Modified Fabrication of Perovskite-Based Composites and Its Exploration in Printable Humidity Sensors.

Organic perovskites are promising optoelectronic semiconductor materials with photoelectric applications. It is known that the luminescence of perovskites is highly sensitive to hydron molecules due to its low moisture resistance of crystal structure, indicating its potential application on humidity-sensing. Herein, a novel perovskite-based compound (PBC) with minimal defects was developed to promote the photoluminescence performance via optimization of the drying method and precursor constitutions. Perovskite materials with good structural integrity and enhanced fluorescence performance up to four times were obtained from supercritical drying. Moreover, the hydrophilic polymer matrix, polyethylene oxide (PEO), was added to obtain a composite of perovskite/PEO (PPC), introducing enhanced humidity sensitivity and solution processibility. These perovskite/PEO composites also exhibited long-term stability and manifold cycles of sensitivity to humidity owing to perovskite encapsulation by PEO. In addition, this precursor solution of perovskite-based composites could be fancily processed by multiple methods, including printing and handwriting, which demonstrates the potential and broaden the applications in architecture decoration, logos, trademarks, and double encryption of anti-fake combined with humidity.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of foxo3l in response to exogenous hormones in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii).

As a crucial member of the Forkhead Box family, class O (FoxO) plays an essential role in growth, cell differentiation, metabolism, immunization, and apoptosis. Meanwhile, FoxO3 is the primary regulator and effective inhibitor of primordial follicle activation. In this study, seven foxo genes were identified in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), including two foxo1 genes (foxo1a, foxo1b), two foxo3 genes (foxo3, foxo3l), one foxo4 gene, and two foxo6 genes (foxo6a, foxo6b). foxo3l was derived from teleost-specific whole-genome duplication events. Evaluation of tissue expression pattern revealed that foxo3l displayed sexually dimorphic expression with a high level in the ovary and spatial expression only in the cytoplasm of follicle cells and oocytes. When the ovaries were stimulated by estrogen and gonadotropin, foxo3l expression was remarkably reduced, and the effect of androgen was completely different. We considered that foxo3l lost its ability to inhibit follicular precocity because of mass ovulation by hormone stimulation, resulting in its decreased expression. Such evidence indicated that foxo3l is an important regulator of reproduction-related functions in black rockfish. This study provides new insights into foxo3l genes for further functional research in teleost.

A functional polymorphism in the promoter of RhoB is associated with susceptibility to Vibrio anguillarum in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).

As an isoform of Rho family GTPases, RhoB plays a pivotal role in cytoskeletal organization, cell proliferation, apoptosis and immune response. However, the regulatory mechanisms of RhoB expression in aquatic animals are still unknown. In the present study, we first construct Vibrio anguillarum infection model in S. maximus, including susceptible and resistant individuals. Then the temporal expression of RhoB was detected after V. anguillarum challenge using qRT-PCR and found that RhoB transcripts were significantly induced in the liver, gill and blood despite of differential expression levels and responsive time points. In addition, the mRNA levels of RhoB in resistant individuals were significantly higher than in susceptible ones. The length of 2083 bp sequences of RhoB promoter was cloned and characterized. Moreover, DNA methylation of the RhoB promoter was measured by bisulfite sequencing (BSP) and hypo-methylated was detected in the CpG islands. Three SNPs (-1590, -1575 and -1449) and two haplotypes in the promoter region of RhoB were identified to be associated with V. anguillarum resistance in turbot by association analysis in group 17-R and 17-S. Deletion analysis indicated that these SNPs could negatively mediate the activity of RhoB promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis and qRT-PCR of individuals with different genotypes demonstrated that -1575 T/A polymorphism affected promoter activity. Further study showed that this mutation altered the binding site of the transcription factor CREB. Co-transfection of SmCREB and RhoB promoter was performed in HEK293T cells which confirmed the -1575 allelic differences on transcriptional activity, with the susceptibility allele showing reduced activity. Taken together, our findings implicate that losing of binding of CREB to SmRhoB promoter due to -1575T/A polymorphisms enhances SmRhoB expression in resistant turbot, which provide insights into the effect of SmRhoB expression in response to V. anguillarum infection.

A chromosome-level genome of black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii, provides insights into the evolution of live birth.

The black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is a teleost in which eggs are fertilized internally and retained in the maternal reproductive system, where they undergo development until live birth (viviparity). In the present study, we report a chromosome-level black rockfish genome assembly. High-throughput transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq and ATAC-seq) coupled with in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunofluorescence reveal several candidate genes for maternal preparation, sperm storage and release, and hatching. We propose that zona pellucida (ZP) proteins retain sperm at the oocyte envelope, while genes in two distinct astacin metalloproteinase subfamilies serve to release sperm from the ZP and free the embryo from chorion at prehatching stage. We present a model of black rockfish reproduction, and propose that the rockfish ovarian wall has a similar function to the uterus of mammals. Together, these genomic data reveal unprecedented insights into the evolution of an unusual teleost life history strategy, and provide a sound foundation for studying viviparity in nonmammalian vertebrates and an invaluable resource for rockfish ecological and evolutionary research.

Evolutionary significance and regulated expression of Tdrd family genes in gynogenetic Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Tudor domain-containing proteins (TDRDs) are highly conserved among organisms and have a function in gonads to regulate gametogenesis and genome stability through the piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. With diverse sexual development patterns in teleost species, the evolution and function of Tdrd genes among teleosts remain unclear. Here, we identified and characterized 12 Tdrd genes (PoTdrds) in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) which represents dramatic sexual dimorphic metrics and sex reversal during sex differentiation. Phylogenetic and comparative synteny indicated the gain and loss of Tdrd genes after teleost-specific whole-genome duplication (3R-WGD). Tdrd1, Tdrd5, Tdrd6 and Ecat8 were abundantly expressed in their gonads. Four PoTdrds (Tdrd6, Tdrd7b, Tdrd9 and Ecat8) represented significant male-biased expression in gynogenetic and wild-type Japanese flounder gonads (p < .01). This finding indicated their important roles in spermatogenesis of P. olivaceus. Some PoTdrds were either highly up-regulated in gynogenetic testis (Tdrd3, Tdrd5, Tdrd7b and Ecat8) or down-regulated in gynogenetic ovary (Tdrkh, Tdrd3, Tdrd6l) compared with wild-type gonads (p < .05). Molecular evolution tests revealed that the selective pressure of Tdrd6/6l differed between ancestral aquatic and terrestrial organisms with 13 positively selected sites found in the ancestral lineages of teleost Tdrd6. Expression profile analysis suggested that PoTdrd6 differed significantly from PoTdrd6l, indicating sub-functionalization after 3R-WGD. All these results are important for the functional annotation of Tdrd genes and can benefit the further deciphering of Tdrd functions during gonadal development and gametogenesis of teleost fish.

A novel C-type lectin from spotted knifejaw, Oplegnathus punctatus possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity.

C-type lectin is a type of carbohydrate-binding protein and plays significant roles in innate immune response against pathogen infection. To date, thousands of C-type lectin had been identified in teleost. In the present study, we isolated a novel isoform of C-type lectin (OppCTL) from spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus). The OppCTL encoded a typical Ca2+-dependent carbohydrate-binding protein, and was mainly expressed in liver in a tissue specific fashion. The expression of OppCTL was significantly up-regulated following Vibrio anguillarum infection in vivo, suggesting involvement in immune response. Hemagglutination analysis showed that the recombinant OppCTL (rOppCTL) could agglutinate erythrocyte from Mus musculus, Oplegnathus punctatus, Sebastes schlegelii and Paralichthys olivaceus. The rOppCTL could bind and agglutinate all tested bacteria. The rOppCTL possessed capacities of calcium-dependent agglutination to all tested bacteria. Sugar binding assay revealed that rOppCTL could also bind to the glycoconjugates of the bacterial surface, including lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. Interestingly, Dual-luciferase analysis revealed that OppCTL could inhibit the activity of NF-κB in HEK-293T cells after OppCTL overexpression. Taken together, these results indicate that OppCTL has immune activity capable of defending invading pathogens and possesses potential immunoregulatory activity, enriching our understanding of the function of C-type lectin.