26 Mobile group II introns (" targetrons ") can be programmed to insert into virtually any desired 27 DNA target with high frequency and specificity. Here, we show that targetrons expressed via an 28 m-toluic acid-inducible promoter from a broad host-range vector containing an RK2 mini-replicon 29 can be used for efficient gene targeting in a variety Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichi...

Mobile group II introns ("targetrons") can be programmed for insertion into virtually any desired DNA target with high frequency and specificity. Here, we show that targetrons expressed via an m-toluic acid-inducible promoter from a broad-host-range vector containing an RK2 minireplicon can be used for efficient gene targeting in a variety of gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, ...

Biotin is an important molecule for modern biological studies including, e.g., cellular transport. Its exclusive affinity to fluorescent streptavidin/avidin proteins allows ready and specific detection. As a consequence methods for the attachment of biotin to various biological targets are of high importance, especially when they are very selective and can also proceed in water. One useful meth...

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from fuel-contaminated subsurface soil, strain PRTOL1, mineralizes toluene as the sole electron donor and carbon source under strictly anaerobic conditions. The mineralization of 80% of toluene carbon to CO2 was demonstrated in experiments with [ring-U-14C]toluene; 15% of toluene carbon was converted to biomass and nonvolatile metabolic by-products, p...

Cancers often overexpress EGF and other growth factors to promote cell replication and migration. Previous work has not produced targeted drug carriers sensitive to abnormal amounts of growth factors. This work demonstrates that liposomes bearing EGF receptors covalently crosslinked to p-toluic acid or methyl-PEO(4)-NHS ester (or, in short, MRBLs) exhibit an increased rate of release of encapsu...

Two different approaches to the eleven-membered biaryl ether lactones of the aspercyclide family are disclosed. The core regions of these highly strained targets, which are able to interfere with the binding of immunoglobulin E to its high affinity receptor, can either be forged by ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) or by a highly diastereoselective chromium-mediated Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK)...