Protein Profiles and Novel Molecular Biomarkers of Schizophrenia Based on 4D-DIA Proteomics.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder. The current diagnosis mainly relies on clinical symptoms and lacks laboratory evidence, which makes it very difficult to make an accurate diagnosis especially at an early stage. Plasma protein profiles of schizophrenia patients were obtained and compared with healthy controls using 4D-DIA proteomics technology. Furthermore, 79 DEPs were identified between schizophrenia and healthy controls. GO functional analysis indicated that DEPs were predominantly associated with responses to toxic substances and platelet aggregation, suggesting the presence of metabolic and immune dysregulation in patients with schizophrenia. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEPs were primarily enriched in the chemokine signaling pathway and cytokine receptor interactions. A diagnostic model was ultimately established, comprising three proteins, namely, PFN1, GAPDH and ACTBL2. This model demonstrated an AUC value of 0.972, indicating its effectiveness in accurately identifying schizophrenia. PFN1, GAPDH and ACTBL2 exhibit potential as biomarkers for the early detection of schizophrenia. The findings of our studies provide novel insights into the laboratory-based diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Controlling the chirality and number of strands of helices self-assembled from achiral block copolymers confined inside a nanopore: a simulation study.

Achiral block copolymers can self-assemble into helical structures when confined inside a cylindrical nanopore. However, controlling the chirality and the number of strands of helices is challenging. We present our simulation results of the influence of a chiral patch added to the confining nanopore on the structures and chirality of helices self-assembled from achiral cylinder-forming diblock copolymers under the confinement. Our results indicate that, when the designed patch is of proper geometry, it can induce the formation of helical structures and exhibit good control over their chirality. The bottom surface of the patch can induce the formation of a characteristic local structure near and parallel to it. It is the characteristic local structure that directs the formation of helices and of their chirality consistent with that of the patch. A large patch angle or the top/bottom surface of a weakly selective pore promotes the formation of double-helices compared to single-helices by enlarging the pitch of the helices near the patch or through the entropic attraction of the top surface of the pore to the minority blocks.