Hydrogels and Aerogels for Versatile Photo-/Electro-Chemical and Energy-Related Applications.

The development of photo-/electro-chemical and flexible electronics has stimulated research in catalysis, informatics, biomedicine, energy conversion, and storage applications. Gels (e.g.

Quantum Dots Mediated Heterojunction Coupling MoSe Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) possess the photosensitive absorption for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution owing to special band structures, whereas they usually confront with photo-corrosion or undesired charge recombination during photoelectrochemical reactions. Hence, we establish the heterojunction between GQDs and MoSe sheets via a hydrothermal process for improved stability and performance. Photoanodic water splitting with hydrogen evolution boosted by the heteroatom doped N,S-GQDs/MoSe heterojunction has been attained due to the abundant active sites, promoted charge separation and transfer kinetics with reduced energy barriers.

π-Conjugated Macrocycles Confined Dual Single-Atom Catalysts on Graphitized Bubbles for Oxygen Reduction, Evolution, and Batteries.

It is a great demand to develop high-performance electrodes for metal-air batteries to boost cathodic oxygen reduction/evolution dynamics and avoid anodic dendrites. The optimization of catalysis at electrode can be conducted by increasing effective surface exposure, active site density, and unsaturated coordination, via using metal clusters or atomic catalysts, along with conductive or defective supports. Herein, the polarized and synergistic cooperation between dual single atom sites (Fe-N/Co-N) are developed through electrolytical exfoliation of defect-enriched π-conjugated macrocyclic polyphthalocyanines to expose more active sites on hollow carbonized shells (HCS).

Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 E Protein: Sequence, Structure, Viroporin, and Inhibitors.

The COVID-19 epidemic is one of the most influential epidemics in history. Understanding the impact of coronaviruses (CoVs) on host cells is very important for disease treatment. The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein is a small structural protein involved in many aspects of the viral life cycle.

Prediction of LncRNA-encoded small peptides in glioma and oligomer channel functional analysis using in silico approaches.

Glioma is a lethal malignant brain cancer, and many reports have shown that abnormalities in the behavior of water and ion channels play an important role in regulating tumor proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation. Recently, new studies have suggested that some long noncoding RNAs containing small open reading frames can encode small peptides and form oligomers for water or ion regulation. However, because the peptides are difficult to identify, their functional mechanisms are far from being clearly understood.

Effects of amino acid modifications on the permeability of the pentameric sarcolipin channel.

Sarcolipin (SLN) is an important transmembrane (TM) protein encoded by long noncoding RNA. SLN is expressed in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and regulates cardiac and skeletal muscle contractions. SLN forms a pentameric hydrophobic ligand-gated ion channel.

Computational Study of the Ion and Water Permeation and Transport Mechanisms of the SARS-CoV-2 Pentameric E Protein Channel.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and represents the causative agent of a potentially fatal disease that is a public health emergency of international concern. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, encode an envelope (E) protein, which is a small, hydrophobic membrane protein; the E protein of SARS-CoV-2 shares a high level of homology with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In this study, we provide insights into the function of the SARS-CoV-2 E protein channel and the ion and water permeation mechanisms using a combination of methods.