We established a highly sensitive method for evaluating P-glycoprotein activity in Caco-2 cells. Using time-lapse confocal laser-scanning microscopy, we measured the change in fluorescence of residual rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells. Horizontal fluorescence images of rhodamine 123 in the apical and central parts of these cells were captured for 90 min. A continuous and significant decrease in the...

Most nonmuscle cells are known to maintain a relatively high concentration of unpolymerized actin. To determine how the polymerization of actin is regulated, exogenous nucleation sites, prepared by sonicating fluorescein phalloidin-labeled actin filaments, were microinjected into living Swiss 3T3 and NRK cells. The nucleation sites remained as a cluster for over an hour after microinjection, an...

Mitochondria undergo dynamic fusion and fission events that affect the structure and function of these critical energy-producing cellular organelles. Defects in these dynamic processes have been implicated in a wide range of human diseases including ischemia, neurodegeneration, metabolic disease, and cancer. To provide new tools for imaging of mitochondria in vivo, we synthesized novel hydropho...

BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts with dominant (110) facets were synthesized via a mannitol-assisted solvothermal method. This is the first report on exposed facets-, size-, and defects-controlled synthesis of achieved by mannitol. polyol alcohol acted simultaneously as solvent, capping agent, and/or soft template. The mannitol concentration new morphology surface properties was investigated...

ESPL1/Separase, an endopeptidase, is required for centrosome duplication and separation of sister-chromatides in anaphase of mitosis. Overexpression and deregulated proteolytic activity of Separase as frequently observed in human cancers is associated with the occurrence of supernumerary centrosomes, chromosomal missegregation and aneuploidy. Recently, we have hypothesized that increased Separa...

We have investigated the spatial control of actin polymerization in fibroblasts using rhodamine-labeled muscle actin in; (a) microinjection experiments to follow actin dynamics in intact cells, and (b) incubation with permeabilized cells to study incorporation sites. Rhodamine-actin was microinjected into NIH-3T3 cells which were then fixed and stained with fluorescein-phalloidin to visualize t...

Rhodamine 123 (Rho123), a model substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), was used to evaluate the functional activity of P-gp efflux transporter in the rat placental barrier. The dually perfused rat-term placenta method was used. In our experiments, the materno-fetal transplacental passage of Rho123 did not meet the criteria of the first-order pharmacokinetics, suggesting an involvement of transport...

Functionalized polymeric microspheres based on a modifed polyether ether keetone (PEEK-WC) using immersion precipitation techniques were successfully prepared by doping initial polymeric solutions with DEHPA. The viscosity of the doping solution was measured for determining the optimal value for obtaining reproducible capsules. The modifed microspheres were characterize...