Publications by authors named "Junzheng Zhang"

The development and maturation of mammalian oocytes are crucial stages in reproduction, directly influencing embryo health and the genetic quality of offspring. Follicular fluid serves as the microenvironment for oocyte development, with exosomes playing a key role in regulating the activities of cumulus cells and oocytes. However, the mechanisms governing porcine oocyte maturation remain incompletely understood.

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Background: During sperm capacitation, post-translational modifications such as SUMOylation are crucial for maintaining protein homeostasis. Macroautophagy (autophagy) is essential for cellular and energy homeostasis, aiding in the survival of reproductive cells and protecting against ovarian aging. However, the role of autophagy in capacitated sperm remains unclear.

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Background: H2Av is an evolutionarily conserved H2A variant protein involved in the regulation of transcription. The Tip60 complex is recruited by different transcription factors to facilitate the incorporation and acetylation of H2Av, thereby influencing target gene expression. The Tip60-H2Av axis is involved in various developmental processes, though its precise roles are not yet fully understood.

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Unlabelled: Microsporidia are a group of intracellular and unicellular eukaryotic parasites, which can nearly infect all animals, including human beings. As the first identified microsporidia, is a world-wide threat for silkworm eggs production, it can cause the congenital infection transovarial transmission. It is important for pathogenesis elucidation to unravel the molecular characteristics of proliferation and host immune responses to the congenital infection in embryo and larva stage.

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Rapid detection of illicit drugs has garnered significant attention for its role in preventing and controlling drug abuse, supporting treatment management in healthcare systems, and environmental monitoring. Although various reviews have explored specific methods, samples, or analytes in rapid illicit drug detection, a comprehensive analysis summarizing overall trends in this field remains absent. To support the development and broader application of rapid drug detection technologies, a bibliometric analysis of relevant literature from 2001 to 2023 is conducted, presenting a general bibliometric distribution of studies by year, country, institution, author, journal, and research focus.

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This study investigates the effect of de-SUMOylated hexokinase 1 (HK1) degradation on sperm capacitation in vitro. Sperm from adult Landrace pigs was divided into three groups: non-capacitated group, capacitated group, and 16 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) group. Immunoprecipitation was performed to detect the binding levels of HK1 and small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) before and after capacitation.

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Grassland represents one of the most expansive terrestrial ecosystems, exerting a profound influence on atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) levels within the broader context of global change. Both climate and land use changes play important roles in modulating grassland GHG emissions by directly or indirectly altering soil physical and chemical properties, especially soil temperature and inorganic nitrogen content. The optimal grassland management practices need to simultaneously meet the requirements of reducing GHG emissions, maintaining biological biodiversity, and ensuring productivity.

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Low-temperature injury affects normal physiological function and viability of boar sperm during cryopreservation. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification of proteins after translation is related to the cell stress response but the relationship between SUMO modification and oxidative stress in freeze-thawed sperm remains unclear. A-kinase ankyrin 4 (AKAP4) and its precursor proAKAP4 are two main proteins in mammalian sperm.

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The oriental fruit fly, (Hendel), is a highly invasive and destructive pest. Chlorfenapyr is a widely used insecticide that disrupts mitochondrial activity. The Parkin protein plays conserved roles in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, but the role of Parkin in response to chlorfenapyr remains largely unknown.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a harmful virus that affects plants, and we need ways to reduce it and help plants fight back.
  • Researchers created a special nano-protectant called SPc that can lower the amount of TMV and help plants build their defenses.
  • The SPc works with another ingredient called lentinan (LNT) to form a tiny complex that makes it easier for plants to absorb, leading to better protection against TMV in both lab tests and real farming conditions.
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In this study, we aimed to investigate cytoplasmic maturation and miRNA expression of mature oocytes cultured in porcine follicular fluid exosomes. We also examined the effect of miR-339-5p on oocyte maturation. Twenty eight differentially expressed miRNAs were detected using miRNA-seq.

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and are two invasive species that can cause major economic damage to orchards and the fruit import and export industries. Their distribution is advancing northward due to climate change, which is threatening greater impacts on fruit production. This study tested the rapid cold-hardening ability of the two species and identified the temperature associated with the highest survival rate.

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Glioblastoma multiforme represents the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumour, while long non-coding RNA assumes a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of glioblastoma multiforme. Nonetheless, the successful delivery of long non-coding RNA-based therapeutics to the tumour site has encountered significant obstacles attributable to inadequate biocompatibility and inefficient drug delivery systems. In this context, the use of a biofunctional surface modification of graphene oxide has emerged as a promising strategy to surmount these challenges.

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The built-in electric field of the polymer semiconductors could be regulated by the dipole moment of its building blocks, thereby promoting the separation of photogenerated carriers and achieving efficient solar-driven water splitting. Herein, three perylene diimide (PDI) polymers, namely oPDI, mPDI and pPDI, are synthesized with different phenylenediamine linkers. Notably, the energy level structure, light-harvesting efficiency, and photogenerated carrier separation and migration of polymers are regulated by the orientation of PDI unit.

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In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the expression of miR-155-5p and its target genes on oocyte maturation. We analyzed the expression of miR-155-5p and its target genes in cumulus cells and oocytes using quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Using carboxyfluorescein, porcine cumulus cells were transfected with mimics and inhibitors of ssc-miR-155-5p to induce in vitro maturation, and subsequently, cumulus expansion, oocyte maturation, and cleavage rate were measured.

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Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer, and comprehending its molecular mechanisms is pivotal for advancing treatment efficacy. This study aims to explore the prognostic and functional significance of base excision repair (BER)-related long non-coding RNAs (BERLncs) in LUAD.

Methods: A risk score model for BERLncs was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression analysis.

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Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway which functions between adjacent cells to establish their distinct identities. Despite operating in a simple mechanism, Notch signaling plays remarkably diverse roles in development to regulate cell fate determination, organ growth and tissue patterning. While initially discovered and characterized in the model insect , recent studies across various insect species have revealed the broad involvement of Notch signaling in shaping insect tissues.

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Wing dimorphism occurs in insects as a survival strategy to adapt to environmental changes. In response to environmental cues, mother aphids transmit signals to their offspring, and the offspring either emerge as winged adults or develop as wingless adults with degeneration of the wing primordia in the early instar stage. However, how the wing morph is determined in the early instar stage is still unclear.

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Solar energy has the potential to be the next-generation power source if the intermittent nature can be overcome rational energy storage engineering. The competitiveness of solar rechargeable batteries can be further enhanced if the demand for multiple energy storage scenarios can be met within one device. Moreover, active electrochemical materials with different energy storage types are the critical component of this energy storage system.

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Mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) assemble as specialized ribosome to synthesize mtDNA-encoded proteins, which are essential for mitochondrial bioenergetic and metabolic processes. MRPs are required for fundamental cellular activities during animal development, but their roles beyond mitochondrial protein translation are poorly understood. Here, we report a conserved role of the mitochondrial ribosomal protein L4 (mRpL4) in Notch signaling.

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Insulin-like peptides (Ilps) play crucial roles in nearly all life stages of insects. Ilp8 is involved in developmental stability, stress resistance and female fecundity in several insect species, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report the functional characterization of Ilp8s in three fly species, including , and .

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Background: Nanomaterials are widely used as pesticide adjuvants to increase pesticide efficiency and minimize environmental pollution. But it is increasingly recognized that nanocarrier is a double-edged sword, as nanoparticles are emerging as new environmental pollutants. This study aimed to determine the biotoxicity of a widely applied star polycation (SPc) nanocarrier using Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, as an in vivo model.

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This study investigates the effects of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) on porcine sperm capacitation and its interactions with the cAMP-PKA pathway. The semen of adult Landrace boars was divided into four groups: non-capacitated, capacitated, 10 μM/mL MG132, and 10 μM/mL DMSO groups. We characterized the parameters related to sperm dynamics using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system.

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Mutations of genes encoding key components of the Notch signaling pathways often result in lethality at early developmental stages, making it difficult to decipher how they regulate the formation of specific cell types or organs. Mosaic analysis using the FLP/FRT system allows investigating the roles of essential genes during wing development in Drosophila melanogaster. This chapter describes the practical methods to isolate Notch signaling regulators by somatic mosaic screen.

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Converting CO into valuable solar fuels through photocatalysis has been considered a green and sustainable technology that is promising for alleviating global warming and providing energy in an environmentally friendly manner. However, traditional photocatalysts generally suffer from low surface-reactive reaction sites, inefficient light harvesting and rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs. Lead halide perovskite materials have been considered ideal semiconductor photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO reduction due to their tunable band gaps, strong light absorption, and low cost.

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