Protein Interacting C-Kinase 1 Modulates Surface Expression of P2Y6 Purinoreceptor, Actin Polymerization and Phagocytosis in Microglia.

Microglia clean up dead cells and debris through phagocytosis in the central nervous system. UDP-activated P2Y6 receptors (P2Y6Rs) induce the formation of phagocytic cup-like structure and P2Y6R expression is increased during the phagocytosis. However, it remains unclear how surface expression of P2Y6R is increased. PICK1 (protein interacting with C-kinase-1) interacts with various neurotransmitter receptors, transporters, and enzymes. We here report that PICK1 might interact with P2Y6R. Surface P2Y6R was reduced in microglia from PICK1-knockout mice and PICK1-knockdown BV2 cells, which was also confirmed by electrophysiological recordings, showing that P2Y6R-mediated current was increased by PICK1 overexpression but was reduced by PICK1-knockdown in BV2 microglia. Finally, PICK1 was sufficient to affect cytoskeletal aggregation and phagocytosis both in primary microglia and BV2 cells. These results indicate that PICK1 is an important regulator of P2Y6R expression and microglial phagocytosis.

From ScOOH to Sc2 O3 : Phase Control, Luminescent Properties, and Applications.

In the controlled synthesis of ScOOH nanomaterials, the surfactant molecule Na3 Cit not only helps to manipulate the crystallographic structures, but also to initiate the transfer from α-ScOOH to γ-ScOOH. Further annealing of ScOOH generates cubic Sc2 O3 with morphologies inherited from respective origins. When doped with lanthanide ions, both ScOOH and Sc2 O3 can be utilized for high-temperature probing and light-emitting-diode lighting.

Rare Earth Ion-Doped Upconversion Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Surface Modification.

The unique luminescent properties exhibited by rare earth ion-doped upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs), such as long lifetime, narrow emission line, high color purity, and high resistance to photobleaching, have made them widely used in many areas, including but not limited to high-resolution displays, new-generation information technology, optical communication, bioimaging, and therapy. However, the inherent upconversion luminescent properties of UCNPs are influenced by various parameters, including the size, shape, crystal structure, and chemical composition of the UCNPs, and even the chosen synthesis process and the surfactant molecules used. This review will provide a complete summary on the synthesis methods and the surface modification strategies of UCNPs reported so far. Firstly, we summarize the synthesis methodologies developed in the past decades, such as thermal decomposition, thermal coprecipitation, hydro/solvothermal, sol-gel, combustion, and microwave synthesis. In the second part, five main streams of surface modification strategies for converting hydrophobic UCNPs into hydrophilic ones are elaborated. Finally, we consider the likely directions of the future development and challenges of the synthesis and surface modification, such as the large-scale production and actual applications, stability, and so on, of the UCNPs.