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Monolayer silicon phosphide (SiP) and germanium phosphide (GeP) are predicted to exhibit fascinating electronic characters with highly stable structures, which indicate their potential applications in future electronic technologies. By using first-principles calculations combined with the semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory, we systematically investigate the thermoelectric properties of monolayer SiP and GeP. High anisotropy is observed in both phonon and electron transport of monolayer SiP and GeP where the thermal and electrical conductivity along the xx crystal direction are smaller than those along the yy crystal direction. The lattice thermal conductivity (room temperature) along the xx crystal direction is about 11.05 W/mK for monolayer SiP and 9.48 W/mK for monolayer GeP. However, monolayer SiP and GeP possess almost isotropic Seebeck coefficient, and the room temperature values with both n- and p-type doping approach 2.9 mV/K and 2.5 mV/K, respectively. Based on the electron relaxation time estimated from the deformation potential theory, the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit of monolayer SiP and GeP with n-type doping approach 0.76 and 0.78 at 700 K, respectively. The results presented in this work shed light upon the thermoelectric performance of monolayer SiP and GeP and foreshow their potential applications in thermoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accidental superheated liquid emissions into the atmosphere yield two-phase releases. The resulting flashing jet, driven by thermal nonequilibrium and mechanical forces, breaks up into massive droplets, fostering beneficial conditions for fire, explosion, and toxic diffusion. In this work, a 20 L tank was built to examine two-phase flow behaviors during depressurized releases of superheated liquids via a high-speed camera and phase Doppler anemometry. Different breakup regimes of flashing jet and dimensionless groups that effectively represent thermodynamic (R p Ja) and mechanical (We v Oh) driving effects were determined. Based on the interaction between the two effects, quantitative criteria to distinguish different regimes were developed. The accompanying jet characteristics, including jet angle (θ), area fraction (f A), droplet diameter (d SMD), and droplet velocity (u d), and their relationship with jet breakup were revealed. Results show that non-flashing (NFB), partially flashing (PFB), and fully flashing (FFB) breakups coincide with R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7 < 41, 41 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7 < 223, and 223 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7, respectively. For small-sized nozzles (d ≤3 mm), θ 2 and f A2 increase within 41 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7 < 558 and then keep stable. The difference for large-sized nozzles resides in 223 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7 < 558 (early FFB regime), where θ 2 and f A2 decrease slightly due to the enhanced droplet evaporation. In 41 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7, d SMD2 decreases and u d2 increases, but at an extremely low rate within 558 ≤ R p Ja (We v Oh)1/7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation of photovoltaics, thanks to the excellent optoelectronic properties, low cost and facile fabrication. However, perovskite solar cells are still suffering from the poor stability, mainly, limited by the severe degradation after contact with water and oxygen. Hence, the encapsulation techniques are critical for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells for real-world applications. In this work, we systematically compared three encapsulation materials and fully evaluated the impact of encapsulation on the materials and device stability. We intentionally tested the encapsulated samples in accelerated aging conditions, such as immersing them in boiling water. These accelerated stressing can effectively distinguish the encapsulation quality in a short period. The resulted hero devices encapsulated with optimized techniques showed significantly improved stability, suggesting great potential for real applications. • Reliability of three encapsulation materials was evaluated for perovskite solar cells. • Water-resistance of encapsulated perovskite films and devices was investigated at high temperature. • Encapsulation structure of perovskite solar cells was optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative hydraulic conductivity is one of the key parameters for unsaturated soils in numerous fields of geotechnical engineering. The quantitative description of its variation law is of significant theoretical and technical values. Parameters in a classical hydraulic conductivity model are generally complex; it is difficult to apply these parameters to predict and estimate the relative hydraulic conductivity under deformation condition. Based on the fractal theory, a simple method is presented in this study for predicting the relative hydraulic conductivity under deformation condition. From the experimental soil-water characteristic curve at a reference state, the fractal dimension and air-entry value are determined at a reference state. By using the prediction model of air-entry value, the air-entry values at the deformed state are then determined. With the two parameters determined, the relative hydraulic conductivity at the deformed state is predicted using the fractal model of relative hydraulic conductivity. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of deformable Hunan clay is measured by the instantaneous profile method. Values of relative hydraulic conductivity predicted by the fractal model are compared with those obtained from experimental measurements, which proves the rationality of the proposed prediction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of interferon (IFN)‐induced protein kinase R (PKR) in capripoxvirus (CaPV)‐infected cells remains unknown. In this study, we show that CaPV infection triggered PKR and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) protein phosphorylation in a dose‐dependent manner, and that this leads to decreased CaPV replication. Overexpression of PKR compromised viral gene expression and inhibited sheeppox virus (SPPV) replication. Downregulation of PKR with siRNAs significantly decreased eIF2α phosphorylation and reduced the mRNA level of IFN‐β, which increased virus replication. In luciferase assays, species‐different CaPVs K3L proteins inhibited sheep PKR (sPKR): goatpox virus K3L strongly inhibited sPKR and goat PKR (gPKR), but SPPV K3L only partially inhibited gPKR. These results are the first to show that SPPV infection induces phosphorylation of eIF2α through PKR activation, which then results in restriction of CaPV replication. Furthermore, our data show that CaPV K3L inhibits PKR in a species‐specific manner. The results presented are consistent with the hypothesis that different levels of PKR inhibition by K3L orthologs from various viruses could potentially contribute to the host range function of K3L. We investigated whether infection of human and sheep cells with sheeppox virus could activate protein kinase R (PKR) and subsequently result in phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha, production of interferon‐β, and reduced virus replication. Our data also show that capripoxvirus K3L inhibits PKR in a species‐specific manner. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that different levels of PKR inhibition by K3L orthologs from various viruses could potentially contribute to the host range function of K3L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary fat is important for human health, while its excessive consumption or the oxidation of lipids may cause various diseases. In the present study, the potential of chicoric acid (CA) as a natural food antioxidant was evaluated. To evaluate this, spectrophotometry analysis measured CA antioxidant activity, the analytical method of the sanitary standard of edible lard and rapeseed oil measured CA anti-oil oxidation, the Oxford cup method measured CA anti-microbial activity, Oil red O staining assessed intracellular triglycerides following CA administration, and RT-qPCR analysis and ELISA assessed CA anti-inflammatory activity. The results indicated that CA had a marked scavenging capacity for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, as well as a reductive action, and after incubation for 5 days, 0.05% CA achieved a significantly higher peroxide value than 0.02% tert-butylhydroquinone used as a reference (P<0.05). In addition, 160 nM CA inhibited the growth of a variety of common pathogenic microbes in humans, significantly inhibited fat droplet formation (P<0.05) and reduced the production of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Therefore, functional foods containing CA may be used as natural antioxidant supplements to prevent the oxidation of oil and protect human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accidental releases of superheated liquids, such as liquefied petroleum or natural gases, are featured by depressurization across the outlet leading to liquid flashing within the upstream container and the downstream jet. In this work, dynamic behaviors of in-tank liquid with phase change throughout depressurized releases and the influence on the primary breakup of flashing jet were studied with an experimental 20 L tank. In-tank parameters (pressure, temperature, and liquid mass) and downstream jet morphology were characterized. A new nondimensional number (η p), the ratio between the superheat levels of the saturated states corresponding to liquid temperature and pressure, was developed to describe the liquid's thermodynamic state under both release and ambient conditions. A thermodynamics-determined release rate model was established to characterize flow behaviors at the exit. Results showed a strong correlation between the initial η p0 and key process parameters I (depressurization and release rates): I = aη p0 b , where a and b are constants for a particular I. A η p0 -based criterion was derived to characterize in-tank release dynamics and thermodynamics: η p0 < 0.25 (subcooled), 0.25< η p0 < 0.4 (transition from subcooled to superheated), and η p0 > 0.4 (superheated). Mild evaporation and flash evaporation dominated in-tank pressure recovery when η p0 < 0.25 and η p0 > 0.25, inhibiting depressurization. The release rate model agreed well with experiments and demonstrated that flashing happens upstream and chokes the induced two-phase flow when η p0 > 0.25, decreasing the release rate. The evolving upstream conditions changed the breakup regime both in mechanical and thermodynamic aspects. Moreover, the thermodynamic effect increased as the mechanical effect decreased during depressurization. • A new nondimensional number η p is developed to depict liquid's thermodynamic state. • A power correlation is found between initial η p0 and key process parameters I. • A η p0 -based criterion is derived to determine in-tank dynamics and thermodynamics. • Flashing-induced choked flow occurs when η p0 > 0.25 decreasing the release rate. • A high mechanical effect appears to suppress the thermodynamic breakup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly contagious pathogen that strongly influences the productivity of small ruminants worldwide. Acetylation is an important post-translational modification involved in regulation of multiple biological functions. However, the extent and function of acetylation in host cells during PPRV infection remains unknown. Methods: Dimethylation-labeling-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the acetylome of PPRV-infected Vero cells was performed. Results: In total, 1068 proteins with 2641 modification sites were detected in response to PPRV infection, of which 304 differentially acetylated proteins (DAcPs) with 410 acetylated sites were identified (fold change < 0.83 or > 1.2 and P < 0.05), including 109 up-regulated and 195 down-regulated proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) classification indicated that DAcPs were mostly located in the cytoplasm (43%) and participated in cellular and metabolic processes related to binding and catalytic activity. Functional enrichment indicated that the DAcPs were involved in the minichromosome maintenance complex, unfolded protein binding, helicase activity. Only protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathway was enriched. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the identified proteins further indicated that a various chaperone and ribosome processes were modulated by acetylation. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on acetylome in PPRV-infected host cell. Our findings establish an important baseline for future study on the roles of acetylation in the host response to PPRV replication and provide novel insights for understanding the molecular pathological mechanism of PPRV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Peste des petits ruminant disease (PPR) are acute and severe infectious diseases of sheep and are listed as animal diseases for compulsory immunization. However, there is no dual vaccine to prevent these two diseases. The Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara strain (MVA) has been widely used in the construction of recombinant live vector vaccine because of its large capacity of foreign gene, wide host range, high safety, and immunogenicity. In this study, MVA-GFP recombinant virus skeleton was used to construct dual live vector vaccines against FMD and PPR. Methods: The recombinant plasmid pUC57-FMDV P1-2A3CPPRV FH was synthesized and transfected into MVA-GFP infected CEF cells for homologous recombination. Results: The results showed that a recombinant virus without fluorescent labeling was obtained after multiple rounds of plaque screening. The recombinant virus successfully expressed the target proteins, and the empty capsid of FMDV could be observed by transmission electron microscope (TME), and the expression levels of foreign proteins (VP1 and VP3) detected by ELISA were like those detected in FMDV-infected cells. This study laid the foundation for the successful construction of a live vector vaccine against FMD and PPR. Key points: • A recombinant MVA expressing FMDVP12A3C and PRRV HF proteins • Both the FMDV and PRRV proteins inserted into the virus were expressed • The proteins expressed by the recombinant poxvirus were assembled into VLPs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orf virus (ORFV) is an enveloped virus with a double-stranded DNA genome, causing a contagious pustular dermatitis, mainly in goats and sheep. In this study, two strains of ORFV were isolated from sheep and goat samples in Xinjiang and Shaanxi, China. The B2L and virus interferon resistance (VIR) genes of these two isolates were sequenced and analyzed after PCR amplification. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two isolates clustered with other ORFV strains but were separated into different subgroups. The Xinjiang strain shared the highest homology with the Gansu strain, whereas the Shaanxi strain shared higher homology with the Taiwan and Hubei strains. This is the first report of the molecular characterization of ORFV in Northwest China, and it provides new information on the genotyping of the causative agents responsible for contagious ecthyma dermatitis outbreaks in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the growth of high crystalline quality GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) on Si (111) substrates with AlN/GaN superlattice interlayer for both stress and dislocation engineering. A focused study involved comparison of different interlayer structures including low-temperature AlN, medium-temperature AlN multilayers and AlN/GaN supperlattice for optimization of the LED performance. The results show that the AlN/GaN supperlattice interlayer is the most effective in reducing the residual tensile stress and improving the crystalline quality of GaN on Si. With the AlN/GaN superlattice interlayer, optical properties of the LEDs were enhanced and optical output power of unpackaged LED chips on Si substrates was improved by 24%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cilia dysfunction leads to developmental defects and also a spectrum of human diseases termed ciliopathies. The actin cytoskeleton is a highly dynamic network and involved in many important biological processes, such as cell migration and membrane trafficking. Recently, actin dynamics has been shown to play a critical role in ciliogenesis. This review summarizes these results and provides insight into possible mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The photoreceptor cilium is vital for maintaining the structure and function of the retina. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the photoreceptor cilium integrity and retinal homeostasis are largely unknown. Herein, it is shown that kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) localizes at the transition zone (connecting cilium) of the photoreceptor and plays a crucial role in orchestrating the cilium integrity. KIF11 depletion causes malformations of both the photoreceptor ciliary axoneme and membranous discs, resulting in photoreceptor degeneration and the accumulation of drusen‐like deposits throughout the retina. Mechanistic studies show that the stability of KIF11 is regulated by an interplay between its UFMylation and ubiquitination; UFMylation of KIF11 at lysine 953 inhibits its ubiquitination by synoviolin 1 and thereby prevents its proteasomal degradation. The lysine 953‐to‐arginine mutant of KIF11 is more stable than wild‐type KIF11 and also more effective in reversing the ciliary and retinal defects induced by KIF11 depletion. These findings identify a critical role for KIF11 UFMylation in the maintenance of photoreceptor cilium integrity and retinal homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the relationship between multifractal characteristics of particle-size distribution (PSD) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, taking the Hunan clay as the research object, we analysed the particle composition of the whole particle size range by a laser particle size analyser, and discussed the multifractal characteristics of PSD by using the fractal theory. The soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were measured by the pressure plate instrument and instantaneous profile method, and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was predicted by the fractal model. The results show that the fractal dimension D is not a fixed value for the Hunan clay with the whole particle size range, which exhibits obvious multifractal characteristics. The value of fractal dimension D is closely related to the investigated particle size range. The larger the particles in the particle size range, the larger the corresponding fractal dimension D. By comparing the measured and predicted values of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, it is found that the prediction results of fractal dimension D for unsaturated hydraulic conductivity with different particle size ranges are quite different, and that those results with larger particle size ranges are more reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experimental study on flashing jets of two-phase releases has been conducted. • Pressure-decay and thermodynamic characteristics of superheated liquid are acquired. • Influence of storage and release conditions are investigated. • Critical saturation state of superheated liquid during releases is proposed. • Behaviors of flashing jets and its dependence on decayed pressure are studied. The accidental releases of superheated liquid from tanks or pipes involve violent phase transformation, which would form two-phase releases and generate catastrophic flashing jets. In this work, the pressure and temperature of superheated liquid inside a 20 L tank with different storage pressures, superheats, and nozzle diameters were measured. The characteristics of flashing jets were characterized by measuring the evolution of droplet diameter and three-dimensional (3D) velocities using the Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA). Results show that the pressure undergoes three phases during release: first rapid decrease phase, slow decrease phase and second rapid decrease phase. The pressure decreases to a critical pressure at the termination of the first phase, and the liquid reaches a critical saturation state and boils. Abundant vapor generated in the tank due to the boiling compensates for the pressure loss, causing the slow decrease of the pressure at the second phase. The critical saturation state is mainly dependent on superheat. 3D velocities and diameter of droplet in flashing jets are mainly controlled by the pressure. Boiling of the superheated liquid under critical saturation state has a vital influence on the dynamic process of two-phase releases, which accelerates the development of flashing jet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O‐GlcNAcylation functions as a cellular nutrient and stress sensor and participates in almost all cellular processes. However, it remains unclear whether O‐GlcNAcylation plays a role in the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, because mice lacking O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT) are embryonically lethal. Here, a mild Ogt knockout mouse model is constructed and the important role of O‐GlcNAcylation in establishing and maintaining cell polarity is demonstrated. Ogt knockout leads to severe pulmonary fibrosis and dramatically promotes epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition. Mechanistic studies reveal that OGT interacts with pericentriolar material 1 (PCM1) and centrosomal protein 131 (CEP131), components of centriolar satellites required for anchoring microtubules to the centrosome. These data further show that O‐GlcNAcylation of PCM1 and CEP131 promotes their centrosomal localization through phase separation. Decrease in O‐GlcNAcylation prevents PCM1 and CEP131 from localizing to the centrosome, instead dispersing these proteins throughout the cell and impairing the microtubule‐centrosome interaction to disrupt centrosome positioning and cell polarity. These findings identify a previously unrecognized role for protein O‐GlcNAcylation in establishing and maintaining cell polarity with important implications for the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlN is a common buffer layer in GaN‐based light emitting diode (LED) devices. However, application of AlN on industry‐relevant patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) causes unwanted screw dislocations in the epitaxial layer during GaN nucleation. Industry experience suggests that AlON buffer layer improves the quality of GaN epitaxial layer, but the low‐dislocation‐defect epitaxy mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, high‐brightness GaN‐based blue LEDs with the sputtered AlON buffer layer on industry‐grade four‐inch PSS is demonstrated. The effect of oxygen addition to AlN is revealed by growing GaN epitaxial layers on AlON buffer layers with different oxygen contents and testing these GaN layers in LED devices. Compared with conventional AlN, our AlON buffer layer reduces the density of screw dislocations, thereby improving the quality of the GaN epitaxial layers and the performance of GaN‐based LEDs. These insights allow the explanation of the growth mechanisms of GaN on PSS with AlN and AlON buffer layers and can guide the development of next‐generation optoelectronic technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Co-doped Zn1-xCoxMn2O nanocrystals with a spinel structure were successfully prepared by hydrothermal method, and the influence of Co doping concentration on the microstructure, morphology, elemental composition, and optical and photocatalytic properties of the samples was characterized. The experimental results show that all samples exhibit a tetragonal structure, Co2+ ions are successfully substituted for the lattice site of Zn2+ to generate ZnMn2O4 nanocrystals, and the crystalline size decreases as Co-doped concentration increase. The morphologies are loose hollow microsphere structures. The band gap of Zn1−xCoxMn2O samples is smaller than that of pure ZnMn2O4 and has been red shifted. The photocatalytic activity of doped Zn1−xCoxMn2O4 samples is obviously higher than that of pure ZnMn2O4 samples for the photodegradation of MO under visible light irradiation. All these results demonstrate that Co-doped spinel ZnMn2O4 nanocrystals are a meaningful choice for photocatalytic degradation of the pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The specific and dynamic interaction between the hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins of morbilliviruses is a prerequisite for the conformational rearrangements and membrane fusion during infection process. The two heptad repeat regions (HRA and HRB) of F protein are both important for the triggering of F protein. Methods: In this study, the direct interactions of Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) H with F, HRA and HRB were quantitatively evaluated using biosensor surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Results: The binding affinities of immobilized pCMV-HA-H (HA-H) interacted with proteins pCMV-HA-F (HA-F) and pCMV-HA-HRB (HA-HRB) (KD = 1.91 × 10-8 M and 2.60 × 10-7 M, respectively) reacted an order of magnitude more strongly than that of pCMV-HA-HRA (HA-HRA) and pCMV-HA-Tp IGFR-LD (HA) (KD = 1.08 × 10-4 M and 1. 43 × 10-4 M, respectively). Conclusions: The differences of the binding affinities suggested that HRB is involved in functionally important intermolecular interaction in the fusion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A one-dimensional ZnO nanostructure is a versatile and multifunctional n-type semiconductor. In this paper, ZnO nanorods were successfully prepared by the anodic arc plasma method in an oxidizing atmosphere. Methods: The composition, morphology, crystal microstructure, and optical properties of ZnO nanorods were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the corresponding selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (XEDS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Raman scattering spectrum (Raman), and photoluminescence spectrum (PL). Results: The experiment results show that ZnO nanorods synthesized by this method possess hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with good crystallization, no other impurity phases are observed, the crystalline size is about 18 nm, and the lattice constant distortion occurs compared to that of bulk ZnO. The morphology of the sample is a rod-like shape, the length ranges from 100 nm to 300 nm, the average diameter is approximately 20 nm, and the aspect ratio is relatively high. The UV-VIS absorption spectrum occurs red shift, The Raman spectrum further demonstrates that the major peaks are assigned to ZnO optical vibrational modes, and the PL spectrum exhibits coexistence properties of ultraviolet (UV) and green emission. Conclusions: The results prove that ZnO nanorods with hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure were successfully prepared by the anodic arc plasma method in an oxidizing atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal when imaging bioprocesses with optical microscopy is to acquire the most spatiotemporal information with the least invasiveness. Deep neural networks have substantially improved optical microscopy, including image super-resolution and restoration, but still have substantial potential for artifacts. In this study, we developed rationalized deep learning (rDL) for structured illumination microscopy and lattice light sheet microscopy (LLSM) by incorporating prior knowledge of illumination patterns and, thereby, rationally guiding the network to denoise raw images. Here we demonstrate that rDL structured illumination microscopy eliminates spectral bias-induced resolution degradation and reduces model uncertainty by five-fold, improving the super-resolution information by more than ten-fold over other computational approaches. Moreover, rDL applied to LLSM enables self-supervised training by using the spatial or temporal continuity of noisy data itself, yielding results similar to those of supervised methods. We demonstrate the utility of rDL by imaging the rapid kinetics of motile cilia, nucleolar protein condensation during light-sensitive mitosis and long-term interactions between membranous and membrane-less organelles. Rationalized deep learning improves image reconstruction by incorporating prior knowledge of illumination patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early embryonic development depends on proper utilization and clearance of maternal transcriptomes. How these processes are spatiotemporally regulated remains unclear. Here we show that nuclear RNA‐binding protein Rbm14 and maternal mRNAs co‐phase separate into cytoplasmic condensates to facilitate vertebrate blastula‐to‐gastrula development. In zebrafish, Rbm14 condensates were highly abundant in blastomeres and markedly reduced after prominent activation of zygotic transcription. They concentrated at spindle poles by associating with centrosomal γ‐tubulin puncta and displayed mainly asymmetric divisions with a global symmetry across embryonic midline in 8‐ and 16‐cell embryos. Their formation was dose‐dependently stimulated by m6A, but repressed by m5C modification of the maternal mRNA. Furthermore, deadenylase Parn co‐phase separated with these condensates, and this was required for deadenylation of the mRNAs in early blastomeres. Depletion of Rbm14 impaired embryonic cell differentiations and full activations of the zygotic genome in both zebrafish and mouse and resulted in developmental arrest at the blastula stage. Our results suggest that cytoplasmic Rbm14 condensate formation regulates early embryogenesis by facilitating deadenylation, protection, and mitotic allocation of m6A‐modified maternal mRNAs, and by releasing the poly(A)‐less transcripts upon regulated disassembly to allow their re‐polyadenylation and translation or clearance. Synopsis: The mechanisms mediating the spatiotemporal control of maternal mRNA translational competence and decay remain largely unclear. In this study, maternal mRNAs in zebrafish and mouse embryos are shown to form condensates with the RNA binding protein Rbm14 for their deadenylation, sequestration, mitotic allocation, and timely release during early embryogenesis. Rbm14 co‐phase‐separates with deadenylase Parn and maternal m6A‐modified mRNAs into cytoplasmic condensates in early embryos.The condensates are segregated into daughter blastomeres through associations with centrosomal γ‐tubulin‐positive puncta.Rbm14 is required for correct maternal mRNA deadenylation, sequestration, and release from the condensates during embryonic development for timely re‐activation or clearance.Depletion of Rbm14 represses maternal‐to‐zygotic transition and blastula‐to‐gastrula development in both zebrafish and mouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper proposes a new three-channel pixelated phase mask (TC-PPM) arrangement pattern. • The new layout pattern uniformly increases the sampling rate, while significantly reducing frequency domain crosstalk and enhancing noise immunity. • An N-point averaged phase extraction algorithm based on the TC-PPM is validated and derived. • A pseudo four-step phase extraction method is proposed and its effectiveness and superiority are verified. The pixelated phase mask (PPM) is a crucial component of the division-of-focal-plane (DoFP)-type polarization camera that is commonly used in simultaneous phase-shift interferometry. However, the traditional PPM has room for improvement in terms of the sampling rate and redundant channel information utilization due to its fixed layout and angle selection. In this work, a three-channel pixelated phase mask (TC-PPM) layout mode is proposed for the device structure improvement to further enhance the sampling rate and information utilization of the conventional PPM. Based on this, a corresponding fast-phase extraction formula for single-frame PPM interferograms is derived. The TC-PPM layout mode reduces the processing complexity of the device and uniformly increases the information sampling rate. The derived TC-PPM-based N-point average phase extraction formula can simply and efficiently correct and suppress the pixel mismatch errors and the random errors introduced by this device. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the TC-PPM scheduling model and its accompanying fast-phase extraction technique outperform mainstream PPMs by suppressing errors and improving the phase reconstruction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Breakup regime of flashing jet under thermodynamic and mechanical effects is revealed. • Relationship between void fraction (α) and jet angle (k) is revealed. • The inadequacy of the existing criterion (Ja-We, χ*) are identified. • Relationship between flashing regimes and void fraction (α) is revealed. Accident release of superheated liquid could produce a violent phase change and trigger a highly destructive flashing jet. In this work, release experiments are performed using a 20 L tank and transparent nozzles, with water as the fluid throughout. The experimental conditions included storage temperature (T st = 100-160 °C), storage pressure (P st = 6-16 bar), and nozzle sizes (D = 1-6 mm). High-speed image processing and capacitive void fraction sensor are used to quantify the two-phase flow of superheated liquid inside the nozzle and the downstream jet break-up regimes. The experimental results show that void fraction (α) goes through three phases during the release process: growth, stabilization and decay. It is also demonstrated that bubble nucleation, growth and burst determine the breakup of the downstream jet. The T st and D are the main factors affecting the α , while the P st only change the release rate. Moreover, it is verified that none of the existing flashing criteria (Ja-We, χ*) can accurately determine the boundary conditions of the flashing regimes. Instead, the parameters characterizing bubbles nucleation and growth, α, can unify the effects of (T st , P st , and D) to determine the physical mechanism of the flashing process. In this work, a novel method to distinguish between external flashing (α = 0), internal flashing (0 < α ≤ 25) and full flashing (α > 25), and a steady-state model k = f (Ja, We, α) is developed for the flashing jet. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer characterized by high metastasis. However, the exact cell type contributing to metastasis remains elusive. Using a Rb1 L/L /Trp53 L/L mouse model, we identify the NCAMhiCD44lo/– subpopulation as the SCLC metastasizing cell (SMC), which is progressively transitioned from the non-metastasizing NCAMloCD44hi cell (non-SMC). Integrative chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiling studies reveal the important role of the SWI/SNF complex, and knockout of its central component, Brg1 , significantly inhibits such phenotypic transition and metastasis. Mechanistically, TAZ is silenced by the SWI/SNF complex during SCLC malignant progression, and its knockdown promotes SMC transition and metastasis. Importantly, ectopic TAZ expression reversely drives SMC-to-non-SMC transition and alleviates metastasis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses identify SMC as the dominant subpopulation in human SCLC metastasis, and immunostaining data show a positive correlation between TAZ and patient prognosis. These data uncover high SCLC plasticity and identify TAZ as the key molecular switch in orchestrating SCLC phenotypic transition and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constant advance in improving the luminous efficacy (ηL) of nitride-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) plays a critical role for saving measurable amounts of energy. Further development is motivated to approach the efficiency limit for this material system while reducing the costs. In this work, strategies of using thin AlN prebuffer and transitional-refraction-index patterned sapphire substrate (TPSS) were proposed, which pushed up the efficiency of white LEDs (WLEDs). The AlN prebuffer was obtained through physical vapor deposition (PVD) method and TPSS was fabricated by dry-etched periodic silica arrays covered on sapphire. Devices in mass production confirmed that PVD AlN prebuffer was able to improve the light output power (φe) of blue LEDs (BLEDs) by 2.53% while increasing the productivity by ~8% through shortening the growth time. Additionally, BLEDs on TPSS exhibited an enhanced top ηext of 5.65% in contrast to BLEDs on the conventional PSS through Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation. Consequently, φe of BLEDs was experimentally enhanced by 10% at an injected current density (Jin) of 40 A/cm2. A peak ηL of 295.2 lm/W at a Jin of 0.9 A/cm2 and the representative ηL of 282.4 lm/W at a Jin of 5.6 A/cm2 for phosphor-converted WLEDs were achieved at a correlated color temperature of 4592 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enolase belongs to glycolytic enzymes with moonlighting functions. The role of enolase in Taenia species is still poorly understood. In this study, the full length of cDNA encoding for Taenia pisiformis alpha-enolase (Tpeno) was cloned from larval parasites and soluble recombinant Tpeno protein (rTpeno) was produced. Western blot indicated that both rTpeno and the native protein in excretion–secretion antigens from the larvae were recognized by anti-rTpeno monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The primary structure of Tpeno showed the presence of a highly conserved catalytic site for substrate binding and an enolase signature motif. rTpeno enzymatic activities of catalyzing the reversible dehydration of 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PGA) to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and vice versa were shown to be 30.71 ± 2.15 U/mg (2-PGA to PEP) and 11.29 ± 2.38 U/mg (PEP to 2-PGA), respectively. Far-Western blotting showed that rTpeno could bind to plasminogen, however its binding ability was inhibited by ϵ-aminocaproic acid (ϵACA) in a competitive ELISA test. Plasminogen activation assay showed that plasminogen bound to rTpeno could be converted into active plasmin using host-derived activators. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence indicated that Tpeno was distributed in the bladder wall of the metacestode and the periphery of calcareous corpuscles. In addition, a vaccine trial showed that the enzyme could produce a 36.4% protection rate in vaccinated rabbits against experimental challenges from T. pisiformis eggs. These results suggest that Tpeno with multiple functions may play significant roles in the migration, growth, development and adaptation of T. pisiformis for survival in the host environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the MOVPE growth of high-performance AlN/GaN MISHEMTs using regrown n-type GaN (n-GaN) as source/drain (S/D) and in situ SiN x as gate dielectric. The n-GaN S/D and in situ SiN x were investigated for minimizing on-resistance and suppressing gate leakage current, respectively. The results showed that a two-step Si doping profile for the n-GaN greatly reduced the access resistance, and small gate leakage as well as low trap state density were achieved with the in situ SiN x gate dielectric. The fabricated 0.33 μm-gated MISHEMT exhibited a maximum drain current density of 1550 mA/mm and an on/off current ratio over 10 7 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the fabrication and characteristics of self-aligned gate-last AlN/GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MOSHEMTs) featuring regrown source/drain for low ON-state resistance (RON). Previously, we demonstrated conventional enhancement-mode AlN/GaN MOSHEMTs on Si substrate with excellent DC performance but limited RF characteristics by large parasitic gate-to-source/drain overlap capacitance. In this paper, the self-aligned gate-last process was developed to minimize the parasitic capacitance. SiNx sidewall and supporting layer were inserted to separate the gate head and source/drain. In the gate-last devices, fT has been improved to be \sim40~GHz with a channel length (Lg) of 210 nm. Delay time analysis showed that drain delay was relatively small compared with gate transit and parasitic charging time because of the self-aligned structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For precise optical elements, the size of in-surface defects is at the nanometer scale. When incident light illuminates in-surface defects on optical elements, strong diffraction and scattering effects are produced, and this greatly reduces the beam quality in optical systems. In this study, a three-dimensional model of the in-surface defects of K9 optical components was established. On this basis, a theoretical model of electromagnetic scattering between the defect and the incident and scattering fields was constructed. The 4 × 4-order scattering Mueller matrix light field distributions of incident light modulated by different-sized defects were obtained by numerical simulations, and the influencing factors were analyzed. These simulations provide a theoretical basis and a reference for the manufacture of precision optical elements and a scale calibration for surface quality detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedlin is an evolutionarily conserved protein encoded by the causative gene SEDL for spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. Nevertheless, how Sedlin mutations cause the disease remains unknown. Here, the intracellular chloride channel protein CLIC1 was shown to associate with Sedlin by yeast two-hybrid screening. Green fluorescence protein-CLIC1 readily co-immunoprecipitated with FLAG-Sedlin. In addition, both proteins colocalized extensively in cytoplasmic vesicular/reticular structures in COS-7 cells, suggesting their interaction at intracellular membranous organelles. Sedlin also associated with CLIC2 in yeast two-hybrid assays. The link between Sedlin and the intracellular chloride channels is the first step to understand their functional interplays. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel method is proposed to depict nonlinear boundary of expansion zone. • The method is validated by observations on images and comparison with spray angle. • Graphical parameter k proposed by the novel method unifies a cluster of spray angles. • k owns a good capability to characterize morphological dynamics of flashing jet. • A prototype of k -value criteria for determining flashing jet regimes is developed. Spray cone angle (θ) and width (H) have been widely used to characterize morphology of jets. However, to a flashing jet, their capabilities are restrained by two flaws: (a) they are variable as a function of axial distance (θ (H)= f (x)), leading to nonunified θ or H at different axial locations, and (b) fail to precisely capture key characteristics of nonlinear boundary of expansion zone, resulting in their disability to determine the flashing jet regimes. In this work, a power function | y |= kx 0.5, in which x and y are axial and radical directions respectively, characterizing the nonlinear boundary of expansion zone of flashing jet is proposed. A variety of experiments are conducted to validate the proposed method. Experimental results demonstrate that the graphical parameter k unifies a cluster of spray angles (θ = f (x))), and furthermore, owns a good capability to characterize morphological dynamics of flashing jet. These merits allow k to determine the flashing jet regimes. In this work, k <1, 1< k <5, and k >5 are the determining criteria for the external, internal transition, and full flashing jet regimes, respectively. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction to a previously published manuscript titled "Identification of TAZ as the essential molecular switch in orchestrating SCLC phenotypic transition and metastasis." The correction addresses the omission of an affiliation for authors Hongbin Ji and Qiqi Zhao. The correction also renumbers the affiliations and updates the published manuscript accordingly. The authors of the manuscript are listed, and it is noted that some authors equally contributed to the work. [Extracted from the article]

Cilia of higher animals sense various environmental stimuli. Proper ciliary signaling requires appropriate extent of BBSome‐mediated export of membrane receptors across ciliary barrier transition zone (TZ) through retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery. How the barrier passage is controlled, however, remains unknown. Here, we show that small GTPase Rabl2 functions as a molecular switch for the outward TZ passage. Rabl2‐GTP enters cilia by binding to IFT‐B complex. Its GTP hydrolysis enables the outward TZ passage of the BBSome and its cargos with retrograde IFT machinery, whereas its persistent association leads to their shedding from IFT‐B during the passing process and consequently ciliary retention. Rabl2 deficiency or expression of a GTP‐locked mutant impairs the ciliary hedgehog signaling without interfering with ciliation and respectively results in different spectrums of mouse developmental disorders. We propose that the switch role of Rabl2 ensures proper turnover of the BBSome and ciliary membrane receptors to fine‐tune cilia‐dependent signaling for normal embryonic development and organismic homeostasis. Synopsis: Cilliary signaling is adjusted via retention or export of ciliary receptors through the ciliary transition zone. The small GTPase Rabl2 fine‐tunes this process by GTP hydrolysis‐dependent gating of BBSome‐mediated membrane receptor export. Murine Rabl2 is dispensable for ciliogenesis and the ciliary entry of the IFT‐B ciliary transport complex.Rabl2‐GTP enters cilia by binding to IFT‐B.Ciliary Rabl2‐GTP impairs the exit of the BBSome complex and its cargos across the transition zone.Mice deficient in Rabl2 or expressing an active mutant show distinct developmental defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Information: Dense multicilia in protozoa and metazoa generate a strong force important for locomotion and extracellular fluid flow. During ciliogenesis, multiciliated cells produce hundreds of centrioles to serve as basal bodies through various pathways including deuterosome‐dependent (DD), hyper‐activated mother centriole‐dependent (MCD) and basal bodydependent (BBD) pathways. The centrosome‐free planarian Schmidtea mediterranea is widely used for regeneration studies because its neoblasts are capable of regenerating any body part after injury. However, it is currently unclear how the flatworms generate massive centrioles for multiciliated cells in the pharynx and body epidermis when their cells are initially centriole‐free. Results: In this study, we investigate the progress of centriole amplification during the pharynx regeneration. We observe that the planarian pharyngeal epithelial cells generate their centrioles asynchronously through a de novo pathway. Most of the de novo centrioles are formed individually, whereas the remaining ones are assembled in pairs, possibly by sharing a cartwheel, or in small clusters lacking a nucleation center. Further RNAi experiments show that the known key factors of centriole duplication, including Cep152, Plk4 and Sas6, are crucial for the centriole amplification. Conclusions and Significance: Our study demonstrates the distinct process of massive centriole biogenesis in S. mediterranea and helps to understand the diversity of centriole biogenesis during evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We predicted a series of 2D tetragonal ternary transition-metal compounds. • Ti 2 BN exhibits good stability, inherent metal and good mechanical properties. • The properties of Ti 2 BN monolayer as anode material was investigated. • The diffusion barrier of Li on surface and interlayer are 24 and 165 meV, respectively. • The theoretical specific capacities of Ti 2 BN is 889 mA h g−1. In this work, we theoretically design a new class of two-dimensional (2D) ternary transition-metal compound, namely, tetragonal Ti 2 BN monolayer sheet. The first-principles calculations proved that this system exhibits good dynamic and thermal stability, inherent metal properties and good mechanical properties. Additionally, we investigate the suitability of 2D Ti 2 BN as host materials in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Our results show that the diffusion barrier of Li on surface (24 meV) and interlayer (165 meV) of Ti 2 BN monolayer are extremely low. At 300 K, their corresponding diffusion coefficient of Li are 6.08 × 10−3 and 0.028 × 10−3 cm s−1, respectively. Besides, it also exhibits extremely high theoretical capacity (889 mA h g−1) and low average open circuit voltage (0.24 V). All these advanced properties indicate that Ti 2 BN monolayer is a promising negative electrode material for LIBs. In order to facilitate the experimental synthesis of this material, we theoretically predicted that Ag (1 0 0), Au (1 0 0) and Sn (1 0 0) may be good growth substrates for Ti 2 BN sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Information: In the "9+2"‐type motile cilia, radial spokes (RSs) protruded from the nine peripheral microtubule doublets surround and interact with the central pair (CP) apparatus to regulate ciliary beat. RSPH9 is the human homologue of the essential protozoan RS head protein Rsp9. Its mutations in human primary ciliary dyskinesia patients, however, cause CP loss in a small portion of airway cilia without affecting the ciliary localization of other head proteins. Results: We characterized mouse Rsph9 and investigated its function in ependymal motile cilia. Rsph9 was specifically expressed in mouse tissues containing motile cilia and upregulated during multiciliation. Its ciliary localization complied with its putative role as an RS subunit. Depletion of Rsph9 by RNAi in mouse ependymal cilia resulted in a near complete CP loss and altered the ciliary beat pattern from planar to rotational. Multiple RS proteins, including those in the head, were also markedly downregulated in the Rsph9‐depleted cilia. Conclusion: Rsph9 is essential for both the RS head assembly and the CP maintenance in mammalian ependymal cilia. Significance: Our results help to understand the assembly and functions of mammalian RS and pathology of RS‐related ciliopathy. Research article: In this study, we demonstrate that Rsph9, a radial spoke head protein, is highly expressed in the motile cilia‐enriched tissues and specifically localises to the axonemal central lumen of mouse ependymal cilia. Its depletion by RNAi disrupts ciliary radial spoke head and neck proteins and the central pair apparatus, altering the cilia beat pattern from planar to rotational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aspheric surface testing system based on the shearing interference principle is used to better analyze how the installation and fabrication errors of linear polarizer affects the precision of the aspheric surface. The effects of the angle error of the linear polarizer and the phase-shifting error of the wave plate on the reconstruction of the aspheric surface are studied. Constructing the model of the Jones matrix with the error term system, the reconstruction surface and residual after the corresponding error system are obtained using the four-step phase-shifting and differential Zernike method. The polarizer array of an angle of θ was varied from (θ − 1 deg) to (θ + 2 deg) every 0.2 deg, and the changes of the fitting surface and the residual surface were simulated. The phase-shifting error of the simulated one-fourth wave plate was <λ / 300. Then, the change of the fitting surface and residual surface when these two errors exist at the same time were simulated. The simulation results show that the influence of the phase-shifting error of the wave plate on the fitting surface is much greater than the angle error of the polarizer array. When assembling the interference system, the phase-shifting error of the wave plate should be <λ / 300 when the light transmission angle error of the polarizer array is between −0.2 deg and 0.2 deg, which will ensure the testing precision of the aspheric surface testing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gene encoding a mature 18 kDa glycoprotein of Taenia solium cysticerci (Ts18) was cloned and bacterially expressed with a His-tagged fusion protein. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the recombinant Ts18 antigen were generated in vitro by routine murine hybridoma technique of fusing splenocytes, from BALB/c mice immunized with the vesicular fluid of T. solium cysticerci (TsVF), with mouse myeloma cells (SP2/0). The reactivity and specificity of these MAbs were evaluated by indirect ELISA and immunoblotting techniques. Three stable hybridoma clones, namely 3B11, 6C5, and 6G4, were screened using His-Ts18-based ELISA, and these showed two IgG1 isotypes and one IgM isotype. All MAbs reacted with His-Ts18 at molecular weight (MW) 12.8 kDa and the native antigen at MW 18 kDa in TsVF and whole larval extracts (WLE). In a dot blotting test, MAbs 6C5 and 6G4 showed no obvious cross-reactivity with heterologous vesicular fluids from other taeniid species, including Taenia saginata (TsaVF), Taenia pisiformis (TpVF), Taenia hydatigena (ThVF), Taenia multiceps (TmVF), and Echinococcus granulosus (EgVF). Immunofluorescent assays showed that MAb 6C5 specifically reacted with the Ts18 expressed from pEGFP-N1-Ts18-transfected HeLa cells. Immunolocalization analysis, using MAb 6C5 as a probe, indicated that Ts18 was present at high concentrations in the region of the larval sucker and spiral canal. The results indicate that the Ts18 protein is an abundantly secreted parasite protein and MAbs against it might provide a step forward for improving the diagnosis of porcine cysticercosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclin Y family can enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in mitosis. Their physiological roles in mammalian development are yet unknown. Here we show that Cyclin Y-like 1 (Ccnyl1) and Cyclin Y (Ccny) have overlapping function and are crucial for mouse embryonic development and mammary stem/progenitor cell functions. Double knockout of Ccnys results in embryonic lethality at E16.5. In pubertal development, mammary terminal end buds robustly express Ccnyl1. Depletion of Ccnys leads to reduction of Lrp6 phosphorylation, hampering β-catenin activities and abolishing mammary stem/progenitor cell expansion in vitro. In lineage tracing experiments, Ccnys-deficient mammary cells lose their competitiveness and cease to contribute to mammary development. In transplantation assays, Ccnys-deficient mammary cells fail to reconstitute, whereas constitutively active β-catenin restores their regeneration abilities. Together, our results demonstrate the physiological significance of Ccnys-mediated mitotic Wnt signaling in embryonic development and mammary stem/progenitor cells, and reveal insights in the molecular mechanisms orchestrating cell cycle progression and maintenance of stem cell properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is an acute, highly contagious, and febrile viral disease that affects both domestic and wild small ruminants. The disease has become a major obstacle to the development of sustainable Agriculture. Hemagglutinin (H), the envelope glycoprotein of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV), plays a crucial role in regulating viral adsorption and entry, thus determining pathogenicity, and release of newly produced viral particles. In order to accurately understand the epidemic of the disease and the interactions between the virus and host, we launch the work. Here, we examined H gene from all four lineages of the PPRV to investigate evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics of PPRV by the Bayesian method. In addition, we predicted positive selection sites due to selective pressures. Finally, we studied the interaction between H protein and SLAM receptor based on homology model of the complex. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that H gene can also be used to investigate evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics of PPRV. Positive selection analysis identified four positive selection sites in H gene, in which only one common site (aa246) was detected by two methods, suggesting strong operation structural and/or functional constraint of changes on the H protein. This target site may be of interest for future mutagenesis studies. The results of homology modeling showed PPRVHv-shSLAM binding interface and MVH-maSLAM binding interface were consistent, wherein the groove in the B4 blade and B5 of the head domain of PPRVHv bound to the AGFCC′ β-sheets of the membrane-distal ectodomain of shSLAM. The binding regions could provide insight on the nature of the protein for epitope vaccine design, novel drug discovery, and rational drug design against PPRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Spindle assembly required during mitosis depends on microtubule polymerization. We demonstrate that the evolutionarily conserved low-complexity protein, BuGZ, undergoes phase transition or coacervation to promote assembly of both spindles and their associated components. BuGZ forms temperature-dependent liquid droplets alone or on microtubules in physiological buffers. Coacervation in vitro or in spindle and spindle matrix depends on hydrophobic residues in BuGZ. BuGZ coacervation and its binding to microtubules and tubulin are required to promote assembly of spindle and spindle matrix in Xenopus egg extract and in mammalian cells. Since several previously identified spindle-associated components also contain low-complexity regions, we propose that coacervating proteins may be a hallmark of proteins that comprise a spindle matrix that functions to promote assembly of spindles by concentrating its building blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclin Y-like 1 (Ccnyl1) is a newly-identified member of the cyclin family and is highly similar in protein sequences to Cyclin Y (Ccny). However, the function of Ccnyl1 is poorly characterized in any organism. Here we found that Ccnyl1 was most abundantly expressed in the testis of mice and was about seven times higher than the level of Ccny. Male Ccnyl1-/- mice were infertile, whereas both male and female Ccny-/- mice displayed normal fertility. These results suggest that Ccnyl1, but not Ccny, is indispensable for male fertility. Spermatozoa obtained from Ccnyl1-/- mice displayed significantly impaired motility, and represented a thinned annulus region and/or a bent head. We found that the protein, but not the mRNA, level of cyclin-dependent kinase 16 (CDK16) was decreased in the testis of Ccnyl1-/- mice. Further study demonstrated that CCNYL1 interacted with CDK16 and this interaction mutually increased the stability of these two proteins. Moreover, the interaction increased the kinase activity of CDK16. In addition, we observed an alteration of phosphorylation levels of CDK16 in the presence of CCNYL1. We identified the phosphorylation sites of CDK16 by mass spectrometry and revealed that several phosphorylation modifications on the N-terminal region of CDK16 were indispensable for the CCNYL1 binding and the modulation of CDK16 kinase activity. Our results therefore reveal a previously unrecognized role of CCNYL1 in regulating spermatogenesis through the interaction and modulation of CDK16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new member of the cyclin family cyclin Y (CCNY) is involved in the regulation of various physiological processes. In this study, the role of CCNY in energy metabolism was characterized. We found that compared with wild-type (WT) mice, Ccny knockout (KO) mice had both lower body weight and lower fat content. The Ccny KO mice also had a higher metabolic rate, resisted the stress of a high-fat diet, and were sensitive to calorie restriction. The expression levels of UCP1 and PGC1α were significantly higher in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the Ccny KO mice than that of the WT littermate controls, whereas there was no significant difference in BAT weight between the WT and the Ccny KO mice. In addition, the down-regulation of Ccny resulted in suppression of white adipocyte differentiation both in vivo and in vitro, while the expression of Ccny was up-regulated by C/EBPα. Furthermore, both hepatocytes and HepG2 cells that were depleted of Ccny were insensitive to insulin stimulation, consistent with the significant inhibition of insulin sensitivity in the liver of the Ccny KO mice, but no significant changes in WAT and muscle, indicating that CCNY is involved in regulating the hepatic insulin signaling pathway. The hepatic insulin resistance generated by Ccny depletion resulted in down-regulation of the sterol-regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). Together, these results provide a new link between CCNY and lipid metabolism in mice, and suggest that inhibition of CCNY may offer a therapeutic approach to obesity and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cilia formation and function require a special set of trafficking machinery termed intraflagellar transport (IFT), consisting mainly of protein complexes IFT-A, IFT-B, BBSome, and microtubule-dependent molecular motors. etrariopeptide repeat-containing (TTC) proteins are widely involved in protein complex formation. Nine of them are known to serve as components of the IFT or BBSome complexes. How many TTC proteins are cilia-related and how they function, however, remain unclear. Here we show that twenty TTC genes were upregulated by at least 2-fold during the differentiation of cultured mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTECs) into multiciliated cells. Our systematic screen in zebrafish identified four novel TTC genes, ttc4, -9c, -36, and -39c, that are critical for cilia formation and motility. Accordingly, their zebrafish morphants displayed typical ciliopathy-related phenotypes, including curved body, abnormal otolith, hydrocephalus, and defective left-right patterning. The morphants of ttc4 and ttc25, a known cilia-related gene, additionally showed pronephric cyst formation. Immunoprecipitation indicated associations of TTC4, -9c, -25, -36, and -39c with components or entire complexes of IFT-A, IFT-B, or BBSome, implying their participations in IFT or IFT-related activities. Our results provide a global view for the relationship between TTC proteins and cilia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rab9 is mainly located on late endosomes and required for their intracellular transport to trans -Golgi network (TGN). The cytoplasmic dynein motor, together with its regulatory proteins Nde1/Ndel1 and Lis1, controls intracellular retrograde transport of membranous organelles along the microtubule network. How late endosomes are tethered to the microtubule-based motor dynein for their retrograde transport remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound Rab9A/B specifically uses Nde1/Ndel1 as an effector to interact with the dynein motor complex. We determined the crystal structure of Rab9A-GTP in complex with the Rab9-binding region of Nde1. The functional roles of key residues involved in the Rab9A-Nde1 interaction are verified using biochemical and cell biology assays. Rab9A mutants unable to bind to Nde1 also failed to associate with dynein, Lis1, and dynactin. Therefore, Nde1 is a Rab9 effector that tethers Rab9-associated late endosomes to the dynein motor for their retrograde transport to the TGN. [Display omitted] • GTP-bound Rab9A/B interacts with the N-terminal coiled-coil domain of Nde1/Ndel1 • Nde1 assumes a different conformation from that in the isolated Nde1 homodimer • Nde1 mediates the interaction of Rab9A with Lis1 and dynein Zhang et al. report the crystal structure of Rab9A-GTP in complex with the Rab9-binding region of Nde1. The structural and biological data together indicate that Nde1 is a Rab9 effector that tethers Rab9-associated late endosomes to the dynein motor for their retrograde transport to the TGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Membrane associated cyclin Y is heavily phosphorylated. [•] CDK14 promotes cyclin Y phosphorylation and degradation. [•] Phosphorylation of cyclin Y at Serines 71 and 73 creates a putative phospho-degron. [•] Autoregulation of CCNY/CDK14 in CDK14 activation and cyclin Y turnover is involved in membrane proximal signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]