Study of bioengineered zebra fish olfactory receptor 131-2: receptor purification and secondary structure analysis.

How fishes are able to detect trace molecules in large bodies of water is not understood. It is plausible that they use olfactory receptors to detect water-soluble compounds. How the zebra fish Danio Rerio, an organism with only 98 functional olfactory receptors, is able to selectively detect and recognize numerous compounds in water remains a puzzling phenomenon.

Three-dimensional reconstituted extracellular matrix scaffolds for tissue engineering.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a rich meshwork of proteins and proteoglycans. Besides assuming a cell adhesive and structural support role, the ECM also helps to sequester and present growth factors to cells. ECM derived from tissues has been used as biological scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Porous collagen-apatite nanocomposite foams as bone regeneration scaffolds.

We have created a porous bioresorbable nanocomposite bone scaffold that chemically, structurally and mechanically matched natural bone so that it could be recognized and remodeled by natural bone. Containing collagen fibers and synthetic apatite nanocrystals, our scaffold has high strength for supporting the surrounding tissue. The foam-like scaffold has a similar microstructure as trabecular bone, with nanometer-sized and micron-sized pores.

Recyclable hydrophilic-hydrophobic micropatterns on glass for microarray applications.

A novel method for fabricating recyclable hydrophilic-hydrophobic micropatterns on glass chips is presented. TiOx patterns (100-2000 microm) were sputtered on glass chips via a through-hole mask. The patterned chips were then vapor-coated with fluoroalkylsilane, for example, (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (FTES) to form a hydrophobic coating layer.

Enhanced serotonin response in the hippocampus of Galphaz protein knock-out mice.

The serotonin-1A [5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5HT1A)] receptor is important for emotional and homeostatic processes in the central nervous system. In the hippocampus, the 5HT1A receptor couples to inhibitory Gi/o proteins to decrease pyramidal cell excitability. Here we investigate the 5HT1A receptor in a mouse deficient in the alpha-subunit of Gz protein (Galphaz knock-out).