The Dps Protein Protects DNA in the Form of the Trimer.

The Dps protein is the major DNA-binding protein of prokaryotes, which protects DNA during starvation by forming a crystalline complex. The structure of such an intracellular DNA-Dps complex is still unknown. However, the phenomenon of a decrease in the size of the Dps protein from 90 Å to 69-75 Å during the formation of a complex with DNA has been repeatedly observed, and no explanation has been given.

Pitfalls of Using ANS Dye Under Molecular Crowding Conditions.

The 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) fluorescent dye is widely used in protein folding studies due to the significant increase in its fluorescence quantum yield upon binding to protein hydrophobic regions that become accessible during protein unfolding. However, when modeling cellular macromolecular crowding conditions in protein folding experiments in vitro using crowding agents with guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) as the denaturant, the observed changes in ANS spectral characteristics require careful consideration. This study demonstrates that crowding agents can form clusters that interact differently with ANS.

Challenges in Liquid-Phase Exfoliation of Non-van der Waals CrS.

Two-dimensional (2D) chromium(III) sulfide has recently attracted increased attention from researchers due to its interesting electronic and magnetic properties and has great potential for application in spintronics and optoelectronics to create sensitive photodetectors. However, the synthesis of 2D CrS crystals is still a challenging task. At present, the mainly used method is vapor deposition, which is a poorly scalable, time-consuming, and expensive process.

Tailoring of Ultrasmall NiMnO Nanoparticles: Optimizing Synthesis Conditions and Solvent Effects.

Nickel manganese oxide (NiMnO) combines magnetic and dielectric properties, making it a promising material for sensor and supercapacitor applications, as well as for catalytic water splitting. The efficiency of its utilization is notably influenced by particle size. In this study, we investigate the influence of thermal treatment parameters on the phase composition of products from alkali co-precipitation of nickel and manganese (II) ions and identify optimal conditions for synthesizing phase-pure nickel manganese oxide.

luxA Gene From Enhygromyxa salina Encodes a Functional Homodimeric Luciferase.

Several clades of luminescent bacteria are known currently. They all contain similar lux operons, which include the genes luxA and luxB encoding a heterodimeric luciferase. The aldehyde oxygenation reaction is presumed to be catalyzed primarily by the subunit LuxA, whereas LuxB is required for efficiency and stability of the complex.

Facile Exfoliation of Few-Layer Sn-Based Nanosheets for Self-Powered Photo-Electrochemical and All-Optical Modulation Applications.

Few-layer tin (Sn)-based nanosheets (NSs) with a thickness of ≈2.5 nm are successfully prepared using a modified liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) method. Here the first exploration of photo-electrochemical (PEC) and nonlinear properties of Sn NSs is presented.

Calcium ions do not influence the Aβ(25-35) triggered morphological changes of lipid membranes.

We have studied the effect of calcium ions (Ca) at various concentrations on the structure of lipid vesicles in the presence of amyloid-beta peptide Aβ(25-35). In particular, we have investigated the influence of calcium ions on the formation of recently documented bicelle-like structures (BLSs) emerged as a result of Aβ(25-35) triggered membrane disintegration. First, we have shown by using small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering that peptide molecules rigidify the lipid bilayer of gel phase DPPC unilamellar vesicles (ULVs), while addition of the calcium ions to the system hinders this effect of Aβ(25-35).

Cryo-electron tomography study of the evolution of wormlike micelles to saturated networks and perforated vesicles.

Hypothesis: The formation of micellar aggregates and the changes in their morphology are crucial for numerous practical applications of surfactants. However, a proper structural characterization of complicated micellar nanostructures remains a challenge. This paper demonstrates the advances of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) in revealing the structural characteristics that accompany the evolution of surfactant aggregates.

Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Few-Layer Non-Van der Waals Chromium Sulfide.

Exfoliation of 2D non-Van der Waals (non-vdW) semiconductor nanoplates (NPs) from inorganic analogs presents many challenges ahead for further exploring of their advanced applications on account of the strong bonding energies. In this study, the exfoliation of ultrathin 2D non-vdW chromium sulfide (2D CrS) by means of a combined facile liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) method is successfully demonstrated. The morphology and structure of the 2D CrS material are systematically examined.

Dual Semi-Interpenetrating Networks of Water-Soluble Macromolecules and Supramolecular Polymer-like Chains: The Role of Component Interactions.

Dual networks formed by entangled polymer chains and wormlike surfactant micelles have attracted increasing interest in their application as thickeners in various fields since they combine the advantages of both polymer- and surfactant-based fluids. In particular, such polymer-surfactant mixtures are of great interest as novel hydraulic fracturing fluids with enhanced properties. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of the chemical composition of an uncharged polymer poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pH on the rheological properties and structure of its mixtures with a cationic surfactant erucyl bis(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium chloride already exploited in fracturing operations.

Platinum group nanoparticles doped BCN matrix: Efficient catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia.

The effective treatment of nitrate (NO) in water as a nitrogen source and electrocatalytic NO reduction to ammonia (NH) (NRA) have become preferred methods for NO-to-NH conversion. Achieving efficient NO-to-NH conversion requires the design and development of electrode materials with high activity and efficiency for the electrocatalytic NRA reaction. Herein, based on the special properties of dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate anions, a BCN matrix, loaded with platinum-group nanoparticles (namely, Pd/BCN, Pt/BCN, and Ru/BCN), was prepared using a simple method for the electrocatalytic NRA reaction.

Intracellular microbial rhodopsin-based optogenetics to control metabolism and cell signaling.

Microbial rhodopsin (MRs) ion channels and pumps have become invaluable optogenetic tools for neuroscience as well as biomedical applications. Recently, MR-optogenetics expanded towards subcellular organelles opening principally new opportunities in optogenetic control of intracellular metabolism and signaling precise manipulations of organelle ion gradients using light. This new optogenetic field expands the opportunities for basic and medical studies of cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders, providing more detailed and accurate control of cell physiology.

How the immune mousetrap works: Structural evidence for the immunomodulatory action of a peptide from influenza NS1 protein.

One of the critical stages of the T-cell immune response is the dimerization of the intramembrane domains of T-cell receptors (TCR). Structural similarities between the immunosuppressive domains of viral proteins and the transmembrane domains of TCR have led several authors to hypothesize the mechanism of immune response suppression by highly pathogenic viruses: viral proteins embed themselves in the membrane and act on the intramembrane domain of the TCRalpha subunit, hindering its functional oligomerization. It has also been suggested that this mechanism is used by influenza A virus in NS1-mediated immunosuppression.

Hydrophilic Cocrystals with Water Switched Luminescence.

Utilizing water molecules to regulate the luminescence properties of solid materials is highly challenging. Herein, we develop a strategy to produce water-triggered luminescence-switching cocrystals by coassembling hydrophilic donors with electron-deficient acceptors, where 1,2,4,5-Tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) was used as the electron acceptor and pyridyl benzimidazole derivatives were used as the electron donors enabling multiple hydrogen-bonds. Two cocrystals, namely 2PYTC and 4PYTC were obtained and showed heat-activated emission, and such emission could be quenched or weakened by adding water molecules.

Superatom molecular orbital in C.

The Superatom Molecular Orbitals (SAMO) in fullerene derivatives are of great interests which gives a wide basement for many electronic applications. In this work, the Density Functional Theory reveals the SAMO states of endohedrally doped C derivatives with Li, Sc, Mn, Ti, Ca, Fe, and Co atoms in molecular and periodic structures. The choice and position of metal atoms in endohedrally doped C derivatives largely affects the orientation of SAMO energies and wavefunction distributions.

Synthesis of iron-boride/carbon-nitride composites and their applications in chemodynamic therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging treatment strategy that inhibits tumor growth by catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), using specific nanomaterials. Herein, we have developed a new class of iron-based nanomaterials, i.e.

Methionine gamma lyase fused with S3 domain VGF forms octamers and adheres to tumor cells via binding to EGFR.

Methods for targeting enzymes exhibiting anticancer properties, such as methionine γ-lyase (MGL), have not yet been sufficiently developed. Here, we present the data describing the physico-chemical properties and cytotoxic effect of fusion protein MGL-S3 - MGL from Clostridium sporogenes translationally fused to S3 domain of the viral growth factor of smallpox. MGL-S3 has methioninase activity comparable to native MGL.

Ferritin-based fusion protein shows octameric deadlock state of self-assembly.

Ferritin is a universal protein complex responsible for iron perception in almost all living organisms and has applications from fundamental biophysics to drug delivery and structure-based immunogen design. Different platforms based on ferritin share similar technological challenges limiting their development - control of self-assembling processes of ferritin itself as well as ferritin-based chimeric recombinant protein complexes. In our research, we studied self-assembly processes of ferritin-based protein complexes under different expression conditions.

Electrochemical Properties and Structure of Membranes from Perfluorinated Copolymers Modified with Nanodiamonds.

In this study, we aimed to design and research proton-conducting membranes based on Aquivion-type material that had been modified with detonation nanodiamonds (particle size 4-5 nm, 0.25-5.0 wt.

Superatom Molecular Orbitals of Endohedral C.

Understanding superatom molecular orbital (SAMO) states in fullerene derivatives has been in the limelight ever since the first discovery of SAMOs owing to the fundamental interest in this topic as well as to the possible applications in molecular switches and other organic electronics. Nevertheless, very few reports have been published on SAMO states of larger fullerenes so far. Using density functional theory, we attempt to partially remedy this situation by presenting a study on SAMO states in C and its Ca and Sc endohedrally doped derivatives, comparing results with previous relevant findings for C.

Improving PFSA Membranes Using Sulfonated Nanodiamonds.

Aquivion-type perfluorosulfonic acid membranes with a polytetrafluoroethylene backbone and short side chains with sulfonic acid groups at the ends have great prospects for operating in hydrogen fuel cells. To improve the conducting properties of membranes, various types of nanofillers can be used. We prepared compositional Aquivion-type membranes with embedded detonation nanodiamond particles.

Direct Observation of Photon Induced Giant Band Renormalization in 2D PdSe Dichalcogenide by Transient Absorption Spectroscopy.

Insight into fundamental light-matter interaction as well as underlying photo-physical processes is crucial for the development of novel optoelectronic devices. Palladium diselenide (PdSe ), an important representative of emerging 2D noble metal dichalcogenides, has gain considerable attention owing to its unique optical, physical, and chemical properties. In this study, 2D PdSe nanosheets (NSs) are prepared using the liquid-phase exfoliation method.