Efficient intraocular penetration of topical anti-TNF-alpha single-chain antibody (ESBA105) to anterior and posterior segment without penetration enhancer.

Purpose: This study was designed to characterize ocular penetration pathways of ESBA105, a topically administered single-chain antibody (scFv) against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, to the anterior and posterior segment of the eye.

Methods: Fresh enucleated whole eyes and isolated corneas of rabbits mounted in perfusion chambers were used for ex vivo penetration studies. In vivo pharmacokinetics and ocular biodistribution of ESBA105 after intravitreal injection or topical administration as eye drops were investigated in rabbits.

Sex-peptides bind to two molecularly different targets in Drosophila melanogaster females.

Sex-Peptide (SP) and the peptide DUP99B elicit two postmating responses in Drosophila melanogaster females: receptivity is reduced and oviposition is increased. Both are synthesized in the male genital tract and transferred into the female during copulation. To elucidate their function, we characterized the binding properties of SP and DUP99B in females.

A screen for genes expressed in Drosophila imaginal discs.

The development of Drosophila imaginal discs serves as a model system to understand how genes determine the shape and size of an organ. The identification of genes involved in this process is an important step towards this goal. Here we describe a P-element based enhancer trap screen for genes expressed in the larval imaginal discs.

Ductus ejaculatorius peptide 99B (DUP99B), a novel Drosophila melanogaster sex-peptide pheromone.

We have characterized a glycosylated, 31 amino-acid peptide of 4932 Da isolated from Drosophila melanogaster males. The mature peptide contains a sugar moiety of 1184 Da at a NDT consensus glycosylation site and a disulfide bond. It is synthesized in the male ejaculatory duct via a 54 amino-acid precursor containing an N-terminal signal peptide and Arg-Lys at the C-terminus which is cleaved off during maturation.