Brassica napus cytochrome P450 superfamily: Origin from parental species and involvement in diseases resistance, abiotic stresses tolerance, and seed quality traits.

Cytochromes P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) constitute the largest enzymic protein family that is widely present in plants, animals, and microorganisms, participate in numerous metabolic pathways, and play diverse roles in development, metabolism, and defense. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an important oil crop worldwide and have many versions of reference genome. However, there is no systemically comparative genome-wide analysis of CYP450 family genes in rapeseed and its parental species B.

Prediction of 2D group-11 chalcogenides: insights into novel auxetic MX (M = Cu, Ag, Au; X = S, Se, Te) monolayers.

Two-dimensional (2D) auxetic materials have recently attracted considerable research interest due to their excellent mechanical properties and diverse applications, surpassing those of three-dimensional (3D) materials. This study focuses on the theoretical prediction of mechanical properties and auxeticity in 2D MX (M = Cu, Ag, Au; X = S, Se, Te) monolayers using first-principles calculations. Our results indicate that the dynamically stable monolayers include low-energy α-CuS, α-CuSe, α-CuTe, β-AgS, β-AgSe, α-AgTe, β-AuS, β-AuSe and α-AuTe.

Electronic properties, skyrmions and bimerons in Janus CrXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te, Cl, Br, I, and X ≠ Y) monolayers.

Using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigate the electronic properties, chiral skyrmions and bimerons in two-dimensional (2D) Janus CrXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te, Cl, Br, I, and X ≠ Y) monolayers. We found that the categories of nonmagnetic atoms (X and Y in CrXY) determine whether CrXY is a ferromagnetic metal or a semiconductor. Unexpectedly, the CrBrS monolayer of these CrXY materials is a room temperature ferromagnetic semiconductor with a Curie temperature of 303 K, and it possesses an off-plane magnetic anisotropy energy of 0.

Application of colloidal photonic crystals in study of organoids.

As alternative disease models, other than 2D cell lines and patient-derived xenografts, organoids have preferable in vivo physiological relevance. However, both endogenous and exogenous limitations impede the development and clinical translation of these organoids. Fortunately, colloidal photonic crystals (PCs), which benefit from favorable biocompatibility, brilliant optical manipulation, and facile chemical decoration, have been applied to the engineering of organoids and have achieved the desirable recapitulation of the ECM niche, well-defined geometrical onsets for initial culture, in situ multiphysiological parameter monitoring, single-cell biomechanical sensing, and high-throughput drug screening with versatile functional readouts.

X-Ray-Induced Drug Release for Cancer Therapy.

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) are designed to deliver therapeutic agents to specific target sites while minimizing systemic toxicity. Recent developments in drug-loaded DDSs have demonstrated promising characteristics and paved new pathways for cancer treatment. Light, a prevalent external stimulus, is widely utilized to trigger drug release.

Genome-wide analysis of fatty acid desaturase genes in chia (Salvia hispanica) reveals their crucial roles in cold response and seed oil formation.

Chia (Salvia hispanica) is a functional food crop with high α-linolenic acid (ALA), the omega-3 essential fatty acid, but its worldwide plantation is limited by cold-intolerance and strict short-photoperiod flowering feature. Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are responsible for seed oil accumulation, and play important roles in cold stress tolerance of plants. To date, there is no report on systemically genome-wide analysis of FAD genes in chia (ShiFADs).

Engineering the Staple Oil Crop Enriched with α-Linolenic Acid Using the Perilla - Fusion Gene.

Modern people generally suffer from α-linolenic acid (ALA) deficiency, since most staple food oils are low in ALA content. Thus, the enhancement of ALA in staple oil crops is of importance. In this study, the and coding regions from the ALA-king species were fused using a newly designed double linker LP4-2A, driven by a seed-specific promoter P, and engineered into a rapeseed elite cultivar ZS10 with canola quality background.

Downregulation of () increases biomass growth and disease susceptibility remodeling phytohormone, chlorophyll, shikimate and lignin levels.

MYB transcription factors are major actors regulating plant development and adaptability. is a staple oil crop and is hampered by lodging and diseases. Here, four () genes were cloned and functionally characterized.

Tunable Schottky contacts in graphene/XAuY (X, Y = Se, Te) heterostructures.

Graphene-based (G-based) heterostructures have recently attracted considerable research interest in the field of two-dimensional nanodevices owing to their superior properties compared with those of separate monolayers. In this study, the electronic properties and Schottky barrier heights (SBHs) of G/XAuY (X, Y = Se, Te) heterostructures were systematically analyzed through first-principles calculations. G/SeAuSe, G/SeAuTe, and G/TeAuSe are n-type Schottky contacts with = 0.

Strain-induced magnetic phase transition, magnetic anisotropy switching and bilayer antiferromagnetic skyrmions in van der Waals magnet CrTe.

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the research of peculiar magnetism in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layered materials. Here, we unveil the major features and deep physical mechanisms of a magnetic phase transition and magnetic anisotropy switching in monolayer CrTe and antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions in bilayer CrTe first-principles calculations and micromagnetic simulations. We find that a magnetic phase transition from stripy-type AFM to ferromagnetic (FM) order can be induced by applying a tensile strain of 3%.

Topological phase transition and skyrmions in a Janus MnSbBiSeTe monolayer.

Using first-principles calculations and micro-magnetic simulations, we propose a Janus MnSbBiSeTe (MSBST) monolayer derived from the MnBiTe (MBT) ferromagnet and investigate the influence of biaxial strain on the electronic structures, topological characteristics and spin textures. Different from pristine MBT with an out-of-plane easy axis, the anisotropy of MSBST prefers an in-plane direction. Intriguingly, switching the easy axis direction of MSBST will significantly modify the band structure.

Spontaneous magnetic merons in a half-metallic MnIBr monolayer with easy-plane anisotropy.

In recent years, great effort has been made in the study of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnets that can stabilize peculiar chiral spin textures, such as magnetic skyrmions and merons. Here, by first-principles calculations and micromagnetic simulations, we systematically investigate the in-plane magnetic anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and magnetic merons in a MnIBr monolayer. MnIBr exhibits half-metallic behavior with a large band gap (∼2.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Gene Family in Rapeseed () Reveals Their Critical Roles in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses.

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are small cysteine-rich basic proteins which play essential roles in plant growth, development and abiotic/biotic stress response. However, there is limited information about the gene () family in rapeseed (). In this study, 283 genes were identified in rapeseed, which were distributed randomly in 19 chromosomes of rapeseed.

Porous Silicon Nanocarriers with Stimulus-Cleavable Linkers for Effective Cancer Therapy.

Porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) are widely utilized as drug carriers due to their excellent biocompatibility, large surface area, and versatile surface chemistry. However, the dispersion in pore size and biodegradability of pSiNPs arguably have hindered the application of pSiNPs for controlled drug release. Here, a step-changing solution to this problem is described involving the design, synthesis, and application of three different linker-drug conjugates comprising anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and different stimulus-cleavable linkers (SCLs) including the photocleavable linker (ortho-nitrobenzyl), pH-cleavable linker (hydrazone), and enzyme-cleavable linker (β-glucuronide).

Progress on the Physiological Function of Mitochondrial DNA and Its Specific Detection and Therapy.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the genetic information of mitochondrion, and its structure is circular double-stranded. Despite the diminutive size of the mitochondrial genome, mtDNA mutations are an important cause of mitochondrial diseases which are characterized by defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial diseases are involved in multiple systems, particularly in the organs that are highly dependent on aerobic metabolism.

Effect of three different proteases on horsemeat tenderness during postmortem aging.

In this study, the semitendinosus of horse meat was used as the raw material. The study assessed the variation of the tenderness of horse meat during postmortem aging through the injection of papain, bromelain and fungal protease. The cooking loss of the horse meat became worse during postmortem aging.

Recent Advances in Chemical Biology of Mitochondria Targeting.

Mitochondria are vital subcellular organelles that generate most cellular chemical energy, regulate cell metabolism and maintain cell function. Mitochondrial dysfunction is directly linked to numerous diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, thyroid squamous disease, cancer and septicemia. Thus, the design of specific mitochondria-targeting molecules and the realization of real-time acquisition of mitochondrial activity are powerful tools in the study and treatment of mitochondria dysfunction in related diseases.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of FAD6 Gene from Chia (Salvia hispanica L.).

Plastidial Δ12 fatty acid desaturase (FAD6) is a key enzyme for linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) biosynthesis. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a revived omega-3 plant source that is richest in ALA level.

Stimulus-cleavable chemistry in the field of controlled drug delivery.

Stimulus-cleavable nanoscale drug delivery systems are receiving significant attention owing to their capability of achieving exquisite control over drug release via the exposure to specific stimuli. Central to the construction of such systems is the integration of cleavable linkers showing susceptibility to one stimulus or several stimuli with drugs, prodrugs or fluorogenic probes on the one hand, and nanocarriers on the other hand. This review summarises recent advances in stimulus-cleavable linkers from various research areas and the corresponding mechanisms of linker cleavage and biological applications.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Candidate Genes Responsive to and Cloning of the -Inducible Chitinase Genes in .

(Ss) is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes Sclerotinia stem rot in rapeseed (), and is also detrimental to mulberry and many other crops. A wild mulberry germplasm, , showed high resistance to , but the molecular basis for the resistance is largely unknown. Here, the transcriptome response characteristics of to infection were revealed by RNA-seq.

MYB43 in Oilseed Rape () Positively Regulates Vascular Lignification, Plant Morphology and Yield Potential but Negatively Affects Resistance to .

MYB43 (AtMYB43) is suggested to be involved in cell wall lignification. PtrMYB152, the orthologue of , is a transcriptional activator of lignin biosynthesis and vessel wall deposition. In this research, genes from (rapeseed) and its parental species and were molecularly characterized, which were dominantly expressed in stem and other vascular organs and showed responsiveness to infection.

Genome-wide mining and comparative analysis of fatty acid elongase gene family in Brassica napus and its progenitors.

Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) that are structural components of cell membrane lipid, cuticular waxes and seed oil, play crucial roles in plant growth, development and stress response. Fatty acid elongases (FAEs) comprising KCS and ELO, are key enzymes for VLCFA biosynthesis in plants. Although reference genomes of Brassica napus and its parental speices both have been sequenced, whole-genome analysis of FAE gene family in these Brassica speices is not reported.

Experimental ray-tracing with point diffraction interferometry and its application in focal length measurement.

A novel method that could experimentally trace the ray propagation of an optical system based on point diffraction interferometry (PDI) is presented. The ray represented by the line connecting two point light sources (PLS) intersects with two parallel photographic planes, which are separated at a distance. The intersections of the ray defined by the PLSs with the planes occur where the optical path difference is a maximum and can be determined from interferograms on the photographic planes.