Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Tanypus chinensis and Tanypus kraatzi (Diptera: Chironomidae): Characterization and Phylogenetic Implications.

BACKGROUND: Chironomidae occupy a pivotal position within global aquatic ecosystems. The unique structural attributes of the mitochondrial genome provide profound insights and compelling evidence, underpinning the morphological classification of organisms and substantially advancing our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within Chironomidae. RESULTS: We have meticulously sequenced, assembled, and annotated the mitogenomes of Tanypus chinensis (Wang, 1994) and Tanypus kraatzi (Kieffer, 1912), incorporating an additional 25 previously published mitogenomes into our comprehensive analysis. This extensive dataset enables us to delve deeper into the intricate characteristics and nuances of these mitogenomes, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of their genetic makeup. CONCLUSIONS: The genomic nucleotide composition of T. kraatzi was 39.10% A, 36.51% T, 14.33% C, and 10.06% G, with a total length of 1508 bp. The genomic nucleotide composition of T. chinensis was 39.61% A, 36.27% T, 14.55% C, and 9.57% G, with a total length of 1503 bp. This significant enrichment of the chironomid mitogenome library establishes a novel foundation for further exploration in the realm of phylogenetics.

p-Phenylenediamines and p-phenylenediamine quinone derivatives in rubber consumer products and typical urban dust: Sources, transformation profiles, and health risks.

N,N'-Substituted p-phenylenediamines (PPDs) are widely used as antioxidants in the rubber industry and are released into the environment in large quantities during the production and use of rubber products. We quantified PPDs and PPD quinone derivatives (PPD-Qs) in rubber consumer products, including car tires, rubber belts, rubber gloves, rubber cables, and rubber hoses, to obtain information on the degree of weathering over time during their use. Additionally, we investigated the occurrences and sources of PPDs and PPD-Qs in dust samples collected from four typical urban environments (roads, parking lots, automotive repair shops, and residences). The detected compounds included the highly toxic N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine quinone, which can cause acute mortality of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Concentrations of PPDs in the automotive repair shops reached 56.0 µg/g, and were much higher than in the other environments, while the residential samples had the lowest contaminant concentrations. In road and residential samples, N,N'-di-2-naphthyl-p-phenylenediamine accounted for 17 %-30 % of the PPDs, and may have originated from different sources. We preliminarily identified 32 transformation products, and 11 of these were N,N'-di-2-naphthyl-p-phenylenediamine transformation products. The average daily intakes of PPDs and PPD-Qs were calculated to assess the health risks of dust exposure in each environment. Workers had high total intakes of PPD [60.3 ng/(kg day)] and PPD-Qs [20.1 ng/(kg day)], and were at some risk of occupational exposure. These results improve our understanding of the environmental occurrences, sources, transformation, and health risks of PPDs and PPD-Qs.

Health risks and sources of PCDD/Fs and PCBs residue in cultured crabs.

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) holds significant importance as a popular aquaculture food source; however, there are concerns about its potential contamination with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from both food and aquatic environment. To assess the associated health risks and identify potential sources of contamination in crabs, a comprehensive investigation was conducted, including a total of 70 samples from the crab food web. The results demonstrated that crabs predominantly exhibited elevated concentrations of PCBs and dl-PCBs, with mean concentrations of 12 207 ± 11 962 pg g-1 and 554 ± 203 pg g-1, respectively, while PCDD/Fs concentrations were comparatively lower at 20 ± 17 pg g-1. The accumulation of PCBs in crabs significantly surpassed that of PCDD/Fs. The material balance of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in the crab food web was estimated, indicating that sediments and feeds likely constitute the two primary sources of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in crabs. The monthly intake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs through crab consumption accounted for 30% of the dietary intake, which was well below the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) limit. The weekly intake of PCDD/Fs and PCBs for adults consuming one crab (100 g) does not pose health risks and the recommended weekly intake of white crabmeat and brown crabmeat is 443 g and 21 g, respectively.

Role of cuproptosis in mediating the severity of experimental malaria-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Malaria-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ALI/ARDS) is a fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection that is partially triggered by macrophage recruitment and polarization. As reported, copper exposure increases the risk of malaria infection, and copper accumulation-induced cuproptosis triggers M1 macrophage polarization. It is thus hypothesized that cuproptosis could act as a critical mediator in the pathogenesis of MA-ALI/ARDS, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the role of cuproptosis in the severity of murine MA-ALI/ARDS. METHODS: We utilized an experimental model of MA-ALI/ARDS using female C57BL/6 mice with P. berghei ANKA infection, and treated these animals with the potent copper ion carrier disulfiram (DSF) or copper ion chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TTM). The RAW 264.7 macrophages, which were stimulated with infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in vitro, were also targeted with DSF-CuCl2 or TTM-CuCl2 to further investigate the underlying mechanism. RESULTS: Our findings showed a dramatic elevation in the amount of copper and the expression of SLC31A1 (a copper influx transporter) and FDX1 (a key positive regulator of cuproptosis) but displayed a notable reduction in the expression of ATP7A (a copper efflux transporter) in the lung tissue of experimental MA-ALI/ARDS mice. Compared to the P. berghei ANKA-infected control group, mice that were administered DSF exhibited a remarkable increase in parasitemia/lung parasite burden, total protein concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung wet/dry weight ratio, vascular leakage, and pathological changes in lung tissue. Strikingly, the experimental MA-ALI/ARDS mice with DSF treatment also demonstrated dramatically elevated copper levels, expression of SLC31A1 and FDX1, numbers of CD86+, CD68+, SLC31A1+-CD68+, and FDX1+-CD68+ macrophages, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF-α] and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]) in lung tissue, but showed a remarkable decrease in body weight, survival time, expression of ATP7A, number of CD206+ macrophages, and mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor beta [TGF-ß] and interleukin 10 [IL-10]). In contrast, TTM treatment reversed these changes in the infected mice. Similarly, the in vitro experiment showed a notable elevation in the mRNA levels of SLC31A1, FDX1, CD86, TNF-α, and iNOS in iRBC-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells targeted with DSF-CuCl2, but triggered a remarkable decline in the mRNA levels of ATP7A, CD206, TGF-ß, and IL-10. In contrast, TTM-CuCl2 treatment also reversed these trends in the iRBC-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the activation of cuproptosis with DSF aggravated the severity of MA-ALI/ARDS by partially inducing M1 polarization of pulmonary macrophages, while inhibition of cuproptosis with TTM contrarily ameliorated the severity of MA-ALI/ARDS by promoting macrophage M2 polarization. Our findings suggest that blockage of cuproptosis could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of MA-ALI/ARDS.

Recombinant Bacillus subtilis expressing functional peptide and its effect on blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) in two state of stress.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of recombinant Bacillus subtilis CM66-P4' (secreting P4, which related to previous research in this laboratory) on the antioxidant capacity and immune function of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) through in vitro and in vivo experiment. The culture experiment was divided into 3 groups, including control group (CG, with no additional bacteria), original bacteria group (OBG, with 2×109 CFU/kg Bacillus subtilis CM66) and recombinant bacteria group (RBG, with 2×109 CFU/kg Bacillus subtilis CM66-P4'). After 8 weeks of feeding, a part of the fish were subjected to fishing stress, and the rest were subjected to starvation stress test. Blood samples were collected for the determination of immune and stress-related indexes. The hepatocytes were divided into control group (CG) and experiment group with P4 peptide (LTG and HTG). The cells were collected after starvation treatment and the expression of related genes was detected. The results showed as follows: compared with the CG group, the gene expressions of hepatocytic hsp60 and hsp70 in the LTG and HTG groups were significantly suppressed after 24 h starvation stress (P < 0.05). The content of MDA, the activities of AKP and ALT in OBG group were significantly changed after 30 days starvation (P < 0.05), while the indexes in RBG group had no significant change. The changes of plasma cortisol, malondialdehyde (MDA) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in CG and OBG groups were significantly changed at 4 h after fishing stress (P < 0.05), while the indexes in RBG group was not. In conclusion, this study confirmed that Bacillus subtilis CM66-P4' has great potential in preventing adverse effects of stress on aquatic livestock.

Single-cell RNA sequencing data locate ALDH1A2-mediated retinoic acid synthetic pathway to glomerular parietal epithelial cells.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, family member A2, is a retinoic acid-synthesizing enzyme encoded by Aldh1a2 in mice and ALDH1A2 in humans. This enzyme is indispensable for kidney development, but its role in kidney physiology and pathophysiology remains to be fully defined. In this review, we mined single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing databases of mouse and human kidneys and found that glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs) express a full set of genes encoding proteins needed for cellular vitamin A uptake, intracellular transport, and metabolism into retinoic acid. In particular, Aldh1a2/ALDH1A2 mRNAs are selectively enriched in mouse and human PECs. Aldh1a2 expression in PECs is greatly increased in a mouse model of anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis and moderately induced in a mouse model of ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury. Aldh1a2 expression in PECs is substantially repressed in a chronic kidney disease mouse model combining diabetes, hypertension, and partial nephrectomy and is moderately repressed in mouse models of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing data show that ALDH1A2 mRNA expression in PECs is diminished in patients with chronic kidney disease associated with diabetes, hypertension and polycystic kidney disease. In addition to data mining, we also performed Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analyses and identified gene transcripts correlated with Aldh1a2/ALDH1A2 transcripts in mouse PECs and PEC subtypes, and in human PECs of healthy subjects and patients with AKI or CKD. Furthermore, we conducted Gene Ontology pathway analyses and identified the biological pathways enriched among these Aldh1a2/ALDH1A2-correlated genes. Our data mining and analyses led us to hypothesize that ALDH1A2-mediated retinoic acid synthesis in PECs plays a yet-undefined role in the kidney and that its dysregulation mediates injury. Conditional, PEC-selective Aldh1a2 knockout, RNA silencing and transgenic mouse models will be useful tools to test this hypothesis. Clinical studies on genetics, epigenetics, expression and functions of ALDH1A2 and other genes needed for retinoic acid biosynthesis and signaling are also warranted.

Binding site redundancy is critical for the regulation of fas by miR-30c in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala).

MiR-30c and fatty acid synthase (fas) both play important roles in physiological processes such as lipid synthesis and fat metabolism. Predictive analysis revealed that fas is a target gene of miR-30c with multiple seed sites. Seed sites are useful to predict miRNA targeting relationships; however, detailed analyses of seed sites in fish genomes remain poorly studied. In this study, the regulatory relationship between miR-30c and fas, number and effect of seed regions, and mechanism by which miR-30c regulates lipid metabolism were evaluated in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Four miR-30c target sites for fas were identified using various prediction tools. miR-30c mimics were transfected into 293 T cells, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to evaluate the roles of different fas target sites. When a single target site was mutated, relative luciferase activity was higher than that in the control group, with different activity levels depending on the mutation site. When multiple target sites were mutated, relative luciferase activity increased significantly as the number of mutation sites increased and was the highest when the four sites were mutated simultaneously. The miR-30c agomir was injected into the abdominal cavity of M. amblycephala at various concentrations for analyses of physiological and biochemical parameters in the liver and blood and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in the liver. Total cholesterol, free fatty acid, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly lower after miR-30c agomir injection comparing to the control (P < 0.05). Additionally, the expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism were significantly lower after miR-30c agomir injection than in the control (P < 0.05). In summary, this study identified four specific miR-30c target sites in the 3' UTR of fas mRNA; the effects of these sites are cumulative, and the redundancy ensures the accurate regulation of fas during evolution. In addition, miR-30c has a negative regulatory effect on fas and regulates lipid metabolism via various genes related to this process. Therefore, the regulation of miR-30c can effectively ameliorate the side effects of a high-fat diet on liver function in M. amblycephala.

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-C(sp3) Cross-Electrophile Coupling of N-Sulfonyl Styrenyl Aziridines with Alkyl Bromides.

Herein, we report the first example of a highly enantioselective alkylative aziridine ring opening. Under the catalysis of a chiral nickel/pyridine-imidazoline complex, asymmetric C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-electrophile coupling between racemic N-sulfonyl styrenyl aziridines and readily available primary alkyl bromides furnishes a variety of highly enantioenriched phenethylamine derivatives with complete regiocontrol and good functional group tolerance. Preliminary mechanistic studies support a reaction pathway consisting of regioselective iodolysis of aziridines in situ and subsequent enantioconvergent coupling of the generated ß-amino benzyl iodides with alkyl bromides.

Organophosphate ester exposure in nail salons: Health implications for workers.

Organophosphates esters (OPEs) have become a preferred alternative in nail polish as plasticizers due to health concerns over previously used additives like dibutyl phthalate. However, the true extent of nail technicians' exposure to OPEs is largely unknown. This study shows that nail salon workers are significant exposed to OPEs, with varied concentrations found in air, dust, masks, and urine. The total concentrations of 11 OPEs in ultrasonic personal air samplers (UPAS) ranged from 251 to 1007 ng/m³, and in air conditioner filter dust from 371 to 14473 ng/g. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) was the most abundant compound found in the nail polishes used in these salons. On average, the concentrations of TPHP and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) in workers' urine after work were 5.2 and 1.8 times higher than those before work, respectively. Two nail salons that had the highest nail polish usage also had very high concentrations of TPHP in surgical masks, dust, and UPAS. TPHP concentrations in workers' urine after work were 19 and 13 times those before work, respectively, in these two salons. Human internal exposure assessment showed that the average exposure dose of TPHP after work was 1.8 times higher than that before work. On average, use of masks reduced OPEs in urine by 77%. In conclusion, frequent mask replacement is highly recommended, especially in long working circumstances. Without regular replacement, masks may accumulate OPEs from the air, potentially becoming another source of human exposure to OPEs. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the occupational exposure of nail salon workers to OPEs, particularly considering that most practitioners in this industry are young women of reproductive age.

Physical activity and the risk of developing 8 age-related diseases: epidemiological and Mendelian randomization studies.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to characterize the associations between physical activity levels and the risk of developing age-related diseases in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and used Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess whether there are causal relationships between physical activity levels and the risk of developing 8 age-related diseases (coronary atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, angina, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and venous thromboembolism). METHODS: Based on the data available in the CARDIA, we obtained data related to five disease states: coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and venous thromboembolism. Binary logistic regression analysis estimated the multivariable-adjusted associations between different physical activity statuses and diseases. For the MR study, we used summary-level data from a recently published genome-wide association study on physical activity (including vigorous physical activity and accelerometer-based physical activity) conducted with participants from the UK Biobank study. We selected the above 8 age-related diseases as our outcomes. RESULTS: In the CARDIA-based analysis, the risk of developing coronary heart disease [OR (95% CI): 0.562 (0.397-0.795)], hypertension [OR (95% CI): 0.703 (0.601-0.821)], diabetes [OR (95% CI): 0.783 (0.620-0.988)], and hyperlipidemia [OR (95% CI): 0.792 (0.662-0.949)] was negatively related to physical activity status when participants achieved the physical activity target. Our MR results support a negative causal association between genetically determined vigorous physical activity levels and the risk of developing 3 age-related diseases, namely, angina, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, our results also support a negative causal association between genetically determined accelerometer-based physical activity levels and the risk of developing angina. CONCLUSIONS: Promotion of physical activity is likely to prevent specific age-related diseases.

RNA reading protein YTHDF2 mediates Benzo(k)fluoranthene induced male reproductive injury by regulating the stability of BCL2.

Benzo (k) fluoranthene (BkF) has adverse effects on male reproduction, but its specific mechanism of action is still unclear. This study focused on the role of RNA reading protein YTHDF2 and its mechanism in BkF induced male reproductive injury. Mouse GC-2 spermatocytes were exposed to 0, 40, 80, 160 µM BkF. It was found that BkF significantly increased the apoptosis of GC-2 cell and decreased its survival rate. BCL2 in spermatocytes decreased significantly, while the expression of P53 and BAX exhibited a notable increase. Interestingly, the expression of RNA reading protein YTHDF2 progressively rose in tandem with the escalating BkF exposure dosage. Overexpression of YTHDF2 significantly reduced the viability of cells and increased the apoptosis rate. Meanwhile, there was a substantial increase in the expression of P53 and BAX, BCL2 was significantly down-regulated. On the contrary, interfering with YTHDF2 increased cell proliferation and reduced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, YTHDF2 overexpression exacerbated the decrease in cell viability under BkF exposure, while YTHDF2 knockdown was the opposite. The results from the RIP assay demonstrated a significant enhancement in the interaction of YTHDF2 protein with BCL2 mRNA following the overexpression of YTHDF2. In addition, animal experiments showed that there was an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in proliferation of testicular cells in mice in the high-dose (30 mg/kg) BkF group by TUNEL staining and Ki67 staining. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that BCL2 levels were significantly lower in the high-dose group than in the control group, while YTHDF2, P53 and BAX were dramatically increased. In summary, our study suggests that YTHDF2 has been implicated in BkF-induced male reproductive injury by promoting the degradation of BCL2.

A synergistic bioelectrochemical-photocatalytic system for efficient uranium removal and recovery.

Bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a promising technology for uranium recovery, which also enables simultaneous electricity generation. However, the bioelectrochemical recovery of uranium is hindered by its slow process due to the low reduction potential provided by microorganisms. Herein, we developed an innovative bioelectrochemical-photocatalytic system (BEPS) that combines the advantages of BES and photocatalysis, achieving enhanced uranium removal and recovery. The photogenerated electrons in BEPS possess a more negative reduction potential and stronger reduction capability than microbial electrons in BES, significantly accelerating uranium reduction and deposition on the electrode surface. Moreover, the electrons from the bioanode combine with photogenerated holes through the external circuit, effectively inhibiting the recombination of charge carriers. The BEPS significantly enhances uranium removal efficiency, kinetic, and electricity generation through a synergistic coupling mechanism between the bioanode and photocathode. Notably, the UO2 deposited on the electrode surface exhibited a recovery efficiency of 98.21 ± 1.37%, and the regenerated electrode sustained its photoelectric response and uranium removal capabilities. Our findings highlight the potential of the BEPS as an effective technology for uranium recovery and electricity generation.

DHRS2-induced SPHK1 downregulation contributes to the cell growth inhibition by Trichothecin in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Deregulation of lipid metabolism is one of the most prominent metabolic features in cancer. The activation of sphingolipid metabolic pathways affects the proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immune escape of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Dehydrogenase/reductase member 2 (DHRS2), which belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family, has been reported to participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and impact on cancer progression. Trichothecin (TCN) is a sesquiterpenoid metabolite originating from an endophytic fungus of the herbal plant Maytenus hookeri Loes. Studies have shown that TCN exerts a broad-spectrum antitumor activity. METHODS: We evaluated the proliferative ability of CRC cells by CCK8 and colony formation assays. A metabolite profiling using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was adopted to identify the proximal metabolite changes linked to DHRS2 overexpression. RNA stability assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiments were applied to determine the post-transcriptional regulation of SPHK1 expression by DHRS2. We used flow cytometry to detect changes in cell cycle and cell apoptosis of CRC cells in the absence or presence of TCN. RESULTS: We demonstrate that DHRS2 hampers the sphingosine kinases 1 (SPHK1)/sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) metabolic pathway to inhibit CRC cell growth. DHRS2 directly binds to SPHK1 mRNA to accelerate its degradation in a post-transcriptionally regulatory manner. Moreover, we illustrate that SPHK1 downregulation induced by DHRS2 contributes to TCN-induced growth inhibition of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a mechanistic connection among metabolic enzymes, metabolites, and the malignant progression of CRC. Moreover, TCN could be developed as a potential pharmacological tool against CRC by the induction of DHRS2 and targeting SPHK1/S1P metabolic pathway.

Phylogenetic and Comparative Analysis of Cryptochironomus, Demicryptochironomus and Harnischia Inferred from Mitogenomes (Diptera: Chironomidae).

(1) Background: Mitochondrial genomes have been extensively employed as a crucial marker in numerous dipteran families for understanding phylogenetics and systematics relations, thereby playing a pivotal role in molecular biology studies. The phylogenetic relationship of the Harnischia generic complex remains contentious due to the paucity of taxonomic and molecular data. Specifically, the evolutionary relationships among Cryptochironomus, Demicryptochironomus, and Harnischia are still unclear. (2) Methods: In this study, Polypedilum and Endochironomus were used as outgroups to analyze phylogenetic relationships among Cryptochironomus, Demicryptochironomus, and Harnischia, mitogenomes of four Cryptochironomus, two Demicryptochironomus, two Harnischia, and two Cladopelma were newly sequenced. Subsequently, we conducted a thorough analysis of the nucleotide composition, sequence length, and evolutionary rate. (3) Results: All mitogenomes exhibited structural conservation, with all genes consistently arranged in the identical order as that of the ancestral mitogenome. Nucleotide composition varied significantly among different genes, and the control region displayed the highest A + T content. All protein-coding genes undergo rigorous purification selection, with the ATP8 gene exhibiting the most rapid evolutionary rate among them. Utilizing Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods across various databases, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships among the genera within the Harnischia generic complex, drawing insights from an analysis of 14 mitochondrial genomes. (4) Conclusions: Our results showed that the monophyly of the genera Harnischia was well supported in all topologies; Cryptochironomus is sister to Demicryptochironomus.

Corrosion behavior, antibacterial properties and in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of biodegradable Zn-5Cu-xMg alloy for bone-implant applications.

Reasonable optimization of degradation rate, antibacterial performance and biocompatibility is crucial for the development of biodegradable zinc alloy medical implant devices with antibacterial properties. In this study, various amounts of Mg elements were incorporated into Zn5Cu alloy to modulate the degradation rate, antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. The effects of Mg contents on the microstructure, corrosion behavior, antibacterial properties and biocompatibility of Zn-5Cu-xMg alloy were extensively investigated. The results revealed that with an increase of Mg content, the amount of Mg2Zn11 phase increased and its galvanic effect with the Zn matrix was enhanced, which accelerated the corrosion process and led to higher corrosion rate and high degradation rate of the alloy. Additionally, there was an increased release of Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions from the alloy which imparted excellent resistance against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and improved biocompatibility, subcutaneous antibacterial and immune microenvironment regulation properties. Zn-5Cu-2 Mg exhibited superior antibacterial ability, cell compatibility, proliferation effect, subcutaneous antibacterial and immune microenvironment regulation performances, which can work as a promising candidate of biodegradable antibacterial medical implants.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of mitochondrial RNA splicing 2 in fish Megalobrama amblycephala, and its potential roles in magnesium homeostasis and mitochondrial function.

Mitochondrial function can be regulated by ion channels. Mitochondrial RNA splicing 2 (Mrs2) is a magnesium ion (Mg2+) channel located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby mediating the Mg2+ influx into the mitochondrial matrix. However, its potential role in regulating the Mg homeostasis and mitochondrial function in aquatic species is still unclear. This study molecularly characterizes the gene encoding Mrs2 in fish M. amblycephala with its functions in maintaining the Mg homeostasis and mitochondrial function verified. The mrs2 gene is 2133 bp long incorporating a 1269 bp open reading frame, which encodes 422 amino acids. The Mrs2 protein includes two transmembrane domains and a conserved tripeptide Gly-Met-Asn, and has a high homology (65.92-97.64%) with those of most vertebrates. The transcript of mrs2 was relatively high in the white muscle, liver and kidney. The inhibition of mrs2 reduces the expressions of Mg2+ influx/efflux-related proteins, mitochondrial Mg content, and the activities of mitochondrial complex I and V in hepatocytes. However, the over-expression of mrs2 increases the expressions of Mg2+ influx/efflux-related proteins, mitochondrial Mg content, and the complex V activity, but decreases the activities of mitochondrial complex III and IV and citrate synthase in hepatocytes. Collectively, Mrs2 is highly conserved among different species, and is prerequisite for maintaining Mg homeostasis and mitochondrial function in fish.

A correctable decoding DNA sequencing with high accuracy and high throughput.

Eliminating errors in next-generation sequencing has proven to be challenging. Here we present a novel strategy for DNA sequencing, called correctable two-color fluorogenic DNA decoding sequencing, which can significantly improve sequencing accuracy and throughput by employing a dual-nucleotide addition combined with fluorogenic sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) chemistry. This sequencing method involves introducing a mixture of natural nucleotide X, labeled unblocked nucleotide X', 3' blocked nucleotide Y*, and labeled 3' blocked nucleotide Y* into each reaction cycle. By cyclically interrogating a template twice with different nucleotide combinations, two sets of base-encoding are sequentially obtained, enabling accurate deduction of base sequence. We demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of this approach in detecting and correcting sequencing errors, achieving a theoretical error rate of 0.0005%, which is twice as accurate as Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, we show the capability to detect known mutation sites using information from only a single sequencing run. The correctable two-color fluorogenic DNA decoding sequencing approach should enable accurate identification of extremely rare genomic variations in diverse applications in biology and medicine.

Trajectory model to analyze the effect of multi-metal exposures on sperm parameters and sex hormones of the MARHCS cohort in China.

BACKGROUND: At present, several cross-sectional studies have found that exposure to metal/metalloid elements is closely associated with male reproduction. However, the long-term effects of metal exposure on male reproduction have not been explored. METHODS: In 2013, 796 volunteers were recruited, followed by first and second follow-ups in 2014 and 2015. Urine, semen, and blood samples were collected at each stage to examine urinary metal/metalloid levels, sperm parameters, and sex hormones. Initially, the latent class trajectory model (LCTM) was utilized to analyze the trajectories of urinary metals. Subsequently, the effects of urinary metal trajectories on semen parameters and sex hormones were examined using the linear mixed model. Finally, the impact of urinary metal trajectories on the classification of semen quality (normal or abnormal) was evaluated using the generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: Among the 18 metals/metalloids studied, trajectories were formed by 6 of them (Li, Al, Fe, Zn, As, Rb). Further analysis using the linear mixed model and the generalized linear mixed model revealed that Li was negatively correlated with semen volume, and sperm motility (P < 0.05). The maximum-decreasing trajectory group had a detrimental effect on semen quality (OR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.22, 2.53) compared to the minimum-stable trajectory group. Al showed negative associations with sperm concentration, total sperm count, and normal morphology (P < 0.05). Rb was positively associated with progressive motility (P < 0.05). The high-stable trajectory group exhibited a protective effect on semen quality (OR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.90) compared to the low-stable trajectory group. Additionally, Fe was observed to have a negative relationship with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (P < 0.05), and Rb exhibited a negative correlation with progesterone (P) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our three-year cohort study provides new evidence that Li and Al have a negative impact on semen quality, whereas Rb is associated with beneficial effects. Additionally, Rb and Fe are endocrine disruptors of sex hormones.

Synthesis of melanin-like amino acid surfactant with enzymatic hydrolysates from silk degumming water.

The degummed wastewater from silk processing contains a huge amount of amino acids and polypeptides from sericin. The silk degumming water is far from being exploited fully. Sericin in the degumming water is generally wasted and causes environmental pollution. In this study, simulated silk degumming water was hydrolyzed by alkaline protease to produce abundant amino acids and polypeptides. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the maximum free amino groups concentration in the silk degumming water was approximately 54 mM. It facilitated the recycling of silk degumming water for the production of melanin-like amino acid surfactants as raw materials. 4-Tert-butylcatechol was used as the starting material to generate o-quinone via oxidation by ceric ammonium nitrate. o-Quinone was coupled with free amino groups in enzymatic hydrolysates of silk degumming water to synthesize a sericin-based amino acid surfactant as hydrophobic and hydrophilic group, respectively. Through the green and simple synthesis route, the product was characterized to have a novel melanin-like structure. The product exhibited superior surface-active properties by lowering the surface tension to 32.39 mN m-1. Furthermore, it demonstrated good foaming ability and foam stability, with the initial foam volume of 37 mL and the foam half-life time of more than 25 min. The product owned a good emulsification ability in the oil-water emulsion with delamination time of 297 s and 291 s for emulsion formed by soybean oil and liquid paraffin, respectively. The wetting time of the canvas sheet was only 134 s. Consequently, the product showed low surface tension, good foaming, emulsifying, and wetting properties.

A Deniable Encryption Method for Modulation-Based DNA Storage.

Recent advancements in synthesis and sequencing techniques have made deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) a promising alternative for next-generation digital storage. As it approaches practical application, ensuring the security of DNA-stored information has become a critical problem. Deniable encryption allows the decryption of different information from the same ciphertext, ensuring that the "plausible" fake information can be provided when users are coerced to reveal the real information. In this paper, we propose a deniable encryption method that uniquely leverages DNA noise channels. Specifically, true and fake messages are encrypted by two similar modulation carriers and subsequently obfuscated by inherent errors. Experiment results demonstrate that our method not only can conceal true information among fake ones indistinguishably, but also allow both the coercive adversary and the legitimate receiver to decrypt the intended information accurately. Further security analysis validates the resistance of our method against various typical attacks. Compared with conventional DNA cryptography methods based on complex biological operations, our method offers superior practicality and reliability, positioning it as an ideal solution for data encryption in future large-scale DNA storage applications.