rSJYB1 inhibits collagen type I protein expression in hepatic stellate cells via down‐regulating activity of collagen α1 (I) promoter

YB1 is a negative regulator in liver fibrosis. We wondered whether SJYB1, a homologous protein of YB1 from Schistosoma japonicum, has an effect on liver fibrosis in vitro. Recombinant SJYB1 (rSJYB1) protein was expressed in a bacterial system and purified by Ni‐NTA His·Bind Resin. A human hepatic stellate cell line, the LX‐2 cell line, was cultured and treated with rSJYB1. The role of rSJYB1 on LX‐2 cells was then analysed by Western blot and luciferase assay. We succeeded in expressing and purifying SJYB1 in a bacterial system and the purified rSJYB1 could be recognized by S japonicum‐infected rabbit sera. Western bolt analysis showed that rSJYB1 inhibited the expression of collagen type I, but had little effect on α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA). Further analysis revealed that rSJYB1 inhibited the activity of collagen α1 (I) (COL1A1) promoter and functioned at ?1592/?1176 region of COL1A1 promoter. Our data demonstrate that rSJYB1‐mediated anti‐fibrotic activity involves inhibiting the activity of COL1A1 promoter and subsequently suppressing the expression of collagen type I in hepatic stellate cells.     

Co–B Nanoflakes as Multifunctional Bridges in ZnCo2O4 Micro‐/Nanospheres for Superior Lithium Storage with Boosted Kinetics and Stability

Transition metal oxides hold great promise as high‐energy anodes in next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries. However, owing to the inherent limitations of low electronic/ionic conductivities and dramatic volume change during charge/discharge, it is still challenging to fabricate practically viable compacted and thick TMO anodes with satisfactory electrochemical performance. Herein, with mesoporous cobalt–boride nanoflakes serving as multifunctional bridges in ZnCo₂O₄ micro‐/nanospheres, a compacted ZnCo₂O₄/Co–B hybrid structure is constructed. Co–B nanoflakes not only bridge ZnCo₂O₄ nanoparticles and function as anchors for ZnCo₂O₄ micro‐/nanospheres to suppress the severe volume fluctuation, they also work as effective electron conduction bridges to promote fast electron transportation. More importantly, they serve as Li⁺ transfer bridges to provide significantly boosted Li⁺ diffusivity, evidenced from both experimental kinetics analysis and density functional theory calculations. The mesopores within Co–B nanoflakes help overcome the large Li⁺ diffusion barriers across 2D interfaces. As a result, the ZnCo₂O₄/Co–B electrode delivers high gravimetric/volumetric/areal capacities of 995 mAh g^?1/1450 mAh cm^?3/5.10 mAh cm^?2, respectively, with robust rate capability and long‐term cyclability. The distinct interfacial design strategy provides a new direction for designing compacted conversion‐type anodes with superior lithium storage kinetics and stability for practical applications.     

Enhanced CO2 biofixation and protein production by microalgae biofilm attached on modified surface of nickel foam

In this work, a photobioreactor with microalgae biofilm was proposed to enhance CO₂ biofixation and protein production using nickel foam with the modified surface as the carrier for immobilizing microalgae cells. The results demonstrated that, compared with microalgae suspension, microalgae biofilm lowered mass transfer resistance and promoted mass transfer efficiency of CO₂ from the bubbles into the immobilized microalgae cells, enhancing CO₂ biofixation and protein production. Moreover, parametric studies on the performance of the photobioreactor with microalgae biofilm were also conducted. The results showed that the photobioreactor with microalgae biofilm yielded a good performance with the CO₂ biofixation rate of 4465.6 µmol m⁻³ s⁻¹, the protein concentration of effluent liquid of 0.892 g L⁻¹, and the protein synthesis rate of 43.11 g m⁻³ h⁻¹. This work will be conducive to the optimization design of microalgae culture system for improving the performance of the photobioreactor.

     

Disruptor of telomeric silencing 1-like (DOT1L) is involved in breast cancer metastasis via transcriptional regulation of MALAT1 and ZEB2

<正>Epigenetics refers to how chromatin-associated factors and reversible chromatin modifications maintain DNA-based programs by regulating the chromatin structure (Strahl and Allis,2000).In recent years,genome sequencing studies of cancer have shown that genes encoding epigenetic factors are commonly mutated in cancer(Garraway and Lander,2013).Dys regulated,or mutant,epigenetic factors influence tumorigenesis progression (Dawson and Kouzarides,     

Proteasome Inhibitor PS-341 Effectively Blocks Infection by the Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever disease caused by SFTSV, a newly discovered phlebovirus that is named after the disease. Currently, no effective vaccines or drugs are available for use against SFTSV infection, as our understanding of the viral pathogenesis is limited. Bortezomib(PS-341), a dipeptideboronic acid analog, is the first clinically approved proteasome inhibitor for use in humans. In this study, the antiviral efficacy of PS-341 against SFTSV infection was tested in human embryonic kidney HEK293 T(293 T) cells. We employed four different assays to analyze the antiviral ability of PS-341 and determined that PS-341 inhibited the proliferation of SFTSV in 293 T cells under various treatment conditions. Although PS-341 did not affect the virus absorption, PS-341 treatment within a non-toxic concentration range resulted in a significant reduction of progeny viral titers in infected cells.Dual-luciferase reporter assays and Western blot analysis revealed that PS-341 could reverse the SFTSV-encoded nonstructural protein(NS) mediated degradation of retinoic acid-inducible gene-1(RIG-I), thereby antagonizing the inhibitory effect of NSs on interferons and blocking virus replication. In addition, we observed that inhibition of apoptosis promotes virus replication. These results indicate that targeting of cellular interferon pathways and apoptosis during acute infection might serve as the bases of future therapeutics for the treatment of SFTSV infections.     

Identification of a Novel Universal Potential Epitope on the Cytoplasmic Tail of H7N9 Virus Hemagglutinin

<正>Dear Editor,H7 N9 is a recently identified subtype of influenza A virus that caused a major outbreak in humans in China in 2013.According to the latest data provided by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention(http://www.moh.gov.cn/zwgk/yqbb3/ejlist.shtml, updated on October 31, 2018),the mortality rate of H7 N9 infections in China amounts to     

Genetic Analysis of an Emerging GII.P2–GII.2 Norovirus Associated with a 2016 Outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis in China

<正>Dear Editor,Noroviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to Caliciviridae and account for more than 50%of all acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks worldwide and cause an estimated 200,000 deaths per year among children\5 years of age, primarily in developing countries (Hall et al. 2012; Glass et al. 2009). The norovirus genome contains three open reading frames (ORFs).     

Four Terahertz Plasmon Modes of Hole Gas in Monolayer MoS2

Plasmonics - We investigate on the terahertz (THz) plasmons of hole gas in monolayer MoS2 in the presence of spin-orbit interactions (SOIs) under the random phase approximation. The study shows...     

Cooling Induced Surface Reconstruction during Synthesis of High‐Ni Layered Oxides

Transition metal layered oxides have been the dominant cathodes in lithium‐ion batteries, and among them, high‐Ni ones (LiNi_xMn_yCo_zO₂; x ≥ 0.7) with greatly boosted capacity and reduced cost are of particular interest for large‐scale applications. The high Ni loading, on the other hand, raises the critical issues of surface instability and poor rate performance. The rational design of synthesis leading to layered LiNi_0.7Mn_0.15Co_0.15O₂ with greatly enhanced rate capability is demonstrated, by implementing a quenching process alternative to the general slow cooling. In situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, coupled with surface analysis, is applied to studies of the synthesis process, revealing cooling‐induced surface reconstruction involving Li₂CO₃ accumulation, formation of a Li‐deficient layer and Ni reduction at the particle surface. The reconstruction process occurs predominantly at high temperatures (above 350 °C) and is highly cooling‐rate dependent, implying that surface reconstruction can be suppressed through synthetic control, i.e., quenching to improve the surface stability and rate performance of the synthesized materials. These findings may provide guidance to rational synthesis of high‐Ni cathode materials.     

Responses of plant 15N natural abundance and isotopic fractionation to N addition reflect the N status of a temperate steppe in China

Aims Elevated anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition could alter N status in temperate steppe. However, threshold observations of N status change from N limit to N saturation by far are not conclusive in these ecosystems. Research on the natural abundance of¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N) could greatly help provide integrated information about ecosystem N status. The goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of measurements of δ¹⁵N of major ecosystem N pools and several key species, plant¹⁵N fractionation, together with key vegetation and soil indicators in response to N fertilization as a tool to identify the N status in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia.