Effects of hyperglycemia on airway epithelial barrier function in WT and CF 16HBE cells.

Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD), the main co-morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF), is associated with higher rates of lung function decline. We hypothesize that airway epithelial barrier function is impaired in CF and is further exacerbated under hyperglycemia, worsening pulmonary outcomes. Using 16HBE cells, we studied the effects of hyperglycemia in airway epithelial barrier function.

Comparing ATPase activity of ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 4, lamprey CFTR, and human CFTR using an antimony-phosphomolybdate assay.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters use the hydrolysis of ATP to power the active transport of molecules, but paradoxically the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR, ABCC7) forms an ion channel. We previously showed that ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 4 (ABCC4) is the closest mammalian paralog to CFTR, compared to other ABC transporters. In addition, Lamprey CFTR (Lp-CFTR) is the oldest known CFTR ortholog and has unique structural and functional features compared to human CFTR (hCFTR).

Protein-Polymer Conjugates Synthesized Using Water-Soluble Azlactone-Functionalized Polymers Enable Receptor-Specific Cellular Uptake toward Targeted Drug Delivery.

Conjugation of proteins to drug-loaded polymeric structures is an attractive strategy for facilitating target-specific drug delivery for a variety of clinical needs. Polymers currently available for conjugation to proteins generally have limited chemical versatility for subsequent drug loading. Many polymers that do have chemical functionality useful for drug loading are often insoluble in water, making it difficult to synthesize functional protein-polymer conjugates for targeted drug delivery.