CO2-Promoted and Copper-Catalyzed Dehydroxylative Coupling of Benzylic Alcohols by the NaBH4/I2 System.

An efficient and CO2-promoted dehydroxylative coupling of benzylic alcohols catalyzed by ligand-free cuprous chloride has been achieved. The discovered catalytic reductive coupling reaction is a newly C-C bond-forming transformation of alcohols. Mechanistic insight is gained through control reactions.

An ultra-fast UV-electrochemical sensor based on Cu-MOF for highly sensitive and selective detection of ferric ions.

A 2D Cu-MOF: {[CuL(H2O)]}n (Cu-1, H2L = 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid) was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Cu-1 showed excellent solvent stability and was used to fabricate a UV ferric ion sensor. An ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) at 14.5 fM was obtained. Furthermore, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a 'turn-off' switch was introduced into the Cu-1 framework to construct another 2D Cu-MOF: {[CuL(DMF)]}n (Cu-2) by a single crystal to single crystal (SCSC) transformation method. Cu-2 lost the ability to recognize ferric ions and the switching effect of Fe3+ recognition was realized. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) were employed to investigate this conversion process and provided a way for explaining the interaction mechanism between Cu-1 and ferric ions. We present an approach for designing and synthesizing MOFs that are suitable for ion sensing.

Improved maize reference genome with single-molecule technologies.

Complete and accurate reference genomes and annotations provide fundamental tools for characterization of genetic and functional variation. These resources facilitate the determination of biological processes and support translation of research findings into improved and sustainable agricultural technologies. Many reference genomes for crop plants have been generated over the past decade, but these genomes are often fragmented and missing complex repeat regions. Here we report the assembly and annotation of a reference genome of maize, a genetic and agricultural model species, using single-molecule real-time sequencing and high-resolution optical mapping. Relative to the previous reference genome, our assembly features a 52-fold increase in contig length and notable improvements in the assembly of intergenic spaces and centromeres. Characterization of the repetitive portion of the genome revealed more than 130,000 intact transposable elements, allowing us to identify transposable element lineage expansions that are unique to maize. Gene annotations were updated using 111,000 full-length transcripts obtained by single-molecule real-time sequencing. In addition, comparative optical mapping of two other inbred maize lines revealed a prevalence of deletions in regions of low gene density and maize lineage-specific genes.

Multifractal dimensions of soil particle size distribution reveal the erodibility and fertility of alpine grassland soils in the Northern Tibet Plateau.

Climate change and human activities have seriously degraded alpine grassland, potentially affecting soil particle size distribution (PSD) and further influencing the nutrient levels and erodibility of soil. Predicting the fertility and erodibility of alpine soil using multifractal dimensions of soil PSD could be used to enhance the management and restoration of degraded alpine grasslands. In the present study, we evaluated three types of alpine grasslands: alpine meadow (AM), alpine steppe (AS), and alpine desert steppe (ADS). Fencing and grazing management measures were conducted at sites containing each grassland type. Then, we analyzed the PSDs, erodibility, and other properties of soil in the 0-20 cm soil layer. Multifractal characterization of soil PSD was calculated using the fractal scale theory. The findings showed that grassland type significantly impacted soil nutrients and the multifractal dimensions of soil PSDs, whereas management measures affected soil erodibility significantly. The proportion of finer particles decreased as follows: AM > AS > ADS. Compared to grazing, fencing enhanced clay content and reduced the proportion of coarser particles under all three grassland types. AM had higher organic carbon and nitrogen levels than AS and ADS. Multifractal dimensions were highest for AM, with ADS having higher erodibility than AM and AS. Multifractal dimensions (except for correlation dimension) also had significantly positive relationships with soil organic carbon and available nutrient content and soil erodibility, but had significantly negative correlations with soil pH, bulk density, and electrical conductivity. Thus, the multifractal dimensions of soil PSDs could be used to characterize the erodibility and fertility characteristics of soil in alpine regions, providing a reference for assessing vegetation restoration measures in the Northern Tibet Plateau.

Water-Stable 1D Double-Chain Cu Metal-Organic Framework-based Electrochemical Biosensor for Detecting l-Tyrosine.

An electrochemical biosensor based on a water-stable one-dimensional double-chain Cu(II) metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) directly was constructed for efficiently recognizing l-tyrosine (l-Tyr) in biomimic environments. Cu-MOF: {[Cu(bpe)(fdc) (H2O)(DMF)]·0.5H2O}n (bpe = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, H2fdc = 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, namely, Cu-1) was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. It was characterized by IR, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and PXRD techniques. Cu-1 exhibited extreme solvent and thermal stability as well as excellent electroconductive character. It was coated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface to prepare an electrochemical biosensor (Cu-1/GCE) which showed preferable biosensing ability toward l-Tyr. This Cu-MOF electrochemical biosensor showed simple operation and high sensitivity toward l-Tyr in the concentration range from 0.01 to 0.09 mM. The detection limit is 5.822 µM. Furthermore, Cu-1/GCE showed extremely excellent selectivity to l-Tyr in a biomimic environment with several amino acid interferents. This new strategy exhibits great potential applications for designing MOFs with excellent electrochemical activity.

Gemini-Type Supramolecular Amphiphile Based on a Water-Soluble Pillar[5]arene and an Azastilbene Guest and Its Application in Stimuli-Responsive Self-Assemblies.

Supramolecular amphiphiles are a type of intriguing building blocks to fabricate self-assembled nanostructures that can be applied in diverse fields. Gemini-type supramolecular amphiphiles, containing two hydrophobic tails and two hydrophilic head groups linked by a spacer, are good candidates to fabricate many advanced materials that are able to apply in surface modification, drug/gene delivery, and solubilization. Pillararenes, the fifth generation of macrocyclic host molecules, have been used to fabricate many supramolecular amphiphiles that played important roles in biomedical fields and materials science. However, compared with single-chain and bola-type supramolecular amphiphiles, the studies of gemini-type supramolecular amphiphiles based on pillararenes are very rare. Herein, a new strategy to prepare gemini-type supramolecular amphiphiles was reported. A new acid-responsive host?guest recognition motif in water on the basis of a 4,4?-azastilbene derivative (G1) and a water-soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5) was fabricated. The gemini-type supramolecular amphiphile was constructed by an azastilbene amphiphilic guest (G2) and WP5. Then its application in stimuli-responsive self-assemblies was investigated. G2 self-assembled into nanoribbons in water. Upon addition of WP5, the gemini-type supramolecular amphiphile formed, leading to the formation of disklike micelles. After further addition of hydrochloric acid, the morphology changed into nanosheets.

New Insights into the Ligand Nature of Carbene: Synthesis and Characterizations of Six-Coordinate Iron(II) Carbene Porphyrin Complexes.

Several six-coordinate iron(II) carbene tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) complexes, [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1-EtIm)] (1-EtIm = 1-ethylimidazole) and [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1,2-Me2Im)] (1,2-Me2Im = 1,2-dimethylimidazole), are isolated and studied by UV-vis, single-crystal X-ray, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The single-crystal structural studies revealed noteworthy features including strong and "hard" axial carbene bonds (Fe-C) but "flexible" trans ligand bonds (Fe-NIm). The Mössbauer spectra of [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1-EtIm)] and [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1,2-Me2Im)] are obtained on solid-state samples between 25 and 295 K, which give very large Δ EQ values (1.8-1.9 mm/s), suggesting a weak effect of the trans imidazole ligands. Comparisons with diatomic carbon-donor ligands (CO, CS, and CN-) demonstrate considerably stronger π bonding of the :CPh2 carbene.

A dimethoxypillar[5]arene/azastilbene host-guest recognition motif and its applications in the fabrication of polypseudorotaxanes.

Pillar[n]arenes, known as the fifth generation of host macrocycles since 2008, have become a popular topic over the past ten years. Until now, the studies of pillar[n]arenes were mainly focused on pillar[5]arenes owing to their easy synthesis and high yields. In particular, 1,4-dimethoxypillar[5]arene (DMP5), which shows a simple structure, efficient synthesis and high yield, has played important roles in the construction of various advanced supramolecular architectures. However, DMP5 has only displayed host-guest binding properties towards some guests. Therefore, the investigation of the host-guest chemistry of DMP5 should be able to greatly promote the development of pillararene chemistry. Herein, a photosensitive azastilbene derivative was chosen as a neutral guest to study the host-guest binding and stimuli-responsive behavior with DMP5. In addition, the binding behavior of DMP5 towards a series of analogous neutral guest molecules was investigated to study the driving forces of the host-guest interaction between DMP5 and the azastilbene guest. Moreover, the [2]pseudorotaxane based on DMP5 and the azastilbene guest was used to construct a polypseudorotaxane via metal coordination.

Indispensable role of lipoprotein bound-ApoE in adipogenesis and endocytosis induced by postprandial TRL.

Diet-associated obesity is coexisted with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia that indicates increased number of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL). This study aimed to investigate the effect of postprandial TRL-bound apolipoprotein E (ApoE) on adipogenesis and potential mechanisms. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with (i) human TRL (h-TRL) with or without insulin, or (ii) TRL from wild type mice (WT-TRL) or ApoE knock-out mice (EKO-TRL) and insulin. The differentiating adipocytes were incubated with different kinds of TRL labeled by red fluorescence and confocal microscopy was performed. Receptor associated protein (RAP), heparin or both were added to inhibit low density lipoprotein receptor family receptors, heparan sulfate proteoglycan or both, respectively. With the aid of insulin, postprandial h-TRL or WT-TRL, instead of EKO-TRL, successfully induced adipogenesis. Confocal microscopy revealed red fluorescence in the differentiating adipocytes treated with h-TRL or WT-TRL, but not with EKO-TRL. RAP markedly reduced red fluorescence within the differentiating adipocytes, while heparin had little impact. The low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1 protein showed upward trend with the increase of TRL concentrations. Taken together, lipoprotein-bound ApoE was required in both postprandial TRL-induced adipogenesis and TRL endocytosis by the differentiating adipocytes, the latter could be partially through low density lipoprotein receptor family dependent-pathway.

Ensembl Genomes 2013: scaling up access to genome-wide data.

Ensembl Genomes (http://www.ensemblgenomes.org) is an integrating resource for genome-scale data from non-vertebrate species. The project exploits and extends technologies for genome annotation, analysis and dissemination, developed in the context of the vertebrate-focused Ensembl project, and provides a complementary set of resources for non-vertebrate species through a consistent set of programmatic and interactive interfaces. These provide access to data including reference sequence, gene models, transcriptional data, polymorphisms and comparative analysis. This article provides an update to the previous publications about the resource, with a focus on recent developments. These include the addition of important new genomes (and related data sets) including crop plants, vectors of human disease and eukaryotic pathogens. In addition, the resource has scaled up its representation of bacterial genomes, and now includes the genomes of over 9000 bacteria. Specific extensions to the web and programmatic interfaces have been developed to support users in navigating these large data sets. Looking forward, analytic tools to allow targeted selection of data for visualization and download are likely to become increasingly important in future as the number of available genomes increases within all domains of life, and some of the challenges faced in representing bacterial data are likely to become commonplace for eukaryotes in future.

Selective C-Methylenation of N-Unsubstituted Indoles Using CO2 Under NaBH4/I2 System.

The selective C-methylenation of N-unsubstituted indoles using CO2 as the C1 source to access diindolylmethane (DIM) and its derivatives is described. This reaction provides a novel method for four-electron reductive functionalization of CO2 with N-unsubstituted indoles via formation of C-CH2-C bonds, and a new access to molecular structures.

Effect of Plateau pika on Soil Microbial Assembly Process and Co-Occurrence Patterns in the Alpine Meadow Ecosystem.

Burrowing animals are a critical driver of terrestrial ecosystem functioning, but we know little about their effects on soil microbiomes. Here, we evaluated the effect of burrowing animals on microbial assembly processes and co-occurrence patterns using soil microbiota from a group of habitats disturbed by Plateau pikas (Ochtona curzoniae). Pika disturbance had different impacts on bacterial and fungal communities. Fungal diversity generally increased with patch area, whereas bacterial diversity decreased. These strikingly different species-area relationships were closely associated with their community assembly mechanisms. The loss of bacterial diversity on larger patches was largely driven by deterministic processes, mainly due to the decline of nutrient supply (e.g., organic C, inorganic N). In contrast, fungal distribution was driven primarily by stochastic processes that dispersal limitation contributed to their higher fungal diversity on lager patches. A bacterial co-occurrence network exhibited a positive relationship of nodes and linkage numbers with patch area, and the fungal network presented a positive modularity-area relationship, suggesting that bacteria tended to form a closer association community under pika disturbance, while fungi tended to construct a higher modularity network. Our results suggest that pikas affects the microbial assembly process and co-occurrence patterns in alpine environments, thereby enhancing the current understanding of microbial biogeography under natural disturbances.

High-quality chromosome scale genome assemblies of two important Sorghum inbred lines, Tx2783 and RTx436.

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is a significant grass crop globally, known for its genetic diversity. High quality genome sequences are needed to capture the diversity. We constructed high-quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies for two vital sorghum inbred lines, Tx2783 and RTx436. Through advanced single-molecule techniques, long-read sequencing and optical maps, we improved average sequence continuity 19-fold and 11-fold higher compared to existing Btx623 v3.0 reference genome and obtained 19 and 18 scaffolds (N50 of 25.6 and 14.4) for Tx2783 and RTx436, respectively. Our gene annotation efforts resulted in 29 612 protein-coding genes for the Tx2783 genome and 29 265 protein-coding genes for the RTx436 genome. Comparative analyses with 26 plant genomes which included 18 sorghum genomes and 8 outgroup species identified around 31 210 protein-coding gene families, with about 13 956 specific to sorghum. Using representative models from gene trees across the 18 sorghum genomes, a total of 72 579 pan-genes were identified, with 14% core, 60% softcore and 26% shell genes. We identified 99 genes in Tx2783 and 107 genes in RTx436 that showed functional enrichment specifically in binding and metabolic processes, as revealed by the GO enrichment Pearson Chi-Square test. We detected 36 potential large inversions in the comparison between the BTx623 Bionano map and the BTx623 v3.1 reference sequence. Strikingly, these inversions were notably absent when comparing Tx2783 or RTx436 with the BTx623 Bionano map. These inversion were mostly in the pericentromeric region which is known to have low complexity regions and harder to assemble and suggests the presence of potential artifacts in the public BTx623 reference assembly. Furthermore, in comparison to Tx2783, RTx436 exhibited 324 883 additional Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and 16 506 more Insertions/Deletions (INDELs) when using BTx623 as the reference genome. We also characterized approximately 348 nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) disease resistance genes in the two genomes. These high-quality genomes serve as valuable resources for discovering agronomic traits and structural variation studies.

N-(2-Methyl-phen-yl)-1,2-benzoselen-azol-3(2H)-one.

IN THE TITLE EBSELEN [SYSTEMATIC NAME: (2-phenyl-1,2-benzoisoselenazol-3-(2H)-one)] analogue, C14H11NOSe, the benzisoselenazolyl moiety (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0209 Å) is nearly perpendicular to the N-arenyl ring, making a dihedral angle of 78.15 (11)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O and Se⋯O inter-actions into chains along the c-axis direction. The Se⋯O distance [2.733 (3) Å] is longer than that in Ebselen (2.571 (3) Å].

Correction: Aromatic amine electrochemical sensors based on a Co-MOF: a hydrogen bond-induced specific response.

Correction for 'Aromatic amine electrochemical sensors based on a Co-MOF: a hydrogen bond-induced specific response' by Xiao-qin Wu et al., Dalton Trans., 2022, 51, 16861-16869, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2dt02049a.

Expression of fatty acid related gene promotes astaxanthin heterologous production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Natural astaxanthin is a high-value ketone carotenoid mainly derived from Haematococcus pluvialis, which is an excellent antioxidant for human consumption. To study the role of lipids in accumulation of astaxanthin, the H. pluvialis-derived astaxanthin synthesis pathway genes (ß-carotene ketolase gene, BKT and ß-carotene hydroxylase gene, BCH) and fatty acid elongation gene (mitochondrial trans-2-enoyl-coa reductase gene, MECR) were heterologously co-expressed in C. reinhardtii. Zeaxanthin, the precursor of astaxanthin synthesis, was significantly increased after BKT and BCH were expressed. In contrast, the α-carotene that competes with astaxanthin synthesis for lycopene decreased significantly. This redistribution of carbon flow was conducive to the synthesis of astaxanthin. In addition, the transformant only expressed astaxanthin metabolism related genes (BKT, BCH) would lead to an increase in total lipid, a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids and an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. On this basis, the expression of MECR gene further increased the total lipid, and the relative content of different fatty acids also changed. The astaxanthin content of algal strains transformed with BKT and BCH genes was nearly 50% higher than that of the wild type. On this basis, the astaxanthin content of transformants expressing MECR gene related to long-chain fatty acid synthesis was increased by 227.5%. In this study, an astaxanthin production model similar to H. pluvialis by combining carotenoid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism was constructed in C. reinhardtii. The results suggest that the increase in astaxanthin is indeed linked to the regulation of fatty acid metabolism, and this link may involve the type of fatty acids and the dynamics of astaxanthin ester in cells. The strategy of promoting the synthesis of fatty acids has potential to achieve efficient production of astaxanthin in C. reinhardtii.

meso-Bis{η(5)-1-[1-(dimethylamino)ethenyl]-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl}iron(II) and the cobalt(II) analogue.

The two title crystalline compounds, viz. meso-bis{η(5)-1-[1-(dimethylamino)ethenyl]-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl}iron(II), [Fe(C(12)H(20)NSi)(2)], (II), and meso-bis{η(5)-1-[1-(dimethylamino)ethenyl]-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl}cobalt(II), [Co(C(12)H(20)NSi)(2)], (III), were obtained by the reaction of lithium 1-[1-(dimethylamino)ethenyl]-3-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienide with FeCl(2) and CoCl(2), respectively. For (II), the trimethylsilyl- and dimethylaminoethenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings present a nearly eclipsed conformation, and the two pairs of trimethylsilyl and dimethylaminoethenyl substituents on the Cp rings are arranged in an interlocked fashion. In the case of (III), the same substituted Cp rings are perfectly staggered leading to a crystallographically centrosymmetric molecular structure, and the two trimethylsilyl and two dimethylaminoethenyl substituents are oriented in opposite directions, respectively, with the trimethylsilyl group of one Cp ring and the dimethylaminoethenyl group of the other Cp ring arranged more closely than in (II).

Study of the Unique Characteristics of Multi-Elements of the Wild Astragali Radix from Shanxi Province by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Astragali Radix (AR) is widely used because of its dual use in medicine and food. Wild Astragali Radix from Hunyuan county of Shanxi province in China is accepted as a geo-authentic medicine with high quality and good medicinal effects. Multi-elements of Astragali Radix partially reflect its efficacy and safety. However, there has been no systemic research about the elemental analysis of geo-authentic Astragali Radix until now. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, multi-elemental profiling of Astragali Radix from Gansu, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in China was carried out. METHODS: A microwave digestion coupled with inductively coupled plasma-MS (ICP-MS), principal component analysis (PCA), and partial-least square-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) were used for analysis of the unique elemental accumulation ability of Shanxi wild AR. RESULTS: Compared to the samples from Gansu, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi provinces, and the cultivated samples from Shanxi, for 53 stably detected elements, the concentrations of most elements (Ba, Cs, Ga, La, Pr, and so on) were significantly higher while a few (Cd, Cu, P, W and Zn) were significantly lower in wild Astragali Radix from Shanxi. After binary logistic regression, combinational variable Ba-P was found to be a good marker to distinguish wild Astragali Radix of Shanxi province from the samples with other origins, and the total positive prediction probability of the test samples, both bought from the market and gathered from their original field, could reach 93.8% through external validation using the model. CONCLUSION: Multi-elemental analysis coupled with PCA, PLS-DA, nonparametric analysis and binary logistic regression can be a good tool for the identification of wild Astragali Radix from Shanxi province. HIGHLIGHTS: An ICP-MS method was developed and validated for multi-elements. Fifty-three elements in Astragali Radix from samples with different origins were compared. The wild Astragali Radix from Shanxi had unique elemental characteristics. Combinational variable Ba-P is a good marker to identify wild AR from Shanxi.

Construction of a pillararene-based supramolecular polymer network and its application in efficient removal of dyes from water.

An AB-type monomer based on a pillar[5]arene host and an imidazolium salt guest was successfully synthesized through a facile way. This monomer can self-assemble into linear supramolecular polymers in chloroform. After the addition of silver ions, the imidazolium salt group coordinated with silver ions to crosslink the linear supramolecular polymers at their ends, resulting in the formation of supramolecular polymer networks. Meanwhile, after further adding iodide ions, the supramolecular polymer network changed back to the linear supramolecular polymer. As a result, the topological structure of the system can be reversibly tuned. Furthermore, this supramolecular polymer network can be applied to remove organic dyes in water, suggesting its great potential in the treatment of waste water.

Aromatic amine electrochemical sensors based on a Co-MOF: a hydrogen bond-induced specific response.

A 2D Co-MOF, {[Co2(L2-)2(bipy)](DMA)·2H2O}n (Co-1, H2L = 2,5-thienedioic acid; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine; DMA = N,N'-dimethyl acetamide), was synthesized by hydrothermal method. Co-1 has excellent air stability. When modifying the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with Co-1, the obtained electrochemical senor Co-1/GCE shows excellent sensitivity towards 1,3-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB) and 2,4-dinitroaniline (2,4-DNA), although the electrochemical conductivity of Co-1 is not that good. The detection limits were as low as 0.0286 µM and 0.161 µM, respectively. DFT studies showed that the main interaction between Co-1 and the guest molecules is via hydrogen bonding, formed by the -NO2 group and the coordinated H2O molecule from the Co-1 skeleton. Furthermore, the characteristic signals of both m-DNB and 2,3-DNA can still be observed in a mimicked industrial waste-water system containing 17 kinds of organic interferents, indicating high selectivity of the Co-1/GCE sensor.