69 results about "Cellular compartment" patented technology

A system, a method, and a programmed device for measurement of translocational activity among cellular compartments process magnified images of cellular material exposed to an agent by segmenting and compartmentalizing the images and then measuring fractional localized intensity of two or more components in the segmented, compartmentalized image. The measured fractional localized intensities are compared to determine translocation of cellular material among the measured components caused by the agent.

The invention provides systems, software, methods and kits for detecting and/or quantifying phosphorylatable polypeptides and/or acetylated polypeptides in complex mixtures, such as a lysate of a cell or cellular compartment (e.g., such as an organelle). The methods can be used in high throughput assays to profile phosphoproteomes and to correlate sites and amounts of phosphorylation with particular cell states.

Polyamine-co-ester-co-ortho ester) polymers, methods of forming active agent-load nanoparticles therefrom, and methods of using the nanoparticles for drug delivery are disclosed. The nanoparticles can be coated with an agent that reduces surface charge, an agent that increases cell-specific targeting, or a combination thereof. Typically, the loaded nanoparticles are less toxic, more efficient at drug delivery, or a combination thereof compared to a control or other transfection reagents.

Described herein are methods to enhance the production of more highly fermentable carbohydrates in plants, especially forage grasses. The invention provides for transgenic plants transformed with expression vectors containing a DNA sequence encoding ferulic acid esterase I from Aspergillus, preferably A. niger. The expression vectors may optionally comprise a DNA sequence encoding xylanase from Trichoderma, preferably T. reesei. Expression of the enzyme(s) is targeted to specific cellular compartments, in specific tissues and under specific environmental conditions. Uses of this invention include, but are not limited to, forage with improved digestibility for livestock, and enhanced biomass conversion.

A protein transduction method for efficiently delivery of exogenous proteins into mammalian cells is invented, which has the capability of targeting different cellular compartments and protection from degradation of the delivered proteins from cellular proteases. A composition for treat proteins has cation reagents, lipids and enhancers in a carrier. The method can be used in a number of ways including: production of large quantities of properly folded, post-translationally modified proteins using mammalian cell machinery, a in-cell fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging using small molecule fluorophores and a in-cell NMR spectroscopy using living mammalian cells. The method permits cell biology at atomic resolution that is physiologically and pathological relevant and permits protein therapy to treat human diseases. The method can also be used to deliver exogenous protein inside mammalian cells, wherein the exogenous proteins follow a similar secretion pathway as that of the endogenous protein.

The invention provides protein subcellular localization assays using split fluorescent protein systems. The assays are conducted in living cells, do not require fixation and washing steps inherent in existing immunostaining and related techniques, and permit rapid, non-invasive, direct visualization of protein localization in living cells. The split fluorescent protein systems used in the practice of the invention generally comprise two or more self-complementing fragments of a fluorescent protein, such as GFP, wherein one or more of the fragments correspond to one or more beta-strand microdomains and are used to “tag” proteins of interest, and a complementary “assay” fragment of the fluorescent protein. Either or both of the fragments may be functionalized with a subcellular targeting sequence enabling it to be expressed in or directed to a particular subcellular compartment (i.e., the nucleus).

The present invention relates to nanoparticles having a mean diameter of <500 nm and comprising, at their surface, a selected material. The nanoparticles are taken up by cells under physiological conditions and can be used to isolate interaction partners of the selected material within the cells. The present invention provides important advantages in that it opens up new ways of identifying cellular components and of delivering a substance of interest specifically to a selected cell compartment. The nanoparticles are also useful as a tool of diagnosis and for the constitution of chemical libraries.

The invention features an “inverse patterning” or “Intaglio-Void/Embed-Relief Topographic (In VERT) molding” manufacturing process for generating high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) multi-cellular microstructures in distinct cellular compartments of a single hydrogel. The platform has general utility in the development of engineered tissues for human therapies, drug testing, and disease models. Additionally, the platform can serve as a model system for studying 3D cell-cell interactions in fields as diverse as stem cell biology to the development of cancer therapeutics.

The present invention provides proteins comprising binding regions for cell-type specific targeting, Shiga toxin effector regions derived from A Subunits of members of the Shiga toxin family for providing Shiga toxin effector functions (e.g. cellular internalization and cytotoxicity), and carboxy-terminal endoplasmic reticulum localization signal motifs. The presently disclosed proteins can comprise additional exogenous materials, such as, e.g., antigens, cytotoxic agents, and detection-promoting agents, and are capable of targeted delivery of these additional exogenous materials into the interiors of target cells. The proteins of the present invention have uses in methods such as, e.g., methods involving targeted killing of target cells, delivering exogenous materials into target cells, labeling subcellular compartments of target cells, and diagnosing and/or treating a variety of conditions including cancers, tumors, other growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

This invention relates to immunoglobulin molecules comprising light chain (VL) chimeric variable domains, heavy chain (VH) chimeric variable domains, e.g., scFv antibodies that are expressed at high levels within a host cell, preferably within particular cellular compartments such as, e.g., cytosol or apoplast. The VL, VH and scFv antibody molecules comprise framework scaffolds of particularly preferred framework regions. This invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunoglobulin molecules of this invention, vectors expressing the immunoglobulin molecules, hosts transformed with the nucleic acid molecules and vectors, and methods of using the immunoglobulin molecules. Also described are immunoglobulin libraries as well as host cells, including transgenic plants, expressing the VL, VH or scFv antibody molecules of this invention.

The method of the invention pertains to determining the signal transduction activity in a tissue section by immunohistochemistry techniques. The expression level of the receptor of interest is determined as well as the expression levels of one or more effector molecules of the receptor signal transduction pathway. Furthermore a combined ratio of expression levels of effector molecules in subcellular compartments with the receptor expression was found to have prognostic significance.

The present invention relates to a pH-sensitive PIC (polyion complex) type polymeric micelle formed by electrostatic interaction between a dendritic block copolymer and another polymer of opposite charge. The presence of a dendritic block copolymer confers high stability to the micelles in physiological conditions, while in the acid medium of tumor tissues (pH 6.5) or cell compartments, such as the endosome/lysosome (pH 5.0-5.5), the micelles tend to become destabilized, being able to selectively release drugs or macromolecules encapsulated therein. The micelles are characterized by high stability against ionic strength, dilution and temperature. They can further be lyophilized and conserved in solid state.

Cytotoxic tumor therapy in a patient is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The invention most likely enhances a tumor cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis also is provided.

A bacterial cell containing a functional cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system, said cell comprising a genetic construct capable of expressing a cytochrome P450 and a genetic construct capable of expressing, separately from said cytochrome P450, a cytochrome P450 reductase wherein the N-terminus of the cytochrome P450 and the N-terminus of the cytochrome P450 reductase are each adapted to allow functional coupling of said cytochrome P450 and said cytochrome P450 reductase within said cell. A bacterial cell containing a cytochrome P450 comprising a genetic construct encoding, and capable of expressing, said cytochrome P450 wherein the cytochrome P450 comprises an N-terminal portion which directs the cytochrome P450 to a cellular compartment of membrane of the bacterial cell. The bacterial cells are useful as, for example, bioreactors, in drug testing and mutagenicity testing and as a source of cytochrome P450.

The invention belongs to the field of biomedical and macromolecular materials, and particularly relates to application of a biomembrane or a closed structure or cellular compartment with biomembrane properties as a cosmetic or cosmetic carrier. The biomembrane or the closed structure or cellular compartment with the biomembrane properties is obtained from natural sources or obtained by self-assembly, and biological sources include animals, plants and microorganisms. The obtained biomembrane is integrated or fragmented and is of a lipid bilayer structure in form; the constituents of the biomembrane mainly include lipid and protein, and besides, a few carbohydrates are combined to the lipid or the protein through covalent bonds. Being of the lipid bilayer structure, the biomembrane has the moisturizing, skin whitening and anti-aging effects when applied to the field of cosmetics; meanwhile, serving as the carrier of functional constituents, the biomembrane has the effects of improving stability, solubility and long effectiveness and promoting absorption.

The invention relates to application of a biological membrane obtained by a natural source and/or a self-assembly technology, and a closed structure or a cellular compartment with biological membrane property as medicine carriers. The biological sources of the biological membrane and the closed structure or the cellular compartment with the biological membrane property are animals, plants or microorganisms; the obtained biological membrane is intact or segmented, and is of a lipid bilayer structure in form; the constituents mainly are lipid and protein; and in addition, a small amount of saccharides are combined with the lipid or protein through covalent bonds. According to the biological membrane and the closed structure or the cellular compartment (hereinafter referred to as biological membrane) with the biological membrane property disclosed by the invention as the medicine carriers, the targets of improving the stability, the solubility and the curative effects of medicines can be reached; the toxicity or irritation is reduced; and the long-term effect and the targeting property are slowly released.

The present invention provides new tools useful for controlling the post-translational modifications of recombinant polypeptides. These tools are particular signal peptides allowing the targeting of recombinant polypeptides during their synthesis in a host cell to specific sub-cellular compartments and a specific designing of said recombinant polypeptides within said sub-cellular compartments. These signal peptides are SEQ ID no 1 to SEQ ID no 31 disclosed herein. The present invention relates therefore also to a process for producing a recombinant polypeptide, in particular to a post-translationally modified polypeptide comprising the steps of transfecting or transforming a cell with at least one numleic acid vector encoding a recombinant protein which is the polypeptide before being post-translationally modified or a recombinant protein different to said polypeptide, said recombinant protein comprising a peptide signal according to the present invention; growing the transfected cell; and harvesting the post-translationally modified polypeptide; wherein, when said recombinant protein is different to said polypeptide, the method also comprises a step of transfecting said cell with at least one vector encoding said polypeptide. The present invention allows advantageously, for example, to increase the yield of production of recombinant polypeptides, to prevent immunogenicity if recombinant polypeptides and to obtain therapeutically active recombinant polypeptides that are the exact copy of their natural counterpart. This invention relates particularly to the field of reorientation of plants made pharmaceuticals (PMP).

The invention relates to a molecular motor lipid vesicles composition, a preparation method and an application of the composition. The composition has the effects of improving the solubility and long-term effect of molecular motors and promoting absorption, and the assembly structure of the molecular motor lipid vesicles is a closed structure or a cell compartment containing molecular motor ATP synthase and lipid bilayers thereof and having biological membrane properties, the molecular motor lipid vesicles called vesicles, niosolnes are also called liposomes in the past, the biological membrane containing the molecular motor has a lipid bilayer structure, so that the biological membrane has moisturizing, whitening and anti-aging effects when being applied to the field of cosmetics, achieves the effects of improving the stability, improving the solubility and the long-term effect of the molecular motor and promoting absorption, and is simple and convenient in production process, and low in cost, and the defects that the lipidosome adopting phospholipid needs to be purified, is easy to oxidize and degrade and the like are avoided.