[Count Henri de Bonneval (1806-1882), practitioner of homeopathy, agronomist and philanthropist].

Count Henri de Bonneval, was born in Bordeaux in 1806, in the line of descent of one of the most ancient French families of noble rank. He was assistant manager of the Strasbourg stud farm in 1830, when Louis-Philippe, an Orleanist, ascended to the throne of the Bourbon Charles X. As several other legitimists, Count Henri refused to take an oath to the new king and prefered to resign his position.

[Jean Guillaume Auguste Lugol (1788-1851): his life and his works: a brief encounter, 150 years after his death].

J.G.A.

Biochemical basis of the pharmacologic action of chondroitin sulfates on the osteoarticular system.

Background: Chondroitin sulfates (CS) are involved in articular metabolism and could be used as therapeutic agents in degenerative articular diseases.

Objectives: To review the published reports describing both the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and their involvement in osteoarticular pathophysiology.

Methods: MEDLINE search for relevant articles and review of cited references.

Calcium and bicarbonate ions mediate the inhibition of mast cell histamine release by Avène spa water.

Avène spa water (ASW) inhibits the histamine release induced in mast cells by substance P; the inhibition is reversed by EDTA and by EGTA. Calcium and magnesium ions, the major cations present in ASW, were experimented in simple saline solutions in the presence of various counter-ions. Only calcium salts inhibited the peptidergic stimulation, with different potencies ruled by the nature of the counter-anion (HCO3- > Cl- > SO4(2)).

Effect of the phosphonic analogue of tyrosine on tyrosine iodination.

Depositing ofDL-1-amino-2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylphosphonic acid (Tyr-P) on the chicken embryo induced a dose dependent decrease of the iodine uptake by the embryonic thyroid. Tyr-P interfered on iodination of tyrosine when tested with hog thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and with bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO); the analogue was recognized by the two enzymes but its affinity for TPO and LPO was respectively 3 and 7 fold higher compared with that of the natural substrate, suggesting that Tyr-P may act as an iodine trap.

Action of the phosphonic analogue of tyrosine and of other tyrosine derivatives on rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase.

Tyrosine transamination has been investigatedin vitro with a preparation of rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase in the presence of several structural derivatives of the substrate, including the phosphonic analogue. The transamination by tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) needs the presence in the substrate molecule of free amino and carboxylic groups, a three-carbon aliphatic chain, a para-phenolic hydroxylic function and aL-configuration. Some tyrosine analogues can markedly disturb the Tyr-TAT association: the chief structural modifications are (i) the removal of the free amine function in a compound still possessing a para-hydroxylic and a carboxylic group, (ii) the change of the carboxylic function by another acidic group, especially a phosphonic one, (iii) a disubstitution in positions 3 and 5.

Utilization of 2-aminoethylarsonic acid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This paper describes the metabolism, transport and growth inhibition effects of 2-aminoethylarsonic acid (AEA) and 3-aminopropylarsonic acid (APrA). The former compound supported growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as sole nitrogen source. The two arsonates inhibited the growth of this bacterium when 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) but not alanine or NH4Cl, was supplied as the only other nitrogen source.

The primary structure of the hemoglobins of a southern hemisphere lamprey (Mordacia mordax, Cyclostomata).

Mordacia mordax is a southern hemisphere lamprey belonging to Mordaciidae, a primitive family of Cyclostomata. Adult erythrocytes contain three monomeric hemoglobins which can be easily separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and isolated by ion-exchange chromatography. The N-terminal regions, and the tryptic peptides from each chain were submitted to automated Edman degradation; the alignment of the fragments was obtained by homology with the other Petromyzonoidea hemoglobins hitherto sequenced.

Carnivora: the primary structure of the alpha-chains of ferret (Mustela putorius furo, Mustelidae) hemoglobins.

Ferret erythrocytes contain two hemoglobins differing only by their alpha-chains. The primary structure of the common beta-chain has been previously described; the complete sequence of the two alpha-chains are reported in this paper. The globin chains were separated by ion-exchange chromatography; the alpha-chains (42 steps), their tryptic peptides as well as the prolyl-peptides were subjected to automatic liquid- and gas-phase Edman degradation.

[Qualitative and quantitative hemoglobin anomalies. Fundamental concepts, recent advances ].

The presence, in metropolitan France, of large foreign communities originating from Maghreb and from Black Africa, introduces hereditary haemoglobinopathies diagnosis in the routine work of the clinical laboratory. On the other hand, the sustained interest of the medical staff and of biologists arises principally from the dramatic progresses acquired since twenty years in the field of molecular anatomy and physiology of the oxygen carrier. Recent studies concerning human haemoglobin genes and their expression resulted in a new classification of haemoglobinopathies and in new possibilities in the prenatal diagnosis of these disease.

Reactivity of consecutive basic amino acid residues in peptides.

Different tetrapeptides of general formula L-Ala-X-X-Gly, possessing a basic doublet in the second and third position (X = Arg or Lys), have been synthesized as free or N-acetylated molecules. The chemical reactivity of the arginine guanidino group and of the lysine epsilon-amino group were studied using respectively the Sakaguchi and the ortho-diacetylbenzene reactions, in the tetrapeptides as well as in related molecules. In both cases, the colour yield is markedly influenced by the length of the polypeptide chain and by the relative positions of the arginine and lysine residues, suggesting the occurrence of intramolecular bonds within the tetrapeptide molecule.

Primary structure of the minor haemoglobins from the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus, Cyclostomata).

Erythrocytes of the adult Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus contain several haemoglobin species, but only the main constituent has hitherto been sequenced. The present paper describes the determination of the primary structures of the two minor species, whose electrophoretic mobilities are higher and lower than that of the main component. Tryptic peptides from both chains were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography, then sequenced and aligned by homology with the main haemoglobin.

(1-Amino-2-propenyl) phosphonic acid, an inhibitor of alanine racemase and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase.

DL-(1-Amino-2-propenyl)phosphonic acid was synthesized through the sequential oxidation, sulfoxide elimination, and deprotection of diphenyl [1-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-3-(phenylthio)propyl] phosphonate. This analogue of vinylglycine is a strong inhibitor of the alanine racemases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus faecalis and of the D-Ala:D-Ala ligase from this latter species. This molecule is ineffective against the whole bacterial cells.

(beta-Chloro-alpha-aminoethyl)phosphonic acids as inhibitors of alanine racemase and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase.

The (beta-chloro-, (beta, beta-dichloro-, and (beta, beta, beta-trichloro-alpha-aminoethyl)phosphonic acids have been synthesized and their inhibitory properties on the alanine racemases [EC 5.1.1.

Effect of phosphonic analogues of glutamic acid on glutamate decarboxylase.

Among the phosphonic analogues of glutamic acid, only 4-amino-4-phosphono butyric acid, the compound which shows the highest affinity for pyridoxal phosphate, inhibits competitively both Escherichia coli and rat brain glutamate decarboxylases. Phosphinothricin, 2-amino-4-(methylphosphino)butyric acid, is a strong inhibitor of the mammalian enzyme.

The determination of 90Sr and 228Ra in human teeth by age groups and in other substances.

The total 90Sr content of human teeth peaks at a value of 0.65 pCi/g calcium in the age group of 20-30 years. It is not present in those 50 years or older.

[Utilization of various omega-guanidoalkylphosphonic acids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

Bacterial growth was studied in synthetic media containing guanidomethyl-, 2-guanidoethyl-, 3-guanidopropyl- or 4-guanido-1-aminobutyl-phosphonic acid, as a possible nitrogen or phosphorus source. Among these four compounds, 2-guanidoethylphosphonic acid (2-GEPh) appeared to be the only efficient nitrogen nutrient. Our results are discussed in light of recent data on Pseudomonas aeruginosa amidinohydrolases.

Haemoglobins, LX. Primary structure of the major haemoglobin of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus (var. Garonne, Loire).

Lampreys belong to the class of Cyclostomata; practically no evolution of these Vertebrates can be noted since Paleozoïc times; lampreys thus appear as a choice material for studying several problems in the field of biochemical evolution. Several monomeric haemoglobins can be characterized in the erythrocytes of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). The major constituent was isolated by chromatography, and submitted to tryptic digestion; soluble tryptic peptides were separated by gel filtration into 5 fractions; the peptides of each fraction were isolated either by Dowex-50 chromatography or by HPLC; the insoluble core was oxidized and submitted to HPLC fractionation.