VANINA ANDREA FONTANA¹, MELISA SANCHEZ¹, ELISA CEBRAL² AND JUAN CARLOS CALVO^1,3*

BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 37-44, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.037

Abstract Implantation is one of the most regulated processes in human reproduction, by endocrine and immunological systems. Cytokines are involved in embryo-maternal communication and an impaired balance could result in pregnancy loss. Here we investigated the effect of interleukin 1-β on the activity of two important metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) that are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling as well as the secretion of leptin, one of the reproductive hormones actively regulating their activity and secretion. We found that IL-1β activates matrix metalloproteinase activity as well as increases leptin secretion. We propose that this interleukin, through the More >

SUZANE MARGARET FANK-DE-CARVALHO, MISLÉIA RODRIGUES DE AGUIAR GOMES, PEDRO ÍTALO TANNO SILVA, SÔNIA NAIR BÁO

BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 23-36, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.023

Abstract The leaf structure and micromorphology characterize plant species and reflex its interactions with the environment. Leaf epidermis sculptures aid high transpiration plants on light reflection. The form and distribution of epicuticular wax crystalloids are important to characterize the surface. Aiming to know the micromorphology and the ultrastructure of G. arborescens, G. pohlii and G. virgata, leaves of these Cerrado native species were collected in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, at the Olympic Center of the Universidade de Brasília and at Reserva Ecológica do Roncador. Leaves of G. globosa, an Indian native species, were also studied for comparison. Leaves were fractionated,… More >

MI HEON RYU^1,a, JEONG HEE PARK^1,a, JI EUN PARK¹, JIN CHUNG², CHANG HUN LEE³AND HAE RYOUN PARK^1*

BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 15-22, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.015

Abstract Tumor cells are often found under hypoxic conditions due to the rapid outgrowth of their vascular supply, and, in order to survive hypoxia, these cells induce numerous signaling factors. Akt is an important kinase in cell survival, and its activity is regulated by the upstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). In this study, we examined Akt activation and RTKs/PI3K/Akt signaling using the hypoxia-mimetic cobalt chloride in oral squamous carcinoma cells. Cobalt chloride increases Akt phosphorylation in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. Blocking the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002 abolished More >

SILVIA VILA, ANA GONZALEZ, HEBE REY AND LUIS MROGINSKI*

BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 7-14, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.007

Abstract Embryogenic cultures were initiated from immature Melia azedarach (Meliaceae) zigotic embryos. Explants were induced on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium with 4.54 μM thidiazuron or 0.45 μM dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. After 6 weeks of culture on induction medium, somatic embryos were categorized in four morphological classes based on the presence of single or fused embryos and if they remained united or not to the original explant; that were evaluated histologically. The somatic embryos of every category were transferred, in groups or individually, on a 1/4 MS medium. Bipolar embryos, the more typically normal ones, had well defined More >

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, More >

O’Connor-Sánchez¹ A, AV Domínguez-May¹, MA Keb-Llanes¹, YJ Peña-Ramírez², VA Herrera-Valencia¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 25-29, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.025

Abstract A reliable protocol for plant regeneration of Mullein Nightshade (Solanum donianum Walp.) was developed from in vitro leaf explants. They were cultured on Murashige and Skoog semisolid medium, supplemented with several combinations of zeatin riboside and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid for shoot regeneration. The formulation that originated most shoots per explant was 8.5 μM zeatin riboside in absence of 1-naphthalene acetic acid. Explants with shoots were transferred to Murashige and Skoog medium, with half the normal salt concentration and without plant growth regulators for elongation. Elongated shoots were individualized, and they rooted readily in half-strength Murashige and Skoog More >

Galindo-Tovar¹ ME, AM Arzate-Fernández²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 203-207, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.203

Abstract Origin of West Indian avocado has been explained by current-day factors, such as abundance patterns; however, it is still unclear where it originated. Anyhow, there is a history behind the species that reflects, in one way or another, the present geographic distribution and species characteristics. We examined paleohistorical and paleoecological data to explore the West Indian avocado origin. Our results suggest that West Indian avocado originated by domestication and ecological adaptation in the Maya Lowland area; this is where this botanical variety of avocado has an ancient history. More >

Kiehr M¹, R Delhey¹, J Lusto², PJ Paoloni³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 199-202, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.199

Abstract A report is given on host plants, distribution, damage and importance of Sclerotinia minor in the southern Pampas and northern Patagonia regions (Argentina). Spontaneous infections were recorded on seven plant species. Sonchus oleraceus and Eruca vesicaria are new hosts for S. minor; Cichorium intybus and Zinnia elegans are new hosts for Argentina. This fungus causes important damage on Helianthus annuus and Lactuca sativa, and it occasionally affects C. intybus and Solanum lycopersicum. Comparative in vitro and in planta studies were carried out with S. minor and S. sclerotiorum isolates obtained from sunflower. More >

Torres¹ YA, CA Busso¹, OA Montenegro², HD Giorgetti², HD Rodríguez², D Bentivegna³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 195-198, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.195

Abstract Osmotic adjustment has been recognized to be an important adaptive response to water stress in higher plants. Although Leymus cinereus cv. “Trailhead” is reputedly a very drought-tolerant rangeland plant, its ability to adjust osmotically in the field has not previously been reported. This study examined the occurrence or not of osmotic adjustment in field-grown plants of Leymus cinereus cv. “Trailhead” during late spring in an arid zone of Patagonia. Plants of this species had been established in the field three years before. With this purpose, leaf laminae of this species were collected and pressure-volume curves made. Results More >

Maanda MQ, RB Bhat

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 189-194, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.189

Abstract We studied the marginal utilization of 40 wild vegetable species in the Venda area of Limpopo Province (South Africa). Use of these vegetables with various purposes by humans is indicated. More >