Assessment of interspecies and intergeneric gene flow for the GM event X8#34 with high oleic acid content in seed.

GM Jatropha X8#34 was placed for transgene flow assessment in the open field trial on Semakau Island, Singapore, between 2015 and 2017 to evaluate the potential gene flow to its non-GM counterparts and related species. The trial featured the GM Jatropha event X8#34, which is characterized by high oleic acid content, marker-free, and a homozygous transgene. The study focused on cross-pollination from the GM event to non-GM plants, analyzing factors such as distance, wind and insects mediated transfer, using event-specific multiplex PCR analysis of F1 seeds.

Lysophosphatidic acid responsive photosensitive supramolecular organic frameworks for tumor imaging, drug loading, and photodynamic therapy.

Supramolecular organic frameworks have been widely applied for biological detection and drug delivery. In this study, a supramolecular organic framework (SOF) is constructed through the self-assembly of a highly photosensitive triarylphosphine oxide guest molecule, OTPP-6-Methyl, with cucurbit [8] uril (CB [8]). The formation of the SOF gradually enhances the weak fluorescence of OTPP-6-Methyl owing to the restriction of the molecular folding motion.

CB[8]- and triarylboron-based supramolecular organic framework for microRNA detection, tumor-targeted drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy.

Supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) are widely used for biological detection and drug delivery. In this study, a SOF system was fabricated through the self-assembly of photosensitive triarylboron (TAB), TAB-6-methyl, and CB[8]. The maximum fluorescence emission of TAB-6-methyl was greatly enhanced and red-shifted from 560 nm to 610 nm after SOF formation.

Chromatin accessibility complex subunit 1 enhances tumor growth by regulating the oncogenic transcription of YAP in breast and cervical cancer.

Background: As a component of chromatin remodeling complex, chromatin accessibility complex subunit 1 (CHRAC1) is critical in transcription and DNA replication. However, the significance of CHRAC1 in cancer progression has not been investigated extensively. This research aimed to determine the function of CHRAC1 in breast and cervical cancer and elucidate the molecular mechanism.

Leveraging epigenomes and three-dimensional genome organization for interpreting regulatory variation.

Understanding the impact of regulatory variants on complex phenotypes is a significant challenge because the genes and pathways that are targeted by such variants and the cell type context in which regulatory variants operate are typically unknown. Cell-type-specific long-range regulatory interactions that occur between a distal regulatory sequence and a gene offer a powerful framework for examining the impact of regulatory variants on complex phenotypes. However, high-resolution maps of such long-range interactions are available only for a handful of cell types.

Aggregation-induced type I&II photosensitivity and photodegradability-based molecular backbones for synergistic antibacterial and cancer phototherapy photodynamic and photothermal therapies.

The clinical applications of phototherapy nanomaterials are still limited due to concerns regarding their phototoxicity and efficacy. Herein, we report a novel type of D-π-A molecular backbone that induces type I/II photosensitivity and photodegradability by forming J-aggregates. The photodegradation rate can be regulated by changing the donor groups to regulate the photosensitivity of their aggregates because the photodegradability performance results from their oxidation by O generated by their type II photosensitivity.

Inference of cell type-specific gene regulatory networks on cell lineages from single cell omic datasets.

Cell type-specific gene expression patterns are outputs of transcriptional gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that connect transcription factors and signaling proteins to target genes. Single-cell technologies such as single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single cell Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq), can examine cell-type specific gene regulation at unprecedented detail. However, current approaches to infer cell type-specific GRNs are limited in their ability to integrate scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq measurements and to model network dynamics on a cell lineage.

Isothermal amplification based on specific signal extraction and output for fluorescence and colorimetric detection of nucleic acids.

Due to the complexity of compositions and low abundance of target in clinical sample, nucleic acids detection often suffers from false positives caused by nonspecific amplification. In in vitro diagnosis (IVD), PCR usually employ TaqMan probe to report specific signals and block false positive signals. However, nucleic acid isothermal amplifications, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), lack of mature specific signal output mechanism, which prevents them from being used for IVD and point-of-care testing (POCT).

Molecular-engineered highly photosensitive triarylphosphine oxide compounds for apoptosis imaging and selectively inducing apoptosis of tumor cells by photodynamic therapy.

Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) has wide applications, tumor-targeting probes with high photosensitivity or apoptosis-monitoring capability, which possess low phototoxicity and can be used for evaluating therapeutic efficacy, are still scarce. In this study, we constructed a series of highly photosensitive probes by introducing multivalent positive charges around propeller-like triarylphosphine oxide compounds. Some of them can be used to detect apoptosis by selectively entering apoptotic cells in the presence of living or necrotic cells.

Triarylboron-Based High Photosensitive Probes for Apoptosis Detection, Tumor-Targeted Imaging, and Selectively Inducing Apoptosis of Tumor Cells by Photodynamics.

Herein, a series of triarylboron-based fluorescent probes were developed for distinguishing apoptosis from living cells and even necrosis. They also demonstrate high photosensitivity because they can produce detectable reactive oxygen species (ROS) under an ultra-low light power density (1.5 mW/cm).

Enabling Studies of Genome-Scale Regulatory Network Evolution in Large Phylogenies with MRTLE.

Transcriptional regulatory networks specify context-specific patterns of genes and play a central role in how species evolve and adapt. Inferring genome-scale regulatory networks in non-model species is the first step for examining patterns of conservation and divergence of regulatory networks. Transcriptomic data obtained under varying environmental stimuli in multiple species are becoming increasingly available, which can be used to infer regulatory networks.

Response of surface water quality characteristics to socio-economic factors in Eastern-Central China.

Following the implementation of the strictest water resource management system in China, it has become increasingly important to understand and improve the surface water quality and the rate at which water function zones reach the water quality standard. Based on the monthly monitoring data from 450 monitoring sites at the provincial borders of 27 provinces in China in 2019, the overall surface water quality at provincial boundaries in China was evaluated. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment-water quality index (CCME-WQI) showed that the provincial boundary water quality exceeded the fair level, and F1 was the most influential factor.

Data integration for inferring context-specific gene regulatory networks.

Transcriptional regulatory networks control context-specific gene expression patterns and play important roles in normal and disease processes. Advances in genomics are rapidly increasing our ability to measure different components of the regulation machinery at the single-cell and bulk population level. An important challenge is to combine different types of regulatory genomic measurements to construct a more complete picture of gene regulatory networks across different disease, environmental, and developmental contexts.

Health and ecotoxicological risk assessment for human and aquatic organism exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Baiyangdian Lake.

Seasonal and regional distributions of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface waters from four different main water functional regions of the Baiyangdian Lake were analyzed through GC/MS/MS during spring and summer season. The aim was to identify their possible pollution sources and evaluate their health risk for human and ecotoxicological risk for aquatic organisms. Results showed that the range of total PAH concentration is 35.

ABC-GWAS: Functional Annotation of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Genetic Variants.

Over the past decade, hundreds of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated genetic variants in various diseases, including cancer. However, only a few of these variants have been functionally characterized to date, mainly because the majority of the variants reside in non-coding regions of the human genome with unknown function. A comprehensive functional annotation of the candidate variants is thus necessary to fill the gap between the correlative findings of GWAS and the development of therapeutic strategies.

Piperazine multi-substituted triarylphosphine oxide compound as an instant "light-up" fluorescent probe for monoamine oxidase.

Monoamine oxidase (MAOs) is involved in several psychiatric and neurological disorders. The specific detection of MAOs is of great significance to elucidate their functions in various biological processes. Currently, however, fast detection of MAOs remains a great challenge.

In silico prediction of high-resolution Hi-C interaction matrices.

The three-dimensional (3D) organization of the genome plays an important role in gene regulation bringing distal sequence elements in 3D proximity to genes hundreds of kilobases away. Hi-C is a powerful genome-wide technique to study 3D genome organization. Owing to experimental costs, high resolution Hi-C datasets are limited to a few cell lines.

The Cancer-Associated Genetic Variant Rs3903072 Modulates Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have hitherto identified several germline variants associated with cancer susceptibility, but the molecular functions of these risk modulators remain largely uncharacterized. Recent studies have begun to uncover the regulatory potential of noncoding GWAS SNPs using epigenetic information in corresponding cancer cell types and matched normal tissues. However, this approach does not explore the potential effect of risk germline variants on other important cell types that constitute the microenvironment of tumor or its precursor.

A novel triarylboron based ratiometric fluorescent probe for in vivo targeting and specific imaging of cancer cells expressing abnormal concentration of GGT.

Abnormal expression of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) in living organisms is closely associated with tumorigenesis. However, few reported fluorescence probes can specifically respond to abnormal concentration of GGT. Here, by functionalizing triarylboron moiety with three GGT-specific substrate (GSH) units, a novel fluorescence probe, TAB-3-GSH, was developed for detecting GGT.

A triarylboron-based binuclear Zn(II) complex as a two-photon fluorescent probe for simultaneous multicolor imaging of the cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleolus.

The visualization of subcellular structures is critical for understanding their intracellular function. We prepared two triarylboron-based multinuclear Zn complexes, TAB-1-3Zn and TAB-2-2Zn, which can be used as fluorescent probes for nucleoside polyphosphate (NPP) and RNA because their multi Zn center can selectively combine with the phosphate side chain of NPP or RNA, accompanied by a corresponding fluorescence change. Among them, TAB-2-2Zn is more suitable than TAB-1-3Zn for live cell imaging because of its excellent cell membrane permeability resulting from amphiphilicity.

[Seasonal Distribution, Composition, and Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Organochlorine Pesticides in the Main Stream of the Luanhe River].

Occurrence of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 15 persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) during the spring and summer of 2015 in surface water at 14 sampling sites in the mainstream of the Luanhe River to elucidate their seasonal distribution, composition, and potential sources. Results showed that total PAH concentrations in the surface water of the Luanhe River ranged from 33.33 ng·L to 90.

Hybrid functionalized chitosan-AlO@SiO composite for enhanced Cr(VI) adsorption.

In this study, we prepared a novel hybrid functionalized chitosan-AlO@SiO composite (FCAS) for removing hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from aqueous system. Spectroscopic studies like Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS) were characterized. The effects such as dosage of adsorbent, pH, contact time and initial Cr(VI) concentration were evaluated.

Integrative Genomic Analysis Predicts Causative -Regulatory Mechanisms of the Breast Cancer-Associated Genetic Variant rs4415084.

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several common genetic variants that may significantly modulate cancer susceptibility. However, the precise molecular mechanisms behind these associations remain largely unknown; it is often not clear whether discovered variants are themselves functional or merely genetically linked to other functional variants. Here, we provide an integrated method for identifying functional regulatory variants associated with cancer and their target genes by combining analyses of expression quantitative trait loci, a modified version of allele-specific expression that systematically utilizes haplotype information, transcription factor (TF)-binding preference, and epigenetic information.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in surface water from the Yongding River basin, China: Seasonal distribution, source apportionment, and potential risk assessment.

The presence of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 15 persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface water of the Yongding River Basin was analyzed through GC/MS/MS during the spring and summer at 46 sampling sites. The goal was to investigate their seasonal distribution, possible sources, and potential risk. Our results showed that the total PAH concentration in surface water of Yongding River Basin ranged from 41.