Search

With the exponential growth of digital data, there is a pressing need for innovative storage media and techniques. DNA molecules, due to their stability, storage capacity, and density, offer a promising solution for information storage. However, DNA storage also faces numerous challenges, such as complex biochemical constraints and encoding efficiency. This paper presents Explorer , a high-efficiency DNA coding algorithm based on the De Bruijn graph, which leverages its capability to characterize local sequences. Explorer enables coding under various biochemical constraints, such as homopolymers, GC content, and undesired motifs. This paper also introduces Codeformer , a fast decoding algorithm based on the transformer architecture, to further enhance decoding efficiency. Numerical experiments indicate that, compared with other advanced algorithms, Explorer not only achieves stable encoding and decoding under various biochemical constraints but also increases the encoding efficiency and bit rate by ¿10%. Additionally, Codeformer demonstrates the ability to efficiently decode large quantities of DNA sequences. Under different parameter settings, its decoding efficiency exceeds that of traditional algorithms by more than two-fold. When Codeformer is combined with Reed–Solomon code, its decoding accuracy exceeds 99%, making it a good choice for high-speed decoding applications. These advancements are expected to contribute to the development of DNA-based data storage systems and the broader exploration of DNA as a novel information storage medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The effects of dietary crude protein (CP) levels and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation on immunization and nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism of Qinchuan beef cattle were studied. [Method] Eighteen healthy 14-month-old female cattle with similar body weight of (298 ± 9.78) kg were selected for feeding experiments with two protein levels (13.23%(A1) and (10.59%(A2)) and three SC levels (0(B1), 4x108 CFU/kg(B2) and 8x108 CFU/kg(B3)). Nitrogen and phosphorus conents of feces and urine were determined using total feces (urine) collection method and blood samples were collected before morning feeding at the end of the trial, which lasted for 55 days. [Result] ➀ During 11-55 d of the experimental period, dietary supplementation of 8x108 CFU/kg SC significantly increased eed intake of Qinchuan beef cattle (P<0.05). The feed intake of Qinchuan beef cattle in group A1 B3 was he highest, which was significantly higher than that in group A1B1. ➁ TG content of Qinchuan beef cattle n group B3 was significantly lower than that in group B1 (P<0.05), and serum total protein, albumin, globulin, IgG and IgM of Qinchuan beef cattle in group A2B3 were significantly higher than those in group A2B1 (P<0.05). ➂ Compared with group B1, the apparent digestibility of CP and NDF in group B3 was ncreased by 8.44% and 16.90% (P<0.05), respectively. The apparent digestibility of CP, OM and ADF n group A2B3 was the highest. ➃ Compared with A2B1 group, the manure and urinary nitrogen emissions of Qinchuan beef cattle in A2B3 group were decreased by 31.28% and 19.67%, while nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen deposition rate were increased by 7.66% and 62.57%, respectively. ➄ The fecal phosphorus of Qinchuan beef cattle in B2 and B3 groups was significantly lower than that in B1 group, and phosphorus igestibility and deposition rate of Qinchuan beef cattle in group A2B3 were 35.96% and 45.94% higher han those in group A2B1 (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Dietary supplementation of 8 x 108 CFU/kg SC imroved feed intake, immune level and nutrient digestibility, while reduced nitrogen and phosphorus emisions of Qinchuan beef cattle. It is suggested to supplement 8x108 CFU/kg SC to diets of Qinchuan beef attle with 10.59% CP level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology has significantly progressed in studying malignant solid tumors. This technically feasible reprogramming techniques can reawaken sequestered dormant regions that regulate the fate of differentiated cells. Despite the evolving therapeutic modalities for malignant solid tumors, treatment outcomes have not been satisfactory. Recently, scientists attempted to apply induced pluripotent stem cell technology to cancer research, from modeling to treatment. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived from somatic cells, cancer cell lines, primary tumors, and individuals with an inherited propensity to develop cancer have shown great potential in cancer modeling, cell therapy, immunotherapy, and understanding tumor progression. This review summarizes the evolution of induced pluripotent stem cells technology and its applications in malignant solid tumor. Additionally, we discuss potential obstacles to induced pluripotent stem cell technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The craniofacial bones provide structural support for the skull and accommodate the vulnerable brain tissue with a protective cavity. The bone tissue undergoes constant turnover, which relies on skeletal stem cells (SSCs) and/or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their niches. SSCs/MSCs and their perivascular niche within the bone marrow are well characterized in long bones. As for cranial bones, besides bone marrow, the suture mesenchyme has been identified as a unique niche for SSCs/MSCs of craniofacial bones. However, a comprehensive study of the two different cranial stem cell niches at single‐cell resolution is still lacking. In addition, during the progression of aging, age‐associated changes in cranial stem cell niches and resident cells remain uncovered. In this study, we investigated age‐related changes in cranial stem cell niches via single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq). The transcriptomic profiles and cellular compositions have been delineated, indicating alterations of the cranial bone marrow microenvironment influenced by inflammaging. Moreover, we identified a senescent mesenchymal cell subcluster and several age‐related immune cell subclusters by reclustering and pseudotime trajectory analysis, which might be closely linked to inflammaging. Finally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and cell–cell communications were analyzed during aging, revealing potential regulatory factors. Overall, this work highlights the age‐related changes in cranial stem cell niches, which deepens the current understanding of cranial bone and suture biology and may provide therapeutic targets for antiaging and regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printed circuit boards (PCB) are easily corroded under moist environment due to formation of dendrites and short circuit. It would be a promising approach to exploit intentionally formed dendrite covered by functional coating for corrosion inhibition to elongate the lifespan of PCB. In this work, a facile electrodeposition method has been applied to grow dendritic tin onto Cu as a substrate for PCB. Bioinspired formation of superhydrophobic surface (SHS) and liquid-infused surface (LIS) are adopted to minimize access of moisture to underneath Cu metal. In this regard, dimethylsilicone oil and zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanoparticles are infused into dendritic matrix to form a solid–liquid ZIF-LIS coating. Morphology, composition and wettability are characterized by different sophisticated techniques. Beyond significant improvement in corrosion resistance, ZIF-LIS has demonstrated self-healing properties, improved mechanical stability and anti-icing behavior. Current finding provides a new approach to fabricate coating for PCB having extended stability against corrosive degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium ion (Cd(II)) is a pernicious environmental pollutant that has been shown to contaminate agricultural lands, accumulate through the food chain, and seriously threaten human health. At present, Cd(II) monitoring is dependent on centralized instruments, necessitating the development of rapid and on-site detection platforms. Against this backdrop, the present study reports on the development of a fluorometric aptasensor designed to target Cd(II), which is achieved through the integration of strand displacement amplification (SDA) and CRISPR/Cas12a. In the absence of Cd(II), the aptamer initiates SDA, resulting in the generation of a profusion of ssDNA that activates Cas12a, leading to a substantial increase in fluorescence output. Conversely, the presence of Cd(II) curtails the SDA efficiency, culminating in a significant reduction in fluorescence output. The proposed approach has been demonstrated to enable the selective detection of Cd(II) at concentrations of 60 pM, with the performance of the aptasensor validated in real water and rice samples. The proposed platform based on aptamer-target interaction holds immense promise as a signal-amplified and precise method for the detection of Cd(II) and has the potential to transform current hazard detection practices in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion of carbon steel (CS) is a disastrous threat to artificial engineering in harsh environments, such as underground mines and seawater environments. Herein, we employed facile one-step electrodeposition to prepare a superhydrophobic intertwining structure on a CS surface in an effort to alleviate corrosion. Sophisticated characterization methods suggested that La tetradecanoate formed during the electrodeposition process via an electrochemical reduction reaction. Silicone lubricant acted as the insoluble phase and was infused into the superhydrophobic matrix to yield a biomimetic slippery lubricant-infused surface (LIS) due to the capillary effect from the superhydrophobic intertwining structure to the lubricant phase. Using natural seawater, salt spray and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) suspension as the harsh media, LIS shows excellent corrosion resistance to the underlying metal compared with bare CS and the superhydrophobic surface covering CS because the oil phase acts as a barrier to inhibit the penetration of corrosive species. For the LIS sample after seawater immersion for 20 d, the Icorr was approximately 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that of the bare CS. In addition, after a 5.0 wt% salt spray test for 20 d, the |Z|0.01 Hz of the LIS surface was ca. 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of CS. Furthermore, when immersed in an extremely harsh SRB suspension for 15 d, the |Z|0.01 Hz of LIS was ca. 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of bare CS because LIS can dually prohibit the bioattachment of SRB and avoid the penetration of the highly corrosive metabolite. Thus, the LIS was proven to have prominent anticorrosion properties in harsh corrosive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intramuscular fat (or marbling fat) content is an essential economic trait of beef cattle and improves the flavor and palatability of meat. Several studies have highlighted the correlation between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and intramuscular fat development; however, the precise molecular mechanism remains unknown. Previously, through a high-throughput sequencing analysis, we found a lncRNA and named it a long non-coding RNA BNIP3 (lncBNIP3). The 5′ RACE and 3′ RACE explored 1945 bp total length of lncBNIP3, including 1621 bp of 5′RACE, and 464 bp of 3′RACE. The nucleoplasmic separation and FISH results explored the nuclear localization of lncBNIP3. Moreover, the tissue expression of lncBNIP3 was higher in the longissimus dorsi muscle, followed by intramuscular fat. Furthermore, down-regulation of lncBNIP3 increased the 5-Ethynyl-2′- deoxyuridine (EdU)-EdU-positive cells. The flow cytometry results showed that the number of cells in the S phase was significantly higher in preadipocytes transfected with si-lncBNIP3 than in the control group (si-NC). Similarly, CCK8 results showed that the number of cells after transfection of si-lncBNIP3 was significantly higher than in the control group. In addition, the mRNA expressions of proliferative marker genes CyclinB1 (CCNB1) and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in the si-lncBNIP3 group were significantly higher than in the control group. The Western Blot (WB) results also showed that the protein expression level of PCNA transfection of si-lncBNIP3 was significantly higher than in the control group. Similarly, the enrichment of lncBNIP3 significantly decreased the EdU-positive cells in the bovine preadipocytes. The results of flow cytometry and CCK8 assay also showed that overexpression of lncBNIP3 inhibited the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes. In addition, the overexpression of lncBNIP3 significantly inhibited the mRNA expressions of CCNB1 and PCNA. The WB results showed that the overexpression of lncBNIP3 significantly inhibited the expression of the CCNB1 protein level. To further explore the mechanism of lncBNIP3 on the proliferation of intramuscular preadipocytes, RNA-seq was performed after interference with si-lncBNIP3, and 660 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, including 417 up-regulated DEGs and 243 down-regulated DEGs. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the cell cycle was the most significant pathway for the functional enrichment of DEGs, followed by the DNA replication pathway. The RT-qPCR quantified the expression of twenty DEGs in the cell cycle. Therefore, we speculated that lncBNIP3 regulated intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation through the cell cycle and DNA replication pathways. To further confirm this hypothesis, the cell cycle inhibitor Ara-C was used to inhibit DNA replication of the S phase in intramuscular preadipocytes. Herein, Ara-C and si-lncBNIP3 were simultaneously added to the preadipocytes, and the CCK8, flow cytometry, and EdU assays were performed. The results showed that the si-lncBNIP3 could rescue the inhibitory effect of Ara-C in the bovine preadipocyte proliferation. In addition, lncBNIP3 could bind to the promoter of cell division control protein 6 (CDC6), and down-regulation of lncBNIP3 promoted the transcription activity and the expression of CDC6. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of lncBNIP3 on cell proliferation might be understood through the cell cycle pathway and CDC6 expression. This study provided a valuable lncRNA with functional roles in intramuscular fat accumulation and revealed new strategies for improving beef quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar transporters play an important role in the cellulase production of lignocellulose-degrading fungi. Nevertheless, the role and function of these transporters are still unclear. Here we first report intracellular sugar transporters assisting cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) using lactose. The mRNA levels of sugar transporter genes mfs, gst, and lac1 were substantially upregulated in T. reesei cultivated on lactose, with the most abundant mRNA levels at 24 h as compared to glucose. Moreover, the individual deletion of these sugar transporters significantly inhibited cellulase production, solid cell growth, and sporulation of T. reesei, suggesting they play a supporting role in cellulase production when grown in lactose. Surprisingly, MFS, GST, and LAC1 were mainly localized in the cytoplasm, with MFS and LAC1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), representing the first discovery of intracellular sugar transporters involved in cellulase biosynthesis in lactose culture. The absence of the gene lac1 noticeably inhibited most of the crucial genes related to cellulase production, including cellulase-encoding genes, transcription factors, and sugar transporters, at 24 h, which was fully relieved at 48 h or 72 h, indicating that lac1 affects cellulase production more at the early step. This research advances the understanding of the function of intracellular sugar transporters in fungi, particularly for fungal cellulase production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to participate in adipogenesis. However, their role in this process, especially in the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, remains to be elucidated. This study was intended to clarify the effect of microRNA-33a (miR-33a) on the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes by cell culture, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), Oil Red staining, BODIPY staining, and Western blotting. The results indicate that overexpression of miR-33a significantly inhibited lipid droplet accumulation and decreased the mRNA and protein expression of adipocyte differentiation marker genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4). In contrast, the interference expression of miR-33a promoted lipid droplet accumulation and increased the expression of marker genes. Additionally, miR-33a directly targeted insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) and regulated the phosphorylation level of serine/threonine kinase (Akt). Furthermore, miR-33a inhibition could rescue defects in the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes and the Akt phosphorylation level caused by small interfering IRS2 (si-IRS2). Collectively, these results indicate that miR-33a could inhibit the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, possibly through the IRS2–Akt pathway. These findings might help develop practical means to improve the quality of beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the process of cellulose hydrolysis, carbohydrate hydrolysates are transported into cells through membrane transporters, and then affect the expression of cellulase-encoding genes. Sugar transporters play a crucial role in cellulase production in lignocellulolytic fungi, of which relatively few have been functionally validated to date and are all reported to be on cell membrane. Result: Through transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR, three putative MFS sugar transporters GST, MFS, and LAC1 were found to display significantly higher mRNA levels in T. reesei grown on cellulose than on glucose. The individual deletion of these three genes compromised cellulase production and delayed sugar absorption by 24 h in T. reesei. Nevertheless, they transported pretty low level of sugars, including galactose, lactose, and mannose, and did not transport glucose, when expressed in yeast system. Meanwhile, all three transporters were unexpectedly found to be intracellular, being located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Particularly, the knockout of lac1 almost abolished cellulase production, and significantly inhibited biomass generation regardless of sugar types, indicating that lac1 is essential for cellulase production and biomass formation. The absence of lac1 upregulated genes involved in ribosome biogenesis, while downregulated genes in cellulase production, protein processing in ER (particularly protein glycosylation), and lipid biosynthesis. The inhibition of lac1 deletion on the transcriptional levels of genes related to cellulase biosynthesis was restored after 72 h, but the cellulase production was still inhibited, indicating lac1 might pose a post-transcription regulation on cellulase production that are independent on the known cellulase regulation mediated by CRT1 and XYR1. Conclusion: For the first time, intracellular sugar transporters (mfs, gst, and lac1) facilitating cellulase production were identified, which was distributed in ER. Their sugar transporting ability was very weak, indicating that they might be related to sugar utilization inside cells rather than the cellular sugar uptake. More importantly, sugar transporter lac1 is first found to be essential for cellulase production and biomass formation by affecting protein processing in ER (particularly protein glycosylation) and lipid biosynthesis. The effect of LAC1 on cellulase production seems to be post-transcriptional at late stage of cellulase production, independent on the well-known cellulase regulation mediated by CRT1 and XYR1. These findings improve the understanding of intracellular sugar transporters in fungi and their important role in cellulase synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring structural variations (SVs) are a considerable source of genomic variation that can reshape the 3D architecture of chromosomes. Controllable methods aimed at introducing the complex SVs and their related molecular mechanisms have remained farfetched. In this study, an SV-prone yeast strain was developed using Synthetic Chromosome Rearrangement and Modification by LoxP-mediated Evolution (SCRaMbLE) technology with two synthetic chromosomes, namely synV and synX. The biosynthesis of astaxanthin is used as a readout and a proof of concept for the application of SVs in industries. Our findings showed that complex SVs, including a pericentric inversion and a trans-chromosome translocation between synV and synX, resulted in two neo-chromosomes and a 2.7-fold yield of astaxanthin. Also, genetic targets were mapped, which resulted in a higher astaxanthin yield, thus demonstrating the SVs' ability to reorganize genetic information along the chromosomes. The rational design of trans-chromosome translocation and pericentric inversion enabled precise induction of these phenomena. Collectively, this study provides an effective tool to not only accelerate the directed genome evolution but also to reveal the mechanistic insight of complex SVs for altering phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR-driven biosensing is developing rapidly, but current studies mostly adopt dye-labeled ssDNA as the signal reporter, which is costly and unstable. Herein, we developed a label-free and low-background reporter for CRISPR/Cas12a signaling by integrating DNA-templated copper nanoclusters (DNA–CuNCs) and exonuclease I (EXO I). The template of the DNA–CuNCs was rationally designed as a ds-/ss-DNA hybrid, ensuring that after a quick and nonpersistent cut of Cas12a, a majority of the template can be digested by EXO I. Based on this novel reporter, a biosensor termed CRISPR-CNS (cost-effective, nimble, and sensitive copper nanocluster sensor integrating CRISPR) was developed. Due to the high signal-to-background ratio of our proposed reporter, CRISPR-CNS shows excellent performances for nucleic acid detection, yielding a detection limit of 20 copies for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Considering its facile synthesis, robust fluorescence, effective cost, and good sensitivity, this combination shall serve as a highly potential output for CRISPR-based point-of-care testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the harsh environments, such as marine and underground mine, corrosion is a critical problem for causing the disasters to the materials. Seeking effective coating for counteracting the corrosion is of high significance to elongate the service life of the materials. Mimicking natural plants affords a good anticorrosion strategy for resisting both abiotic and microbiologically induced corrosion. By using a rapid and facile electrodeposition route, the lotus leaf bioinspired air-infused superhydrophobic (SHP) coating is fabricated onto Cu surface in this study. Further, the intrinsic hydrophobic coal powder and the oil are used as the composite fluid to construct into the SHP matrix to replace the air. In the abiotic seawater and salt spray environment, the as-formed compositing fluid-infused surface (CFIS) performs much better corrosion inhibition than SHP and the ordinary liquid-infused coating inspired by pitcher plant. When CFIS is incubated in the harsh sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) suspension, it exhibits good anti-adhesion effect to prohibit the attachment of the bio-organisms with density of 3.95 × 108 cells/cm2, which is far less than bare Cu with 8.31 × 1010 cells/cm2 for same period immersion. Moreover, the biofouling inhibition further provides the advantage to alleviate the corrosion from SRB with the impedance of CFIS Cu being 26.0 times to bare Cu after immersion for 204 h, indicating that CFIS performs prominent corrosion inhibition to underneath Cu metal. Compositing fluid infused surface performs an exceptional barrier to prohibit biofouling and biocorrosion for copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys, which have good mechanical properties and damping capacities, are considered as potential candidate materials in the industrial field. Nevertheless, fast corrosion is the main obstacle that seriously hinders its wide applications. Surface modification is an available method to avoid the contact between corrosive media and Mg substrates, thus extending the service life of Mg-based materials. Generally, manufacturing a dense and stable coating as physical barriers can effectively inhibit the corrosion of Mg substrates; however, in some complex service environments, physical barrier coating only may not satisfy the long-term service of Mg alloys. In this case, it is very important to endow the coating with suitable functional characteristics, such as superhydrophobic and self-healing properties. In this review, the various surface treatments reported are presented first, followed by the methods employed for developing superhydrophobic surfaces with micro/nanostructuring, and an overview of the various advanced self-healing coatings, devolved on Mg alloys in the past decade, is further summarized. The corresponding preparation strategies and protection mechanisms of functional coatings are further discussed. A potential research direction is also briefly proposed to help guide functional strategies and inspire further innovations. It is hoped that the summary of this paper will be helpful to the surface modification of Mg alloys and promote the further development of this emerging research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an silver (Ag) plating with micro/nano-dendrite structures is prepared on the 304 stainless steel (SS304) surface by potentiostatic deposition (Ag/SS304). After being modified by n-dodecyl mercaptan (NDM) with the low surface energy, the obtained sample (NDM@Ag/SS304) exhibits stable superhydrophobicity and excellent hot-water repellency. The surface morphology and composition of NDM@Ag/SS304 are analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) characterization. The electrochemical measurements, tests of water contact angle (WCA), and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) are employed to systematically study the performance of the NDM@Ag/SS304 in the simulated cathode environment of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The results show that the NDM@Ag/SS304 has high corrosion potential (~0.25 V) and low corrosion current density (~4.04 μA/cm2); after potentiostatic polarization (0.6 V, 5 h), the NDM@Ag/SS304 also shows high superhydrophobic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a flower‐like molybdenum disulfide material was prepared by hydrothermal method and was first used as adsorbents in the solid‐phase extraction process for enriching N‐nitrosoamines. Molybdenum disulfide exhibited three‐dimensional petal‐like microspheres with about 500 nm in diameter. The relevant analyte extraction and elution parameters (sample volumes, solution pH, washing solvents, elution solvents, and elution volumes) were optimized to improve the solid‐phase extraction efficiency. The solid‐phase extraction process coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry for determining N‐nitrosoamines in environmental water samples was established. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.01–0.05 ng/mL. The satisfactory recoveries (68.9–106.1%) were obtained at three different spiked concentrations (2, 5, and 8 ng/mL) in water samples, and the relative standard deviations were between 1.96 and 8.38%. This proposed method not only showed high sensitivity and good reusability but also provided a new adsorbent for enriching trace N‐nitrosoamines in environmental water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) biodegradation is regarded as an environmentally friendly degradation method. In this study, an artificial microbial consortium composed of Rhodococcus jostii , Pseudomonas putida and two metabolically engineered Bacillus subtilis was constructed to degrade PET. First, a two-species microbial consortium was constructed with two engineered B. subtilis that could secrete PET hydrolase (PETase) and monohydroxyethyl terephthalate hydrolase (MHETase), respectively; it could degrade 13.6% (weight loss) of the PET film within 7 days. A three-species microbial consortium was further obtained by adding R. jostii to reduce the inhibition caused by terephthalic acid (TPA), a breakdown product of PET. The weight of PET film was reduced by 31.2% within 3 days, achieving about 17.6% improvement compared with the two-species microbial consortium. Finally, P. putida was introduced to reduce the inhibition caused by ethylene glycol (EG), another breakdown product of PET, obtaining a four-species microbial consortium. With the four-species consortium, the weight loss of PET film reached 23.2% under ambient temperature. This study constructed and evaluated the artificial microbial consortia in PET degradation, which demonstrated the great potential of artificial microbial consortia in the utilization of complex substrates, providing new insights for biodegradation of complex polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family with sequence similarity 13 member A (FAM13A) gene has been discovered in recent years and is related to metabolism. In this study, the function of FAM13A in precursor adipocyte proliferation in Qinchuan cattle was investigated using fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining, and other tests. FAM13A promoted precursor adipocyte proliferation. To determine the pathway FAM13A was involved in, transcriptome sequencing, fluorescence quantitative PCR, western blotting, and other tests were used, which identified the hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signalling pathway. Finally, cobalt chloride, a chemical mimic of hypoxia, was used to treat precursor adipocytes. mRNA and protein levels of FAM13A were significantly increased after hypoxia. Thus, FAM13A promoted bovine precursor adipocyte proliferation by inhibiting the HIF-1 signalling pathway, whereas chemically induced hypoxia negatively regulated FAM13A expression, regulating cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preadipocyte proliferation is a critical and precisely orchestrated procedure in adipogenesis, which is highly regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). A previous study identified that the expression of miR-33a is different in intramuscular fat (IMF) tissues from steers and bulls. In the present study, miR-33a was overexpressed in bovine preadipocytes, and a total of 781 differentialy expressed genes were found, including 348 upregulated and 433 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of the differentially expressed genes enriched cell division and cell cycle respectively. MiR-33a overexpression decreased the rate of preadipocyte proliferation. Synchronously, the mRNA and protein expression levels of proliferation-related marker genes, including cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), were decreased. In contrast, inhibiting miR-33a increased the rate of preadipocyte proliferation, and expression levels of CCNB1 and PCNA. Furthermore, based on luciferase reporter assays, miR-33a targeted directly cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6)-3ʹUTR and inhibited CDK6 protein expression. Interestingly, the silencing of CDK6 inhibited bovine preadipocyte proliferation and proliferation-related genes. Therefore, miR-33a inhibits the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes. CDK6 is the target gene of miR-33a and may be involved in the effects of miR-33a on bovine preadipocyte proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid, a metabolic by-product of host and intestinal microbiota, has been recovered as an active signal molecule in the immune system. In this study, a lactic acid biosynthesis pathway that directly produces lactic acid from glucose rather than ethanol with high production was reconstructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The engineered S. cerevisiae showed anti-inflammatory activity in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice with improved histological damage, increased mucosal barrier, and decreased intestinal immune response. Lactic acid regulated the macrophage polarization state and inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo and in vitro. Increasing the macrophage monocarboxylic acid transporter-mediated active lactic acid uptake suppressed the excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the downstream caspase-1 pathway in macrophages. Moreover, lactic acid promoted histone H3K9 acetylation and histone H3K18 lactylation. Meanwhile, the engineered S. cerevisiae altered the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota and changed the abundance of metabolic products in mice with colitis. In conclusion, this study shows that the application of engineered S. cerevisiae attenuated DSS-induced colitis in mice via suppressing macrophage pyroptosis and modulating the intestinal microbiota, which is an effective and safe treatment strategy for ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrobenzene compounds are highly toxic pollutants with good stability, and they have a major negative impact on both human health and the ecological environment. Herein, it was found for the first time that fluorescent DNA-silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) can catalyze the reduction of toxic and harmful nitro compounds into less toxic amino compounds with excellent tolerance to high temperature and organic solvents. In this study, the reduction of p-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a model was systematically investigated, followed by expending the substrate to disclose the versatility of this reaction. This report not only expanded the conditions for utilizing catalytic reduction conditions of DNA-AgNCs as an efficient catalyst in the control of hazardous chemicals but also widened the substrate range of DNA-AgNCs reduction, providing a new angle for the application of noble metal nanoclusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar nucleotides are the principal building blocks for the synthesis of most complex carbohydrates and are crucial intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism. Uridine diphosphate (UDP) monosaccharides are among the most common sugar nucleotide donors and are transferred to glycosyl acceptors by glycosyltransferases or synthases in glycan biosynthetic pathways. These natural nucleotide donors have great biological importance, however, the synthesis and application of unnatural sugar nucleotides that are not available from in vivo biosynthesis are not well explored. In this review, we summarize the progress in the preparation of unnatural sugar nucleotides, in particular, the widely studied UDP-GlcNAc/GalNAc analogs. We focus on the "two-block" synthetic pathway that is initiated from monosaccharides, in which the first block is the synthesis of sugar-1-phosphate and the second block is the diphosphate bond formation. The biotechnological applications of these unnatural sugar nucleotides showing their physiological and pharmacological potential are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heparin has a variety of pharmacological uses, including applications for anti-tumor metastasis, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities and is widely used as a clinical anticoagulant. Due to its widespread applications in the clinical procedures, monitoring heparin levels is critically important to ensure the safe use of heparin and to prevent overdose and complications, such as hemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. However, traditional heparin detection relies on the measurements of the activated clotting time or activated partial thromboplastin time, which are not sufficiently reliable or accurate measurements for certain clinical settings. In this work, we describe a dumbbell probe-aided strategy for ultrasensitive and isothermal detection of heparin based on a uniquely strong protamine–heparin interaction and rolling circle amplification driven signal amplification. The detection limit for heparin is 12.5 ng mL−1 (0.83 nM), which is much lower than the therapeutic level of heparin in cardiovascular surgery (17–67 μM) and in postoperative and long-term treatment (1.7–10 μM). Additionally, the proposed sensing platform works well for heparin monitoring in human plasma samples. This simple and ultrasensitive heparin biosensor has potential application in diagnostics, therapeutics, and in biological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D-Glucuronyl C5-epimerase (C5-epi), which converts D-glucuronic acid to L-iduronic acid, is a crucial enzyme in the preparation of bioengineered heparin, which provides an alternative way to produce safer heparins. Herein, we provided an efficient way to measure the activity of cyanogen bromide-immobilized C5-epi based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of perdeutero N-sulfoheparosan C5-epimerization. In this method, reactions catalyzed by C5-epi could be monitored by real-time 1 D NMR according to the peak intensity change of H-5 from IdoA and GlcA residues in the 1H NMR spectrum, which is nondestructive of sample and also serves the kinetic property evaluation of immobilized C5-epi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplexed sequencing relies on specific sample labels, the barcodes, to tag DNA fragments belonging to different samples and to separate the output of the sequencers. However, the barcodes are often corrupted by insertion, deletion and substitution errors introduced during sequencing, which may lead to sample misassignment. In this paper, we propose a barcode construction method, which combines a block error-correction code with a predetermined pseudorandom sequence to generate a base sequence for labeling different samples. Furthermore, to identify the corrupted barcodes for assigning reads to their respective samples, we present a soft decision identification method that consists of inner decoding and outer decoding. The inner decoder establishes the hidden Markov model (HMM) for base insertion/deletion estimation with the pseudorandom sequence, and adapts the forward-backward (FB) algorithm to output the soft information of each bit in the block code. The outer decoder performs soft decision decoding using the soft information to effectively correct multiple errors in the barcodes. Simulation results show that the proposed methods are highly robust to high error rates of insertions, deletions and substitutions in the barcodes. In addition, compared with the inner decoding algorithm of the barcodes based on watermarks, the proposed inner decoding algorithm can greatly reduce the decoding complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor for Pb2+ with a dual-amplification strategy is proposed. The first amplification step was realized by the cycle of Pb2+ and 8–17 DNAzyme (S2), and the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) triggered by S1 further amplified the electrochemical signal. Fe3O4@Au NPs, as a multifunctional magnetic carrier, is not only manifested in the construction of a magnetically controlled electrochemical response interface, but also has significant contribution in the purifying system, reducing interference, increasing the specific surface area, and the DNA loading. The magnetic nanocomposites were characterized by TEM as spheres with particle size of around 39 nm. When there was no Pb2+, long double-strand DNA (dsDNA) is formed on the surface of Fe3O4@Au NPs by the S1-triggered HCR; in the presence of Pb2+, S2 is activated and S1 on the surface of magnetic biocomposites (Fe3O4@Au NPs-S1) is continuously cleaved with the cycle of Pb2+ and S2, leading to a significant decrease of methylene blue (MB) absorbed on dsDNA. Such reverse dual-signal amplification strategy effectively increased the current difference and improved the sensitivity of the proposed sensor. The electrochemical signal of MB was obtained by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with preconcentration, showing a linear response toward Pb2+ ranging from 50 pM to 1 μM with a detection limit of 15 pM. The proposed method has feasible applications in detecting other heavy metal ions based on other metal-dependent DNAzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids possess diverse bioactivity and potential medicinal values. Glycosylation of flavonoids, coupling flavonoid aglycones and glycosyl groups in conjugated form, can change the biological activity of flavonoids, increase water solubility, reduce toxic and side effects, and improve specific targeting. Therefore, it is desirable to synthesize various flavonoid glycosides for further investigation on their medicinal values. Compared with chemical glycosylations, biotransformations catalyzed by uridine diphospho-glycosyltransferases provide an environmentally friendly way to construct glycosidic bonds without repetitive chemical synthetic steps of protection, activation, coupling, and deprotection. In this review, we will summarize the existing knowledge on the biotechnological glycosylation reactions either in vitro or in vivo for the synthesis of flavonoid O- and C-glycosides and other rare analogs. Key points • Flavonoid glycosides usually show improved properties compared with their flavonoid aglycones. • Chemical glycosylation requires repetitive synthetic steps and purifications. • Biotechnological glycosylation reactions either in vitro or in vivo were discussed. • Provides representative synthetic examples in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese biochemical engineering is committed to supporting the chemical and food industries, to advance science and technology frontiers, and to meet major demands of Chinese society and national economic development. This paper reviews the development of biochemical engineering, strategic deployment of these technologies by the government, industrial demand, research progress, and breakthroughs in key technologies in China. Furthermore, the outlook for future developments in biochemical engineering in China is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal pretreatment with characteristic of green chemistry is considered as promising technology in the biorefineries. Using material balance and multiscale characterization techniques, the effects of process severity factor and pH on chemical behaviors of lignin‐carbohydrate complex (LCC) were systematically studied. During pretreatment, spatial relocation of lignin with covalently linked xylan facilitated local cell wall collapse. A kinetic model was established to describe the behaviors of LCC components changing with severity factor. It was found that cleavage of LCC linkage was strongly pH‐dependent. Low pH dominated cleavage of coumarate/ferulate esters which cross‐linking lignin with xylan and repolymerization of aromatics either from furfural or lignin into polymers such as pseudo lignin, while high pH which allowed the existence of soluble LCC dominated the aldol condensations from xylose to aromatics and depolymerizaton of lignin to phenols. Detailed reaction pathways concerned with LCC were finally established to elucidate the underlying mechanism. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 1938–1953, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influences of both ultrastructural modification of cellulose after hydrothermal pretreatment and products derived from lignin‐carbohydrate complex (LCC) on the subsequent enzymatic digestibility and fermentation were studied in this study. Under hydrothermal conditions, it was found that the rearrangement of hydrogen bonding pattern in cellulose via allomorph and conformational changes which was mainly severity‐dependent increased the numbers of water‐exposed glycosidic bond and the formation of “amorphous‐like” cellulose fibril facilitated enzymatic hydrolysis. Pseudo lignin, soluble xylo‐oligomers, phenols and degradation products from high severity impeded enzymatic digestion. LCC and phenols which were rich in pH‐controlled prehydrolyzate did not sufficiently inhibit yeast while furans and some aromatics which were rich in high‐severity prehydrolyzate might be potential inhibitors. Trade‐off phenomenon was solved by pH‐controlled operation and high yields in both glucose (83–93%) and xylose (75–80%) were simultaneously obtained. The final ethanol yield from cellulose to ethanol reached as high as 84–93%. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 1954–1964, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of root pruning (RP) and nitrogen fertilization (NF) alone or in combination (RP-NF) on growth properties of 3-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domesticaBorkh.) trees. The results of pot experiments showed that the trees were sensitive to RP and NF alone or in combination in terms of root architecture, leaf photosynthesis, and canopy growth. Compared with the control, NF and RP-NF increased root length density and tips, while RP and RP-NF decreased root surface area and volume. RP alone reduced coarse root length (2.0–4.0 and >4.0 mm diameter), while RP-NF simultaneously increased fine root length (≤1.0 mm diameter) and reduced coarse root length. Moreover, RP increased leaf chlorophyll content and transpiration rate, while RP-NF increased net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency. RP-NF resulted in no differences in dry matter weight, root-shoot ratio, or leaf area compared with the control. Inhibiting vegetative growth by RP-NF provided an effective way to improve water use efficiency of young apple trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel turn-on fluorescence aptasensor has been designed for adenosine detection based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from single-stranded DNA labeled carbon dots (ssDNA-CDs) to aptamer modified gold nanoparticles (aptamer-AuNPs). In the absence of adenosine, the fluorescence of ssDNA-CDs was quenched by aptamer-AuNPs via the formation of an aptamer–ssDNA duplex. The introduced adenosine competed to displace ssDNA-CDs by specifically binding to the aptamer, resulting in the recovery of the quenched fluorescence of ssDNA-CDs. Under optimized conditions, the increase in fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of adenosine with a linear range of 10–500 nM and allowed a limit of detection as low as 4.2 nM. In addition, this method was successfully applied to adenosine determination in human serum samples with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were green and sustainable bio-electrochemical reactors for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity harvest from organic wastes. However, exoelectrogens, such as Shewanella and Geobacter being widely studied in MFCs, could only use a limited spectrum of carbon sources. To expand the carbon source range being used in MFCs, we herein rationally designed a glucose-fed fungus-bacteria microbial consortium including a fermenter (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in which the ethanol pathway was knocked out and the lactic acid biosynthesis pathway from Bovin was introduced into S. cerevisiae, and an exoelectrogen (Shewanella oneidensis MR-1). We optimized the co-culturing conditions of the microbial consortium to achieve an optimal coordination between carbon source metabolism of the fermenter and extracellular electron transfer of the exoelectrogen, such that lactate, the metabolic product of glucose by the recombinant S. cerevisiae, was continuously supplied to S. oneidensis in a constant level until glucose exhaustion. This metabolic coordination between the fermenter and the exoelectrogen enabled bioelectricity production in a glucose-fed MFC. Furthermore, a porin protein encoded by oprF gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was incorporated into the outer membrane of S. oneidensis to enhance membrane permeability and its hydrophobicity, which in turn facilitated its biofilm formation and power generation. The glucose-fed MFC inoculated with the recombinant S. cerevisiae-recombinant S. oneidensis generated a maximum power density of 123.4 mW/m2, significantly higher than that of recombinant S. cerevisiae-wild-type S. oneidensis (71.5 mW/m2). Our design strategy of synthetic microbial consortia was highly scalable to empower the possibility of a wide range of carbon sources being used in MFCs, e.g., xylose, cellulosic biomass, and recalcitrant wastes. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1830-1838, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylose utilization is one of the key issues in lignocellulose bioconversion. Because of glucose repression, in most engineered yeast with heterogeneous xylose metabolic pathway, xylose is not consumed until glucose is completely utilized. Although simultaneous glucose and xylose utilization have been achieved in yeast by RPE1 deletion, we regulated ZWF1 and PGI1 transcription to improve simultaneous xylose and glucose utilization by controlling the metabolic flux from glucose into the PP pathway. Xylose and glucose consumption increased by approximately 80 and 72%, respectively, whereas ZWF1 was overexpressed by multi-copy plasmids with a strong transcriptional promoter. PGI1 expression was knocked down by promoter replacement; the glucose and xylose metabolism increased when PGI1p was replaced by weak promoters, SSA1p and PDA1p. ZWF1 overexpression decreased while PGI1 down-regulation increased the ethanol yield to some extent in the recombinant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic engineering of heterologous resveratrol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae faces challenges as the precursor l-tyrosine is stringently regulated by a complex biosynthetic system. We overexpressed the main gene targets in the upstream pathways to investigate their influences on the downstream resveratrol production. Single-gene overexpression and DNA assembly-directed multigene overexpression affect the production of resveratrol as well as its precursor p-coumaric acid. Finally, the collaboration of selected gene targets leads to an optimal resveratrol production of 66.14±3.74 mg·L, 2.27 times higher than the initial production in YPD medium (4% glucose). The newly discovered gene targets TRP1 expressing phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase, ARO3 expressing 3-deoxy- d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase, and 4CL expressing 4-coumaryl-CoA ligase show notable positive impacts on resveratrol production in S. cerevisiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple ring rot inflicts severe economic losses in the main apple producing areas of East Asia. The causal agent of the disease has been variously identified as Macrophoma kuwatsukai, Physalospora piricola and Botryosphaeria berengeriana f. sp. piricola, although B. dothidea is currently the most widely accepted pathogen name. The taxonomic uncertainty has delayed research that is needed to manage effectively this destructive disease. In the present study, genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) was applied to pathogenic fungal isolates from apple and pear from several locations in China, along with several reference isolates. Phylogenetic results based on sequences of four nuclear loci (ITS, EF-1α, HIS and HSP) revealed the existence of two species within the examined isolates. One includes an ex-epitype isolate of B. dothidea and the other includes an isolate that was previously designated as B. berengeriana f. sp. piricola. Morphologically, the latter taxon presented an appressed mycelial mat on PDA whereas B. dothidea displayed columns of aerial mycelia reaching the lids, and conidia of the latter species were longer than B. dothidea. Botryosphaeria dothidea had a faster growth rate than the latter taxon under relatively high temperatures. Pathogenicity tests showed that on pear stems the latter taxon caused large-scale cankers along with blisters whereas B. dothidea was non-pathogenic, but on apple shoots the two fungi induced large and small wart-like prominences, respectively. Overall, this cryptic species demonstrated sufficient genetic variations and biological differences from B. dothidea. As a result of taxonomic study, we described here the latter taxon in a new combination, Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai and designate an epitype . Both B. kuwatsukai and B. dothidea are considered to be the main causal agents for apple ring rot in China and Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a common contaminant in the groundwater. The mechanism and pathway of PCE dechlorination by zero-valent iron (Fe) in the presence of Cu (Fe-Cu), alone or with powdered activated carbon () were studied. The experimental results have demonstrated that (1) produced higher PCE removal efficiency than adsorption by C or dechlorination by Fe or Fe-Cu due to adsorption and the synergetic effects of Fe-Cu and Fe-C microelectrodes, (2) the batch PCE dechlorination was most rapid at the neutral pH, (3) dechlorination resulted in smaller and more porous Fe particles, and (4) PCE was sequentially dechlorinated to form trichloroethylene, dichloroethylenes (cis, 1,1, and trans isomers), methylene chloride, and vinyl chloride. dechlorination is an attractive technology for the remediation of PCE-contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorinated solvents are the most prevalent organic contaminants in groundwater because of their extensive and widespread use as cleaning agents and metal degreasers, and they have become a significant threat to groundwater supplies. Groundwater contamination by chlorinated solvents has proven difficult and costly to remedy because of the physicochemical properties of the solvents. This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of treating contaminated groundwater containing chlorinated solvents using air stripping, advanced oxidation, and activated carbon adsorption processes. The results showed that the stripping instrument could effectively transfer chlorinated solvents into the gas phase within several minutes at an airflow rate of and a temperature of 298 K. The residual chlorinated solvents were further oxidized into harmless by-products by the subsequent process, and the off-gas generated from the previously-mentioned processes were collected and absorbed by four types of activated carbon [i.e., Shanghai coconut, Shanghai fruit, Taixi coal () and Taixi ZJ-15 (cylinder)]. Shanghai coconut exhibited the greatest adsorption capacity, at . Two types of contaminated groundwater containing chlorinated solvents from contaminated sites were successfully treated by the coupled process at bench scale with the effluent concentrations of chlorinated solvents complying with the target values standard for groundwater regulated by the Dutch Ministry of Public Housing. Overall, the study found that the proposed coupled process is a viable method for efficiently and effectively remediating shallow contaminated groundwater containing chlorinated solvents in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total nitrogen (N) concentration (N%), N derived from 15N-fertilizer (Ndff%), amount of 15N uptake (ANU) in main organs (leaves, shoots, roots, fruits), and N use efficiency (NUE) were measured to assess N absorption, distribution, and utilization of Red Fuji apple trees across two years using a 15N-enriched urea method. The N% in leaves and fruits decreased while those in shoots and roots increased in both years. The Ndff% and ANU in roots were highest at fruitlet stage than those in leaves, shoots and fruits at mature stages. This suggested that the absorbed 15N by roots was redistributed to new organs. The N% was lower while Ndff% and ANU were greater in 2008 than 2007. The most 15N absorbed was accumulated in the trunks, main and coarse roots and smaller in the fine roots and biennial branches. The NUE in 2007 and 2008 reached 9.9% and 12.2% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe a versatile aptasensing scheme based on the use of polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPyNPs) and DNA-silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) for multiple target detection. The DNA-AgNCs consist of two functional domains, viz. (a) a nucleation domain for attaching the metal core of the nanoclusters, and (b) a recognition domain which consists of a single-stranded aptamer. In the absence of analytes, the single-strand recognition domain will be absorbed onto the surface of the PPyNPs through π stacking and hydrophobic interactions. As a result, the red fluorescence of the DNA-AgNCs (with excitation/emission peaks at 535/625 nm) is quenched by the PPyNPs. On introducing the analytes, the DNA-AgNCs will bind them. This leads to the desorption of DNA-AgNCs and the recovery of the red fluorescence. Based on the above strategy, a versatile, sensitive and selective aptasensor was established for detection of adenosine, thrombin and interferon-gamma. The method was applied to the detection of the above targets in (spiked) serum samples and gave satisfactory results, with detection limit of 0.58 nM for IFN-γ, 0.39 nM for adenosine, and 2.2 nM for thrombin. The use of PPyNPs results in uniquely low non-specific absorption and in improved analytical results in case of real-sample analysis when compared to previously reported methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorometric ATP assay is described that makes use of carbon dots and graphene oxide along with toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction. In the absence of target, the fluorescence of carbon dots (with excitation/emission maxima at 360/447 nm) is strong and in the “on” state, because the signal probe hybridizes with the aptamer strand and cannot combine with graphene oxide. In the presence of ATP, it will bind to the aptamer and induce a strand displacement reaction. Consequently, the signal probe is released, the sensing strategy will change into the “off” state with the addition of graphene oxide. This aptasensor exhibits selective and sensitive response to ATP and has a 3.3 nM detection limit.Schematic of signal amplification by strand displacement in a carbon dot based fluorometric assay for ATP. This strategy exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity with a detection limit as low as 3.3 nM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]