Independent Control of the Width and Length of Semiconducting 2D Nanorectangles via Accelerated Living Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly.

Self-assembly of conjugated polymers offers a powerful method to prepare semiconducting two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets for optoelectronic applications. However, due to the typical biaxial growth behavior of the polymer self-assembly, independent control of the width and length of 2D sheets has been challenging. Herein, we present a greatly accelerated crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) system of polyacetylene-based conjugated polymer to produce 2D semiconducting nanorectangles with precisely controllable dimensions.

Synchronous Preparation of Length-Controllable 1D Nanoparticles via Crystallization-Driven Nanoparticlization of Conjugated Polymers.

Precise size control of semiconducting nanomaterials from polymers is crucial for optoelectronic applications, but the low solubility of conjugated polymers makes this challenging. Herein, we prepared length-controlled semiconducting one-dimensional (1D) nanoparticles by synchronous self-assembly during polymerization. First, we succeeded in unprecedented living polymerization of highly soluble conjugated poly(3,4-dihexylthiophene).

The combined action of CTCF and its testis-specific paralog BORIS is essential for spermatogenesis.

CTCF is a key organizer of the 3D genome. Its specialized paralog, BORIS, heterodimerizes with CTCF but is expressed only in male germ cells and in cancer states. Unexpectedly, BORIS-null mice have only minimal germ cell defects.

Semi-conducting 2D rectangles with tunable length via uniaxial living crystallization-driven self-assembly of homopolymer.

Semi-conducting two-dimensional (2D) nanoobjects, prepared by self-assembly of conjugated polymers, are promising materials for optoelectronic applications. However, no examples of self-assembled semi-conducting 2D nanosheets whose lengths and aspect ratios are controlled at the same time have been reported. Herein, we successfully prepared uniform semi-conducting 2D sheets using a conjugated poly(cyclopentenylene vinylene) homopolymer and its block copolymer by blending and heating.

CTCF mediates chromatin looping via N-terminal domain-dependent cohesin retention.

The DNA-binding protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and the cohesin complex function together to shape chromatin architecture in mammalian cells, but the molecular details of this process remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a 79-aa region within the CTCF N terminus is essential for cohesin positioning at CTCF binding sites and chromatin loop formation. However, the N terminus of CTCF fused to artificial zinc fingers was not sufficient to redirect cohesin to non-CTCF binding sites, indicating a lack of an autonomously functioning domain in CTCF responsible for cohesin positioning.

Morphologically Tunable Square and Rectangular Nanosheets of a Simple Conjugated Homopolymer by Changing Solvents.

Two-dimensional (2D) polymer nanosheets have been attracting immense attention owing to their potential applications in optical devices, membranes, and catalysis. However, creating uniform monolayered 2D nanosheets through polymer self-assembly is very challenging, especially when using homopolymers. In this work, we designed a new crystalline polyacetylene that contains fluorenes and triisopropylsilyl side chains, which could self-assemble into sharp-edged 5-nm-thick square nanosheets with a narrow length dispersity of 1.

Conformation of Tunable Nanocylinders: Up to Sixth-Generation Dendronized Polymers via Graft-Through Approach by ROMP.

Well-defined dendronized polymers (denpols) bearing high-generation dendron are attractive nano-objects as high persistency provides distinct properties, contrast to the random coiled linear polymers However, their syntheses via graft-through approach have been very challenging due to their structural complexity and steric hindrance retarding polymerization. Here, we report the first example of the synthesis of poly(norbornene) (PNB) containing ester dendrons up to the sixth generation (G6) by ring-opening metathesis polymerization. This is the highest generation ever polymerized among dendronized polymers prepared by graft-through approach, producing denpols with molecular weight up to 1960 kg/mol.

ATP-degrading ENPP1 is required for survival (or persistence) of long-lived plasma cells.

Survival of antibody-secreting plasma cells (PCs) is vital for sustained antibody production. However, it remains poorly understood how long-lived PCs (LLPCs) are generated and maintained. Here we report that ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is preferentially upregulated in bone marrow LLPCs compared with their splenic short-lived counterparts (SLPCs).

Corrigendum: Testis-specific transcriptional regulators selectively occupy BORIS-bound CTCF target regions in mouse male germ cells.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep41279.

Testis-specific transcriptional regulators selectively occupy BORIS-bound CTCF target regions in mouse male germ cells.

Despite sharing the same sequence specificity in vitro and in vivo, CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and its paralog brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) are simultaneously expressed in germ cells. Recently, ChIP-seq analysis revealed two classes of CTCF/BORIS-bound regions: single CTCF target sites (1xCTSes) that are bound by CTCF alone (CTCF-only) or double CTCF target sites (2xCTSes) simultaneously bound by CTCF and BORIS (CTCF&BORIS) or BORIS alone (BORIS-only) in germ cells and in BORIS-positive somatic cancer cells. BORIS-bound regions (CTCF&BORIS and BORIS-only sites) are, on average, enriched for RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) binding and histone retention in mature spermatozoa relative to CTCF-only sites, but little else is known about them.

Comparative analyses of CTCF and BORIS occupancies uncover two distinct classes of CTCF binding genomic regions.

Background: CTCF and BORIS (CTCFL), two paralogous mammalian proteins sharing nearly identical DNA binding domains, are thought to function in a mutually exclusive manner in DNA binding and transcriptional regulation.

Results: Here we show that these two proteins co-occupy a specific subset of regulatory elements consisting of clustered CTCF binding motifs (termed 2xCTSes). BORIS occupancy at 2xCTSes is largely invariant in BORIS-positive cancer cells, with the genomic pattern recapitulating the germline-specific BORIS binding to chromatin.