Requirement of flex (female lethal on X) in the development of the female germ line of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster females homozygous for flex, an X- linked recessive mutation, do not survive. Hemizygous males are unaffected. Homozygous embryos appear to lack SXL, the product of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, apparently as a result of disruption of Sxl splicing. It is known that both Sxl and its somatic splicing regulators [snf and fl(2)d] also function in the development of the female germ line. For this reason, we investigated the role of flex in the germ line by generating flex/flex clones in flex/+ females. Females carrying such clones in their germ lines do not lay eggs whereas females carrying flex eggs lay viable eggs. Additionally, DAPI staining of ovarioles showed that diploid germ cells that are homozygous mutant for flex do not complete oogenesis. These results indicate that the flex+ gene product may be required for the development of the female germ line

Elevating oil-in-water emulsion separation: Unleashing the power of exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride composite membranes

The current study describes composite membranes that utilise exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (Eg-C3N4) as a promising membrane additive for oily-water separation, owing to its hydrophilic nature and high functionality. The integrated membranes have been discovered to have outstanding properties when Eg-C3N4 is used as a composite material in polysulphone (PSf) membranes. The study provides provide insights into the usage of such nanosheets to achieve good chemical interaction with the membrane matrix, enabling both Eg-C3N4 and PSf synergistic characteristics. The well-planned exfoliated g-C3N4-PSf composite demonstrated promising oil-water separation with an oil rejection capacity of >99 %. Furthermore, these exfoliated laminar planes interacted well with the polymer, resulting in membranes that were both thermally and mechanically stable. The membrane also has a high porosity range of 46.13 % to 76.03 % and a high-water uptake range of 42.23 + 1.68 % to 71.34 + 1.24 %, which explains the membrane's enhanced hydrophilicity and appropriate oily-water treatment capacity. Furthermore, the addition of Eg-C3N4 lowers surface roughness, which explains for the great antifouling capacity exhibited by the composite membrane, demonstrating a remarkable flux recovery ratio of about 99.1 % with no compromise in oil rejection during subsequent cycles

Tunable release of ions from graphene oxide laminates for sustained antibacterial activity in a biomimetic environment

Silver has long been recognised for its potent antimicrobial properties, but achieving a slow and longer-term delivery of silver ions presents significant challenges. While several attempts have been made to achieve controlled dosages of silver ions, sustaining their release for more than a few days in a biomimetic environment, particularly in the presence of complex proteins, has not been successfully demonstrated. This challenge is underscored by the absence of technology for sustaining antimicrobial activity, especially in the context of orthopaedic implants where long‐term efficacy, extending beyond seven days, is essential. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated the tunable, slow, and longer-term release of silver ions from the two-dimensional nanocapillaries (1 nm wide) of GO laminates incorporated with Ag ions (Ag-GO) for antimicrobial applications. To closely mimic a physiologically relevant serum-basedenvironment, we introduce a novel in vitro study model using 100% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as the test medium for microbiology, biocompatibility, and bioactivity studies. To emulate fluid circulation in a physiological environment, we challenge our in vitro studies with serum exchange protocols on different days. Our findings show that the Ag-GO coating can sustainably release silver ions at a minimum dosage of 10 μg/cm2/day, providing an effective and sustained antimicrobial barrier for over ten days

Modeling the Interface between Islet Amyloid Polypeptide and Insulin-Based Aggregation Inhibitors: Correlation to Aggregation Kinetics and Membrane Damage

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) forms cytotoxic fibrils in type-2 diabetes and insulin is known to inhibit formation of these aggregates. In this study, a series of insulin-based inhibitors were synthesized and assessed for their ability to slow aggregation and impact hIAPP-induced membrane damage. Computational studies were employed to examine the underlying mechanism of inhibition. Overall, all compounds were able to slow aggregation at sufficiently high concentrations (10× molar excess); however, only two peptides showed any inhibitory capability at the 1:1 molar ratio (EALYLV and VEALYLV). The results of density functional calculations suggest this is due to the strength of a salt bridge formed with the Arg11 side chain of hIAPP and the inhibitors’ ability to span from the Arg11 to past the Phe15 residue of hIAPP, blocking one of the principal amyloidogenic regions of the molecule. Unexpectedly, slowing fibrillogenesis actually increased damage to lipid membranes, suggesting that the aggregation process itself, rather than the fibrilized peptide, may be the cause of cytotoxicity in vivo