Inositol transporters AtINT2 and AtINT4 regulate arsenic accumulation in Arabidopsis seeds

Arsenic is a global environmental contaminant that threatens tens of millions people world-wide via food and water. Understanding how arsenic is accumulated in crop seeds is of critical importance. To date, membrane transport proteins catalyzing arsenic uptake by roots and translocation through xylem to shoots have been characterized. However, no transporters responsible for loading arsenic from xylem into phloem and further unloading into plant seeds have been identified. In this study we demonstrate that expressing the gene for either Arabidopsis thaliana inositol transporter AtINT2 or AtINT4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae leads to increased arsenic accumulation and elevated sensitivity to arsenite [As(III)], and Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing AtINT2 import As(III). When A. thaliana plants with disruptions in either AtINT2 or AtINT4 were supplemented with As(III) through roots, there was a substantial decrease in both the arsenic content in the phloem extrude and in total arsenic accumulation in siliques and seeds. Similarly, when As(III) is fed through the leaves, there was a very large decrease in arsenic accumulation in siliques and seeds compared with wild-type plants. These results clearly demonstrate that inositol transporters are responsible for As(III) loading into phloem, the key step regulating arsenic accumulation in seeds

Protein interaction mapping with ribosome-displayed using PLATO ORF libraries

Identifying physical interactions between proteins and other molecules is a critical aspect of biological analysis. Here we describe PLATO, an in vitro method for mapping such interactions by affinity enrichment of a library of full-length open reading frames displayed on ribosomes, followed by massively parallel analysis using DNA sequencing. We demonstrate the broad utility of the method by identifying known and new interacting partners of LYN kinase, patient autoantibodies and the small molecules gefitinib and dasatinib

DHX36, BAX, and ARPC1B May Be Critical for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has the highest mortality rate among infectious diseases. This study is designed to identify the key genes affecting the diagnosis and treatment of TB. Methods. GSE54992, which included 39 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples, was extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After the samples were classified into type and time groups by limma package, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the Analysis of Variance. Using pheatmap package, hierarchical cluster analysis was performed for the DEGs. Then, the key modules correlated with TB were selected using the WGCNA package. Finally, functional and pathway enrichment analyses were carried out using clusterProfiler package. Results. The DEGs in subclusters 3, 6, 7, and 8 were chosen for further analyses. Based on WGCNA analysis, blue and green modules in type group and pink module in time group were selected as key modules. From the key modules, 9 (including BAX and ARPC1B) hub genes in type group and 6 (including DHX36) hub genes in time group were screened. Through pathway enrichment analysis, the TNF signaling pathway was enriched for the green module. Conclusion. DHX36, BAX, and ARPC1B might be key genes acting in the mechanisms of TB. Besides, the TNF signaling pathway might also be critical for the diagnosis and therapy of the disease

Two-Dimensional V2O5 Inverse Opal: Fabrication and Electrochromic Application

The open-layered structure of Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) has triggered significant interest in exploring its energy-related application as lithium (Li) intercalation cathode material. Various methods are extensively studied to improve the Li diffusion using thin films or nanoarchitecture. In this work, high-quality two-dimensional (2D) inverse opal α-V2O5 films were synthesized via a modified ‘dynamic hard template’ infiltration strategy using sacrificial polystyrene spheres (PS, a diameter of 530 nm) photonic crystal as a template. The new material exhibited an excellent porous array with featured structural colors in a large area. The electrochromic behavior was explored by combining bandgap and electrochemical characterization. On the one hand, the intercalation/deintercalation of Li+ played an important role in the bandgap (Eg), and thereafter on the visible range transmittance through changing the film’s stoichiometry and the valence of vanadium ions. On the other hand, the asymmetry of the lattice due to the disordered distribution of Li+ within the V2O5 interlayer and/or the formation of an irreversible phase explained the change in transmittance with voltage

Adult-onset hypothalamic hamartoma: origin of epilepsy?

Abstract Background Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a congenital non-progressive lesion of hypothalamus during fetal development. Mass-like lesions in different anatomical locations often develop a variously disabling course presenting with cognitive decline, psychiatric symptoms, as well as multiple seizure types. As a rare disease, HH is relatively common in infants and children, but it is extremely rare in adults. Case presentation We reported a case of adult-onset hypothalamic hamartoma, and summarized and analyzed relevant reports and studies of HH worldwide. The patient had clinical manifestations characterized by multiple seizure forms. After stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation and drug treatment, the condition was effectively controlled. The patient was followed up till October 2022, with no recurrence of seizures. Conclusions Epilepsy caused by HH can resemble that of temporal lobe seizures, as HH forms a complex epileptogenic network with other regions of the brain through anatomical and functional connections. Early treatment of HH can provide better control of the symptoms of epilepsy, and patients with longer disease courses may have more complications

Ozone‐Induced Rapid and Green Synthesis of Polydopamine Coatings with High Uniformity and Enhanced Stability

Abstract The development of green, controllable, and simplified pathways for rapid dopamine polymerization holds significant importance in the field of polydopamine (PDA) surface chemistry. In this study, a green strategy is successfully devised to accelerate and control the polymerization of dopamine through the introduction of ozone (O3). The findings reveal that ozone serves as an eco‐friendly trigger, significantly accelerating the dopamine polymerization process across a broad pH range, spanning from 4.0 to 10.0. Notably, the deposition rate of PDA coatings on a silicon wafer reaches an impressive value of ≈64.8 nm h−1 (pH 8.5), which is 30 times higher than that of traditional air‐assisted PDA and comparable to the fastest reported method. Furthermore, ozone exhibits the ability to accelerate dopamine polymerization even under low temperatures. It also enables control over the inhibition–initiation of the polymerization process by regulating the “ON/OFF” mode of the ozone gas. Moreover, the ozone‐induced PDA coatings demonstrate exceptional characteristics, including high homogeneity, good hydrophilicity, and remarkable chemical and mechanical stability. Additionally, the ozone‐induced PDA coatings can be rapidly and effectively deposited onto a wide range of substrates, particularly those that are adhesion‐resistant, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)