Fine-Tuning Electron Transfer for Nanozyme Design.

Nanozymes, with their versatile composition and structural adaptability, present distinct advantages over natural enzymes including heightened stability, customizable catalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, and simplified synthesis process, making them as promising alternatives in various applications. Recent advancements in nanozyme research have shifted focus from serendipitous discovery toward a more systematic approach, leveraging machine learning, theoretical calculations, and mechanistic explorations to engineer nanomaterial structures with tailored catalytic functions. Despite its pivotal role, electron transfer, a fundamental process in catalysis, has often been overlooked in previous reviews.

Acid-Resistant Near-Infrared II AgSe Quantum Dots for Gastrointestinal Imaging.

With the development of near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging, AgSe quantum dots (QDs) have become promising label candidates due to their negligible toxicity and narrow band gap. Despite their potential for gastrointestinal (GI) imaging, the application of AgSe QDs still presents significant challenges due to issues such as fluorescence extinction or poor stability in the complex digestive microenvironment. Herein, we have proposed a novel approach to the continuous production of Se precursors using glutathione (GSH) as the reductant under acidic conditions, realizing the continuous growth of water-dispersible AgSe QDs.

Near-infrared light excited UCNP-DNAzyme nanosensor for selective detection of Pb and in vivo imaging.

Due to similar charges, atomic radii, and chemical properties of most metal ions, the selective sensing of these metal ions and imaging in vivo is still a challenge. A DNAzyme assemblied and near-infrared (NIR) light excited nanosensor was developed to detect and image Pb. In this nanosensor, NaYF:Yb, Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) introduced as NIR-to-Vis transducer were the donor of luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET), and DNAzyme-functionalized black hole quencher 1 (BHQ1) acted as energy transfer acceptor.

Influence of artificial luminous environment and TCM intervention on development of myopia rabbits.

Objective: To explore the influence of artificial luminous environment and preventive function of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention based on "Theory of yin-yang clock" on myopia.

Methods: A total of 45 New Zealand young rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups, 9 for each group. Control group was exposed in natural light.

Identification of AtENT3 as the main transporter for uridine uptake in Arabidopsis roots.

Previous studies have shown that Arabidopsis equilibrative nucleoside transporters (AtENTs) possess transport activities when produced in yeast cells and are differentially expressed in Arabidopsis organs. Herein, we report further analysis on the nucleoside transport activities and transcriptional patterns of AtENT members. The recombinant proteins of AtENTs 3, 6, and 7, but not those of AtENTs 1, 2, 4, and 8, were found to transport thymidine with high affinity.

Molecular and functional characterization of sulfiredoxin homologs from higher plants.

By reducing cysteine-sulfinic acid in oxidized peroxiredoxin, sulfiredoxin (Srx) plays an important role in oxidation stress resistance in yeast and human cells. Here, we report the first molecular and functional characterization of Srx homolog from higher plants. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of potential Srx encoding sequences in both monocot and dicot plant species.

Structure of recombinant human cyclophilin J, a novel member of the cyclophilin family.

Cyclophilins (CyPs) are a large class of highly conserved ubiquitous peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases. CyPs have also been identified as being a specific receptor for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A and are involved in a variety of biological functions. CyPJ is a novel member of the CyP family and human CyPJ (hCyPJ) is the protein encoded by a cyclophilin-like gene from human foetal brain, which shows 50% sequence identity to human cyclophilin A (hCyPA).

Structure of the F58W mutant of cytochrome b5: the mutation leads to multiple conformations and weakens stacking interactions.

Phe58 of cytochrome b5 is involved in stacking interactions with heme and the axial ligand His63. To elucidate the contribution of the stacking interactions to protein stability, the crystal structures of the F58Y and F58W mutants were determined at high resolution. The structure of the F58Y mutant is basically the same as that of the wild-type protein.

Changes in somatostatin receptor expression of the pancreas and effectiveness of octreotide in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Objective: To investigate changes in the expression of the somatostatin receptor (SSTR) of the pancreas and of pancreatic blood flow, and its relationship to the metabolism of eicosanoids in order to elucidate the effectiveness of octreotide, an analog of somatostatin, in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).

Methods: A model of ANP was induced in rats with injection of sodium taurocholate via the pancreaticobiliary duct. The SSTR was detected using a radioligand binding assay (RBA) with 125I-somatostatin-14, and the SSTR2 mRNA of the pancreas was analyzed using in situ hybridization.

Structures of V45E and V45Y mutants and structure comparison of a variety of cytochrome b5 mutants.

Val45 is a highly conserved residue and a component of the heme-pocket wall of cytochrome b(5). The crystal structures of cytochrome b(5) mutants V45E and V45Y have been determined at high resolution. Their overall structures were very similar to that of the wild-type protein.