ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5a modulates FLOWERING LOCUS T2 and gibberellin levels to control dormancy and bud break in poplar.

Photoperiod is a crucial environmental cue for phenological responses, including growth cessation and winter dormancy in perennial woody plants. Two regulatory modules within the photoperiod pathway explain bud dormancy induction in poplar (Populus spp.): the circadian oscillator LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 2 (LHY2) and GIGANTEA-like genes (GIs) both regulate the key target for winter dormancy induction FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2). However, modification of LHY2 and GIs cannot completely prevent growth cessation and bud set under short-day (SD) conditions, indicating that additional regulatory modules are likely involved. We identified PtoHY5a, an orthologs of the photomorphogenesis regulatory factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) in poplar (Populus tomentosa), that directly activates PtoFT2 expression and represses the circadian oscillation of LHY2, indirectly activating PtoFT2 expression. Thus, PtoHY5a suppresses SD-induced growth cessation and bud set. Accordingly, PtoHY5a knockout facilitates dormancy induction. PtoHY5a also inhibits bud-break in poplar by controlling gibberellic acid (GA) levels in apical buds. Additionally, PtoHY5a regulates the photoperiodic control of seasonal growth downstream of phytochrome PHYB2. Thus, PtoHY5a modulates seasonal growth in poplar by regulating the PtoPHYB2-PtoHY5a-PtoFT2 module to determine the onset of winter dormancy, and by fine-tuning GA levels to control bud-break.

SlERF.F12 modulates the transition to ripening in tomato fruit by recruiting the co-repressor TOPLESS and histone deacetylases to repress key ripening genes.

Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are downstream components of ethylene-signaling pathways known to play critical roles in ethylene-controlled climacteric fruit ripening, yet little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying their mode of action. Here, we demonstrate that SlERF.F12, a member of the ERF.F subfamily containing Ethylene-responsive element-binding factor-associated Amphiphilic Repression (EAR) motifs, negatively regulates the onset of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening by recruiting the co-repressor TOPLESS 2 (TPL2) and the histone deacetylases (HDAs) HDA1/HDA3 to repress the transcription of ripening-related genes. The SlERF.F12-mediated transcriptional repression of key ripening-related genes 1-AMINO-CYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLATE SYNTHASE 2 (ACS2), ACS4, POLYGALACTURONASE 2a, and PECTATE LYASE is dependent on the presence of its C-terminal EAR motif. We show that SlERF.F12 interacts with the co-repressor TPL2 via the C-terminal EAR motif and recruits HDAs SlHDA1 and SlHDA3 to form a tripartite complex in vivo that actively represses transcription of ripening genes by decreasing the level of the permissive histone acetylation marks H3K9Ac and H3K27Ac at their promoter regions. These findings provide new insights into the ripening regulatory network and uncover a direct link between repressor ERFs and histone modifiers in modulating the transition to ripening of climacteric fruit.

Dynamic m6A mRNA methylation reveals the involvement of AcALKBH10 in ripening-related quality regulation in kiwifruit.

Kiwifruit ripening is a complex and highly coordinated process that occurs in conjunction with the formation of fruit edible quality. The significance of epigenetic changes, particularly the impact of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification on fruit ripening and quality formation, has been largely overlooked. We monitored m6A levels and gene expression changes in kiwifruit at four different stages using LC-MS/MS, MeRIP, RNA-seq, and validated the function of AcALKBH10 through heterologous transgenic expression in tomato. Notable m6A modifications occurred predominantly at the stop codons and the 3' UTRs and exhibited a gradual reduction in m6A levels during the fruit ripening process. Moreover, these m6A modifications in the aforementioned sites demonstrated a discernible inverse relationship with the levels of mRNA abundance throughout the ripening process, suggesting a repression effect of m6A modification in the modulation of kiwifruit ripening. We further demonstrated that AcALKBH10 rather than AcECT9 predominantly regulates m6A levels in ripening-related genes, thereby exerting the regulatory control over the ripening process and the accumulation of soluble sugars and organic acids, ultimately influencing fruit ripening and quality formation. In conclusion, our findings illuminate the epi-regulatory mechanism involving m6A in kiwifruit ripening, offering a fresh perspective for cultivating high-quality kiwifruit with enhanced nutritional attributes.

Ethylene-MPK8-ERF.C1-PR module confers resistance against Botrytis cinerea in tomato fruit without compromising ripening.

The plant hormone ethylene plays a critical role in fruit defense against Botrytis cinerea attack, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that ethylene response factor SlERF.C1 acts as a key regulator to trigger the ethylene-mediated defense against B. cinerea in tomato fruits without compromising ripening. Knockout of SlERF.C1 increased fruit susceptibility to B. cinerea with no effect on ripening process, while overexpression enhanced resistance. RNA-Seq, transactivation assays, EMSA and ChIP-qPCR results indicated that SlERF.C1 activated the transcription of PR genes by binding to their promoters. Moreover, SlERF.C1 interacted with the mitogen-activated protein kinase SlMPK8 which allowed SlMPK8 to phosphorylate SlERF.C1 at the Ser174 residue and increases its transcriptional activity. Knocking out of SlMPK8 increased fruit susceptibility to B. cinerea, whereas overexpression enhanced resistance without affecting ripening. Furthermore, genetic crosses between SlMPK8-KO and SlERF.C1-OE lines reduced the resistance to B. cinerea attack in SlERF.C1-OE fruits. In addition, B. cinerea infection induced ethylene production which in turn triggered SlMPK8 transcription and enhanced the phosphorylation of SlERF.C1. Overall, our findings reveal the regulatory mechanism of the 'Ethylene-MPK8-ERF.C1-PR' module in resistance against B. cinerea and provide new insight into the manipulation of gray mold disease in fruits.

ß-1,3-GLUCANASE10 regulates tomato development and disease resistance by modulating callose deposition.

ß-1,3-Glucanases are considered key regulators responsible for the degradation of callose in plants, yet little is known about the role and mode of action of their encoding genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). In the present study, we identified the ß-1,3-glucanase encoding gene ß-1,3-GLUCANASE10 (SlBG10) and revealed its regulation in tomato pollen and fruit development, seed production, and disease resistance by modulating callose deposition. Compared with wild-type (WT) or SlBG10 overexpressing (SlBG10-OE) lines, knockout of SlBG10 caused pollen arrest and failure to set fruit with reduced male rather than female fecundity. Further analyses showed that SlBG10-knockout promoted callose deposition in anther at the tetrad-to-microspore stages, resulting in pollen abortion and male sterility. Moreover, loss-of-function SlBG10 delayed degradation of endosperm cell wall calloses during cellularization and impeded early seed development. We also uncovered that Botrytis cinerea infection induces SlBG10 expression in WT tomato, and the knockout lines showed increased callose accumulation in fruit pericarps, reduced susceptibility to B. cinerea, and enhanced antioxidant capacity to maintain tomato fruit quality. However, the expression of genes encoding cell wall hydrolases decreased in SlBG10-knockout tomatoes and thus led to an increase in pericarp epidermal thickness, enhancement in fruit firmness, reduction of fruit water loss, and extension of tomato shelf life. These findings not only expand our understanding of the involvement of ß-1,3-glucanases as callose regulators in multiple developmental processes and pathogen resistance but also provide additional insight into the manipulation of multiagronomic traits for targeted tomato breeding.

Cosmetically Approved Short-Chain Alcohol/Triethyl Citrate/Water Surfactant-Free Microemulsions and Potential Application to Transdermal Penetration of α-Arbutin.

Surfactant-free microemulsions (SFMEs) exhibited remarkable advantages and potential, attributed to their similarity to traditional surfactant-based microemulsions and the absence of surfactants. Herein, a novel SFME was developed utilizing cosmetically approved materials, such as short-chain alcohol as an amphi-solvent, triethyl citrate (TEC) as the nonpolar phase, and water as the polar phase. 1,2-Pentanediol (PtDO)/TEC/water combination can form the largest monophasic zone, accounting for ∼74% of the total phase diagram area, due to an optimal hydrophilic (water)-lipophilic (TEC) balance. Comparable to surfactant-based microemulsion, PtDO/TEC/water SFME can also be categorized into three types: water-in-oil, discontinuous, and oil-in-water. As TEC or water is increased, or PtDO is decreased, the nanoaggregates in PtDO/TEC/water SFME grow from <5 nm to tens of nanometers. The addition of α-arbutin (ABN) does not disrupt PtDO/TEC/water SFME, but rather enhances its formation, resulting in a larger monophasic area and consistent size (2.8-3.8 nm) through participating in interface assembly. Furthermore, ABN-loaded PtDO/TEC/water SFME exhibits remarkable resistance to dilution, exceptional stability, and minimal irritation. Notably, PtDO/TEC/water SFME significantly boosts ABN's solubility in water by 2 times, its percutaneous penetration rate by 3-4 times, and enables a slow-release DPPH• radical scavenging effect. This SFME serves as a safe and cosmetically suitable nanoplatform for the delivery of bioactive substances.

EDA Complex-Enabled Annulation to Access CF2-Containing Tetralones and Quinazolinones Using Persulfates as Electron Donors.

A photocatalyst-free and EDA complex-enabled radical cascade cyclization reaction of inactive alkenes with bromodifluoroacetamides was reported for the divergent synthesis of fluorine-containing tetralones and quinazolinones. In this transformation, persulfates as electron donors and difluoro bromamide as electron acceptors generate the EDA complex. This is a promising photochemical method with advantages such as mild reaction conditions, simple operation, being metal-free, and excellent functional group tolerance.

Prognostic performance of IL-6 and IL-10 in febrile pediatric hematology/oncology patients with normal procalcitonin.

INTRODUCTION: It is important to predict adverse outcomes in febrile children with hematology/oncology diseases. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a promising biomarker for the prediction of infection severity, but further studies have revealed its performance in excluding adverse outcomes of infection. IL-6 and IL-10 were reported to have a close association with those infection outcomes. The aim of the study was to investigate the performance of IL-6 and IL-10 in febrile pediatric hematology/oncology patients with normal PCT. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary children's hospital in China over the past ten years. Inflammatory biomarkers, including IL-6, IL-10, PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP), were detected at the onset of infection. Separate analyses were conducted in patients with neutropenia and without neutropenia. RESULTS: In total, 5987 febrile cases were enrolled. For patients with neutropenia, IL-6, IL-10 and PCT were significantly increased in patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) and severe sepsis (SS), but only IL-6 and IL-10 were predictive of GNB and SS. For patients without neutropenia, IL-6, IL-10 and PCT were significantly increased in patients with BSI, GNB and SS, but no biomarkers were predictive of adverse outcomes. All biomarkers failed to exclude patients with fever of unknown origin or upper respiratory infection/bronchitis in patients with neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 and IL-10 could be predictors for GNB and SS in febrile patients with neutropenia and had some association with unfavorable outcomes in febrile patients without neutropenia. All biomarkers failed to exclude patients with fever of unknown origin or upper respiratory infection/bronchitis.

Correction: Systemic Delivery of MicroRNA-101 Potently Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vivo by Repressing Multiple Targets.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004873.].

Comprehensive prognostic assessment in kidney cancer: A multidimensional approach analyzing Fufang Sanling granules, genetic variants, and immune infiltration.

This study delves into the potential therapeutic benefits of Fufang Sanling Granules for kidney cancer, focusing on their active components and the underlying mechanisms of their interaction with cancer-related targets. By constructing a drug-active component-target network based on eight herbs, key active compounds such as kaempferol, quercetin, and linolenic acid were identified, suggesting their pivotal roles in modulating immune responses and cellular signaling pathways relevant to cancer progression. The research further identified 51 central drug-disease genes through comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, implicating their involvement in crucial biological processes and pathways. A novel risk score model, encompassing six genes with significant prognostic value for renal cancer, was established and validated, showcasing its effectiveness in predicting patient outcomes through mutation analysis and survival studies. The model's predictive power was further confirmed by its ability to stratify patients into distinct risk groups with significant survival differences, highlighting its potential as a prognostic tool. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between gene expression within the identified black module and the risk score, uncovering significant associations with the extracellular matrix and immune infiltration patterns. This reveals the complex interplay between the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. The integration of the risk score with clinical parameters through a nomogram significantly improved the model's predictive accuracy, offering a more comprehensive tool for predicting kidney cancer prognosis. In summary, by combining detailed molecular analyses with clinical insights, this study presents a robust framework for understanding the therapeutic potential of Fufang Sanling Granules in kidney cancer. It not only sheds light on the active components and their interactions with cancer-related genes but also introduces a reliable risk score model, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies and improved patient management in the future.

The predictive utility of cytokines, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein among febrile pediatric hematology and oncology patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Severe sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening for pediatric hematology and oncology patient receiving chemotherapy. Th1/Th2 cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) are all thought to be associated with disease severity. The aim of this study was to prospectively verify the utility of Th1/Th2 cytokines and compare them with PCT and CRP in the prediction of adverse outcomes. Data on patients were collected from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. Blood samples were taken for Th1/Th2 cytokine, CRP, and PCT measurements at the initial onset of infection. Severe infection (SI) was defined as severe sepsis or septic shock. Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were determined by using flow cytometric bead array technology. In total, 7,735 febrile episodes were included in this study. For SI prediction, the AUCs of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were 0.814, 0.805 and 0.624, respectively, while IL-6 and IL-10 had high sensitivity and specificity. IL-6 > 220.85 pg/ml and IL-10 > 29.95 pg/ml had high odds ratio (OR) values of approximately 3.5 in the logistic regression. Within the subgroup analysis, for bloodstream infection (BSI) prediction, the AUCs of IL-10 and TNF-α were 0.757 and 0.694, respectively. For multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) prediction, the AUC of CRP was 0.606. The AUC of PCT for mortality prediction was 0.620. In conclusion, IL-6 and IL-10 provide good predictive value for the diagnosis of SI. For children with SI, IL-10 and TNF-α are associated with BSI, while CRP and PCT are associated with MODS and death, respectively.

The Effect of α-Arbutin on UVB-Induced Damage and Its Underlying Mechanism.

Ultraviolet radiation can heighten tyrosinase activity, stimulate melanocyte production, impede the metabolism of numerous melanocytes, and result in the accumulation of plaques on the skin surface. α-Arbutin, a bioactive substance extracted from the arbutin plant, has been widely used for skin whitening. In this study, the whitening effect of α-arbutin by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and alleviating the photoaging effect induced by UVB are investigated. The results indicate that α-arbutin can inhibit skin inflammation, and its effectiveness is positively correlated with concentration. Moreover, α-arbutin can reduce the skin epidermal thickness, decrease the number of inflammatory cells, and down-regulate the expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α, which are inflammatory factors. It also promotes the expression of COL-1 collagen, thus playing an important role in anti-inflammatory action. Network pharmacology, metabolomics and transcriptomics further confirm that α-arbutin is related to the L-tyrosine metabolic pathway and may interfere with various signaling pathways related to melanin and other photoaging by regulating metabolic changes. Therefore, α-arbutin has a potential inhibitory effect on UVB-induced photoaging and possesses a whitening effect as a cosmetic compound.

Deep Red Light Driven Hydrogen Evolution by Heterojunction Polymer Dots for Diabetic Wound Healing.

We describe small heterojunction polymer dots (Pdots) with deep-red light catalyzed H2 generation for diabetic skin wound healing. The Pdots with donor/acceptor heterojunctions showed remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to the donor or acceptor nanoparticles alone. We encapsulate the Pdots and ascorbic acid into liposomes to form Lipo-Pdots nanoreactors, which selectively scavenge ⋅OH radicals in live cells and tissues under 650 nm light illumination. The antioxidant capacity of the heterojunction Pdots is ~10 times higher than that of the single-component Pdots described previously. Under a total light dose of 360 J/cm2, the Lipo-Pdots nanoreactors effectively scavenged ⋅OH radicals and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in skin tissues, thereby accelerating the healing of skin wounds in diabetic mice. This study provides a feasible solution for safe and effective treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Asymmetric Divergent Synthesis of ent-Kaurane-, ent-Atisane-, ent-Beyerane-, ent-Trachylobane-, and ent-Gibberellane-type Diterpenoids.

A unified strategy toward asymmetric divergent syntheses of nine C8-ethano-bridged diterpenoids A1-A9 (candol A, powerol, sicanadiol, epi-candol A, atisirene, ent-atisan-16α-ol, 4-decarboxy-4-methyl-GA12, trachinol, and ent-beyerane) has been developed based on late-stage transformations of common synthons having ent-kaurane and ent-trachylobane cores. The expeditious assembly of crucial advanced ent-kaurane- and ent-trachylobane-type building blocks is strategically explored through a regioselective and diastereoselective Fe-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) 6-exo-trig cyclization of the alkene/enone and 3-exo-trig cyclization of the alkene/ketone, showing the multi-reactivity of densely functionalized polycyclic substrates with πC═C and πC═O systems in HAT-initiated reactions. Following the rapid construction of five major structural skeletons (ent-kaurane-, ent-atisane-, ent-beyerane-, ent-trachylobane-, and ent-gibberellane-type), nine C8-ethano-bridged diterpenoids A1-A9 could be accessed in the longest linear 8 to 11 steps starting from readily available chiral γ-cyclogeraniol 1 and known chiral γ-substituted cyclohexenone 2, in which enantioselective total syntheses of candol A (A1, 8 steps), powerol (A2, 9 steps), sicanadiol (A3, 10 steps), epi-candol A (A4, 8 steps), ent-atisan-16α-ol (A6, 11 steps), and trachinol (A8, 10 steps) are achieved for the first time.

A comprehensive metabolic map reveals major quality regulations in red-flesh kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis).

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is one of the popular fruits world-wide, and its quality is mainly determined by key metabolites (sugars, flavonoids, and vitamins). Previous works on kiwifruit are mostly done via a single omics approach or involve only limited metabolites. Consequently, the dynamic metabolomes during kiwifruit development and ripening and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, using high-resolution metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, we investigated kiwifruit metabolic landscapes at 11 different developmental and ripening stages and revealed a parallel classification of 515 metabolites and their co-expressed genes into 10 distinct metabolic vs gene modules (MM vs GM). Through integrative bioinformatics coupled with functional genomic assays, we constructed a global map and uncovered essential transcriptomic and transcriptional regulatory networks for all major metabolic changes that occurred throughout the kiwifruit growth cycle. Apart from known MM vs GM for metabolites such as soluble sugars, we identified novel transcription factors that regulate the accumulation of procyanidins, vitamin C, and other important metabolites. Our findings thus shed light on the kiwifruit metabolic regulatory network and provide a valuable resource for the designed improvement of kiwifruit quality.

A RBM47 and IGF2BP1 mediated circular FNDC3B-FNDC3B mRNA imbalance is involved in the malignant processes of osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that are involved in the progression of many human cancers. The precise gene locus and the roles of circular RNA from Fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B) in OS and its mechanisms of action have not been fully explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: qRT-qPCR assay was used to determine gene expressions. CCK8 Assay, EdU assay, wound-healing assay, transwell invasion assay and in vivo xenograft assay were used to perform functional investigations. RNA-FISH, immunofluorescence, RIP assay, RNA stability analysis were applied in mechanistic studies. RESULTS: We found that circFNDC3B downregulated and FNDC3B mRNA upregulated in OS, and might be potential biomarkers for indicating disease progression and prognosis of OS patients. CircFNDC3B acted as a tumor suppressor gene to restrain OS progression and FNDC3B functioned as an oncogene to promote OS progression in vitro and in vivo. RNA binding protein RNA binding motif protein 47 (RBM47) could bind to the flanking introns of circFNDC3B to facilitate the generation of circFNDC3B, resulting in the reduction of FNDC3B mRNA and the circFNDC3B-FNDC3B mRNA imbalance. CircFNDC3B also inhibited FNDC3B mRNA expression by reducing its stability via competitively binding to Insulin-like growth-factor-2 mRNA binding protein (IGF2BP1). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that RBM47 and IGF2BP1 mediated circular FNDC3B/FNDC3B mRNA imbalance was involved in the malignant processes of OS.

Divergent Construction of Thiochromanes and N-Arylbutanamides via Arylthiodifluoromethyl Radical-Triggered Cascade of Alkenes.

A strategy utilizing silver-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation radical cascade cyclization of arylthiodifluoroacetic acids with alkenes for the simple and efficient preparation of difluoromethylated thiochromanes and 2,2-disubstituted-N-arylbutanamides derivatives has been developed. This approach includes good functional group tolerance, easily accessible starting materials, and operational simplicity.

ISRIB inhibits the senescence of type II pulmonary epithelial cells to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica in mice.

The role and mechanisms of integrated stress response inhibitor (ISRIB) on silicosis are still not well defined. In the present study, the effects of ISRIB on cellular senescence and pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis were evaluated by RNA sequencing, micro-computed tomography, pulmonary function assessment, histological examination, and Western blot analysis. The results showed that ISRIB significantly reduced the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in mice with silicosis and reduced the expression of type I collagen, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, and transforming growth factor-ß1. Both in vivo and in vitro results showed that ISRIB reversed the expression of senescence-related factors ß-galactosidase, phosphor-ataxia telangiectasia mutated, phosphor-ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein, p-p53, p21, p16, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. The aforementioned results were consistent with the sequencing results. These findings implied that ISRIB might reduce the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in mice with silicosis by inhibiting the cellular senescence of alveolar epithelial cell type II.

Functional differentiation of two general odorant-binding proteins to sex pheromones in Spodoptera frugiperda.

A precise chemosensory system can help insects complete various important behavioral responses by accurately identifying different external odorants. Therefore, deeply understanding the mechanism of insect recognition of important odorants will help us develop efficient and environmentally-friendly behavioral inhibitors. Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest that feeds on >350 different host plants worldwide and also harms maize production in China. However, the molecular mechanism of the first step for males to use odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) to recognize sex pheromones remains unclear. Here, we obtained 50 OBPs from the S. frugiperda genome, and the expression level of SfruGOBP1 in females was significantly higher than that in males, whereas SfruGOBP2 displayed male-biased expression. Fluorescence competitive binding assays showed that only SfruGOBP2 showed binding affinities for the four sex pheromones of female S. frugiperda. Subsequently, we identified some key amino acid residues that can participate in the interaction between SfruGOBP2 and sex pheromones using molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis methods. These findings will help us explore the interaction mechanism between GOBPs and sex pheromones in moths, and provide important target genes for developing new mating inhibitors of S. frugiperda in the future.

Coordination-Modulated Metal Tetrathiafulvalene Octacarboxylate Frameworks for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes.

Modulation of the ligands and coordination environment of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been an effective and relatively unexplored avenue for improving the anode performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, three MOFs are synthesized, namely, M4 (o-TTFOB)(bpm)2 (H2 O)2 (where M is Mn, Zn, and Cd; o-H8 TTFOB is ortho-tetrathiafulvalene octabenzoate; and bpm is 2,2'-bipyrimidine), based on a new ligand o-H8 TTFOB with two adjacent carboxylates on one phenyl, which allows us to establish the impact of metal coordination on the performance of these MOFs as anode materials in LIBs. Mn-o-TTFOB and Zn-o-TTFOB, with two more uncoordinated oxygen atoms from o-TTFOB8- , show higher reversible specific capacities of 1249 mAh g-1 and 1288 mAh g-1 under 200 mA g-1 after full activation. In contrast, Cd-o-TTFOB shows a reversible capacity of 448 mAh g-1 under the same condition due to the lack of uncoordinated oxygen atoms. Crystal structure analysis, cyclic voltammetry measurements of the half-cell configurations, and density functional theory calculations have been performed to explain the lithium storage mechanism, diffusion kinetics, and structure-function relationship. This study demonstrates the advantages of MOFs with high designability in the fabrication of LIBs.