Exome Sequencing Identifies TENM4 as a Novel Candidate Gene for Schizophrenia in the SCZD2 Locus at 11q14-21

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder with high genetic heterogeneity, however, the contribution of rare mutations to the disease etiology remains to be further elucidated. We herein performed exome sequencing in a Han Chinese schizophrenia family and identified a missense mutation (c.6724C>T, p.R2242C) in the teneurin transmembrane protein 4 (TENM4) gene in the SCZD2 locus, a region previously linked to schizophrenia at 11q14-21. The mutation was confirmed to co-segregate with the schizophrenia phenotype in the family. Subsequent investigation of TENM4 exons 31, 32, and 33 adjacent to the p.R2242C mutation revealed two additional missense mutations in 120 sporadic schizophrenic patients. Residues mutated in these mutations, which are predicted to be deleterious to protein function, were highly conserved among vertebrates. These rare mutations were not detected in 1000 Genomes, NHLBI Exome Sequencing Project databases, or our in-house 1136 non-schizophrenic control exomes. Analysis of RNA-Seq data showed that TENM4 is expressed in the brain with high abundance and specificity. In line with the important role of TENM4 in central nervous system development, our findings suggested that increased rare variants in TENM4 could be associated with schizophrenia, and thus TENM4 could be a novel candidate gene for schizophrenia in the SCZD2 locus

RET Germline Mutations Identified by Exome Sequencing in a Chinese Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A/Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Family

BACKGROUND: Whole exome sequencing provides a labor-saving and direct means of genetic diagnosis of hereditary disorders in which the pathogenic gene harbors a large cohort of exons. We set out to demonstrate a suitable example of genetic diagnosis of MEN 2A/FMTC (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2/familial medullary thyroid carcinoma) using this approach. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We sequenced the whole exome of six individuals from a large Chinese MEN2A/FMTC pedigree to identify the variants of the RET (REarranged during Transfection) protooncogene and followed this by validation. Then prophylactic or surgical thyroidectomy with modified or level VI lymph node dissection and adrenalectomy were performed for the carriers. The cases were closely followed up. Massively parallel sequencing revealed four missense mutations of RET. We unexpectedly discovered that the proband's daughter with MEN 2A-related MTC presented a novel p.C634Y/V292M/R67H/R982C compound mutation, due to the involvement of p.C634Y in the proband with MEN 2A and p.V292M/R67H/R982C in the proband's husband with FMTC. In the maternal origin, p.C634Y caused bilateral MTC in all 5 cases and bilateral pheochromocytoma in 2 of the 5; the earliest onset age was 28 years. In the paternal origin, one of the six p.V292M/R67H/R982C carriers presented bilateral MTC (70 years old), one only had bilateral C-cell hyperplasia (44 years), two had bilateral multi-nodules (46 and 48 years) and two showed no abnormality (22 and 19 years). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results confirmed the successful clinical utility of whole exome sequencing, and our data suggested that the p.C634Y/V292M/R67H/R982C mutation of RET exhibited a more aggressive clinical phenotype than p.C634Y or p.V292M/R67H/R982C, while p.V292M/R67H/R982C presented a relatively milder pathogenicity of MTC and likely predisposed to FMTC

Reconstructed covalent organic frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are distinguished from other organic polymers by their crystallinity1–3, but it remains challenging to obtain robust, highly crystalline COFs because the framework-forming reactions are poorly reversible4,5. More reversible chemistry can improve crystallinity6–9, but this typically yields COFs with poor physicochemical stability and limited application scope5. Here we report a general and scalable protocol to prepare robust, highly crystalline imine COFs, based on an unexpected framework reconstruction. In contrast to standard approaches in which monomers are initially randomly aligned, our method involves the pre-organization of monomers using a reversible and removable covalent tether, followed by confined polymerization. This reconstruction route produces reconstructed COFs with greatly enhanced crystallinity and much higher porosity by means of a simple vacuum-free synthetic procedure. The increased crystallinity in the reconstructed COFs improves charge carrier transport, leading to sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rates of up to 27.98 mmol h−1 g−1. This nanoconfinement-assisted reconstruction strategy is a step towards programming function in organic materials through atomistic structural control

Predicting the spatial distribution of Biomphalaria straminea, a potential intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, in China

Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases impacting human health in the tropics and sub-tropics. The geographic distribution of Schistosoma mansoni, the most widespread species, includes areas in Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. Snails of the genus Biomphalaria act as intermediate host for S. mansoni. Biomphalaria straminea is not indigenous in China but was accidentally introduced to Hong Kong from South America and has spread to other habitats in the southern parts of the country. This species is known for its great dispersal capacity that highlights the importance of the snail as a potential host for S. mansoni in China. In this connection, although no such infection has been recorded in the field so far, the continuous expansion of China’s projects in endemic areas of Africa and import of the infection via returning workers or visitors deserve attention. The purpose of this study was to map and predict the spatial distribution of B. straminea in China. Snail occurrence data were assembled and investigated using MaxEnt software, along with climatic and environmental variables to produce a predictive risk map. Of the environmental variables tested, the precipitation of warmest quarter was the most contribution factor for snail’s spatial distribution. Risk areas were found in southeastern China and it is expected that they will guide policies and control programmes to potential areas area of snail abundance and used for spatial targeting of control interventions for this invasive species

Aerobic Acetoxyhydroxylation of Alkenes Co-catalyzed by Organic Nitrite and Palladium

An aerobic acetoxyhydroxylation of alkenes cooperatively catalyzed by organic nitrite and palladium at room temperature using clean and cheap air as the sole oxidant has been developed. Various vicinal diols, diacetoxyalkanes, and dihalogenoalkanes have been synthesized. The gram-scale synthesis has also been approached. Vicinal difluorination and dichlorolation products have also been achieved via this reaction

Highly Efficient Synthesis of Substituted 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2-(1<i>H</i>)-ones (DHPMs) Catalyzed by Hf(OTf)₄: Mechanistic Insights into Reaction Pathways under Metal Lewis Acid Catalysis and Solvent-Free Conditions

In our studies on the catalytic activity of Group IVB transition metal Lewis acids, Hf(OTf)4 was identified as a highly potent catalyst for &#8222;one-pot, three-component&#8222; Biginelli reaction. More importantly, it was found that solvent-free conditions, in contrast to solvent-based conditions, could dramatically promote the Hf(OTf)4-catalyzed formation of 3,4-dihydro-pyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones. To provide a mechanistic explanation, we closely examined the catalytic effects of Hf(OTf)4 on all three potential reaction pathways in both &#8220;sequential bimolecular condensations&#8222; and &#8220;one-pot, three-component&#8222; manners. The experimental results showed that the synergistic effects of solvent-free conditions and Hf(OTf)4 catalysis not only drastically accelerate Biginelli reaction by enhancing the imine route and activating the enamine route but also avoid the formation of Knoevenagel adduct, which may lead to an undesired byproduct. In addition, 1H-MMR tracing of the H-D exchange reaction of methyl acetoacetate in MeOH-d4 indicated that Hf(IV) cation may significantly accelerate ketone-enol tautomerization and activate the &#946;-ketone moiety, thereby contributing to the overall reaction rate

Ru-Catalyzed Rearrangement of <i>N</i>‑Methyl Isoxazolidines to <i>N</i>–H 1,3‑Oxazinanes: A Strategy of Self-Hydride Transferring Cleavage of N–O Bonds

A strategy of ruthenium-catalyzed self-hydride transferring cleavage of N–O bonds was designed and utilized in a cascade 1,3-dipolar cyclization of alkenes and <i>N</i>-methyl nitrones followed by an <i>N</i>-demethylative rearrangement, furnishing synthetically useful <i>N</i>–H 1,3-oxazinanes