ON-OFF Fluorescent Cyanine Dye Based on a Benzothiophenyl Rotor Enables Selective Illumination of G-Quadruplexes in Mitochondria.

Conventional cyanine dyes exist as "always-on" fluorescent probes leading to inevitable background signals which often limit their performance and scope of applications. To develop specific fluorescent probes with high sensitivity and robust OFF/ON switching for targeting G4s, we introduced aromatic heterocycles through conjugation with polymethine chains to construct a rotor-π system. Here, a universal strategy is presented to synthesize pentamethine cyanines with different aromatic heterocycle substituents on the -polymethine chain.

A novel pomegranate-inspired bifunctional electrode materials design for acetylcholinesterase biosensor and methanol oxidation reaction.

A pomegranate-inspired bifunctional electrode material based on Ni/NiO nanoparticle embedded in nitrogen-doped, partially graphitized carbon framework (Ni/NiO@NPGC) was designed and prepared for the construction of novel electrochemical biosensor and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Profiting from itsspecialstructureandfunction, Ni/NiO@NPGC was employed as a matrix immobilizing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for methyl parathion (MP) sensor. The developed biosensor was proved to have wide linear range (1.

GJA1-20k attenuates Ang II-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by regulating gap junction formation and mitochondrial function.

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is characterized by an increase in cardiomyocyte size, and is the most common cause of cardiac-related sudden death. A decrease in gap junction (GJ) coupling and mitochondrial dysfunction are important features of CH, but the mechanisms of decreased coupling and energy impairment are poorly understood. It has been reported that GJA1-20k has a strong tropism for mitochondria and is required for the trafficking of connexin 43 (Cx43) to cell-cell borders.

Oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis inducing Fenton-like processes with enhanced electrocatalytic performance based on mesoporous ZnO/CuO cathodes: Treatment of organic wastewater and catalytic principle.

To treat typical organic wastewater efficiently, a novel Fenton-like processes based on ZnO/CuO composite cathode induced by oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis with enhanced electrocatalytic performance was established successfully. Electrochemical testing investigation indicated that the ZnO/CuO cathode possessed conspicuous redox peak and better conductivity than uncompounded electrodes. Additionally, the removal efficiency of methylene blue and its chemical oxygen demand (COD) reached 96.

Inhibition of ubiquitin‑specific protease 14 promotes connexin 32 internalization and counteracts cisplatin cytotoxicity in human ovarian cancer cells.

Although cisplatin is one of the most accepted therapies for ovarian cancer, recurrence and drug resistance remain problematic. Both the ubiquitin‑proteasome system (UPS) and connexin (Cx) are closely related to tumor progression. However, the role of ubiquitin‑specific protease 14 (USP14) and Cx in mediating drug resistance remains unclear.

Cx32 exerts anti-apoptotic and pro-tumor effects via the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Abnormal expression or distribution of connexin 32 (Cx32) is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis, but the role of Cx32 and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Methods: The expression level of Cx32 in 96 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens was determined using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between Cx32 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

Involvement of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in higenamine glucuronidation and the gender and species differences in liver.

Objectives: Higenamine (HG), an active ingredient of Aconite root in Chinese herbal medicine, is mainly metabolized by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT). However, the systematic glucuronidation of HG in humans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the glucuronidation of HG.