Selective and Continuous Electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide on Nitrogen-doped Carbon Supported Nickel

Hydrogen peroxide is a widely used industrial oxidant, the large-scale production of which continues to be done by an indirect process. Direct electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide from aerial oxygen and water is a sustainable alternative, but this remains challenging because hydrogen peroxide is highly reactive and robust catalysts are vital. Here, we report direct and continuous electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions using a nitrogen-doped-carbon-supported nickel catalyst. Both experiment and theoretical calculations confirm that the existence of nickel particles suppresses the further reduction of hydrogen peroxide on Ni-N-C matrix. In air-saturated 0.1 M potassium hydroxide, the energy-efficient non-precious metal electrocatalyst exhibits a consistent Faraday efficiency over 95% at a steady rate of hydrogen peroxide production (15.1 mmol min−1 gcat−1) for 100 h. This sustainable, efficient, and safe process is an important step toward continuous production of hydrogen peroxide

Identification and validation of candidate genes associated with domesticated and improved traits in soybean

Soybean, an important source of vegetable oils and proteins for humans, has undergone significant phenotypic changes during domestication and improvement. However, there is limited knowledge about genes related to these domesticated and improved traits, such as flowering time, seed development, alkaline-salt tolerance, and seed oil content (SOC). In this study, more than 106,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by restriction site associated DNA sequencing of 14 wild, 153 landrace, and 119 bred soybean accessions, and 198 candidate domestication regions (CDRs) were identified via multiple genetic diversity analyses. Of the 1489 candidate domestication genes (CDGs) within these CDRs, a total of 330 CDGs were related to the above four traits in the domestication, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, gene expression, and pathway analyses. Eighteen, 60, 66, and 10 of the 330 CDGs were significantly associated with the above four traits, respectively. Of 134 traitassociated CDGs, 29 overlapped with previous CDGs, 11 were consistent with candidate genes in previous trait association studies, and 66 were covered by the domesticated and improved quantitative trait loci or their adjacent regions, having six common CDGs, such as one functionally characterized gene Glyma15 g17480 (GmZTL3). Of the 68 seed size (SS) and SOC CDGs, 37 were further confirmed by gene expression analysis. In addition, eight genes were found to be related to artificial selection during modern breeding. Therefore, this study provides an integrated method for efficiently identifying CDGs and valuable information for domestication and genetic research

Genomic Analyses Reveal Mutational Signatures and Frequently Altered Genes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the fourth most lethal cancer in China. However, although genomic studies have identified some mutations associated with ESCC, we know little of the mutational processes responsible. To identify genome-wide mutational signatures, we performed either whole-genome sequencing (WGS) or whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 104 ESCC individuals and combined our data with those of 88 previously reported samples. An APOBEC-mediated mutational signature in 47% of 192 tumors suggests that APOBEC-catalyzed deamination provides a source of DNA damage in ESCC. Moreover, PIK3CA hotspot mutations (c.1624G>A [p.Glu542Lys] and c.1633G>A [p.Glu545Lys]) were enriched in APOBEC-signature tumors, and no smoking-associated signature was observed in ESCC. In the samples analyzed by WGS, we identified focal (<100 kb) amplifications of CBX4 and CBX8. In our combined cohort, we identified frequent inactivating mutations in AJUBA, ZNF750, and PTCH1 and the chromatin-remodeling genes CREBBP and BAP1, in addition to known mutations. Functional analyses suggest roles for several genes (CBX4, CBX8, AJUBA, and ZNF750) in ESCC. Notably, high activity of hedgehog signaling and the PI3K pathway in approximately 60% of 104 ESCC tumors indicates that therapies targeting these pathways might be particularly promising strategies for ESCC. Collectively, our data provide comprehensive insights into the mutational signatures of ESCC and identify markers for early diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets

The oyster genome reveals stress adaptation and complexity of shell formation

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas belongs to one of the most species-rich but genomically poorly explored phyla, the Mollusca. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the oyster genome using short reads and a fosmid-pooling strategy, along with transcriptomes of development and stress response and the proteome of the shell. The oyster genome is highly polymorphic and rich in repetitive sequences, with some transposable elements still actively shaping variation. Transcriptome studies reveal an extensive set of genes responding to environmental stress. The expansion of genes coding for heat shock protein 70 and inhibitors of apoptosis is probably central to the oyster's adaptation to sessile life in the highly stressful intertidal zone. Our analyses also show that shell formation in molluscs is more complex than currently understood and involves extensive participation of cells and their exosomes. The oyster genome sequence fills a void in our understanding of the Lophotrochozoa. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

IL-1β-mediated inflammatory responses in intervertebral disc degeneration: Mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic potential

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been widely recognized as the primary cause of low back pain and is one of the major chronic diseases imposing a severe socioeconomic burden worldwide. IDD is a degenerative process characterized by inflammatory responses, and its underlying pathological mechanisms remain complex. Genetic, developmental, biochemical, and biomechanical factors contribute to the development of IDD. There is a pressing need for an effective non-surgical treatment, mainly due to the lack of comprehensive understanding of the specific mechanisms involved and the effective therapeutic targets for IDD. Recently, interleukin (IL)-1β has been recognized as an essential inflammatory factor and a key mediator of the inflammatory process in IDD. Current studies have found that IL-1β is mainly involved in IDD by affecting the metabolism of the extracellular matrix and regulating cell death (RCD), such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis (a new form of RCD). Although analysis of clinical samples from different laboratories confirmed how IL-1β is induced in IDD, its specific signal transduction pathway, and the inflammatory role mediated in IDD remains unclear. This review describes the molecules and mechanisms involved in IL-1β-mediated inflammatory responses, and their roles in resolving the inflammatory process in IDD. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in IL-1β may lead to a new class of targets that promote remission for IDD patients. This review aims to provide a framework for the treatment of IDD by analyzing the signaling mechanism and function related to IL-1β, especially in terms of inflammation, matrix metabolism, and cell death regulation

Genome sequence of ground tit Pseudopodoces humilis and its adaptation to high altitude

Background: The mechanism of high-altitude adaptation has been studied in certain mammals. However, in avian species like the ground tit Pseudopodoces humilis, the adaptation mechanism remains unclear. The phylogeny of the ground tit is also controversial.Results: Using next generation sequencing technology, we generated and assembled a draft genome sequence of the ground tit. The assembly contained 1.04 Gb of sequence that covered 95.4% of the whole genome and had higher N50 values, at the level of both scaffolds and contigs, than other sequenced avian genomes. About 1.7 million SNPs were detected, 16,998 protein-coding genes were predicted and 7% of the genome was identified as repeat sequences. Comparisons between the ground tit genome and other avian genomes revealed a conserved genome structure and confirmed the phylogeny of ground tit as not belonging to the Corvidae family. Gene family expansion and positively selected gene analysis revealed genes that were related to cardiac function. Our findings contribute to our understanding of the adaptation of this species to extreme environmental living conditions.Conclusions: Our data and analysis contribute to the study of avian evolutionary history and provide new insights into the adaptation mechanisms to extreme conditions in animals