An Arabidopsis T-DNA Insertion Mutant for Galactokinase (AtGALK, At3g06580) Hyperaccumulates Free Galactose and is Insensitive to Exogenous Galactose

Galactokinase (GALK, EC 2.7.1.6) is a cytosolic enzyme with a wide occurrence across the taxonomic kingdoms. It catalyzes the phosphorylation of α-d-galactose (Gal) to α-d-Gal-1-P. The cytotoxicity of free (unphosphorylated) Gal is well documented in plants and causes marked defects. An Arabidopsis GALK (AtGALK, At3g06580) was previously identified, cloned and functionally characterized in Escherichia coli and was suggested to occur as a single copy gene in Arabidopsis. We identified an AtGALK T-DNA insertion mutant (atgalk) that (i) is AtGALK transcript deficient; (ii) displays no GALK activity in vegetative tissues; and (iii) accumulates Gal up to 6.8 mg g−1 FW in vegetative tissues, in contrast to wild-type plants. By constitutively overexpressing the AtGALK cDNA, atgalk was functionally rescued. Three independent transformed lines showed restored AtGALK transcripts and GALK activity and had low leaf Gal concentrations comparable with those observed in wild-type plants. Surprisingly, in vitro grown atgalk plants were largely insensitive to the exogenous application of up to 100 mM free Gal, while wild-type plants exhibited sensitivity to low Gal concentrations (10 mM). Furthermore, atgalk seedlings retained the capacity for uptake of exogenously supplied Gal (100 mM), accumulating up to 57 mg g−1 FW in leaves. Leaves from soil-grown atgalk plants that exhibited no growth or morphological defects were used to demonstrate that the accumulating Gal occurred exclusively in the vacuoles of mesophyll protoplasts. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel Gal detoxification pathway that targets free Gal to the vacuole and is active in the atgalk mutant backgroun

Imagerie par matrice de mueller de milieux multi-diffusants en vue d'applications au génie bio-médical

L'objet de cet article concerne la conception, la mise en oeuvre et l'exploitation d'un système d'imagerie basé sur l'étude de la modification de la polarisation lors de l'interaction lumière-matière. Il est possible de caractériser les milieux multi-diffusants par leurs propriétés optiques au travers du formalisme de Stokes-Mûller. Notre dispositif utilise cette représentation ; il permet une approche expérimentale globale. Avec des protocoles spécifiques on envisage la création d'images dont le contraste utiliserait les propriétés de dépolarisation, de biréfringence, de diatténuation ... des milieux présentant un intérêt diagnostic. Avec un capteur ponctuel, on a pu constater les conséquences des effets d'un rayonnement ionisant sur du collagène. L'imagerie en mode 2D est en cours de développement ; les premiers résultats sont encourageants

Caractérisation et activation des différentes cellules fibrogéniques hépatiques (utilisation du modèle "tranche de foie" en culture)

La fibrose hépatique est caractérisée par l'accumulation de matrice extracellulaire synthétisée par les cellules fibrogéniques activées : les myofibroblastes. Nous avons développé un modèle de culture de tranches de foie de précision (TFP) permettant le maintien de l'architecture hépatique. Nous avons étudié l'effet d'acides biliaires sur les TFP et montré qu'ils présentent des effets individuels spécifiques sur l'activation, la survie et l'apoptose des cellules hépatiques. Nous avons étudié des tissus fibreux en culture de TFP et mis en évidence des différences dans le remodelage de ce tissu en fonction des cellules fibrogéniques impliquées : cellules étoilées du foie ou fibroblastes portaux. Nous avons montré via l'étude de l'expression de la smootheline que les cellules musculaires lisses pouvaient acquérir un phénotype myofibroblastique et particiuper à la fibrogenèse. Ces données renforcent le concept d'hétérogénéité des cellules myofibroblastiques impliquées dans la fibrogenèse.Hepatic fibrosis results from excessive extracellular matrix deposition by activated fibrogenic cells deriving from precursor cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and portal fibroblasts (PF) which acquire a myofibroblastic phenotype. We have developed an organotypic model of precision cut liver slice (PCLS) culture in which cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are maintained. We studied the effect of bile acids on PCLS and we shown that individual bile acids induce specific effects on activation, proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic cells. We studied fibrotic tissue remodeling in PCLS, and our data showed that fibrogenic cells behave differently in cultured PCLS depending on the fibrogenic cell type involved : HSC or PF. Finally, studying the expression of smoothelin, we showed that smooth muscle cells may also acquire a myofibroblastic phenotype and participate in fibrotic lesions. These data strengthen the concept of liver fibrogenic cell heterogeneity participating in fibrotic lesions.BORDEAUX2-BU Santé (330632101) / SudocSudocFranceF

LA PRATIQUE DE LA CESARIENNE (A PROPOS DE 288 CAS A L'HOPITAL DE PLOERMEL DE 1994 A 1997)

RENNES1-BU Santé (352382103) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Lattice design of 250 MeV version of Perle

International audienceThe PERLE (Powerful Energy Recovery LINAC for Experiment) collaboration is developing a high power energy recuperation linac facility with three acceleration (up to 500 MeV) and three deceleration passes through two cryo-modules at an injection current of 20 mA. Here we present the lattice design of the first stage of this machine with one cryo-module that would demonstrate the six-passes operation with a maximal energy of 250 MeV at a high current. This lattice has a simpler design with less elements therefore it requires lower initial expenses and shorter construction and commissioning times. All the magnets and the cryo-module are chosen to be compatible with both stages to minimise the costs of upgrade to a final one

Modeling of standing wave RF cavities for tracking through multi-pass energy recovery linac

International audienceShort bunches, high current and multiple linac pass are all characteristics of Energy Recovery Linacs (ERLs), which may result in collective effects. They in turn, may affect the beam, degrading its quality, or even yield to instabilities causing a beam loss. To study and mitigate these effects one needs a numerical simulation code, that can take into account both the collective effects, as well as, particular ERL features, such as a multi-turn design that does not reach a steady state or the multiple passages of the beam through Radio-Frequency (RF) cavities at different energies. CODAL [1], a code developed by SOLEIL in collaboration with IJCLab, enables such studies. It is a 6 dimensional (6D) tracking code applying 'kicks' based on the integration of the local Hamiltonian for each element of the lattice. It is also capable of simulating space charge, wakefields and coherent synchrotron radiation.However, to correctly take into account the ERL dynamics, an upgrade had to be made to include the effect of a standing wave RF cavity in 6D. In this paper, we will concentrate on the implementation and benchmarking (with DESY’s tracking code ASTRA [2]) of both the longitudinal and the transverse models (by J.B. Rosenzweig and L. Serafini [3]), which we use to carry out tracking of fully analytical 6D RF cavity

Clay mineral composition of river sediments in the Amazon Basin

Clay minerals are important in evaluating the maturity of suspended sediments, weathering intensity and source area. However, there are processes that can change the mineral assemblage such as river transportation, deposition, remobilization and tributary inputs. In terms of water discharge and sediment yield, the Amazon is one of the largest rivers in the world. Most of the suspended sediments come from the Andes, crossing the lowlands before reaching the ocean. This study measures the spatial distribution of clay mineral assemblages over the entire Amazon basin. The results obtained show the main features of the Amazon River main stem and larger tributaries from their sources to their confluence. Clay mineral composition highlights the evolution of the Madeira and Maranon-Solimoes River, which start in the Andes with high illite+chlorite content. Downstream, smectite contents increase. Moreover, all shield tributaries show high kaolinite content. The lower Amazon River is characterized by relative high smectite content, different from the Andean sources. The clay mineral results show that suspended sediments of the Amazon River have three main sources: 1) the Andes mountains; 2) the Amazon shields and 3) the Piedmont basins, especially the Pastaza alluvial megafan and the Fitzcarrald Arch basin. Lateral bank erosion plays also a significant role, by the introduction of more mature sediments into the river, enriched in smectite