Prognostic role of EGR1 in breast cancer : A systematic review

Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (grant no. 2015R1A5A1009701 and 2019M3A9H1030682); and, in part by the National Research Foundation of Korea-Grant funded by the Korean Government (Ministry of Science and ICT)-NRF-2017R1A2B2012337. In addition, this paper was written as part of Konkuk University's research support program for its faculty on sabbatical leave in 2019-2020.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Soybean AROGENATE DEHYDRATASES (GmADTs): involvement in the cytosolic isoflavonoid metabolon or trans-organelle continuity?

Soybean (Glycine max) produces a class of phenylalanine (Phe) derived specialized metabolites, isoflavonoids. Isoflavonoids are unique to legumes and are involved in defense responses in planta, and they are also necessary for nodule formation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Since Phe is a precursor of isoflavonoids, it stands to reason that the synthesis of Phe is coordinated with isoflavonoid production. Two putative AROGENATE DEHYDRATASE (ADT) isoforms were previously co-purified with the soybean isoflavonoid metabolon anchor ISOFLAVONE SYNTHASE2 (GmIFS2), however the GmADT family had not been characterized. Here, we present the identification of the nine member GmADT family. We determined that the GmADTs share sequences required for enzymatic activity and allosteric regulation with other characterized plant ADTs. Furthermore, the GmADTs are differentially expressed, and multiple members have dual substrate specificity, also acting as PREPHENATE DEHYDRATASES. All GmADT isoforms were detected in the stromules of chloroplasts, and they all interact with GmIFS2 in the cytosol. In addition, GmADT12A interacts with multiple other isoflavonoid metabolon members. These data substantiate the involvement of GmADT isoforms in the isoflavonoid metabolon

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Deep Submicron EGFET Based on Transistor Association Technique for Chemical Sensing

Extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) is an electronic interface originally developed as a substitute for an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET). Although the literature shows that commercial off-the-shelf components are widely used for biosensor fabrication, studies on electronic interfaces are still scarce (e.g., noise processes, scaling). Therefore, the incorporation of a custom EGFET can lead to biosensors with optimized performance. In this paper, the design and characterization of a transistor association (TA)-based EGFET was investigated. Prototypes were manufactured using a 130 nm standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process and compared with devices presented in recent literature. A DC equivalence with the counterpart involving a single equivalent transistor was observed. Experimental results showed a power consumption of 24.99 mW at 1.2 V supply voltage with a minimum die area of 0.685 × 1.2 mm2. The higher aspect ratio devices required a proportionally increased die area and power consumption. Conversely, the input-referred noise showed an opposite trend with a minimum of 176.4 nVrms over the 0.1 to 10 Hz frequency band for a higher aspect ratio. EGFET as a pH sensor presented further validation of the design with an average voltage sensitivity of 50.3 mV/pH, a maximum current sensitivity of 15.71 mA1/2/pH, a linearity higher than 99.9%, and the possibility of operating at a lower noise level with a compact design and a low complexity

EGFET-Based Sensors for Bioanalytical Applications: A Review

Since the 1970s, a great deal of attention has been paid to the development of semiconductor-based biosensors because of the numerous advantages they offer, including high sensitivity, faster response time, miniaturization, and low-cost manufacturing for quick biospecific analysis with reusable features. Commercial biosensors have become highly desirable in the fields of medicine, food, and environmental monitoring as well as military applications, whereas increasing concerns about food safety and health issues have resulted in the introduction of novel legislative standards for these sensors. Numerous devices have been developed for monitoring biological processes such as nucleic acid hybridization, protein⁻protein interaction, antigen⁻antibody bonds, and substrate⁻enzyme reactions, just to name a few. Since the 1980s, scientific interest moved to the development of semiconductor-based devices, which also include integrated front-end electronics, such as the extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) biosensor, one of the first miniaturized chemical sensors. This work is intended to be a review of the state of the art focused on the development of biosensors and chemosensors based on extended-gate field-effect transistor within the field of bioanalytical applications, which will highlight the most recent research reported in the literature. Moreover, a comparison among the diverse EGFET devices will be presented, giving particular attention to the materials and technologies

Unconventional Rapid Synthesis of Layered Manganese Dioxide Nanostructures for Selective Oxidation of 5‑Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Diformylfuran

Nanostructured first row transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) oxides (TMOs) have shown promise as catalysts for creation of new and ransformative technologies for manufacturing value-added chemicals that are energy- and atom-efficient. Most of the synthesis routes to TMOs involve harsh reaction conditions or prolonged preparation times. Herein, we use potassium superoxide (KO2), a commercially available stable salt of superoxide, as a viable oxidant for rapid but mild redox synthesis of birnessite type layered manganese dioxide (δ-MnO2) nanomaterials. These δ-MnO2 materials are synthesized in a fast (as fast as 5 min), ambient (room temperature), and convenient condition, employing a simple laboratory apparatus (grinding with mortar and pestle followed by washing with water). Characterization studies reveal a hierarchical porosity and sponge-like morphology for the δ-MnO2 nanomaterial, whereas the surface area of the material is tunable as a function of the adopted synthetic aspects. The δ-MnO2 materials deliver promising catalytic activity in the selective aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural alcohol (HMF) to 3,5-diformylfuran (DFF), an important probe reaction to transform biomass-derived feedstocks to useful chemicals. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to investigate the interaction of HMF with the catalyst surface and to chart out the energetics pathway of system relaxation, together showcasing various bond dissociations, intermediate steps, and rate limiting kinetics