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Integrative animal, microbial and plant biology: dialogue between experiment and modelling.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19909916 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies)
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Christophe C, Houllier F Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Modeling the 3D functional architecture of the nucleus in animal and plant kingdoms.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Compartmentalization is one of the fundamental principles which underly nuclear function. Numerous studies describe complex and sometimes conflicting relationships between nuclear gene positioning and transcription regulation. Therefore the question is whether topological landmarks and/or organization principles exist to describe the nuclear architecture and, if existing, whether these principles are identical in the animal and plant kingdoms. In the frame of an agroBI-INRA program on nuclear architecture, we set up a multidisciplinary approach combining biological studies, spatial statistics and 3D modeling to investi...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Gaudin V, Andrey P, Devinoy E, Kress C, Kieu K, Beaujean N, Maurin Y, Debey P Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Towards a systems biology approach of G protein-coupled receptor signalling: challenges and expectations.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control all the main physiological functions and are targeted by more than 50% of therapeutics. Our perception of GPCRs signalling has grown increasingly complex since it is now accepted that they activate large signalling networks which are integrating the information fluxes into appropriate biological responses. These concepts lead the way to the development of pathway-selective agonists (or antagonists) with fewer side effects. Systems biology approaches focused on GPCR-mediated signalling would help dealing with the huge complexity of these mechanisms therefore speeding-up the di...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Heitzler D, Crépieux P, Poupon A, Clément F, Fages F, Reiter E Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Examination of post-transcriptional regulations in prokaryotes by integrative biology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In cells, mRNA and protein levels are fine-regulated to adjust continuously to cellular needs. Recently, several large-scale studies in prokaryotes showed weak correlations between mRNA and protein abundances highlighting the significant importance of post-transcriptional regulations. Post-transcriptional regulations involve dynamic adaptation of mRNA and protein turnover and also modulation of the efficiency of mRNA translation into protein. mRNA and protein stabilities are function of both sequence determinants and decay processes. Translation efficiency is mainly dependent on ribosome synthesis and activity. Concili...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Picard F, Dressaire C, Girbal L, Cocaign-Bousquet M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

From genes to shape: understanding the control of morphogenesis at the shoot meristem in higher plants using systems biology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The shoot apical meristem is a population of stem cells which controls the initiation of leaves, flowers and branches during the entire life of the plant. Although we have gained significant new insight in the nature of the genetic networks and cellular processes that control meristem function, major questions have remained unsolved. It has been difficult, for instance, to define the precise role of genetic determinants in controlling morphogenesis and the control of shape is currently a major and largely unresolved issue in plant biology. This is a difficult task, notably because it is close to impossible to predict t...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Traas J, Hamant O Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Cellular organization of the trophoblastic epithelium in elongating conceptuses of ruminants.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We present a computational approach to analyze the cellular organization during the elongation process of the ovine conceptus. First, we selected a set of mathematical descriptors to quantify cell geometry and cell neighborhood within the external epithelial layer of the conceptus: the trophoblast. Second, we established a hybrid image segmentation framework, and analyzed the extracted features with statistical tools to describe and compare the spatio-temporal dynamics of cellular organization within this epithelium. The main results indicated that the average geometry and neighborhood of the trophoblast cells are relative...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Wang J, Guillomot M, Hue I Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Systems biology for plant breeding: the example of flowering time in pea.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
As part of a breeding strategy applied to pea (Pisum sativum L.), we propose the use of modelling as a tool for studying flowering time. The pea, both a crop and a model species for developmental processes, represents a valuable tool for systems biology approaches. A preliminary computational model for flowering control was previously developed based on genetic and physiological approaches. This paper discusses possible improvements of the model based on recent molecular advances on the regulation of flowering in peas and the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. A combination of a genetic approach together with agroecop...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Wenden B, Rameau C Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

An integrative genomics approach for deciphering the complex interactions between ascorbate metabolism and fruit growth and composition in tomato.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
M, Causse M, Baldet P, Rothan C Very few reports have studied the interactions between ascorbate and fruit metabolism. In order to get insights into the complex relationships between ascorbate biosynthesis/recycling and other metabolic pathways in the fruit, we undertook a fruit systems biology approach. To this end, we have produced tomato transgenic lines altered in ascorbate content and redox ratio by RNAi-targeting several key enzymes involved in ascorbate biosynthesis (2 enzymes) and recycling (2 enzymes). In the VTC (ViTamin C) Fruit project, we then generated phenotypic and genomic (transcriptome, proteome, met...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Garcia V, Stevens R, Gil L, Gilbert L, Gest N, Petit J, Faurobert M, Maucourt M, Deborde C, Moing A, Poessel JL, Jacob D, Bouchet JP, Giraudel JL, Gouble B, Page D, Alhagdow M, Massot C, Gautier H, Lemaire-Chamley M, de Daruvar A, Rolin D, Usadel B, Lahay Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Analysis and modeling of the integrative response of Medicago truncatula to nitrogen constraints.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
An integrative biology approach was conducted in Medicago truncatula for: (i) unraveling the coordinated regulation of NO3-, NH4+ and N(2) acquisition by legumes to fulfill the plant N demand; and (ii) modeling the emerging properties occurring at the whole plant level. Upon localized addition of a high level of mineral N, the three N acquisition pathways displayed similar systemic feedback repression to adjust N acquisition capacities to the plant N status. Genes associated to these responses were in contrast rather specific to the N source. Following an N deficit, NO3- fed plants maintained efficiently their N status...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Salon C, Lepetit M, Gamas P, Jeudy C, Moreau S, Moreau D, Voisin AS, Duc G, Bourion V, Munier-Jolain N Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Systemic analysis of the symbiotic function of Buchnera aphidicola, the primary endosymbiont of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Buchnera aphidicola is the primary obligate intracellular symbiont of most aphid species. B. aphidicola and aphids have been evolving in parallel since their association started, about 150 Myr ago. Both partners have lost their autonomy, and aphid diversification has been confined to smaller ecological niches by this co-evolution. B. aphidicola has undergone major genomic and biochemical changes as a result of adapting to intracellular life. Several genomes of B. aphidicola from different aphid species have been sequenced in the last decade, making it possible to carry out analyses and comparative studies using system-...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Brinza L, Viñuelas J, Cottret L, Calevro F, Rahbé Y, Febvay G, Duport G, Colella S, Rabatel A, Gautier C, Fayard JM, Sagot MF, Charles H Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

ENFIN--A European network for integrative systems biology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Integration of biological data of various types and the development of adapted bioinformatics tools represent critical objectives to enable research at the systems level. The European Network of Excellence ENFIN is engaged in developing an adapted infrastructure to connect databases, and platforms to enable both the generation of new bioinformatics tools and the experimental validation of computational predictions. With the aim of bridging the gap existing between standard wet laboratories and bioinformatics, the ENFIN Network runs integrative research projects to bring the latest computational techniques to bear direc...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - November 1, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Kahlem P, Clegg A, Reisinger F, Xenarios I, Hermjakob H, Orengo C, Birney E Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[Literature review of the dispersal of transgenes from genetically modified maize.]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article aims at reviewing the theoretical and experimental data published in 562 publications referring to genetically modified (GM) maize dispersal. Our choice was limited to this since in the European Union (EU), GM maize is the only GM crop currently grown commercially. The pollen dispersal of transgenic maize is due to two factors: (i) pollen-mediated gene flow; (ii) seed admixture during harvest and post-harvest processes. The pollen dispersal decreases rapidly with the distance from GM plots. Climatic and topographic factors and factors of relative density between GM and non-GM maize plots impact on the pollen d...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Ricroch A, Bergé JB, Messéan A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

The sweetpotato ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (ibAGP1) promoter confers high-level expression of the GUS reporter gene in the potato tuber.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Molecular farming refers to the process of creating bioengineered plants with the capability of producing potentially valuable products, such as drugs, vaccines, and chemicals. We have investigated the potential of the sweet potato ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (ibAGP1) promoter and its transit peptide (TP) as an expression system for the mass production of foreign proteins in potato. The ibAGP1 promoter and its TP sequence were transformed into potato along with beta-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene, and GUS activity was subsequently analyzed in the transgenic potato plants. In tuber tissues, GUS activity i...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Kim TW, Goo YM, Lee CH, Lee BH, Bae JM, Lee SW Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Recent discovery of the small pillwort (Pilularia minuta Durieu, Marsileaceae) in Tunisia: Hope for an endangered emblematic species of Mediterranean temporary pools?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article presents a synthesis of all localities where Pilularia minuta, an endangered Pteridophyte endemic of acidic Mediterranean temporary pools, was observed since its discovery in 1835. It aims at analysing the implications of its recent discovery in Tunisia, based on the comparison between new and previously published floristic surveys. The obtained data confirm the heliophilous pioneer character of P. minuta and reveal a disturbance-favoured behaviour in Tunisia. The small pillwort, which occurs in 16 locations around the Mediterranean basin, could be characterised by a good dispersion. However, it experienced th...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Daoud-Bouattour A, Muller SD, Jamaa HF, Ghrabi-Gammar Z, Rhazi L, Gammar AM, Karray MR, Soulié-Märsche I, Zouaïdia H, de Bélair G, Grillas P, Saad-Limam SB Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Phenotypic variability of natural populations of an invasive drosophilid, Zaprionus indianus, on different continents: Comparison of wild-living and laboratory-grown flies.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Phenotypic variability in nature is the most important feature for Darwinian adaptation, yet it has been rarely investigated in invasive species. Zaprionus indianus is an Afrotropical drosophilid species that have recently invaded the Palearctic and the Neotropical regions. Here, we compared the variability of three size-related traits and one meristic trait the sternopleural (STP) bristle number, between wild-collected flies living under different conditions: a stressful Mediterranean environment in Egypt, and a benign tropical environment in Brazil. From each population, a F(1) generation was also grown under the sta...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Yassin A, David JR, Bitner-Mathé BC Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Flowering response and crop duration of aromatic rices in diverse environments.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Crop duration of a rice plant, essentially dictated by flowering response, is an important selection criterion. It is determined by the interaction of genotype and environment. A field experiment was conducted with 40 rice genotypes to assess the fluctuation and/or stability of crop duration in a series of 16 environmental conditions. The effects of genotype, environment and all the components of GxE interaction were highly significant. Among the genotypes Benaful and Gandho kasturi were most sensitive to environmental changes, and indicating lower adaptability over the environments. Crop durations of 17 genotypes were...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Shahidullah SM, Hanafi MM, Ashrafuzzaman M, Salam MA, Khair A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

The genetic diversity of three peculiar populations descending from the slave trade: Gm study of Noir Marron from French Guiana.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Noir Marron communities are the direct descendants of African slaves brought to the Guianas during the four centuries (16th to 19th) of the Atlantic slave trade. Among them, three major ethnic groups have been studied: the Aluku, the Ndjuka and the Saramaka. Their history led them to share close relationships with Europeans and Amerindians, as largely documented in their cultural records. The study of Gm polymorphisms of immunoglobulins may help to estimate the amount of gene flow linked to these cultural exchanges. Surprisingly, very low levels of European contribution (2.6%) and Amerindian contribution (1.7%) are...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Brucato N, Tortevoye P, Plancoulaine S, Guitard E, Sanchez-Mazas A, Larrouy G, Gessain A, Dugoujon JM Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Spatial distribution and inbreeding in Tetranychus urticae.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we focus on genetic factors and investigate how the spatial distribution of some individuals colonizing a new environment is influenced by inbreeding. Our biological model is Tetranychus urticae, a phytophagous mite considered as a major pest of many cultivated plants. Groups of T. urticae were composed of individuals from successive inbreeding (sister-brother sib-mating). Our results show that the inter-individual distances increase with inbreeding. Indeed, inbreeding level seems to be an important factor affecting the intra-plant spatial distribution of mites. These results confirm that mites have the capa...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - September 30, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Le Goff G, Mailleux AC, Detrain C, Deneubourg JL, Clotuche G, Hance T Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[Esca and Black Dead Arm: two major actors of grapevine trunk diseases]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Grapevine trunk diseases are very harmful to wine-growing heritage durability because the fungi responsible, by attacking perennial organs, cause at a more or less long-term the death of the vine stock. Esca and BDA are the two main pathogens inducing such decaying diseases. The infection can be diagnosed by the presence in the wood forming tissues of sectorial and/or central necrosis, which revealed itself by brown stripes or canker, and at the foliar level by discoloration and withering. This review presents an overview of both Esca and BDA, their symptomatology, the characteristics of the associated fungi and host-p...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Larignon P, Fontaine F, Farine S, Clément C, Bertsch C Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Comparative effect of potassium on K and Na uptake and transport in two accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana during salinity stress.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Potassium-sodium interaction was compared in two natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, Columbia-0 and NOK2. Seedlings were grown in the presence of 0 or 50 mM NaCl and 0.1; 0.625 or 2.5 mM K(+). At the lowest K(+) concentration, salt treatment inhibited both K(+) uptake and growth. Increasing the K(+) availability did not modified salt response in Columbia-0, but restored nearly normal net K(+) uptake in NaCl condition and alleviated NaCl growth reduction in NOK2. The effect of K(+) and NaCl on transcript level of several K(+) and Na(+) transporters in both shoots and roots was assessed using semi-quantitative RT...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Kaddour R, Nasri N, M'rah S, Berthomieu P, Lachaâl M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[Life history traits of the snail Helix aperta Born from Tunisia raised in a laboratory environment: influence of photoperiod]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The present work revealed that growth and reproduction of Helix aperta (syn. Cantareus apertus), sampled at the end of summer in the region of Bazina (Tunisia), are stimulated by short-day photoperiod (SD 8hL-16hD) and inhibited by long-day photoperiod (LD 18hL-6hD). Indeed, under SD at 20 degrees C, 80% humidity and ad libitum Helixal snail food, 2 generations (F1, F2) were obtained in 10 months with no refractory period. The effects of photoperiod on growth were found to be reversible and appeared after a time lag of 4 and 8 weeks for stimulation by SD and the inhibition by LD respectively. PMID: 19748454 [PubMed...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: de Vaufleury A, Gimbert F Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Dormancy and germination responses of halophyte seeds to the application of ethylene.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Ethylene is invariably produced during seed germination but its role in regulating seed dormancy and germination is poorly understood. Seeds of 22 halophytic species having different life forms - salt secreting dicots, salt secreting monocots, stem succulents and leaf succulents were germinated in Petri dishes kept in a growth chamber set at 20/30 degrees C (night/day) temperature and a 12 hr light period. Sodium chloride and ethephon were added to the medium from the beginning of the experiment. Seed germination was recorded every other day for twenty days. Application of ethylene did not have any significant effect o...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Khan MA, Ansari R, Gul B, Li W Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of two Phlomis species: A correlation study.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Two traditional Chinese medicines (Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. and Phlomis megalantha Diels), as well as five pure phenolic compounds (protocatechic, chlorogenic, benzoic, rosmarinic acid, and rutin) have been studied for antioxidant activities in acetone and methanol extracts from leaves. An HPLC method was developed to quantify the amounts of 14 phenolic compounds in the leaf extracts. The antioxidant capacities of the studied species are high. Almost all samples were capable of directly scavenging DPPH and superoxide free radicals, inhibiting linoleic acid oxidation, acting as reducing agents, and reducing plasmid DNA da...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Zhang Y, Wang ZZ Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Exploring the antioxidant potential of lignin isolated from black liquor of oil palm waste.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was conducted to evaluate the potential antioxidant activity of lignin obtained from black liquor, a hazardous waste product generated during the extraction of palm oil. Antioxidant potential of the extracted lignin was evaluated by dissolving the extracted samples in 2 different solvent systems, namely, 2-methoxy ethanol and DMSO. Results revealed high percent inhibition of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical in the lignin sample dissolved in 2-methoxy ethanol over DMSO (concentration range of 1-100 microg/ml). Lignin extracted in 2-methoxy ethanol exhibited higher inhibition percentage (at 50 micr...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Bhat R, Khalil HP, Karim AA Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

SuperTRI: A new approach based on branch support analyses of multiple independent data sets for assessing reliability of phylogenetic inferences.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Supermatrix and supertree are two methods for constructing a phylogenetic tree by using multiple data sets. However, these methods are not a panacea, as conflicting signals between data sets can lead to misinterpret the evolutionary history of taxa. In particular, the supermatrix approach is expected to be misleading if the species-tree signal is not dominant after the combination of the data sets. Moreover, most current supertree methods suffer from two limitations: (i) they ignore or misinterpret secondary (non-dominant) phylogenetic signals of the different data sets; and (ii) the logical basis of node robustness me...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Ropiquet A, Li B, Hassanin A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Spatio-temporal variations of functional groups in a Populus nigra L. entomocenosis in the Mitidja plain (Algeria).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study presents the first data describing the communities of insects and arachnida colonizing 4 aerial compartments of Populus nigra. In terms of temporal variation and total abundance, the analyses show that the communities are structurally and functionally different. It also appears that the taxonomic richness of the communities, and partly their temporal distribution, change according to the gradient of the energy and defense resources under the effect of seasonal variations. The highest species richness recorded on the leaves compartment is due to the amplitude of histo-physiological modifications observed througho...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - August 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Djazouli ZE, Doumandji-Mitiche B, Petit D Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Chelating efficacy of CaNa(2) EDTA on nickel-induced toxicity in Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) through its effects on glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this age of modern biology, aquatic toxicological research has provided potential tools for ecotoxicologic investigations. Heavy metals primarily affect protein structures and induce a stress in the organisms. The present investigation was carried out to assess the effect of nickel chloride on the selected organs of the freshwater fish Cirrhinus mrigala and how CaNa(2) EDTA counters its effects as an antidote. Toxicity experiments were conducted for different exposure periods and also in certain tissues namely gill, liver, kidney and muscle. The total protein content, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and ...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Gopal R, Narmada S, Vijayakumar R, Jaleel CA Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Ontogeny of hydrocarbon profiles in the ant Aphaenogaster senilis and effects of social isolation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In ants, cuticular hydrocarbons are used for nestmate recognition; they are stored in the postpharyngeal gland and shared among the individuals. Newly emerged ants have a very small quantity of hydrocarbons. We studied the ontogeny of the hydrocarbon profile in Aphaenogaster senilis. The total quantities of both cuticular and postpharyngeal gland (PPG) hydrocarbons increased with age from 0 to 20 days after emergence and then stabilised. These quantities are correlated with the development of the ovary. Under individual social isolation, cuticular hydrocarbons increased as normal, but the total quantity of PPG hydrocar...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Ichinose K, Lenoir A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

ABA, GA(3), and nitrate may control seed germination of Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) under saline conditions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Impaired germination is common among halophyte seeds exposed to salt stress, partly resulting from the salt-induced reduction of the growth regulator contents in seeds. Thus, the understanding of hormonal regulation during the germination process is a main key: (i) to overcome the mechanisms by which NaCl-salinity inhibit germination; and (ii) to improve the germination of these species when challenged with NaCl. In the present investigation, the effects of ABA, GA(3), NO(-)(3), and NH(+)(4) on the germination of the oilseed halophyte Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) were assessed under NaCl-salinity (up to 200 mM NaCl). ...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Atia A, Debez A, Barhoumi Z, Smaoui A, Abdelly C Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[The floristic diversity of the psammophyte vegetation in the region of Tlemcen (north-west Algeria)]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study is devoted to the analysis of the psammophyte of the coastal and semi-continental dunes in Tlemcen. Interesting results have been obtained, in particular, on the biological and ecological aspects of the psammophyte. The interpretation from Factoriel analysis of correspondences enabled us to identify the different phytosociological classes (Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea, Quercetea ilicis, Therobrachypodietea and Stellarietea mediae). Some of these classes (Cakiletea maritimae and Ammophiletea) inhabit, exceedingly well, the embryonic dunes. Some species (Therobrachypodietea) colonize the quickset dunes. Lastl...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Stambouli-Meziane H, Bouazza M, Thinon M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Environmental factors explaining the vegetation patterns in a temperate peatland.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Although ombrotrophic temperate peatlands are important ecosystems for maintaining biodiversity in eastern North America, the environmental factors influencing their flora are only partly understood. The relationships between plant species distribution and environmental factors were thus studied within the oldest temperate peatland of Québec. Plant assemblages were identified by cluster analysis while CCA was used to related vegetation gradients to environmental factors. Five assemblages were identified; three typical of open bog and two characterized by more minerotrophic vegetation. Thicker peat deposit was enco...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Pellerin S, Lagneau LA, Lavoie M, Larocque M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Acoustic telemetry survey of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in the Marine Reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls: informations on the territoriality of this emblematic species.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Acoustic telemetry survey of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in the Marine Reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls: informations on the territoriality of this emblematic species. C R Biol. 2009 Aug;332(8):732-40 Authors: Pastor J, Verdoit-Jarraya M, Astruch P, Dalias N, Nelva Pasqual JS, Saragoni G, Lenfant P The Marine Reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls represents a refuge for dusky grouper populations (Epinephelus marginatus). Density survey and observation of the reproductive behavior of this species have been conducted there for the last 30 years. However, information on the behavior or habitat utilization ...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Pastor J, Verdoit-Jarraya M, Astruch P, Dalias N, Nelva Pasqual JS, Saragoni G, Lenfant P Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Trophic ecology of the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in its introduced areas: a stable isotope approach in southwestern France.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
During the last decades, non-native predatory fish species have been largely introduced in European lakes and rivers, calling for detailed information on the trophic ecology of co-existing native and non-native predators. The present study describes the trophic ecology of the introduced pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in two southwestern French rivers, using stable isotope analysis. Pikeperch could be categorized as a top-predator, and had a significantly higher trophic position (TP, mean+/-SE=4.2+/-0.1) compared to other predatory fish such as the native pike (Esox lucius, TP=3.7+/-0.1) and the introduced European catfi...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Kopp D, Cucherousset J, Syväranta J, Martino A, Céréghino R, Santoul F Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Where and how Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) spreads in Corsica?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we aimed to map precisely their geographical distribution in Corsica and to quantify their presence by using an infestation index. We recorded changes in the distribution of Argentine ants in Corsica over the past decade. Argentine ants appeared to be well established within their introduced range and spreading along the Corsican coasts principally through Human-mediated jump-dispersal but not homogenously. PMID: 19632658 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies)
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Blight O, Orgeas J, Renucci M, Tirard A, Provost E Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[Effects of salt stress on germination and in vitro growth of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In order to study the salinity tolerance of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), embryos developed from mature seeds were isolated and cultured in vitro and subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0, 42.8, 85.5, 171.1 and 256.6 mM) for 30 days. The results showed that in vitro germination of embryonic axes was not affected by the salt concentration. However, the germinated embryo survival rates decreased from 100% for the control to 62.9% for the highest salt concentration (256.6 mM). In addition, the plantlet growth (length of aerial and root parts, number of leaf produced per embryo, as well as the production of total f...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Benmahioul B, Daguin F, Kaid-Harche M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Effects of different water availability at post-anthesis stage on grain nutrition and quality in strong-gluten winter wheat.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was initiated to test water stress environmental effects on grain quality and nutritional value of wheat by using single different water conditions at post-anthesis stage. Further analyses were conducted to examine variations in concentrations and compositions of the bioactive compounds and nutritions in strong-gluten winter wheat subjected to different levels of water deficit during grain filling. For the experiment on the response to different soil water conditions during post-anthesis stage, effects of soil water environment on protein content and composition in the grains were significant. Soil water conditi...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - July 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Zhao CX, He MR, Wang ZL, Wang YF, Lin Q Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Cloning, identification, expression analysis and phylogenetic relevance of two NADP-dependent malic enzyme genes from hexaploid wheat.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we identified the NADP-ME isoforms from hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Two different NADP-ME transcripts were first identified in this C3 plant. The first is named TaNADP-ME1 [NCBI: EU170134] and encodes a putative plastidic isoform, while the second is named TaNADP-ME2 [NCBI: EU082065] and encodes a cytosolic counterpart. Sequence alignment shows that the two NADP-ME isoforms share an identity of 73.26% in whole amino acids and 64.08% in nucleotide sequences. The phylogenetic analysis deciphers the two NADP-MEs as belonging to the monocots (Group II), which closely resemble OschlME6 and OscytME2, re...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Fu ZY, Zhang ZB, Hu XJ, Shao HB, Ping X Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Progeny's mental aptitudes in man: relationship with parental age at conception and with some environmental factors.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Psychometric tests obtained from 6564 young men were studied as a function of the parents' ages at conception and of some characteristics of the subject's postnatal environment. Individual scores, from 0 to 20, were divided into two groups: n(1)11 and n(2)<11. In univariate analysis, scores <11 were respectively related to low height, high number of siblings and junior in birth order, subject's and parents' tobacco consumption, parents' alcohol consumption, subject's and parents' low academic standard, parents' youth or ageing at conception. In multivariate analysis, these scores remained related to low height, j...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Auroux M, Volteau M, Ducot B, Wack T, Letierce A, Meyer L, Mayaux MJ Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

[Chronology of embryonic development of the strain "Espiguette" with or without diapause in Locusta migratoria Linnaeus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Examination of the eggs taken every 24 hours after laying enabled us to study the chronology of the embryonic development of the "Espiguette" strain of L. migratoria L. This strain is heterogeneous since the development at 27 degrees C is with or without diapause according to the eggs. The eggs that will later on enter diapause present a slower development than that of the other eggs. The slowdown of development becomes more pronounced until the entering into diapause. After the period of diapause, the development of univoltin eggs at 27 degrees C resumes very slowly since the katatrepsis is accomplished in three days,...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Harrat A, Petit D Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Copper-induced growth inhibition, oxidative stress and ultrastructural alterations in freshly grown water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The effects of increasing concentrations of copper on the growth, ultra-structure and on certain biochemical parameters of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) were investigated under controlled conditions in the nutrient solutions containing increased copper sulfate concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 microM. Copper treatment for 12, 18 or 24 h resulted in inhibition of roots and leaves dry biomass. Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of roots and leaves showed that copper accumulation increased with increase in concentration and duration of metal treatment. It is seen that copper resulted in increased production...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Upadhyay RK, Panda SK Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Enzymatic properties of alpha- and beta-glocusidases extracted from midgut and salivary glands of rice striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The study of digestive enzymes, especially in important pests like Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which are a key constraint on rice production in a wide area of the globe and also in Iran, could be a successful procedure in the development of a safe and useful control strategy. Glycosidase are a type of digestive enzymes which have a critical role in the final stages of carbohydrate digestion; they hydrolyze alpha-D-(1,4)-glucose linkage such as p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucoside in di and oligosaccharide components. Laboratory reared 4th instar larvae were randomly selected; midgut and salivary glan...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Zibaee A, Bandani AR, Ramzi S Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Stability and bifurcation of a prey-predator model with time delay.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this article a system of retarded differential equations is proposed as a predator-prey model. We investigate the model, representing a resource (prey) and a two predator system with delay due to gestation. The response function is assumed here to be concave in nature. Since global stability of positive equilibrium is of great interest, we provide sufficient conditions in terms of parameters of the system to guarantee it. By the simulation process the bifurcation occurring are discussed in terms of two bifurcation parameters. We have also shown that the time delay can cause a stable equilibrium to become unstable an...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Kar TK, Batabyal A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Genetic signs of connectivity in Primula vulgaris (Primulaceae) in a hedgerow network landscape.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The effects of landscape configuration on the genetic connectivity of the heterostylous species Primula vulgaris Huds. (Primulaceae) were studied using AFLP markers. Isolation by distance pattern was shown by spatial autocorrelation analysis; moreover, hedgerow network distances were found to contribute less than Euclidian distances to spatial genetic structure. Pollen flow is probably the main factor shaping the spatial genetic structure rather than seed dispersal, which is limited in this myrmecochorous species. Detailed analysis on the genetic similarity between neighborhoods and differentiation rates showed that de...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Campagne P, Baumel A, Affre L, Juin M, Duong N, Roche P, Tatoni T Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Pollen-mediated gene flow in a highly fragmented landscape: consequences for defining a conservation strategy of the relict Laperrine's olive.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the present central Saharan conditions, the Laperrine's olive regeneration has never been observed and its populations are locally threatened. The production of plants originating from seeds was proposed as a multiplication strategy. In order to determine the impact of sexual reproduction, seeds issued from ten mothers (sampled from four locations in the Hoggar, Algeria) were genotyped using microsatellites. Compared to the initial population, a significant lost of allelic richness was revealed, indicating that our seed sampling was not representative of the local gene diversity. Paternity analyses allowed measureme...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Besnard G, Baali-Cherif D, Bettinelli-Riccardi S, Parietti D, Bouguedoura N Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Ants as biological indicators of Wayana Amerindian land use in French Guiana.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the ecological impact of traditional land use by Wayana Amerindians in French Guiana using ants as bio-indicators. Ants were sampled through a rapid assessment method and the core results analyzed using Kohonen's self-organizing maps (SOM). Our sample sites included: (1) a Wayana village; (2) a cassava plantation; (3) an abandoned cassava plantation; (4) a forest fragment near the village; (5) a riparian forest; and (6) a primary terra firma forest. The ant diversity decreases according to the degree to which the habitat is disturbed. The SOM allowed us to compare the ecological succession between the six habit...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - June 28, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Delabie JH, Céréghino R, Groc S, Dejean A, Gibernau M, Corbara B, Dejean A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Microsporogenesis variation in Codiaeum producing inaperturate pollen grain.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A study of microsporogenesis (the earliest stage of pollen ontogeny) was undertaken in seven cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum var. pictum, a eudicot species that produces inaperturate pollen grains. Microsporogenesis appears highly variable for the developmental events suspected to be implicated in the determination of aperture pattern. Most eudicots have tri-aperturate pollen grains and microsporogenesis is described as highly conserved in this clade. The observed burst of variation in C. variegatum therefore appears especially remarkable. A plausible hypothesis to explain the variation is that the pollen being inaper...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - May 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Albert B, Gouyon PH, Ressayre A Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Relevance of quantum mechanics on some aspects of ion channel function.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Mathematical modeling of ionic diffusion along K ion channels indicates that such diffusion is oscillatory, at the weak non-Markovian limit. This finding leads us to derive a Schrödinger-Langevin equation for this kind of system within the framework of stochastic quantization. The Planck's constant is shown to be relevant to the Lagrangian action at the level of a single ion channel. This sheds new light on the issue of applicability of quantum formalism to ion channel dynamics and to the physical constraints of the selectivity filter. PMID: 19520314 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies)
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - May 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Roy S, Llinás R Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Iron deficiency tolerance traits in wild (Hordeum maritimum) and cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we evaluated some traits other than PS release capacity that could be responsible for differences in iron deficiency tolerance in two barley species, Hordeum maritimum and Hordeum vulgare. Results showed that under iron starvation, biomass production was affected in both species, but H. maritimum kept higher root/shoot ratios due to the distribution efficiency of carbohydrates within the plant and the growth flexibility of its organs. Both species responded to iron starvation by an early release of PS, but they differed in their secretion capacity. In cultivated barley, the PS release rate was 1.5-2-fold hig...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - May 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Yousfi S, Rabhi M, Abdelly C, Gharsalli M Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Fructose-induced increase in ethanol metabolism and the risk of Syndrome X in man.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Syndrome X is biochemically characterized by impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriacylglycerolemia, altered HDL-cholesterol content and high blood pressure. In different isolated studies, alcohol and fructose have been observed to increase the risk of Syndrome X. However, several reports have recognized the potential of fructose in stimulating the elimination of alcohol from the bloodstream, but the effects of such an anti-intoxicating property of fructose on the biochemical features of Syndrome X have remained scarce. Thus, in this study, oral fructose was used to increase the metabolism of alcohol and the associated c...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - May 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Uzuegbu UE, Onyesom I Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals

Emergence of infectious diseases: when hidden pathogens break out.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Our understanding of disease emergence is largely limited by the assumption that disease emergence is the result of increased exposure to pathogenic agents. Pathogen exposure is thought to arise through an increase in the number of interactions between humans and their natural environment, changes in demography and mobility, or through genetic variation in the infectious agents which may alter virulence or ability to infect new host species. The study of new diseases (which are often revealed by unusually severe symptoms or atypical epidemiological patterns) applies the most effort to the research of new pathogens. Her...
Source: Comptes Rendus Biologies - May 31, 2009 Category: Biology Authors: Pontier D, Guiserix M, Fouchet D, Sauvage F, Gonzalez JP Tags: C R Biol Source Type: journals