A multifunctional azobenzene-based polymeric adsorbent for effective water remediation

The efficient removal of trace carcinogenic organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ionic dyes, from water is an important technical challenge. We report a highly effective recyclable multifunctional azobenzene (AZ)-based silica-supported polymeric adsorbent which can simultaneously remove both PAHs and anionic dyes from water to below parts per billion (ppb) level based on multiple interactions such as the hydrophobic effect, [pi]–[pi] stacking and electrostatic interactions, thus providing a new strategy for designer water remediation materials

<i>Rabx-5</i> mutations alter the RAB-5 organization in GABAergic motor neurons.

<p>A) A forward genetic screen was conducted by observing GABAergic motor neurons for changes in localization or intensity of P_unc-25YFP::RAB-5. Initial screening isolated mutants in which YFP::RAB-5 was decreased in the cell soma. Further inspection determined if YFP::RAB-5 was increased at the synapse. B) Gene, transcript, and protein structure of <i>rabx-5</i>. The RABX-5 protein consists of a zinc finger motif (ZF) and a motif interacting with ubiquitin (U) that together regulate association with ubiquitinated endosomal cargo; a membrane binding motif and helical bundle required for association with the endosomal membrane; a Vps9 domain that along with the helical bundle promotes guanine exchange activity; and a coiled-coil region that binds rabaptin-5 and contains a motif for autoinhibition of guanine exchange activity. The <i>rabx-5(qa7800)</i> mutation leads to a truncation at the helical bundle. The <i>rabx-5(tm1512)</i> mutation deletes the start site and the exons encoding the zinc finger motif and the motif interacting with ubiquitn. C) P_unc-25YFP::RAB-5 protein localization in the soma (left column) and dorsal cord (right column) of GABAergic motor neurons in wild type and mutant animals. D) P_unc-25YFP::RAB-5 fluorescence intensity was decreased in the soma of mutant animals and increased in the synaptic and intersynaptic regions. This phenotype is recovered with expression of P_unc-25CFP::RABX-5. Each point represents a single soma, synaptic puncta, or intersynaptic axonal region, respectively. Bar represents the mean. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. E) P_unc-25CFP::RABX-5 expression recovers the <i>rabx-5(qa7800)</i> YFP::RAB-5 phenotype.</p

P_unc-25YFP::RAB-5 localization in mutations of other RAB-5 effectors and VPS9 domain proteins.

<p>A) GABAergic motor neuron cell somas expressing YFP::RAB-5 in animals mutant for the RAB-5 effectors, <i>rabn-5</i> and <i>rabs-5,</i> or mutant for the other VPS9 domain proteins, <i>tag-333</i> and <i>rme-6.</i> B) Quantification of soma YFP::RAB-5 intensity. C) GABAergic motor neuron dorsal cord in these mutant animals. D) Quantification of synaptic intensity. E) Quantification of intersynaptic intensity. <i>Rabx-5</i> works in the same pathway as <i>rabn-5</i> but not <i>rabs-5</i> to regulate RAB-5. <i>Rme-6</i> and <i>tag-333</i> do not exhibit the same phenotype as <i>rabx-5</i>. Each point represents a single soma, synaptic puncta, or intersynaptic axonal region. Bar represents the mean. *p<0.05, ***p<0.001.</p

Morphology of wild-type and defective D-type motor neuron commissures.

<p>(A) Full body image of adult worm. Scale bar is 25 µm. (B) Expanded view of area within dashed box in panel A. Ventral nerve cord (VNC) is distinguished by presence of neuronal cell bodies. Dorsal nerve cord labeled DNC. Scale bar is 25 µm. (C) Representative image of panel B. Black arrows label neuronal commissures while black arrowheads identify neuronal cell bodies. Respective phenotypes characterized by: (D) commissure never reaching dorsal nerve cord; (E) commissure running along the opposite side of the animal's body (left, colored yellow); (F) absent commissure; (G) additional commissure present; (H) two commissures crossing over each other; (I) two commissures entering the dorsal nerve cord or leaving the ventral nerve cord together, they may also partially fasciculate; (J) bifurcating commissure; (K) neighboring commissures joined by a process; (L) neurite with length less than half nematode width; (M) an absence of GFP expression along either dorsal or ventral nerve cords; (N) break in GFP expression in a commissure. Scale bar is 25 µm. Representative image of phenotype shown beneath each photo accompanied with illustrative phenotype symbol. (O) Proportion of animals in a population with at least one incidence of each independent defect. Error bars represent standard error of proportion.</p

L1 phenotype characterization.

<p>(A–G) Proportion of animals in a population with at least one incidence of each of the independent defects: guidance, handedness, and missing defects seen for wild-type (<i>juIs76</i>) and newly isolated mutants. Asterisks indicate statistical significance of phenotype compared to wild-type. Single, double, and triple asterisks indicate <i>p</i><0.05, <i>p</i><0.01, and <i>p</i><0.001 respectively. Statistical significance determined using chi-squared test. Number of animals examined for each allele labeled in graph. Error bars represent standard error of proportion.</p

Adult phenotype characterization.

<p>(A–G) Proportion of animals in a population with at least one incidence of each of the independent defects: guidance, handedness, missing, and gap for wild-type (<i>juIs76</i>) and newly isolated mutants. Asterisks indicate statistical significance of phenotype compared to wild-type. Single, double, and triple asterisks indicate <i>p</i><0.05, <i>p</i><0.01, and <i>p</i><0.001, respectively. Pound signs indicate statistical significance of phenotype compared between <i>a073</i> and <i>a074</i>. Double and triple pound signs indicate <i>p</i><0.01 and <i>p</i><0.001, respectively. Statistical significance determined using chi-squared test. Number of animals examined for each allele labeled in graph. Error bars represent standard error of proportion.</p

Effect of curved channel on animal orientation.

<p>(A) Zoomed in view of imaging area shown by dashed red box from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0035037#pone-0035037-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1A</a>. White arrow indicates device radius of curvature (RoC) from arc center to outer edge. Dashed line indicates length (L) between loading and imaging valves. Scale bar is 200 µm. (B) Frequency of lateral nematode orientation for various channel geometries with standard error of proportion. Triple asterisk indicates statistical significance compared to straight channel designs (<i>p</i><0.001 determined using chi-squared test). S represents straight channel, while remaining labels indicate the 105 µm, 125 µm, and 145 µm RoC devices respectively. L for all devices is 700 µm. (C) Nematode oriented laterally in curved channel device (both nerve cords visible). Commissures present on different focal plane are obscured. (D) 3-D model of animal body section and microscope objective (viewpoint reference) showing nerve cord placement for a laterally oriented animal. (E) Nematode in a non-lateral body orientation as observed when loading animals into straight channel devices; DNC not visible due to animal orientation. Animal is within the same field of view as seen in panel C. Arrowheads for images (C) and (E) indicate ventral nerve cord (VNC) determined by placement of VD and DD motor neuron cell bodies. Arrow indicates dorsal nerve cord (DNC). Scale bars are 100 µm. Transgene marker for all fluorescent images is <i>juIs76(Punc-25::GFP</i>). (F) 3-D model of animal body section and microscope objective for non-lateral oriented animal. Model diagrams (D) and (F) not drawn to scale. Red lines illustrate dorso-ventral axis. Green spheres represent DD and VD neuron cell bodies.</p