1,4‐Diazabicyclo2.2.2octane (dabco) and its derivatives have been extensively utilized as building units of excellent molecular ferroelectrics for decades. However, the homochiral dabco‐based ...ferroelectric remains a blank. Herein, by adding a methyl (Me) group accompanied by the introduction of homochirality to the H2dabco2+ in the non‐ferroelectric H2dabcoTFSA2 (TFSA=bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)ammonium), we successfully designed enantiomeric ferroelectrics R and S‐2‐Me‐H2dabcoTFSA2. The two enantiomers show two sequential phase transitions with transition temperature (Tc) as high as 405.8 K and 415.8 K, which is outstanding in both dabco‐based ferroelectrics and homochiral ferroelectrics. To our knowledge, R and S‐2‐Me‐H2dabcoTFSA2 are the first examples of dabco‐based homochiral ferroelectrics. This finding opens an avenue to construct dabco‐based homochiral ferroelectrics and will inspire the exploration of more eminent enantiomeric molecular ferroelectrics.
The first examples of homochiral dabco‐based (dabco=1,4‐diazabicyclo2.2.2octane) ferroelectrics, R‐ and S‐2‐Me‐H2dabcoTFSA2 (TFSA=bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)ammonium), were designed from the non‐ferroelectric H2dabcoTFSA2. They show two phase transitions with a transition temperature (Tc) up to 405.8 K and 415.8 K, higher than the Tc of most dabco‐based or homochiral ferroelectrics.
As an important means of communication, exosomes play an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays, ...methylation-specific quantitative PCR, and ChIP-PCR analysis were used to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of miR-21 in HCC.
The detection of miRNAs in exosomes of HCC showed that miR-21 expression in exosomes was positively correlated with the expression level of miR-21 in cells and negatively correlated with the expression of its target genes PTEN, PTENp1 and TETs. HCC cell-derived exosomes could increase miR-21 and p-Akt expression in HCC cells and downregulate the expression of PTEN, PTENp1 and TETs. MiR-21 inhibitors or PTENp1 overexpression vectors could weaken the effect of the abovementioned exosomes and simultaneously weaken their role in promoting cell proliferation and migration and inhibiting apoptosis. Further studies showed that miR-21 not only directly regulated the expression of PTEN, PTENp1 and TETs but also increased the methylation level of the PTENp1 promoter by regulating the expression of TETs, thereby inhibiting the expression of PTENp1 and further downregulating the expression of PTEN.
Exosomal miR-21 can regulate the expression of the tumor suppressor genes PTEN and PTENp1 in various ways and affect the growth of HCC cells.
Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is a climacteric fruit with high sensitivity to ethylene, influenced by multiple ethylene-responsive structural genes and transcription factors. However, the roles of other ...post-transcriptional regulators (e.g. miRNAs) necessary for ripening remain elusive.
High-throughput sequencing sRNAome, degradome and transcriptome methods were used to identify further contributors to ripening control in the kiwifruit (A. deliciosa cv ‘Hayward’).
Two NAM/ATAF/CUC domain transcription factors (AdNAC6 and AdNAC7), both predicted targets for miR164, showed significant upregulation by exogenous ethylene. Gene expression analysis and luciferase reporter assays indicated that Ade-miR164 and one of its precursor miRNAs (Ade-MIR164b) were repressed by ethylene treatment and negatively correlated with AdNAC6/7 expression. Subsequent analysis indicated that both AdNAC6 and AdNAC7 proteins are transcriptional activators and physically bind the promoters of AdACS1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase), AdACO1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase), AdMAN1 (endo-β-mannanase) and AaTPS1 (terpene synthase). Moreover, subcellular analysis indicated that the location of the AdNAC6/7 proteins was influenced by Ade-miR164.
Multiple omics-based approaches revealed a novel regulatory link for fruit ripening that involved ethylene-miR164-NAC. The regulatory pathway for miR164-NAC is present in various fruit (e.g. Rosaceae fruit, citrus, grape), with implications for fruit ripening regulation.
Molecular ferroelectrics are highly desirable for their easy and environmentally friendly processing, light weight, and mechanical flexibility. We found that diisopropylammonium bromide (DIPAB), a ...molecular crystal processed from aqueous solution, is a ferroelectric with a spontaneous polarization of 23 microcoulombs per square centimeter close to that of barium titanate (BTO), high Curie temperature of 426 kelvin (above that of BTO), large dielectric constant, and low dielectric loss. DIPAB exhibits good piezoelectric response and well-defined ferroelectric domains. These attributes make it a molecular alternative to perovskite ferroelectrics and ferroelectric polymers in sensing, actuation, data storage, electro-optics, and molecular or flexible electronics.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) play essential roles in modulating plant growth, development and stress responses. Here, involvement of BRs in plant systemic resistance to virus was studied. Treatment of ...local leaves in Nicotiana benthamiana with BRs induced virus resistance in upper untreated leaves, accompanied by accumulations of H₂O₂ and NO. Scavenging of H₂O₂ or NO in upper leaves blocked BR‐induced systemic virus resistance. BR‐induced systemic H₂O₂ accumulation was blocked by local pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase or silencing of respiratory burst oxidase homolog gene NbRBOHB, but not by systemic NADPH oxidase inhibition or NbRBOHA silencing. Silencing of the nitrite‐dependent nitrate reductase gene NbNR or systemic pharmacological inhibition of NR compromised BR‐triggered systemic NO accumulation, while local inhibition of NR, silencing of NbNOA1 and inhibition of NOS had little effect. Moreover, we provide evidence that BR‐activated H₂O₂ is required for NO synthesis. Pharmacological scavenging or genetic inhibiting of H₂O₂ generation blocked BR‐induced systemic NO production, but BR‐induced H₂O₂ production was not sensitive to NO scavengers or silencing of NbNR. Systemically applied sodium nitroprusside rescued BR‐induced systemic virus defense in NbRBOHB‐silenced plants, but H₂O₂ did not reverse the effect of NbNR silencing on BR‐induced systemic virus resistance. Finally, we demonstrate that the receptor kinase BRI1(BR insensitive 1) is an upstream component in BR‐mediated systemic defense signaling, as silencing of NbBRI1 compromised the BR‐induced H₂O₂ and NO production associated with systemic virus resistance. Together, our pharmacological and genetic data suggest the existence of a signaling pathway leading to BR‐mediated systemic virus resistance that involves local Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homolog B (RBOHB)‐dependent H₂O₂ production and subsequent systemic NR‐dependent NO generation.
Previous studies have demonstrated strong associations between host genetic factors and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) VCA‐IgA with the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the specific ...interplay between host genetics and EBV VCA‐IgA on NPC risk is not well understood. In this two‐stage case–control study (N = 4804), we utilized interaction and mediation analysis to investigate the interplay between host genetics (genome‐wide association study‐derived polygenic risk score PRS) and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody level in the NPC risk. We employed a four‐way decomposition analysis to assess the extent to which the genetic effect on NPC risk is mediated by or interacts with EBV VCA‐IgA. We consistently found a significant interaction between the PRS and EBV VCA‐IgA on NPC risk (discovery population: synergy index SI = 2.39, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.85–3.10; replication population: SI = 3.10, 95% CI = 2.17–4.44; all pinteraction < 0.001). Moreover, the genetic variants included in the PRS demonstrated similar interactions with EBV VCA‐IgA antibody. We also observed an obvious dose–response relationship between the PRS and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody on NPC risk (all ptrend < 0.001). Furthermore, our decomposition analysis revealed that a substantial proportion (approximately 90%) of the genetic effects on NPC risk could be attributed to host genetic‐EBV interaction, while the risk effects mediated by EBV VCA‐IgA antibody were weak and statistically insignificant. Our study provides compelling evidence for an interaction between host genetics and EBV VCA‐IgA antibody in the development of NPC. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing measures to control EBV infection as a crucial strategy for effectively preventing NPC, particularly in individuals at high genetic risk.
For a century ferroelectricity has attracted widespread interest from science and industry. Inorganic ferroelectric ceramics have dominated multibillion dollar industries of electronic ceramics, ...ranging from nonvolatile memories to piezoelectric sonar or ultrasonic transducers, whose polarization can be reoriented in multiple directions so that they can be used in the ceramic and thin-film forms. However, the realization of macroscopic ferroelectricity in the polycrystalline form is challenging for molecular ferroelectrics. In pursuit of low-cost, biocompatible, and mechanically flexible alternatives, the development of multiaxial molecular ferroelectrics is imminent. Here, from quinuclidinium perrhenate, we applied fluorine substitution to successfully design a multiaxial molecular ferroelectric, 3-fluoroquinuclidinium perrhenate (3-F-QReO4), whose macroscopic ferroelectricity can be realized in both powder compaction and thin-film forms. The fluorination effect not only increases the intrinsic polarization but also reduces the coercive field strength. More importantly, it is also, as far as we know, the softest of all known molecular ferroelectrics, whose low Vickers hardness of 10.5 HV is comparable with that in poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) but almost 2 orders of magnitude lower than that in BaTiO3. These attributes make it an ideal candidate for flexible and wearable devices and biomechanical applications.
The growing world population and shrinkage of arable land demand yield improvement of rice, one of the most important staple crops. To elucidate the genetic basis of yield and uncover its associated ...loci in rice, we resequenced the core recombinant inbred lines of Liang–You–Pei–Jiu , the widely cultivated super hybrid rice, and constructed a high-resolution linkage map. We detected 43 yield-associated quantitative trait loci, of which 20 are unique. Based on the high-density physical map, the genome sequences of paternal variety 93–11 and maternal cultivar PA64s of Liang–You–Pei–Jiu were significantly improved. The large recombinant inbred line population combined with plentiful high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions/deletions between parental genomes allowed us to fine-map two quantitative trait loci, qSN8 and qSPB1 , and to identify days to heading8 and lax panicle1 as candidate genes, respectively. The quantitative trait locus qSN8 was further confirmed to be days to heading8 by a complementation test. Our study provided an ideal platform for molecular breeding by targeting and dissecting yield-associated loci in rice.
Background The difference in epidemiological characteristics of breast cancer (BC) across countries is valuable for BC management and prevention. The study evaluated the up-to-date burden, trends, ...and risk factors of BC in China, Japan and South Korea during 1990-2019 and predicted the BC burden until 2034. Methods Data on incident cases, deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and age-standardized rate (ASR) of BC were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Trend analysis and prediction until 2034 were conducted by estimated annual percentage change and a Bayesian age-period-cohort model, respectively. Besides, the attributable burden to BC risk factors was also estimated. Results In 2019, the number of BC incident cases, deaths and DALYs in China were 375,484, 96,306 and 2,957,453, respectively. The ASR of incidence increased, while that of death and DALYs decreased for Chinese females and Japanese and South Korean males during 1990-2019. High body-mass-index (BMI) was the largest contributor to Chinese female BC deaths and DALYs, while alcohol use was the greatest risk factor for Japanese and South Korean as well as Chinese males. The incident cases and deaths were expected to continue increase during 2020-2034 (except for Japanese female incident cases). Conclusions China had the greatest burden of BC among the three countries. Incident cases and deaths of BC were projected to increase over the next 15 years in China, particularly among Chinese males. Effective prevention and management strategies are urgently necessary for BC control in China. Keywords: Breast cancer, Trend, Prediction, Risk factor
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