Functional MYB transcription factor gene HtMYB2 is associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in Helianthus tuberosus L.

Background: Tuber color is an important trait for Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem artichoke). Usually, purple tubers with high anthocyanin content are more nutritious than white tuber.

A fructan: the fructan 1-fructosyl-transferase gene from Helianthus tuberosus increased the PEG-simulated drought stress tolerance of tobacco.

Background: Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a fructan-accumulating plant, and an industrial source of raw material for fructan production, but the crucial enzymes involved in fructan biosynthesis remain poorly understood in this plant.

Results: In this study, a fructan: fructan 1-fructosyl-transferase (1-FFT) gene, Ht1-FFT, was isolated from Jerusalem artichoke. The coding sequence of Ht1-FFT was 2025 bp in length, encoding 641 amino acids.

Functional annotation and identification of MADS-box transcription factors related to tuber dormancy in L.

Dormancy-associated MADS-box (DAM) genes play an important role in plant dormancy and release phases. Little is known about the dormancy characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke tubers. Using bioinformatics, we identified and annotated 23 MADS-box gene sequences from the genome of the Jerusalem artichoke and we analyzed the differential expression of these genes at different developmental stages of tuber dormancy.

Pharmacokinetics and Renal Toxicity of Monomeric Amphotericin B in Rats after a Multiple Dose Regimen.

Background: Delivery of monomeric Amphotericin B (AmB), i.e. deaggregated AmB, has been a major tactic in the reduction of renal toxicity at a membrane level, taking advantage of the selectivity of monomeric AmB for binding ergosterol over cholesterol.

Oligo(lactic acid)n-Paclitaxel Prodrugs for Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) Micelles: Loading, Release, and Backbiting Conversion for Anticancer Activity.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles are nanocarriers for poorly water-soluble anticancer agents and have advanced paclitaxel (PTX) to humans due to drug solubilization, biocompatibility, and dose escalation. However, PEG-b-PLA micelles rapidly release PTX, resulting in widespread biodistribution and low tumor exposure. To improve delivery of PTX by PEG-b-PLA micelles, monodisperse oligo(l-lactic acid), o(LA)8 or o(LA)16, has been coupled onto PTX at the 7-OH position, forming ester prodrugs: o(LA)8-PTX and o(LA)16-PTX, respectively.

PEG-b-PLA micelles and PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol-gels for drug delivery.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-block-polyethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA) sol-gels have been extensively researched for systemic and localized drug delivery applications, respectively, and they have both progressed into humans for paclitaxel, an important yet poorly water-soluble chemotherapeutic agent. In this review article, preclinical and clinical research on PEG-b-PLA micelles and PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol-gels that has focused on paclitaxel will be updated, and recent research on other poorly water-soluble anticancer agents and delivery of drug combinations (i.e.

Pharmaceutical and toxicological properties of engineered nanomaterials for drug delivery.

Novel engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being developed to enhance therapy. The physicochemical properties of ENMs can be manipulated to control/direct biodistribution and target delivery, but these alterations also have implications for toxicity. It is well known that size plays a significant role in determining ENM effects since simply nanosizing a safe bulk material can render it toxic.

Core functional sequence of C-terminal GAG-binding domain directs cellular uptake of IGFBP-3-derived peptides.

The current study clarifies the role of the Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding domain of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in cell penetration. The cell penetration function of IGFBP-3 has been mapped to an 18-residue GAG-binding domain in the C-terminal region that mobilizes cellular uptake and nuclear localization of unrelated proteins. Uptake of KW-22, a 22-residue peptide that encompasses the 18-residue GAG-binding domain, and another IGFBP-3 peptide carrying a streptavidin protein cargo was investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells defective at several steps of biosynthesis of cell surface GAGs.

Novel monodisperse PEGtide dendrons: design, fabrication, and evaluation of mannose receptor-mediated macrophage targeting.

Novel PEGtide dendrons of generations 1 through 5 (G1.0–5.0) containing alternating discrete poly(ethylene glycol) (dPEG) and amino acid/peptide moieties were designed and developed.

[Investigations on preparation and release behavior in vitro of 9-nitro camptothecin encapsulated micelles].

9-nitro camptothecin (9-NC) loaded amphiphilic copolymer micelles were prepared with solvent evaporation method. The effects of temperature, distilled water volume, stirring rate, and drug input amount on the size and drug content of micelles were further discussed. As a result, well dispersed spherical micelles with drug content of 4.

Preparation and characterization of novel polymeric micelles for 9-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin delivery.

9-Nitro-20(S)-camptothecin (9-NC) has achieved remarkable curative effect in anticancer research. However, the clinical application of 9-NC is largely hampered by its poor solubility and stability. In this paper, novel amphiphilic block copolymers derived from d,l-lactide, trimethylene carbonate, and methylated poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) (PECA) with different molecular weight were synthesized and characterized.