Amino modifications exacerbate the developmental abnormalities of polystyrene microplastics via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in zebrafish larvae.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been identified as a potential threat to ecosystems. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of modified MPs remain unknown. This study investigated the developmental toxicity of amino-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-NH) with environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 0.

Reducing competition between msd and genomic DNA improves retron editing efficiency.

Retrons, found in bacteria and used for defense against phages, generate a unique molecule known as multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA). This msDNA mimics Okazaki fragments during DNA replication, making it a promising tool for targeted gene editing in prokaryotes. However, existing retron systems often exhibit suboptimal editing efficiency.

Deconstructing the Dimensions of Mycobiome Fingerprints in Luohandu Cave, Guilin, Southern China.

Subterranean karst caves are windows into the terrestrial subsurface to deconstruct the dimensions of mycobiome fingerprints. However, impeded by the constraints of remote locations, the inaccessibility of specimens and technical limitations, the mycobiome of subterranean karst caves has remained largely unknown. Weathered rock and sediment samples were collected from Luohandu cave (Guilin, Southern China) and subjected to Illumina Hiseq sequencing of ITS1 genes.

Generation of DNAzyme in Bacterial Cells by a Bacterial Retron System.

DNAzymes are catalytically active single-stranded DNAs in which DNAzyme 10-23 (Dz 10-23) consists of a catalytic core and a substrate-binding arm that reduces gene expression through sequence-specific mRNA cleavage. However, the application of Dz 10-23 depends on exogenous delivery, which leads to its inability to be synthesized and stabilized , thus limiting its application. As a unique reverse transcription system, the bacterial retron system can synthesize single-stranded DNA using ncRNA msr/msd as a template.

Peptide Hormones in the Insect Midgut.

Insects produce many peptide hormones that play important roles in regulating growth, development, immunity, homeostasis, stress, and other processes to maintain normal life. As part of the digestive system, the insect midgut is also affected by hormones secreted from the prothoracic gland, corpus allatum, and various neuronal cells; these hormones regulate the secretion and activity of insects' digestive enzymes and change their feeding behaviors. In addition, the insect midgut produces certain hormones when it recognizes various components or pathogenic bacteria in ingested foods; concurrently, the hormones regulate other tissues and organs.

Identification and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) provides important information for phylogenetic analysis and understanding evolutionary origins. is a forest pest that harms nearly all cedar and pine species. In this study, the mitochondrial genome was sequenced, assembled, and annotated.

Non-ionic polysorbate surfactants: alternative inducers of medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (MCL-PHAs) for production of extracellular MCL-PHA depolymerases.

The potential of non-ionic polysorbate surfactants as alternative inducers of medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (MCL-PHAs) for the production of diverse bacterial MCL-PHA depolymerases was evaluated. When grown with corn oil as the sole carbon substrate, Pseudomonas alcaligenes LB19 preferentially produced lipolytic enzymes, but its MCL-PHA depolymerase was not induced by the substrate. However, the results of activity staining and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis clearly revealed that Tween 20 induced simultaneous production of lipolytic enzymes and the MCL-PHA depolymerase with the molecular mass (26.

Production of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates by activated sludge enriched under periodic feeding with nonanoic acid.

The potential use of activated sludge for the production of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHAs) was investigated. The enrichment of bacterial populations capable of producing MCL-PHAs was achieved by periodic feeding with nonanoic acid in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to be predominant in the bacterial community during the SBR process.

Biosynthesis of medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) by volatile aromatic hydrocarbons-degrading Pseudomonas fulva TY16.

Pseudomonas fulva TY16 biosynthesized medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (MCL-PHAs) containing unsaturated 3-hydroxydodecenoate unit (approximately 8-9%) when grown with volatile aromatic compounds including benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene as sole carbon substrate. In particular, when cultivated using a continuous feeding system designed to supply toluene at a flow rate of 0.42gL(-1)h(-1) into a 7-L jar fermentor, the growth of the organism reached up to approximately 3.