SPOTLIGHT

& An Anaerobic–Anaerobic MicrobialCombinationIn the bioremediation of highly chlorinated aromatics, includingchlorophenols, two reactions are required: dechlorination andaromatic ring degradation. A two-stage anaerobic–aerobic miner-alization system has been proposed because dechlorination proceedsfavorably under anaerobic conditions, and the aromatic ring is morereadily degraded under aerobic conditions.However, the anaerobic–aerobic system has not been applied to commercial uses because ofthe high-energy consumption and cost. Li and co-workers havedesigned a two-stage anaerobic–anaerobic mineralization system byutilizing anaerobic aromatic ring degraders, providing amuchmoreplausible approach to large-scale applications. Previouswork by thisgroup demonstrated the successful combination of a phenoldegrading, sulfate or iron reducer with an anaerobic dechlorinatorfor the anaerobic mineralization of pentachlorophenol (PCP) underbatch conditions (Yang et al., 2009. Biotechnol Bioeng 102: 81–90).Their current offering builds on this sequential anaerobic–anaerobicsystem to achieve the anaerobic mineralization of PCP at the highestreported mineralization rate yet in a continuous-flow system, alaboratory-scale model of an anaerobic-permeable reactive bio-barrier. Page 775

DOI: 10.1002/bit.22944

& A New Tool for Analysis of ChannelMembrane ProteinsUnderstanding their structures and functions has been complicatedby difficulties in isolating and purifying membrane proteins.Liposomes have been used as model systems to analyze membraneproteins.However, it is still difficult to integrate them into liposomesin their functional forms. In their current article, the Akiyoshi groupdescribe the preparation and function of connexin43 (Cx43)-integrated giant liposomes (GL) by using a baculovirus expression–liposome fusion method developed by the Yoshimura group(Fukushima et al., 2008. J Biochem 144:763–770; Tsumoto andYoshimura, 2009.MethodsEnzymol465:95–109;Kamiyaet al., 2010.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1798:1625–1631). Cx43 was reconstitutedinto GL as a functional form with native orientation by the assemblyofCx43asaconnexon.Connexin—achannelmembraneprotein—isacritical componentof cellulargap junctions, formingstructures thatmediate intercellular communication. Hydrophilic fluorescent dyewas transferred through aCx43-mediated pathway not only betweeninsect cells with Cx43 but also from giant Cx43 liposomes to Cx43-expressing human cells. The liposome fusionmethodwill create newopportunities as a tool for membrane science and drug deliverysystems involving proteo-liposomes. Page 836

DOI: 10.1002/bit.22942

& Closing the Gap Between Micro- andMacroscaleImaging of biofilm structure with confocal laser scanningmicroscopy (CLSM) is limited to the microscale. To relate thebiofilm structure to processes in real systems, the mesoscale needsto be investigated. Wagner and co-workers applied opticalcoherence tomography (OCT) to image in situ representativebiofilm volumes of 4� 4� 1.6mm3. Structural parameters, forexample, volumetric porosity, are calculated from both CLSM andOCT images. The results revealed that classical CLSM images donot necessarily provide an accurate representation of the realbiofilm structure at the mesoscale. Characteristic parametersobtained from CLSM image stacks differ largely from thosecalculated from OCT images: volumetric porosity of CLSMimaging data was on average at least 150% of the porositycalculated for OCT images. This work is highly innovative as itprovides reliable information on biofilm properties, which enablesa better understanding of physical driven processes like masstransport and biomass detachment. Page 844

DOI: 10.1002/bit.22943

& Triple Targeting With a Single TherapeuticSystemMulti-component therapeutic strategies are frequently indicatedfor the treatment of heterogeneous diseases such as cancer.However, the antitumor activity of drug combinations is extremelydependent on the molecular ratio of the combined drugs. In thiswork,Mendonca and coworkers engineered lipid-based nanoparticlesto exhibit small size, high stability over time, high encapsulationyields of nucleic acids and to specifically bind to receptorsoverexpressed at the surface of chronic myeloid leukemia cells(CML). Targeting their use for CML treatment, nanocarriers werefurther developed to simultaneously encapsulate anti-BCR-ABLsiRNA and imatinib in molar ratios allowing both molecules to beused in therapeutic doses. With this approach, it is possible tomediate specific delivery to CML cells and to address two specificmolecular targets: BCR-ABL oncogene and the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein.These unique properties bestow the system with great potential forleukemia treatment, namely when resistance to chemotherapy isapparent. Page 884

DOI: 10.1002/bit.22945

Published online in Wiley Online Library(wileyonlinelibrary.com).

� 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 107, No. 5, December 1, 2010