The cereal endosperm is a major factor determining seed size and shape. However, the molecular mechanisms of endosperm development are not fully understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function in ...various biological processes. Here we show a lncRNA, MISSEN, that plays an essential role in early endosperm development in rice (Oryza sativa). MISSEN is a parent-of-origin lncRNA expressed in endosperm, and negatively regulates endosperm development, leading to a prominent dent and bulge in the seed. Mechanistically, MISSEN functions through hijacking a helicase family protein (HeFP) to regulate tubulin function during endosperm nucleus division and endosperm cellularization, resulting in abnormal cytoskeletal polymerization. Finally, we revealed that the expression of MISSEN is inhibited by histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) modification after pollination. Therefore, MISSEN is the first lncRNA identified as a regulator in endosperm development, highlighting the potential applications in rice breeding.
Abstract
Rare earth (RE
3+
)-doped phosphors generally suffer from thermal quenching, in which their photoluminescence (PL) intensities decrease at high temperatures. Herein, we report a class of ...unique two-dimensional negative-thermal-expansion phosphor of Sc
2
(MoO
4
)
3
:Yb/Er. By virtue of the reduced distances between sensitizers and emitters as well as confined energy migration with increasing the temperature, a 45-fold enhancement of green upconversion (UC) luminescence and a 450-fold enhancement of near-infrared downshifting (DS) luminescence of Er
3+
are achieved upon raising the temperature from 298 to 773 K. The thermally boosted UC and DS luminescence mechanism is systematically investigated through in situ temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and PL dynamics. Moreover, the luminescence lifetime of
4
I
13/2
of Er
3+
in Sc
2
(MoO
4
)
3
:Yb/Er displays a strong temperature dependence, enabling luminescence thermometry with the highest relative sensitivity of 12.3%/K at 298 K and low temperature uncertainty of 0.11 K at 623 K. These findings may gain a vital insight into the design of negative-thermal-expansion RE
3+
-doped phosphors for versatile applications.
In addition to coding proteins, RNA molecules, especially long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), have well‐established functions in regulating gene expression. The number of studies focused on the roles ...played by different types of lncRNAs in a variety of plant biological processes has markedly increased. These lncRNA roles involve plant vegetative and reproductive growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this review, we examine the classification, mechanisms, and functions of lncRNAs and then emphasize the roles played by these lncRNAs in the communication between plants and the environment mainly with respect to the following environmental factors: temperature, light, water, salt stress, and nutrient deficiencies. We also discuss the consensus among researchers and the remaining challenges and underscore the exciting ways lncRNAs may affect the biology of plants.
Core Ideas
We summarize the classification, mechanisms, and functions of lncRNAs in plants.
We emphasize the roles of lncRNAs in the communication between plants and the environment.
We focus on the environmental factors including temperature, light, water, salt stress, and nutrient deficiencies.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Due to the novel optical and optoelectronic properties, 2D materials have received increasing interests for optoelectronics applications. Discovering new properties and functionalities of 2D ...materials is challenging yet promising. Here broadband polarization sensitive photodetectors based on few layer ReS2 are demonstrated. The transistor based on few layer ReS2 shows an n‐type behavior with the mobility of about 40 cm2 V−1 s−1 and on/off ratio of 105. The polarization dependence of photoresponse is ascribed to the unique anisotropic in‐plane crystal structure, consistent with the optical absorption anisotropy. The linear dichroic photodetection with a high photoresponsivity reported here demonstrates a route to exploit the intrinsic anisotropy of 2D materials and the possibility to open up new ways for the applications of 2D materials for light polarization detection.
Polarization sensitive photodetectors are demonstrated based on anisotropic few‐layer ReS2. The transistor based on few layer ReS2 shows an n‐type behavior with a mobility of about 40 cm2 V−1 s−1 and photoresponsivity of about 103 A W−1. The polarization dependence of photoresponse is ascribed to the unique anisotropic structure. The result demonstrates a route to exploit the intrinsic anisotropy of 2D materials and the possibility to open up new ways of the applications of 2D materials for light polarization detection.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
AbstractObjectiveTo examine the protective effects of appropriate personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare professionals who provided care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 ...(covid-19).DesignCross sectional study.SettingFour hospitals in Wuhan, China.Participants420 healthcare professionals (116 doctors and 304 nurses) who were deployed to Wuhan by two affiliated hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University for 6-8 weeks from 24 January to 7 April 2020. These study participants were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment to deliver healthcare to patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 and were involved in aerosol generating procedures. 77 healthcare professionals with no exposure history to covid-19 and 80 patients who had recovered from covid-19 were recruited to verify the accuracy of antibody testing.Main outcome measuresCovid-19 related symptoms (fever, cough, and dyspnoea) and evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, defined as a positive test for virus specific nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swabs, or a positive test for IgM or IgG antibodies in the serum samples.ResultsThe average age of study participants was 35.8 years and 68.1% (286/420) were women. These study participants worked 4-6 hour shifts for an average of 5.4 days a week; they worked an average of 16.2 hours each week in intensive care units. All 420 study participants had direct contact with patients with covid-19 and performed at least one aerosol generating procedure. During the deployment period in Wuhan, none of the study participants reported covid-19 related symptoms. When the participants returned home, they all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 specific nucleic acids and IgM or IgG antibodies (95% confidence interval 0.0 to 0.7%).ConclusionBefore a safe and effective vaccine becomes available, healthcare professionals remain susceptible to covid-19. Despite being at high risk of exposure, study participants were appropriately protected and did not contract infection or develop protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Healthcare systems must give priority to the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, and provide adequate training to healthcare professionals in its use.
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BFBNIB, CMK, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
We report the structures, stability and catalysis properties of two Ag21 nanoclusters, namely Ag21(H2BTCA)3(O2PPh2)6SbF6 (1) and Ag21(C≡CC6H3‐3,5‐R2)6(O2PPh2)10SbF6 (2) ...(H4BTCA=p‐tert‐butylthiacalix4arene, R=OMe). Both Ag21 structures possess an identical icosahedral kernel that is surrounded by eight peripheral Ag atoms. Single‐crystal structural analysis and ESI‐MS revealed that 1 is an 8‐electron cluster and 2 has four free electrons. Theoretical results show that the P‐symmetry orbitals are found as HOMO‐1 and HOMO states in 1, and the frontier unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO, LUMO+1 and LUMO+2) show D‐character, indicating 1 is a superatomic cluster with an electronically closed shell 1S21P6, while 2 has an incomplete shell configuration 1S21P2. These two Ag21 clusters show superior stability under ambient conditions, and 1 is robust even at 90 °C in toluene and under oxidative conditions (30 % H2O2). Significantly, 2 exhibits much higher activity than 1 as catalyst in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol. This work demonstrates that ligands can influence the electronic structures of silver clusters, and further affect their stability and catalytic performance.
Two diphenylphosphonate‐protected silver nanoclusters, Ag21(H2BTCA)3(O2PPh2)6SbF6 (1) and Ag21(C≡CC6H3‐3,5‐R2)6(O2PPh2)10SbF6 (2), have identical icosahedral kernels but different number of free electrons. Cluster 2 exhibits much higher activity than the more stable 1 in the catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol. This work shows that the electronic structures of metal nanoclusters can be modulated via different combinations of ligands.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The first all‐amidinate‐protected gold nanocluster Au28(Ph−form)12(OTf)2 (Ph‐form=N,N′‐diphenylformamidinate) (Au28) has been synthesized and structurally resolved. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction ...reveals that Au28 has a compact Au4@Au24 tetrahedral core–shell structure of T symmetry, which is fully protected by 12 bridging formamidinate ligands. This cluster is quite robust as indicated by the fact that it can stay intact in solution at 80 °C for 6 d. It exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the electroreduction of CO2 with 96.5 % Faradaic efficiency (FE) at −0.57 V and a maximum TOF of 1731 h−1 at −0.87 V. Its superior stability is also manifested in the fact that the supported catalyst Au28/CNTs maintains stable potentials at ca. −0.69 V for 40 h with FE(CO)s>91 %. A superatomic electron configuration of 1S21P62S21D4 has been clarified by DFT computations, and the strong gold–ligand binding and geometric shell closure account for the superior stability of Au28.
The first all‐amidinate‐supported gold nanocluster Au28 has been synthesized and structurally resolved. This cluster is quite robust manifested by the fact that it can stay intact in solution at 80 °C for 6 d and maintain high FE(CO)s and activity over 40 hour operation for electroreduction of CO2. The strong gold–ligand binding and geometric closure account for the superior stability of Au28.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Plant spermatogenesis is a complex process that directly affects crop breeding. A rapid change in gene abundance occurs at early meiosis prophase, when gene regulation is selective. However, how ...these genes are regulated remains unknown. Here, we show that rice reproductive phasiRNAs are essential for the elimination of a specific set of RNAs during meiotic prophase I. These phasiRNAs cleave target mRNAs in a regulatory manner such that one phasiRNA can target more than one gene, and/or a single gene can be targeted by more than one phasiRNA to efficiently silence target genes. Our investigation of phasiRNA-knockdown and PHAS-edited transgenic plants demonstrates that phasiRNAs and their nucleotide variations are required for meiosis progression and fertility. This study highlights the importance of reproductive phasiRNAs for the reprogramming of gene expression during meiotic progression and establishes a basis for future studies on the roles of phasiRNAs with a goal of crop improvement.
The axially chiral indole-aryl motifs are present in natural products and biologically active compounds as well as in chiral ligands. Atroposelective indole formation is an efficient method to ...construct indole-based biaryls. We report herein the result of a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric cycloaddition of 3-alkynylindoles with azonaphthalenes. A class of indole-based biaryls were prepared efficiently with excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 98% yield, 99% ee). Control experiment and DFT calculations illustrate a possible mechanism in which the reaction proceeds via a dearomatization of indole to generate an allene-iminium intermediate, followed by an intramolecular aza-Michael addition. This approach provides a convergent synthetic strategy for enantioselective construction of axially chiral heterobiaryl backbones.
A stereodivergent Pd/Cu catalyst system has been developed for the unprecedented dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DyKAT) of racemic unsymmetrical 1,3-disubstituted allylic acetates with ...prochiral aldimine esters. A series of α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids bearing vicinal stereocenters were easily prepared with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr). Moreover, all four stereoisomers of the product can be readily obtained simply by switching the configurations of the two chiral metal catalysts. Furthermore, the present work highlights the power of synergistic Pd/Cu catalysis consisting of two common bidentate chiral ligands for stereodivergent synthesis.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM