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In the extant lifeforms, the self‐sustaining behaviors refer to various well‐organized biochemical reactions in spatial confinement, which rely on compartmentalization to integrate and coordinate the molecularly crowded intracellular environment and complicated reaction networks in living/synthetic cells. Therefore, the biological phenomenon of compartmentalization has become an essential theme in the field of synthetic cell engineering. Recent progress in the state‐of‐the‐art of synthetic cells has indicated that multi‐compartmentalized synthetic cells should be developed to obtain more advanced structures and functions. Herein, two ways of developing multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems, namely interior compartmentalization of synthetic cells (organelles) and integration of synthetic cell communities (synthetic tissues), are summarized. Examples are provided for different construction strategies employed in the above‐mentioned engineering ways, including spontaneous compartmentalization in vesicles, host–guest nesting, phase separation mediated multiphase, adhesion‐mediated assembly, programmed arrays, and 3D printing. Apart from exhibiting advanced structures and functions, synthetic cells are also applied as biomimetic materials. Finally, key challenges and future directions regarding the development of multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems are summarized; these are expected to lay the foundation for the creation of a "living" synthetic cell as well as provide a larger platform for developing new biomimetic materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Brassica rapa comprises many important cultivated vegetables and oil crops. However, Chiifu v3.0, the current B. rapa reference genome, still contains hundreds of gaps. Here, we presented a near‐complete genome assembly of B. rapa Chiifu v4.0, which was 424.59 Mb with only two gaps, using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) ultralong‐read sequencing and Hi‐C technologies. The new assembly contains 12 contigs, with a contig N50 of 38.26 Mb. Eight of the ten chromosomes were entirely reconstructed in a single contig from telomere to telomere. We found that the centromeres were mainly invaded by ALE and CRM long terminal repeats (LTRs). Moreover, there is a high divergence of centromere length and sequence among B. rapa genomes. We further found that centromeres are enriched for Copia invaded at 0.14 MYA on average, while pericentromeres are enriched for Gypsy LTRs invaded at 0.51 MYA on average. These results indicated the different invasion mechanisms of LTRs between the two structures. In addition, a novel repetitive sequence PCR630 was identified in the pericentromeres of B. rapa. Overall, the near‐complete genome assembly, B. rapa Chiifu v4.0, offers valuable tools for genomic and genetic studies of Brassica species and provides new insights into the evolution of centromeres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its unique and attractive characteristics, the induction motor (IM) has been widely used for years. How to design an IM with desired characteristics and how to realise high performance control for a given IM, these have always been hot research topics to many researchers. No matter what control technology is used to achieve high‐performance drive of IM, it depends on in‐depth understanding of motor parametric characteristics and their accurate acquisition. An effective determination method is proposed to improve the parameter accuracies of the equivalent circuit for induction motors by combining non‐rotor test with dual‐load test and using this method to measure and analyse the parametric characteristics of IM. Experimental validations are carried out on two induction motors with open‐slot rotor and closed‐slot rotor, respectively. Compared with the traditional methods, the proposed method has higher accuracy and can be an effective tool for design, control, and testing research of IM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In its applications, the starting performance of a 3‐phase induction motor (IM) is very important. The starting torque of the motor should be as high as possible within the safe current range of the motor driver. In the study, the optimal frequency for motor starting is derived from the frequency characteristic of the IM. Through the analysis of the characteristics, the optimal frequency point can be found, which is able to generate the maximum torque per unit drive current. Both theoretical analysis and experiments show that the IM with the optimal starting frequency can generate the maximum torque for a given current. The traditional methods, such as soft‐start, can reduce the starting current, but at the expense of lowering starting torque. This starting technology can solve the problem caused by traditional methods, improve the starting performance of the motor system significantly, and lower the requirement for the current redundancy of the motor driver effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: Inspired by the intricate eukaryotic cell structure, the spontaneously assembling multicompartments capable of spatiotemporally regulated biomacromolecules transportation is still a challenge. Here, a heterogeneous proteinosome‐based multicompartment was designed and constructed by combining aqueous two‐phase system and Pickering emulsion methods. By loading PEGylated insulin with boronic acid group into the multicompartment and glucose oxidase (GOx) into the innermost microgel domain, a short‐ or long‐term transportation pathway of the loaded insulin was constructed by responding to the concentration of glucose. Moreover, the diminution of dynamic boronic ester bonding, the hindrance of polyethylene oxide micro‐chamber, electrostatic interaction and the swelling behavior of hydrogel triggered by GOx/glucose reaction resulted in spatiotemporally controlled multi‐pathway transportation mode with the releasing of insulin loaded inside the innermost microgel at high concentration of glucose (10 mg·mL–1). Specially, by incorporating rhodamine B and fluorescein labelled BSA into the multicompartment, the release procedure of the loaded insulin can be monitored by the fluorescence color‐change. Overall, a multimode microcompartment is constructed which is then expected to provide a promising platform for further therapeutic protein, gene and drug delivery, as well as towards the design of complicated cell biomimetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endotoxemia in sepsis remains a problem due to a lack of effective strategies. Our previous studies have demonstrated that melatonin (Mel) protects against ischemic heart injury and arteriosclerosis. However, its role in endotoxemia-exposed cardiomyocytes remains poorly understood. This study explored, for the first time, the protective effect of Mel on the pyroptosis of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results showed that treatment with 1 μM or 10 μM Mel for 12 h significantly improved 1 μg/ml LPS-induced hiPSC-CM injuries, as reflected by drastically decreased LDH release and increased cell viability, which was accompanied by the overt induction of autophagy. Specifically, Mel profoundly alleviated LPS-induced cell pyroptosis, as evidenced by decreased propidium iodide (PI) and active caspase-1 double-positive cell rates; suppressed the expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 (activated form of caspase-1), and GSDMD-NT (functional N-terminal fragment of GSDMD) expression; and inhibited the production of the cleaved IL-1β and cleaved IL-18 cytokines. Additionally, double-membrane autophagosomes were observed in LPS-injured hiPSC-CMs treated with 1 μM or 10 μM Mel. The hiPSC-CMs treated with LPS exhibited considerably fewer acidic vesicles (as revealed by LAMP1 staining) and autophagosomes (as revealed by LC3-II staining); however, Mel reversed this outcome in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, coincubation with rapamycin (an autophagy activator) or 3-MA (an autophagy inhibitor) accentuated and attenuated the antipyroptotic actions of Mel, respectively. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Mel shields hiPSC-CMs against pyroptosis during endotoxemia by activating autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the unique characteristics of living cells, the creation of life‐inspired functional ensembles is a rapidly expanding research topic, enabling transformative applications in various disciplines. Herein, we report a facile method for the fabrication of phospholipid and block copolymer hybrid bi‐microcompartments via spontaneous asymmetric assembly at the water/tributyrin interface, whereby the temperature‐mediated dewetting of the inner microcompartments allowed for exocytosis to occur in the constructed system. The exocytosis location and commencement time could be controlled by the buoyancy of the inner microcompartment and temperature, respectively. Furthermore, the constructed bi‐microcompartments showed excellent biocompatibility and a universal loading capacity toward cargoes of widely ranging sizes; thus, the proliferation and temperature‐programmed transportation of living organisms was achieved. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of complex mesoscale dynamic ensembles with life‐inspired behaviors and provide a novel platform for on‐demand transport of various living organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane‐free coacervate microdroplets are widely utilized as protocell or membrane‐less organelle models in the study of cell physicochemical properties. Dynamic regulation of coacervate microdroplets is of great significance because of the close connection between the formation/dissociation of condensate in vivo and physiology and pathology. Here, we describe light‐responsive coacervate microdroplets prepared from azobenzene cation trans‐azobenzenetrimethylammonium bromide (trans‐azoTAB) and anion succinylated amylose (Su‐Amy), which are formed by hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. The rapid and accurate response of azoTAB to light makes the microdroplets disassemble and reassemble within seconds under UV and within minutes under blue light, which provides a method to regulate the enzymatic reaction rates by the light‐induced assembly‐disassembly‐reassembly of the coacervate microdroplets. Our results show a new type of membrane‐less protocell model that can realize flexible spatiotemporal control and demonstrate a method for dynamically regulating the rate of enzymatic reactions inside the microdroplets, which provides a feasible scheme for exploring the relationship between physiology and disease in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomimetic dynamic behaviours of emulsions are receiving increasing attention from the broad scientific community; however, the spatiotemporal control and functionalization of emulsions based on simple fusion‐induced method is rarely mentioned. A design for protein‐stabilized oil‐in‐water droplets and phospholipid‐stabilized oil‐in‐water droplets is described and a substance‐diffusion‐mediated fusion mechanism proposed within these two different emulsion communities. Significantly, a range of fusion‐induced high‐order behaviours were successfully demonstrated including competitive fusion, fusion‐induced evolution in membrane complexity, and diversified structures with the formation of Janus or various patchy morphologies, fusion‐induced membrane maturation, as well as fusion‐induced multifunctionalization with a directional motility behaviour. These results highlight the fusion‐induced diverse dynamic behaviours in complex emulsions communities and provide a platform for advancing versatile applications of emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between normal thyroid function and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been a particular focus for concern. The present study determined the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in T2DM patients. A cross-sectional study (n = 633) was performed in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Subjects were evaluated for anthropometric measurements, thyroid function, and diabetic retinopathy. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between thyroid hormones and DR. Of 633 patients, 243 (38.4%) patients suffered from DR. The prevalence of DR showed a significantly decreasing trend across the quartiles based on free triiodothyronine (FT3) (FT3 quartile 1 group [FT3-Q1] <4.35 pmol/L, FT3 quartile 2 group [FT3-Q2] 4.35–4.70 pmol/L, FT3 quartile 3 group [FT3-Q3] 4.70–5.08 pmol/L, and FT3 quartile 4 group [FT3-Q4] ≥5.08 pmol/L) (56.7%, 42.5%, 33.1%, 23.8%, P < 0.001). In comparison with all participants categorized in FT3-Q1, the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of DR in FT3-Q2, FT3-Q3, and FT3-Q4 were 0.587 (0.340–1.012), 0.458 (0.258–0.813), and 0.368 (0.201–0.673), (P = 0.055 , P = 0.008 , P = 0.001), respectively. FT3 levels within the normal range are negatively associated with DR in euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes. Further studies should be aimed at clarifying the relationship between thyroid hormones and T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor survival rate of transplanted stem cells in ischemic myocardium has limited their therapeutic efficacy. Curcumin has potent antioxidant property. This study investigates whether prior curcumin treatment protects stem cells from oxidative stress injury and improves myocardial recovery following cells transplantation. Autologous Sprague-Dawley rat adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) were pretreated with or without curcumin. The hydrogen peroxide/serum deprivation (H2O2/SD) medium was used to mimic the ischemic condition in vitro. Cytoprotective effects of curcumin on ADSCs were evaluated. Curcumin pretreatment significantly increased cell viability and VEGF secretion, and decreased cell injury and apoptosis via regulation of PTEN/Akt/p53 and HO-1 signal proteins expression. The therapeutic potential of ADSCs implantation was investigated in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model. Transplantation of curcumin pretreated ADSCs not only resulted in better heart function, higher cells retention, and smaller infarct size, but also decreased myocardial apoptosis, promoted neovascularization, and increased VEGF level in ischemic myocardium. Together, priming of ADSCs with curcumin improved tolerance to oxidative stress injury and resulted in enhancement of their therapeutic potential of ADSCs for myocardial repair. Curcumin pretreatment is a promising adjuvant strategy for stem cells transplantation in myocardial restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: double emulsions; exocytosis; microcompartments; self-assembly EN double emulsions exocytosis microcompartments self-assembly 21240 21240 1 09/08/21 20210913 NES 210913 B Exozytose-inspiriertes Verhalten b wird im Forschungsartikel auf S. 20963 von Xin Huang et al. in einem temperatursensitiven hybriden Bimikrokompartiment-System demonstriert. Double emulsions, exocytosis, microcompartments, self-assembly Rücktitelbild: Construction of Hybrid Bi-microcompartments with Exocytosis-Inspired Behavior toward Fast Temperature-Modulated Transportation of Living Organisms (Angew. [Extracted from the article]

Back Cover: Construction of Hybrid Bi-microcompartments with Exocytosis-Inspired Behavior toward Fast Temperature-Modulated Transportation of Living Organisms (Angew. Keywords: double emulsions; exocytosis; microcompartments; self-assembly EN double emulsions exocytosis microcompartments self-assembly 21070 21070 1 09/08/21 20210913 NES 210913 B Exocytosis-inspired behavior b is demonstrated in a temperature-sensitive hybrid bi-microcompartment system by Xin Huang and co-workers in their Research Article on page 20795. Due to the universal loading capacity and excellent biocompatibility, proliferation and temperature-programmed fast release of living cells were realized, thus providing a robust platform to the on-demand transportation of various living organisms. [Extracted from the article]