The Texas A&M University System

The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc

Yubin Zhou

Lian He

Jenny Jie Yang

Shenghui Xue

Jingjuan Qiao

Zhiren Liu

Jie Jiang

Yun Huang

Nhung T Nguyen

Tianlu Wang

Shunyi Li

Lixia Wei

The present disclosure provides intrabody compositions comprising i) an intrabody and ii) one or more inserts. The disclosure also provides methods for activating and deactivating intracellular and extracellular interactions utilizing the compositions, for instance via chemical and/or light.

Smart single-domain intrabodies with precision switches for biomedical applications

Methods of identification of inhibitors of calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel and small molecule inhibitors of CRAC channel, including methods of their synthesis and pharmaceutical use, are disclosed.

Chemical modulators of store-operated calcium channels and their therapeutic applications

In an embodiment, a device for modulating intracellular gene expression, the device having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component. In another embodiment, a method for modulating intracellular gene expression, where the method includes inducing a system having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component with at least one of light and a chemical, causing an increase in Ca, and translocating the transcription reprogramming component from cytosol to the nucleus. In a further embodiment, a method for modulating gene intracellular expression, where the method includes inducing a system having an NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform with at least one of light and a chemical, where the NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform facilitates Carelease and the NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform is LOV2-SOAR, causing an increase in Ca, and translocating a calcium-responsive dCas9 fusion construct from cytosol to the nucleus, where the calcium-responsive dCas9 fusion construct is NFAT-dCas9-VP64.

Methods and systems for modulating intracellular gene expression

Provided is a protein contrast agent for enhancing an MRI image and comprising a polypeptide having a conformation presenting at least five oxygen atoms positioned to chelate at least one paramagnetic metal ion such as Gd, each oxygen atom being between about 2 angstrom units and about 5 angstrom units from the metal ion; the metal ion has at least one water molecule electrostatically interacting a distance of less than about 10 angstrom units a target-specific moiety conjugated thereto, at least one polyethylene glycol molecule, and a paramagnetic metal ion. Also provided is a method of obtaining an enhanced MRI image using the protein contrast agent to a T2/T1 or T1/T2 intensity ratio of the MRI image; and (d) obtaining an image of the T2/T1 or T1/T2 intensity ratio.

Contrast agents, methods for preparing contrast agents, and methods of imaging

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Yubin Zhou