Background: CHD2 is a conserved ATPase and deletions of CHD2 have been linked to developmental and neurological disorders. Results:The regions flanking the ATPase domain of CHD2 confer substrate specificity and couple ATP hydrolysis to remodeling. Conclusion: CHD2 possesses nucleosome assembly activity regulated by its accessory domains. Significance: Understanding the mechanisms of chromatin remodeling is crucial for delineating how remodeling defects contribute to human diseases.

h i g h l i g h t s Photocatalytic, superhydrophobic and self-cleaning capabilities were promoted on asphalt mixtures. AC 6 and AC 14 mixtures were coated with TiO 2 and/or ZnO aqueous solutions by spraying. Physicochemical and morphological properties of bitumen samples were evaluated by FTIR and AFM. New pavement surface capabilities assessed with Water Angle Contact and Photocatalytic Efficiency tests. No deterioration was guaranteed for AC 14 TiO 2 , AC 14 TiO 2 ZnO, AC 6 TiO 2 and AC 6 TiO 2 ZnO solutions.

This work reports a computational study, focused on graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) interfaces with titanium dioxide (TiO 2), and an experimental assay on the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 /G and TiO 2 /GO nanocomposites in the degradation of two different pollutants: methylene blue and ciprofloxacin. Both carbon nanostructures were compared due to their different chemical structure: GO is a G derivative with oxygen functional groups which should promote a closer chemical interaction with TiO 2 nanoparticles. Computational models of the fundamental properties of the composites indicated potentially improved photocatalytic activity compared to TiO 2 , namely lower band gaps and charge carrier segregation at the interfaces. These fundamental properties match qualitatively experimental results on methylene blue, which was more effectively degraded by TiO 2 /G and TiO 2 /GO nanocomposites than by pure TiO 2 under UV light. In contrast, the same nanocomposites were found to be less efficient to degrade ciprofloxacin than pure TiO 2 under visible and UV light. Therefore, this work showcases the relevance of an efficient matching between the catalyst and the molecular properties and structure of the pollutant.

CHD1 is a conserved chromatin remodeling enzyme required for development and linked to prostate cancer in adults, yet its role in human cells is poorly understood. Here, we show that targeted disruption of the CHD1 gene in human cells leads to a defect in early double-strand break (DSB) repair via homologous recombination (HR), resulting in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation as well as PARP and PTEN inhibition. CHD1 knockout cells show reduced H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX) and foci formation as well as impairments in CtIP recruitment to the damaged sites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation following a single DSB shows that the reduced levels of γH2AX accumulation at DSBs in CHD1-KO cells are due to both a global reduction in H2AX incorporation and poor retention of H2AX at the DSBs. We also identified a unique N-terminal region of CHD1 that inhibits the DNA binding, ATPase, and chromatin assembly and remodeling activities of CHD1. CHD1 lacking the N terminus was more active in rescuing the defects in γH2AX formation and CtIP recruitment in CHD1-KO cells than full-length CHD1, suggesting the N terminus is a negative regulator in cells. Our data point to a role for CHD1 in the DSB repair process and identify a novel regulatory region of the protein.

Bringing the Voc of a perovskite solar cell toward its radiative value, corresponding to a 100% external fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of the cell, has been pursued to reach the highest performance photovoltaic devices. Therefore, much research has been focused on maximizing the QY of the active layer isolated from the rest of the cell layers. However, such quantity does not often correlate with the Voc following the ideal diode relation. Herein, the QYs of complete FA0.8MA0.2PbI3−yBry solar cells are reported, ranging from 0.1% to 3%, and compared with their Vocs, ranging from 1 to 1.13 V. By combining these measurements with electromagnetic simulations based on a full‐wavevector detailed balance and a fluorescence power‐loss model, it is demonstrated that a nonoptimal Voc in mixed‐cation lead halide perovskite cells is not only due to nonradiative photocarrier recombination at traps. In addition to the expected parasitic absorption of the emitted photons in the electrode layers, discrepancies appear between Voc and QY. These discrepancies are attributed to the rise of energy barriers, a side effect of trap removal. Indeed, although surface passivation may enhance the QY, its beneficial effect may be counterbalanced by the emergence of such barriers between active and charge‐transporting layers.

Thin films containing monometallic (Ag,Au) and bimetallic (Ag-Au) noble nanoparticles were dispersed in TiO2, using reactive magnetron sputtering and post-deposition thermal annealing. The influence of metal concentration and thermal annealing in the (micro)structural evolution of the films was studied, and its correlation with the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) behaviours was evaluated. The Ag/TiO2 films presented columnar to granular microstructures, developing Ag clusters at the surface for higher annealing temperatures. In some cases, the films presented dendrite-type fractal geometry, which led to an almost flat broadband optical response. The Au/TiO2 system revealed denser microstructures, with Au nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix, whose size increased with annealing temperature. This microstructure led to the appearance of LSPR bands, although some Au segregation to the surface hindered this effect for higher concentrations. The structural results of the Ag-Au/TiO2 system suggested the formation of bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles, which presence was supported by the appearance of a single narrow LSPR band. In addition, the Raman spectra of Rhodamine-6G demonstrated the viability of these systems for SERS applications, with some indication that the Ag/TiO2 system might be preferential, contrasting to the notorious behaviour of the bimetallic system in terms of LSPR response.

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