The candidate gene SibHLHA regulates anthocyanin-driven purple pigmentation in Sesamum indicum flowers.

Anthocyanins not only serve as critical pigments determining floral hues but also play essential roles in attracting insects for pollination, feeding animals and mitigating abiotic stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of flower color in sesame has not yet been reported. In this study, an F population was constructed by crossing 'Ganzhi 9' (purple-flowered) with 'BS377' (white-flowered).

The novel piperine derivative MHJ-LN inhibits breast cancer by inducing apoptosis via p53 activation.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by high aggressiveness and recurrence rates due to the lack of effective treatment options. Piperine, a natural alkaloid extracted from black pepper, has demonstrated significant anticancer potential in recent years. Therefore, developing piperine derivatives to enhance its anticancer effects holds critical clinical significance.

Molecular landscape of CD8 T cells in pure red cell aplasia.

The aberrant function of lymphocytes is considered a significant contributing factor to pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), but the precise mechanism by which T lymphocytes induce erythroid development stagnation remains unclear. In our study, the CD8 T lymphocytes were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of acquired PRCA patients and healthy controls. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to analyze gene expression profiles.

ATP-CITRATE LYASEB1 supplies materials for sporopollenin biosynthesis and microspore development in Arabidopsis.

Acetyl-CoA is the main substrate of lipid metabolism and functions as an energy source for plant development. In the cytoplasm, acetyl-CoA is mainly produced by ATP-citrate lyase (ACL), which is composed of ACLA and ACLB subunits. In this study, we isolated the restorer-4 (res4) of the thermosensitive genic male sterile mutant reversible male sterile-2 (rvms-2) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

Comprehensive Evaluation of End-Point Free Energy Methods in DNA-Ligand Interaction Predictions.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) serves as a repository of genetic information in cells and is a critical molecular target for various antibiotics and anticancer drugs. A profound understanding of small molecule interaction with DNA is crucial for the rational design of DNA-targeted therapies. While the molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) and molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) approaches have been well established for predicting protein-ligand binding, their application to DNA-ligand interactions has been less explored.

Lithium Deposition Mechanism under Different Thermal Conditions Unraveled via an Optimized Phase Field Model.

As one of the most important physical fields for battery operation, the regulatory effect of temperature on the growth of lithium dendrites should be studied. In this paper, we develop an optimized phase field model to explore the effect of temperature on the growth of Li dendrites in Li metal batteries. We incorporated full lithium deposition kinetics, including atom diffusion and solid electrolyte interface restriction on interface kinetics, into the model and revealed their significance in determining the transformation of the lithium deposition morphology from moss-like to dendrite-like.

High-Dielectric 2D Bismuth Oxides with Large Bandgaps: The Role of 6s Lone Pair Hybridization.

Large-bandgap and high-dielectric 2D dielectrics are crucial for transistor performance because they maximize gate-to-channel capacitive coupling, yet such high-quality materials remain scarce. This study employed first-principles calculations to predict 18 distinct 2D bismuth oxides (BiOs). It is demonstrated that the 6s lone pairs in 2D BiOs form benign positive feedback between the bandgap and dielectric constant.

Surface Nd Sites Boost Charge Transfer of FeO Photoanodes for Enhanced Solar Water Oxidation.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen production is a promising technology for sustainable energy generation. In this work, we introduce Nd sites boost the PEC performance of FeO photoanodes through a precise gas-phase cation exchange process, which substitutes surface Fe atoms with Nd. The incorporation of Nd significantly enhances charge transfer properties, increases carrier concentration, and reduces internal resistance, leading to a substantial increase in photocurrent density from 0.

Polarization Switching from Valence Trapping in an Oxo-Bridged Trinuclear Iron Complex.

Switching electric polarization by external stimuli constitutes a technical foundation for various applications. Here, we reported the observation of polarization-switching behavior in an oxo-bridged mixed-valence complex [FeO(piv)(py)] (piv = pivalate, py = pyridine). Detailed variable-temperature Mössbauer spectral analyses unambiguously confirm the occurrence of an electron localization-delocalization transition between two inequivalent Fe sites.

Acute Treatment with Salvianolic Acid A Produces Neuroprotection in Stroke Models by Inducing Excitatory Long-Term Synaptic Depression.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a significant brain disease with a high mortality and disability rate. Additional therapies for AIS are urgently needed, and neuroplasticity mechanisms by agents are expected to be neuroprotective for AIS. As a major active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, salvianolic acid A (SAA) has shown potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Solution-Gated Thin Film Transistor Biosensor-Based SnO Amorphous Film for Label-Free Detection of Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecules.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was considered to be an important marker of multiple tumors, and its high expression is closely related to the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors. At present, metal oxide semiconductors have become a key component of biosensor and bioelectronics technology. Tin oxide shows great potential for development because of its nontoxic, nonpolluting, low price, and excellent electrical properties.

Advanced Zeolite-based Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Targeted High-Value Chemicals and Fuels.

The excessive use of fossil fuels has resulted in elevated CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, significantly impacting the climate and global environment. The catalytic conversion of CO2 into high-value chemicals has been recognized as a promising strategy to mitigate CO2 emissions. Light olefins, aromatics, and alcohols, etc.

Periductal fibroblasts participate in liver homeostasis, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis.

Hepatic fibroblasts comprise groups of stromal cells in the liver that are phenotypically distinct from hepatic stellate cells. However, their physiology is poorly understood. By single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified Cd34 and Dpt as hepatic fibroblast-specific genes.

The Changes of Lymphocytes and Immune Molecules in Irradiated Mice by Different Doses of Radiation.

The effects of different radiation doses on T and B lymphocyte functional subsets and the changes of immune cells and immune molecules were observed in mice at different times post-irradiation to provide a theoretical basis for the changes of immune cells affected by radiation. In this study, the changes of T and B immune cells and immune-related molecules were observed at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d after single irradiation of 2 Gy, 4 Gy, and 6 Gy. The results showed that white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (LYMPH), and lymphocyte percentage (LYMPH%) in peripheral blood of mice were significantly reduced and reached the lowest point 3 d after irradiation.

Targeted metabolomics reveals novel biomarkers for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The utilization of targeted metabolomics technology promises to facilitate the identification of novel metabolic markers in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which may in turn facilitate a more comprehensive investigation of the underlying mechanisms of gestational diabetes GDM.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we used targeted metabolomics to identify serum metabolites from women with or without GDM. The differential metabolites were categorized and analysed using pathway analyses, correlated with maternal glucose level, and assessed as predictors of GDM by receiver operating characteristics analysis.

Multimetallic Half-Sandwich Complexes of the Rare-Earth Metals.

Multimetallic half-sandwich complexes of the paramagnetic lanthanides gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, and erbium as well as of diamagnetic yttrium are readily accessible via AlMe/halogenido exchange reactions of Cp*Ln(AlMe) with the mild halogenido transfer reagents MeSiI and MeGeX (Cp* = CMe; X = Br, Cl). Depending on the rare-earth-metal center and halogenido ion size, complexes with distinct structural motifs and nuclearities are obtained, including dimeric compounds [Cp*Ln(AlMe)(μ-Cl)] for the smaller metal centers Ln = Ho, Er, iodido-bridged tetranuclear rings [Cp*Ln(μ-I)] (Ln = Y, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er), and a heterobimetallic tetramethylaluminato-bridged gadolinium cluster [Cp*GdI(AlMe)]. The tetranuclear dysprosium complex [Cp*Dy(μ-I)] shows single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior in zero applied field with an effective energy barrier of 164(10) cm.

Lactylation of HDAC1 Confers Resistance to Ferroptosis in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly resistant to ferroptosis, which hinders the application of anti-ferroptosis therapy. Through drug screening, it is found that histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) significantly sensitized CRC to ferroptosis. The combination of HDACi and ferroptosis inducers synergically suppresses CRC growth both in vivo and in vitro.

Elevated SPARC Disrupts the Intestinal Barrier Integrity in Crohn's Disease by Interacting with OTUD4 and Activating the MYD88/NF-κB Pathway.

Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier results in increased permeability and is a key factor in the onset and progression of Crohn's disease (CD). The protein SPARC is primarily involved in cell interaction and migration, but its specific role in the intestinal epithelial barrier remains unclear. This study demonstrates that SPARC is significantly overexpressed in both CD patients and murine models of colitis.

Quorum Sensing Coordinates Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism to Optimize Public Goods Production in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24.

The coordination of public and private goods production is essential for bacterial adaptation to environmental changes. Quorum sensing (QS) regulates this balance by mediating the trade-off between the communal benefits of "public goods," such as siderophores and antibiotics, and the individual metabolic needs fulfilled by "private goods," such as intracellular metabolites utilized for growth and survival. Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24 harbors a LasI/LasR-type QS system, MupI/MupR, which regulates mupirocin production through signaling molecules.

Rational Design of Natural Xanthones Against Gram-negative Bacteria.

Most antibiotics are ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria owing to the existence of the outer membrane (OM) barrier. The rational design of compounds to expand their antibacterial spectra of antibiotics solely targeting Gram-positive pathogens remains challenging. Here, the design of skeletons from natural products to penetrate the OM are deciphered.

Regulation of Liquid Self-Transport Through Architectural-Thermal Coupling: Transitioning From Free Surfaces to Open Channels.

In this work, the regulation of liquid self-transport is achieved through architectural and thermal coupling, transitioning from free surfaces to open channels. Hierarchical structures inspired by the skin of a Texas horned lizard are designed, with the primary structure of wedged grooves and the secondary structure of capillary crura. This design enables advantages including long-distance self-transport, liquid storage and active reflux management on free surfaces, directional transportation, synthesis and detection of reagents in confined spaces, as well as controllable motion and enhanced heat dissipation in open channels.

Facet-Dependent Cold Welding of Au Nanorods Revealed by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Cold welding of metals at the nanoscale has been demonstrated to play a significant role in bottom-up manufacturing and self-healing processes of nanostructures and nanodevices. However, the welding mechanism at the nanoscale is not well understood. In this study, a comprehensive demonstration of the cold welding process of gold nanorods with different modes is presented through in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy.

Positive Feedback Regulation between KLF5 and XPO1 Promotes Cell Cycle Progression of Basal like Breast Cancer.

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), overlapping with the subgroup of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 triple-negative breast cancer, has the worst prognosis and limited therapeutics. The XPO1 gene encodes nuclear export protein 1, a promising anticancer target which mediates nucleus-cytoplasm transport of nuclear export signal containing proteins such as tumor suppressor RB1 and some RNAs. Despite drugs targeting XPO1 are used in clinical, the regulation of XPO1 expression and functional mechanism is poorly understood, especially in BLBC.

VS4/NCDs nanowire as efficient cathode for aqueous rechargeable Zinc-ion batteries.

VS4 has emerged as a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), attracting significant interest due to its unique layered atomic chain structure and high capacity. However, the low electrical conductivity of the material limits the diffusion rate of zinc ions, ultimately compromising its structural stability. In this study, we demonstrate the synthesis of nanorods through a simple hydrothermal recombination of carbon dots on vanadium sulfide.