Nucleic acids for the treatment of diseases are described. The nucleic acids include a thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) promoter and a gene that encodes a therapeutic protein or an interfering nucleic acid sequence (e.g., interfering RNA (iRNA sequence)).

Biofilms are provided which are capable of regulating their own thickness, reducing contamination and preventing biofouling. Constructs are introduced into bacteria that comprise nucleic acid molecules encoding an autoinducer synthase polypeptide, a transcriptional regulator and a biofilm dispersal protein. Nucleic acid molecules may also be introduced which encode a nitric oxide synthase, an epoxide hydrolase, or both. Biofilms of the bacteria may be used to reduce biofouling and contamination of a surface.

The invention provides methods of treatment or prophylaxis of damaging effects of penetrative injury to the brain or other part of the central nervous system. The methods are based in part on results in a rodent model of penetrative ballistic injury showing that an inhibitor of PDF-95 NMDAR interaction is effective in inhibiting neurological deficits resulting from such injury. The methods are useful for treating subjects having or at risk of penetrative brain injury, including subjects who have been shot in the head or at risk of such injury (e.g., military or law enforcement personnel).

Compositions and methods are described herein for treating a bone disorder, including a bone-targeting complex including an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase uncoupling; a bone-targeting agent; and a linker coupling the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase uncoupling to the bone-targeting agent.

Compositions and methods are described herein for treating a bone disorder, including a bone-targeting complex including an activator of nitric oxide synthase; a bone-targeting agent; and a linker coupling the activator of nitric oxide synthase to the bone-targeting agent.

Compositions and methods are described herein for treating a bone disorder, including a bone-targeting complex including at least a portion of a nitric oxide synthase; a bone-targeting agent; and a linker coupling the at least a portion of the nitric oxide synthase to the bone-targeting agent.

The present disclosure relates to methods and uses of C-terminal peptides for inhibiting neuronal cell death or dysfunction, such as retinal ganglion cell death or dysfunction, treating retinal degenerative disorders, stroke, CNS and PNS insults. The disclosure also relates to the C-terminal peptides, fusion proteins and compositions thereof.

The disclosure relates, in some aspects, to compositions and methods useful for production of nitrated aromatic molecules. The disclosure is based, in part, on whole cell systems expressing artificial fusion proteins comprising cytochrome P450 enzymes linked to reductase enzymes. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of producing nitrated aromatic molecules in whole cell systems having artificial fusion proteins comprising cytochrome P450 enzymes linked to reductase enzymes.

The disclosure relates, in some aspects, to compositions and methods useful for production of nitrated aromatic molecules. The disclosure is based, in pan, on whole cell systems expressing artificial fusion proteins comprising cytochrome P450 enzymes linked to reductase enzymes. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to methods of producing nitrated aromatic molecules in whole cell systems having artificial fusion proteins comprising cytochrome P450 enzymes linked to reductase enzymes.

A color former based on a fusion enzyme producing nitric oxide and use thereof are provided. The color former includes the fusion enzyme producing nitric oxide. The fusion enzyme is formed by sequentially combining nitric oxide synthase, flavoprotein and flavoprotein reductase pairwise via linker peptides. The fusion enzyme provided by the present disclosure has relatively high enzyme activity, can catalytically produce a large amount of nitric oxide, and can effectively bind to myoglobin in meat products to produce nitrosylmyoglobin, thereby effectively enhancing the red color of the meat products to obtain a color forming effect equivalent to that of sodium nitrite, and providing a highly practical solution for nitrite color forming replacement of meat products and improvement of meat product safety.