Age-related SUMOylation of PLK1 is essential to meiosis progression in mouse oocytes.

Polo like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a protein kinase involved in regulating the spindle assembly and cell cycle control in mammalian oocytes. SUMOylation, one way of post-translational modification, regulates oocyte meiosis by controlling several substrates. However, the relation between PLK1 and SUMOylation in oocytes is still unknown. In this study, we investigated that whether PLK1 was modified by SUMOylation in oocytes and its potential relationship with age-related meiotic abnormalities. We showed that PLK1 had colocalization and protein interaction with Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier (SUMO)-1 and SUMO-2/3 in mouse oocytes, indicating that PLK1 could be modified by SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3. Overexpression of PLK1 SUMOylation site mutants PLK1K178R and PLK1K191R caused the increase of the abnormal spindle rate of oocytes and the decline of the first polar body extrusion rate with the abnormal localization of PLK1, suggesting that the SUMOylation modification of PLK1 is essential for normal meiosis in oocytes. Compared with young mice, the expression of PLK1 protein increased and the expression of SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 protein decreased in the oocytes of aged mice, indicating that the SUMOylation of PLK1 might be related to the mouse aging. Therefore, our data suggested that PLK1 could be SUMOylated by SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 in mouse oocytes and SUMOylation of PLK1 regulated the meiosis progression of oocytes which was related with aging.

Cardiovascular Effects of High-Frequency Magnetic Seizure Therapy Compared With Electroconvulsive Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a novel convulsive therapy that has been shown to have antidepressant efficacy comparable to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with fewer cognitive side effects. However, the cardiovascular (CVS) effects of high frequency MST in comparison to ECT have not been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with depression received 6 treatment sessions of 100 Hz MST versus 6 bifrontal ECT treatments in a nonrandomized comparative clinical design. Data on CVS function including heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were collected at baseline (T0), after the induction of anesthesia but before the electrical stimulation (T1), during convulsion (T2), 2 minutes after cessation of motor seizure (T3), 5 minutes after cessation of motor seizure (T4), and 10 minutes after cessation of motor seizure (T5). Comparisons were made with baseline data and between MST and ECT groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant elevations in the maximum HR, SBP, DBP, and RPP in patients receiving ECT compared with MST both in the initial and sixth treatments (all P < 0.05). Particularly, at T2, the ECT group had significantly higher HR, SBP, DBP, and RPP than those in MST group both in initial and sixth treatment (all P < 0.001). At the sixth treatment, the ECT group had significantly higher SBP, DBP, and RPP during the treatment than in the MST group (all P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The anesthetic choices for this study may limit the generalizability of our findings. The sample size was relatively small. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with ECT, high-frequency MST has fewer CVS side effects and may be a safer option for depression patients with CVS disorders.

[Molecular Mechanism of Aurora Kinase A Regulating the Meiosis of Oocyte].

Aurora kinase A (AURKA),a family member of aurora kinases,is involved in mitotic entry,maturation and separation of centrosome,assembly and stabilization of bipolar spindle,and condensation and separation of chromosome.Studies have demonstrated that AURKA plays a similar role in meiosis,while the specific mechanism and the similarities and differences in its role between meiosis and mitosis remain unclear.Therefore,we reviewed the studies about the localization and activation of AURKA in oocyte meiosis,and compared the role of AURKA in regulating spindle formation,activating spindle assembly checkpoint,and correcting the kinetochore-microtubule attachment between the meiosis of oocytes and the mitosis of somatic cells.This review will lay a theoretical foundation for revealing the mechanism of AURKA in the regulation of cell division and for the clinical research related to cancer and reproduction.

FASCIN regulates actin assembly for spindle movement and polar body extrusion in mouse oocyte meiosis.

During mouse oocyte meiotic maturation, actin filaments play multiple roles in meiosis such as spindle migration and cytokinesis. FASCIN is shown to be an actin-binding and bundling protein, making actin filaments tightly packed and parallel-aligned, and FASCIN is involved in several cellular processes like adhesion and migration. FASCIN is also a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic disease. However, little is known about the functions of FASCIN in oocyte meiosis. In the present study, we knocked down the expression of FASCIN, and our results showed that FASCIN was essential for oocyte maturation. FASCIN was all expressed in the different stages of oocyte meiosis, and it mainly localized at the cortex of oocytes from the GV stage to the MII stage and showed a similar localization pattern with actin and DAAM1. Depletion of FASCIN affected the extrusion of the first polar body, and we also observed that some oocytes extruded from the large polar bodies. This might have resulted from the defects of actin assembly, which further affected the meiotic spindle positioning. In addition, we showed that inhibition of PKC activity decreased FASCIN expression, indicating that FASCIN might be regulated by PKC. Taken together, our results provided evidence for the important role of FASCIN on actin filaments for spindle migration and polar body extrusion in mouse oocyte meiosis.

Magnetodielectric Response in a Layered Mixed-Valence Ferrimagnetic Molecular Compound.

The magnetodielectric effect is closely related to multiferroic or magnetoelectric coupling; thus, it can be used to predict magnetoelectric coupling, especially in compounds with special magnetic properties. The magnetodielectric response can often be used to predict many interesting and meaningful physical coupling mechanisms. Therefore, fabricating magnetodielectric materials is an effective step toward the development of magnetoelectric materials. Herein, we synthesize the mixed-valence layered ferrimagnetic molecular compound (C6N2H14)FeIII2FeIIF8(HCOO)2 (1) and demonstrate that it exhibits both slow magnetic relaxation behavior and long-range magnetic order. This long-range order occurs because of the coexistence and competition between two typical magnetic interactions, namely, an FeIII-F-FeII superexchange and a long-distance superexchange FeII-O-C-O-FeIII-F-FeIII path in the interlayer and interchain spin frustration. Notably, this compound also demonstrates two abnormal dielectric relaxation processes: the first process is dominated by dynamic guest cations, while the other process is related to the increasing magnetic correlation. Over a wide temperature range below 170 K, the magnetodielectric effect reveals that the magnetic correlation maybe promotes electron dynamics and leads to magnetodielectric coupling. These findings pave a novel path for designing magnetodielectric molecular materials.

Polar Molecule-Based Material with Optic-Electric Switching Constructed by Polar Anions.

Polar crystal structures have attracted more and more attention, due to their unique characteristics, such as ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, and nonlinear optical property, etc. However, the construction of polar materials is always accidental, and finding an effective synthesis strategy to construct polar materials remains a challenge. Herein, inorganic-organic hybrid compounds of [C7H14N][FeCl4] (1) ([C7H14N] = quinuclidinium cation) and [C7H14N][GeCl3] (2) were prepared, respectively, to verify the beneficial effect of polar anions on the construction of polar crystals. Compound 1 crystallized in the Pbca space group, while 2 belongs to the P43 space group at room temperature. Investigation into the structure of 2 reveals that the polarity of 2 derives from the triangular pyramid structure of [GeX3]- with lone pair electrons. Meanwhile, 2 undergoes a phase transition from the P43 space group to the center Pm3m at 385 K, leading to the optic-electric switching property. Thus, the present work exhibits the advantage of [GeX3]- as the inorganic constituent component in the hybrid polar materials and provides an effective approach for the construction of a polar molecule-based crystal with a switchable property.

The Mechanism of the Magnetodielectric Response in a Molecule-Based Trinuclear Iron Cluster Material.

Magnetodielectric response mechanisms are critical for the rational design and synthesis of molecule-based magnetodielectric materials. Herein, the magnetodielectric response was investigated in the molecule-based material [Fe3 O(CH3 COO)6 (py)3 ](py) (1). Its magnetodielectric coefficient (MD) is -2.8 % for phase transition III and -4.1 % for phase transition I. Study of the mechanism of the magnetodielectric response in 1 reveals that its magnetodielectric response at phase transition I is induced by the charge-frustration of the trinuclear iron cluster, while that at phase transition III is attributed to the spin-frustration of the trinuclear iron cluster, providing a new route for the design of magnetodielectric materials.

[Effect of SUMO Modification on the Chromosomal Aneuploidy in Oocytes].

The chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes is one of main causes of abortion and neonatal birth defects.It is mainly due to the premature separation of sister chromatid caused by the loss of Cohesin protein complex and the non-disjunction sister chromatids caused by abnormal microtubule dynamics aneuploidy.As a pathway of protein post-translational modification,SUMO modification(or SUMOylation)involves many physiological regulation processes including cell proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis,and cycle regulation.In the oocytes,SUMOylation can regulate the localization of Cohesin protein complex on the chromosome to affect the chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes caused by premature separation of sister chromatid.On the other hand,SUMOylation can regulate the microtubule dynamics to affect the chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes caused by non-disjunction sister chromatids.Therefore,SUMOylation plays an important role in regulating the chromosomal aneuploidy of oocytes;the exact mechanisms via which the SUMOylated substrates affect aneuploidy in oocytes remain unclear.This articles reviews the roles of SUMOylation in premature separation and non-isolated chromatid aneuploidy in oocyte from the effects of SUMOylationon Cohesin protein complex and microtubule dynamics.

Three Giant Lanthanide Clusters Ln37 (Ln = Gd, Tb, and Eu) Featuring A Double-Cage Structure.

Three homometallic high-nuclearity clusters, formulated as [(CO3)2@Ln37(LH3)8(CH3COO)21(CO3)12(µ3-OH)41(µ2-H2O)5(H2O)40]·(ClO4)21·(H2O)100 (abbreviated as Ln37, Ln = Gd (1); Tb (2); Eu (3), LH3 = 1,2,3-cyclohexanetriol) and featuring a double cage-like structure, were obtained through the reaction of 1,2,3-cyclohexanetriol, acetate ligand, and Ln(ClO4)3. The largest odd-numbered lanthanide cluster Gd37 exhibits an entropy change (-ΔSm) of 38.7 J kg-1 K-1.

Anion-Dependent Assembly of Heterometallic 3d-4f Clusters Based on a Lacunary Polyoxometalate.

A series of heterometallic 3d-4f clusters, formulated as Na17[Ln3(H2O)5NiII(H2O)3(Sb4O4)(SbW9O33)3(NiIIW6O24)(WO2)3(CH3COO)]·(H2O)65 [abbreviated as Ln3Ni2, where Ln = La3+ (1), Pr3+ (2), and Nd3+ (3)], K5Na11[Ln3(H2O)3NiII3(H2O)6(SbW9O33)3(WO4)(CO3)]·(H2O)40 [abbreviated as Ln3Ni3, where Ln = La3+ (4), Pr3+ (5), and Nd3+ (6)], and K3Na27[Ln3NiII9(µ3-OH)9(SbW9O33)2(PW9O34)3(CH3COO)3]·(H2O)80 [abbreviated as Ln3Ni9, where Ln = Dy3+ (7) and Er3+ (8)], were obtained through the reaction of the lacunary {SbW9O33} precursor with Ln(NO3)3·6H2O and NiCl2·6H2O in a NaAc/HAc buffer in the presence of different anions. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that compounds 1-3 possessed tetrameric architectures featuring three Keggin-type {SbW9O33} and one Anderson-type {NiIIW6O24} building blocks encapsulating one {Sb4O4} cluster, three WO2 units, three Ln3+ metal ions, and two Ni2+ metal ions. Compounds 4-6 displayed cyclic trimeric aggregates of three {SbW9O33} units enveloping one CO32--templated trinuclear [Ln3(CO3)]7+ and one WO42--templated [NiII3(WO4)]+ unit. Compounds 7 and 8 exhibited unique pentameric architectures that featured three 3d-4f cubane clusters of {LnNi3(µ3-OH)3} capped by two {SbW9O33} and three {PW9O34} building blocks. Interestingly, the structural regulation of the heterometallic 3d-4f clusters in the polyoxometalate systems with trimers, tetramers, and pentamers was realized by introducing different anions.

[Effect of two Pi deficiency syndrome models on the configuration and function of the skeletal muscle in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relation between Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS) and the configuration and functions of extensor digitorum longus (EDL)and soleus (SOL). METHODS: Totally 36 ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to weight matching principle, the control group, the exhausted group, and the rhubarb group, 12 in each group. Two PDS models were established by either purgation with rhubarb diarrhea (as Group A) or exhausted swimming plus sleep deprivation (as Group B).The cross sectional area (CSA) of type I and II fibers of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL), relative proportions of type I and II fibers were measured by m-ATPase histochemical method. The isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction of EDL and SOL were detected by PowerLab system. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight, body temperature, and the general health condition of PDS model rats obviously decreased; the spleen index and the thymus index were also lower; the maximal isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction obviously decreased; the cross section areas of EDL and SOL were reduced with loosely arranged cells. In EDL, the proportion of type I fibers was added and the proportion of type II fibers was lowered. In SOL, there was no change in the proportion of type I and type II fibers. CONCLUSIONS: EDL and SOL were obviously atrophied in the two PDS model mice. The type I fibers of SOL was more significantly atrophied in Group B.

Beauty, symmetry, and magnetocaloric effect­four-shell keplerates with 104 lanthanide atoms.

The hydrolysis of Ln(ClO4)3 in the presence of acetate leads to the assembly of the three largest known lanthanide-exclusive cluster complexes, [Nd104(ClO4)6(CH3COO)60(µ3-OH)168(µ4-O)30(H2O)112]·(ClO4)18·(CH3CH2OH)8·xH2O (1, x ≈ 158) and [Ln104(ClO4)6(CH3COO)56(µ3-OH)168(µ4-O)30(H2O)112]·(ClO4)22·(CH3CH2OH)2·xH2O (2, Ln = Nd; 3, Ln = Gd; x ≈ 140). The structure of the common 104-lanthanide core, abbreviated as Ln8@Ln48@Ln24@Ln24, features a four-shell arrangement of the metal atoms contained in an innermost cube (a Platonic solid) and, moving outward, three Archimedean solids: a truncated cuboctahedron, a truncated octahedron, and a rhombicuboctahedron. The magnetic entropy change of ΔS(m) = 46.9 J kg(-1) K(-1) at 2 K for ΔH = 7 T in the case of the Gd104 cluster is the largest among previously known lanthanide-exclusive cluster compounds.

Solvothermal synthesis of four polyoxometalate-based coordination polymers including diverse Ag(I)···π interactions.

Four 3D POM-based silver coordination polymers, namely, [Ag17(ptz)11(PW12O40)2]n (1), [Ag17(ptz)11(PMo12O40)2]n (2), [Ag12(ptz)6(CN)2(SiW12O40)]n (3), and [Ag19(ptz)8(H2ptz)(H3ptz)(AgP5W30O110)·7H2O]n (4), have been obtained by solvothermal reaction of AgNO3 and 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazole (Hptz) ligand in the presence of four types of polyoxometalates. Structural analysis shows that four types of Ag(I)···π interactions, m-η(1), m/p-η(2), o/m-η(2), and o/m/p-η(3), were observed in compounds 1-4, depending on the polyoxometalates used. The in situ generated CN(-) ion in compound 3 shows unprecedented mixed σ and π bonding modes, similar to the C2(2-) ion in well-studied silver acetylides. For 4, the Na(+) ion in the Preyssler heteropolyoxoanion, [NaP5W30O110](14-), was exchanged by Ag(I) under solvothermal conditions, generating a novel [AgP5W30O110](14-) anion. In addition, the photoluminescence behavior of 1-4 was also investigated.

Subregional thalamic functional connectivity abnormalities and cognitive impairments in first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented thalamic functional connectivity (FC) abnormalities in schizophrenia, typically examining the thalamus as a whole. The specific link between subregional thalamic FC and cognitive deficits in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) remains unexplored. METHODS: Using data from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we compared whole-brain FC with thalamic subregions between patients and HCs, and analyzed FC changes in drug-naïve patients separately. We then examined correlations between FC abnormalities with both cognitive impairment and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 33 FES patients (20 drug-naïve) and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Compared to HCs, FES patients exhibited increased FC between specific thalamic subregions and cortical regions, particularly bilateral middle temporal lobe and cuneus gyrus, left medial superior frontal gyrus, and right inferior/superior occipital gyrus. Decreased FC was observed between certain thalamic subregions and the left inferior frontal triangle. These findings were largely consistent in drug-naïve patients. Notably, deficits in social cognition and visual learning in FES patients correlated with increased FC between certain thalamic subregions and cortical regions involving the right superior occipital gyrus and cuneus gyrus. The severity of negative symptoms was associated with increased FC between a thalamic subregion and the left middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest FC abnormalities between thalamic subregions and cortical areas in FES patients. Increased FC correlated with cognitive deficits and negative symptoms, highlighting the importance of thalamo-cortical connectivity in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Cognitive control impairment in ax-continuous performance test in patients with schizophrenia: A pilot EEG study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of cognitive control impairment in patients with schizophrenia (SPs) using electroencephalogram (EEG). METHODS: A total of 17 SPs and 17 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. We measured the EEG activity, whereas they performed the AX-continuous performance test which consisted of the preparatory phase and the response phase. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used for cognitive function, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used for clinical symptom assessment. A univariate linear regression model was used to explore the relationships among behavioral index, event-related potentials (ERPs), rhythmic oscillation power, and score of MCCB and PANSS. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in response accuracy and reaction time (RT) during the preparatory phase between patients and HCs (p < .05). During the response phase, the SPs exhibited longer RT than the HCs (p < .05). Analysis of the ERPs revealed that the amplitude of P3a on BX clues was significantly smaller in SPs than in HCs (p < .05). Additionally, the midline frontal theta power of neural oscillation was significantly lower in the SPs than in NCs both during the preparatory and response phases. The accuracies on BX clues (r = .694, p = .002) and d'context (r = .698, p = .002) were positively correlated with MCCB scores. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that patients with schizophrenia have deficits both in proactive and reactive cognitive control, with a greater reliance on reactive control during conflict resolution. The neural mechanisms of the cognitive control impairment may involve the inability to engage additional neural resources for proactive control, and a reduction in frontal midline theta power during both proactive and reactive control. The severity of proactive control impairment is positively correlated with an increased tendency to rely on reactive control.

Reduced suicidality after electroconvulsive therapy is linked to increased frontal brain activity in depressed patients: a resting-state fMRI study.

Objective: Suicidality is commonly observed in patients with depressive episodes, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been found to be effective in treating these patients. However, the role of ECT in suicidality remains unclear. This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the changes in brain function before and after ECT in depressed patients with suicidality. Methods: In total, 26 depressed patients with suicidality underwent rs-fMRI at baseline and after 8-12 sessions of ECT. In addition, 32 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, gender, and educational level underwent rs-fMRI once. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were measured to evaluate whole brain function. Differences between the groups and time points (before and after ECT) were compared. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Results: At baseline, patients exhibited decreased ALFF in the right postcentral and precentral gyrus and decreased fALFF in the right supramarginal and postcentral gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), as well as the superior and middle temporal gyrus compared to HCs. Patients also had lower ReHo in the left amygdala, anterior cingulate, and postcentral gyrus, and in the right thalamus, insula, and postcentral gyrus. They also exhibited higher ALFF in the bilateral temporal gyrus and insula as well as higher fALFF in the cerebellum. Following ECT, fALFF in the left SFG and orbital frontal cortex (OFC) significantly increased and was inversely correlated with the reduction of BSSI scores (r = -0.416, p = 0.048), whereas no correlation was found with changes in HAMD-17scores. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the left SFG and OFC may play a key role in the mechanism of ECT for suicidality. The decrease of fALFF in the left SFG and OFC may represent a potential mechanism through which ECT effectively treats suicidality in depressed patients.

The cognitive effects of adjunctive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for late-onset depression: a randomized controlled trial with 4 week follow-up.

Objectives: Cognitive impairment is common and linked to poor outcomes in patients with late-onset depression (LOD). The cognitive effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for LOD are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rTMS on cognitive function in elderly patients with LOD. Methods: In total, 58 elderly patients (aged 60 to 75 years) with depression were enrolled and randomly assigned to an active rTMS group or a sham group. The participants received active or sham rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 4 weeks, 5 days a week, at a frequency of 10 Hz rTMS and 120% of the motor threshold (MT). Cognitive function was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) at baseline, the end of the 4 week treatment period, and at the 4 week follow-up. Results: The active rTMS group showed significant improvements in immediate memory and attention scores on the RBANS compared to the sham group. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in other cognitive domains assessed by the RBANS. No serious adverse events related to rTMS treatment were observed. Conclusion: Treatment with 120% MT rTMS was associated with improvement in cognitive defects related to the active phase of LOD. These findings suggest that rTMS could provide early improvements in cognitive function in clinical settings for elderly patients with LOD.Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=40698, identifier ChiCTR1900024445.

High-nuclearity 3d-4f clusters as enhanced magnetic coolers and molecular magnets.

Four 52-metal-ion 3d-4f cluster complexes featuring a common core of Ln(42)M(10) (Ln = Gd(3+), Dy(3+); M = Co(2+/3+), Ni(2+)) were obtained through self-assembly of the metal ions templated by mixed anions (ClO(4)(-) and CO(3)(2-)). Magnetic studies revealed that the Gd(42)Co(10) and Gd(42)Ni(10) clusters exhibit the largest magnetocaloric effect (MCE) among any known 3d-4f complexes. Replacement of Gd(3+) ions with anisotropic Dy(3+) ions caused significant changes in the magnetic behavior of the clusters; both Dy(42)Co(10) and Dy(42)Ni(10) displayed slow relaxation of the magnetization.

Trigonal bipyramidal Dy5 cluster exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation.

A pentanuclear dysprosium cluster, [Dy(5)(µ(3)-OH)(6)(Acc)(6)(H(2)O)(10)]·Cl(9)·24H(2)O (1), has been synthesized through the reaction of 1-amino-cyclohexanel-carboxylic acid (Acc) and DyCl(3)·5H(2)O. Crystal structural analysis reveals that the metal core of cluster 1 shows an unprecedented trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry. Magnetic studies indicate that the Dy(5) cluster exhibits slow magnetic relaxation.

Two triazole-based metal-organic frameworks constructed from nanosized Cu20 and Cu30 wheels.

Two metal-organic frameworks constructed from nanosized Cu(20) and Cu(30) wheels have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions based on 1,2,3-triazole and 1-H-1,2,3-benzotriazole, respectively. Crystal structure analysis shows that their differences in the size and nuclearity of Cu(20) and Cu(30) wheels are attributed to the steric effect of ligands.