A Tumor-Targeting Dual-Modal imaging probe for nitroreductase in vivo.

Nitroreductase (NTR) overexpression often occurs in tumors, highlighting the significance of effective NTR detection. Despite the utilization of various optical methods for this purpose, the absence of an efficient tumor-targeting optical probe for NTR detection remains a challenge. In this research, a novel tumor-targeting probe (Cy-Bio-NO2) is developed to perform dual-modal NTR detection using near-infrared fluorescence and photoacoustic techniques. This probe exhibits exceptional sensitivity and selectivity to NTR. Upon the reaction with NTR, Cy-Bio-NO2 demonstrates a distinct fluorescence "off-on" response at 800 nm, with an impressive detection limit of 12 ng/mL. Furthermore, the probe shows on-off photoacoustic signal with NTR. Cy-Bio-NO2 has been successfully employed for dual-modal NTR detection in living cells, specifically targeting biotin receptor-positive cancer cells for imaging purposes. Notably, this probe effectively detects tumor hypoxia through dual-modal imaging in tumor-bearing mice. The strategy of biotin incorporation markedly enhances the probe's tumor-targeting capability, facilitating its engagement in dual-modal imaging at tumor sites. This imaging capacity holds substantial promise as an accurate tool for cancer diagnosis.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging peroxynitrite levels in paw edema mice and drug evaluation.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe (TX-P) for detecting peroxynitrite is constructed. The probe has a near-infrared emission (725 nm), large Stokes shift (125 nm) and excellent sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, TX-P can be used to visualize ONOO- in living cells, image ONOO- in paw edema mice and evaluate anti-inflammatory drugs.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe for the imaging of viscosity in fatty liver mice and valuation of drug efficacy.

Fatty liver disease affects at least 25 percent of the population worldwide and is a severe metabolic syndrome. Viscosity is closely related to fatty liver disease, so it is urgent to develop an effective tool for monitoring viscosity. Herein, a NIR fluorescent probe called MBC-V is developed for imaging viscosity, consisting of dimethylaniline and malonitrile-benzopyran. MBC-V is non-fluorescent in low viscosity solutions due to intramolecular rotation. In high viscosity solution, the intramolecular rotation of MBC-V is suppressed and the fluorescence is triggered. MBC-V has long emission wavelength at 720 nm and large Stokes shift about 160 nm. Moreover, MBC-V can detect changes in cell viscosity in fatty liver cells, and can image the therapeutic effects of drug in fatty liver cells. By taking advantage of NIR emission, MBC-V can be used as an imaging tool for fatty liver disease and a way to evaluate the therapeutic effect of drug for fatty liver disease.

NAC transcription factor SlNOR-like1 plays a dual regulatory role in tomato fruit cuticle formation.

The plant cuticle is an important protective barrier on the plant surface, constructed mainly by polymerized cutin matrix and a complex wax mixture. Although the pathway of plant cuticle biosynthesis has been clarified, knowledge of the transcriptional regulation network underlying fruit cuticle formation remains limited. In the present work, we discovered that tomato fruits of the NAC transcription factor SlNOR-like1 knockout mutants (nor-like1) produced by CRISPR/Cas9 [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9] displayed reduced cutin deposition and cuticle thickness, with a microcracking phenotype, while wax accumulation was promoted. Further research revealed that SlNOR-like1 promotes cutin deposition by binding to the promoters of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase6 (SlGPAT6; a key gene for cutin monomer formation) and CUTIN DEFICIENT2 (SlCD2; a positive regulator of cutin production) to activate their expression. Meanwhile, SlNOR-like1 inhibits wax accumulation, acting as a transcriptional repressor by targeting wax biosynthesis, and transport-related genes 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase1 (SlKCS1), ECERIFERUM 1-2 (SlCER1-2), SlWAX2, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer protein 1-like (SlLTPG1-like). In conclusion, SlNOR-like1 executes a dual regulatory effect on tomato fruit cuticle development. Our results provide a new model for the transcriptional regulation of fruit cuticle formation.

Composition, metabolism and postharvest function and regulation of fruit cuticle: A review.

The cuticle of plants, a hydrophobic membrane that covers their aerial organs, is crucial to their ability to withstand biotic and abiotic stressors. Fruit is the reproductive organ of plants, and an important dietary source that can offer a variety of nutrients for the human body, and fruit cuticle performs a crucial protective role in fruit development and postharvest quality. This review discusses the universality and diversity of the fruit cuticle composition, and systematically summarizes the metabolic process of fruit cuticle, including the biosynthesis, transport and regulatory factors (including transcription factors, phytohormones and environmental elements) of fruit cuticle. Additionally, we emphasize the postharvest functions and postharvest regulatory technologies of fruit cuticle, and propose future research directions for fruit cuticle.

Transcription factor SlBEL2 interferes with GOLDEN2-LIKE and influences green shoulder formation in tomato fruits.

Chloroplasts play a crucial role in plant growth and fruit quality. However, the molecular mechanisms of chloroplast development are still poorly understood in fruits. In this study, we investigated the role of the transcription factor SlBEL2 (BEL1-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN 2) in fruit of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Phenotypic analysis of SlBEL2 overexpression (OE-SlBEL2) and SlBEL2 knockout (KO-SlBEL2) plants revealed that SlBEL2 has the function of inhibiting green shoulder formation in tomato fruits by affecting the development of fruit chloroplasts. Transcriptome profiling revealed that the expression of chloroplast-related genes such as SlGLK2 and SlLHCB1 changed significantly in the fruit of OE-SlBEL2 and KO-SlBEL2 plants. Further analysis showed that SlBEL2 could not only bind to the promoter of SlGLK2 to inhibit its transcription, but also interacted with the SlGLK2 protein to inhibit the transcriptional activity of SlGLK2 and its downstream target genes. SlGLK2 knockout (KO-SlGLK2) plants exhibited a complete absence of the green shoulder, which was consistent with the fruit phenotype of OE-SlBEL2 plants. SlBEL2 showed an expression gradient in fruits, in contrast with that reported for SlGLK2. In conclusion, our study reveals that SlBEL2 affects the formation of green shoulder in tomato fruits by negatively regulating the gradient expression of SlGLK2, thus providing new insights into the molecular mechanism of fruit green shoulder formation.

Effect of proximal contact strength on the three-dimensional displacements of implant-supported cantilever fixed partial dentures under axial loading.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of proximal contact strength on the three-dimensional displacements of cantilever fixed partial denture (CFPD) under vertically concentrated loading with digital laser speckle (DLS) technique. METHODS: Fresh mandible of beagle dog was used to establish the implant-supported CFPD for specimen. DLS technique was employed for measuring the three-dimensional displacement of the prosthesis under vertically concentrated loading ranging from 200 to 3000 g. The effect of the contact tightness on the displacement of CFPD was investigated by means of changing the contact tightness. RESULTS: When an axial concentrated loading was exerted on the pontic of the implant-supported CFPD, the displacement of the CFPD was the greatest. The displacement of the prosthesis decreased with the increase of contact strength. When the contact strength was 0, 0.95, and 3.25 N, the displacement of the buccolingual direction was smaller than that of the mesiodistal direction but greater than that of the occlusogingival direction. When the force on the contact area was 6.50 N, the mesiodistal displacement of the prosthesis was the biggest while the buccolingual displacement was the smallest. CONCLUSIONS: The implant-supported CFPD is an effective therapy for fully or partially edentulous patients. The restoration of the contact area and the selection of the appropriate contact strength can reduce the displacement of the CFPD, and get a better stress distribution. The most appropriate force value is 3.25 N in this study.

[Measuring three-dimensional displacement of tooth-supported rigid fixed bridge under oblique concentrated loading using digital laser speckle photography].

OBJECTIVE: To measure three-dimensional displacements of rigid fixed bridge under oblique concentrated loading and to analyze the effect of displacement on the stability of abutment teeth. METHODS: Right mandible of Beagle dog was used to establish the tooth-supported rigid fixed bridge. Digital laser speckle photography was employed to measure the three-dimensional displacements of the prosthesis under oblique concentrated loading ranging from 200 g to 3000 g. RESULTS: The displacements of prosthesis increased as the load increased. When the load was on the abutment, the buccolingual displacement of the abutment under loading was the biggest but no more than 100 microm. This was followed by mesiodistal and occlusallingual displacements. With slighter loadings, the buccolingual displacements of non-loaded abutment were greater than the mesiodistal displacements. However, as the loading increased greater mesiodistal displacements on non-loaded abutment were found compared to buccolingual displacements. When the bridge was loaded, the biggest displacements of the prosthesis were always shown on the buccolingual direction, followed by the mesiodistal direction and the occlusallingual direction. The displacements with loaded bridge were smaller than those when the load was applied on abutment. CONCLUSION: The displacements of rigid fixed bridge change with different loading positions. This has implications on the design of prosthesis. Lateral force should be minimized and early occlusion contact should be avoided, especially on the feeble abutment. This study has developed a new method for measuring bit shift of teeth.