Biocompatible anatase TiO 2 single-crystals with 27-50% chemically reactive {001} facets were obtained in 90 min by using a microwave-assisted method. The preparation involved an aqueous solution of titanium tetrafluoride and an ionic liquid (1-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate). The as-obtained TiO 2 single-crystals exhibited a truncated tetragonal bipyramidal shape. By simply changing the concentration of the ionic liquid, the level of reactive {001} facets can be continuously tuned from 27 to 50%. The use of microwave heating is critical as it allows rapid and uniform heating of the reaction mixture. The TiO 2 single-crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The products exhibited excellent photocatalytic efficiency for both oxidation of nitric oxide in air and degradation of organic compounds in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. The relationship between the physicochemical properties and the photocatalytic performance of the samples is discussed. The TiO 2 single-crystals were found to be nontoxic using Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model.

Synthesis of the 31-amino acid, inner membrane protein MgtS (formerly denoted YneM) is induced by very low Mg in a PhoPQ-dependent manner in Here we report that MgtS acts to increase intracellular Mg levels and maintain cell integrity upon Mg depletion. Upon development of a functional tagged derivative of MgtS, we found that MgtS interacts with MgtA to increase the levels of this P-type ATPase Mg transporter under Mg-limiting conditions. Correspondingly, the effects of MgtS upon Mg limitation are lost in a ∆ mutant, and MgtA overexpression can suppress the ∆ phenotype. MgtS stabilization of MgtA provides an additional layer of regulation of this tightly controlled Mg transporter and adds to the list of small proteins that regulate inner membrane transporters.

Although initially thought to be transcriptional noise, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are gaining increased attention in human cancers as its diversity function. At present, lncRNAs are regarded as the main part of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network due to its regulation on protein-coding gene expression by acting as miRNA sponges. However, functional roles of lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs in muscle-invasive bladder cancer remain unclear. To clarify relevant potential mechanisms, here we comprehensively compared the expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs between 322 muscle-invasive bladder cancer tissues and 19 non-tumor bladder tissues, based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A total of 22 lncRNAs were identified as aberrantly expressed and had correlations with tumorigenesis and/or progression of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (|log2FoldChange| > 1.5, corrected P value < 0.01). 6 out of the 22 dysregulated lncRNAs functioned as prognostic biomarkers for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer according to the overall survival analysis (P value < 0.05). Finally, a dysregulated lncRNA-associated ceRNA network was successfully constructed, which inculdes five muscle-invasive bladder cancer-specific lncRNAs, nine miRNAs and 32 mRNAs. In summary, our study identified novel lncRNAs as candidate prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, based on large-scale sample size. More importantly, the newly identified ceRNA network will be beneficial for improving the understanding of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Fast and accurate diagnosis and the immediate isolation of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are regarded as the most effective measures to restrain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, we present a high-throughput, multi-index nucleic acid isothermal amplification analyzer (RTisochip™-W) employing a centrifugal microfluidic chip to detect 19 common respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, from 16 samples in a single run within 90 min. The limits of detection of all the viruses analyzed by the RTisochip™-W system were equal to or less than 50 copies·μL −1 , which is comparable to those of conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also demonstrate that the RTisochip™-W system possesses the advantages of good repeatability, strong robustness, and high specificity. Finally, we analyzed 201 cases of preclinical samples, 14 cases of COVID-19-positive samples, 25 cases of clinically diagnosed samples, and 614 cases of clinical samples from patients or suspected patients with respiratory tract infections using the RTisochip™-W system. The test results matched the referenced results well and reflected the epidemic characteristics of the respiratory infectious diseases. The coincidence rate of the RTisochip™-W with the referenced kits was 98.15% for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Based on these extensive trials, we believe that the RTisochip™-W system provides a powerful platform for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary In response to low levels of magnesium (Mg2+), the PhoQP two component system induces the transcription of two convergent genes, one encoding a 31-amino acid protein denoted MgtS and the second encoding a small, regulatory RNA (sRNA) denoted MgrR. Previous studies showed that the MgtS protein interacts with and stabilizes the MgtA Mg2+ importer to increase intracellular Mg2+ levels, while the MgrR sRNA base pairs with the eptB mRNA thus affecting lipopolysaccharide modification. Surprisingly, we found overexpression of the MgtS protein also leads to induction of the PhoRB regulon. Studies to understand this activation showed that MgtS forms a complex with a second protein, PitA, a cation-phosphate symporter. Given that the additive effect of ΔmgtA and ΔmgtS mutations on intracellular Mg2+ concentrations seen previously is lost in the ΔpitA mutant, we suggest that MgtS binds to and prevents Mg2+ leakage through PitA under Mg2+-limiting conditions. Consistent with a detrimental role of PitA in low Mg2+, we also observe MgrR sRNA repression of PitA synthesis. Thus, PhoQP induces the expression of two convergent small genes in response to Mg2+ limitation whose products act to modulate PitA at different levels to increase intracellular Mg2+.

In this study, ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐B) was used to effect the accumulation of vitamin C, phenolics and flavonoids in mung bean sprouts. Results indicate that the content of vitamin C and flavonoids increased during the initial period, and after a brief decline, reached peak levels of 25.29 ± 1.02 mg/100 g FW and 726.67 ± 7.35 mg/100 g DW, respectively, at 2.5 h (1.845 kJ m−2), while the peak levels of the phenolics were 10741.33 ± 68.04 mg/100 g DW. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content decreases with the increase in irradiation time. The activities of the related enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), L‐galactono‐1, 4‐lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) were determined, which showed strong correlations with the change in the content of vitamin C, phenolics and flavonoids. In conclusion, the accumulation of vitamin C, phenolics and flavonoids in mung bean sprouts can be promoted by a low‐dose UV‐B irradiation.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play a critical role in cancer development and progression. LncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT-1) is a kidney cancer-associated onco-lncRNA involved in the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the pathological role of lncRNA MALAT-1 in RCC proliferation and metastasis remains poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the biological role and mechanism of MALAT-1 in RCC proliferation and metastasis. The experiments were performed in human tissues, renal carcinoma cell lines, and nude mice. The expression of lncRNA MALAT-1, Livin mRNA, and the Livin protein was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or a Western blot. The interaction between MALAT-1 and Livin was evaluated by RNA pull-down and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP). Cell viability and apoptosis in RCC cell lines were detected using CCK-8 and TUNEL assays. LncRNA MALAT-1 and the Livin protein were highly expressed in RCC tissues, as well as in RCC 786-O and Caki-1 cell lines. MALAT-1 interference contributed to an increase in cell apoptosis and a reduction in the cell viability of 786-O and Caki-1 cells. The increase in apoptosis by si-MALAT-1 was reversed by overexpression of Livin. The RIP results showed that MALAT-1 promoted the expression of the Livin protein in 786-O and Caki-1 cells by enhancing the stability of the protein. Furthermore, the volume of si-MALAT-1-786-O cell xenograft was significantly suppressed. These data indicate that lncRNA MALAT-1-mediated promotion of RCC proliferation and metastasis may be due to the upregulation of the expression of Livin.

BACKGROUNDThe effects of postharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment (50 μmol L–1) on the control of gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea in blueberry fruit were evaluated by analyzing (i) the levels of disease resistance signals; (ii) the activity of enzymes involved in antioxidant system, disease resistance and phenylpropanoid pathway, and (iii) the secondary metabolite content.RESULTSThe results indicated that MeJA treatment significantly restrained the development of gray mold decay in blueberries. The treatment induced a nitric oxide (NO) burst and increased the endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in the earlier period of storage. The enhanced NO and H2O2 generation by MeJA treatment might serve as a signal to induce resistance against B. cinerea infection. Furthermore, in inoculated fruit, MeJA treatment significantly promoted antioxidant enzymes and defense‐related enzyme activity, which included superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, chitinase, and β‐1,3‐glucanase, and the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation was reduced. The MeJA treatment enhanced the phenylpropanoid pathway by provoking phenylalanine ammonialyase, cinnamate 4‐hydroxylase, and 4‐coumarate CoA ligase activity, which was accompanied by elevated levels of phenolics and flavonoids in blueberry fruit.CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that MeJA could induce the disease resistance of blueberries against B. cinerea by regulating the antioxidant enzymes, defense‐related enzymes, and the phenylpropanoid pathway through the activation of signaling molecules.