Detection of juvenile hormone agonists by a new reporter gene assay using yeast expressing Drosophila methoprene-tolerant.

Juvenile hormones (JHs) are sesquiterpenoids that play important roles in the regulation of growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction in insects. Synthetic JH agonists (JHAs) have been used as insecticides and are categorized as a class of insect growth regulators (IGRs). Natural JHs and synthetic JHAs bind to the JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met), which forms a functional JH-receptor complex with steroid receptor coactivators, such as Drosophila melanogaster Taiman (Tai).

Facile fabrication of PEG-coated PLGA microspheres via SPG membrane emulsification for the treatment of scleroderma by ECM degrading enzymes.

We developed a facile fabrication method for preparing poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-coated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres with homogeneous size distribution via a combination of mPEG-b-PLGA and Shirasu Porous Glass membrane emulsification. Subsequently, extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading enzymes, collagenase (COLase) or hyaluronidase (HAse) were loaded into the microspheres. The obtained microspheres exhibited a sustained release of COLase or HAse over 10 days.

New reporter gene assays for detecting natural and synthetic molting hormone agonists using yeasts expressing ecdysone receptors of various insects.

Synthetic nonsteroidal ecdysone agonists, a class of insect growth regulators (IGRs), target the ecdysone receptor (EcR), which forms a heterodimer with ultraspiracle (USP) to transactivate ecdysone response genes. These compounds have high binding affinities to the EcR-USP complexes of certain insects and their toxicity is selective for certain taxonomic orders. In the present study, we developed reporter gene assay (RGA) systems to detect molting hormone (ecdysone) activity by introducing EcR-USP cDNA and a bacterial reporter gene into yeast.