Transcriptional profile of immediate response to ionizing radiation exposure.

Astronauts participating in long duration space missions are likely to be exposed to ionizing radiation associated with highly energetic and charged heavy particles. Previously proposed gene biomarkers for radiation exposure include phosphorylated H2A Histone Family, Member X (γH2AX), Tumor Protein 53 (TP53), and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A). However, transcripts of these genes may not be the most suitable biomarkers for radiation exposure due to a lack of sensitivity or specificity.

Curcumin encapsulation in submicrometer spray-dried chitosan/Tween 20 particles.

Optimal curcumin delivery for medicinal applications requires a drug delivery system that both solubilizes curcumin and prevents degradation. To achieve this, curcumin has been encapsulated in submicrometer chitosan/Tween 20 particles via a benchtop spray-drying process. Spray-drying parameters have been optimized using a Taguchi statistical approach to minimize particle size and to favor spheroid particles with smooth surfaces, as evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.

Secretory cargo composition affects polarized secretion in MDCK epithelial cells.

Polarized epithelial cells secrete proteins at either the apical or basolateral cell surface. A number of non-epithelial secretory proteins also exhibit polarized secretion when they are expressed in polarized epithelial cells but it is difficult to predict where foreign proteins will be secreted in epithelial cells. The question is of interest since secretory epithelia are considered as target tissues for gene therapy protocols that aim to express therapeutic secretory proteins.

N-terminal proteolytic processing of porcine chromogranin A in parathyroid tissue.

Chromogranin A (CgA) is a glycoprotein stored in secretory granules of many endocrine and neuroendocrine cells. CgA undergoes tissue specific processing to release regulatory peptides. In the parathyroid, although processing is limited and variable, several CgA-derived peptides have been characterized including parastatin and betagranin.