Real-Time Detection of Reduced Nitroreductase with a Reversible Fluorescent Probe.

Nitroreductase (NTR), a class of flavin-dependent redox enzymes, is a key biomarker for hypoxic tumors. Numerous fluorescent NTR probes have been developed to study hypoxia and associated tumors; however, they are reaction-based and provide only static information on the accumulated enzyme activity at a given time. Reversible binding probes are needed to monitor the enzyme level in real time.

Spectrum-effect relationship of the cardiovascular-protective effect of with Chrysanthemi Flos by UPLC-MS/MS and component knock-out method.

Chrysanthemi Flos (CF), as one of the important 'dual-use' plants, possesses great pharmacological research and development potential. This work aimed to find the pharmacodynamic material basis of CF in cardiovascular-protection by spectrum-effect relationship and component knock-out method. The fingerprint was established by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and 25 peaks were picked out as common peaks.

Development of a leaf metabolite-based intact sample distinguishing algorithm for the three varieties of Panax Vietnamensis.

Panax vietnamensis, indigenous to Vietnam and southern China, is classified into three subspecies: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. (PVV), Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus (PVF), and Panax vietnamensis var.

Effects of stir-frying on chemical profile, sensory quality and antioxidant activity of Chrysanthemi Flos: A metabolomics and sensory study.

Chrysanthemi Flos has been consumed as floral tea for centuries, but the effects of stir-frying on its chemical profile, sensory characteristics, and bioactivity remain unclear. This study used untargeted metabolomics, sensory assessment (E-eye, E-nose, E-tongue), and antioxidant activity evaluation to investigate compositional changes and their effects. In the metabolomics analysis, a total of 101 non-volatile and 306 volatile differential metabolites were identified.

Detection of HO and catalase on a paper-based flow sensor constructed with borate cross-linked PVA hydrogel.

The detections of HO and catalase play an important role in daily life. This study introduces a paper-based flow sensor that is specifically designed to detect HO and catalase. The sensor utilizes a hydrogel composed of cross-linked 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid and polyvinyl alcohol.

A naturally derived small molecule compound suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in mice by relieving p53-dependent repression of CDK2/Rb signaling and the Snail-driven EMT.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is central to cancer biology, with its pathway reactivation emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy in oncology. This study introduced LZ22, a novel compound that selectively inhibits the growth, migration, and metastasis of tumor cells expressing wild-type p53, demonstrating ineffectiveness in cells devoid of p53 or those expressing mutant p53. LZ22's mechanism of action involves a high-affinity interaction with the histidine-96 pocket of the MDM2 protein.

A homologous series of macrocyclic Ni clusters: synthesis, structures, and catalytic properties.

Due to their intriguing ring structures and promising applications, nickel-thiolate clusters, such as [Ni(SR)] ( = 4-6), have attracted tremendous interest. However, investigation of the synthesis, structures, and properties of macrocyclic Ni clusters ( > 8) has been seriously impeded. In this work, a homologous series of macrocyclic nickel clusters, Ni(4MPT) ( = 9-12), was fabricated by using 4-methylphenthiophenol (4MPT) as the ligand.

Chicken jejunal microbiota improves growth performance by mitigating intestinal inflammation.

Background: Intestinal inflammation is prevalent in chicken, which results in decreased growth performance and considerable economic losses. Accumulated findings established the close relationship between gut microbiota and chicken growth performance. However, whether gut microbiota impacts chicken growth performance by lessening intestinal inflammation remains elusive.

Identifying the Real Chemistry of the Synthesis and Reversible Transformation of AuCd Bimetallic Clusters.

The capability of precisely constructing bimetallic clusters with atomic accuracy provides exciting opportunities for establishing their structure-property correlations. However, the chemistry (the charge state of precursors, the property of ligands, the amount of dopant, and so forth) dictating the fabrication of clusters with atomic-level control has been a long-standing challenge. Herein, based on the well-defined Au(SR) cluster (SR = thiolates), we have systematically investigated the factors of steric hindrance and electronic effect of ligands, the charge state of Au(SR), and the amount of dopant that may determine the structure of AuCd clusters.

The Factors Dictating Properties of Atomically Precise Metal Nanocluster Electrocatalysts.

Metal nanoparticles occupy an important position in electrocatalysis. Unfortunately, by using conventional synthetic methodology, it is a great challenge to realize the monodisperse composition/structure of metal nanoparticles at the atomic level, and to establish correlations between the catalytic properties and the structure of individual catalyst particles. For the study of well-defined nanocatalysts, great advances have been made for the successful synthesis of nanoparticles with atomic precision, notably ligand-passivated metal nanoclusters.

Caecal microbiota could effectively increase chicken growth performance by regulating fat metabolism.

It has been established that gut microbiota influences chicken growth performance and fat metabolism. However, whether gut microbiota affects chicken growth performance by regulating fat metabolism remains unclear. Therefore, seven-week-old chickens with high or low body weight were used in the present study.

Sex differences in growth performance are related to cecal microbiota in chicken.

In poultry industry, male chickens have a better growth performance than female ones under the same genetic background and diet. Emerging evidences proposed an important role of intestinal microbiota in chicken's growth performance. This study aimed to determine gut microbiota related gender based differences in the growth performance of chickens.

Aberrant upregulation of PDK1 in ovarian cancer cells impairs CD8 T cell function and survival through elevation of PD-L1.

Blockade of the programmed cell death 1(PD-1)/PD-1 ligand-1(PD-L1) pathway has been exploited therapeutically in many cancer types. Upregulation of PD-L1 in tumor cells contributes to malignancy through suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor response. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), a glycolytic gate-keeping enzyme, is also known to promote tumor development.

RNA-Seq-Based Gene Expression Pattern and Morphological Alterations in Chick Thymus during Postnatal Development.

The thymus is a lobulated unique lymphoid immune organ that plays a critical role in the selection, development, proliferation, and differentiation of T cells. The thymus of developing chickens undergoes continued morphological alterations; however, the biomolecular and transcriptional dynamics of the postnatal thymus in avian species is not clear yet. Therefore, the thymuses from chickens at different stages of development (at weeks 0, 1, 5, 9, 18, and 27) were used in the present study.

Simultaneous Detection of Mitochondrial Hydrogen Selenide and Superoxide Anion in HepG2 Cells under Hypoxic Conditions.

Previous studies proposed that sodium selenite (NaSeO) was reduced to hydrogen selenide (HSe) and that HSe subsequently reacted with oxygen to generate superoxide anion (O), resulting in tumor cell oxidative stress and apoptosis. However, under the hypoxic conditions of a solid tumor, the anticancer mechanism of sodium selenite remains unclear. To reveal the exact anticancer mechanism of selenite in the real tumor microenvironment, we developed a mitochondria-targeting fluorescent nanosensor, Mito-N-D-MSN, which was fabricated from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with two small-molecule fluorescent probes and a triphenylphosphonium ion as a mitochondria-targeting moiety.

Targetable Mesoporous Silica Nanoprobes for Mapping the Subcellular Distribution of HSe in Cancer Cells.

Hydrogen selenide, a highly active reductant, is believed as a key molecule in the cytotoxicity of inorganic selenium compounds. However, the detail mechanism has hardly been studied because the distribution of HSe in the subcellular organelles remains unclear. Herein, we exploited a series of novel targetable mesoporous silica nanoplatforms to map the distribution of HSe in cytoplasm, lysosome, and mitochondria of cancer cells.

Polymer-based precipitation preserves biological activities of extracellular vesicles from an endometrial cell line.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound vesicles released by cells and act as media for transfer of proteins, small RNAs and mRNAs to distant sites. They can be isolated by different methods. However, the biological activities of the purified EVs have seldom been studied.

APC controls cell cycle entry during liver regeneration.

Cdh1 is one of the two adaptor proteins of anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), an E3 ubiquitin ligase controlling mitosis and DNA replication. To date, the in vivo functions of Cdh1 have not been fully explored. In order to characterize Cdh1 in liver regeneration, we generated a conditional knock-out mouse model.

MicroRNA-98 inhibits TGF-β1-induced differentiation and collagen production of cardiac fibroblasts by targeting TGFBR1.

To investigate the effects of miR-98 on TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibrosis in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), and to establish the mechanism underlying these effects, HCFs were transfected with miR-98 inhibitor or mimic, and then treated with or without TGF-β1. The level of miR-98 was determined by qRT-PCR in TGF-β1-induced HCFs. Cell differentiation and collagen accumulation of HCFs were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot assays, respectively.

Simultaneous fluorescence imaging of selenol and hydrogen peroxide under normoxia and hypoxia in HepG2 cells and in vivo.

Based on the rapid substitution reaction of the Au-S bond by selenol, we designed and synthesized a nanoprobe 5-FAM-peptide-AuNPs for selenol. Real-time imaging shows that this probe together with the molecular probe QCy7-H2O2 is able to simultaneously and differentially monitor the concentrations of selenol and H2O2 in living cells and in vivo.

A nanosensor for in vivo selenol imaging based on the formation of Au-Se bonds.

Selenol is a key metabolite of Na2SeO3 and plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. The real-time monitoring of selenol is of scientific interest for understanding the anti-cancer mechanism of Na2SeO3. Based on selenol's ability to specifically break AuS bonds and form more stable AuSe bonds on the surfaces of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we developed a novel near-infrared fluorescent nanosensor (Cy5.

Cdc14A and Cdc14B Redundantly Regulate DNA Double-Strand Break Repair.

Cdc14 is a phosphatase that controls mitotic exit and cytokinesis in budding yeast. In mammals, the two Cdc14 homologues, Cdc14A and Cdc14B, have been proposed to regulate DNA damage repair, whereas the mitotic exit and cytokinesis rely on another phosphatase, PP2A-B55α. It is unclear if the two Cdc14s work redundantly in DNA repair and which repair pathways they participate in.

Efficient gene editing in adult mouse livers via adenoviral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9.

We developed an adenovirus-based CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing in vivo. In the liver, we demonstrated that the system could reach the level of tissue-specific gene knockout, resulting in phenotypic changes. Given the wide spectrum of cell types susceptible to adenoviral infection, and the fact that adenoviral genome rarely integrates into its host cell genome, we believe the adenovirus-based CRISPR/Cas9 system will find applications in a variety of experimental settings.