DULCE MA. BARRADAS-DERMITZ^1,*, PATRICIA M. HAYWARD-JONES², MARTÍN MATA-ROSAS³, BEATRIZ PALMEROSSÁNCHEZ², OSCAR B. J. PLATAS-BARRADAS⁴, RODOLFO F. VELÁSQUEZ-TOLEDO²

BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 1-6, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.001

Abstract Of the initial six cell lines originating from explants of Taxus globosa, or Mexican yew (stem internode, leaves and meristematic tissue), three were selected for their microbial and oxidation resistance, two from leaves and the other from stem internode. A study of their behavior, both in terms of cell growth, and of baccatin III and paclitaxel production, was developed in suspension cultures with an initially standardized biomass (fresh weight 0.23 g/L) using modified Gamborg’s B5 medium, and an elicitor (methyl jasmonate), on either the first or seventh day of culture, at several levels (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μM). In… More >

ANNIE JOUBERT^1*, HERMIA VAN ZYL¹, JOHANNES LAURENS², MONA-LIZA LOTTERING¹

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.3, pp. 137-140, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.137

Abstract C2- and C4-position 17β-estradiol metabolites play an important role in breast carcinogenesis. 2-Hydroxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestradiol are implicated in tumorigenesis via two pathways. These pathways entail increased cell proliferation and the formation of reactive oxygen species that trigger an increase in the likelihood of deoxyribonucleic acid mutations.
2-Methoxyestradiol, a 17β-estradiol metabolite, however, causes induction of apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells; thus exhibiting an antiproliferative effect on tumor growth. The 4-hydroxyestradiol:2- methoxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestradiol:2-methoxyestradiolratios therefore ought to be taken into account as possible indicators of carcinogenesis. More >

JIANLI SHI, WENYAN MEI, JING YANG

BIOCELL, Vol.32, No.3, pp. 259-263, 2008, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2008.32.259

Abstract As the key component of many hemoproteins (heme-containing proteins), heme is involved in a broad range of biological processes. Enzymes required for heme biosynthesis and degradation pathways are evolutionarily conserved. While heme metabolism has been studied extensively, the expression of heme metabolism enzymes during development has not been described. Here, we report that all heme biosynthases and two heme oxygenases, which initiate heme degradation, are dynamically expressed during Xenopus embryonic development. All heme synthases, with the exception of aminolevulinic acid synthase 2, are maternally expressed. At neurula stage, heme synthases are expressed in the developing neural tissue and in migrating… More >

Brevedan¹ RE, MI Aveldaño², MN Fioretti¹, MA Varillas², SS Baioni¹, HR Mirassón³, IR Palomo¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.78, pp. 49-52, 2009, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2009.78.049

Abstract Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to study the influence of P deficiency on nitrogen nutrition of non-nodulated soybean. There was a reduction of N and P content in P deficient (P-) plants of almost 50% after 50 days. During this period, dry matter of these plants was reduced by 33%. Nitrate reductase activity and shoot nitrate content were lower in Pthan in P+ plants. Seventy five percent of nitrates in P- plants were in the roots. Nitrate accumulation in roots would be due to the lower nitrate reductase activity in this organ and a reduced water flux to… More >

Sánchez E¹, G Ávila-Quezada¹, AA Gardea¹, E Muñoz¹, JM Ruiz², L Romero²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.78, pp. 11-16, 2009, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2009.78.011

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the effect of different P doses on nitrogen assimilation in roots and leaves of green beans plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Strike). Phosphorus was applied in the nutrient solution as H₃PO₄, at the nutrient doses of: P1 = 0.40 mM; P2 = 0.80 mM; P3 = 1.60 mM; P4 = 3.20 mM; P5 = 4.80 mM, and P6 = 6.40 mM P. Our results indicate that both P toxicity and deficiency gave similar responses to N assimilation. Phosphorus and NO3 - interacted on the absorption and translocation processes affecting N assimilation. The… More >

Sánchez E¹, G Ávila-Quezada¹, AA Gardea¹, JM Ruiz², L Romero²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.76, pp. 143-152, 2007, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2007.76.143

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the effect of deficiency versus toxicity of N on biosynthesis of proline in fruits of green bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Strike). Nitrogen was applied to the nutritive solution in the form of NH₄NO₃ at 1.5 mM (N1), 3.0 mM (N2), 6.0 mM (N3, optimal level), 12.0 mM (N4), 18.0 mM (N5), and 24.0 mM (N6). Nitrogen deficiency (N1 and N2) was characterized by having lower proline accumulation in pods and seeds, mainly because proline degradation was stimulated by the enzyme proline dehydrogenase. On the other hand, N toxicity (N4, N5,… More >

Díaz-Álvarez EA^1,2, AP Rojas-Cortés^1,2, E de la Barrera¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 278-281, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.278

Abstract The epiphytic bromeliad Tillandsia makoyana was studied to assess the contribution of the environmental factors, water, temperature, and light, to the expression of the Crassulacean acid metabolism. In particular, nocturnal titratable acidity accumulation and maximum leaf temperature were measured in response to watering and incident light. Plants that were watered and exposed to direct sunlight had the highest nocturnal accumulation of titratable acidity (25.52 ± 0.34 H⁺/m²), while those without irrigation and shaded showed a 59% reduction in their titratable acidity. Our results illustrated a rapid response of the photosynthetic activity to water availability in Tillandsia makoyana, a native species… More >

Qiuping Liu¹, Guanbin Song^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 127-127, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07105

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide. Increased matrix stiffness of extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly associated with HCC. During tumour formation and expansion, increasing glucose metabolism is necessary for unrestricted growth of tumour cells. Yet, the correlation between matrix stiffness and glucose metabolism in the development of HCC remains unknown. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of matrix stiffness on glucose metabolism and migration of MHCC97L and HepG2 hepatoma cells, and explore the mechanotransduction involved in this process. Polyacrylamide hydrogels with stiffness gradients of 6, 25, 54 kPa were produced… More >

Berengere PAPEGAY^{1, *}, Michaela STADLER¹, Vincent Nuyens¹, Isabelle SALMON², Veronique KRUYS³, Jean G. BOOGAERTS¹

BIOCELL, Vol.38, No.1, pp. 25-32, 2014, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2014.38.025

Abstract Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a determinant in liver injury occurring during surgery, ischemic states and multiple organ failure. The pre-existing nutritional status of the liver, i.e., fasting, might contribute to the extent of tissue injury. This study investigated whether alanine, an amino acid precursor of glucose, could protect ex vivo perfused livers of fasting rats from reperfusion injury. The portal vein was cannulated, the liver removed and perfused in a closed ex vivo system. Isolated livers were perfused either with glucose 1 g/L and 10 g/L, or with equal concentrations of alanine (n = 10 in each group). The experiment consisted… More >

Tamara ZAOBORNYJ, Darío E. IGLESIAS, Silvina S. BOMBICINO, Alberto BOVERIS, Laura B. VALDEZ^*

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 55-58, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.055

Abstract Normal cardiac function is accomplished through a continuous energy supply provided by mitochondria. Heart mitochondria are the major source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: superoxide anion (O₂-) and nitric oxide (NO). NO production by mitochondrial NOS (mtNOS) is modified by metabolic state and shows an exponential dependence on Δψ. The interaction between mtNOS and complexes I and IV might be a mechanism involved in the regulation of mitochondrial NO production. NO exerts a high affinity, reversible and physiological inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity. A second effect of NO on the respiratory chain is accomplished through its interaction with… More >