PRMT2 promotes HIV-1 latency by preventing nucleolar exit and phase separation of Tat into the Super Elongation Complex.

The HIV-1 Tat protein hijacks the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) to stimulate viral transcription and replication. However, the mechanisms underlying Tat activation and inactivation, which mediate HIV-1 productive and latent infection, respectively, remain incompletely understood. Here, through a targeted complementary DNA (cDNA) expression screening, we identify PRMT2 as a key suppressor of Tat activation, thus contributing to proviral latency in multiple cell line latency models and in HIV-1-infected patient CD4+ T cells. Our data reveal that the transcriptional activity of Tat is oppositely regulated by NPM1-mediated nucleolar retention and AFF4-induced phase separation in the nucleoplasm. PRMT2 preferentially methylates Tat arginine 52 (R52) to reinforce its nucleolar sequestration while simultaneously counteracting its incorporation into the SEC droplets, thereby leading to its functional inactivation to promote proviral latency. Thus, our studies unveil a central and unappreciated role for Tat methylation by PRMT2 in connecting its subnuclear distribution, liquid droplet formation, and transactivating function, which could be therapeutically targeted to eradicate latent viral reservoirs.

Enhancer decommissioning by MLL4 ablation elicits dsRNA-interferon signaling and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis to potentiate anti-tumor immunity.

Enhancer deregulation is a well-established pro-tumorigenic mechanism but whether it plays a regulatory role in tumor immunity is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that tumor cell ablation of mixed-lineage leukemia 3 and 4 (MLL3 and MLL4, also known as KMT2C and KMT2D, respectively), two enhancer-associated histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) mono-methyltransferases, increases tumor immunogenicity and promotes anti-tumor T cell response. Mechanistically, MLL4 ablation attenuates the expression of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and DNA methyltransferases through decommissioning enhancers/super-enhancers, which consequently lead to transcriptional reactivation of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-interferon response and gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis, respectively. More importantly, we reveal that both the dsRNA-interferon signaling and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis are of critical importance to the increased anti-tumor immunity and improved immunotherapeutic efficacy in MLL4-ablated tumors. Thus, our findings establish tumor cell enhancers as an additional layer of immune evasion mechanisms and suggest the potential of targeting enhancers or their upstream and/or downstream molecular pathways to overcome immunotherapeutic resistance in cancer patients.

Advancement in utilization of magnetic catalysts for production of sustainable biofuels.

In this study, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of magnetic catalysts utilized for biodiesel production, particularly focusing on the physicochemical properties, activity, and reusability of magnetic mixed metal oxides, supported magnetic catalysts, ionic acid-functionalized magnetic catalysts, heteropolyacid-based magnetic catalysts, and metal-organic framework-based magnetic catalysts. The prevailing reaction conditions in the production of biodiesel are also discussed. Lastly, the current limitations and challenges for future research needs in the magnetic catalyst field are presented.

Heterostructure Ni3S4-MoS2 with interfacial electron redistribution used for enhancing hydrogen evolution.

Developing highly effective and inexpensive electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), particularly in a water-alkaline electrolyzer, are crucial to large-scale industrialization. The earth-abundant molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is an ideal electrocatalyst in acidic media but suffers from a high overpotential in alkaline solution. Herein, nanospherical heterostructure Ni3S4-MoS2 was obtained via a one-pot synthesis method, in which Ni3S4 was uniformly integrated with MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets. There were abundant heterojunctions in the as-synthesized catalyst, which were verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The structure features with interfacial electron redistribution was proved by XPS and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which offered several advantages to promote the HER activity of MoS2, including increased specific surface area, exposed abundant active edge sites and improved electron transfer. Ni3S4-MoS2 exhibited a low overpotential of 116 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in an alkaline solution with a corresponding Tafel slope of 81 mV dec-1 and long-term stability of over 20 h. DFT simulations indicated that the synergistic effects in the system with the chemisorption of H on the (002) plane of MoS2 and OH on the (311) plane of Ni3S4 accelerated the rate-determining water dissociation steps of HER. This study provides a valuable route for the design and synthesis of inexpensive and efficient HER electrocatalyst, heterostructure Ni3S4-MoS2.

Protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum spore on cadmium hepatotoxicity in mice.

The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects. G. lucidum contains triterpenes and polysaccharides, and the Sporoderm-broken G. lucidum powder is particular beneficial. This study utilized G. lucidum spore to examine its effect on [Cd(II)]-induced hepatotoxicity in mice and the mechanism of the protection. Mice were pretreated with G. lucidum spore (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg, po, for 7 days), and subsequently challenged with a hepatotoxic dose of Cd(II) (3.7 mg/kg, ip). Liver injury was evaluated 8h later. G. lucidum spore protected against Cd(II)-induced liver injury in a dose-dependent manner, as evidenced by serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and histopathology. To examine the mechanism of protection, subcellular distribution of Cd(II) was determined. G. lucidum spore decreased Cd(II) accumulation in hepatic nuclei, mitochondria, and microsomes, but increased Cd(II) distribution to the cytosol, where Cd(II) is sequestered by metallothionein, a protein against Cd(II) toxicity. Indeed, G. lucidum spore induced hepatic metallothionein-1 mRNA 8-fold, and also increased metallothionein protein as determined by the Cd(II)/hemoglobin assay. Cd(II)-induced oxidative stress was also decreased by G. lucidum spore, as evidenced by decreased formation of malondialdehyde. In summary, G. lucidum spore is effective in protection against Cd(II)-induced hepatotoxicity, and this effect is due, at least in part, to the induction of hepatic metallothionein to achieve beneficial effects.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Ficus microcarpa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the Ficus microcarpa. METHODS: Isolation and identification were carried out by using various chromatography techniques and spectral methods. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as beta-amyrone (I), lupeol (II), lupeol acetate (III), maslinic acid (IV), epifriedelinol (V), stearic acid (VI), beta-sitosterol (VI), daucosterol (VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds I, II, VI are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[The comparison of different processing methods of Dendrobium loddigesii].

OBJECTIVE: To study the 4 different processing methods of Dendrobium loddigesii. and find a optimal method. METHODS: Drying in the shade, fire drying at different temperature, twist and fire drying, to scald by boiling water then twist and fire drying were used to process D. loddigesii and determined the content of polysaccharide after processed. RESULTS: The rate of dryed medical material was about 36%, and the content of polysaccharide was 16.39% which was scald by boiling water then twist and fire drying was higher than others. CONCLUSION: The method scald by boiling water then twist and fire drying is good for medical materials dried and the remaining of active component. It provide a scientific evidence to Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2005 and offer quantization index to the processing of Dendrobium loddigesii.