Long chain noncoding RNA-ROR promotes hypoxic injury of cardiomyocytes by targeting the miR-145/HAX-1 axis.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-protein coding RNAs greater than 200 nucleotides (nt) in length which have been shown to be significantly highly expressed in the heart tissue of mice undergoing thoracic aortic arch constriction (TAC). Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-protein-coding RNAs. Many miRNAs have been reported to play a key role in the progression of myocardial hypertrophy.

Facile synthesis of dual-emission fluorescent carbon nanodots for a multifunctional probe.

In this study, we developed a facile method for synthesizing dual-emission carbon nanodots (CDs) through trimesic acid and -phenylenediamine through electrolysis for 2 h. The synthesized CDs were mainly 3-7 nm in size, with an average size of 5.17 nm.

Bioinspired interconnected hydrogel capsules for enhanced catalysis.

Polysaccharide-based hydrogel capsules with interconnected inner membranes have been prepared. The obtained capsules have a multi-layer internal structure composed of many invaginations of interconnected hydrogel membranes as mimics of the cristae in mitochondria. These cristae-like internal membranes endow the capsules with high specific area, which makes the capsules ideal supporting materials for catalytic species such as metal nanoparticles and enzymes.

Amphiphilic diblock copolymer of hydrophilic-functionalized lactone and lactide switchable organocatalytic polymerization.

Main-chain degradable amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of a hydrophilic-functionalized polyester and PLA were facilely prepared by one-pot ring-opening polymerization (ROP) actively manipulating the catalytic states of an acid-base catalytic system. The resultant block copolymers showed low critical micelle concentration (CMC) in water and were capable of forming stable micelles with optimal hydrodynamic particle size (average diameter 83 nm) and narrow particle distribution.

Everolimus (RAD001) inhibits the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating the activity of the p27/kip1 gene promoter.

Objective: We investigated whether the inhibitory effect of the immunosuppressant everolimus (RAD001) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is mediated by p27/kip1 gene promoter activity.

Methods: In this experimental study, cultured rat VSMCs were transiently transfected with a recombinant plasmid (pXp27) containing p27/kip1 gene promoter sequence and a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. After stimulation with the mitogen platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB, 10 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of RAD001 (10 nM), the promoter activity, mRNA expression, and protein expression of p27/kip1 were examined by CAT assay, RT-PCR, and immunoblotting, respectively.

Persistent Organic Nanopores Amenable to Structural and Functional Tuning.

Rigid macrocycles 2, which share a hybrid backbone and the same set of side chains while having inner cavities with different inward-pointing functional groups, undergo similar nanotubular assembly as indicated by multiple techniques including (1)H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The formation of tubular assemblies containing subnanometer pores is also attested by the different transmembrane ion-transport behavior observed for these macrocycles. Vesicle-based stopped-flow kinetic assay and single-channel electrophysiology with planar lipid bilayers show that the presence of an inward-pointing functional (X) group in the inner cavity of a macrocyclic building block exerts a major influence on the transmembrane ion-transporting preference of the corresponding self-assembling pore.

Distinguish cancer cells based on targeting turn-on fluorescence imaging by folate functionalized green emitting carbon dots.

Developing efficient methods for visual detection of cancer cells has the potential to contribute greatly to basic biological research and early diagnosis of cancer. Here, we report facile and one-step synthesis of green fluorescence carbon dots (CDs) with the help of a new passivating agent--poly(acrylate sodium) (PAAS). Based on the as-prepared CDs, a novel turn-on fluorescence probe was designed for targeting imaging of cancer cells via hydrogen-bond interaction between folic acid and CDs (FA-CDs).

The rational design of a highly sensitive and selective fluorogenic probe for detecting nitric oxide.

A rationally designed small-molecule fluorogenic probe for nitric oxide (NO) detection based on a new switching mechanism has been developed. Attaching a NO-responsive dihydropyridine pendant group to a fluorophore led to a probe that displays a very high sensitivity to NO concentrations down to the low nM range and a very high specificity to NO while being insensitive to other oxidative oxygen/nitrogen species that often interfere with the sensing of NO.

Cinnamate-based DNA photolithography.

As demonstrated by means of DNA nanoconstructs, as well as DNA functionalization of nanoparticles and micrometre-scale colloids, complex self-assembly processes require components to associate with particular partners in a programmable fashion. In many cases the reversibility of the interactions between complementary DNA sequences is an advantage. However, permanently bonding some or all of the complementary pairs may allow for flexibility in design and construction.

Site-selective metal-coordination-based patterning of silane monolayers.

Herein, we report a method to pattern a derivatized nifedipine silane monolayer that aromatizes under UV irradiation. Using a functionalized SCS-Pd(II) pincer complex, we demonstrate that a strong metal-coordination complex between the aromatized nifedipine derivative and the pincer complex is formed. This methodology integrates SAM photolithography (top-down) and molecular recognition directed self-assembly (bottom-up) strategies to create simple and rapid synthesizable functional patterned surfaces.

Preliminary mechanistic information on disulfide-bond formation and the role of hydrogen bonds by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry.

The formation of disulfide-bonds is vital for the proper folding of most secreted proteins and the stabilization of the final protein structure, including many of medical importance. The determination of disulfide-bonds is an important aspect of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the chemical structure of a protein. A long-term goal of ours is to examine the mechanism of disulfide-bond formation in aqueous solution and the potential role hydrogen bonds play in this process.

Sequence-specific, dynamic covalent crosslinking in aqueous media.

This article describes an associating system that integrates the specificity of multiple hydrogen bonding and the strength of dynamic covalent interactions. Linear oligoamides that sequence-specifically pair into H-bonded duplexes in nonpolar solvents were modified with S-trityl groups, allowing the reversible formation of disulfide bonds. The disulfide-crosslinking reactions of oligoamides capable of pairing via two, four, and six intermolecular H-bonds, along with several control strands, were examined using ESI, MALDI-TOF, reverse phase HPLC, and two-dimensional NMR.

Sequence-specific association in aqueous media by integrating hydrogen bonding and dynamic covalent interactions.

Oligoamide strands that associate in a sequence-specific fashion into hydrogen-bonded duplexes in nonpolar solvents were converted into disulfide cross-linked duplexes in aqueous media. Thus, by incorporating trityl-protected thiol groups, which allows the reversible formation of disulfide bonds, into the oligoamide strands, only duplexes consisting of complementary hydrogen-bonding sequences were formed in aqueous solution as well as in methanol. The sequence-specific cross-linking of oligoamide strands was confirmed by MALDI-TOF, reverse-phase HPLC, and by isolating a cross-linked duplex.

Shape-persistent macrocyclic aromatic tetrasulfonamides: Molecules with nanosized cavities and their nanotubular assemblies in solid state.

Alkoxy side-chain-flanked diarylsulfonamide serves as a reliable structural motif for constructing macrocyclic aromatic tetrasulfonamides. This 90 degrees structural motif is persistent both in solution and in the solid state, which allows the one-step formation of tetrasulfonamide macrocycles. These macrocycles adopt a cone-shaped conformation in solution and in the solid state.

Synthesis of crescent aromatic oligoamides.

[structures: see text] This article describes the synthetic procedures for the preparation of crescent (and helical) aromatic oligoamides developed in recent years in our laboratory. The large-scale preparation of a variety of monomers derived from various tetrasubstituted benzenes is presented. Three different strategies for constructing various oligomers consisting of meta- and meta/para-linked benzene residues are discussed.