CircRNA-0013747 Promotes Mesangial Cell Proliferation in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy through Modulation of the Warburg Effect.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by aberrant mesangial cell (MC) proliferation, which is a critical determinant of glomerular sclerosis and renal dysfunction. Previous studies have highlighted the role of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)- mediated aerobic glycolysis in promoting MC growth and the progression of kidney diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underlying PKM2 dysregulation in IgAN remain unclear.

Sialyl Lewis X decorated integrin α3 on small extracellular vesicles promotes metastasis of bladder cancer via enhancing vascular permeability.

The permeability of blood vessels plays a crucial role in the spread of cancer cells, facilitating their metastasis at distant sites. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are known to contribute to the metastasis of various cancers by crossing the blood vessel wall. However, the role of abnormal glycoconjugates on sEVs in tumor blood vessels remains unclear.

Identifying Target Molecule and Trace Amount of the Byproduct by Two-Dimensional Self-Assembly with Different Solution Concentrations.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a powerful way to realize the recognition of self-assembled nanostructures on the atomic scale. In this article, dihexadecyl 6,9-bis((4-(hexadecyloxy)phenyl)ethynyl) phenanthro[9,10-]thiophene-1,3-dicarboxylate (D-PT) and dihexadecyl 6-bromo-9-((4-(hexadecyloxy) phenyl)ethynyl)phenanthrol[9,10-]thiophene-1,3-dicarboxylate (S-BrPT) with different substituents were chosen as the target system. D-PT with four side chains as the target molecule and S-BrPT with three side chains and a bromine substituent as the byproduct were mixed in a molar concentration ratio of 20:1.

Symmetry of Pyridine Derivatives Controlled Two-Dimensional Nanostructural Diversity by Co-Assembly with Aromatic Carboxylic Acids.

The self-assembly behaviors of aromatic carboxylic acids are commonly investigated at the liquid/solid interfaces because of their rigid skeletons and both hydrogen-bond donors and receptors. However, self-assemblies of aromatic carboxylic acids with low symmetry and interactions between carboxylic acid and pyridine derivatives are worth exploring. In this work, the self-assembled structural transitions of a kind of low-symmetric aromatic carboxylic acid (HQDA) are regulated by the coadsorption of two pyridine derivatives (DPE and T4PT) with different symmetry, which are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy under ambient conditions.

Genome-wide identification and transcriptome profiling expression analysis of the U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase gene family related to abiotic stress in maize (Zea mays L.).

Background: The U-box gene family encodes E3 ubiquitin ligases involved in plant hormone signaling pathways and abiotic stress responses. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive analysis of the U-box gene family in maize (Zea mays L.) and its responses to abiotic stress.

Impaired bisecting GlcNAc reprogrammed M1 polarization of macrophage.

The functions of macrophages are governed by distinct polarization phenotypes, which can be categorized as either anti-tumor/M1 type or pro-tumor/M2 type. Glycosylation is known to play a crucial role in various cellular processes, but its influence on macrophage polarization is not well-studied. In this study, we observed a significant decrease in bisecting GlcNAc during M0-M1 polarization, and impaired bisecting GlcNAc was found to drive M0-M1 polarization.

Terminal Group Effect on Two-Dimensional Self-Assembly of Fluorenone-Based Liquid Crystals at the Solid/Liquid Interface.

Self-assemblies of two fluorenone-based derivatives (FE and FEC) consisting of a central 2,7-diphenyl-9-fluorenone polar moiety but differing in the flexible terminal groups were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the 1-octanoic acid/HOPG interface under different concentrations and density functional theory calculation (DFT). STM results reveal a concentration-dependent polymorphic self-assembly behavior for FE, but without the presence of co-adsorbed solvents. As the concentration decreases, the dimer, bracket-like, and ribbon-like self-assembled structures were observed.

Knockdown of USF2 inhibits pyroptosis of podocytes and attenuates kidney injury in lupus nephritis.

As an essential factor in the prognosis of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis (LN) can accelerate the rate at which patients with SLE can transition to chronic kidney disease or even end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Proteinuria due to decreased glomerular filtration rate following podocyte injury is LN's most common clinical manifestation. Podocyte pyroptosis and related inflammatory factors in its process can promote lupus to involve kidney cells and worsen the occurrence and progression of LN, but its regulatory mechanism remains unknown.

F···Br and F···S Heterohalogen-Bond-Directed 2D Self-Assemblies of a Benzothiadiazole Derivative.

Halogen bonding (XB) is of great importance in fabricating a two-dimensional (2D) self-assembly for its adaptive directionality. However, the XBs involving fluorine (F) have barely been studied due to the absence of an σ-hole on F. Here, 2D self-assemblies of a F-substituted 4,7-bis(5-bromo-4-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)-5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ-BrF) molecule on graphite were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

[C21 inhibits cytokine secretion in rat renal tubular epithelial cells stimulated by advanced glycation end products].

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of compound 21(C21), an agonist of angiotensin II-2 receptor (AT2R) on the cytokine levels of NRK-52E cells stimulated by advanced glycation end products bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA). Methods NRK-52E cells were divided into control and (25, 50, 100, 200)mg/L AGE-BSA groups and cultured for 48 hours. The mRNA and protein expression levels of leukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and ELISA.

Different Stepwise Growth Mechanism of AIE-Active Tetraphenylethylene-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks on Au(111) and Cu(111) Surfaces.

Fabricating tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with aggregation- induced emission on surfaces and understanding the growth mechanism have not yet been pursued. Herein, MOFs constructed via the Ullmann-type reaction of a -symmetry TPE derivative (-BrTBE) on Au(111) and Cu(111) surfaces were thoroughly investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. On a Au(111) surface, -BrTBE molecules formed the self-assembled pattern at 298 K.

Genesis of Superlow Friction in Strengthening Si-DLC/PLC Nanostructured Multilayer Films for Robust Superlubricity at Ultrahigh Contact Stress.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have significant potential to provide solutions for the friction reduction and the lubricity problem of mechanical moving friction pairs. However, the realization of excellent lubrication or even superlubricity and long lifetime under heavy loading conditions is still a great challenge, which is crucial for the applications of DLC in harsh environments. Here, we construct a group of property-strengthening Si-DLC/PLC multilayer films that could withstand ultrahigh contact stresses and achieve robust superlubricity.

Fabrication of robust superhydrophobic magnetic multifunctional coatings and liquid marbles.

To obtain durable and multi-function superhydrophobic surfaces, we reported a facial method to prepare a multifunctional suspension (γ-FeO@SiO@PDMS suspension) named as FSP suspension, in which γ-FeO was coated by the silica shell and PDMS was used as the outer layer. Superhydrophobic magnetic polyurethane (SMPU) sponge was prepared by immersing the polyurethane (PU) sponge into the FSP suspension, exhibiting the superior ability to absorb oil. In addition, it could also move directionally by the attraction of magnets and absorb the oil along the fixed path.

Chain-Length- and Concentration-Dependent Isomerization of Bithiophenyl-Based Diaminotriazine Derivatives in Two-Dimensional Polymorphic Self-Assembly.

Bithiophenyl-based diaminotriazine derivatives (2TDT-, = 10, 12, 16, and 18) with different chain lengths display colhex/ mesophases. Their supramolecular self-assembled mechanism is investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the 1-octanoic acid/graphite interface at various concentrations. The chain length effect on the two-dimensional adlayers is observed in this system, and 2TDT- molecules show a structural phase transition from the four-leaf arrangement to the two-row linear nanostructure accompanied by the emergence of molecular isomerization with the increase of the side-chain length.

Coronene and Phthalocyanine Trapping Efficiency of a Two-Dimensional Kagomé Host-Nanoarchitecture.

The trapping of coronene and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) molecules at low concentration by a two-dimensional self-assembled nanoarchitecture of a push-pull dye is investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the liquid-solid interface. The push-pull molecules adopt an L-shaped conformation and self-assemble on a graphite surface into a hydrogen-bonded Kagomé network with porous hexagonal cavities. This porous host-structure is used to trap coronene and ZnPc guest molecules.

Odd-Even Effect on Supramolecular Co-Assemblies: Control over the Two-Dimensional Self-Assemblies of a Fluorenone Derivative with Asymmetrically Substituted Alkyl Chains.

The precise control of two-dimensional supramolecular co-assemblies presents a research topic related to advance nanotechnology. Here, we report a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the mixture behavior of three fluorenone derivatives at the liquid-solid interface. The target molecule is F-CC whose structure bears asymmetrical alkyls, whereas the regulating molecules, either F-CC or F-CC, are structurally symmetric.

Stepwise on-surface synthesis of thiophene-based polymeric ribbons by coupling reactions and the carbon-fluorine bond cleavage.

The rational synthesis of thiophene-based cross-coupled polymers on surfaces has been attracting more attention recently. Here, we report the stepwise activation of 5,5'-(2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene)bis(2-bromothiophene) as a precursor to synthesize thiophene-based polymeric ribbons on the Au(111) surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies showed that the precursor adopted different conformations in the self-assembled structure, organometallic species, and covalent polymers.

Modeling retinitis pigmentosa through patient-derived retinal organoids.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be differentiated into well-structured retinal organoids. In this protocol, we successfully established 3D retinae from patient-derived hiPSCs and built the retinitis pigmentosa model . Moreover, mutation in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene was corrected by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, which rescued the structure and function of the 3D retinae.

Template-assisted 2D self-assembled chiral Kagomé network for selective adsorption of coronene.

Solvent molecules (n-tridecane and n-tetradecane) act as templates by coadsorption to direct the assembly of asymmetric 2-bisthienyl-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine into chiral Kagomé networks. Furthermore, guest molecules (coronene) fill in the hexagonal voids by replacing the solvent molecules due to the selective and competitive adsorption behavior.

Conformation modification of terthiophene during the on-surface synthesis of pure polythiophene.

On-surface coupling under ultra-high vacuum is employed as a versatile approach to synthesize pure polythiophene from a 5,5''-dibromo-2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (DBTT) precursor and the corresponding temperature-dependent stepwise reaction mechanism is systematically studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). After thermal deposition of the precursor onto a Au(111) surface that is kept at room temperature, a triangle-like pattern and a linear self-assembled pattern are formed with different molecular coverages through BrBrS halogen bonds and BrBr type-I contact bonds, respectively. In the self-assembled nanostructures, the thiophene units adopt trans-conformation.

The Brπ halogen bond assisted self-assembly of an asymmetric molecule regulated by concentration.

The two-dimensional (2D) self-assembly behavior of an asymmetric thienophenanthrene derivative (M1) has been theoretically predicted and further probed via STM. The barely exploited Brπ halogen bonds play an assisting role in the structural formation, and a strong cooperative effect from the C-HBr bonds is shown. Such π-type halogen bond assisted self-assembly reveals self-adaption properties, which is of great interest for flexible light-emitting devices and self-healing materials.

Ordering self-assembly structures via intermolecular BrS interactions.

Recent research studies have shown that the halogenated benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (DTBDT) unit as a polymer donor exhibits high charge carrier mobility due to the well-ordered molecular packing and high crystallinity, which is meaningful for achieving highly efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). However, it is difficult to acquire the accurate packing information of polymer materials. Herein, we investigated the self-assembled behaviors of two DTBDT derivatives, 4,8-bis(4-octadecylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (H-DTBDT) and 4,8-bis(5-bromo-4-octadecylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (Br-DTBDT), to elucidate the effect of introducing a bromine atom on molecular packing structures by STM at the 1-phenyloctane/HOPG interface.

Cloning and characterization of a glycosyltransferase from Catharanthus roseus for glycosylation of cardiotonic steroids and phenolic compounds.

Objectives: To characterize a glycosyltransferase (UGT74AN3) from Catharanthus roseus and investigate its specificity toward cardiotonic steroids and phenolic compounds.

Results: UGT74AN3, a novel permissive GT from C. roseus, displayed average high conversion rate (> 90%) toward eight structurally different cardiotonic steroids.

Stemming retinal regeneration with pluripotent stem cells.

Cell replacement therapy is a promising treatment for irreversible retinal cell death in diverse diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Stargardt's disease, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and glaucoma. These diseases are all characterized by the degeneration of one or two retinal cell types that cannot regenerate spontaneously in humans. Aberrant retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can be observed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) in AMD patients.