properties of the wild-type strain and of the different UV sensitive mutants leads to the conclusion that one repair pathway is used preferentially in the wild-type strain.Abbreviations DRF dose reduction factor - LH liquid holding     

Evolution of the ATP-binding-cassette transmembrane transporters of vertebrates

The ATP-binding-cassette transmembrane transporters (ABC transporters) known from vertebrates belong to four major subfamilies: (1) the P- glycoproteins (Pgp); (2) the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulators (CFTR); (3) the Tap proteins encoded with the major histocompatibility complex of mammals; and (4) the peroxisomal membrane proteins. Both Pgp and CFTR have a structure suggesting a past internal gene duplication; a phylogenetic analysis indicated that these duplications occurred independently, while an independent tandem gene duplication occurred in the case of the Tap family. Both the Pgp and Tap proteins show evidence of relationship to bacterial ABC transporters lacking internal duplication, and both are significantly more closely related to the HlyB and MsbA families of transporters from purple bacteria than they are to ABC transporters from nonpurple bacteria. The simplest hypothesis to explain this observation is that eukaryotic Pgp and Tap genes are descended from a mitochondrial gene or genes that were subsequently translocated to the nuclear genome. The Pgp genes of eukaryotes are characterized by a remarkable degree of convergent evolution between the ATP-binding cassettes of their N- terminal and C-terminal halves, whereas no such convergence is seen between the two halves of CFTR genes or between the duplicated Tap genes. Exon 13 of the CFTR gene, which encodes a putative regulatory domain not found in other ABC transporters apart from CFTR, showed high levels of both synonymous and nonsynonymous difference in comparisons among different mammalian species, suggesting that this region is a mutational hot spot.