Ancient Duplication and Lineage-Specific Transposition Determine Evolutionary Trajectory of ERF Subfamily across Angiosperms.

AP2/ERF transcription factor family plays an important role in plant development and stress responses. Previous studies have shed light on the evolutionary trajectory of the AP2 and DREB subfamilies. However, knowledge about the evolutionary history of the ERF subfamily in angiosperms still remains limited. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the ERF subfamily from 107 representative angiosperm species by combining phylogenomic and synteny network approaches. We observed that the expansion of the ERF subfamily was driven not only by whole-genome duplication (WGD) but also by tandem duplication (TD) and transposition duplication events. We also found multiple transposition events in Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Poales, Brassicales, and Commelinids. These events may have had notable impacts on copy number variation and subsequent functional divergence of the ERF subfamily. Moreover, we observed a number of ancient tandem duplications occurred in the ERF subfamily across angiosperms, e.g., in Subgroup IX, IXb originated from ancient tandem duplication events within IXa. These findings together provide novel insights into the evolution of this important transcription factor family.

Reaction engineering blocks ether cleavage for synthesizing chiral cyclic hemiacetals catalyzed by unspecific peroxygenase.

Hemiacetal compounds are valuable building blocks in synthetic chemistry, but their enzymatic synthesis is limited and often hindered by the instability of hemiacetals in aqueous environments. Here, we show that this challenge can be addressed through reaction engineering by using immobilized peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) under neat reaction conditions, which allows for the selective C-H bond oxyfunctionalization of environmentally significant cyclic ethers to cyclic hemiacetals. A wide range of chiral cyclic hemiacetal products are prepared in >99% enantiomeric excess and 95170 turnover numbers of AaeUPO. Furthermore, by changing the reaction medium from pure organic solvent to alkaline aqueous conditions, cyclic hemiacetals are in situ transformed into lactones. Lactams are obtained under the applied conditions, albeit with low enzyme activity. These findings showcase the synthetic potential of AaeUPO and offer a practical enzymatic approach to produce chiral cyclic hemiacetals through C-H oxyfunctionalization under mild conditions.

A Simple Access to γ- and ε-Keto Arenes via Enzymatic Divergent C─H Bond Oxyfunctionalization.

Performing divergent C─H bond functionalization on molecules with multiple reaction sites is a significant challenge in organic chemistry. Biocatalytic oxyfunctionalization reactions of these compounds to the corresponding ketones/aldehydes are typically hindered by selectivity issues. To address these challenges, the catalytic performance of oxidoreductases is explored. The results show that combining the peroxygenase-catalyzed propargylic C─H bond oxidation with the Old Yellow Enzyme-catalyzed reduction of conjugated C─C triple bonds in one-pot enables the regio- and chemoselective oxyfunctionalization of sp3 C─H bonds that are distant from benzylic sites. This enzymatic approach yielded a variety of γ-keto arenes with diverse structural and electronic properties in yields of up to 99% and regioselectivity of 100%, which are difficult to achieve using other chemocatalysis and enzymes. By adjusting the C─C triple bond, the carbonyl group's position can be further tuned to yield ε-keto arenes. This enzymatic approach can be combined with other biocatalysts to establish new synthetic pathways for accessing various challenging divergent C─H bond functionalization reactions.

Genome size variation and polyploidy prevalence in the genus Eragrostis are associated with the global dispersal in arid area.

Background: Biologists have long debated the drivers of the genome size evolution and variation ever since Darwin. Assumptions for the adaptive or maladaptive consequences of the associations between genome sizes and environmental factors have been proposed, but the significance of these hypotheses remains controversial. Eragrostis is a large genus in the grass family and is often used as crop or forage during the dry seasons. The wide range and complex ploidy levels make Eragrostis an excellent model for investigating how the genome size variation and evolution is associated with environmental factors and how these changes can ben interpreted. Methods: We reconstructed the Eragrostis phylogeny and estimated genome sizes through flow cytometric analyses. Phylogenetic comparative analyses were performed to explore how genome size variation and evolution is related to their climatic niches and geographical ranges. The genome size evolution and environmental factors were examined using different models to study the phylogenetic signal, mode and tempo throughout evolutionary history. Results: Our results support the monophyly of Eragrostis. The genome sizes in Eragrostis ranged from ~0.66 pg to ~3.80 pg. We found that a moderate phylogenetic conservatism existed in terms of the genome sizes but was absent from environmental factors. In addition, phylogeny-based associations revealed close correlations between genome sizes and precipitation-related variables, indicating that the genome size variation mainly caused by polyploidization may have evolved as an adaptation to various environments in the genus Eragrostis. Conclusion: This is the first study to take a global perspective on the genome size variation and evolution in the genus Eragrostis. Our results suggest that the adaptation and conservatism are manifested in the genome size variation, allowing the arid species of Eragrostis to spread the xeric area throughout the world.

Cardioprotective effects of neuropeptide galanin: Focusing on its roles against diabetic heart.

Following an unprecedented rise in the number of the aged, the incidence of age-related diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is consequently increasing in the world. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The diabetic heart is characterized by increased cardiomyocyte stiffness and fibrotic changes. Despite many factors resulting in cardiomyocyte injury and dysfunction in diabetes, insulin resistance is still a critical etiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Preclinical and clinical studies have revealed an intriguing role for galanin in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and diabetic heart disease. A significant change in plasma galanin levels occurred in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes or cardiomyocyte injury. In turn, galanin may also distinctly mitigate hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in diabetes as well as increase glucose metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in cardiac muscle. Here, we critically review current data about the multivariate relationship among galanin, insulin resistance, and cardiac muscle to comprehensively evaluate the protective role of galanin and its receptors for the diabetic heart and to determine whether galanin receptor 2 agonists potentially represent a feasible way to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy in the future.

Photobiocatalytic Decarboxylation for the Synthesis of Fatty Epoxides from Renewable Fatty Acids.

Fatty epoxides are unique building blocks in organic transformations and materials production; however, their synthetic methodologies are currently not accessible from renewable fatty acids. Herein, a photoenzymatic decarboxylation of epoxy fatty acids into fatty epoxides was demonstrated using fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP) from Chlorella variabilis NC64A (CvFAP). Various fatty epoxides were synthesized in excellent selectivity by wild-type CvFAP. The decarboxylation reaction was also achieved with four new FAP homologues, potentially suggesting a broad availability of the biocatalysts for this challenging decarboxylation reaction. By combining CvFAP with lipase and peroxygenase, a multienzymatic cascade to transform oleic acid and its triglyceride into the corresponding fatty epoxides was established. The obtained fatty epoxides were further converted into rather unusual fatty compounds including diol, alcohol, ether, and chain-shortened carboxylic acids. The present photobiocatalytic synthesis of fatty epoxides from natural starting materials excels by its intrinsic selectivity, mild conditions, and independence of nicotinamide cofactors.

Peroxygenase-Catalyzed Selective Synthesis of Calcitriol Starting from Alfacalcidol.

Calcitriol is an active analog of vitamin D3 and has excellent physiological activities in regulating healthy immune function. To synthesize the calcitriol compound, the concept of total synthesis is often adopted, which typically involves multiple steps and results in an overall low yield. Herein, we envisioned an enzymatic approach for the synthesis of calcitriol. Peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) was used as a catalyst to hydroxylate the C-H bond at the C-25 position of alfacalcidol and yielded the calcitriol in a single step. The enzymatic reaction yielded 80.3% product formation in excellent selectivity, with a turnover number up to 4000. In a semi-preparative scale synthesis, 72% isolated yield was obtained. It was also found that AaeUPO is capable of hydroxylating the C-H bond at the C-1 position of vitamin D3, thereby enabling the calcitriol synthesis directly from vitamin D3.

Current status of hypochlorite technology on the wastewater treatment and sludge disposal: Performance, principals and prospects.

As cost-effective and high-efficient oxidants, the hypochlorite chemicals have been widely utilized for bleaching and disinfection. However, its potential applications in wastewater treatment and sludge disposal were less concerned. This paper mainly summarized the state-of-the-art applications of hypochlorite technology in wastewater and sludge treatment based on the main influencing factors and potential mechanisms of hypochlorite treatment. The results indicated that the hypochlorite approaches were not only effective in pollutants removal and membrane fouling mitigation for wastewater treatment, but also contributed to sludge dewatering and resource recovery for sludge disposal. The ClO- and large generated free active radicals (i.e., reactive chlorine species and reactive oxygen species), which possessed strong oxidative ability, were the primary contributors to the pollutants decomposition, and colloids/microbes flocs disintegration during the hypochlorite treatment process. The performance of hypochlorite treatment was highly associated with various factors (i.e., pH, temperature, hypochlorite types and dosage). In combination with the reasonable activators (i.e., Fe2+ and ultraviolet), auxiliary agents, and innovative processes (i.e., hydrothermal and electro-oxidation), the operational performance of hypochlorite technology could be further enhanced. Finally, the feasibility and benefits of hypochlorite application for wastewater and sludge treatment were analyzed, and the existing challenges and future research efforts that need to be made have also prospected. The review can hopefully provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance to extend the application of hypochlorite technology for wastewater treatment and sludge disposal on large scale.

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human saliva can adsorb to the oral mucosal epithelium.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is primarily transmitted through droplets. All human tissues with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serines 2 (TRMPRSS2) are potential targets of SARS-CoV-2. The role of saliva in SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains obscure. In this study, we attempted to reveal ACE2 and TRMPRSS2 protein expression in human parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands (three major salivary glands). Then, the binding function of spike protein to ACE2 in three major salivary glands was detected. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human saliva from parotid glands were both examined. Exogenous recombined ACE2 and TMPRSS2 anchoring and fusing to oral mucosal epithelial cells in vitro were also unraveled. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were found mainly to be expressed in the cytomembrane and cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the serous acinus cells in parotid and submandibular glands. Our research also discovered that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 in salivary glands in vitro. Furthermore, exogenous ACE2 and TMPRSS2 can anchor and fuse to oral mucosa in vitro. Thus, the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human saliva might have implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Adipose tissue spexin in physical exercise and age-associated diseases.

It is known that a strong association exists between a suboptimal lifestyle (physical inactivity and sedentary behavior and/or high calorie diet) and increased propensity of developing age-associated diseases, such as obesity and T2DM. Physical exercise can alleviate obesity-induced insulin resistance and T2DM, however, the precise mechanism for this outcome is not fully understood. The endocrine disorder of adipose tissue in obesity plays a critical role in the development of insulin resistance. In this regard, spexin has been recently described as an adipokine that plays an important role in the pathophysiology of obesity-induced insulin resistance and T2DM. In obese states, expression of adipose tissue spexin is reduced, inducing the adipose tissue and skeletal muscle more susceptible to insulin resistance. Emerging evidences point out that exercise can increase spexin expression. In return, spexin could exert the exercise-protective roles to ameliorate insulin resistance, suggesting that spexin is a potential mediator for exercise to ameliorate obesity-induced insulin resistance and T2DM, namely, the beneficial effect of exercise on insulin sensitivity is at least partly mediated by spexin. This review summarizes our and others' recent studies regarding the effects of obesity on adipose tissue spexin induction, along with the potential effect of exercise on this response in obese context, and provides a new insight into the multivariate relationship among exercise, spexin and T2DM. It should be therefore taken into account that a combination of spexin and exercise training is an effective therapeutic strategy for age-associated diseases.

Utilization of Ultrasonic Image Characteristics Combined with Endoscopic Detection on the Basis of Artificial Intelligence Algorithm in Diagnosis of Early Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of artificial intelligence algorithm combined with ultrasound endoscopy in early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions by comparing the examination of conventional endoscopy and artificial intelligence algorithm combined with ultrasound endoscopy, and by comparing the real-time diagnosis of endoscopy and the ultrasonic image characteristics of artificial intelligence algorithm combined with endoscopic detection and pathological results. 120 cases were selected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 80 patients who met the criteria were selected and randomly divided into two groups: endoscopic examination combined with ultrasound imaging based on intelligent algorithm processing (cascade region-convolutional neural network (Cascade RCNN) model algorithm group) and simple use of endoscopy group (control group). This study shows that the ultrasonic image of artificial intelligence algorithm is effective, and the detection performance is better than that of endoscopic detection. The results are close to the gold standard of doctor recognition, and the detection time is greatly shortened, and the recognition time is shortened by 71 frames per second. Compared with the traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm, the accuracy and recall of image analysis and segmentation using feature pyramid network are increased. The detection rates of CNN model, Cascade RCNN model, and endoscopic detection alone in early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions are 56.3% (45/80), 88.8% (71/80), and 44.1% (35/80), respectively. The detection rate of Cascade RCNN model and CNN model was higher than that of endoscopy alone, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of Cascade RCNN model were higher than those of CNN model, which was close to the gold standard for physician identification. This provided a reference basis for endoscopic ultrasound identification of early upper gastrointestinal cancer or other gastrointestinal cancers.

[Design and Implementation of Quality and Safety Traceability System for Reusable Medical Devices Disinfection Based on RFID Technology].

Focusing on the requirements of visual traceability for reprocessing of reused medical devices under the background of deep integration of intelligent medical treatment, a quality and safety traceability system for disinfection of reused medical devices is developed. The multi-dimensional data of the reprocessing chain of reusable medical devices are acquired in real time by the RFID mobile terminal handset and stored temporarily. The data package is formatted based on LoRa protocol and uploaded to the management and control platform in multi-threaded transmission mode for in-depth analysis and traceability. The corresponding prototype system is developed. The first-line operation and maintenance test results show that the prototype system has strong cooperation, strong operation robustness, and obvious advantages in the identification rate and other layers of sterile equipment package.

Iron coupling with carbon fiber to stimulate biofilms formation in aerobic biological film systems for improved decentralized wastewater treatment: Performance, mechanisms and implications.

Iron coupling with carbon fiber (ICF) as carriers to stimulate the biofilms formation for decentralized wastewater treatment was proposed. The typical pollutants removal was accelerated and enhanced (increased by 13.65% for chemical oxygen demand, 19.68% for ammonia nitrogen and 32.66% for phosphate) in ICF compared with the traditional carbon fiber (CF) system. Mechanism explorations indicated that the iron coupling improved the surface properties of carbon fibers and contributed to the attachment and growth of biomass significantly. The components of biomass were changed with increasing proteins proportion in ICF, which was beneficial to the biofilms formation and stability. The microbial community was altered with the enrichment of functional microorganisms (i.e. Pseudomonas and Thauera). Moreover, the microbial metabolic functions (i.e. enzymatic activities and encoding genes) involved in pollutants removal derived from decentralized wastewater were highly expressed in ICF. This work provided an effective strategy to enhance the decentralized wastewater treatment.

SMRT sequencing of the Oryza rufipogon genome reveals the genomic basis of rice adaptation.

Asian cultivated rice is believed to have been domesticated from a wild progenitor, Oryza rufipogon, offering promising sources of alleles for world rice improvement. Here we first present a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of the typical O. rufipogon. Comparative genomic analyses of O. sativa and its two wild progenitors, O. nivara and O. rufipogon, identified many dispensable genes functionally enriched in the reproductive process. We detected millions of genomic variants, of which large-effect mutations could affect agronomically relevant traits. We demonstrate how lineage-specific expansion of gene families may have contributed to the formation of reproduction isolation. We document thousands of genes with signatures of positive selection that are mainly involved in the reproduction and response to biotic- and abiotic stresses. We show that selection pressures may serve as forces to govern substantial genomic alterations that form the genetic basis of rapid evolution of mating and reproductive systems under diverse habitats.

Revealing hydrodynamic effects on flocculation performance and surface properties of sludge by comparing aeration and stirring systems via computational fluid dynamics aided calculation.

The effects of aeration and stirring systems on the physical properties of sludge were analyzed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the effects of aeration and stirring on sludge properties using the same turbulent mixing intensity, and (2) to reveal the relationship between sludge properties and hydrodynamic indicators to determine how hydrodynamic conditions influence sludge flocculation. Mixing experiments with stirring and aeration were carried out in 2-L beakers with the average velocity gradient (G) set to 90, 190, or 280 s-1. The sludge flocculation performance, zeta potential, and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) were analyzed and the flow velocity, turbulence energy, turbulence dissipation rate, and Kolmogorov microscale were calculated as hydrodynamic parameters. The average flow velocity and the turbulence dissipation rate were obviously higher in the stirring system than in the aeration system at the same G. However, the turbulence energy and Kolmogorov microscale in the aeration system were much higher than those in the stirring system. Both the zeta potential and ΔG were lower in the aeration system than the stirring system. The zeta potential and ΔG results for the two systems suggest that aeration is more beneficial for sludge flocculation than stirring even though the sludge flocculation performance F/F0 in the stirring and aeration systems showed no obvious differences. Significant relationships between hydrodynamic parameters calculated based on the CFD model and average values of sludge properties in the stable phase showed that the Kolmogorov microscale, average flow velocity, and turbulence energy were appropriate hydrodynamic parameters for evaluating the flocculation performance F/F0, zeta potential, and ΔG, respectively.

San-Huang-Tang protects obesity/diabetes induced NAFLD by upregulating PGC-1α/PEPCK signaling in obese and galr1 knockout mice models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: San-Huang-Tang (ST), a classic prescription, has been clinically used to cure diabetes and diabetes-associated metabolic disorders. Established studies have reported that ST can alleviate inflammation, obesity, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. AIM OF THE STUDY: To the best of our knowledge, here, we reported for the first time the underlying mechanistic therapeutic efficacy of the ST against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in high-fat induced obese and galr1-deficient diabetic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The obese and galr1-deficient mice were treated with ST at a dose of 10 g/kg every day for three weeks. Then food intake, body weight and insulin resistance indexes were measured. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and plasma biochemical analyses were applied. RESULTS: ST reduced food intake, body weight, blood glucose level and insulin resistance, improved glucose tolerance in obese and galr1-deficient mice. Mechanistically, we confirmed that ST protected against NAFLD through activation of PGC-1α and its downstream signaling pathways as shown by the attenuated hepatic adipogenesis and lipid accumulation, increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation, regulated plasma lipid parameters, and increased energy expenditure and metabolic function in fat and muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in food intake produced by ST may contribute to the observed metabolic effects. Our findings strongly suggest that ST might be a potential novel therapeutic drug against obesity/diabetes-induced NAFLD and other metabolic disorders.

The Chromosome-Based Rubber Tree Genome Provides New Insights into Spurge Genome Evolution and Rubber Biosynthesis.

The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, produces natural rubber that serves as an essential industrial raw material. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome for a rubber tree cultivar GT1 using single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and Hi-C technologies to anchor the ∼1.47-Gb genome assembly into 18 pseudochromosomes. The chromosome-based genome analysis enabled us to establish a model of spurge chromosome evolution, since the common paleopolyploid event occurred before the split of Hevea and Manihot. We show recent and rapid bursts of the three Hevea-specific LTR-retrotransposon families during the last 10 million years, leading to the massive expansion by ∼65.88% (∼970 Mbp) of the whole rubber tree genome since the divergence from Manihot. We identify large-scale expansion of genes associated with whole rubber biosynthesis processes, such as basal metabolic processes, ethylene biosynthesis, and the activation of polysaccharide and glycoprotein lectin, which are important properties for latex production. A map of genomic variation between the cultivated and wild rubber trees was obtained, which contains ∼15.7 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified hundreds of candidate domestication genes with drastically lowered genomic diversity in the cultivated but not wild rubber trees despite a relatively short domestication history of rubber tree, some of which are involved in rubber biosynthesis. This genome assembly represents key resources for future rubber tree research and breeding, providing novel targets for improving plant biotic and abiotic tolerance and rubber production.

The osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells is regulated through the let-7i-3p/LEF1/ß-catenin axis under cyclic strain.

BACKGROUND: The Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is involved in the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) under cyclic strain. Very little is known about the role of microRNAs in these events. METHODS: Cells were obtained using enzyme digestion methods, and proliferation was detected using Cell Counting Kit 8. Cell cycles and immunophenotypes were detected by flow cytometry. The multilineage potential of hASCs was induced by induction media. Cyclic strain was applied to hASCs (0.5 Hz, 2 h/day, 6 days) to induce osteogenic differentiation and miRNA changes. Bioinformatic and dual-luciferase analyses confirmed lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) as a potential target of let-7i-3p. The effect of let-7i-3p on LEF1 in hASCs transfected with a let-7i-3p mimic and inhibitor was analyzed by immunofluorescence. hASCs were transfected with a let-7i-3p mimic, inhibitor, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) against LEF1 and ß-catenin. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting were performed to examine the osteogenic markers and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Immunofluorescence and western blotting were performed to confirm the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. RESULTS: Flow cytometry showed that 82.12% ± 5.83% of the cells were in G1 phase and 17.88% ± 2.59% of the cells were in S/G2 phase; hASCs were positive for CD29, CD90, and CD105. hASCs could have the potential for osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation. MicroRNA screening via microarray showed that let-7i-3p expression was decreased under cyclic strain. Bioinformatic and dual-luciferase analyses confirmed that LEF1 in the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was the target of let-7i-3p. Under cyclic strain, the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs was promoted by overexpression of LEF1and ß-catenin and inhibited by overexpression of let-7i-3p. hASCs were transfected with let-7i-3p mimics and inhibitor. Gain- or loss-of-function analyses of let-7i-3p showed that the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs was promoted by decreased let-7i-3p expression and inhibited by increased let-7i-3p expression. Furthermore, high LEF1 expression inactivated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in let-7i-3p-enhanced hASCs. In contrast, let-7i-3p inhibition activated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Let-7i-3p, acting as a negative regulator of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway by targeting LEF1, inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs under cyclic strain in vitro.

Recent progress of imaging agents for Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive, neurodegenerative brain disease that is promoted by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, protein aggregation and proteasome dysfunction in the brain. Compared with computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), non-invasive nuclear radiopharmaceuticals have great significance for the early diagnosis of PD due to their high sensitivity and specificity in atypical and preclinical cases. Based on the development of coordination chemistry and chelator design, radionuclides may be delivered to lesions by attaching to PD-related transporters and receptors, such as dopamine, serotonin, and others. In this review, we comprehensively detailed the current achievements in radionuclide imaging in Parkinson's disease.