We have previously reported effective gene transfer with a targeted molecular conjugate adenovirus vector through the c-kit receptor in hematopoietic progenitor cell lines. However, a c-kit-targeted recombinant retroviral vector failed to transduce cells, indicating the existence of significant differences for c-kit target gene transfer between these two viruses. Here we demonstrate that conjug...

The year 2011 marks the centenary of the birth of Theodor Fçrster, one of the giants of modern photochemistry. This issue is a celebration of Fçrster’s scientific achievements, and equally importantly, the science that has been enabled by his discoveries. His contributions are key to the understanding of important problems in excited-state photochemical reactions and the understanding of organi...

Fluorescent polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles (NPs) of nanoscale dimensions have become a focus of intensive investigations during the past few decades due to combined advantages such as improved biocompatibility, water dispersibility, stimuli-responsiveness, facile integration into optical detection devices, and the ability of further functionalization. In addition, the chemical compositi...

Alternative DNA structures that deviate from B-form double-stranded DNA such as G-quadruplex (G4) DNA can be formed by G-rich sequences that are widely distributed throughout the human genome. We have previously shown that Pif1p not only unfolds G4, but also unwinds the downstream duplex DNA in a G4-stimulated manner. In the present study, we further characterized the G4-stimulated duplex DNA u...

We introduce a sensitive, rapid, label-free and general fluorescent method for the determination of tartrazine by competitive binding to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) against fluorescein, and the fluorescence recovery upon fluorescein desorption from rGO provides a quantitative readout for tartrazine, giving a detection limit of 0.53 ng mL(-1).

Binding of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) to the "TATA" sequences present in the promoters of eukaryotic class II genes is the first step in the sequential assembly of transcription pre-initiation complexes. Myriad structural changes, including severe bending of the DNA, accompany TBP-TATA complex formation. A detailed kinetic study has been conducted to elucidate the mechanistic details of TBP...

Decreased spectral overlap between a donor biotinylated poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) and a chromophore-labeled streptavidin acceptor leads to better observed fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a powerful tool for extracting distance information between two fluorophores (a donor and acceptor dye) on a nanometer scale. This method is commonly used to monitor binding interactions or intra- and intermolecular conformations in biomolecules freely diffusing through a focal volume or immobilized on a surface. The diffusing geomet...

Pyrogallol[4]arenes were monofunctionalized with fluorophores and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used to follow the self-assembly and exchange of the hexameric capsules at micromolar concentrations.

Tertiary contacts are critical to stabilizing the folded conformations of structured RNAs. In some cases, these contacts have been shown to interact with positive cooperativity. Measuring the energetic coupling of tertiary contact formation is among the most basic physical characterizations of a structured RNA. With proper experimental design, single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy trans...