Function and regulation of plant ARGONAUTE proteins in response to environmental challenges: a review.

Environmental stresses diversely affect multiple processes related to the growth, development, and yield of many crops worldwide. In response, plants have developed numerous sophisticated defense mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular levels to react and adapt to biotic and abiotic stressors. RNA silencing, which is an innate immune mechanism, mediates sequence-specific gene expression regulation in higher eukaryotes. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). They bind to small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) and target complementary RNAs, causing translational repression or triggering endonucleolytic cleavage pathways. In this review, we aim to illustrate the recently published molecular functions, regulatory mechanisms, and biological roles of AGO family proteins in model plants and cash crops, especially in the defense against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, which could be helpful in crop improvement and stress tolerance in various plants.

Psychrobacter species enrichment as potential microplastic degrader and the putative biodegradation mechanism in Shenzhen Bay sediment, China.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a pressing environmental concern due to its ubiquity and longevity. Biodegradation of MPs has garnered significant attention in combatting global MP contamination. This study focused on MPs within sediments near the sewage outlet of Shenzhen Bay. The objective was to elucidate the microbial communities in sediments with varying MPs, particularly those with high MP loads, and to identify microorganisms associated with MP degradation. The results revealed varying MP abundance, ranging from 211 to 4140 items kg-1 dry weight (d. w.), with the highest concentration observed near the outfall. Metagenomic analysis confirmed the enrichment of Psychrobacter species in sediments with high MP content. Psychrobacter accounted for ∼16.71% of the total bacterial community and 41.71% of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria at the S3 site, exhibiting a higher abundance than at other sampling sites. Psychrobacter contributed significantly to bacterial function at S3, as evidenced by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and enzyme analysis. Notably, 28 enzymes involved in MP biodegradation were identified, predominantly comprising oxidoreductases, hydrolases, transferases, ligases, lyases, and isomerases. We propose a putative mechanism for MP biodegradation, involving the breakdown of long-chain plastic polymers and subsequent oxidation of short-chain oligomers, ultimately leading to thorough mineralization.

Glucose Oxidase of a Crucifer-Specialized Insect: A Potential Role in Suppressing Plant Defense via Modulating Antagonistic Plant Hormones.

Glucose oxidase (GOX) is a representative compound found in most insect saliva that can suppress plant-defensive responses. However, little is known about the origin and role of GOX in the crucifer-specialized pest Plutella xylostella. In this study, we showed obvious regurgitation from the larval gut of P. xylostella and identified abundant peptides highly similar to known GOX. Three PxGOX genes were verified with PxGOX2 preferentially expressed in the gut. The heterologously expressed PxGOX2 confirmed its function to be a GOX, and it was detected in plant wounds together with the gut regurgitant. Further experiments revealed that PxGOX2 functioned as an effector and may suppress defensive responses in plant through the production of H2O2, which modulates levels of antagonistic salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. However, excessive H2O2 in the host plant may be neutralized by peroxidase, thus forming defensive feedback. Our findings provided new insights into understanding the GOX-mediated insect-plant interactions.

Naringin ameliorates liver fibrosis in zebrafish by modulating IDO1-mediated lipid metabolism and inflammatory infiltration.

Liver fibrosis (LF) is an important reparative process in response to acute or chronic hepatic injury, which has the potential to advance towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dietary naringin consumption contributes to protection against LF in animal studies, while the exact protective mechanism of naringin remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind the potential protective effect of naringin against TAA-induced LF in zebrafish. In this study, we utilized zebrafish to create the LF model and investigate the therapeutic mechanism of naringin. Firstly, we evaluated the changes in hepatic fibrosis and lipid accumulation in the liver following naringin treatment with oil red O, Nile red, and Sirius red and immunohistochemistry. In addition, we employed an ROS probe to directly measure oxidative stress and monitor inflammatory cell migration in a zebrafish transgenic line. Morpholino was used in the knockdown of IDO1 in order to verify its vital role in LF. Our findings demonstrated that naringin exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic action in conjunction with a reversal in lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and suppression of macrophage infiltration and activation of hepatic stellate cells. Furthermore, the results showed that the antifibrotic effect of naringin was removed upon IDO1 knockdown, proving that naringin exerts a protective effect by regulating IDO1. Naringin demonstrates remarkable protective effects against LF, effectively counteracting inflammation and hepatic steatosis in zebrafish liver. These findings suggest that naringin may function as an effective IDO1 inhibitor, holding the potential for clinical translation as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of LF.

Heterogeneity of Fish Taxonomic and Functional Diversity Evaluated by eDNA and Gillnet along a Mangrove-Seagrass-Coral Reef Continuum.

The effective and reliable monitoring of fish communities is important for the management and protection of marine ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a relatively new method that has been widely used in recent years, while traditional sampling via fish catching (i.e., gillnets) is one of the most common and reliable fish monitoring methods used to date. We compared the taxonomic and functional diversity of fish detected within a mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum using both survey methods. One liter seawater and gillnet samples were collected in August 2021 from mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reef habitats (n = 3 each) in Hainan, China. Surveys using eDNA and gillnets identified 139 genera belonging to 66 families and 58 genera belonging to 42 families, respectively. Regardless of the survey method, fish detected in mangrove, seagrass and coral reef habitats were heterogeneous in their communities; however, the shared species between habitats suggest some degree of connectivity. There were no significant differences between habitats in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity, but a higher taxonomic diversity was detected using eDNA. Both methods were able to distinguish fish assemblages between different habitats; however, gillnet surveys performed better than eDNA surveys for distinguishing mangrove from seagrass assemblages. Therefore, the concurrent use of eDNA and gillnet survey methods provides a more comprehensive approach to understanding the heterogeneity of fish taxonomic and functional diversity along mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuums.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Fowleria variegata (Valenciennes, 1832) Mitochondrial Genome and Its Phylogenetic Implications within the Family Apogonidae.

Controversies surrounding the phylogenetic relationships within the family Apogonidae have persisted due to the limited molecular data, obscuring the evolution of these diverse tropical marine fishes. This study presents the first complete mitochondrial genome of Fowleria variegata, a previously unrepresented genus, using high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Through a comparative mitogenomic analysis, F. variegate was shown to exhibit a typical genome architecture and composition, including 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes and a control region, consistent with studies of other Apogonidae species. Nearly all protein-coding genes started with ATG, while stop codons TAA/TAG/T were observed, along with evidence of strong functional constraints imposed via purifying selection. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches provided robust evidence that F. variegata forms a basal lineage closely related to P. trimaculatus within Apogonidae, offering novel perspectives into the molecular evolution of this family. By generating new mitogenomic resources and evolutionary insights, this study makes important headway in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships and mitogenomic characteristics of Apogonidae fishes. The findings provide critical groundwork for future investigations into the drivers of diversification, speciation patterns, and adaptive radiation underlying the extensive ecological diversity and biological success of these marine fishes using phylogenomics and population genomics approaches.

Purification, Immunological Identification, and Characterization of the Novel Silkworm Pupae Allergen Bombyx mori Lipoprotein 3 (Bomb m 6).

Allergic reactions caused by silkworm pupae greatly limit their utilization, and studies suggest that silkworm pupae proteins of 25-30 kDa may be the principal allergens. To further understand these allergens, we attempted to purify a protein of about 30 kDa by ammonium sulfate salting, pH-graded precipitation, and ion-exchange chromatography. The protein was identified by mass spectrometry and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. We identified the purified protein as Bombyx mori lipoprotein 3 (Bmlp3), which has high IgE reactivity and is a novel uncharacterized allergen that we named Bomb m 6 according to the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee. This allergen is stable against heat, acids, bases, and digestion. In conclusion, we successfully purified and characterized a novel silkworm pupa allergen, which may inform the diagnosis and treatment of silkworm pupa allergies.

New Insights into the Plutella xylostella Detoxifying Enzymes: Sequence Evolution, Structural Similarity, Functional Diversity, and Application Prospects of Glucosinolate Sulfatases.

Brassica plants have glucosinolate (GLs)-myrosinase defense mechanisms to deter herbivores. However, Plutella xylostella specifically feeds on Brassica vegetables. The larvae possess three glucosinolate sulfatases (PxGSS1-3) that compete with plant myrosinase for shared GLs substrates and produce nontoxic desulfo-GLs (deGLs). Although PxGSSs are considered potential targets for pest control, the lack of a comprehensive review has hindered the development of PxGSSs-targeted pest control methods. Recent advances in integrative multi-omics analysis, substrate-enzyme kinetics, and molecular biological techniques have elucidated the evolutionary origin and functional diversity of these three PxGSSs. This review summarizes research progress on PxGSSs over the past 20 years, covering sequence properties, evolution, protein modification, enzyme activity, structural variation, substrate specificity, and interaction scenarios based on functional diversity. Finally, we discussed the potential applications of PxGSSs-targeted pest control technologies driven by artificial intelligence, including CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene drive, transgenic plant-mediated RNAi, small-molecule inhibitors, and peptide inhibitors. These technologies have the potential to overcome current management challenges and promote the development and field application of PxGSSs-targeted pest control.

Assessment of microplastic contamination in an eastern Pacific tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and evaluation of its health risk implication through molecular docking and metabolomics studies.

This work investigated microplastic (MP) pollution in a commercially-important tuna species Katsuwonus pelamis (K. pelamis) from the Eastern Pacific and health implications. 125 MPs were extracted from gills, esophagus, stomachs, intestinal tracts, and muscle of K. pelamis. MPs in the esophagus was the highest, ∼7.6 times higher than that in the gill. Polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were dominant. Molecular docking implied that PET stabilized the complex via forming 4 new hydrogen bonds that interacted with Arg83, Gln246, Thr267, and Gly268, given that PET can enter glycerol kinase protein active pocket. Metabonomic results suggested that Glycerol 3-phosphate up expressed 1.66 more times that of control groups with no MPs in the muscle. This confirmed that MPs would lie in the glycerol kinase protein active pocket, which triggered menace to K. pelamis. The results provided insights into suggested the potential influence of MPs on the sustainability of fisheries and seafood safety.

Modulating the allergenicity and functional properties of peanut protein by covalent conjugation with polyphenols.

Peanut protein is a common food allergen. Our previous study demonstrated that the allergenicity of Ara h1 declines after covalent conjugation with polyphenols in vitro; however, how polyphenols affect the structure, function, and allergenicity of peanut protein extract (PPE) after covalent conjugating needs clarifying. Here, we assessed how the structure, function, and allergenicity of PPE changed after covalent conjugation with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (PPE-EGCG) and chlorogenic acid (PPE-CA). PPE covalently conjugated with EGCG and CA using the alkali treatment method. Multi-spectroscopy showed that the structure of PPE-EGCG/CA conjugate changed, becoming less folded. In contrast, the functional properties of PPE significantly improved. The allergenicity of PPE-EGCG/CA significantly declined in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our findings confirm that covalent conjugation of PPE with EGCG and CA reduces the allergenicity and improves the functional properties of PPE by changing the structure of the protein.

Antibody-Based Methods Reveal the Protein Expression Properties of Glucosinolate Sulfatase 1 and 2 in Plutella xylostella.

The glucosinolates (GLs) and myrosinase defensive systems in cruciferous plants were circumvented by Plutella xylostella using glucosinolate sulfatases (PxGSSs) during pest-plant interaction. Despite identifying three duplicated GSS-encoding genes in P. xylostella, limited information regarding their spatiotemporal and induced expression is available. Here, we investigated the tissue- and stage-specific expression and induction in response to GLs of PxGSS1 and PxGSS2 (PxGSS1/2) at the protein level, which shares a high degree of similarity in protein sequences. Western blotting (WB) analysis showed that PxGSS1/2 exhibited a higher protein level in mature larvae, their guts, and gut content. A significantly high protein and transcript levels of PxGSS1/2 were also detected in the salivary glands using WB and qRT-PCR. The immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) results confirmed that PxGSS1/2 is widely expressed in the larval body. The IHC was more appropriate than IF when autofluorescence interference was present in collected samples. Furthermore, the content of PxGSS1/2 did not change significantly under treatments of GL mixture from Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Col-0, or commercial ally (sinigrin), 4-(methylsulfinyl)butyl, 3-(methylsulfinyl)propyl, and indol-3-ylmethyl GLs indicating that the major GLs from leaves of A. thaliana Col-0 failed to induce the expression of proteins for both PxGSS1 and PxGSS2. Our study systemically characterized the expression properties of PxGSS1/2 at the protein level, which improves our understanding of PxGSS1/2-center adaptation in P. xylostella during long-term insect-plant interaction.

An inducible gene from glycoside hydrolase one family of Plutella xylostella decreases larval survival when feeding on host plant.

Glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) members exhibit a broad substrate spectrum and play important roles in insect-plant interactions, such as the defensive ß-glucosidase and ß-thioglucosidase (so-called myrosinase). However, knowledge about the expression profiling and function of glycoside hydrolase family 1 members in a specialist pest of crucifers Plutella xylostella is still limited. In this study, 13 putative glycoside hydrolase family 1 members of P. xylostella were identified based on the sequence characteristics, while no myrosinase activity was detectable in P. xylostella using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Expression profiling of these glycoside hydrolase family 1 members identified the midgut-specific gene Px008848 that is induced by host plant. Further experiments revealed that the in vitro expressed Px008848 protein had ß-glucosidase activity and the survival rate of the larvae feeding on wounded Arabidopsis thaliana leaves declined when leaves were treated with purified Px008848 protein. When CRISPR/Cas9-based homozygous mutant larvae of Px008848 and wild-type larvae were respectively transferred onto the A. thaliana, the larval survival rate of the mutant larvae was significantly higher than that of the wild-type individuals. Our work showed that certain insect glycoside hydrolase family 1 gene may have negative effect on the development of larvae feeding on the host plant, which broadened our understandings on the evolutionary function of this gene family in the insect-plant interaction.

The CGRP/macrophage axis signal facilitates inflammation recovery in the intestine.

The mechanism of the recovery of immune inflammation in the intestine remains to be investigated. The calcitonin-related protein (CGRP; neuropeptide) has immune regulatory capacity. We observed that lower levels of CGRP were found in the colon biopsies of UC patients. CGRP were negatively correlated to TNF-α, IL-1ß and IFN-γ in biopsy samples. The levels of TGF-ß were lower in the UC group than that of the normal control (NC) group, which were positively correlated with the CGRP levels. Blocking CGRP significantly delayed recovery from colitis inflammation. CGRP induced the TGF-ß-expressing CD4+ Tim4+ macrophages in the intestine. CD4+ Tim4+ macrophages demonstrated immune regulatory function in suppressing proliferation of isolated T cells of colitis and induced apoptosis of T cells. Ablation of the Tgfb1 expression in macrophages resulted in a significant delay in recovery of inflammation in colitis, which was rescued by reconstitution of the CD4+ Tim4+ macrophages in mice.

Functional Characterization of Two RNA Methyltransferase Genes METTL3 and METTL14 Uncovers the Roles of m6A in Mediating Adaptation of Plutella xylostella to Host Plants.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the major epigenetic modifications in eukaryotes. Although increasing functions of m6A have been identified in insects, its role in Plutella xylostella L. for host plant adaptation remains unclear. In the current study, we show that the m6A content of P. xylostella was relatively low in different developmental stages and tissues, with no significant differences. Two RNA methyltransferase genes, PxMETTL3 (methyltransferase-like 3) and PxMETTL14 (methyltransferase-like 14), were identified and characterized. PxMETTL3 could be transcribed into two transcripts, and PxMETTL14 had only one transcript; both of these genes were highly expressed in egg and adult stages and reproductive tissues. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of PxMETTL3 (ΔPxMETTL3-2) or PxMETTL14 (ΔPxMETTL14-14) confirmed their function in m6A installation into RNA. Furthermore, upon transfer from an artificial diet to the host plant, the mutant strains were affected in terms of larval and pupal weight or adult emergence rate, while the wildtype (WT) strain did not exhibit any difference. In addition, the fecundity and egg hatching rate of the WT strain decreased significantly, whereas only the ΔPxMETTL14-14 mutant strain displayed significantly decreased fecundity. There seemed to be a tradeoff between the stress adaptation and reproduction in P. xylostella mediated by m6A modification. During host transfer, the expression of PxMETTL14 was consistent with the change in m6A content, which implied that PxMETTL14 could respond to host plant defense effectively, and may regulate m6A content. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts with changes in m6A levels revealed that the potential functions of m6A-related genes may be involved in steroid biosynthesis for larval performance and metabolic pathways for adult reproduction. Overall, our work reveals an epigenetic regulation mechanism for the rapid adaptation of P. xylostella to variations in the host environment.

XBP1 is required in Th2 polarization induction in airway allergy.

Rationale: Th2 polarization plays a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as airway allergy. The underlying mechanism is not fully understood yet. X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP1) can regulate immune cell activities upon exposing stressful events. The role of XBP1 in the development of Th2 polarization has not yet been explored. Methods: Mice carrying Xbp1-deficient CD4+ T cells were employed to observe the role of XBP1 in the induction of airway allergy. A cell culture model was established to evaluate the role of XBP1 in facilitating the Th2 lineage commitment. Results: We found that Xbp1 ablation in CD4+ T cells prevented induction of Th2 polarization in the mouse airway tract. XBP1 was indispensable in the Th2 lineage commitment. XBP1 mediated the effects of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP) on facilitating inducing antigen-specific Th2 response in the airways. Exposure to MNP induced expression of XBP1 in CD4+ T cells. RhoA facilitated the binding between XBP1 and GATA3 in CD4+ T cells. XBP1 induced GATA3 phosphorylation to promote the Il4 gene transcription. Modulation of the RhoA/XBP1 axis mitigated experimental allergic response in the mouse airways. Conclusions: A potential therapeutic target, XBP1, was identified in this study. XBP1 was required in the development of skewed Th2 response in the airways. Inhibiting XBP1 alleviated Th2 polarization-related immune inflammation in the airways. The data suggest that inhibiting XBP1 has the translation potential for the treatment of airway allergy.

Glucosinolate Sulfatases-Sulfatase-Modifying Factors System Enables a Crucifer-Specialized Moth To Pre-detoxify Defensive Glucosinolate of the Host Plant.

Numerous herbivores orally secrete defense compounds to detoxify plant toxins. However, little is known about the role of orally secreted enzymes by a specialized pest, Plutella xylostella, in the detoxification of plant defense compounds. Three glucosinolate sulfatases (GSSs) or two sulfatase-modifying factors (SUMF1s) mutant strains were established on the basis of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to validate the existence of a species-specific GSSs-SUMF1s system. In comparison to the bioassay data from mutant strains of GSS1/GSS2 or SUMF1a/SUMF1b, GSS3 had a minimal role because no significant change was found in GSS3-/- under different feeding contexts. Antibody-based technologies were used to examine GSSs-related deficient strains, and the results showed that the GSS1 protein was primarily released through larval oral secretion. On the basis of high-performance liquid chromatography, we found that GSS1 was secreted to pre-desulfate the typical plant defensive glucosinolates known as 4-(methylsulfinyl)butyl glucosinolate (4MSOB-GL) to suppress the production of the toxic substance, which is referred to as pre-detoxification strategy. These findings highlighted that the GSSs-SUMF1s system is the key factor for counteradaptation of P. xylostella to cruciferous plants, which strengthens the concept that herbivores deploy pre-detoxification strategies to disrupt the plant chemical defenses to facilitate the colonization process.

Genomic Variations in the Tea Leafhopper Reveal the Basis of Its Adaptive Evolution.

Tea green leafhopper (TGL), Empoasca onukii, is of biological and economic interest. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms underlying its adaptation and evolution remain enigmatic. Here, we use previously untapped genome and population genetics approaches to examine how the pest adapted to different environmental variables and thus has expanded geographically. We complete a chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the E. onukii genome, showing notable expansions of gene families associated with adaptation to chemoreception and detoxification. Genomic signals indicating balancing selection highlight metabolic pathways involved in adaptation to a wide range of tea varieties grown across ecologically diverse regions. Patterns of genetic variations among 54 E. onukii samples unveil the population structure and evolutionary history across different tea-growing regions in China. Our results demonstrate that the genomic changes in key pathways, including those linked to metabolism, circadian rhythms, and immune system functions, may underlie the successful spread and adaptation of E. onukii. This work highlights the genetic and molecular basis underlying the evolutionary success of a species with broad economic impacts, and provides insights into insect adaptation to host plants, which will ultimately facilitate more sustainable pest management.

Landscape Composition and Soil Physical-Chemical Properties Drive the Assemblages of Bacteria and Fungi in Conventional Vegetable Fields.

The soil microbiome is crucial for improving the services and functioning of agroecosystems. Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of soil physical-chemical properties in driving the belowground microbial assemblages in different agroecosystems. However, not much is known about the assemblage of bacteria and fungi in response to soil physical-chemical properties and the surrounding landscape composition in different vegetable fields of a highly intensive agricultural system. Here, we investigated the effects of soil physical-chemical properties and landscape composition on the community trends of bacteria and fungi in two different soil compartments (bulk and rhizospheric soils) of two different brassica crop types (Chinese cabbage and flower cabbage). The results revealed that bulk soil had a higher alpha diversity of both bacteria and fungi than rhizospheric soil. Each of the soil physical-chemical properties and landscape compositions contributed differently to driving the community structure of distinct bacterial and fungal taxa in both soil compartments and crop types. The higher proportions of forest, grassland, and cultivated land, along with the higher amount of soil calcium in flower cabbage fields, promote the assemblage of Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Oxyophotobacteria, Agaricomycetes, and Eurotiomycetes. On the other hand, in Chinese cabbage fields, the increased amounts of iron, zinc, and manganese in the soil together with higher proportions of non-brassica crops in the surrounding landscape strongly support the assemblage of Deltaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacilli, Clostridia, Alphaproteobacteria, an unknown bacterial species Subgroup-6, Mortierellomycetes, Rhizophlyctidomycetes, and Chytridiomycetes. The findings of this study provide the most comprehensive, comparative, and novel insights related to the bacterial and fungal responses in a highly intensive vegetable growing system for the improvement of the soil fertility and structure. These are important clues for the identification of key bacteria and fungi contributing to the plant-environment interactions and are of a practical significance for landscape-based ecological pest management.

Transparent, self-recoverable, highly tough, puncture and tear resistant polyurethane supramolecular elastomer with fast self-healing capacity via "hard-soft" hard domain design.

The integration of superior mechanical properties and fast healing efficiency for self-healing polyurethane supramolecular elastomers is challenging due to the confliction between high chain mobility for healing and high chain rigidity for mechanical properties. Herein, a strategy to design a "hard-soft" hard domain by the cooperation of quadruple hydrogen bonds (HBs) in the mainchain as restriction units and single HBs in the side chain as diffusion units is reported. The resulting transparent supramolecular elastomer exhibited fast self-recoverability, good puncture resistance and superior mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 20.5 MPa, an extensibility of 2043.7%, a toughness of 146.1 MJ m-3 and a tear resistance of 13.8 kJ m-2. Moreover, the fast self-healing capacity (healing efficiency > 82% within 3 h under moderate condition) was realized due to the soft effects of weak HBs in the side chain on the strong HBs in the mainchain. Taking advantage of the merits of the supramolecular elastomer, a flexible sensor was simply fabricated, which showed good self-repairable and stable sensing properties. Thus, the elastomer has great potential in the field of flexible electronics and wearable devices.

Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) Differentially Expressed During Insect Development.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) at the posttranscriptional level of gene expression. Linear long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) of miRNAs and regulate the expression of protein-coding genes. This chapter presents a procedure for the bioinformatic analysis of these three ncRNAs that are differentially expressed during insect development. In the first step, lncRNAs and circRNAs are identified based on RNA-sequencing data. In the second step, miRNAs are identified based on small RNA-sequencing data and combined with the two ncRNAs from the previous step for functional characterization.