ANNIE JOUBERT^1*, SUMARI MARAIS¹, CHRISTINE MARITZ²

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 67-70, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.067

Abstract Proteins of the B-cell lymphoma 2 family are crucial for the regulation of apoptosis. B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X is a pro-apoptotic protein, while B-cell lymphoma 2 protein opposes apoptosis. The influence of 1 μM 2-methoxyestradiol was investigated on the expression levels of these two proteins in MCF-7 cells. 2-Methoxyestradiol exposure did not influence B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression levels after 24 h of exposure. In contrast, B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein levels were significantly reduced. An improved differential interference contrasting technique revealed compromised cell density and the presence of a mitotic block in exposed cells. The study proposes that the… More >

ANDREA P. RODRIGUEZ, HIDETSUGU TSUJIGIWA, MEHMET GUNDUZ, BEYHAN CENGIZ, NORIYUKI NAGAI, RYO TAMAMURA, SILVIA S. BORKOSKY, TOHRU TAKAGI, MIHO INOUE, HITOSHI NAGATSUKA*

BIOCELL, Vol.33, No.1, pp. 39-47, 2009, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2009.33.039

Abstract Progenitor cells play an important biological role in tooth and bone formation, and previous analyses during bone and dentine induction have indicated that they may be a good alternative for tissue engineering. Thus, to clarify the influence of the microenvironment on protein and gene expression, MDPC23 cells (mouse dental papilla cell line) and KUSA/A1 cells (bone marrow stromal cell line) were used, both in vitro cell culture and in intra-abdominal diffusion chambers implanted in 4-week-old male immunodefficient mice (SCID mice). Our results indicate that KUSA/A1 cells differentiated into osteoblast-like cells and induced bone tissue inside the chamber, whereas, MDPC-23 showed… More >

MARTHA LAFARQUE, LILIANA OLIVEROS

BIOCELL, Vol.32, No.3, pp. 211-218, 2008, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2008.32.211

Abstract In this study, evidence for a factor secreted by bovine hypophyseal pars tuberalis that stimulates luteinizing hormone (LH) release from rat pars distalis cells is shown. The secretion products of bovine pars tuberalis cells into the culture medium were assayed on dispersed rat pars distalis cells in 30 min incubations and superfusion experiments. The culture medium from pars tuberalis total cell populations, added at a dose of 6 μg per tube, induced the greater LH release from pars distalis cells, without effect on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release. After pars tuberalis cells separation on a discontinuos Percoll gradient, only the… More >

GREGOR KOSEC^*¶, VANINA ALVAREZ^**¶, JUAN J. CAZZULO**

BIOCELL, Vol.30, No.3, pp. 479-490, 2006, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2006.30.479

Abstract Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease, contains a number of proteolytic enzymes. The recent completion of the genome sequence of the T. cruzi CL Brener clone suggests the presence of 70 cysteine peptidases, 40 serine peptidases (none of them from the chymotrypsin family), about 250 metallopeptidases (most leishmanolysin homologues), 25 threonine peptidases, and only two aspartyl peptidases, none of them from the pepsin family. The cysteine peptidases belong to 7 families of Clan CA, 3 families of Clan CD, and one each of Clans CE and CF. In Clan CA, the C1 family is represented by cruzipains 1 and… More >

ROBERTO YUNES, PEDRO FERNÁNDEZ, GUSTAVO F. DONCEL, ANÍBAL A. ACOSTA

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 287-293, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.287

Abstract Our objective was to determine the effect of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition on: 1) tyrosine phosphorylation of human spermatozoa at the tail level; and 2) sperm motion parameters and hyperactivated motility. The study was conducted with normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic samples incubated under in vitro capacitating conditions. The main outcome measures were computer-assisted sperm motion analysis and fluorescent immunodetection of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Pentoxifylline (PTX) was used as PDE inhibitor because of its wide use in the clinic. PTX-treatment significantly increased sperm velocity, hyperactivated motility and tyrosine-phosphorylation, both in normo and asthenozoospermic samples. Tyrosine-phosphorylation of tail proteins was highly conspicuous in both types… More >

KARINA MANCINI, HEIDI DOLDER

BIOCELL, Vol.28, No.3, pp. 299-310, 2004, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2004.28.299

Abstract This study was undertaken to detect protein components in both sperm types of the butterfly Euptoieta hegesia. These spermatozoa possess complex extracellular structures for which the composition and functional significance are still unclear. In the apyrene sperm head, the proteic cap presented an external ring and an internal dense content; basic proteins were detected only in external portions. In the tail, the paracrystalline core of mitochondrial derivatives and the axoneme are rich in proteins. The extratesticular spermatozoa are covered by a proteic coat, which presented two distinct layers. In eupyrene spermatozoa, acrosome and nucleus were negatively stained, probably because of… More >

Sinagawa-García SR¹, A Gutiérrez-Díez¹, A Mora-Olivo², MC Juárez-Aragón², JA Torres-Castillo²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 358-367, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.358

Abstract A general biochemical description of an aqueous extract obtained from Ibervillea sonorae root was reported; furthermore, a histological description for the root is included. A bromatological analysis was carried out, and it indicated that the study nutritional variables were similar to those reported in other edible tuberous roots including sweet potatoe, mandioca, bean yam and arracacha. For the first time, the presence of an active proteinase at alkaline pH and the inhibitory activity of trypsin were reported for this root. Several medical and bioactive properties have been attributed to the wereke root. Nevertheless, deeper studies are needed to determinate the… More >

López-Elías JA, R González-Vega, E Márquez-Ríos, W Torres-Arreola

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 331-337, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.331

Abstract Proteins are one of the major metabolites in biomass from microalgae that constitute the diet of marine organisms grown in aquaculture, and are essential for their growth. The quantity of this component is influenced by nutrients, temperature and light intensity, among others. We examined the growth, biomass production and protein of Chaetoceros muelleri with two sources of nitrogen (nitrate and urea) at three concentrations, using the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L) (nitrates) as control. The treatments were the medium 2f (3.53 mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with NO_3^-, and the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L), 2f (3.53mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with… More >

Reta-Sánchez DG¹, JS Serrato-Corona², HM Quiroga-Garza¹, A Gaytán-Mascorro¹, JA Cueto-Wong¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 262-271, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.262

Abstract Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) forage potential can be enhanced through its regrowth capacity and higher production in narrow rows. A field experiment was conducted in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico, during 2 growing seasons (2004 and 2005) to study the effects of plant height and row spacing on kenaf forage potential with multiple harvests. This study evaluated the effects of (1) 2 plant heights at cutting (1.0-1.2 m and 1.8-2.0 m) and (2) 4 inter row spacings (0.19, 0.38, 0.57 and 0.76 m) using a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized block design with 4 replications. Dry… More >

Turkyilmaz Unal B¹, A Esiz Dereboylu²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 144-147, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.144

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate some physiological effects of an insecticide (Akira 20-SP) with acetamiprid agent on Cin misir Adapop 10 and Sert misir Adapop 2 cultivars of corn plants in different concentrations [0 g/L, 0.6 g/L (recommended concentration), 1.2 g/L]. Photosynthetic pigment substances, total soluble protein and proline contents were determined. Analysis of treated leaves showed that the recommended concentration resulted in higher chlorophyll value in Cin misir Adapop 10 and Sert misir Adapop 2. Carotenoid amounts increased in Cin misir Adapop 10 and decreased in Sert misir Adapop 2 to the control. Total protein contents… More >