Characterize and Mediate Assembly of Triptycenes on Au(111) Surface.

Herein, we report the assembly behavior of triptycenes with aldehyde (Trip-1) and amino (Trip-2) groups on pristine and iodine-passivated Au(111) surfaces by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. On Au(111) surface, Trip-1 forms long trimer chains and two-dimensional islands via aldehyde-aldehyde hydrogen bonding in one dimension and π-π stacking of adjacent benzene rings in the other dimension. In contrast, Trip-2 lies as individuals or in disorderly stacked islands. Trip-2 and Trip-1 can be mixed in an arbitrary ratio. And Trip-2 molecules disrupt the ordered self-assembly structure of Trip-1 due to the formation of stronger aldehyde-amino hydrogen bonding. DFT, XPS, and Raman spectra confirm the conformational difference of Trip-1 and -2, as well as the aldehyde-amino hydrogen bonding formation in Trip-1 and Trip-2 mixture. On the iodine-passivated Au(111) surface, Trip-1 forms single-molecule chains and a hexagonal closely packed structure due to iodine interlayer mediation. Trip-2 molecules disrupt the hexagonal closely packed structure of Trip-1.

The larva and adult of Helicoverpa armigera use differential gustatory receptors to sense sucrose.

Almost all herbivorous insects feed on plants and use sucrose as a feeding stimulant, but the molecular basis of their sucrose reception remains unclear. Helicoverpa armigera as a notorious crop pest worldwide mainly feeds on reproductive organs of many plant species in the larval stage, and its adult draws nectar. In this study, we determined that the sucrose sensory neurons located in the contact chemosensilla on larval maxillary galea were 100-1000 times more sensitive to sucrose than those on adult antennae, tarsi, and proboscis. Using the Xenopus expression system, we discovered that Gr10 highly expressed in the larval sensilla was specifically tuned to sucrose, while Gr6 highly expressed in the adult sensilla responded to fucose, sucrose and fructose. Moreover, using CRISPR/Cas9, we revealed that Gr10 was mainly used by larvae to detect lower sucrose, while Gr6 was primarily used by adults to detect higher sucrose and other saccharides, which results in differences in selectivity and sensitivity between larval and adult sugar sensory neurons. Our results demonstrate the sugar receptors in this moth are evolved to adapt toward the larval and adult foods with different types and amounts of sugar, and fill in a gap in sweet taste of animals.

Functional analysis of a bitter gustatory receptor highly expressed in the larval maxillary galea of Helicoverpa armigera.

Many plant secondary substances are feeding deterrents for insects and play a key role in the selection of host plants. The taste sensilla of phytophagous insects contain gustatory sensory neurons sensitive to deterrents but the molecular basis of deterrent chemoreception remains unknown. We investigated the function of Gr180, the most highly expressed bitter gustatory receptor in the maxillary galea of Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Functional analyses using the Xenopus oocyte expression system and two-electrode voltage clamp revealed that the oocytes expressing Gr180 responded to coumarin. Tip recording results showed that the medial sensilla styloconica of the maxilla of fifth instar larvae exhibited electrophysiological responses to coumarin. Two-choice feeding bioassays confirmed that coumarin inhibited larval feeding. A homozygous mutant strain of H. armigera with truncated Gr180 proteins (Gr180-/-) was established using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The responses of the medial sensilla styloconica in Gr180-/- to coumarin were almost abolished, and the responses to sinigrin and strychnine were also significantly decreased. Knockout of Gr180 alleviated the feeding deterrent effects of coumarin, sinigrin, and strychnine. Thus, we conclude that Gr180 is a receptor responding to coumarin,and also participates in sensing sinigrin and strychnine. These results enhance our understanding of the gustatory sensing mechanisms of phytophagous insects to deterrents.

CoQ10 improves meiotic maturation of pig oocytes through enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing oxidative stress.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential to many fundamental biological processes. However, the effect of CoQ10 on meiotic maturation of pig oocytes still remains elusive. In the present study we aimed to understand the effects of CoQ10 on porcine oocyte maturation, by supplementing different concentrations of CoQ10 (25, 50 and 100 µM) into the maturation medium. We showed that CoQ10 at 50 µM had better capacity to promote the nuclear maturation of pig oocytes derived from both small and large antral follicles. Though the cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes stayed stable, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment could accelerate the development of parthenotes to blastocyst stage, and increase the average cell number of blastocyst. For cumulus-oocyte complexes from large antral follicles categorized by the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment could specifically promote the nuclear maturation of poor-quality oocytes in the BCB-negative group. Mitochondrial function of oocytes treated by 50 µM CoQ10 could be boosted, through increasing the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP production and CoQ6, and changing the pattern of mitochondrial distribution as well. Moreover, 50 µM CoQ10 treatment suppressed the level of reactive oxygen species and reduced the percentage of oocytes with early apoptosis signal. Taken together, CoQ10 could improve the meiotic maturation of pig oocytes, especially for poor-quality oocytes, mainly through enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing oxidative stress to reduce apoptosis.

Long noncoding RNA 2193 regulates meiosis through global epigenetic modification and cytoskeleton organization in pig oocytes.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, the biological function of lncRNAs in mammalian germ cells remains largely unexplored. Here we identified one novel lncRNA (lncRNA2193) from single-cell RNA sequencing performed on porcine oocytes and investigated its function in oocyte meiosis. During in vitro maturation (IVM), from germinal vesicle (GV, 0 hr), GV breakdown (GVBD, 24 hr), to metaphase II stage (MII, 44 hr), the transcriptional abundance of lncRNA2193 remained stable and high. LncRNA2193 interference by small interfering RNA microinjection into porcine GV oocytes could significantly inhibit rates of GVBD and the first polar body extrusion, but enhance the rates of oocytes with a nuclear abnormality. Moreover, lncRNA2193 knockdown disturbed cytoskeletal organization (F-actin and spindle), and decreased DNA 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and histone trimethylation (H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me3) levels. The lncRNA2193 downregulation induced a decrease of 5mC level could be partially due to the reduction of DNA methyltransferase 3A and 3B, and the elevation of 5mC-hydroxylase ten-11 translocation 2 (TET2). After parthenogenetic activation of MII oocytes, parthenotes exhibited higher fragmentation but lower cleavage rates in the lncRNA2193 downregulated group. However, lncRNA2193 interference performed on mature MII oocytes and parthenotes at 1-cell stage did not affect the cleavage and blasctocyst rates of pathenotes. Taken together, lncRNA2193 plays an important role in porcine oocyte maturation, providing more insights for relevant investigations on mammalian germ cells.

Lysosomal dysfunction disturbs porcine oocyte maturation and developmental capacity by disorganizing chromosome/cytoskeleton and activating autophagy/apoptosis.

Lysosome, an important organelle in eukaryotes, can sequester macromolecules submitted by the endocytosis and autophagy pathways for degradation and recycling. Massive macromolecular turnover is also vital to the growth and development of mammalian oocytes. However, the functional role of lysosomes in the meiotic maturation of mammalian oocytes remains largely unexplored. Here, by treating in vitro matured porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) with chloroquine (CQ), a lysosome inhibitor, we showed that regardless of CQ concentration, lysosomal inhibition affected neither the extrusion of the first polar body (PB1), nor the ROS levels. However, CQ treatment dramatically decreased the rates of oocytes with normal chromosome alignment and cytoskeleton organization (P < 0.05), but boosted the rates of oocytes with apoptosis (P < 0.05). Subsequently, after pathenogenetic activation or in vitro fertilization, the death or fragmentation rates of oocytes treated by CQ (both 35 µM and 45 µM) were significantly higher (P < 0.05), whereas the rates of embryo cleavage, embryos developed to blastocysts, and average blastomere number per blastocyst, were all significantly lower (P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, CQ (35 µM) treatment activated the autophagy pathway by elevating the LC3 II/I ratio. Taken together, lysosomes could affect porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent developmental capacity partially through the chromosome organization/cytoskeleton assembly and autophagy/apoptosis pathways.

Reduced nucleic acid methylation impairs meiotic maturation and developmental potency of pig oocytes.

Oocyte meiosis is a complex process coordinated by multiple endocrinal and molecular circuits. Recently, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epigenetic modification on RNA is revealed to be important for meiotic maturation. However, the molecular mechanism of how m6A modification exerts its effect on oocyte maturation is largely unknown. Here, we showed that endogenous m6A writers (Mettl3 and Wtap) and eraser (Fto) elevated their transcript levels during meiotic maturation of pig oocytes. From germinal vesicle (GV) to metaphase II (MII) stages, global m6A level significantly increased, and existed mostly in ooplasm. Methyl donor (betaine, 16 mM) treatment of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) significantly boosted nucleic acid m6A level within oocytes, but unchanged meiotic process and oocyte subsequent development. By contrast, methylation inhibitor (cycloleucine, 20 mM) reduced nucleic acid m6A level, and significantly decreased the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) rate, the extrusion rate of the first polar body, and the cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes. In addition, in cycloleucine-treated oocytes Wtap increased but Lin28 decreased their abundances significantly, along with the higher incidence of spindle defects and chromosome misalignment. Furthermore, pT161-CDK1 protein level in pig oocytes was confirmed to be decreased after cycloleucine treatment for 24 h. Taken together, chemical induced reduction of nucleic acid m6A methylation during pig oocyte meiosis could impair meiotic maturation and subsequent development potency, possibly through down-regulating pluripotency marker Lin28 mRNA abundance and disturbing MPF-regulated chromosome/spindle organization.

Heat shock protein 90α couples with the MAPK-signaling pathway to determine meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) functions as a molecular chaperone in its interaction with clients to influence multiple cellular and physiological processes. However, our current understanding on Hsp90's relationship with mammalian oocyte maturation is still very limited. Here, we aimed to investigate Hsp90's effect on pig oocyte meiotic maturation. Endogenous Hsp90α was constantly expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in porcine maturing oocytes. Addition of 2 µM 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), the Hsp90 inhibitor, to in vitro mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) significantly decreased Hsp90α protein level (P < 0.05), delayed germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) (P < 0.05), and impeded the first polar body (PB1) extrusion (P < 0.01) of porcine oocytes. 2 µM 17-AAG treatment during in vitro maturation also decreased the subsequent development competence as indicated by the lower cleavage (P < 0.001) and higher fragmentation (P < 0.001) rates of parthenotes, whereas no effects on the percentage and average cell number of blastocysts were found. Immunodepletion of Hsp90α by antibody microinjection into porcine oocytes at germinal vesicle and metaphase II stages induced similar defects of meiotic maturation and parthenote development, to that resulted from 2 µM inhibitor 17-AAG. For oocytes treated by 2 µM 17-AAG, the cytoplasm and membrane actin levels were weakened (P < 0.01), and the spindle assembly was disturbed (P < 0.05), due to decreased p-ERK1/2 level (P < 0.05). However, the mitochondrial function and early apoptosis were not affected, as demonstrated by rhodamine 123 staining and Annexin V assays. Our findings indicate that Hsp90α can couple with mitogen-activated protein kinase to regulate cytoskeletal structure and orchestrate meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes.

Ascorbic acid induces global epigenetic reprogramming to promote meiotic maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can enhance the meiotic maturation and developmental competence of porcine oocytes, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains obscure. Here we show the role of ascorbic acid in regulating epigenetic status of both nucleic acids and chromatin to promote oocyte maturation and development in pigs. Supplementation of 250 µM L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate sesquimagnesium salt hydrate (AA2P) during in vitro maturation significantly enhanced the nuclear maturation (as indicated by higher rate of first polar body extrusion and increased Bmp15 mRNA level), reduced level of reactive oxygen species, and promoted developmental potency (higher cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenotes, and decreased Bax and Caspase3 mRNA levels in blastocysts) of pig oocytes. AA2P treatment caused methylation erasure in mature oocytes on nucleic acids (5-methylcytosine (5 mC) and N 6 -methyladenosine (m6A)) and histones (Histone H3 trimethylations at lysines 27, H3K27me3), but establishment of histone H3 trimethylations at lysines 4 (H3K4me3) and 36 (H3K36me3). During the global methylation reprogramming process, levels of TET2 (mRNA and protein) and Dnmt3b (mRNA) were significantly elevated, but simultaneously DNMT3A (mRNA and protein), and also Hif-1α, Hif-2α, Tet3, Mettl14, Kdm5b and Eed (mRNA) were significantly inhibited. Our findings support that ascorbic acid can reprogram the methylation status of not only DNA and histone, but also RNA, to improve pig oocyte maturation and developmental competence.

Effects of human management on black carbon sorption/desorption during a water transfer project: Recognizing impacts and identifying mitigation possibilities.

Water resources management is an important public concern. In this study, we examined the extent of sorption/desorption of trace pollutants to soil black carbon (BC) in the water level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) of the middle route of the South to North Water Transfer Project in China. In addition, we investigated the main management measures affecting these processes during the project. The results showed that the pseudo second-order model adequately describes the sorption/desorption of phenanthrene on the soil BC in the WLFZ. Water level fluctuation may indirectly influenced BC sorption/desorption by altering water chemistry. Water level residence time had negative effects on BC sorption in short-term experiments (days to months), but the impact gradually diminished with increased residence time. The results suggested that long-term field monitoring of water chemistry is urgent. During the initial period of water transfer, delaying the water supplies as drinking water source or directly irrigating crops could mitigate the adverse impacts. Future research should focus on the water-soluble products of BC degradation. The findings of this study should be useful in improving sustainable management of water resources for water transfer projects.

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing reveals that cell division cycle 5-like protein is essential for porcine oocyte maturation.

The brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test is used in both basic biological research and assisted reproduction to identify oocytes likely to be developmentally competent. However, the underlying molecular mechanism targeted by the BCB test is still unclear. To explore this question, we first confirmed that BCB-positive porcine oocytes had higher rates of meiotic maturation, better rates of cleavage and development into blastocysts, and lower death rates. Subsequent single-cell transcriptome sequencing on porcine germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes identified 155 genes that were significantly differentially expressed between BCB-negative and BCB-positive oocytes. These included genes such as cdc5l, ldha, spata22, rgs2, paip1, wee1b, and hsp27, which are enriched in functionally important signaling pathways including cell cycle regulation, oocyte meiosis, spliceosome formation, and nucleotide excision repair. In BCB-positive GV oocytes that additionally had a lower frequency of DNA double-strand breaks, the CDC5L protein was significantly more abundant. cdc5l/CDC5L inhibition by short interference (si)RNA or antibody microinjection significantly impaired porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent parthenote development. Taken together, our single-oocyte sequencing data point to a potential new role for CDC5L in porcine oocyte meiosis and early embryo development, and supports further analysis of this protein in the context of the BCB test.

Improving hydrolysis acidification by limited aeration in the pretreatment of petrochemical wastewater.

Petrochemical wastewater was pretreated by hydrolysis acidification to improve the biodegradation and treatability on limited aeration conditions. The results showed limited aeration with DO from 0.2 to 0.3mg/L (average ORP was -210 mV) was the best condition. The BOD5/COD of influent was 0.23, and it increased to 0.43 on this condition. Limited aeration can obviously reduce the reduction of SO4(2-), reducing the generation of toxic gas H2S, and almost no H2S can be detected in the off-gas. The sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) diversity and abundance on limited aeration condition was obviously inhibited. Limited aeration condition was benefit for the removal of benzene ring organics, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), improving the toxicity and treatability of the wastewater. Based on the experiment results, an anaerobic hydrolysis acidification tank (100,000 m(3)) has been transformed into limited aeration hydrolysis acidification tank and it runs well.

[Treatment of petrochemical secondary effluent by ozone-biological aerated filter].

The advanced treatment of petrochemical secondary wastewater by ozone- aerated biological filter was carried out in this study. The effect of pH on ozonation and the removal of COD and UV254 by the ozone-aerated biological filter combined process were investigated. In addition, the variation of relative molecular mass distribution of organics and the characteristics of three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of the wastewater were also investigated. The results showed that the suitable operating conditions of the ozonation unit were: ozone dosage 10 mg x L(-1), contact time 4 min and slightly alkaline pH. Ozonation can transfer macromolecular organics into small molecular organics, resulting in a 15% increase in the percentage of the organics with small relative molecular mass (less than 1 000). The biodegradability of the petrochemical secondary effluent was significantly improved by ozonation, making it more suitable for the treatment by aerated biological filter. The removal efficiency of COD and UV254 were 40.8% and 45.8% when the hydraulic retention time was 3 hours and the gas to water ratio was 3:1 for BAF. The average COD of the petrochemical wastewater was 86.5 mg x L(-1) while the average COD of the effluent of the combined process was 49.4 mg x L(-1) when it was operated under optimal conditions.