2,2′-[(4,6-Dinitro-1,3-phenyl­ene)dioxy]diacetic acid hemihydrate

The skeletons of both independent mol­ecules of the carboxylic acid hemihydrate, C10H8N2O10·0.5H2O, are approximately planar [maximum deviations 0.642 (3) and 0.468 (1) Å]. The deviations arise from the twisting of the nitro groups with respect to the aromatic rings [dihedral angles = 3.24 (2) and 27.01 (1), and 7.87 (1) and 16.37 (2)° in the two molecules]. The crystal structure features inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which the link the dicarboxylic acid and water mol­ecules into a supra­molecular layer network

Vapourchromic alkali metal ions complexes based on 2-phenmethylamino-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine

A series of 2-phenmethylamino-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine/alkali metal ion (Li+ and Na+) complexes have been synthesized using a polymeric medium (poly(acrylic acid)) as the key activating component. Upon exposure to methanol or ethanol vapour at ambient temperature, the emission colour of prepared complexes in solid powder and thin film states changes from red-orange or pink to blue, respectively. These phenomena are reversible and rapid (about 5-10 s), hence, the prepared complexes have potential applications as chemosensor materials for detection of volatile methanol vapour

Vapourchromic alkali metal ions complexes based on 2-phenmethylamino-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine

556-560A series of 2-phenmethylamino-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine/alkali metal ion (Li+ and Na+) complexes have been synthesized using a polymeric medium (poly(acrylic acid)) as the key activating component. Upon exposure to methanol or ethanol vapour at ambient temperature, the emission colour of prepared complexes in solid powder and thin film states changes from red-orange or pink to blue, respectively. These phenomena are reversible and rapid (about 5-10 s), hence, the prepared complexes have potential applications as chemosensor materials for detection of volatile methanol vapour

A Determining Factor for Insect Feeding Preference in the Silkworm, \u3cem\u3eBombyx mori\u3c/em\u3e

Feeding preference is critical for insect adaptation and survival. However, little is known regarding the determination of insect feeding preference, and the genetic basis is poorly understood. As a model lepidopteran insect with economic importance, the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a well-known monophagous insect that predominantly feeds on fresh mulberry leaves. This species-specific feeding preference provides an excellent model for investigation of host-plant selection of insects, although the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown. Here, we describe the gene GR66, which encodes a putative bitter gustatory receptor (GR) that is responsible for the mulberry-specific feeding preference of B. mori. With the aid of a transposon-based, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease (Cas9) system, the GR66 locus was genetically mutated, and homozygous mutant silkworm strains with truncated gustatory receptor 66 (GR66) proteins were established. GR66 mutant larvae acquired new feeding activity, exhibiting the ability to feed on a number of plant species in addition to mulberry leaves, including fresh fruits and grain seeds that are not normally consumed by wild-type (WT) silkworms. Furthermore, a feeding choice assay revealed that the mutant larvae lost their specificity for mulberry. Overall, our findings provide the first genetic and phenotypic evidences that a single bitter GR is a major factor affecting the insect feeding preference

Glucocorticoid Receptor β Acts As a Co-activator of T-Cell Factor 4 and Enhances Glioma Cell Proliferation

We previously reported that glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ) regulates injury-mediated astrocyte activation and contributes to glioma pathogenesis via modulation of β-catenin/T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcriptional activity. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism behind cross-talk between GRβ and β-catenin/TCF in the progression of glioma. Here, we reported that GRβ knockdown reduced U118 and Shg44 glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that GRβ knockdown decreased TCF/LEF transcriptional activity without affecting β-catenin/TCF complex. Both GRα and GRβ directly interact with TCF-4, while only GRβ is required for sustaining TCF/LEF activity under hormone-free condition. GRβ bound to the N-terminus domain of TCF-4 its influence on Wnt signaling required both ligand- and DNA-binding domains (LBD and DBD, respectively). GRβ and TCF-4 interaction is enough to maintain the TCF/LEF activity at a high level in the absence of β-catenin stabilization. Taken together, these results suggest a novel cross-talk between GRβ and TCF-4 which regulates Wnt signaling and the proliferation in gliomas