Thermodynamics of molecular recognitions between antineoplastic drug taxol and phosphatidylcholine

The aim of this study was to study the basic features of Taxol recognition with phospholipids by applying the thermodynamic and spectroscopic measurements. The obtained information could be used further for deductions on its precise cellular and pharmacological mechanisms of action, on improvements of its solubility properties by phospholipids, as well as for designing the novel lipidic carriers for drug delivery.

Adiabatic differential scanning calorimetric study of divalent cation induced DNA - DPPC liposome formulation compacted for gene delivery

Complexes between nucleic acids and phospholipid vesicles have been developed as stable non-viral gene delivery vehicles. Currently employed approach uses positively charged lipid species and a helper zwitterionic lipid, the latter being applied for the stabilization of the whole complex. However, besides problematic steps during their preparation, cationic lipids are toxic for cells. The present work describes some energetic issues pertinent to preparation and use of neutral lipid-DNA self-assemblies, thus avoiding toxicity of lipoplexes. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed stabilization of polynucleotide helix upon its interaction with liposomes in the presence of divalent metal cations. It is thus possible to suggest this self-assembly as an improved formulation for use in gene delivery.

Molecular phylogenetics and functional evolution of major RNA recognition domains of recently cloned and characterized autoimmune RNA -binding particle.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are spliceosomal macromolecular assemblages and thus actively participate in pre-mRNA metabolism. They are composed of evolutionarily conserved tandemly repeated motifs, where both RNA-binding and protein-protein recognition occur to achieve cellular activities. By yet unknown mechanisms these ribonucleoprotein particles are targeted by autoantibodies and hence play significant role in variety of human systemic autoimmune diseases. This feature makes them important prognostic markers in terms of molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Since ribonucleoprotein (RNP) domain is one of the most conserved and widespread scaffold, evolutionary analyses of these RNA-binding domains can provide further clues on disease-specific epitope formation. The study presented herein represents a sequence comparison of RNA-recognition regions of recently cloned and characterized human hnRNP A3 with those of other relevant hnRNP A/B-type proteins. Their implications in human autoimmunity are particularly emphasized.