Conquering Limitations: Exploring the Factors that Drive Successful Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation of Recalcitrant Plant Species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a preferred method for genetic engineering and genome editing of plants due to its numerous advantages, although not all species exhibit transformability. Genetic engineering and plant genome editing methods are technically challenging in recalcitrant crop plants. Factors affecting the poor rate of transformation in such species include host genotype, Agrobacterium genotype, type of explant, physiological condition of the explant, vector, selectable marker, inoculation method, chemical additives, antioxidative compounds, transformation-enhancing compounds, medium formulation, optimization of culture conditions, and pre-treatments.

Perspectives on new opportunities for nano-enabled strategies for gene delivery to plants using nanoporous materials.

Engineered nanocarriers have great potential to deliver different genetic cargos to plant cells and increase the efficiency of plant genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has improved the quality and quantity of crops by introducing desired DNA sequences into the plant genome. Traditional transformation strategies face constraints such as low transformation efficiency, damage to plant tissues, and genotype dependency.

T-type calcium channels drive the proliferation of androgen-receptor negative prostate cancer cells.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the treatment of choice for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). After an initial response to ADT, PCa cells can generate castration resistant (CRPC) or neuroendocrine (NEPC) malignancies, which are incurable. T-type calcium channels (TTCCs) are emerging as promising therapeutic targets for several cancers, but their role in PCa progression has never been investigated.

Current status and biotechnological advances in genetic engineering of ornamental plants.

Cut flower markets are developing in many countries as the international demand for cut flowers is rapidly growing. Developing new varieties with modified characteristics is an important aim in floriculture. Production of transgenic ornamental plants can shorten the time required in the conventional breeding of a cultivar.

Methods for genetic transformation in Dendrobium.

The genetic transformation of Dendrobium orchids will allow for the introduction of novel colours, altered architecture and valuable traits such as abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. The orchid genus Dendrobium contains species that have both ornamental value and medicinal importance. There is thus interest in producing cultivars that have increased resistance to pests, novel horticultural characteristics such as novel flower colours, improved productivity, longer flower spikes, or longer post-harvest shelf-life.

Enhancement of phosphate absorption by garden plants by genetic engineering: a new tool for phytoremediation.

Although phosphorus is an essential factor for proper plant growth in natural environments, an excess of phosphate in water sources causes serious pollution. In this paper we describe transgenic plants which hyperaccumulate inorganic phosphate (Pi) and which may be used to reduce environmental water pollution by phytoremediation. AtPHR1, a transcription factor for a key regulator of the Pi starvation response in Arabidopsis thaliana, was overexpressed in the ornamental garden plants Torenia, Petunia, and Verbena.

Expression of flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase and acetolactate synthase genes in transgenic carnation: assessing the safety of a nonfood plant.

For 16 years, genetically modified flowers of carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus ) have been sold to the floristry industry. The transgenic carnation carries a herbicide tolerance gene (a mutant gene encoding acetolactate synthase (ALS)) and has been modified to produce delphinidin-based anthocyanins in flowers, which conventionally bred carnation cannot produce. The modified flower color has been achieved by introduction of a gene encoding flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H).

Accuracy of transnasal cannulation and dilation of the maxillary ostium in cadavers with intact uncinates.

Background: Transnasal cannulation of the natural ostium in patients with an intact uncinate process is complicated by the lack of direct visualization of the ostium. Accuracy of transnasal dilation of the maxillary ostium was evaluated for a malleable-tipped balloon device that was bent to specific angles for avoiding the fontanelle during cannulation.

Methods: Transnasal cannulation and dilation of 42 cadaver maxillary sinus ostia was attempted by 6 surgeons including 3 with very limited clinical experience using the study device.

Genetic modification; the development of transgenic ornamental plant varieties.

Plant transformation technology (hereafter abbreviated to GM, or genetic modification) has been used to develop many varieties of crop plants, but only a few varieties of ornamental plants. This disparity in the rate and extent of commercialisation, which has been noted for more than a decade, is not because there are no useful traits that can be engineered into ornamentals, is not due to market potential and is not due to a lack of research and development activity. The GM ornamental varieties which have been released commercially have been accepted in the marketplace.

Genetic modification in floriculture.

Micro-propagation, embryo rescue, mutagenesis via chemical or irradiation means and in vitro inter-specific hybridisation methods have been used by breeders in the floriculture industry for many years. In the past 20 years these enabling technologies have been supplemented by genetic modification methods. Though many genes of potential utility to the floricultural industry have been identified, and much has been learnt of the genetic factors and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypes of great importance to the industry, there are only flower colour modified varieties of carnation and rose in the marketplace.

Quantifying pain relief following administration of a novel formulation of paracetamol (acetaminophen).

This article describes how a model-based analysis was used to aid development of a novel formulation technology. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) was used as the motivating example with 4 different formulations (2 developmental and 2 commercial) compared using stochastic (Monte Carlo) pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) simulations to explore potential differences in pharmacodynamic outcomes. PK models were developed from data collected during an intensively sampled, 4-arm crossover trial in 25 fasted healthy subjects, administered 1 g of paracetamol in 4 different formulations.

CHR-2797: an antiproliferative aminopeptidase inhibitor that leads to amino acid deprivation in human leukemic cells.

CHR-2797 is a novel metalloenzyme inhibitor that is converted into a pharmacologically active acid product (CHR-79888) inside cells. CHR-79888 is a potent inhibitor of a number of intracellular aminopeptidases, including leucine aminopeptidase. CHR-2797 exerts antiproliferative effects against a range of tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo and shows selectivity for transformed over nontransformed cells.

Immunohistochemical localization of interleukin-10 in human oral and pharyngeal carcinomas.

Objectives/hypothesis: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunosuppressive cytokine with numerous, well-described effects on the human cellular and humoral immune response. The oncogenic potential of IL-10 has been previously investigated in bronchogenic carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Waldeyer's ring carcinoma, and serum supernatants of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and cellular localization of IL-10 in human SC-CHN.

Antibacterial activities and characterization of novel inhibitors of LpxC.

Lipid A is the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and forms the major lipid component of the outer monolayer of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A is required for bacterial growth and virulence, and inhibition of its biosynthesis is lethal to bacteria. UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of lipid A.