Théorie des noeuds et espaces de représentations

Ce mémoire a pour but de présenter quelques résultats classiques de théorie des noeuds et de faire un parallèle entre cette théorie et les espaces de représentations associés au groupe d'un noeud. Le premier chapitre est consacré à une introduction de la théorie des noeuds dans lequel nous allons définir les surfaces de Seifert, le polynôme d'Alexander, le nombre d'entrelacement,\ud les matrices de Seifert, le groupe d'un noeud. Quelques notions plus complexes vont être présentées comme le revêtement double ramifié le long d'un noeud, qui nous permettra d'établir une relation entre l'ordre du groupe d'homologie de ce revètement double et le polynôme d'Alexander évalué en -1. Le second chapitre présente le goupe SU(2) et le lien existant entre la conjugaison par un de ces élements et les rotations dans l'espace. Sont ensuite introduites les notions d'espaces de représentations illlustrées par le calcul explicite de celui du cercle, du noeud de trèfle, du double de Whitehead et du tore. Dans ce même chapitre nous présentons les twists de Dehn, chirurgies de Dehn et le résultat de Lickorish concernant l'obtention à partir de S³, de toute 3-variété fermée orientable, par chirurgie entière le long d'un entrelacs. Le troisième chapitre se concentre sur les espaces de représentations dans le groupe binaire dihédrale. Ces quelques pages proposent une ébauche de construction par chirurgie du polynôme d'Alexander évalué en -1. Nous présentons une approche géométrique de la construction de cet invariant en utilisant les relations skeins et la formule de Conway. Les dernières pages de ce mémoire sont consacrées à une brève introduction à l'invariant de Casson. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Mathématiques, Théorie des noeuds, Espaces de représentations, Invariant de Casson, Quaternions

The metazoan history of the COE transcription factors. Selection of a variant HLH motif by mandatory inclusion of a duplicated exon in vertebrates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing number of available genomic sequences makes it now possible to study the evolutionary history of specific genes or gene families. Transcription factors (TFs) involved in regulation of gene-specific expression are key players in the evolution of metazoan development. The low complexity COE (Collier/Olfactory-1/Early B-Cell Factor) family of transcription factors constitutes a well-suited paradigm for studying evolution of TF structure and function, including the specific question of protein modularity. Here, we compare the structure of <it>coe </it>genes within the metazoan kingdom and report on the mechanism behind a vertebrate-specific exon duplication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>COE proteins display a modular organisation, with three highly conserved domains : a COE-specific DNA-binding domain (DBD), an Immunoglobulin/Plexin/transcription (IPT) domain and an atypical Helix-Loop-Helix (HLH) motif. Comparison of the splice structure of <it>coe </it>genes between cnidariae and bilateriae shows that the ancestral COE DBD was built from 7 separate exons, with no evidence for exon shuffling with other metazoan gene families. It also confirms the presence of an ancestral H1LH2 motif present in all COE proteins which partly overlaps the repeated H2d-H2a motif first identified in rodent EBF. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays show that formation of COE dimers is mediated by this ancestral motif. The H2d-H2a α-helical repetition appears to be a vertebrate characteristic that originated from a tandem exon duplication having taken place prior to the splitting between gnathostomes and cyclostomes. We put-forward a two-step model for the inclusion of this exon in the vertebrate transcripts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Three main features in the history of the <it>coe </it>gene family can be inferred from these analyses: (i) each conserved domain of the ancestral <it>coe </it>gene was built from multiple exons and the same scattered structure has been maintained throughout metazoan evolution. (ii) There exists a single <it>coe </it>gene copy per metazoan genome except in vertebrates. The H2a-H2d duplication that is specific to vertebrate proteins provides an example of a novel vertebrate characteristic, which may have been fixed early in the gnathostome lineage. (iii) This duplication provides an interesting example of counter-selection of alternative splicing.</p

Evolution of Axis Specification Mechanisms in Jawed Vertebrates: Insights from a Chondrichthyan

The genetic mechanisms that control the establishment of early polarities and their link with embryonic axis specification and patterning seem to substantially diverge across vertebrates. In amphibians and teleosts, the establishment of an early dorso-ventral polarity determines both the site of axis formation and its rostro-caudal orientation. In contrast, amniotes retain a considerable plasticity for their site of axis formation until blastula stages and rely on signals secreted by extraembryonic tissues, which have no clear equivalents in the former, for the establishment of their rostro-caudal pattern. The rationale for these differences remains unknown. Through detailed expression analyses of key development genes in a chondrichthyan, the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, we have reconstructed the ancestral pattern of axis specification in jawed vertebrates. We show that the dogfish displays compelling similarities with amniotes at blastula and early gastrula stages, including the presence of clear homologs of the hypoblast and extraembryonic ectoderm. In the ancestral state, these territories are specified at opposite poles of an early axis of bilateral symmetry, homologous to the dorso-ventral axis of amphibians or teleosts, and aligned with the later forming embryonic axis, from head to tail. Comparisons with amniotes suggest that a dorsal expansion of extraembryonic ectoderm, resulting in an apparently radial symmetry at late blastula stages, has taken place in their lineage. The synthesis of these results with those of functional analyses in model organisms supports an evolutionary link between the dorso-ventral polarity of amphibians and teleosts and the embryonic-extraembryonic organisation of amniotes. It leads to a general model of axis specification in gnathostomes, which provides a comparative framework for a reassessment of conservations both among vertebrates and with more distant metazoans

Los premios de traducción fabrican una imagen pública del traductor?

peer reviewedLes prix de traduction participent à la fois aux luttes pour la détention d’un capital de consécration et à la construction de l’image publique du traducteur. Ils sont une excellente entrée pour mesurer les discours qui circulent dans l’espace du livre sur le traducteur et sa pratique. Comment ces prix construisent-ils une image légitimante du traducteur ? Quels critères guident le choix des jurys et quels dispositifs discursifs les justifient ? Quelles retombées pour les traducteurs et l’image de la traduction en général ? À travers l’analyse de nombreux exemples, cet article cherche à établir la manière dont les prix de traduction produisent un discours légitimant sur la figure du traducteur qui contribue à la fabrication de son image.Los premios de traducción participan tanto en las luchas por la detención de un capital de consagración como en la construcción de una imagen pública del traductor. Estos constituyen una excelente entrada para evaluar los discursos que circulan en el espacio mediático sobre el traductor y su oficio. Cómo dichos premios construyen una imagen legítima del traductor? Qué criterios guían a los jurados en su selección y que dispositivos discursivos utilizan para justificarlos? Qué impacto tienen estos en el traductor y en su imagen en general? A través de un análisis de numerosos ejemplos, este artículo busca esclarecer la manera en que los premios de traducción producen un discurso legitimante sobre la figura del traductor que contribuye a la fabricación de su imagen pública

Molecular Characterization of the Gastrula in the Turtle Emys orbicularis: An Evolutionary Perspective on Gastrulation

Due to the presence of a blastopore as in amphibians, the turtle has been suggested to exemplify a transition form from an amphibian- to an avian-type gastrulation pattern. In order to test this hypothesis and gain insight into the emergence of the unique characteristics of amniotes during gastrulation, we have performed the first molecular characterization of the gastrula in a reptile, the turtle Emys orbicularis. The study of Brachyury, Lim1, Otx2 and Otx5 expression patterns points to a highly conserved dynamic of expression with amniote model organisms and makes it possible to identify the site of mesoderm internalization, which is a long-standing issue in reptiles. Analysis of Brachyury expression also highlights the presence of two distinct phases, less easily recognizable in model organisms and respectively characterized by an early ring-shaped and a later bilateral symmetrical territory. Systematic comparisons with tetrapod model organisms lead to new insights into the relationships of the blastopore/blastoporal plate system shared by all reptiles, with the blastopore of amphibians and the primitive streak of birds and mammals. The biphasic Brachyury expression pattern is also consistent with recent models of emergence of bilateral symmetry, which raises the question of its evolutionary significance

Assessing carbon dynamics in natural and perturbed boreal aquatic systems

Most natural freshwater lakes are net greenhouse gases (GHG) emitters. Compared to 25 natural systems, human perturbations such as watershed wood harvesting and long term reservoir 26 impoundment lead to profound alterations of biogeochemical processes involved in the aquatic 27 cycle of carbon (C). We exploited these anthropogenic alterations to describe the C dynamics in 28 five lakes and two reservoirs from the boreal forest through the analysis of dissolved carbon 29 dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), oxygen (O2), and organic carbon (DOC), as well as total nitrogen 30 (TN) and phosphorus (TP). Dissolved and particulate organic matter, forest soil/litter and 31 leachates, as well as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were analyzed for elemental and stable 32 isotopic compositions (atomic C:N ratios, δ13Corg, δ13Cinorg and δ15Ntot). We found links between 33 the export of terrestrial OM to these systems and the dissolved CO2 and O2 concentrations in the 34 water column, as well as CO2 fluxes to the atmosphere. All systems were GHG emitters, with 35 greater emissions measured for systems with larger inputs of terrestrial OM. The differences in 36 CO2 concentrations and fluxes appear controlled by bacterial activity in the water column and the 37 sediment. Although we clearly observed differences in the aquatic C cycle between natural and 38 perturbed systems, more work on a larger number of water bodies, and encompassing all four 39 seasons should be undertaken to better understand the controls, rates, as well as spatial and 40 temporal variability of GHG emissions, and to make quantitatively meaningful comparisons of 41 GHG emissions (and other key variables) from natural and perturbed systems

Molecular Characterization of the Gastrula in the Turtle Emys orbicularis: An Evolutionary Perspective on Gastrulation

Due to the presence of a blastopore as in amphibians, the turtle has been suggested to exemplify a transition form from an amphibian- to an avian-type gastrulation pattern. In order to test this hypothesis and gain insight into the emergence of the unique characteristics of amniotes during gastrulation, we have performed the first molecular characterization of the gastrula in a reptile, the turtle Emys orbicularis. The study of Brachyury, Lim1, Otx2 and Otx5 expression patterns points to a highly conserved dynamic of expression with amniote model organisms and makes it possible to identify the site of mesoderm internalization, which is a long-standing issue in reptiles. Analysis of Brachyury expression also highlights the presence of two distinct phases, less easily recognizable in model organisms and respectively characterized by an early ring-shaped and a later bilateral symmetrical territory. Systematic comparisons with tetrapod model organisms lead to new insights into the relationships of the blastopore/blastoporal plate system shared by all reptiles, with the blastopore of amphibians and the primitive streak of birds and mammals. The biphasic Brachyury expression pattern is also consistent with recent models of emergence of bilateral symmetry, which raises the question of its evolutionary significance

Coordinated Morphogenetic Mechanisms Shape the Vertebrate Eye.

The molecular bases of vertebrate eye formation have been extensively investigated during the past 20 years. This has resulted in the definition of the backbone of the gene regulatory networks controlling the different steps of eye development and has further highlighted a substantial conservation of these networks among vertebrates. Yet, the precise morphogenetic events allowing the formation of the optic cup from a small group of cells within the anterior neural plate are still poorly understood. It is also unclear if the morphogenetic events leading to eyes of very similar shape are indeed comparable among all vertebrates or if there are any species-specific peculiarities. Improved imaging techniques have enabled to follow how the eye forms in living embryos of a few vertebrate models, whereas the development of organoid cultures has provided fascinating tools to recapitulate tissue morphogenesis of other less accessible species. Here, we will discuss what these advances have taught us about eye morphogenesis, underscoring possible similarities and differences among vertebrates. We will also discuss the contribution of cell shape changes to this process and how morphogenetic and patterning mechanisms integrate to assemble the final architecture of the eye