A fusion protein of polyphosphate kinase 1 (PPK1) and a Nudix hydrolase is involved in inorganic polyphosphate accumulation in the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a linear polymer of phosphate that plays various roles in cells, including in phosphate and metal homeostasis. Homologs of the vacuolar transporter chaperone 4 (VTC4), catalyzing polyP synthesis in many eukaryotes, are absent in red algae, which are among the earliest divergent plant lineages. We identified homologs of polyphosphate kinase 1 (PPK1), a conserved polyP synthase in bacteria, in 42 eukaryotic genomes, including 31 species detected in this study and 12 species of red algae.

Electrochemically driven physical properties of solid-state materials: action mechanisms and control schemes.

The various physical properties recently induced by solid-state electrochemical reactions must be comprehensively understood, and their mechanisms of action should be elucidated. Reversible changes in conductivity, magnetism, and colour have been achieved by combining the redox reactions of d metal ions and organic materials, as well as the molecular and crystal structures of solids. This review describes the electrochemically driven physical properties of conductors, magnetic materials, and electrochromic materials using various electrochemical devices.

Understanding the charge transfer effects of single atoms for boosting the performance of Na-S batteries.

The effective flow of electrons through bulk electrodes is crucial for achieving high-performance batteries, although the poor conductivity of homocyclic sulfur molecules results in high barriers against the passage of electrons through electrode structures. This phenomenon causes incomplete reactions and the formation of metastable products. To enhance the performance of the electrode, it is important to place substitutable electrification units to accelerate the cleavage of sulfur molecules and increase the selectivity of stable products during charging and discharging.

Solvent-Free Reaction for Unsymmetrical Organodisulfides with High Purity and Application as Cathode-Active Materials.

Unsymmetrical disulfides, in which different organic groups are bonded to disulfide bonds, have been synthesized by cross-coupling reactions using thiols as substrates. However, due to the low-binding energy of unsymmetrical disulfides, its disproportionation occurs based on the side reactions with nucleophilic thiols, resulting in the impurity of symmetric disulfides. In this study, we developed a solvent-free synthesis method for unsymmetrical disulfides using thiosulfonates, thiols, and a base.

Polymorphism of Two-Dimensional Semiconducting Coordination Polymers: Impact of a Lead-Sulfur Network on Photoconductivity.

Sulfur-coordinated coordination polymers (S-CPs) have unique optoelectrical properties that originate from infinite M-S bond networks. In this study, we synthesized and characterized two polymorphs of a two-dimensional (2D) Pb(II) S-CP with a formula of [Pb(tzdt)(OAc)] (Htzdt=1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione, OAc=acetate). Our findings revealed that the thermodynamic product (KGF-26) possesses quasi-2D (-Pb-S-) layers with weak nonbonded Pb-S bonds, whereas the kinetic product (KGF-27) has intrinsic 2D (-Pb-S-) layers with Pb-S bonds.

Stability Modification of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells by Ruthenium Dyes Embedded on Eggshell Membranes.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been one of the most promising technologies to convert sunlight into electricity repeatedly based on the mechanism that dyes inject/accept electron into the metal oxides/from redox mediator. Specifically, N719 ([RuL(NCS)], L: 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine), immobilized on TiO through the interaction between its ligands (-COO and -NCS) and the oxygen on the TiO surface, has been used as a conventional DSSC dye with high voltage. Nevertheless, -NCS ligands have been removed from Ru in N719 due to UV irradiation and exchanged with HO or OH in electrolyte, resulting in voltage drop.

Ultra-High-Capacity Lithium Metal Batteries Based on Multi-Electron Redox Reaction of Organopolysulfides including Conductive Organic Moieties.

Recently, organic polysulfides have been synthesized as cathode active materials exceeding the battery performance of sulfur. However, the conventional organic polysulfides have exhibited capacities lower than the theoretical capacity of sulfur because the π-organic moieties do not conjugate with the sulfur chains. In this work, the organopolysulfides, synthesized via inverse vulcanization using disulfide compounds, exhibited higher capacities equal to the theoretical capacity of sulfur because of enhanced electronic conductivity based on the conjugation between organic moieties and sulfur chains.

Assessment of Dye-Absorbed Eggshell Membrane Composites as Solid Polymer Electrolyte of Fuel Cells.

Recently, polymer electrolytes have been developed for high-performance and eco-friendly fuel cells. Among the candidates, eggshell membrane (ESM) has been promising because of its abundance to assemble various energy devices with low cost and its absorption ability of organic materials. In this work, we investigated fuel cells that included ESM-absorbing xanthene-, triphenylmethane-, and azo-type tar dye, which contained abundant hydrophilic groups, as polymer electrolytes.

Class II LitR serves as an effector of "short" LOV-type blue-light photoreceptor in Pseudomonas mendocina.

PmlR2, a class II LitR/CarH family transcriptional regulator, and PmSB-LOV, a "short" LOV-type blue light photoreceptor, are adjacently encoded in Pseudomonas mendocina NBRC 14162. An effector protein for the "short" LOV-type photoreceptor in Pseudomonas has not yet been identified. Here, we show that PmlR2 is an effector protein of PmSB-LOV.

Azo Compounds as Active Materials of Energy Storage Systems.

The rapid evolution of electrical devices and the increasing demand for the supply of sustainable energy necessitate the development of high-performance energy storage systems such as rechargeable and redox flow batteries. However, these batteries typically contain inorganic active materials, which exhibit several critical drawbacks hindering further development. In this regard, azo compounds are promising alternatives, offering the benefits of fast kinetics, multi-electron redox reactions, and tunable (via structural adjustment) battery performance.

Assessment of Eggshell Membrane as a New Type of Proton-Conductive Membrane in Fuel Cells.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have recently attracted considerable attention as sustainable and eco-friendly electricity generation devices from the viewpoint of carbon neutrality. This study focuses on new discoveries related to the application of eggshell membranes to polymer electrolytes in the development of cheaper, more eco-friendly fuel cells. We observed the electricity generation of the fuel cells using an eggshell membrane as a proton-conductive material and a general carbonic acid aqueous solution.

Novel heat shock response mechanism mediated by the initiation nucleotide of transcription.

Among SigA-dependent promoters in Bacillus subtilis, we compared the nucleotide sequences of heat shock responding and non-responding promoters. Chimeric promoter experiments revealed that the heat shock response could be ascribed to the initiation nucleotide (iNTP) of the transcription. Our in vivo reporter assay results indicated that a full response was achieved using GTP, a reduced response was observed using ATP, and no additional expression was observed using UTP or CTP.

Evolutionary Adaptation by Repetitive Long-Term Cultivation with Gradual Increase in Temperature for Acquiring Multi-Stress Tolerance and High Ethanol Productivity in DMKU 3-1042.

During ethanol fermentation, yeast cells are exposed to various stresses that have negative effects on cell growth, cell survival, and fermentation ability. This study, therefore, aims to develop -adapted strains that are multi-stress tolerant and to increase ethanol production at high temperatures through a novel evolutionary adaptation procedure. DMKU 3-1042 was subjected to repetitive long-term cultivation with gradual increases in temperature (RLCGT), which exposed cells to various stresses, including high temperatures.

Analysis of cell death in Bacillus subtilis caused by sesquiterpenes from Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty.

Recently, the antibacterial effects of essential oils have been investigated in addition to their therapeutic purposes. Owing to their hydrophobic nature, they are thought to perturb the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane, leading to cell death. Against such antibiotic challenges, bacteria develop mechanisms for cell envelope stress responses (CESR).

Orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SFH2, genes encoding Sec14 family proteins, implicated in utilization of n-alkanes and filamentous growth in response to n-alkanes in Yarrowia lipolytica.

The dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has an ability to assimilate n-alkanes as carbon and energy sources. In this study, the roles of orthologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SEC14 family gene SFH2, which we named SFH21, SFH22, SFH23 and SFH24, of Y. lipolytica were investigated.

Failure-Experiment-Supported Optimization of Poorly Reproducible Synthetic Conditions for Novel Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks with Two-Dimensional Secondary Building Units.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Daisuke Tanaka at Kwansei Gakuin University and co-workers at Kwansei Gakuin University, Hokkaido University, Kyoto University, Japan and KU Leuven, Belgium. The image is a depiction of exploring the desired crystal by decision tree analysis. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Genome sequencing of the NIES Cyanobacteria collection with a focus on the heterocyst-forming clade.

Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of Gram-negative prokaryotes that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria have been used for research on photosynthesis and have attracted attention as a platform for biomaterial/biofuel production. Cyanobacteria are also present in almost all habitats on Earth and have extensive impacts on global ecosystems.

Failure-Experiment-Supported Optimization of Poorly Reproducible Synthetic Conditions for Novel Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks with Two-Dimensional Secondary Building Units*.

Novel metal-organic frameworks containing lanthanide double-layer-based secondary building units (KGF-3) were synthesized by using machine learning (ML). Isolating pure KGF-3 was challenging, and the synthesis was not reproducible because impurity phases were frequently obtained under the same synthetic conditions. Thus, dominant factors for the synthesis of KGF-3 were identified, and its synthetic conditions were optimized by using two ML techniques.

Machine-Learning-Assisted Selective Synthesis of a Semiconductive Silver Thiolate Coordination Polymer with Segregated Paths for Holes and Electrons.

Coordination polymers (CPs) with infinite metal-sulfur bond networks have unique electrical conductivities and optical properties. However, the development of new (-M-S-) -structured CPs is hindered by difficulties with their crystallization. Herein, we describe the use of machine learning to optimize the synthesis of trithiocyanuric acid (H ttc)-based semiconductive CPs with infinite Ag-S bond networks, report three CP crystal structures, and reveal that isomer selectivity is mainly determined by proton concentration in the reaction medium.

Application of μ-Nitrido- and μ-Carbido-Bridged Iron Phthalocyanine Dimers as Cathode-Active Materials for Rechargeable Batteries.

μ-Nitrido- and μ-carbido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimers, when used as cathode-active materials for rechargeable lithium batteries, showed four stable redox waves in cyclic voltammetry studies in solution and a stable discharge capacity of approximately 60 mAh g after 200 cycles. These results indicate that μ-heteroatom-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimers are good platforms for designing novel phthalocyanine-based electrode-active materials.