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MARIANO BIZZARRI^*, PAOLA PONTECORVI
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1357-1362, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018471
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Tumor Microenvironment and Cytoskeletal Dynamics)
Abstract The cytoskeleton includes three main classes of networked filaments behaving as a coherent and complex structure that confers stability to cell shape while serving as sensor of internal/extracellular changes. Microenvironmental stimuli interfere with the non-linear dynamics that govern cytoskeleton architecture, namely by fostering symmetry breakings and transitions across different phenotypic states. Such process induces a wholecoherent adaptive response, involving the reprogramming of biochemical and gene-expression patterns. These characteristics are especially relevant during development, and in those conditions in which a deregulated crosstalk between cells and the stroma is at the core of the pathological process. Therefore, studying how the cytoskeleton… More >

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1126

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YINGHUI WU^#, HONG ZHANG^#, QIANG WANG, SUOYUAN LI, JUN SHEN^*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1363-1364, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018360
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cell-Based Regenerative Therapies)
Abstract Transcription factor Brachyury, a protein containing 435 amino acids, has been widely investigated and reported in notochord differentiation and nucleus pulposus development. The crucial functions and underlying mechanisms by Brachyury are discussed in this paper, which suggests Brachyury can be developed into a potential novel target for the therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration. More >

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770

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IGOR A. KHLUSOV^1,*, LARISA S. LITVINOVA^2,*, KRISTINA A. YUROVA², MARINA Y. KHLUSOVA³
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1365-1373, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018917
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Secretome and Biomaterials: Regenerative Medicine Application)
Abstract Stem cell microterritories (niches), as a specialized part of the extracellular matrix (ECM), are considered an important target and tool for the development of new materials, medical implants, and devices. However, tissue bioengineering products that have stem cell niches of known size on the surface or in the bulk structure of artificial materials are practically unknown. This brief review attempts to draw attention to the problematic aspects of niches as specific parts of the ECM, such as their hierarchy and size for mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). These parameters arise directly from numerous definitions of stem cell niches as specialized morphological… More >

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809

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GIORDANO WOSGRAU CALLONI^1,*, MARCO AUGUSTO STIMAMIGLIO^2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1375-1381, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019681
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Secretome and Biomaterials: Regenerative Medicine Application)
Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their byproducts have been widely validated as potential therapeutic products for regenerative medicine. The therapeutic effects result mainly from the paracrine activity of MSCs, which consists of the secretion of bioactive molecules, whether dispersed in medium conditioned by cell culture or encapsulated in extracellular vesicles. The composition of the MSC secretome, which represents the set of these secreted cellular products, is crucial for the performance of the desired therapeutic functions. Different cell culture strategies have been employed to adjust the secretome composition of MSCs to obtain the best therapeutic responses for different clinical contexts. However,… More >

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MARGARIDA LORIGO^1,2, ELISA CAIRRAO^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1383-1389, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018895
Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The knowledge and understanding of CVD are based on the study of vascular physiology and how the smooth muscle cells and tissues perform their different functions. Exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs), such as phytoestrogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, flame retardants, plasticizers, pesticides, and cosmetics, is an integral and fundamental part of human exposure. Humans are exposed to EDCs by multiple pathways including air, food, water, and consumer products. However, this exposure can lead to several adverse effects on human health, including on the cardiovascular (CV) system. The negative impact… More >

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743

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JUAN CARLOS STOCKERT^1,2,*, ALFONSO BLÁZQUEZ-CASTRO³
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1391-1415, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019493
Abstract

Melanins represent one of the most ancient and important group of natural macromolecular pigments. They have multiple biological roles in almost all organisms across the Phyla, examples being photoprotection, anti-oxidative action, radical scavenger activity, and heavy metal removal. From the biomedical point of view, melanocytes are involved in the origin of melanoma tumors, and the main therapeutic advances for their treatment have been revised in Part 1 of this review. The chemical structure of eumelanin is a biological concern of great importance, and therefore, exploring theoretical molecular models and synthesis mechanisms will be here described, as well as molecular orbital… More >

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REVIEW

WEI LI^1,2, YUEYANG DUAN¹, XIAOTONG YAN¹, XIANGXIANG LIU¹, MEILING FAN^3,*, ZI WANG^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1417-1423, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017609
Abstract Ginsenoside Rb3 (G-Rb3) is one of the primary active compounds isolated from Panax ginseng Meyer, which belongs to protopanaxadiol ginsenosides (PPD). Based on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of ginsenosides, the pentose structure of G-Rb3 limited itself to possess more pharmacological activity to a certain extent. However, pharmacokinetics show that G-Rb3 is processed through deglycosylation in the intestinal tract and converted into more active rare saponins, such as Compound K, F2, etc. A series of studies focused on neuroprotection and the cardiovascular system demonstrating its therapeutic potentials, which was achieved by diminishing oxidative stress and apoptosis. Therefore, more systematic and in-depth… More >

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FEI CHEN^1,*, CHUN LUAN¹, ZICHUN WEI¹, DECHEN CAI¹, ZHIWEN CUI¹, YUYANG LI¹, HAO WU², XIAOXIA ZHANG¹, XIAOLI WU²
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1425-1433, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019868
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Reproductive Health and Embryonic Development)
Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed a potential threat to infant health. The World Health Organization recommended that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the potential risk of transmission, but there is no denying that the current evidence is insufficient. Moreover, although the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine has played an effective role in protection against infection, individuals have increasing concerns about the safety of breastfeeding after vaccination, and which have caused some breastfeeding women to postpone vaccination or stop breastfeeding early. Thus, in this review, we provide an in-depth… More >

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1021

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YASHVI SHARMA¹, SHARDA RAY², SUJATA MOHANTY^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1435-1438, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018612
Abstract Neurodegenerative disorders are a vicious woe to the public health and wellness. Uncertainty in their underlying causes, lack of effective biomarkers for their early detection, existence of only supportive therapy, and their ever rising incidence creates an unmatched need for targeted therapies. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have found to be promising candidates for regenerative and remedial therapy in neurodegenerative disorders, however several biological risks and practical issues impede in their translational utility. Deriving from MSCs are certain Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), which aid in the paracrine action of MSCs and have lately gained the scientific interest for their implacability in diverse… More >

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788

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OK-HYEON KIM^1,2,#, EUN RAN KIM^3,#, JUN HYUNG PARK², HYUN JUNG LEE^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1439-1443, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018921
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Secretome and Biomaterials: Regenerative Medicine Application)
Abstract Exogenously delivered mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are therapeutically beneficial owing to their paracrine effect; they secrete various cytokines, nucleic acids, and proteins. Multiple bioengineering techniques can help MSC cultures to release secretomes by providing stem cell niche-like conditions (both structurally and functionally). Various scaffolds mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) using both natural and synthetic polymers, providing favorable environments for MSC proliferation and differentiation. Depending on material properties, either topographically or elastically structured scaffolds can be fabricated. Three-dimensional scaffolds have tunable substrate rigidities and structures, aiding MSC cultivation. Decellularized ECM-derived hydrogels are similar to the natural ECM, thus improving the… More >

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W. BENTON SWANSON, YUJI MISHINA^*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1445-1451, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018781
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Secretome and Biomaterials: Regenerative Medicine Application)
Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have long been regarded as critical components of regenerative medicine strategies, given their multipotency and persistence in a variety of tissues. Recently, the specific role of MSCs in mediating regenerative outcomes has been attributed (in part) to secreted factors from transplanted cells, namely extracellular vesicles. This viewpoint manuscript highlights the promise of cell-derived extracellular vesicles as agents of regeneration, enhanced by synergy with appropriate biomaterials platforms. Extracellular vesicles are a potentially interesting regenerative tool to enhance the synergy between MSCs and biomaterials. As a result, we believe these technologies will improve patient outcomes through efficient therapeutic… More >

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KAREL H. M. VAN WELY^*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1453-1457, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018939
Abstract Transcription termination of nearly all protein-coding genes in mammals requires 3’ end processing by a multiprotein complex that will cleave and polyadenylate the messenger RNA precursor. Because a variety of enzyme complexes intervene, 3’ end processing was thought to be fundamentally complex and subject to a multitude of regulatory effects. The possibility to select just one out of several polyadenylation sites, in particular, has caused much questioning and speculation. What appear to be separate mechanisms however can be combined into a defined set of rules, allowing for a relatively simple interpretation of 3’ end processing. Ultimately, readiness of the terminal… More >

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681

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BENSHUAI YOU¹, HUI QIAN^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1459-1463, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018378
Abstract Exosomes, especially from mesenchymal stem cells, have attracted extensive attention in regeneration medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes (MSCs-exosomes) have shown anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptosis and tissue regeneration effects in a variety of tissue injury repair models. MSCs-exosomes hold many excellent properties such as low immunogenicity, biocompatibility, and targeting capability. With the in-depth study on the generation and function of exosomes, MSCs-exosomes are considered to be the bright stars in the field of regenerative medicine. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome in terms of exosomes isolation, clinical trials and safety evaluation. In this article, what we should focus on… More >

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826

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MIN TANG^1,#, XUELING HE^1,2,#, XINGHONG YAO¹, JIRUI WEN¹, MINGYUE BAO¹, LIANG LI^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1465-1472, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018967
Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the role of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in biaxial tensile strain (BTS) regulated osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). rBMSCs were derived from rats and overexpressed ERα. The rBMSCs were subjected to BTS at 1 Hz with a strain of 2% for 4 h per day, 3 days, with or without ERα inhibitor ICI 182,780 (ICI). Then, bone mineralization was performed by Alizarin Red Staining. The markers of osteogenic differentiation and downstream Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling were detected by western blotting. Results showed that BTS enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs,… More >

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963

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NING LI^1,#, YANG CHEN^2,#, YONGJIE YANG^3,4, SHUHAN LYU¹, YUE PAN^1,5,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1473-1482, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018278
Abstract Breast cancer is a highly aggressive cancer in females. Metastasis is a major obstacle to the efficient and successful treatment of breast cancer. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has anti-tumor effects on a variety of tumors. We showed that CTAB inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer to the lungs both in vitro and in vivo. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be one of the major processes mediating breast cancer metastasis. We found that CTAB suppressed EMT and regulated the levels of the classical EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and Twist1. Moreover, as a candidate anti-tumor agent, CTAB showed primary safety… More >

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691

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YAO XU^1,#, BIN WU^2,#, JING YANG³, SHENG ZHANG², LONGGEN LIU⁴, SUOBAO XU^2,*, JIAKAI JIANG^2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1483-1491, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017745
Abstract To study the roles and association of murine double minute gene 2 (MDM2) and fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBP1) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), growth response of human HCC cells was assessed using proliferation and apoptosis assay. Pro-survival AKT signaling associated proteins (p-AKT, survivin and cleaved caspase 3) were assessed using western blotting. The correlation between MDM2 and FBP1 was assessed using co-immunoprecipitation combined with ubiquitination assay. Our data suggested that low expression of FBP1 was correlated with high levels of MDM2 in HCC cell lines (Huh7 and Hep3B). Overexpression of FBP1 resulted in anti-proliferation, pro-apoptosis, the up-regulation of cleaved caspase 3 while… More >

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724

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JIAN XU^1,#, HAILONG GE^1,#, CHEN CHAO¹, FENG MO¹, YU WANG¹, DENGKUI ZHANG¹, XIAOXIAO ZHENG², LI ZHENG², XUEMEI LU², WEI CHEN², QUN XU^1,*, WEIXIN YU^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1493-1503, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016962
Abstract Although sorafenib has been found to prolong the survival time of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sorafenib resistance remains an important challenge. Increasing studies have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to drug resistance in a wide number of cancers. Human periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) osteogenesis impairment-related lncRNA (POIR) is a recently defined lncRNA for which little is known regarding its function. Our study aimed to reveal the role of POIR in the development of HCC cell sorafenib resistance. The level of POIR expression in patients and tumor cells was examined by Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)… More >

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MIN CHEN^1,#, YUAN HUANG^2,#, WEN XU², CHUNLIN SU^2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1505-1519, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.016564
Abstract The development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related to the chronic inflammatory and obese. Recent studies have found macrophages regulate the chronic inflammation and adipose tissue remodelling, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified. In this study, we established a model of PCOS in the offspring rats by high androgen exposure during late pregnancy in parental and established a female rat macrophage eliminating model by rejection of clodronate liposome. Then, the offspring rat macrophage phenotype in offspring female rat adipose tissue, and levels of testosterone, angiogenic factors (PDGF and VEGF) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α and MCP-1) were… More >

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KAN OUYANG^1,2,#, MEIQUAN XU^3,#, YUJIE LIANG⁴, XIAO XU², LIMEI XU², CAINING WEN^1,2, ZHUAN QIN², YIXIN XIE², HUAWEI ZHANG⁵, LI DUAN^2,*, DAPING WANG^1,2,5,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1521-1526, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018788
Abstract There is no efficient tracking system available for the therapeutic molecules delivered to cartilage. The dense matrix covering the cartilage surface is the main biological barrier that the therapeutic molecules must overcome. In this study, we aimed to establish a system that can dynamically and effectively track the therapeutic molecules delivered to cartilage. To this aim, we adopted bovine and human cartilage explants as ex vivo models for chondrocyte-targeted exosome dispersion. The efficiency of drug delivery was evaluated using frozen sections. The results of this study showed that the penetration and distribution of chondrocyte-targeted exosomes in cartilage explants can be… More >

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XINFU FAN^1,2,#, JIE CHEN^3,#, ZONGMENG ZHANG^4,#, FANGHUI CHEN⁵, HAOSEN WANG⁶, YAFEI CAI⁶, JUN LI^7,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1527-1535, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018269
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cell-Based Regenerative Therapies)
Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an intractable clinical challenge of neurosurgery, it can be divided into two stages: uncontrollable primary injury induced by mechanical damage and controllable secondary injury regulated by continuous cell death. The apoptosis was the one of most important events in secondary injury, previous studies revealed that excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress breaks down the homeostasis and triggers apoptosis in the spinal cord. To deter or alleviate the secondary jury, we screen one of fat-soluble compounds, salubrinal, which was an inhibitor of eIF2α dephosphorylation can repair SCI by inhibiting ER stress in mice after SCI. Administration of… More >

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JINGJIE LIU^1,#, XIAOYAN DING^2,#, LI XIANG¹, SHENGLI HUANG^3,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1537-1544, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018441
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cell-Based Regenerative Therapies)
Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the integration of transplanted choroidal plexus epithelial cells with organotypic spinal cord slices. Organotypic spinal cord slices, normally cultured for 6 days, were divided into control group (Ctrl) and transplanted group (T). The choroidal plexus epithelial cells were dissociated and primary cultured (C group). The choroidal plexus epithelial cells cultured for 6–7 days were labeled by 1,1’-dioctadecyl-3,3,3’,3’-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanineperchlorate (CM-Dil), and were identified by transthyretin (TTR) in immunocytochemistry. They were adjusted to the density of 0.5–1 × 10⁷/ml, then 2 μl cells suspension were transplanted to the spinal cord slices in the T group. The same amount… More >

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SUYING PU^1,#, HUI ZHENG^2,#, YUN TAO¹, JING SHAO¹, MINGNA YANG¹, SHUNJUN LI^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1545-1555, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017544
Abstract Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious type of stroke. High level of thrombin is found in the ICH. Ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) 31, a member of deubiquitinating enzymes family, has been found to negatively regulate the NF-κB pathway. However, the function of USP31 in ICH remains largely unknown. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression levels of USP31 were measured by real-time PCR and western blot. Flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the current study, we found the mRNA level of USP31 was decreased in peripheral blood… More >

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YANG YANG^1,*, BENSHUAI YOU², CHENGLIN ZHOU^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1557-1564, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018326
Abstract The gene of Helicobacter pylori can encode three to four type IV secretory systems, of which a new gene region has been found in the H. pylori plasticity region. The coding products of this region can form a new T4SS named tfs3, but its function is unclear. This study investigated the effect of VirD4 recombinant protein in the tfs3 secretory system of the H. pylori clinical strain SBK on GES-1 cells. We observed changes in cell morphology after VirD4 treatment. Further analysis indicated that VirD4 increased inflammation by increasing the activation of NF-κB. VirD4 can also inhibited proliferation, and induced… More >

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YANQIU LI^#,*, CHENJUN HAO^#, WEIYI CHEN, QINGJU MENG
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1565-1573, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018347
（This article belongs to this Special Issue: Biotherapeutic Agents and Innovative Theranostic Formulations: Physical-Chemical Aspects, Pharmacological and Biological Effects)
Abstract This work aimed to clarify the interaction between the fetus and pregnant patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the lipid metabolomics analysis of the fetal umbilical cord blood of GDM patients and normal pregnant women were performed to screen out the specific lipid metabolites for pathogenesis of GDM. From 2019–2020, 21 patients with GDM and 22 normal pregnant women were enrolled in Hexian Memorial Hospital, Panyu District, Guangzhou. The general information such as weight, height, age, body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy were analyzed. Non-targeted metabonomic detection and analysis were performed in umbilical cord plasma using LC-MS method. The age,… More >

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HE LI¹, RUNAN CHEN¹, ZHONGCHENG CHEN¹, JIAXIN LIN¹, XIJUN JIN¹, CHUNYUAN REN¹, QIUSEN CHEN¹, FENGQIONG CHEN¹, GAOBO YU^1,*, YUXIAN ZHANG^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1575-1592, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018762
Abstract The Type-B authentic response regulator (ARR-Bs) gene family is one of the important plant-specific transcription factor families involved in variety of physiological processes. However, study of ARR-Bs gene family in soybean is limited. Genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of the ARR-Bs gene family were performed in the soybean genome. 31 ARR-Bs genes (namely GmARR-B1-31) were identified, containing conserved catalytic domains with protein lengths and molecular weights ranging from 246 to 699 amino acids (aa) and 28.30 to 76.86 kDa, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped ARR-Bs genes into three clusters—Cluster I, Cluster II, and Cluster III—which included 15, 12, and 4 genes,… More >

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