A prototypical cytidylyltransferase: CTP:glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase from bacillus subtilis.

Background: The formation of critical intermediates in the biosynthesis of lipids and complex carbohydrates is carried out by cytidylyltransferases, which utilize CTP to form activated CDP-alcohols or CMP-acid sugars plus inorganic pyrophosphate. Several cytidylyltransferases are related and constitute a conserved family of enzymes. The eukaryotic members of the family are complex enzymes with multiple regulatory regions or repeated catalytic domains, whereas the bacterial enzyme, CTP:glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (GCT), contains only the catalytic domain.

Controlled release of hydrophilic compounds by resorbable and biodegradable ceramic drug delivery devices.

Hydroxyapatite (HA), aluminum-calcium-phosphorous oxide (ALCAP), bone meal (BM), and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic implants are biodegradable and nontoxic to the host. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capability of these ceramics to deliver the catecholamine, epinephrine (EPI) in a sustained and controlled manner. The ceramic powder (less than 38 um particle size) was prepared in our laboratory using standard procedures.