Contribution à l'étude biochimique comparée de diverses désoxyribonucléoprotéines d'origine animale

Abstract

1. The amounts of DNA and of arginine in deoxyribonucléoproteins from various sources and in isolated nuclei were studied. With regard to the ratio, molecules of arginine: atoms of phosphorus the authors report the following data. 2. 1. The ratio arginine: phosphorus is of the same order of magnitude in all the somatic nucleoproteins thus studied and also in some of the nucleoproteins of sperm (Carp sperm for instance). This ratio is about 0.25 and corresponds to the proportion of 1 molecule of arginine per 4 atoms of phosphorus. 3. In entire isolated nuclei, this ratio is also of the same order of magnitude for all the somatic nuclei studied so far and for some sperms (carp, tench), but it is constantly higher than in the case of the nucleoproteins isolated from the same material. 4. 2. When one passes from the somatic cells to spermatozoa, two different process appear for the evolution of the amount of arginine of the DNP. 1. a. In certain animal species (carp) the ratio arginine/phosphorus remains unchanged. In the sperm nucleoprotein as well as in the nucleoprotein of the erythrocyte nucleus, the relation is 1 molecule of arginine for 4 atoms of phosphorus. 2. b. In other species (trout, pike and very likely bull) this ratio is markedly modified, the amount of arginine increased considerably. There are, for instance 3 mol. of arginine (and perhaps 4) for 4 atoms of phosphorus in Trout. In pike, the increase of the amount of arginine seems to be less important. There would be only 2 mol. of arginine for 4 atoms of phosphorus. On the contrary, when entire erythrocyte nuclei and spermatozoa are considered the increase of the amount of arginine is the same in trout and pike. The relation found here is 1 mol. of arginine/4 atoms of P in erythrocyte and 4 mol. of arginine for 4 atoms of phosphorus in spermatozoa. The possible significance of these datas is discussed.