Direct detection of SERCA calcium transport and small-molecule inhibition in giant unilamellar vesicles.

We have developed a charge-mediated fusion method to reconstitute the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV). Intracellular Ca2+ transport by SERCA controls key processes in human cells such as proliferation, signaling, and contraction. Small-molecule effectors of SERCA are urgently needed as therapeutics for Ca2+ dysregulation in human diseases including cancer, diabetes, and heart failure. Here we report the development of a method for efficiently reconstituting SERCA in GUV, and we describe a streamlined protocol based on optimized parameters (e.g., lipid components, SERCA preparation, and activity assay requirements). ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport by SERCA in single GUV was detected directly using confocal fluorescence microscopy with the Ca2+ indicator Fluo-5F. The GUV reconstitution system was validated for functional screening of Ca2+ transport using thapsigargin (TG), a small-molecule inhibitor of SERCA currently in clinical trials as a prostate cancer prodrug. The GUV system overcomes the problem of inhibitory Ca2+ accumulation for SERCA in native and reconstituted small unilamellar vesicles (SUV). We propose that charge-mediated fusion provides a widely-applicable method for GUV reconstitution of clinically-important membrane transport proteins. We conclude that GUV reconstitution is a technological advancement for evaluating small-molecule effectors of SERCA.

Single oral dose pharmacokinetics of decursin, decursinol angelate, and decursinol in rats.

Decursin and decursinol angelate are the major components in the alcoholic extract of the root of Angelica gigas Nakai. Our previous work convincingly demonstrated that both decursin and decursinol angelate were rapidly converted to decursinol in mice after administration by either oral gavage or i. p. injection. In the current study, we compared for the first time the plasma profiles of decursinol, when equal moles of decursin/decursinol angelate or decursinol were given to rats by oral gavage, and investigated the effect of different formulas and other chemicals in Angelica gigas extract on the bioavailability of decursinol. Our results show that gavage of decursinol led to a faster attainment of plasma decursinol peak (Tmax ~ 0.7 h) and much higher peak levels than an equal molar amount administered as decursin/decursinol angelate mixture or as Angelica gigas ethanol extract, resulting in 2-3 fold higher bioavailability as estimated by the area under the curve of the respective regimens (65 012 vs. 27 033 h · ng/mL for decursinol and decursin/decursinol angelate treatment groups, respectively). Compared to a formula based on ethanol-PEG400-Tween80, carboxyl methyl cellulose was a less optimized vehicle. In addition, we detected peak levels of decursin and decursinol angelate in the plasma of rats administered with decursin/decursinol angelate or Angelica gigas extract in the nM range (Tmax ~ 0.5 h) with a newly established sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method. Furthermore, our data support the liver, instead of intestine, as a major organ site where decursin and decursinol angelate were hydrolyzed to decursinol with a S9 microsomal in vitro metabolism assay. Taken together, our study provided important PK, LC-MS/MS methodology, formulation and metabolism insights in a rodent model for the rational design of in vivo efficacy studies of the corresponding chemicals in the future.

A new and facile method for measurement of apparent density of monodisperse polymer beads.

The apparent density, an intrinsic physical property of polymer beads, plays an important role in the application of beads in micro-total analysis systems and separation. Here we have developed a new, facile and milligram-scale method to describe the motion of beads in aqueous solution and further detect the apparent density of beads. The motion of beads in solutions is determined by the viscosity of solutions and the density difference between beads and solutions. In this study, using various glycerol aqueous solutions with certain viscosities and densities, the motion time (i.e. floating or sedimentation time) of hybrid polymer beads was experimentally measured and theoretically deduced, and consequently, the apparent density of monodisperse beads can be quickly and easily calculated. The results indicated that the present method provided a more precise way to predict the movement of hybrid beads in aqueous solution compared with the approach for commercial use. This new method can be potentially employed in flow cytometry, suspension stability, and particle analysis systems.