MicroRNAs show diverse and dynamic expression patterns in multiple tissues of Bombyx mori

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) repress target genes at the post-transcriptional level, and function in the development and cell-lineage pathways of host species. Tissue-specific expression of miRNAs is highly relevant to their physiological roles in the corresponding tissues. However, to date, few miRNAs have been spatially identified in the silkworm.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We establish for the first time the spatial expression patterns of nearly 100 miRNAs in multiple normal tissues (organs) of <it>Bombyx mori </it>females and males using microarray and Northern-blotting analyses. In all, only 10 miRNAs were universally distributed (including bmo-let-7 and bmo-bantam), while the majority were expressed exclusively or preferentially in specific tissue types (e.g., bmo-miR-275 and bmo-miR-1). Additionally, we examined the developmental patterns of miRNA expression during metamorphosis of the body wall, silk glands, midgut and fat body. In total, 63 miRNAs displayed significant alterations in abundance in at least 1 tissue during the developmental transition from larvae to pupae (e.g., bmo-miR-263b and bmo-miR-124). Expression patterns of five miRNAs were significantly increased during metamorphosis in all four tissues (e.g., bmo-miR-275 and bmo-miR-305), and two miRNA pairs, bmo-miR-10b-3p/5p and bmo-miR-281-3p/5p, showed coordinate expression.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, we conducted preliminary spatial measurements of several miRNAs in the silkworm. Periods of rapid morphological change were associated with alterations in miRNA expression patterns in the body wall, silk glands, midgut and fat body during metamorphosis. Accordingly, we propose that corresponding ubiquitous or tissue-specific expression of miRNAs supports their critical roles in tissue specification. These results should facilitate future functional analyses.</p

Bi/Bi2O3 sensor for quantitation of dissolved oxygen in molten salts

Abstract To quantify the oxygen content in molten salts, we examined the performance of an yttria-stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte oxygen sensor with a Bi/Bi2O3 reference electrode, focusing on its output accuracy. When the above sensor was tested in a flow of gas with known oxygen partial pressure, $$p_{O_2}$$ p O 2 , a linear relationship between $$lgp_{O_2}$$ l g p O 2 and the electromotive force (EMF) was observed, and the correlation slope exhibited a positive deviation from Nernstian behavior. EMF measurements performed in molten NaCl–KCl indicated that the oxygen content of this salt mixture increased with increasing oxygen partial pressure in the covering gas, in agreement with Henry’s law. Moreover, the EMF exhibited a linear decrease with increasing melt temperature of molten NaCl–KCl, in agreement with the theoretical model. Finally, a relationship between the structure of molten NaCl–KCl and its oxygen diffusion behavior was established. As a result, the developed sensor was demonstrated to be well suited for determining the oxygen content of molten salts

A Dual-Responsive Supra-Amphiphilic Polypseudorotaxane Constructed from a Water-Soluble Pillar[7]arene and an Azobenzene-Containing Random Copolymer

Macromolecular supra-amphiphiles refer to a kind of macromolecular amphiphiles whose hydrophlic and hydrophobic parts are connected by noncovalent forces. They have applications in various fields, such as drug delivery, sensor systems, and biomedical materials. Here we report a novel molecular recognition motif between a new thermoresponsive water-soluble pillar[7]­arene (<b>WP7</b>) and an azobenzene derivative. Furthermore, we utilized this recognition motif to construct the first pillararene-based supra-amphiphilic polypseudorotaxane which can self-assemble to form vesicles in water. Due to the dual-responsiveness of the molecular recognition motif (the thermoresponsiveness of <b>WP7</b> and photoresponsiveness of azobenzene), the reversible transformations between solid nanospheres based on the self-assembly of the polymer backbone and vesicles based on the self-assembly of the supra-amphiphilic polypseudorotaxane were achieved by adjusting the solution temperature or UV–visible light irradiation. These dual-responsive aggregation behaviors were further used in the controlled release of water-soluble dye calcein molecules

Controlled Synthesis of ZnS Quantum Dots and ZnS Quantum Flakes with Graphene as a Template

Novel ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and ZnS quantum flakes (QFs) were successfully prepared with graphene nanosheets (GNs) as a special template, and two unique heterostructures of ZnS/GNs were also obtained. Due to the structure-directing template effect of GNs, the as-synthesized ZnS with different morphologies, dots or flakes, were uniformly distributed on the surface of GNs by controlling nucleation and growth. The two different heterostructures of ZnS/GNs exhibited obvious photovoltaic response, and ZnS/GN QFs-on-sheet heterostructures show higher photovoltage than that of ZnS/GN QDs-on-sheet

Dual-Responsive [2]Pseudorotaxane On the basis of a pH-Sensitive Pillar[5]arene and Its Application in the Fabrication of Metallosupramolecular Polypseudorotaxane

Metallosupramolecular polymer, an appealing polymeric material, plays important roles in many fields including catalysis, electrochemical devices, conducting materials and so on. As a class of metallosupramolecular polymers, metallosupramolecular polypseudorotaxane has attracted great attention not only because of its wide applications but also due to its facile synthesis which is by metal coordination between metal and macrocycle-based pseudorotaxane. The introducing of stimuli-responsive property into the metallosupramolecular polypseudorotaxane system will enrich their functionality. Herein, a triple stimuli-responsive metallosupramolecular polypseudorotaxane constructed by pillararene-based host–guest interaction and copper coordination. First, a new pH-sensitive pillar[5]­arene host (<b>H</b>) was synthesized. An azastilbenzene derivative, <i>trans</i>- 4,4′-vinylenedipyridine (<i><b>trans</b></i>-<b>G</b>) was chosen as the guest molecule to construct a [2]­pseudorotaxane based on <b>H</b> and <i><b>trans</b></i>-<b>G</b>. The [2]­pseudorotaxane displayed pH- and photo- dual stimuli-responsiveness. Then the [2]­pseudorotaxane was used to construct a pH-, photo- and cyanide-triple stimuli-responsive metallosupramolecular polypseudorotaxane based on Cu­(II) ion coordination

Making Use of Plant uORFs to Control Transgene Translation in Response to Pathogen Attack

Reducing crop loss to diseases is urgently needed to meet increasing food production challenges caused by the expanding world population and the negative impact of climate change on crop productivity. Disease-resistant crops can be created by expressing endogenous or exogenous genes of interest through transgenic technology. Nevertheless, enhanced resistance by overexpressing resistance-produced genes often results in adverse developmental affects. Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are translational control elements located in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of eukaryotic mRNAs and may repress the translation of downstream genes. To investigate the function of three uORFs from the 5′-UTR of ACCELERATED CELL 11 (uORFsACD11), we develop a fluorescent reporter system and find uORFsACD11 function in repressing downstream gene translation. Individual or simultaneous mutations of the three uORFsACD11 lead to repression of downstream translation efficiency at different levels. Importantly, uORFsACD11-mediated translational inhibition is impaired upon recognition of pathogen attack of plant leaves. When coupled with the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE 1 (PR1) promoter, the uORFsACD11 cassettes can upregulate accumulation of Arabidopsis thaliana LECTIN RECEPTOR KINASE-VI.2 (AtLecRK-VI.2) during pathogen attack and enhance plant resistance to Phytophthora capsici. These findings indicate that the uORFsACD11 cassettes can be a useful toolkit that enables a high level of protein expression during pathogen attack, while for ensuring lower levels of protein expression at normal conditions