Intracellular membrane trafficking requires correct and specific localization of Rab GTPases. The hypervariable C-terminal domain (HVD) of Rabs is posttranslationally modified by isoprenyl moieties that enable membrane association. A model asserting HVD-directed targeting has been contested in previous studies, but the role of the Rab HVD and the mechanism of Rab membrane targeting remain elusi...

This paper describes the evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) as a potential carrier for lung administration of fluticasone propionate (FP). The chosen polymeric material to produce NPs was a copolymer based on α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide (PHEA) whose backbone was derivatised with different molecules, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyethylenglycol (PEG). The chosen ...

In this paper, the efficiency of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for purification of nanometer-sized bioparticles, plasmid DNA (pDNA), was studied. Polymer-salt ATPS consisting of polyethylenglycol (PEG)-K2HPO4 was used for the purification of 7 kb and 14 kb plasmid vectors. PEG-300 and PEG-1450 were applied to investigate the influence of different molecular mass of PEG on partitioning beha...

This study was performed to explore other potential mechanisms underlying hemolysis in addition to pore-formation of tentacle extract (TE) from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata. A dose-dependent increase of hemolysis was observed in rat erythrocyte suspensions and the hemolytic activity of TE was enhanced in the presence of Ca2+, which was attenuated by Ca2+ channel blockers (Diltiazem, Verapami...

The transferrin (TfR) and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are known to be overexpressed on the surface of a wide variety of tumor cells. Therefore, the peptides B6 (TfR specific) and GE11 (targeted to the EGFR) were linked to the PAMAM (polyamidoamine) structure via a polyethylenglycol (PEG) 2 kDa chain with the aim of improving the silencing capacity of the PAMAM-based dendriplexes. T...

Turbinicarpus mombergeri is a cacti species formed by hybridization process between laui and pseudopectinatus. Under natural conditions, it very difficult for two be genetically compatible hybridization, to produce flowers at the same time. Thus, T. interesting rare species. Unfortunately, current populations are decreasing now considered critically endangered. The aim of this research was deve...