Cross-Generational Exposure to Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics Induced Hyperactive Responses in Offsprings.

The extensive application of plastic products in daily human life has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soil. However, little is known about the cross-generational toxicity of MPs on terrestrial invertebrates. In this study, two-generational was exposed to low-density polyethylene (LDPE, 0-5%, w/w) for 98 days to reveal the cross-generational toxicity and the underlying mechanisms.

Radical Cascade Reaction of Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals with Thiocyanates Promoted by Visible Light: Synthesis of Functionalized Fused 2-Iminothiazolines.

Herein, a visible-light-promoted radical cascade cyclization of heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKAs) and thiocyanates was developed to access functionalized fused 2-iminothiazolines. This novel cascade reaction can be realized under only visible-light irradiation without the help of external photocatalysts, oxidants, and additives. These multicomponent cascade reactions demonstrate excellent selectivity for the -isomers and ensure the formation of the products only in their isomeric form.

sp. nov., an airborne bacteria isolated from an urban area of Beijing, China.

A Gram-negative, ellipsoidal to short-rod-shaped, motile bacterium was isolated from Beijing's urban air. The isolate exhibited the closest kinship with 122213-3, exhibiting 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity.

Fusaric acid mediates the assembly of disease-suppressive rhizosphere microbiota via induced shifts in plant root exudates.

The plant health status is determined by the interplay of plant-pathogen-microbiota in the rhizosphere. Here, we investigate this tripartite system focusing on the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.

Deciphering the Role of Fatty Acid-Metabolizing CYP4F11 in Lung Cancer and Its Potential As a Drug Target.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. We found that the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP4F11 is significantly overexpressed in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. CYP4F11 is a fatty acid -hydroxylase and catalyzes the production of the lipid mediator 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) from arachidonic acid.

Integrated microbiota and multi-omics analysis reveal the differential responses of earthworm to conventional and biodegradable microplastics in soil under biogas slurry irrigation.

As one of the promising alternatives of conventional plastic mulching film (C-PMF), biodegradable plastic mulching films (B-PMF) were employed in agronomy production to alleviate the environmental burden of C-PMF. However, information regarding the potential toxicity effects of biodegradable microplastics (MPs) in soil still in scarcity, and the available findings were found to be controversial. Additionally, little is known about the molecular toxicity effects of conventional and biodegradable MPs on terrestrial organisms.

Integrated microbiome and multi-omics analysis reveal the molecular mechanisms of Eisenia fetida in response to biochar-derived dissolved and particulate matters.

At present, most ecotoxicological studies are still confined to focusing on the harmful effects of biochar itself on soil fauna. However, the potential ecotoxicity of different components separated from biochar to terrestrial invertebrates remains poorly understood. In this study, the dissolved matter (DM) and particulate matter (PM) were separated from biochar (BC) and then introduced into the soil-earthworm system to investigate the response mechanism of earthworms at the molecular level.

The cardiovascular toxicity of clozapine in embryonic zebrafish and RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analysis.

Clozapine (CLZ) is the most prescribed medication for treating refractory schizophrenia but is associated with significant cardiovascular toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular toxicity induced by CLZ using zebrafish as a model animal. For this purpose, zebrafish developed to 80-h post-fertilization were exposed to different CLZ concentration solutions for 24 h followed by cardiac morphological observations in yolk sac edema, pericardial edema, and blood coagulation, in addition to increased SV-BA distance, functionally manifested as bradycardia, and decreased cardiac ejection fraction using the untreated embryos as control.

Genetic Ablation of GIGYF1, Associated With Autism, Causes Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Defects in Zebrafish and Mice.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Due to the extremely high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, it is critical to pinpoint the genetic factors for understanding the pathology of these disorders.

Methods: We analyzed the exomes generated by the SPARK (Simons Powering Autism Research) project and performed a meta-analysis with previous data.

Response of earthworms to microplastics in soil under biogas slurry irrigation: Toxicity comparison of conventional and biodegradable microplastics.

As a reliable environment-friendly alternative, biodegradable plastic mulching films have been introduced into agricultural practice to reduce the adverse threats posed by conventional plastic products. Information regarding whether potential untoward effects of biodegradable plastics exist in soil and how strong are such effects on terrestrial organisms, however, still remains unknown. This study examined differences in the responses of earthworm, represented by Eisenia fetida, to exposure to biodegradable (PLA: polylactic acid) and conventional microplastics (PVC: polyvinylchloride, LDPE: low-density polyethylene) in soil with biogas slurry irrigation.

Structure-based discovery of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL degraders with excellent anti-tumor activity by selectively degrading AXL and inducing methuosis.

The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) anexelekto (AXL) is mutated and/or overexpressed in various malignancies, and plays a central role in tumor development and acquired drug resistance. Although highly selective inhibitors have been developed in recent years, direct inhibition of AXL may block its ubiquitination, eventually leading to surface accumulation of the protein. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of AXL degraders with high selectivity and without compensatory increase of AXL.

Zinc(II)-Dipicolylamine Analogs Mediated PEI1.8k/pDNA Vector: Effect of Ligand Structure on the Gene Transport Process.

Zinc ion complexes of dipicolylamine analogs, due to the strong synergistic effect between the Zn complex of containing polypyridine derivatives and polycations in each key step of pDNA transport, have been used as the third component to mediate polyethyleneimine with molecular weight 1.8 kDa (PEI1.8k)/DNA gene delivery system.

Multifunctional oligomer immobilized on quartz crystal microbalance: a facile and stabilized molecular imprinting strategy for glycoprotein detection.

Glycoprotein detection holds great potential for early diagnosis of diverse diseases. For this purpose, the combination of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor and molecular imprinting has attracted increasing attention. Nonetheless, the recently common imprinted films fabricated on QCM electrode are thick and rigid, lacking flexibility in aqueous phase.

Zinc Coordinated Cationic Polymers Break Up the Paradox between Low Molecular Weight and High Transfection Efficacy.

Cationic polymers have emerged as appealing nonviral gene vectors for decades, which, however, suffer from the paradox between low molecular weight and high transfection efficacy. Low molecular weight cationic polymers (LCPs) are well cell tolerated but are perplexed by orders-of-magnitude less efficacy compared to their macromolecular counterparts. The deficiency mainly lies in weak DNA binding of polymers and difficulty in endosomal escape of formulated polyplexes.

Zinc Coordination Substitute Amine: A Noncationic Platform for Efficient and Safe Gene Delivery.

Amines have been extensively involved in vector design thus far, however, their clinical translation has been impeded by several obstacles: cytotoxicity, polyplex serum instability and low efficacy in vivo. In pursuit of functional groups to substitute amines in vector design to address these disadvantages is of great significance. Herein, we report well-tailored noncationic copolymers that contain hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and zinc coordinative moieties through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization for efficient and safe gene delivery.

Virus Spike and Membrane-Lytic Mimicking Nanoparticles for High Cell Binding and Superior Endosomal Escape.

Virus-inspired mimics for gene therapy have attracted increasing attention because viral vectors show robust efficacy owing to the highly infectious nature and efficient endosomal escape. Nonetheless, until now, synthetic materials have failed to achieve high "infectivity," and especially, the mimicking of virus spikes for "infection" is underappreciated. Herein, a virus spike mimic by a zinc (Zn) coordinative ligand that shows high affinity toward phosphate-rich cell membranes is reported.

Continuously Monocropped Jerusalem Artichoke Changed Soil Bacterial Community Composition and Ammonia-Oxidizing and Denitrifying Bacteria Abundances.

Soil microbial communities have profound effects on the growth, nutrition and health of plants in agroecosystems. Understanding soil microbial dynamics in cropping systems can assist in determining how agricultural practices influence soil processes mediated by microorganisms. In this study, soil bacterial communities were monitored in a continuously monocropped Jerusalem artichoke (JA) system, in which JA was successively monocropped for 3 years in a wheat field.

Evaluation of cell death pathways initiated by antitumor drugs melatonin and valproic acid in bladder cancer cells.

Effective drug combinations have the potential to strengthen therapeutic efficacy and combat drug resistance. Both melatonin and valproic acid (VPA) exhibit antitumor activities in various cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cell death pathways initiated by anticancer combinatorial effects of melatonin and VPA in bladder cancer cells.