Publications by authors named "Hui-Min Xu"

Terpenoids are structurally complex natural products with broad agricultural and therapeutic value, yet their low natural abundance and oxidative tailoring requirements complicate scalable production. Conventional microbial hosts often fail to support cytochrome P450-mediated oxidative tailoring, limiting access to complex derivatives. Here, we developed two hosts as alternative chassis, leveraging their extensive biosynthetic capabilities and native oxidative enzyme repertoires.

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Bacterial perhydrophenanthrene meroterpenoids are rare natural products featuring highly oxidized 6/6/6 fused tricyclic scaffolds. Using our previously characterized non-canonical terpene cyclase AtoE as a guide, we conducted targeted genome mining and identified a cryptic biosynthetic gene cluster in containing SmeD, an AtoE homolog with 46.15% sequence identity.

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Eunicellane diterpenoids, with over 360 known examples characterized by a cis- or trans-6/10-bicyclic carbon skeleton, exhibit diverse biological activities. To date, five eunicellane cyclases (ECs) have been reported: cis-ECs (Bnd4, CpDTS2 and EcTPS1) and trans-ECs (AlbS and MicA), yet the structural basis and molecular mechanisms governing their distinct cis- or trans-cyclization modes remain unsolved. Here, we present the crystal structure of a cis-EC AriE from Amycolatopsis arida, which catalyzes geranylgeranyl diphosphate to form cis-6/10-fused bicyclic benditerpe-2,6,15-triene (1) in aridacin biosynthesis.

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The kagome lattices of theTiBifamily have recently garnered significant attention due to their superconducting and topological properties. Here, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the band structure of the prototypical titanium-based kagome lattice material, CsTiBi, using Density Functional Theory. We revealed its topological properties and demonstrated that the Van Hove singularities can be effectively tuned to the Fermi level under 18 GPa.

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The development of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with high catalytic activity, high stability, and low cost is of great significance for the development of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Designing heterostructures within the catalyst can regulate the charge distribution to enhance the electron transfer rate during the catalytic process, and optimize the adsorption of oxygen-containing intermediates, resulting in high-performance ORR catalysts. In this study, FeP/ZnS heterostructures supported on N-doped porous carbon (FeP/ZnS@NC) are designed and fabricated through one-step synthesis via high-temperature pyrolysis.

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The strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) in supported metal catalysts represents a crucial factor in the design of highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts. This interaction can modify the surface adsorption state, electronic structure, and coordination environment of the supported metal, altering the interface structure of the catalyst. These changes serve to enhance the catalyst's activity, stability, and reaction selectivity.

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Purpose: This study aimed to elaborate on the incidence, clinical features, and management of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) related cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) in real-world practice.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review study on patients receiving at least one dose of ICI therapy at a Chinese tertiary hospital from March 2020 to March 2021. CVAEs were identified through clinical assessment and the Naranjo algorithm.

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The transition metal single atoms (SAs)-based catalysts with M-N coordination environment have shown excellent performance in electrocatalytic reduction of CO, and they have received extensive attention in recent years. However, the presence of SAs makes it very difficult to efficiently improve the coordination environment. In this paper, a method of direct high-temperature pyrolysis carbonization of ZIF-8 adsorbed with Ni and Fe ions is reported for the synthesis of Ni SAs and FeN nanoparticles (NPs) supported by the N-doped carbon (NC) hollow nanododecahedras (HNDs) with nanotubes (NTs) on the surface (Ni SAs/FeN NPs@NC-HNDs-NTs).

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Meroterpenoids are hybrid natural products that arise from the integration of terpenoid and non-terpenoid biosynthetic pathways. While the biosynthesis of fungal meroterpenoids typically follows a well-established sequence of prenylation, epoxidation, and cyclization, the pathways for bacterial perhydrophenanthrene meroterpenoids remain poorly understood. In this study, we report the construction of an engineered metabolic pathway in for the production of the bacterial meroterpenoid, atolypene A (1).

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Lesions of the left triangular ligament of the liver are rare, and there are even fewer cases of vascular tumors misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We comment on the two cases reported in the article. The article did not include pictures of laparoscopic surgery, making it unconvincing.

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Article Synopsis
  • Fossil energy is running out and causing significant environmental issues, making hydrogen energy a promising alternative that’s clean and has high energy density, produced via water electrolysis using renewable sources.
  • The electrolysis process includes two key reactions: the hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode, which is complex due to a high energy barrier requiring efficient catalysts.
  • Recent research on oxyhydroxide (MOOH) catalysts has focused on their two catalytic mechanisms and strategies to enhance their performance and stability, while also highlighting ongoing challenges and future directions for OER catalyst development.
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Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have the advantages of high energy density and rich zinc raw materials. It is a low-cost, green and sustainable energy storage device. At present, one of the key technologies that hinder the large-scale application of ZABs is the design and fabrication oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) bifunctional catalysts with excellent performance, especially the non-platinum-based catalysts.

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Water electrolysis has become an attractive hydrogen production method. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a bottleneck of water splitting as its four-electron transfer procedure presents sluggish reaction kinetics. Designing composite catalysts with high performance for efficient OER still remains a huge challenge.

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Natalisin (NTL) is a conserved neuropeptide, only present in insects, that has been reported to regulate their sexual activity. In this study, we investigated the involvement of NTL in the reproductive behaviors of a major invasive pest, Spodoptera frugiperda. We identified NTL precursor-encoded transcripts, and evaluated their transcript levels in different stages and tissues of S.

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Article Synopsis
  • Flexible rechargeable Zn-air batteries (FZABs) are promising for wearable electronics due to their lightweight and eco-friendly properties, but their performance is hindered by slow oxygen reactions at the air cathode.* -
  • Enhancing the activity and stability of bifunctional catalysts is critical, with two main strategies being the use of powder-based and flexible self-supported air cathodes.* -
  • The paper reviews recent advancements in catalyst structures, discusses strategies for improving catalyst synthesis, and highlights ongoing challenges in the field of FZABs.*
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The development of efficient urea oxidation reaction (UOR) catalysts helps UOR replace the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Here, we prepared Fe-doped NiP/NiSe composite catalyst (Fe-NiP/NiSe-12) by using phosphating-selenizating and acid etching to increase the intrinsic activity and active areas. Spectral characterization and theoretical calculations demonstrated that electrons flowed through the Ni-P-Fe-interface-Ni-Se-Fe, thus conferring high UOR activity to Fe-NiP/NiSe-12, which only needed 1.

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Drimane-type sesquiterpenoids (DMTs) are characterized by a distinctive 6/6 bicyclic skeleton comprising the A and B rings. While DMTs are commonly found in fungi and plants, their presence in bacteria has not been reported. Moreover, the biosynthetic pathways for DMTs have been primarily elucidated in fungi, with identified P450s only acting on the B ring.

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cis-Prenyltransferases (cis-PTs) catalyze the sequential head-to-tail condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) to allylic diphosphates, producing mixed E-Z prenyl diphosphates of varying lengths; however, the specific enzymes synthesizing cis-C prenyl diphosphates have not been identified. Herein, we present the discovery and characterization of a cis-geranylfarnesyl diphosphate synthase (ScGFPPS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus. This enzyme demonstrates high catalytic proficiency in generating six distinct cis-polyisoprenoids, including three C and three C variants.

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Genome mining of the Actinomycete Crossiella cryophila facilitated the discovery of a minimal terpenoid biosynthetic gene cluster of cry consisting of a class I terpene cyclase CryA and a CYP450 monooxygenase CryB. Heterologous expression of cry allowed the isolation and characterization of two new sesquiterpenoids, ent-viridiflorol (1) and cryophilain (2). Notably, cryophilain (2) possesses a 5/7/3-fused tricyclic skeleton bearing a distinctive bridgehead hydroxy group.

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Homeodomain (HD) proteins regulate embryogenesis in animals such as the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), often in a concentration-dependent manner. HD-leucine zipper (Zip) IV family genes are unique to plants and often function in the L1 epidermal cell layer. However, our understanding of the roles of HD-Zip IV family genes in plant morphogenesis is limited.

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In this study, we constructed a taxadiene overproduction platform and identified a cytochrome P450, CYP701A8, that activates the inert C-H bonds in taxadiene to produce three oxidized products (-). Compound possesses a newly identified 1 (15→11) abeotaxane skeleton, while features a distinctive 6/10-fused carbocyclic core with an α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety. Our quantum computations suggested a carbocation-driven rearrangement in the formation of .

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A long-term goal of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) has always been to design bifunctional electrocatalysts that are robust, effective, and affordable for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). It has become a feasible method to construct metal/metal oxide interfaces to achieve superior electrocatalytic performance for ORR and OER by enhanced charge transfer. In this study, Co/CoO heterojunctions were successfully prepared and encased in porous N-doped mesoporous carbon (Co/CoO@NC) via a simple condensation-carbonization-etching method.

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Terpenoids, the largest and most structurally diverse natural product family, are predominantly found in fungi and plants, with bacterial terpenoids forming a minor fraction. Here, we established an efficient platform that integrates genome mining and NMR-tracking for prioritizing strains and tracking bacterial terpenoids. By employing this platform, we selected for a comprehensive investigation of its capacity for terpenoid production, resulting in the characterization of 15 sesquiterpenoids.

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The extensive use of carbamate pesticides has led to a range of environmental and health problems, such as surface and groundwater contamination, and endocrine disorders in organisms. In this study, we focused on examining the effects of toxic exposure to the carbamate pesticide methomyl on the hatching, morphology, immunity and developmental gene expression levels in zebrafish embryos. Four concentrations of methomyl (0, 2, 20, and 200 μg/L) were administered to zebrafish embryos for a period of 96 h.

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