Disruption of Cdh23 exon 68 splicing leads to progressive hearing loss in mice by affecting tip-link stability.

Inner ear hair cells are characterized by the F-actin-based stereocilia that are arranged into a staircase-like pattern on the apical surface of each hair cell. The tips of shorter-row stereocilia are connected with the shafts of their neighboring taller-row stereocilia through extracellular links named tip links, which gate mechano-electrical transduction (MET) channels in hair cells. Cadherin 23 (CDH23) forms the upper part of tip links, and its cytoplasmic tail is inserted into the so-called upper tip-link density (UTLD) that contains other proteins such as harmonin. The Cdh23 gene is composed of 69 exons, and we show here that exon 68 is subjected to hair cell-specific alternative splicing. Tip-link formation is not affected in genetically modified mutant mice lacking Cdh23 exon 68. Instead, the stability of tip links is compromised in the mutants, which also suffer from progressive and noise-induced hearing loss. Moreover, we show that the cytoplasmic tail of CDH23(+68) but not CDH23(-68) cooperates with harmonin in phase separation-mediated condensate formation. In conclusion, our work provides evidence that inclusion of Cdh23 exon 68 is critical for the stability of tip links through regulating condensate formation of UTLD components.

Intergrowth Zeolites, Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalysis.

Microporous zeolites that can act as heterogeneous catalysts have continued to attract a great deal of academic and industrial interest, but current progress in their synthesis and application is restricted to single-phase zeolites, severely underestimating the potential of intergrowth frameworks. Compared with single-phase zeolites, intergrowth zeolites possess unique properties, such as different diffusion pathways and molecular confinement, or special crystalline pore environments for binding metal active sites. This review first focuses on the structural features and synthetic details of all the intergrowth zeolites, especially providing some insightful discussion of several potential frameworks. Subsequently, characterization methods for intergrowth zeolites are introduced, and highlighting fundamental features of these crystals. Then, the applications of intergrowth zeolites in several of the most active areas of catalysis are presented, including selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia (NH3-SCR), methanol to olefins (MTO), petrochemicals and refining, fine chemicals production, and biomass conversion on Beta, and the relationship between structure and catalytic activity was profiled from the perspective of intergrowth grain boundary structure. Finally, the synthesis, characterization, and catalysis of intergrowth zeolites are summarized in a comprehensive discussion, and a brief outlook on the current challenges and future directions of intergrowth zeolites is indicated.

Cu-OFF/ERI Zeolite: Intergrowth Structure Synergistically Boosting Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with NH3.

Cu-SSZ-13 has been commercialized for selective catalytic reduction with ammonia (NH3-SCR) to remove NOx from diesel exhaust. As its synthesis usually requires toxic and costly organic templates, the discovery of alternative Cu-based zeolite catalysts with organotemplate-free synthesis and comparable or even superior NH3-SCR activity to that of Cu-SSZ-13 is of great academic and industrial significance. Herein, we demonstrated that Cu-T with an intergrowth structure of offretite (OFF) and erionite (ERI) synthesized by an organotemplate-free method showed better catalytic performance than Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF as well as Cu-SSZ-13. Structure characterizations and density functional theory calculations indicated that the intergrowth structure promoted more isolated Cu2+ located at the 6MR of the intergrowth interface, resulting in a better hydrothermal stability of Cu-T than Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF. Strikingly, the low-temperature activity of Cu-T significantly increased after hydrothermal aging, while that of Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF substantially decreased. Based on in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra analysis and density functional theory calculations, the reason can be attributed to the fact that NH4NO3 formed on the CuxOy species within ERI polymorph of Cu-T underwent a fast SCR reaction pathway with the assistance of Brønsted acid sites at the intergrowth interfaces under standard SCR reaction conditions. Significantly, Cu-T exhibited a wider temperature window at a catalytic activity of over 90% than Cu-SSZ-13 (175-550 vs 175-500 °C for fresh and 225-500 vs 250-400 °C for hydrothermal treatment). This work provides a new direction for the design of high-performance NH3-SCR catalysts in terms of the interplay of the intergrowth structure of zeolites.

METTL3-mediated m6A methylation of SLC38A1 stimulates cervical cancer growth.

The objective of this study was to better characterize the role of the glutamine transporter SLC38A1 in cervical cancer and explore the underlying mechanisms. Data from public databases and clinical cervical cancer tissue samples were used to assess the expression of SLC38A1 and its prognostic significance. Immunohistochemical staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expression of relevant genes and proteins. Cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and intracellular glutamine content were measured using CCK-8, flow cytometry, and biochemical assays. Additionally, the RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay was used to examine the impact of METTL3/IGF2BP3 on the m6A modification of the SLC38A1 3'UTR. Both cervical cancer specimens and cells showed significantly increased expression of SLC38A1 and its expression correlated with an unfavorable prognosis. Knockdown of SLC38A1 inhibited cell viability and cell cycle progression, induced apoptosis, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Glutaminase-1 inhibitor CB-839 reversed the effects of SLC38A1 overexpression. METTL3 promoted m6A modification of SLC38A1 and enhanced its mRNA stability through IGF2BP3 recruitment. Moreover, METTL3 silencing inhibited cell viability, cell cycle progression, intracellular glutamine content, and induced apoptosis, but these effects were reversed by SLC38A1 overexpression. In conclusion, METTL3-mediated m6A methylation of SLC38A1 stimulates cervical cancer progression. SLC38A1 inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer.

Regulating Electron Metal-Support Interaction to Suppress N2O Formation in the Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Ammonia.

N2O is a common byproduct in the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia, and its generation often needs to be inhibited due to its strong greenhouse effect. In this paper, using Ag/ZSO-Y as a model catalyst, the N2O selectivity was reduced by 30% through modulation of the electron metal-support interaction. The results demonstrate that the work function of the support can be regulated by the content of the doping element. As the Zr content increases in SnO2, the work function of the support decreases. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between the charge transfer amount and the work function of the support. A series of in situ DRIFTS and density functional theory calculations revealed that the -NO and -N reactions are the primary pathways for N2O formation. By adjustment of the work function of the support through varying the Zr doping level, the electronic structure of Ag NPs was further tuned, resulting in an increased reaction energy barrier for -NO and -N reactions, effectively suppressing N2O formation.

Broad Spectral Response FeOOH/BiO2-x Photocatalyst with Efficient Charge Transfer for Enhanced Photo-Fenton Synergistic Catalytic Activity.

In this work, to promote the separation of photogenerated carriers, prevent the catalyst from photo-corrosion, and improve the photo-Fenton synergistic degradation of organic pollutants, the coating structure of FeOOH/BiO2-x rich in oxygen vacancies was successfully synthesized by a facile and environmentally friendly two-step process of hydrothermal and chemical deposition. Through a series of degradation activity tests of synthesized materials under different conditions, it was found that FeOOH/BiO2-x demonstrated outstanding organic pollutant degradation activity under visible and near-infrared light when hydrogen peroxide was added. After 90 min of reaction under photo-Fenton conditions, the degradation rate of Methylene Blue by FeOOH/BiO2-x was 87.4%, significantly higher than the degradation efficiency under photocatalysis (60.3%) and Fenton (49.0%) conditions. The apparent rate constants of FeOOH/BiO2-x under photo-Fenton conditions were 2.33 times and 3.32 times higher than photocatalysis and Fenton catalysis, respectively. The amorphous FeOOH was tightly coated on the layered BiO2-x, which significantly increased the specific surface area and the number of active sites of the composites, and facilitated the improvement of the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers and the prevention of photo-corrosion of BiO2-x. The analysis of the mechanism of photo-Fenton synergistic degradation clarified that ·OH, h+, and ·O2- are the main active substances involved in the degradation of pollutants. The optimal degradation conditions were the addition of the FeOOH/BiO2-x composite catalyst loaded with 20% Fe at a concentration of 0.5 g/L, the addition of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 8 mM, and an initial pH of 4. This outstanding catalytic system offers a fresh approach to the creation and processing of iron-based photo-Fenton catalysts by quickly and efficiently degrading various organic contaminants.

Major Vault Protein Prevents Atherosclerotic Plaque Destabilization by Suppressing Macrophage ASK1-JNK Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages are implicated in atherosclerotic plaque instability by inflammation and degradation of extracellular matrix. However, the regulatory mechanisms driving these macrophage-associated processes are not well understood. Here, we aimed to identify the plaque destabilization-associated cytokines and signaling pathways in macrophages. METHODS: The atherosclerotic models of myeloid-specific MVP (major vault protein) knockout mice and control mice were generated. Atherosclerotic instability, macrophage inflammatory signaling, and active cytokines released by macrophages were examined in vivo and in vitro by using cellular and molecular biological approaches. RESULTS: MVP deficiency in myeloid cells exacerbated murine plaque instability by increasing production of both MMP (matrix metallopeptidase)-9 and proinflammatory cytokines in artery wall. Mechanistically, expression of MMP-9 was mediated via ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1)-MKK-4 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4)-JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling in macrophages. MVP and its α-helical domain could bind with ASK1 and inhibit its dimerization and phosphorylation. A 62 amino acid peptide (MVP-[686-747]) in the α-helical domain of MVP showed a crucial role in preventing macrophage MMP-9 production and plaque instability. CONCLUSIONS: MVP may act as an inhibitor for ASK1-JNK signaling-mediated MMP-9 production in macrophages and, thereby, attenuate unstable plaque formation. Our findings suggest that suppression of macrophage ASK1-JNK signaling may be a useful strategy antagonizing atherosclerotic diseases.

Recent Advances of VOCs Catalytic Oxidation over Spinel Oxides: Catalyst Design and Reaction Mechanism.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) harm the environment and human health and have been of wide concern and purified efficiently by catalytic oxidation. Spinel oxides, mainly composed of transition metal elements with low price and extensive sources, have been widely investigated as efficient and stable catalysts for VOCs oxidation due to their adjustable element composition, flexible structure, and high thermal/chemical stability. However, it is necessary to dissect the design of the spinel in a targeted way to satisfy the removal of different types of VOCs. This article systematically summarizes the recent advances regarding the application of spinel oxides for VOCs catalytic oxidation. Specifically, the design strategies of spinel oxides were first introduced to clarify their effect on the structure and properties of the catalyst. Then the reaction mechanism and degradation pathway of different kinds of VOCs on the spinel oxides were in detail summarized, and the characteristic requirements of the spinel oxides for various VOCs purification were analyzed. Furthermore, the practice applications were also discussed. Finally, the prospects were proposed to guide the rational design of spinel-based catalysts for VOCs purification and intensify the understanding of reaction mechanisms.

Construction of a novel lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA network in muscle in response to exercise training.

Physical inactivity has evidently been a hazard factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. Rising evidence indicates that RNA, as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), plays an important role in adaptive changes in skeletal muscle in response to exercise training. Although the effects of exercise-induced fitness on skeletal muscle have been well established, the mechanisms underlying are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to construct a novel ceRNA network in skeletal muscle in response to exercise training. Skeletal muscle gene expression profiles were downloaded from the GEO database. Then, we identified differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs between the pre-exercise and post-exercise samples. Subsequently, we constructed lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks based on the ceRNA theory. 1153 mRNAs (687 upregulated and 466 downregulated), 7 miRNAs (3 upregulated and 4 downregulated), and 5 lncRNAs (3 upregulated and 2 downregulated) were identified as differentially expressed genes. 3 lncRNAs, 5 miRNAs and 227 mRNAs were obtained to build miRNA-mediated ceRNA networks. We constructed a novel ceRNA regulatory network in muscle in response to exercise training, which provides insights into molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits brought by physical activity.

Interface-Enhanced Oxygen Vacancies of CoCuOx Catalysts In Situ Grown on Monolithic Cu Foam for VOC Catalytic Oxidation.

The development of highly efficient and stable monolithic catalysts is essential for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Copper foam (CF) is a potential ideal carrier for monolithic catalysts, but its low surface area is not conducive to dispersion of active species, thus reducing the interface interaction with active species. Herein, a vertically oriented Cu(OH)2 nanorod was in situ grown on the CF, which acted as the template and precursor to synthesize CoCu-MOF. The optimized catalyst (12CoCu-R) delivers excellent performance for acetone oxidation with a T90 of 195 °C. Impressively, the catalyst demonstrated satisfactory stability in long-term, cycle, water resistance, and high airspeed tests. Therefore, the present study provides a novel strategy for rationally designing efficient monolithic catalysts for VOC oxidation and other environmental applications.

Recent Advances of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds' Oxidation Catalyzed by Multiple Catalysts: Reasonable Adjustment of Acidity and Redox Properties.

The severe hazard of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) to human health and the natural environment makes their abatement technology a key topic of global environmental research. Due to the existence of Cl, the byproducts of CVOCs in the catalytic combustion process are complex and toxic, and the possible generation of dioxin becomes a potential risk to the environment. Well-qualified CVOC catalysts should process favorable low-temperature catalytic oxidation ability, excellent selectivity, and good resistance to poisoning, which are governed by the reasonable adjustment of acidity and redox properties. This review overviews the application of different types of multicomponent catalysts, that is, supported noble metal catalysts, transition metal oxide/zeolite catalysts, composite transition metal oxide catalysts, and acid-modified catalysts, for CVOC degradation from the perspective of balance between acidity and redox properties. This review also highlights the synergistic degradation of CVOCs and NOx from the perspective of acidity and redox properties. We expect this work to inspire and guide researchers from both the academic and industrial communities and help pave the way for breakthroughs in fundamental research and industrial applications in this field.

Acid Etching-Induced In Situ Growth of λ-MnO2 over CoMn Spinel for Low-Temperature Volatile Organic Compound Oxidation.

Surface lattice oxygen is crucial to the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over transition metal oxides according to the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Herein, λ-MnO2 in situ grown on the surface of CoMn spinel was prepared by acid etching of corresponding spinel catalysts (CoMn-Hx-Ty) for VOC oxidation. Experimental and relevant theoretical exploration revealed that acid etching on the CoMn spinel surface could decrease the electron cloud density around the O atom and weaken the adjacent Mn-O bond due to the fracture of the surface Co-O bond, facilitating electron transfer and subsequently the activation of surface lattice oxygen. The obtained CoMn-H1-T1 exhibited an excellent catalytic performance with a 90% acetone conversion at 149 °C, which is 42 °C lower than that of CoMn spinel. Furthermore, the partially maintained spinel structure led to better stability than pure λ-MnO2. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy confirmed a possible degradation pathway where adsorptive acetone converted into formate and acetate species and into CO2, in which the consumption of acetate was identified as the rate-limiting step. This strategy can improve the catalytic performance of metal oxides by activating surface lattice oxygen, to broaden their application in VOC oxidation.

[6 + 3] Annulations of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates and dicyanoheptafulvene.

A [6 + 3] annulation reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates and dicyanoheptafulvene is accomplished by employing commercially available triphenylphosphine as the Lewis base catalyst. A spectrum of densely functionalized bicyclo[4.3.1]decane architectures are efficiently constructed with exclusive diastereoselectivity and good yield (up to 95%).

Defective Ultrafine MnOx Nanoparticles Confined within a Carbon Matrix for Low-Temperature Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds.

The development of catalysts for volatile organic compound (VOC) treatment by catalytic oxidation is of great significance to improve the atmospheric environment. Size-effect and oxygen vacancy engineering are effective strategies for designing high-efficiency heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we explored the in situ carbon-confinement-oxidation method to synthesize ultrafine MnOx nanoparticles with adequately exposed defects. They exhibited an outstanding catalytic performance with a T90 of 167 °C for acetone oxidation, which is 73 °C lower than that of bulk MnOx (240 °C). This excellent catalytic activity was primarily ascribed to their high surface area, rich oxygen vacancies, abundant active oxygen species, and good reducibility at low temperatures. Importantly, the synthesized ultrafine MnOx exhibited impressive stability in long-term, cycling and water-resistance tests. Moreover, the possible mechanism for acetone oxidation over MnOx-NA was revealed. In this work, we not only prepared a promising material for removing VOCs but also provided a new strategy for the rational design of ultrafine nanoparticles with abundant defects.

A metal-OH group modification strategy to prepare highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al for efficient acetone capture under humid conditions.

A series of highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al (MIL = Materials of Institut Lavoisier) frameworks synthesized via decoration of the Al-OH groups by alkyl phosphonic acid were developed as adsorbents for removing acetone from humid gas streams. The newly prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N2 adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their adsorption behaviors toward acetone vapor under dry and wet conditions were studied subsequently. Results showed that alkyl phosphonic acid was successfully grafted into MIL-53-Al skeleton through coordinating interaction with Al3+ generating MIL-53-Al@Cx (x = 12, 14, 18). The MIL-53-Al@Cx exhibited similar crystal structure and thermal stability to parent MIL-53-Al. Furthermore, the modified materials showed significantly enhanced hydrophobicity. The water vapor uptake of MIL-53-Al@C14 decreased by 72.55% at 75% relative humidity (RH). Dynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that water vapor had almost no effect on the acetone adsorption performance of MIL-53-Al@C14. Under the condition of 90% RH, the acetone adsorption capacity of MIL-53-Al@C14 was 102.98% higher than that of MIL-53-Al. Notably, MIL-53-Al@C14 presented excellent adsorption reversibility and regeneration performance in 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Taken together, the strategy of metal-OH group modification is an attractive way to improve the acetone adsorption performance over metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) under humid conditions. Besides, MIL-53-Al@C14 would be deemed as a promising candidate for capturing acetone in high moisture environment.

Recent advances in ionic liquids-based hybrid processes for CO2 capture and utilization.

CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) is an effective strategy to mitigate global warming. Absorption, adsorption and membranes are methods used for CO2 separation and capture, and various catalytic pathways have also been developed for CO2 utilization. Although widely researched and used in industry, these processes are energy-intensive and this challenge needs to be overcome. To realize further optimization, novel materials and processes are continuously being developed. New generation materials such as ionic liquids (ILs) have shown promising potential for cost-effective CO2 capture and utilization. This study reviews the current status of ILs-based solvents, adsorbents, membranes, catalysts and their hybrid processes for CO2 capture and utilization. The special properties of ILs are integrated into new materials through hybridization, which significantly improves the performance in the process of CCU.

Potential applications of porous organic polymers as adsorbent for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with high toxicity and carcinogenicity are emitted from kinds of industries, which endanger human health and the environment. Adsorption is a promising method for the treatment of VOCs due to its low cost and high efficiency. In recent years, activated carbons, zeolites, and mesoporous materials are widely used to remove VOCs because of their high specific surface area and abundant porosity. However, the hydrophilic nature and low desorption rate of those materials limit their commercial application. Furthermore, the adsorption capacities of VOCs still need to be improved. Porous organic polymers (POPs) with extremely high porosity, structural diversity, and hydrophobic have been considered as one of the most promising candidates for VOCs adsorption. This review generalized the superiority of POPs for VOCs adsorption compared to other porous materials and summarized the studies of VOCs adsorption on different types of POPs. Moreover, the mechanism of competitive adsorption between water and VOCs on the POPs was discussed. Finally, a concise outlook for utilizing POPs for VOCs adsorption was discussed, noting areas in which further work is needed to develop the next-generation POPs for practical applications.

Synthesis of Silanol-Rich MCM-48 with Mixed Surfactants and Their Application in Acetone Adsorption: Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies.

Mesoporous silica MCM-48 with rich silanol was prepared using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as mixed templates, and the dynamic adsorption performance of acetone was evaluated by testing breakthrough curves. The mixed micelle formed by CTAB and PVP, as well as the hydrogen bond between the carbonyl group of PVP and silanol group affected the condensation process of Si-OH group during the formation of mesoporous structure, resulting in the increase of Si-OH group number on the surface of MCM-48. Compared with MCM-48 synthesized by single template (CTAB), the acetone adsorption capacity of MCM-48 (1:3) synthesized by mixed templates (PVP:CTAB = 1:3) improved by 23.86%, which was attributed to the increase of silanol group amount and the decrease of pore size. In addition, Bangham model had the highest goodness of fit to describe the adsorption process among four kinetic models for the adsorbents, conforming to the mechanism of pore diffusion. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to fit the adsorption isotherm data, and the Freundlich model could better describe the adsorption of acetone. Freundlich model fitting results showed that MCM-48 with rich silanol had a strong affinity for acetone, and the adsorption of acetone on MCM-48 belonged to multilayer adsorption. The thermodynamic results showed that the adsorption of MCM-48 for acetone was physical adsorption, and the adsorption behavior was exothermic. This work provided insight into how the inherent properties of an adsorbent and environmental factors (including initial concentration and adsorption temperature) affected the adsorption performance of ketones, thus more ideas could be provided for the accurate design of adsorbents. Furthermore, silanol-rich MCM-48 synthesized by mixed templates is expected to be a promising adsorbent for acetone removal.

Ginsenoside Rg1 protects H9c2 cells against nutritional stress-induced injury via aldolase /AMPK/PINK1 signalling.

Insufficient nutrients supply will greatly affect the function of cardiac myocytes. The adaptive responses of cardiac myocytes to nutritional stress are not fully known. Ginsenoside Rg1 is one of the most pharmacologically active components in Panax Ginseng and possesses protective effects on cardiomyocyte. Here, we investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on H9c2 cells which were subjected to nutritional stress. Nutritional stress-induced by glucose deprivation strongly induced cell death and this response was inhibited by ginsenoside Rg1. Importantly, glucose deprivation decreased intracellular ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential. Ginsenoside Rg1 rescued ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential in nutrient-starved cells. For molecular mechanisms, ginsenoside Rg1 increased the expressions of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and p-AMPK in glucose deprivation treated H9c2 cells. Reducing the expression of aldolase in H9c2 cells inhibited ginsenoside Rg1's actions on PINK1 and p-AMPK. Further, the nutritional stress mice were used to verify the mechanisms obtained in vitro. Ginsenoside Rg1 increased the expressions of aldolase, p-AMPK, and PINK1 in starved mice heart. Taken together, our results reveal that ginsenoside Rg1 limits nutritional stress-induced H9c2 cells injury by regulating the aldolase /AMP-activated protein kinase/PINK1 pathway.

Colorimetric detection of DNA at the nanomolar level based on enzyme-induced gold nanoparticle de-aggregation.

The authors describe a colorimetric method for the determination of DNA based on the deaggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) induced by exonuclease III (Exo III). DNA amplification is accomplished by Exo III to generate large quantities of the residual DNA. Residual DNA tethers onto the surfaces of AuNPs which prevents their aggregation. Hence, the color of the solution is red. However, in the absence of DNA, salt-induced aggregation is not prevented, and the bluish-purple color of the aggregated AuNPs is observed. The ratio of absorbances at 525 and 625 nm increases up to 150 nM DNA concentrations, and the LOD is as low as 3.0 nM. It is shown that the presence of 300 nM concentrations of random DNA (with a mass up to 10-fold that of target DNA) does not interfere. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of DNA in spiked serum samples. The method is simple, reliable, and does not require complicated amplification steps and expensive instrumentation. Graphical abstract Schematic of a sensing strategy for DNA detection by exonuclease III-induced deaggregation of gold nanoparticles. DNA concentrations as  low as 3 nM can be detected via colorimetric monitoring of the color change from red to purple-blue.