The Greatwall-Endosulfine-PP2A/B55 pathway regulates entry into quiescence by enhancing translation of Elongator-tunable transcripts.

Quiescent cells require a continuous supply of proteins to maintain protein homeostasis. In fission yeast, entry into quiescence is triggered by nitrogen stress, leading to the inactivation of TORC1 and the activation of TORC2. In this study, we demonstrate that the Greatwall-Endosulfine-PPA/B55 pathway connects the downregulation of TORC1 with the upregulation of TORC2, resulting in the activation of Elongator-dependent tRNA modifications crucial for sustaining the translation programme during entry into quiescence.

New mutations in the core Schizosaccharomyces pombe spindle pole body scaffold Ppc89 reveal separable functions in regulating cell division.

Centrosomes and spindle pole bodies (SPB) are important for mitotic spindle formation and also serve as signaling platforms. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, genetic ablation and high-resolution imaging indicate that the ɑ-helical Ppc89 is central to SPB structure and function. Here, we developed and characterized conditional and truncation mutants of ppc89.

Ultrafine PtCo alloy nanoparticles integrated into porous N-doped nanosheets for durable oxygen reduction reaction.

Here, we propose a sub-3 nm small-size PtCo alloy catalyst integrated into a porous nitrogen-doped nanosheet through a space-confined and interfacial induction strategy. The designed PtCo-CoNC-P catalyst exhibits exceptional durability, with only a minimal 2 mV decline in half-wave potential after 30 000 cycles of accelerated durability tests.

Carbon Nanocage Supported Asymmetrically Coordinated Nickle Single-Atom for Enhanced CO Electroreduction in Membrane Electrode Assembly.

Designing efficient catalysts for operating CO electroreduction in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) faces significant obstacles. Herein, we propose an asymmetrically coordinated Ni single-atom catalyst featuring axial Br coordination at NiNBr sites anchoring onto hollow Br/N co-doped carbon nanocages, achieved through a NaBr-assisted confined-pyrolysis strategy. The Ni-NBr-C catalyst exhibits a high CO Faradaic efficiency (FE>97 %) over the current density range of 50 to 350 mA cm in the MEA device.

The DNA Damage Repair Function of Fission Yeast CK1 Involves Targeting Arp8, a Subunit of the INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Complex.

The CK1 family are conserved serine/threonine kinases with numerous substrates and cellular functions. The fission yeast CK1 orthologues Hhp1 and Hhp2 were first characterized as regulators of DNA repair, but the mechanism(s) by which CK1 activity promotes DNA repair had not been investigated. Here, we found that deleting Hhp1 and Hhp2 or inhibiting CK1 catalytic activities in yeast or in human cells increased double-strand breaks (DSBs).

Fission yeast Duc1 links to ER-PM contact sites and influences PM lipid composition and cytokinetic ring anchoring.

Cytokinesis is the final stage of the cell cycle that results in the physical separation of daughter cells. To accomplish cytokinesis, many organisms build an actin- and myosin-based cytokinetic ring (CR) that is anchored to the plasma membrane (PM). Defects in CR-PM anchoring can arise when the PM lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] is depleted.

Dual-Gradient Concentration Distribution in Sb-Cu Alloy Nanoarrays for Robust Sodium-Ion Storage.

Alloy-type materials are attractive for anodes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacities and overall performance. However, the accumulation of stress/strain during repeated cycling results in electrode pulverization, leading to rapid capacity decay and eventual disintegration, thus hindering their practical applications. Herein, we report a 3D coral-like Sb-Cu alloy nanoarray with gradient distribution of both elements.

The core spindle pole body scaffold Ppc89 links the pericentrin orthologue Pcp1 to the fission yeast spindle pole body via an evolutionarily conserved interface.

Centrosomes and spindle pole bodies (SPBs) are important for mitotic spindle formation and serve as cellular signaling platforms. Although centrosomes and SPBs differ in morphology, many mechanistic insights into centrosome function have been gleaned from SPB studies. In the fission yeast , the α-helical protein Ppc89, identified based on its interaction with the septation initiation network scaffold Sid4, comprises the SPB core.

KOH-activated hollow carbon spheres with surface functionalization for high-capacity and long-cycle-life lithium-selenium batteries.

Lithium-selenium (Li-Se) batteries are considered promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries due to their higher volumetric capacity and energy density. However, they still face limitations in efficiently utilizing the active selenium. Here, we develop surface-functionalized mesoporous hollow carbon nanospheres as the selenium host.

NbC Nanoparticles Decorated Carbon Nanofibers as Highly Active and Robust Heterostructural Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Synthesis.

Transition-metal carbides with metallic properties have been extensively used as electrocatalysts due to their excellent conductivity and unique electronic structures. Herein, NbC nanoparticles decorated carbon nanofibers (NbC@CNFs) are proposed as an efficient and robust catalyst for electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from nitrate/nitrite reduction, which achieves a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 94.4 % and a large ammonia yield of 30.

Substrate displacement of CK1 C-termini regulates kinase specificity.

CK1 kinases participate in many signaling pathways, and their regulation is of meaningful biological consequence. CK1s autophosphorylate their C-terminal noncatalytic tails, and eliminating these tails increases substrate phosphorylation in vitro, suggesting that the autophosphorylated C-termini act as inhibitory pseudosubstrates. To test this prediction, we comprehensively identified the autophosphorylation sites on Hhp1 and human CK1ε.

Crystalline modulation of zirconia for efficient nitrate reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions.

Zirconia as a polycrystalline catalyst can be effectively tuned by doping low-valence elements and meanwhile form abundant oxygen vacancies. Herein, the crystalline structures of zirconia are modulated by scandium doping and proposed as a robust catalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia. The tetragonal zirconia achieves a maximum ammonia yield of 16.

Engineering a High-Loading Sub-4 nm Intermetallic Platinum-Cobalt Alloy on Atomically Dispersed Cobalt-Nitrogen-Carbon for Efficient Oxygen Reduction in Fuel Cells.

Developing a high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) poses a formidable challenge for fuel cells, which lies in achieving both high metal loading and efficient catalytic activity concurrently for MEA catalysts. Here, we introduce a porous Co@NC carrier to synthesize sub-4 nm PtCo intermetallic nanocrystals, achieving an impressive Pt loading of 27 wt %. The PtCo-CoNC catalyst demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity and remarkable stability for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Regulating Electron Filling and Orbital Occupancy of Anti-Bonding States of Transition Metal Nitride Heterojunction for High Areal Capacity Lithium-Sulfur Full Batteries.

The commercialization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is seriously hindered by the shuttle behavior of lithium (Li) polysulfide, slow conversion kinetics, and Li dendrite growth. Herein, a novel hierarchical p-type iron nitride and n-type vanadium nitride (p-FeN/n-VN) heterostructure with optimal electronic structure, confined in vesicle-like N-doped nanofibers (p-FeN/n-VN⊂PNCF), is meticulously constructed to work as "one stone two birds" dual-functional hosts for both the sulfur cathode and Li anode. As demonstrated, the d-band center of high-spin Fe atom captures more electrons from V atom to realize more π* and moderate σ* bond electron filling and orbital occupation; thus, allowing moderate adsorption intensity for polysulfides and more effective d-p orbital hybridization to improve reaction kinetics.

The Greatwall-Endosulfine-PP2A/B55 pathway controls entry into quiescence by promoting translation of Elongator-tuneable transcripts.

Quiescent cells require a continuous supply of proteins to maintain protein homeostasis. In fission yeast, entry into quiescence is triggered by nitrogen stress, leading to the inactivation of TORC1 and the activation of TORC2. Here, we report that the Greatwall-Endosulfine-PPA/B55 pathway connects the downregulation of TORC1 with the upregulation of TORC2, resulting in the activation of Elongator-dependent tRNA modifications essential for sustaining the translation programme during entry into quiescence.

Quasi-Copper-Mers Enable High-Performance Catalysis for CO Reduction.

As the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ) level keeps hitting the new record, humanity is facing an ever-daunting challenge to efficiently mitigate CO from the atmosphere. Though electrochemical CO reduction presents a promising pathway to convert CO to valuable fuels and chemicals, the general lack of suitable electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity severely constrains this approach. Herein, a novel class of electrocatalysts is investigated, the quasi-copper-mers, in which the CuN rather than Cu atom itself serve as the basic building block.

Membrane binding of endocytic myosin-1s is inhibited by a class of ankyrin repeat proteins.

Myosin-1s are monomeric actin-based motors that function at membranes. Myo1 is the single myosin-1 isoform in that works redundantly with Wsp1-Vrp1 to activate the Arp2/3 complex for endocytosis. Here, we identified Ank1 as an uncharacterized cytoplasmic Myo1 binding partner.

Substrate displacement of CK1 C-termini regulates kinase specificity.

CK1 kinases participate in many signaling pathways; how these enzymes are regulated is therefore of significant biological consequence. CK1s autophosphorylate their C-terminal non-catalytic tails, and eliminating these modifications increases substrate phosphorylation in vitro, suggesting that the autophosphorylated C-termini act as inhibitory pseudosubstrates. To test this prediction, we comprehensively identified the autophosphorylation sites on Hhp1 and human CK1ε.

CoO nanoparticles embedded in porous carbon nanofibers enable efficient nitrate reduction to ammonia.

The nitrate reduction reaction is emerging as having tremendous potential to mitigate nitrate pollution and simultaneously produce valuable ammonia. Here, we propose CoO nanoparticles embedded in porous carbon nanofibers (CoO@CNF) as a high-efficiency catalyst to convert nitrate to ammonia, and it achieves a high faradaic efficiency of 92.7% and an extremely large NH yield of 23.

CrC nanoparticles decorated carbon nanofibers for efficient nitrate reduction to ammonia at ambient conditions.

Electrochemical nitrate (NO) reduction is a promising approach to relieve nitrate pollution and produce value-added ammonia (NH), but efficient and durable catalysts are required due to the large bond dissociation energy of nitrate and low selectivity. Herein, we propose chromium carbide (CrC) nanoparticles loaded carbon nanofibers (CrC@CNFs) as electrocatalysts to convert nitrate to ammonia. In phosphate buffer saline containing 0.

Membrane binding of endocytic myosin-1s is inhibited by a class of ankyrin repeat proteins.

Unlabelled: Myosin-1s are monomeric actin-based motors that function at membranes. Myo1 is the single myosin-1 isoform in that works redundantly with Wsp1-Vrp1 to activate the Arp2/3 complex for endocytosis. Here, we identified Ank1 as an uncharacterized cytoplasmic Myo1 binding partner.