ABSTRACT
The Zr(IV) ions are easily hydrolyzed to form oxides, which severely limits the discovery of new structures and applications of Zr-based compounds. In this work, three ferrocene (Fc)-functionalized Zr-oxo clusters (ZrOCs), Zr9Fc6, Zr10Fc6 and Zr12Fc8 were synthesized through inhibiting the hydrolysis of Zr(IV) ions, which show increased nuclearity and regular structural variation. More importantly, these Fc-functionalized ZrOCs were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) and phenol oxidation reactions for the first time, and displayed outstanding catalytic activity. In particular, Zr12Fc8 with the largest number of Zr active sites and Fc groups can achieve > 95% yield for LA-to-γ-valerolactone within 4 h (130 °C) and > 98% yield for 2,3,6-trimethylphenol-to-2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone within 30 min (80 °C), showing the best catalytic performance. Catalytic characterization combined with theory calculations reveal that in the Fc-functionalized ZrOCs, the Zr active sites could serve as substrate adsorption sites, while the Fc groups could act as hydrogen transfer reagent or Fenton reagent, and thus achieve effectively intramolecular metal-ligand synergistic catalysis. This work develops functionalized ZrOCs as catalysts for thermal-triggered redox reactions.
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Background: Neurodegenerative retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa are serious disorders that may cause irreversible visual impairment. Ferroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death, and the involvement of ferroptosis in retinal degeneration is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the related ferroptosis genes in a mice model of retinal degeneration induced by light damage. Methods: A public dataset of GSE10528 deriving from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene set enrichment analysis between light damage and control group was conducted. The differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DE-FRGs) were subsequently identified by intersecting the DEGs with a ferroptosis genes dataset retrieved from the FerrDb database. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were further performed using the DE-FRGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify hub ferroptosis-related genes (HFRGs). The microRNAs (miRNAs)-HFRGs, transcription factors (TFs)-HFRGs networks as well as target drugs potentially interacting with HFRGs were analyzed utilizing bioinformatics algorithms. Results: A total of 932 DEGs were identified between the light damage and control group. Among these, 25 genes were associated with ferroptosis. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these DE-FRGs were mainly enriched in apoptotic signaling pathway, response to oxidative stress and autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis and cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway. Through PPI network analysis, six hub ferroptosis-related genes (Jun, Stat3, Hmox1, Atf3, Hspa5 and Ripk1) were ultimately identified. All of them were upregulated in light damage retinas, as verified by the GSE146176 dataset. Bioinformatics analyses predicated that 116 miRNAs, 23 TFs and several potential therapeutic compounds might interact with the identified HFRGs. Conclusion: Our study may provide novel potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets and new insights into the ferroptosis landscape in retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Castanea henryiï¼Skamï¼Rehd. et Wils is an important woody plant producing nuts in China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. henryi was reported by using the Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform. The complete chloroplast sequence is 160,807 bp, including large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,394 bp, small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,963 bp, and a pair of invert repeats (IR) regions of 25,725 bp. Plastid genome contains 112 genes, 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Based on 26 chloroplast genomes, phylogenetic analysis indicates that C. henryi is closely related to C. mollissima in Fagaceae.
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Objective:To examine chromosomes of a total of 10 857 people who asked for prenatal genetic counseling in our hospital from February 1994 to July 2018. The important diagnostic reference index for the clinical diagnosis, screening for genetic abnormality and carrying out appropriate guidance have been done for them to adopt appropriate prenatal strategies and realize a first-degree prevention and control of birth defects.Methods:Routine G banding analysis was performed on genetic counselors. C banding, N banding analysis and whole genome sequencing were performed according to abnormal karyotypes.Results:The chromosome aberration karyotype 46, X, inv(Y)(p11.2q11.2) pat/45, X pat, number: 3 574 was found and reported for the first time across the globe; Besides, this aberrant chromosome karyotype experienced stable inheritance of two generations in 8 adult males of three families.Conclusions:The adult males in three families have normal phenotype and they can still have normal fertility. Among those people, no pathogenic gene has been detected and no genetic material has lost or increased. The same aberration karyotype has been found in all 8 adult males of two generations. The ratio of these two generations’ karyotype is one out of ten thousand. As a rare genetic polymorphism, the abnormal karyotype can be regarded as an evolutionary marker, and play a unique role in paternity testing. In addition, the inverted Y chromosome can also be used to study the route of population migration. As a marker of genetic relationship, it may provide a method to study population genetics and historical geography.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Prostate Water Pellets (PWP) on serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in rats with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). METHODS: Fifty healthy, adult, male Wistar rats with the weight of 180 - 220 g were divided into five groups of ten rats each at random: the control group, model group, high dosage of PWP group, low dosage of PWP group and levofloxacin group. The CBP rat model were created by injecting Escherichia coli (0.2 ml/rat, 10(7)/ml) into prostates. A month later after the model creation, high and low dosage of PWP suspension were used by gavage in CBP rats for 30 days, respectively. Levofloxacin tablets were used by gavage as the positive control, and distilled water was used by gavage in the control and model group. After thirty days, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha of rats in high and low dosage PWP groups were lower and the difference was significant statistically (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It has effect to treat CBP rat with the PWP and its mechanism may relate with the decreasing levels of proinflammatory cytokines(IL-6 and TNF-alpha) in blood.
