Autophagy inhibition mediated by trillin promotes apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via activation of mTOR/STAT3 signaling.

Apoptosis and autophagy have been shown to act cooperatively and antagonistically in self-elimination process. On the one side, apoptosis and autophagy can act as partners to induce cell death in a coordinated or cooperative manner; on the flip side, autophagy acts as an antagonist to block apoptotic cell death by promoting cell survival. Our previous research indicated that trillin could induce apoptosis of PLC/PRF/5 cells, but the effects of trillin on autophagy as well as its functional relationship to apoptosis have not been elucidated.

Modulating Oxygen Vacancies in Lead Chromate for Photoelectrocatalytic Water Splitting.

Although modulating oxygen vacancies in semiconductors has attracted broad interest in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis, identifying the intrinsic roles of oxygen vacancies on photoelectrocatalytic properties is often elusive. In this work, the oxygen vacancies in a typical semiconductor lead chromate (PbCrO ) are regulated via controlling the oxygen chemical potentials of O-poor and O-rich post-annealing atmospheres. Oxygen vacancies identified in PbCrO can introduce electronically shallow energy levels and deep energy levels owing to the symmetry difference of oxygen atoms in the structure.

Boosting Photocatalytic Water Oxidation on Photocatalysts with Ferroelectric Single Domains.

Ferroelectric materials are considered as promising photocatalysts due to their efficient charge separation via a polarization-induced built-in electric field. However, the polydomain structures hinder spatial charge separation and transfer due to the cancellation of polarization vectors in the domains. In this work, taking BiFeO (BFO) as a prototype, single-domain BFO nanosheets with visible-light absorption are prepared, as evident by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), spatially resolved surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SRSPS), and photodeposition experiments.

Charge Separation between Pt Co-catalysts and Plasmonic Au in Pt-Au/CN Photocatalysts.

Chemical processes induced by surface plasmon resonance have received great attention due to the wide spectral absorption and tunable optical property. Co-catalysts have been introduced into plasmonic-metal/semiconductor photocatalysts to inhibit the recombination of plasmon-induced carriers. However, it is unclear how the locations of co-catalysts (on the surface of plasmonic metal or the semiconductor) affect the plasmonic photocatalystic reactions.

Internal-Field-Enhanced Charge Separation in a Single-Domain Ferroelectric PbTiO Photocatalyst.

Ferroelectric materials with spontaneous polarization-induced internal electric fields have drawn increasing attention in solar fuel production due to the intrinsic polarized structure. However, the origination of charge separation in these materials at the nano/microlevel is ambiguous owing to the complexity of the multielectric fields. Besides, the observed charge separation ability is far from theoretical expectation.

Selective selenol fluorescent probes: design, synthesis, structural determinants, and biological applications.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient element, and the biological significance of Se is predominantly dependent on its incorporation as selenocysteine (Sec), the genetically encoded 21st amino acid in protein synthesis, into the active site of selenoproteins, which have broad functions, ranging from redox regulation and anti-inflammation to the production of active thyroid hormones. Compared to its counterpart Cys, there are only limited probes for selective recognition of Sec, and such selectivity is strictly restricted at low pH conditions. We reported herein the design, synthesis, and biological evaluations of a series of potential Sec probes based on the mechanism of nucleophilic aromatic substitution.

[Effects of Jiaweisinisan dispersion on content and gene expression of gastric tissue GASR and jejunal tissue VIPR2 of physical and mental stress model rat].

Objective: To observe the effects of Jiaweisini dispersion (JWSNS) on the ultrastructure of gastric mucosa, the content and gene expression of gastric antrum tissue gastrin receptor (GASR) and jejunal tissue vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VIPR2) in chronic stress gastric ulcer rats, and to elucidate its mechanism.

Methods: 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, JWSNS large, medium, small dose groups, and omeprazole group, 10 rats in each group. Chronic stress method was used to establish the stress ulcer rat model.

[Effects of Jiaweisinisan on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in a rat model of chronic psychological stress].

Objective: To study the effect of Jiaweisinisan (JWSNS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal recipe, on gastric mucosal ultrastructure and brain-gut axis in rat models of chronic psychological stress and elucidate the mechanism of JWSNS for ameliorating stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Methods: Sixty rats were randomly assigned into normal control group, model group, 3 JWSNS groups (high, moderate, and small doses), and omeprazole group (n=10). Rat models of chronic psychological stress were established by random stressful stimulations, and following the corresponding interventions, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) levels were detected using radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA expressions of gastrin receptor in the gastric tissue (GASR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide II receptor (VIPR2) in the jejunal tissue were examined using RT-PCR.