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Vicinal oxygen chelate (VOC) proteins are members of an enzyme superfamily with dioxygenase or non‐dioxygenase activities. However, the biological functions of VOC proteins in plants are poorly understood. Here, we show that a VOC in Nicotiana benthamiana (NbVOC1) facilitates viral infection. NbVOC1 was significantly induced by infection by beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). Transient overexpression of NbVOC1 or its homolog from Beta vulgaris (BvVOC1) enhanced BNYVV infection in N. benthamiana, which required the nuclear localization of VOC1. Consistent with this result, overexpressing NbVOC1 facilitated BNYVV infection, whereas, knockdown and knockout of NbVOC1 inhibited BNYVV infection in transgenic N. benthamiana plants. NbVOC1 interacts with the basic leucine zipper transcription factors bZIP17/28, which enhances their self‐interaction and DNA binding to the promoters of unfolded protein response (UPR)‐related genes. We propose that bZIP17/28 directly binds to the NbVOC1 promoter and induces its transcription, forming a positive feedback loop to induce the UPR and facilitating BNYVV infection. Collectively, our results demonstrate that NbVOC1 positively regulates the UPR that enhances viral infection in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting offers an advancing approach to producing highly pure hydrogen and oxygen, motivated by the prevalence of a low‐carbon economy and the goal of a sustainable future. The customized modulation of electronic structures enables the electrocatalyst to directionally promote hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which is a promising shortcut to overall water splitting (OWS). Herein, 3D homologous WSeS/CoSeS heterojunction nanoarrays (WSeS/CoSeS NAs) and W‐doped CoSeS nanoarrays (W‐CoSeS NAs) are investigated. Abundant heterointerfaces within WSeS/CoSeS NAs facilitate HER kinetics, boosting mass diffusivity, and increasing carrier separation and transfer process. High‐valence W6+ doping into CoSeS prevents phase separation and stabilizes Co sites by charge offset effect, leading to enhanced OER. Consequently, the WSeS/CoSeS NAs and W‐CoSeS NAs reach 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 43.8 and 233.3 mV in 1.0 m KOH electrolyte for HER and OER, respectively. Moreover, when asymmetrically engaged as an electrolyzer, this configuration exhibits extraordinary electrocatalytic performances (cell voltage of 1.51 V at 10 mA cm−2) with satisfying stability and mechanical robustness (over 1000 h at 1000 mA cm−2). The modulation and manufacture of reaction‐property‐oriented materials are experimentally and theoretically validated potential, illuminating the light of inspiration for multiple applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non‐precious metal‐based catalyst for water electrolysis provides great promise for cost‐effective and highly efficient sustainable hydrogen production. It herein rationally synthesizes uniform superminiature CoNi nanoparticles (2.6 nm) embedded in 3D N‐doped randomly oriented and erected porous carbon nanosheets (CoNi@N‐PCNS). Taking advantage of the large specific surface area, expedited intermediate transport, and effectively exposed active sites of the hierarchical architecture, located CoNi nanoparticles yield a high atom utilization efficiency. Density functional theory calculations indicate that synergetic and cooperative interactions inside CoNi alloy modulate the d‐band center, leading to a moderate adsorption and desorption energy of reaction intermediates, further accelerating both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. Accordingly, the as‐synthesized CoNi@N‐PCNS catalyst establishes superb catalytic activities for HER and OER, revealing overpotentials of 71.2 and 263.8 mV at 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Remarkably, when assembled as a two‐electrode electrolyzer, a satisfying cell voltage of 1.59 V at 10 mA cm−2, and superior stability are demonstrated, highlighting great promise toward water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]