ABSTRACT
The mRNA 5'cap-binding eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) plays a critical role in the control of mRNA translation in health and disease. One mechanism of regulation of eIF4E activity is via phosphorylation of eIF4E by MNK kinases, which promotes the translation of a subset of mRNAs encoding pro-tumorigenic proteins. Work on eIF4E phosphatases has been paltry. Here, we show that PPM1G is the phosphatase that dephosphorylates eIF4E. We describe the eIF4E-binding motif in PPM1G that is similar to 4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs). We demonstrate that PPM1G inhibits cell proliferation by targeting phospho-eIF4E-dependent mRNA translation.
Subject(s)
Cell Proliferation , Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E , Protein Biosynthesis , Protein Phosphatase 2C , RNA, Messenger , Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E/metabolism , Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E/genetics , Humans , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Protein Phosphatase 2C/metabolism , Protein Phosphatase 2C/genetics , Phosphorylation , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Phosphoprotein Phosphatases/metabolism , Phosphoprotein Phosphatases/genetics , Protein Binding , HEK293 Cells , AnimalsABSTRACT
The environmental concern posed by toxic heavy metal pollution in soil and water has grown. Ca-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have shown exceptional efficacy in eliminating heavy metal cations through the formation of super-stable mineralization structures (SSMS). Nevertheless, it is still unclear how the intricate coordination environment of Ca2+ in Ca-based LDH materials affects the mineralization performance, which hinders the development and application of Ca-based LDH materials as efficient mineralizers. Herein, we discover that, in comparison to a standard LDH, the mineralization efficiency for Cd2+ ions may be significantly enhanced in the pentacoordinated structure of defect-containing Ca-5-LDH utilizing both density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Furthermore, the calcination-reconstruction technique can be utilized to successfully produce pentacoordinated Ca-5-LDH. Subsequent investigations verified that Ca-5-LDH exhibited double the mineralization performance (421.5 mg g-1) in comparison to the corresponding pristine seven coordinated Ca-7OH/H2O-LDH (191.2 mg g-1). The coordination-relative mineralization mechanism of Ca-based LDH was confirmed by both theoretical calculations and experimental results. The understanding of LDH materials and their possible use in environmental remediation are advanced by this research.
ABSTRACT
Visualizing RNA-protein interactions through structural approaches requires the use of RNA molecules purified to homogeneity. We describe here a simple and effective method, free of acrylamide contamination and without using UV radiation, to separate in vitro synthesized, heterogeneous RNA transcripts (up to â¼15 nucleotides) at single-nucleotide resolution by quaternary-amine anion exchange chromatography. The quality of short RNAs isolated through this method is validated by gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and crystallization with a protein-binding partner.
ABSTRACT
Structural adhesives that do not require heating are in high demand in the automotive and electronics industries. However, it remains a challenge to develop robust adhesives that rapidly achieve super adhesion near ambient temperature. Herein, a room-temperature curable, fast-bonding, and super strong epoxy-based structural adhesive was designed from the perspective of cross-scale structure, which lies in threefold pivotal aspects: (i) high branching topology of glycerol carbonate-capped polyurethane (PUGC) increases the kinetics of the ring-opening reaction, contributing to fast crosslinking and the formation of abundant urethane and hydroxyl moieties; (ii) asynchronous crosslinking of epoxy and PUGC synergistically induces phase separation of PUGC within the epoxy resin and the resulting PUGC domains surrounded by interpenetrated shell serves to efficiently toughen the matrix; (iii) abundant dynamic hydrogen bonds including urethane and hydroxyl moieties, along with the elastomeric PUGC domains, dissipate energy of shearing force. As a result, the adhesive strength rapidly grows to 16â MPa within 4â hours, leveling off to 21â MPa after 7â hours, substantially outperforming commercial room-temperature curable epoxy adhesives. The results of this study could advance the field of high-performance adhesives and provide valuable insights into designing materials for efficient curing at room temperature.
ABSTRACT
Near-infrared light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction (NIR-CO2PR) holds tremendous promise for the production of valuable commodity chemicals and fuels. However, designing photocatalysts capable of reducing CO2 with low energy NIR photons remains challenging. Herein, a novel NIR-driven photocatalyst comprising an anionic Ru complex intercalated between NiAl-layered double hydroxide nanosheets (NiAl-Ru-LDH) is shown to deliver efficient CO2 photoreduction (0.887â µmol h-1) with CO selectivity of 84.81 % under 1200â nm illumination and excellent stability over 50 testing cycles. This remarkable performance results from the intercalated Ru complex lowering the LDH band gap (0.98â eV) via a compression-related charge redistribution phenomenon. Furthermore, transient absorption spectroscopy data verified light-induced electron transfer from the Ru complex towards the LDH sheets, increasing the availability of electrons to drive CO2PR. The presence of hydroxyl defects in the LDH sheets promotes the adsorption of CO2 molecules and lowers the energy barriers for NIR-CO2PR to CO. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reports of NIR-CO2PR at wavelengths up to 1200â nm in LDH-based photocatalyst systems.
ABSTRACT
The traditional rearview mirror method cannot fully guarantee safety when driving trucks. RGB and infrared images collected by cameras are used for registration and recognition, so as to achieve the perception of surroundings and ensure safe driving. The traditional scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm has a mismatching rate, and the YOLO algorithm has an optimization space in feature extraction. To address these issues, this paper proposes a truck surround sensing technique based on multi-features and an improved YOLOv5 algorithm. Firstly, the edge corner points and infrared features of the preset target region are extracted, and then a feature point set containing the improved SIFT algorithm is generated for registration. Finally, the YOLOv5 algorithm is improved by fusing infrared features and introducing a composite prediction mechanism at the prediction end. The simulation results show that, on average, the image stitching accuracy is improved by 17%, the time is reduced by 89%, and the target recognition accuracy is improved by 2.86%. The experimental results show that this method can effectively perceive the surroundings of trucks, accurately identify targets, and reduce the missed alarm rate and false alarm rate.
ABSTRACT
With the rapid development of quantum computing, a variety of quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs) are proposed. However, only 1/2n2 features of an n-qubits input are transferred to the next layer in a quantum pooling layer, which results in the accuracy reduction. To solve this problem, a QCNN with a degressive circuit is proposed. In order to enhance the ability of extracting global features, we remove the parameters sharing strategy in the quantum convolutional layer and design a quantum convolutional kernel with global eyesight. In addition, to prevent a sharp feature reduction, a degressive parameterized quantum circuit is adopted to construct the pooling layer. Then the Z-basis measurement is only performed on the first qubit to control the operations on other qubits. Compared with the state-of-the-art QCNN, i.e., hybrid quantum-classical convolutional neural network, the accuracy of our model increased by 0.9%, 1%, and 3%, respectively, in three tasks: quantum state classification, binary code recognition, and quaternary code recognition.
ABSTRACT
Improving the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for advancing sustainable and environmentally friendly hydrogen energy. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for the OER. However, a thorough understanding of the impact of structural disorder and defects on the catalytic activity of LDHs remains limited. In this work, a series of NiAl-LDH models are systematically constructed, and their OER performance is rigorously screened through theoretical density functional theory. The acquired results unequivocally reveal that the energy increase induced by structural disorder is effectively counteracted at the defect surface, indicating the coexistence of defects and disorder. Notably, it is ascertained that the simultaneous presence of defects and disorder synergistically augments the catalytic activity of LDHs in the context of the OER. These theoretical findings offer valuable insights into the design of highly efficient OER catalysts while also shedding light on the efficacy of LDH electrocatalysts.
ABSTRACT
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The kidney is susceptible to IRI under several clinical conditions, including hypotension, sepsis, and surgical procedures, such as partial nephrectomy and kidney transplantation. Extensive research has been conducted on the mechanism and intervention strategies of renal IRI in past decades; however, the complex pathophysiology of IRI-induced AKI (IRI-AKI) is not fully understood, and there remains a lack of effective treatments for AKI. Renal IRI involves several processes, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inflammation, and apoptosis. Mitochondria, the centers of energy metabolism, are increasingly recognized as substantial contributors to the early phases of IRI. Multiple mitochondrial lesions have been observed in the renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) of IRI-AKI mice, and damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria are toxic to the cells because they produce ROS and release cell death factors, resulting in TEC apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the mitochondrial pathology in ischemic AKI and highlight promising therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondrial dysfunction to prevent or treat human ischemic AKI.
ABSTRACT
Soil salinity is a growing concern for global crop production and the sustainable development of humanity. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend salt tolerance mechanisms and identify salt-tolerance genes to enhance crop tolerance to salt stress. Suaeda glauca, a halophyte species well adapted to the seawater environment, possesses a unique ability to absorb and retain high salt concentrations within its cells, particularly in its leaves, suggesting the presence of a distinct mechanism for salt tolerance. In this study, we performed de novo sequencing of the S. glauca genome. The genome has a size of 1.02 Gb (consisting of two sets of haplotypes) and contains 54 761 annotated genes, including alleles and repeats. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a strong synteny between the genomes of S. glauca and Beta vulgaris. Of the S. glauca genome, 70.56% comprises repeat sequences, with retroelements being the most abundant. Leveraging the allele-aware assembly of the S. glauca genome, we investigated genome-wide allele-specific expression in the analyzed samples. The results indicated that the diversity in promoter sequences might contribute to consistent allele-specific expression. Moreover, a systematic analysis of the ABCE gene families shed light on the formation of S. glauca's flower morphology, suggesting that dysfunction of A-class genes is responsible for the absence of petals in S. glauca. Gene family expansion analysis demonstrated significant enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with DNA repair, chromosome stability, DNA demethylation, cation binding, and red/far-red light signaling pathways in the co-expanded gene families of S. glauca and S. aralocaspica, in comparison with glycophytic species within the chenopodium family. Time-course transcriptome analysis under salt treatments revealed detailed responses of S. glauca to salt tolerance, and the enrichment of the transition-upregulated genes in the leaves associated with DNA repair and chromosome stability, lipid biosynthetic process, and isoprenoid metabolic process. Additionally, genome-wide analysis of transcription factors indicated a significant expansion of FAR1 gene family. However, further investigation is needed to determine the exact role of the FAR1 gene family in salt tolerance in S. glauca.
ABSTRACT
Magnetic fluid shock absorbers (MFSAs) have been successfully utilized to eliminate microvibrations of flexible spacecraft structures. The method of enhancing the damping efficiency of MFSAs has always been a critical issue. To address this, we drew inspiration from the tree frog's toe pads, which exhibit strong friction due to their unique surface structure. Using 3D printing, we integrated bionic textures copied from tree frog's toe pad surfaces onto MFSAs, which is the first time to combine bionic design and MFSAs. Additionally, this is also the first time that surface textures have been applied to MFSAs. However, we also had to consider practical engineering applications and manufacturing convenience, so we modified the shape of bionic textures. To do so, we used an edge extraction algorithm for image processing and obtained recognition results. After thorough consideration, we chose hexagon as the shape of surface textures instead of bionic textures. For theoretical analysis, a magnetic field-flow field coupling dynamic model for MFSAs was built for the first time to simulate the magnetic fluid (MF) flow in one oscillation cycle. Using this model, the flow rate contours of the MF were obtained. It was observed that textures cause vortexes to form in the MF layer, which produced an additional velocity field. This increased the shear rate, ultimately leading to an increase in flow resistance. Finally, we conducted vibration reduction experiments and estimated damping characteristics of the proposed MFSAs to prove the effectiveness of both bionic texture and hexagon surface textures. Fortunately, we concluded that hexagon surface textures not only improve the damping efficiency of MFSAs but also require less MF mass.
Subject(s)
Bionics , Skin , Animals , Anura , Friction , Image Processing, Computer-AssistedABSTRACT
Ipomoeapes-caprae (L.) (IPC) is a common species in tropical and subtropical coastal areas and one of the world's most widely distributed plants. It has attracted researchers for its outstanding biological, ecological and medicinal values. It has been reported that the genetic diversity of IPCs located on different continents is very low because of their frequent gene flow. During the long journey of evolution, every aspect of the plant morphologies has evolved to the best adaptivity to the environment, seeking their survival and progeny expansion. However, the fundamental genetic characteristics of IPC and how their seed adapted to the success of population expansion remain unknown. In this study, the fundamental genetic characteristics, including the genome size and the chromosome number of IPC, were investigated. The results showed that IPC's genome size is approximately 0.98-1.08 GB, and the chromosome number is 2n=30, providing the basic information for further genome analysis. In order to decipher the long-distance dispersal secret of this species, the fruit and seed developments, seed morphology, and seed germination were extensively investigated and described. The results showed an exquisite adaptive mechanism of IPC seeds to fulfil the population expansion via ocean currents. The large cavity inside the seeds and the dense tomenta on the surface provide the buoyancy force for the seeds to float on the seawater. The hard seed coats significantly obstructed the water absorption, thus preventing the seed from germination during the dispersal. Meanwhile, the fully developed embryos of IPC also have physiological dormancy. The physical and physiological characteristics of IPC seeds provide insight into the mechanism of their long-distance dispersal across the oceans. Moreover, based on morphological observation and semi-section microscopy, the development pattern of IPC glander trichomes was described, and their physiological functions were also discussed.
ABSTRACT
Organelles are functional areas where eukaryotic cells perform processes necessary for life. Each organelle performs specific functions; however, highly coordinated crosstalk occurs between them. Disorder of organelle networks often occur in various diseases. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are crucial organelles in eukaryotic cells as they are the material synthesis and oxidative metabolism centers, respectively. Homeostasis and orchestrated interactions are essential for maintaining the normal activities of cells. However, the mode and mechanism of organelle crosstalk is still a research challenge. Furthermore, the intricate association between organelle dyshomeostasis and the progression of many human diseases remains unclear. This paper systematically summarized the latest research advances in the synergistic mechanism between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and their crosstalk with other organelles based on recent literature. It also highlights the application potential of organelle homeostasis maintenance as a preventative and treatment strategy for diseases.
ABSTRACT
Organic room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials exhibiting reversible changes in optical properties upon exposure to external stimuli have shown great potential in diverse optoelectronic fields. Particularly, dynamic manipulation of response behaviors for such materials is of fundamental significance, but it remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a series of RTP polymers were prepared by incorporating phosphorescent rotors into polymer backbone, and these materials show color-tunable persistent luminescence upon excitation at different wavelengths. Experimental results and theoretical calculations revealed that the various molecular conformations of monomers are responsible for the excitation wavelength-dependent (Ex-De) RTP behavior. Impressively, after gaining insights into the underlying mechanism, dynamic control of Ex-De RTP behavior was achieved through thermal energy driven molecular rotations of monomers. Eventually, we demonstrate the practical applications of these amorphous polymers in anti-counterfeiting areas. These findings open new opportunities for the control of response behaviors of smart-responsive RTP materials through external stimuli rather than conventional covalent modification method.
ABSTRACT
Background: The purpose of this research was to assess the role of heparanase (HPSE)/syndecan1 (SDC1)/nerve growth factor (NGF) on cancer pain from melanoma. Methods: The influence of HPSE on the biological function of melanoma cells and cancer pain in a mouse model was evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze HPSE and SDC1. HPSE, NGF, and SDC1 were detected using western blot. Inflammatory factors were detected using ELISA assay. Results: HPSE promoted melanoma cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, as well as cancer pain, while SST0001 treatment reversed the promoting effect of HPSE. HPSE up-regulated NGF, and NGF feedback promoted HPSE. High expression of NGF reversed the inhibitory effect of HPSE down-regulation on melanoma cell phenotype deterioration, including cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. SST0001 down-regulated SDC1 expression. SDC1 reversed the inhibitory effect of SST0001 on cancer pain. Conclusions: The results showed that HPSE promoted melanoma development and cancer pain by interacting with NGF/SDC1. It provides new insights to better understand the role of HPSE in melanoma and also provides a new direction for cancer pain treatment.
ABSTRACT
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical disease that can cause serious harm to the kidneys, but it has no effective treatment till now. The modulation of autophagy pathway regulation is considered a potentially effective therapeutic approach in AKI prevention and treatment. ZKSCAN3 has been shown to be an important transcription factor that negatively regulates autophagy activity in cancer tissues. In order to determine whether autophagy could be activated by knocking out ZKSCAN3 to exert the renal protective effect of autophagy, we constructed AKI models with Zkscan3 knockout (KO) mice and detected renal pathological changes and renal function changes as well as autophagy-related indicators. We found that Zkscan3 KO had no significant effect on kidney development. Besides, no significant changes in autophagy activity were observed under normal physiological or AKI conditions. In non-tumor tissues, ZKSCAN3 did not mediate transcriptional regulation of autophagy-related genes. These findings suggest that because ZKSCAN3 may not function in the transcriptional regulation of autophagy-related genes in non-tumor tissues, it may not be used as a therapeutic target for AKI.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury , Autophagy , Transcription Factors , Animals , Mice , Acute Kidney Injury/genetics , Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism , Kidney/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of AKI has not been fully elucidated, with a lack of effective treatment. Renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) play an important role in AKI, and their damage and repair largely determine the progression and prognosis of AKI. In recent decades, it has been found that the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, and other organelles in TECs are damaged to varying degrees in AKI, and that they can influence each other through various signaling mechanisms that affect the recovery of TECs. However, the association between these multifaceted signaling platforms, particularly between mitochondria and lysosomes during AKI remains unclear. This review summarizes the specific pathophysiological mechanisms of the main TECs organelles in the context of AKI, particularly the potential interactions among them, in order to provide insights into possible novel treatment strategies.
ABSTRACT
A synthetic iron model can process both halogenation and hydroxylation with vague selectivity, which is different from halogenase even though these structures are used for the simulation of halogenase. The key factor of the synthetic oxo-iron model mediated hydroxylation or the halogenation is still under debate. Herein density functional theory calculation is used to investigate the hydroxylation versus halogenation of propylene by the complex [FeIV(O)(TQA)(X)]+ (X = F, Cl, Br). Our results suggest that a concerted rebound mechanism (between the -X and the hydroxyl ligands after the hydrogen abstraction) leads to the formation of two different kinds of products.
ABSTRACT
Apigenin is an edible flavonoid with anticancer properties; however, the underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be clarified. In the present study, we demonstrated that apigenin decreased the viability of both SMMC-7721 and SK-Hep1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibited the migration and invasion of HCC cells with different metastatic potential by regulating actin cytoskeletal rearrangements. Moreover, we showed that apigenin decreased the expression of YAP, and subsequently reduced migration and invasion by modulating the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and promoted the autophagy of HCC cells by regulating the expression of autophagy-related genes. Collectively, the present findings might provide a novel mechanism for the therapeutic application of apigenin in HCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Apigenin/pharmacology , Apigenin/therapeutic use , Autophagy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/genetics , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/geneticsABSTRACT
In the Convolvulaceae family, around 1650 species belonging to 60 genera are widely distributed globally, mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of America and Asia. Although a series of chloroplast genomes in Convolvulaceae were reported and investigated, the evolutionary and genetic relationships among the chloroplast genomes of the Convolvulaceae family have not been extensively elucidated till now. In this study, we first reported the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Ipomoea pes-caprae, a widely distributed coastal plant with medical values. The chloroplast genome of I. pes-caprae is 161667 bp in length, and the GC content is 37.56%. The chloroplastic DNA molecule of I. pes-caprae is a circular structure composed of LSC (large-single-copy), SSC (small-single-copy), and IR (inverted repeat) regions, with the size of the three regions being 88210 bp, 12117 bp, and 30670 bp, respectively. The chloroplast genome of I. pes-caprae contains 141 genes, and 35 SSRs are identified in the chloroplast genome. Our research results provide important genomic information for the molecular phylogeny of I. pes-caprae. The Phylogenetic analysis of 28 Convolvulaceae chloroplast genomes showed that the relationship of I. pes-caprae with I. involucrata or I. obscura was much closer than that with other Convolvulaccae species. Further comparative analyses between the Ipomoea species and Cuscuta species revealed the mechanism underlying the formation of parasitic characteristics of Cuscuta species from the perspective of the chloroplast genome.