Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nature Publishing Group
Résumé : International audience
Evolution involves interplay between natural selection and developmental constraints(1-3). This is seen, for example, when digits are lost from the limbs during evolution(1,3,4). Extant archosaurs (crocodiles and birds) show several instances of digit loss(3,5,6) under different selective regimes, and show limbs with one, two, three, four or the ancestral number of five digits. The `lost' digits sometimes persist for millions of years as developmental vestiges(7-10). Here we examine digit loss in the Nile crocodile and five birds, using markers of three successive stages of digit development. In two independent lineages under different selection, wing digit I and all its markers disappear. In contrast, hindlimb digit V persists in all species sampled, both as cartilage, and as Sox9-expressing precartilage domains, 250 million years after the adult digit disappeared. There is therefore a mismatch between evolution of the embryonic and adult phenotypes. All limbs, regardless of digit number, showed similar expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh). Even in the one-fingered emu wing, expression of posterior genes Hoxd11 and Hoxd12 was conserved, whereas expression of anterior genes Gli3 and Alx4 was not. We suggest that the persistence of digit V in the embryo may reflect constraints, particularly the conserved posterior gene networks associated with the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA(11)). The more rapid and complete disappearance of digit I may reflect its ZPA-independent specification, and hence, weaker developmental constraints. Interacting with these constraints are selection pressures for limb functions such as flying and perching. This model may help to explain the diverse patterns of digit loss in tetrapods. Our study may also help to understand how selection on adults leads to changes in development.
ISSN: 0028-0836

hal-01545485
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545485
DOI : 10.1038/nature12336

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Aims: The aims of this study were to compare short-and long-term outcomes for clinical T2N0 oesophageal cancer with analysis of (i) primary surgery (S) versus neoadjuvant therapy plus surgery (NS), (ii) squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma subsets; and (iii) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods: Data were collected from 30 European centres from 2000 to 2010. Among 2944 included patients, 355 patients (12.1%) had cT2N0 disease; 285 (S) and 70 (NS), were compared in terms of short-and long-term outcomes. Propensity score matching analyses were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics.Results: No significant differences between the groups were shown in terms of in hospital morbidity and mortality. Nodal disease was observed in 50% of S-group at the time of surgery, with 20% pN2/N3. Utilisation of neoadjuvant therapy was associated with significant tumour downstaging as reflected by increases in pT0, pN0 and pTNM stage 0 disease, this effect was further enhanced with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. After adjustment on propensity score and confounding factors, for all patients and subset analysis of squamous cell and adenocarcinoma, neoadjuvant therapy had no significant effect upon survival or recurrence (overall, loco-regional, distant or mixed) compared to surgery alone. There were no significant differences between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in short-or long-term outcomes.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a surgery alone treatment approach should be recommended as the primary treatment approach for cT2N0 oesophageal cancer despite 50% of patients having nodal disease at the time of surgery.
ISSN: 0959-8049

hal-01666517
https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/hal-01666517
DOI : 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.11.024

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background: Ameloblastin (AMBN) is a phosphorylated, proline/glutamine-rich protein secreted during enamel formation. Previous studies have revealed that this enamel matrix protein was present early in vertebrate evolution and certainly plays important roles during enamel formation although its precise functions remain unclear. We performed evolutionary analyses of AMBN in order to (i) identify residues and motifs important for the protein function, (ii) predict mutations responsible for genetic diseases, and (iii) understand its molecular evolution in mammals. Results: In silico searches retrieved 56 complete sequences in public databases that were aligned and analyzed computationally. We showed that AMBN is globally evolving under moderate purifying selection in mammals and contains a strong phylogenetic signal. In addition, our analyses revealed codons evolving under significant positive selection. Evidence for positive selection acting on AMBN was observed in catarrhine primates and the aye-aye. We also found that (i) an additional translation initiation site was recruited in the ancestral placental AMBN, (ii) a short exon was duplicated several times in various species including catarrhine primates, and (iii) several polyadenylation sites are present. Conclusions: AMBN possesses many positions, which have been subjected to strong selective pressure for 200 million years. These positions correspond to several cleavage sites and hydroxylated, O-glycosylated, and phosphorylated residues. We predict that these conserved positions would be potentially responsible for enamel disorder if substituted. Some motifs that were previously identified as potentially important functionally were confirmed, and we found two, highly conserved, new motifs, the function of which should be tested in the near future. This study illustrates the power of evolutionary analyses for characterizing the functional constraints acting on proteins with yet uncharacterized structure.
ISSN: 1471-2148

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01212816
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212816
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212816/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212816/file/s12862-015-0431-0.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s12862-015-0431-0

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Royal Society, The
Résumé : International audience
Since its original description as a chordate, the Late Devonian Scaumenella mesacanthi has been interpreted alternately as a prochordate, a larval ostracoderm and an immature acanthodian. For the past 30 years, these minute specimens were generally considered as decayed acanthodians, most of them belonging to Triazeugacanthus affinis. Among the abundant material of `Scaumenella', we identified a size series of 188 specimens of Triazeugacanthus based on otolith characteristics. Despite taphonomic alteration, we describe proportional growth and progressive appearance of skeletal elements through size increase. Three ontogenetic stages are identified based on squamation extent, ossification completion and allometric growth. We demonstrate that what has been interpreted previously as various degrees of decomposition corresponds to ontogenetic changes.
ISSN: 1744-9561

hal-01545474
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545474
DOI : 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0950

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP1) is an acidic, highly phosphorylated, noncollagenous protein secreted during dentin and bone formation. Previous functional studies of DMP1 have revealed various motifs playing a role in either mineralization or cell differentiation. We performed an evolutionary analysis of DMP1 to identify residues and motifs that were conserved during 220 millions years (Ma) of mammalian evolution, and hence have an important function. In silico search provided us with 41 sequences that were aligned and analyzed using the Hyphy program. We showed that DMP1 contains 55 positions that were kept unchanged for 220 Ma. We also defined in a more precise manner some motifs that were already known (i.e., cleavage sites, RGD motif, ASARM peptide, glycosaminoglycan chain attachment site, nuclear localization signal sites, and dentin sialophosphoprotein-binding site), and we found five, highly conserved, new functional motifs. In the near future, functional studies could be performed to understand the role played by them.
ISSN: 0022-2844

hal-01545482
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545482
DOI : 10.1007/s00239-013-9539-2

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD PeerJ
Résumé : International audience
The study of vertebrate ontogenies has the potential to inform us of shared developmental patterns and processes among organisms. However, fossilised ontogenies of early vertebrates are extremely rare during the Palaeozoic Era. A growth series of the Late Devonian ''acanthodian'' Triazeugacanthus affinis, from the Miguasha Fossil-Fish Lagerstätte, is identified as one of the best known early vertebrate fossilised ontogenies given the exceptional preservation, the large size range, and the abundance of specimens. Morphological, morphometric, histological and chemical data are gathered on a growth series of Triazeugacanthus ranging from 4 to 52 mm in total length. The developmental trajectory of this Devonian ''acanthodian'' is characteristic of fishes showing a direct development with alternating steps and thresholds. Larvae show no squamation but a progressive appearance of cartilaginous neurocranial and vertebral elements, and appendicular elements, whereas juveniles progress in terms of ossification and squamation. The presence of cartilaginous and bony tissues, discriminated on histological and chemical signatures, shows a progressive mineralisation of neurocranial and vertebral elements. Comparison among different body proportions for larvae, juveniles and adults suggest allometric growth in juveniles. Because of the phylogenetic position of ''acanthodians'', Triazeugacanthus ontogeny informs us about deep time developmental conditions in gnathostomes.
ISSN: 2167-8359

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01633978
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01633978
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01633978/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01633978/file/peerj-3969.pdf
DOI : 10.7717/peerj.3969

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Enamel formation requires the involvement of secretory calcium-binding phosphoproteins. Three of them, amelogenin (AMEL), ameloblastin (AMBN) and enamelin (ENAM), have been extensively studied in mammals. More recently, a fourth protein belonging to the same family has been identified: amelotin (AMTN). AMTN has only been studied in rodents and its role during amelogenesis remains unclear.The aim of this thesis is to extend the knowledge on AMTN by studying its evolution in amniotes and its expression in the lizard Anolis carolinensis.AMTN sequences from many amniote species have been extracted from databases or obtained by PCR, and analyzed. Those analyses allowed us to reveal differences in the gene structure and to highlight residues that were conserved during mammalian or amniote evolution. These conserved amino acids are essential to the structure and/or function of the protein.The expression of AMTN and of AMEL, AMBN and ENAM has been studied by in situ hybridization on lizard jaw sections. Comparison of the expression pattern of these genes during amelogenesis in the lizard with that described in rodents points to similarities (AMEL, AMBN and ENAM) but also to important differences, especially in the spatio-temporal expression of AMTN. In order to better understand AMTN evolution in tetrapods, I studied its expression in an amphibian (Pleurodeles waltl) and a marsupial (Monodelphis domestica).Taken together, these results suggest a link between the evolution of AMTN gene structure (loss of exons and of functional domains in mammals) and its expression (early in non-mammals versus late in mammals) with the emergence of prismatic structure of enamel in early mammals.
La formation de l'émail dentaire met en jeu des phosphoprotéines sécrétées liant le calcium. Parmi celles-ci figurent amélogénine (AMEL), améloblastine (AMBN) et énaméline (ENAM), qui ont fait l'objet de nombreuses études chez les mammifères. Plus récemment, une quatrième protéine de la même famille a été découverte, l'amélotine (AMTN). Elle n'a été étudiée que chez les rongeurs et son rôle au cours de l'amélogenèse reste mal défini. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'élargir les connaissances sur AMTN en étudiant son évolution chez les amniotes et son expression au cours de l'amélogenèse chez le lézard Anolis carolinensis. Les séquences d'AMTN d'un grand nombre d'amniotes ont été extraites des bases de données ou obtenues par PCR, et analysées. Ces analyses ont mis en évidence différentes structures géniques et des acides aminés très conservés au cours de l'évolution. Cette conservation indique qu'ils sont essentiels à la structure ou à la fonction de la protéine. L'expression d'AMTN ainsi que celle d'AMEL, AMBN et ENAM ont été étudiées par hybridation in situ sur des coupes de mâchoires de lézard. La comparaison des patrons d'expression chez le lézard avec ceux décrits chez la souris a révélé des différences dans l'expression spatio-temporelle d'AMTN. De ce fait, afin de mieux comprendre l'évolution de ce gène, son expression a été étudiée chez un amphibien (Pleurodeles waltl) et un marsupial (Monodelphis domestica).Ces travaux suggère un lien entre l'évolution de la structure génique d'AMTN (perte d'exons et de domaines fonctionnels) et de son expression (précoce versus tardive) avec l'émergence de la structure prismatique de l'émail chez les mammifères.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01154518

NNT : 2015PA066066
tel-01154518
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01154518
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01154518/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01154518/file/2015PA066066.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Well studied in mammals, amelogenesis is less known at the molecular level in reptiles and amphibians. In the course of extensive studies of enamel matrix protein (EMP) evolution in tetrapods, we look for correlation between changes in protein sequences and temporospatial protein gene expression during amelogenesis, using an evo-devo approach. Our target is the major EMP, amelogenin (AMEL) that plays a crucial role in enamel structure. We focused here our attention to an amphibian, the salamander Pleurodeles waltl. RNAs were extracted from the lower jaws of a juvenile P. waltl and the complete AMEL sequence was obtained using PCR and RACE PCR. The alignment of P. waltl AMEL with other tetrapodan (frogs, reptiles and mammals) sequences revealed residue conservation in the N- and C-terminal regions, and a highly variable central region. Using sense and anti-sense probes synthetized from the P. waltl AMEL sequence, we performed in situ hybridization on sections during amelogenesis in larvae, juveniles, and adults. We demonstrated that (i) AMEL expression was always found to be restricted to ameloblasts, (ii) the expression pattern was conserved through ontogeny, even in larvae where enameloid is present in addition to enamel, and (iii) the processes are similar to those described in lizards and mammals. These findings indicate that high variations in the central region of AMEL have not modified its temporospatial expression during amelogenesis for 360 million years of tetrapod evolution. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:200209, 2013.
ISSN: 1552-5007

hal-01545483
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545483
DOI : 10.1002/jez.b.22494

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Résumé : International audience
Background: We used evolutionary analysis of alkaline phosphatase (tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, TNSALP) to predict missense mutations leading to hypophosphatasia. Results: We found 469 sensitive positions and validated 99% of the 204 known mutations. Conclusion: It is a more powerful method than in silico models to validate missense mutations in TNSALP. Significance: Such an approach should be widely used to support genetic diagnostics. ALPL encodes the tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP), which removes phosphate groups from various substrates. Its function is essential for bone and tooth mineralization. In humans, ALPL mutations lead to hypophosphatasia, a genetic disorder characterized by defective bone and/or tooth mineralization. To date, 275 ALPL mutations have been reported to cause hypophosphatasia, of which 204 were simple missense mutations. Molecular evolutionary analysis has proved to be an efficient method to highlight residues important for the protein function and to predict or validate sensitive positions for genetic disease. Here we analyzed 58 mammalian TNSALP to identify amino acids unchanged, or only substituted by residues sharing similar properties, through 220 millions years of mammalian evolution. We found 469 sensitive positions of the 524 residues of human TNSALP, which indicates a highly constrained protein. Any substitution occurring at one of these positions is predicted to lead to hypophosphatasia. We tested the 204 missense mutations resulting in hypophosphatasia against our predictive chart, and validated 99% of them. Most sensitive positions were located in functionally important regions of TNSALP (active site, homodimeric interface, crown domain, calcium site, ...). However, some important positions are located in regions, the structure and/or biological function of which are still unknown. Our chart of sensitive positions in human TNSALP (i) enables to validate or invalidate at low cost any ALPL mutation, which would be suspected to be responsible for hypophosphatasia, by contrast with time consuming and expensive functional tests, and (ii) displays higher predictive power than in silico models of prediction.
ISSN: 0021-9258

hal-01545479
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545479
DOI : 10.1074/jbc.M114.576843

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background : In a recent study, we have demonstrated that amelotin (AMTN) gene structure and its expression during amelogenesis have changed during tetrapod evolution. Indeed, this gene is expressed throughout enamel matrix deposition and maturation in non-mammalian tetrapods, while in mammals its expression is restricted to the transition and maturation stages of amelogenesis. Previous studies of amelogenin (AMEL) gene expression in a lizard and a salamander have shown similar expression pattern to that in mammals, but to our knowledge there are no data regarding ameloblastin (AMBN) and enamelin (ENAM) expression in non-mammalian tetrapods. The present study aims to look at, and compare, the structure and expression of four enamel matrix protein genes, AMEL, AMBN, ENAM and AMTN during amelogenesis in the lizard Anolis carolinensis.Results : We provide the full-length cDNA sequence of A. carolinensis AMEL and AMBN, and show for the first time the expression of ENAM and AMBN in a non-mammalian species. During amelogenesis in A. carolinensis, AMEL, AMBN and ENAM expression in ameloblasts is similar to that described in mammals. It is noteworthy that AMEL and AMBN expression is also found in odontoblasts. Conclusions : Our findings indicate that AMTN is the only enamel matrix protein gene that is differentially expressed in ameloblasts between mammals and sauropsids. Changes in AMTN structure and expression could be the key to explain the structural differences between mammalian and reptilian enamel, i.e. prismatic versus non-prismatic.
ISSN: 2041-9139

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01206550
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01206550
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01206550/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01206550/file/Gasse_2015_Comparative.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s13227-015-0024-4

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
The extinct Odontopterygiformes are the sole birds known to possess strong and sharp bony pseudoteeth, the shape and location of which are closely mimetic of real teeth. The structure of the pseudoteeth is investigated here in a late Pliocene/early Pleistocene species, Pelagornis mauretanicus, using X-ray microtomography and thin sections. The results are interpreted with regard to the pseudotooth mode of growth, and have implications concerning aspects of Pelagornis ecology. The larger pseudoteeth are hollow and approximately cone-shaped, and the smaller ones are rostro-caudally constricted. The walls of pseudoteeth are composed of bone tissue of the fibro-lamellar type, which is intensively remodeled by Haversian substitution. The jaw bones display the same structure as the pseudoteeth, but their vascular canals are oriented parallel to the long axis of the bones, whereas they are perpendicular to this direction in the pseudoteeth. There is no hiatus or evidence of a fusion between the pseudoteeth and the jaw bones. Two possible models for pseudotooth growth are derived from the histological data. The most plausible model is that pseudotooth growth began after the completion of jaw bone growth, as a simple local protraction of periosteal osteogenic activity. Pseudotooth development thus occurred relatively late during ontogeny. The highly vascularized structure and the relative abundance of parallel-fibered bone tissue in the pseudoteeth suggest poor mechanical capabilities. The pseudoteeth were most likely covered and protected by the hardened, keratinized rhamphotheca in the adult during life. The late development of the pseudoteeth would involve a similarly late and/or partial hardening of the rhamphotheca, as displayed by extant Anseriformes, Apterygiformes and some Charadriiformes. This would add support to the hypothesis of a close phylogenetic relationship between Odontopterygiformes and Anseriformes. The late maturation of the Pelagornis feeding apparatus, and hence the delayed capability for efficient prey catching, suggests that Pelagornis was altricial.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01545486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545486
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0080372

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background: Amelotin (AMTN) is an ameloblast-secreted protein that belongs to the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) family, which originated in early vertebrates. In rodents, AMTN is expressed during the maturation stage of amelogenesis only. This expression pattern strongly differs from the spatiotemporal expression of other ameloblast-secreted SCPPs, such as the enamel matrix proteins (EMPs). Furthermore, AMTN was characterized in rodents only. In this study, we applied various approaches, including in silico screening of databases, PCRs and transcriptome sequencing to characterize AMTN sequences in sauropsids and amphibians, and compared them to available mammalian and coelacanth sequences. Results: We showed that (i) AMTN is tooth (enamel) specific and underwent pseudogenization in toothless turtles and birds, and (ii) the AMTN structure changed during tetrapod evolution. To infer AMTN function, we studied spatiotemporal expression of AMTN during amelogenesis in a salamander and a lizard, and compared the results with available expression data from mouse. We found that AMTN is expressed throughout amelogenesis in non-mammalian tetrapods, in contrast to its expression limited to enamel maturation in rodents. Conclusions: Taken together our findings suggest that AMTN was primarily an EMP. Its functions were conserved in amphibians and sauropsids while a change occurred early in the mammalian lineage, modifying its expression pattern during amelogenesis and its gene structure. These changes likely led to a partial loss of AMTN function and could have a link with the emergence of prismatic enamel in mammals.
ISSN: 1471-2148

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01212821
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212821
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212821/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01212821/file/s12862-015-0329-x.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s12862-015-0329-x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Among persisting questions on bone calcification, a major one is the link between protein expression and mineral deposition. A cell culture system is here proposed opening new integrative studies on biomineralization, improving our knowledge on the role played by non-collagenous proteins in bone. This experimental in vitro model consisted in human primary osteoblasts cultured for 60 days at the surface of a 3D collagen scaffold mimicking an osteoid matrix. Various techniques were used to analyze the results at the cellular and molecular level (adhesion and viability tests, histology and electron microscopy, RT-and qPCR) and to characterize the mineral phase (histological staining, EDX, ATG, SAED and RMN). On long term cultures human bone cells seeded on the osteoid-like matrix displayed a clear osteoblast phenotype as revealed by the osteoblast-like morphology, expression of specific protein such as alkaline phosphatase and expression of eight genes classically considered as osteoblast markers, including BGLAP, COL1A1, and BMP2. Von Kossa and alizarine red allowed us to identify divalent calcium ions at the surface of the matrix, EDX revealed the correct Ca/P ratio, and SAED showed the apatite crystal diffraction pattern. In addition RMN led to the conclusion that contaminant phases were absent and that the hydration state of the mineral was similar to fresh bone. A temporal correlation was established between quantified gene expression of DMP1 and IBSP, and the presence of hydroxyapatite, confirming the contribution of these proteins to the mineralization process. In parallel a difference was observed in the expression pattern of SPP1 and BGLAP, which questioned their attributed role in the literature. The present model opens new experimental possibilities to study spatio-temporal relations between bone cells, dense collagen scaffolds, NCPs and hydroxyapatite mineral deposition. It also emphasizes the importance of high collagen density environment in bone cell physiology.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01142641
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01142641
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01142641/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01142641/file/Silvent_2013_Collagen.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0057344

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Amelotin (AMTN) is an ameloblast-secreted protein that belongs to the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein family, which also includes the enamel matrix proteins amelogenin, ameloblastin and enamelin. Although AMTN is supposed to play an important role in enamel formation, data were long limited to the rodents, in which it is expressed during the maturation stage. Recent comparative studies in sauropsids and amphibians revealed that (i) AMTN was expressed earlier, i.e. as soon as ameloblasts are depositing the enamel matrix, and (ii) AMTN structure was different, a change which mostly resulted from an intraexonic splicing in the large exon 8 of an ancestral mammal. The present study was performed to know whether the differences in AMTN structure and expression in rodents compared to non-mammalian tetrapods dated back to an early ancestral mammal or were acquired later in mammalian evolution. We sequenced, assembled and screened the jaw transcriptome of a neonate opossum Monodelphis domestica, a marsupial. We found two AMTN transcripts. Variant 1, representing 70.8% of AMTN transcripts, displayed the structure known in rodents, whereas variant 2 (29.2%) exhibited the nonmammalian tetrapod structure. Then, we studied AMTN expression during amelogenesis in a neonate specimen. We obtained similar data as those reported in rodents. These findings indicate that more than 180 million years ago, before the divergence of marsupials and placentals, changes occurred in AMTN function and structure. The spatiotemporal expression was delayed to the maturation stage of amelogenesis and the intraexonic splicing gave rise to isoform 1, encoded by variant 1 and lacking the RGD motif. The ancestral isoform 2, housing the RGD, was initially conserved, as demonstrated here in a marsupial, then secondarily lost in the placental lineages. These findings bring new elements towards our understanding of the non-prismatic to prismatic enamel transition that occurred at the onset of mammals.
ISSN: 1932-6203

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01233552
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01233552
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01233552/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01233552/file/journal.pone.0133314.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0133314

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
In order to improve our knowledge on the vertebral development, structure and mineralization in Acipenseriformes, we undertook a study in a growth series of reared Siberian sturgeons (Acipenser baerii) using in toto clear and stain specimens, histological and ultrastructural observations, X-ray micro-tomography, and solid state NMR analyses. Scutes were also studied to compare the tissue structure and mineralization of endoskeletal and dermal skeletal elements. This study completes and clarifies previous investigations on vertebral development and architecture in sturgeons, and brings original data on the structure of (i) the perichondral bone that is progressively deposited around the vertebral elements during ontogeny, (ii) the typical cartilage composing these elements, and (iii) the scutes. In addition we provide data on the mineralization process, on the nature of the bone mineral phase, and on the growth dynamics of the vertebral elements.
THE ANATOMICAL RECORD

hal-01429958
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01429958
DOI : 10.1002/ar.23515

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Growth series of Palaeozoic fishes are rare because of the fragility of larval and juvenile specimens owing to their weak mineralisation and the scarcity of articulated specimens. This rarity makes it difficult to describe early vertebrate growth patterns and processes in extinct taxa. Indeed, only a few growth series of complete Palaeozoic fishes are available; however, they allow the growth of isolated elements to be described and individual growth from these isolated elements to be inferred. In addition, isolated and in situ scales are generally abundant and well-preserved, and bring information on (1) their morphology and structure relevant to phylogenetic relationships and (2) individual growth patterns and processes relative to species ontogeny. The Late Devonian acanthodian Triazeugacanthus affinis from the Miguasha Fossil-Lagerstä tte preserves one of the best known fossilised ontogenies of early vertebrates because of the exceptional preservation, the large size range, and the abundance of complete specimens. Here, we present morphological, histological, and chemical data on scales from juvenile and adult specimens (scales not being formed in lar-vae). Histologically, Triazeugacanthus scales are composed of a basal layer of acellular bone housing Sharpey's fibers, a mid-layer of mesodentine, and a superficial layer of ganoine. Developmentally, scales grow first through concentric addition of mesodentine and bone around a central primordium and then through superposition of ganoine layers. Onto-genetically, scales form first in the region below the dorsal fin spine, then squamation spreads anteriorly and posteriorly, and on fin webs. Phylogenetically, Triazeugacanthus scales show similarities with acanthodians (e.g. " box-in-box " growth), chondrichthyans (e.g. squamation pattern), and actinopterygians (e.g. ganoine). Scale histology and growth are interpreted in the light of a new phylogenetic analysis of gnathostomes supporting acantho-dians as stem chondrichthyans.
ISSN: 1932-6203

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01526367
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01526367
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01526367/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01526367/file/journal.pone.0174655.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0174655