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•The recent advances in use of surfactant for soil remediation are reviewed.•The mechanisms of surfactant-based soil remediation are discussed.•A review on the application of ...different types of surfactants is made.•The future research direction of surfactant-based technologies is suggested.
Due to the great harm caused by soil contamination, there is an increasing interest to apply surfactants to the remediation of a variety of contaminated soils worldwide. This review article summarizes the findings of recent literatures regarding remediation of contaminated soils/sites using surfactants as an enhancing agent. For the surfactant-based remedial technologies, the adsorption behaviors of surfactants onto soil, the solubilizing capability of surfactants, and the toxicity and biocompatibility of surfactants are important considerations. Surfactants can enhance desorption of pollutants from soil, and promote bioremediation of organics by increasing bioavailability of pollutants. The removal of heavy metals and radionuclides from soils involves the mechanisms of dissolution, surfactant-associated complexation, and ionic exchange. In addition to the conventional ionic and nonionic surfactants, gemini surfactants and biosurfactants are also applied to soil remediation due to their benign features like lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) values and better biocompatibility. Mixed surfactant systems and combined use of surfactants with other additives are often adopted to improve the overall performance of soil washing solution for decontamination. Worldwide the field studies and full-scale remediation using surfactant-based technologies are yet limited, however, the already known cases reveal the good prospect of applying surfactant-based technologies to soil remediation.
A sulfone‐functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF), USTC‐253, has been synthesized that exhibits a much higher CO2 uptake capacity (168–182 %) than the corresponding unfurnished MOFs. The ...introduction of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) during the synthesis of USTC‐253 affords defect‐containing USTC‐253‐TFA with exposed metal centers, which has an increased CO2 uptake (167 %) compared to pristine USTC‐253. USTC‐253‐TFA exhibits a very high ideal adsorption solution theory selectivity (S=75) to CO2 over N2 at 298 K. In addition, USTC‐253‐TFA demonstrates good catalytic activity and recyclability in the cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxide at room temperature under 1 bar CO2 pressure as a result of the presence of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, which were evaluated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy with a CO probe molecule. We propose that the CO2 adsorption capability has a positive correlation with the catalytic performance toward CO2 conversion.
Selective CO2 sorption: A sulfone‐functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) is synthesized that has a high CO2 uptake capacity. The MOF demonstrates a high catalytic activity and recyclability in the cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxide at room temperature under 1 bar CO2 pressure as a result of the presence of Lewis acid and Brønsted acid sites. The relationship between CO2 uptake and the catalytic CO2 conversion is proposed.
SUMMARY
Plant genetic engineering, a recent technological advancement in the field of plant science, is an important tool used to improve crop quality and yield, to enhance secondary metabolite ...content in medicinal plants or to develop crops for sustainable agriculture. A new approach based on nanoparticle‐mediated gene transformation can overcome the obstacle of the plant cell wall and accurately transfer DNA or RNA into plants to produce transient or stable transformation. In this review, several nanoparticle‐based approaches are discussed, taking into account recent advances and challenges to hint at potential applications of these approaches in transgenic plant improvement programs. This review also highlights challenges in implementing the nanoparticle‐based approaches used in plant genetic engineering. A new technology that improves gene transformation efficiency and overcomes difficulties in plant regeneration has been established and will be used for the de novo production of transgenic plants, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has accelerated crop improvement. Therefore, we outline future perspectives based on combinations of genome editing, nanoparticle‐mediated gene transformation and de novo regeneration technologies to accelerate crop improvement. The information provided here will assist an effective exploration of the technological advances in plant genetic engineering to support plant breeding and important crop improvement programs.
Significance Statement
nanoparticle‐mediated gene transformation
Interactions between regulatory elements are of crucial importance for the understanding of transcriptional regulation and the interpretation of disease mechanisms. Hi-C technique has been developed ...for genome-wide detection of chromatin contacts. However, unless extremely deep sequencing is performed on a very large number of input cells, which is technically limited and expensive, current Hi-C experiments do not have high enough resolution to resolve contacts between regulatory elements. Here, we develop DeepTACT, a bootstrapping deep learning model, to integrate genome sequences and chromatin accessibility data for the prediction of chromatin contacts between regulatory elements. DeepTACT can infer not only promoter-enhancer interactions, but also promoter-promoter interactions. In tests based on promoter capture Hi-C data, DeepTACT shows better performance over existing methods. DeepTACT analysis also identifies a class of hub promoters, which are correlated with transcriptional activation across cell lines, enriched in housekeeping genes, functionally related to fundamental biological processes, and capable of reflecting cell similarity. Finally, the utility of chromatin contacts in the study of human diseases is illustrated by the association of IFNA2 to coronary artery disease via an integrative analysis of GWAS data and interactions predicted by DeepTACT.
This study was to investigate the functional role of RNA methyltransferase METTL3, an enzyme catalyzes the formation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) on the target mRNA, in the development of ...osteoarthritis (OA) and the underlying mechanism.
Cytokine IL-1β was used to stimulate the chondroprogenitor cell line ATDC5 cells to mimic the inflammatory condition in vitro. The level of METTL3 mRNA and m6A as well as inflammatory cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR. Cell activity was detected by CCK-8. The rate of apoptotic cell was measured by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the levels of NF-κB signaling molecules and collagen in cells. Methylation inhibitor cycloleucine and methyl donor betaine were used to treat collagenase-induced OA mice.
In IL-1β-treated ATDC5 cells, the METTL3 mRNA levels and the percentage of m6A methylated mRNA of total mRNA were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing of METTL3 by shRNA reduced the percentage of IL-1β-induced apoptosis, suppressed IL-1β-induced increased inflammatory cytokines levels and activation of NF-κB signaling in chondrocytes. Moreover, silencing of METTL3 promotes degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) by reducing the expression of MMP-13 and Coll X, elevating the expression of Aggrecan and Coll II. In a OA mouse model induced by collagenase, injection of methylation inhibitor cycloleucine or methyl donor betaine does not affects METTL3 mRNA expression, but significantly inhibits or promotes the total level of m6A as well as inflammatory condition and ECM degradation, respectively.
METTL3 has a functional role in mediates osteoarthritis progression by regulating NF-κB signaling and ECM synthesis in chondrocytes that shed insight on developing preventive and curative strategies for OA by focusing on METTL3 and mRNA methylation.
•METTL3 levels and m6A methylated mRNA were increased in IL-1β-treated ATDC5 cells.•Silencing of METTL3 promotes degradation of extracellular matrix by reducing the expression of MMP-13 and Coll X.•Methylation inhibitor significantly inhibits the total level of m6A as well as inflammatory condition and ECM degradation.•METTL3 promotes osteoarthritis progression by regulating NF-κB signaling and ECM synthesis in chondrocytes.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and metastasis is the leading cause of death among patients with breast cancer. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway plays ...critical roles during breast cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. SMAD2, a positive regulator of TGF-β signaling, promotes breast cancer metastasis through induction of EMT.
The expression of miR-190 and SMAD2 in breast cancer tissues, adjacent normal breast tissues and cell lines were determined by RT-qPCR. The protein expression levels and localization were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. ChIP and dual-luciferase report assays were used to validate the regulation of ZEB1-miR-190-SMAD2 axis. The effect of miR-190 on breast cancer progression was investigated both in vitro and in vivo.
miR-190 down-regulation is required for TGF-β-induced EMT. miR-190 suppresses breast cancer metastasis both in vitro and in vivo by targeting SMAD2. miR-190 expression is down-regulated and inversely correlates with SMAD2 in breast cancer samples, and its expression level was associated with outcome in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, miR-190 is transcriptionally regulated by ZEB1.
Our data uncover the ZEB1-miR-190-SMAD2 axis and provide a mechanism to explain the TGF-β network in breast cancer metastasis.
Abstract To get a carbon-based qubit, we pay attention to the two-electron conduction band of a graphene quantum dot (GQD) in the presence of an external magnetic field and an extrinsic Rashba ...spin-orbit interaction (SOI). To help understand the formation of the two-electron spectra, we first calculate the tight-binding (TB) spectra. There exist the sensitivity of the conduction band to magnetic fields and the mixing of spin states induced by a Rashba SOI. The two factors inspire the study of the magnetic-field modulation of the conduction band for realizing a spin qubit. We present the method for calculating the electronic structure of a few-electron GQD. The roles of the Coulomb interaction and the Rashba SOI in the two-electron conduction band are investigated. The Coulomb interaction contributes to a singlet-triplet level crossing and the Rashba SOI leads to a singlet-triplet mixing. The fast initialization and coherent manipulation of spin states are demonstrated by the magnetic control of singlet-triplet splitting.
The distribution and deposition of fat tissue in different parts of the body are the key factors affecting the carcass quality and meat flavour of chickens. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an ...important factor associated with meat quality, while abdominal fat (AbF) is regarded as one of the main factors affecting poultry slaughter efficiency. To investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular regulatory mechanisms related to adipogenic differentiation between IMF- and AbF-derived preadipocytes, we analysed the mRNA expression profiles in preadipocytes (0d, Pre-) and adipocytes (10d, Ad-) from IMF and AbF of Gushi chickens.
AbF-derived preadipocytes exhibited a higher adipogenic differentiation ability (96.4% + 0.6) than IMF-derived preadipocytes (86.0% + 0.4) (p < 0.01). By Ribo-Zero RNA sequencing, we obtained 4403 (2055 upregulated and 2348 downregulated) and 4693 (2797 upregulated and 1896 downregulated) DEGs between preadipocytes and adipocytes in the IMF and Ad groups, respectively. For IMF-derived preadipocyte differentiation, pathways related to the PPAR signalling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathway were significantly enriched. For AbF-derived preadipocyte differentiation, the steroid biosynthesis pathways, calcium signaling pathway and ECM-receptor interaction pathway were significantly enriched. A large number of DEGs related to lipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and preadipocyte differentiation, such as PPARG, ACSBG2, FABP4, FASN, APOA1 and INSIG1, were identified in our study.
This study revealed large transcriptomic differences between IMF- and AbF-derived preadipocyte differentiation. A large number of DEGs and transcription factors that were closely related to fatty acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and preadipocyte differentiation were identified in the present study. Additionally, the microenvironment of IMF- and AbF-derived preadipocyte may play a significant role in adipogenic differentiation. This study provides valuable evidence to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying adipogenesis and fat deposition in chickens.
Summary Background Human babesiosis is an emerging zoonosis. “ Babesia venatorum ” has been identified in only four asplenic men and a child so far. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, ...clinical, and laboratory characteristics of a series of cases with “ B venatorum ” infection identified in a sentinel hospital in China. Methods We recruited participants with a recent tick bite at Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital, Heilongjiang province, China. Cases were diagnosed through PCR followed by sequencing, microscopic identification, or isolation by animal inoculation, or both. Findings 48 individuals (30 women or girls; median age 45 years, range 7 months to 75 years) with “ B venatorum ” infection were identified. 32 of these individuals were confirmed cases and 16 were probable cases. None of the 48 cases had received a blood transfusion or had a splenectomy. Geographically, cases were distributed diffusely throughout the hospital catchment area. Of the 32 confirmed cases, 21 (66%) presented with a fever, 13 (41%) with a headache, 12 (38%) with myalgia or arthralgia, and three (9%) with chills. 14 (44%) patients had fatigue, eight (25%) had dizziness, and eight (25%) had hypersomnia. Six (19%) patients had an erythematous non-pruritic rash around the tick-bite site and two (6%) had lymphadenopathy. Seven (22%) and four (13%) patients had anaemia and thrombocytopenia, respectively, and seven (50%) of 14 patients with confirmed infection had increased hepatic transaminase concentrations. In the confirmed cases, concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (p<0·001), P-selectin (p<0·05), and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (p<0·001) were significantly reduced, whereas tumour necrosis factor α (p<0·01) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (p<0·001) were significantly increased. Interpretation “ B venatorum ” infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a tick-exposure history in areas where this pathogen has previously been identified in ticks or people. Funding Natural Science Foundation of China and Mega-Project for Infectious Diseases.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are two important organelles that are highly dynamic in mammalian cells. The physical connection between them is mitochondria associated ER membranes ...(MAM). In recent years, studies on endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria have shifted from independent division to association and comparison, especially MAM has gradually become a research hotspot. MAM connects the two organelles, not only to maintain their independent structure and function, but also to promote metabolism and signal transduction between them. This paper reviews the morphological structure and protein localization of MAM, and briefly analyzes the functions of MAM in regulating Ca2+ transport, lipid synthesis, mitochondrial fusion and fission, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress, autophagy and inflammation. Since ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are important pathological events in neurological diseases including ischemic stroke, MAM is likely to play an important role in cerebral ischemia by regulating the signaling of the two organelles and the crosstalk of the two pathological events.
•MAM is a multi-protein enrichment platform for multiple reactions.•MAM participates in Ca2+ and lipid exchange between the two organelles.•MAM regulates mitochondrial dynamics, ER stress, autophagy and inflammation.•MAM is expected to be a new therapeutic target for cerebral ischemia.
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