In vitro comparison of dodecafluoropentane (DDFP), perfluorodecalin (PFD), and perfluoroctylbromide (PFOB) in the facilitation of oxygen exchange.

The purpose is to prepare 2% w/v emulsions of dodecafluoropentane, perfluorodecalin, and perfluoroctylbromide and compare them for their ability to absorb oxygen. The oxygen uptake capability and volume expansion of each emulsion and the blank vehicle were evaluated in water at 21 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The average particle size of the dodecafluoropentane emulsion is < 400 nm stored at room temperature for 6 months.

A rhizosphere fungus enhances Arabidopsis thermotolerance through production of an HSP90 inhibitor.

The molecular chaperone HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN90 (HSP90) is essential for the maturation of key regulatory proteins in eukaryotes and for the response to temperature stress. Earlier, we have reported that fungi living in association with plants of the Sonoran desert produce small molecule inhibitors of mammalian HSP90. Here, we address whether elaboration of the HSP90 inhibitor monocillin I (MON) by the rhizosphere fungus Paraphaeosphaeria quadriseptata affects plant HSP90 and plant environmental responsiveness.

Transgene-induced RNA interference as a tool for plant functional genomics.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool for functional genomics in a number of species. The logistics and procedures for doing high-throughput RNAi to investigate the functions of large numbers of genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and in Zea mays are described. Publicly available plasmid vectors that facilitate the stable chromosomal integration of inverted repeat transgenes that trigger RNAi have been used to generate more than 50 independent transgenic lines each in Arabidopsis and maize.

Effectiveness of RNA interference in transgenic plants.

RNA interference (RNAi) can be used to study gene function by effecting degradation of the targeted transcript. However, the effectiveness of transgene-induced RNAi among multiple target genes has not been compared systematically. To this end, we developed a relative quantitative RT-PCR protocol that allows use of a single internal standard over a wide range of target gene expression levels.