A single crystal of a lead−iodine-based 2D perovskite having naphthalene diimide ammonium (NDIA) molecules as organic layers was developed, and the charge transport property was studied using field-effect transistors (FETs) measurements. Structure determination reveals the layered alternative stacking of lead iodide sheets and NDIA bilayers. The presence of NDIA promoted the lead iodide octahedron to form the unique three-point co-planar [Pb 3 I 10 ] 4− unit, which then connected into the 2D network in a corner-sharing manner. The NDIA cations closely stacked into 1D chains within the bilayers that were being sandwiched between the inorganic layers. FET characteristics of the single crystal obtained at room temperature demonstrate V DS -dependent electron and hole transport behavior with mobilities reaching up to more than 5 × 10 −3 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . The 1D stack of NDIAs contributes greatly to the performance improvement for both the charge transport and the stability.

A series of Ln-MOFs with π-conjugated and uncoordinated lewis basic triazolyl ligand have luminescence modulation, near white light emission, selective luminescence sensing, and anticounterfeiting.

Several new isostructural lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs), {[Ln2(L)3DMA4]·2DMA} n (1-Ln, where Ln = Eu, Tb, or Eu x Tb1–x ), were first constructed via the solvothermal reactions of 4,6-di­(4-carboxyphenyl)­pyrimidine and Ln3+ ions. 1-Ln exhibits a 4-connected two-dimensional framework endowed with uncoordinated Lewis base sites. An exploration of luminescence sensing demonstrated 1-Eu can be used for the selectivity detection of dimetridazole and metronidazole antibiotics in other antibiotics, blood plasma, and urine, acting as an exceptional recyclable luminescent probe. More importantly, the luminescent inks of 1-Ln are invisible, color adjustable, and stabilized, which may greatly improve their anticounterfeiting applications.

A new porous metal–organic framework (MOF) {[Cd­(Hbptc)]·H2O} n (Cdbptc) was assembled by Cd­(II) ions and a rigid (1,1′-biphenyl)-2,4,6-tricarboxylic acid (H3bptc) ligand via a solvothermal method. Cdbptc was studied by the physical and chemical analyses methods, exhibiting captivating three-dimensional (3D) microporosity with a 1D channel of 1.7 nm decorated by the uncoordinated hydroxyl groups. It is worth noting that clusters were formed by Cd­(II) ions as the Lewis active sites, making it as an excellent reused homogeneous catalyst for the CO2 cycloaddition reaction. In addition, the fluorescence study of Cdbptc indicated Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, [Fe­(CN)6]3–, and Cr2O7 2– ions could be multiply detected with a low detection limit. Besides, the dye adsorption experiment demonstrated that methyl green (MG) dye could be selectively adsorbed by Cdbptc from other dyes, and the adsorption mechanism was testified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data and Fourier transform infrared spectrum data.

A bisthienylethene-functionalized perylene diimide (BTE-PDI) photochromic dyad was synthesized for self-assembly into 1-D nanotubes by a reprecipitation method. SEM and TEM observations showed that the nanotubes were formed from their 0-D precursors of hollow nanospheres. HR-TEM images revealed that both the nanospheres and the nanotubes have highly ordered lamellar structure, indicating the hierarchical process during assembly. The IR and XRD results revealed that DAE-PDI molecules were connected through intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form building blocks that self-assembled into nanostructures. Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic results indicated the H-aggregate nature of the self-assembled nanostructures. Competition and cooperation between the dipole-dipole interaction, intermolecular pi-pi stacking, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic interaction are suggested to result in nanostructures. Reconstruction was found to happen during the morphology transition progress from the 0-D nanospheres to the 1-D nanotubes, which was driven by donor-acceptor dipole-dipole interactions. Green emission at 520 nm originating from the DAE subunit was observed for the aggregates of vesicles and nanotubes, which could be regulated by photoirradiation with 365 nm light, suggesting the nanoaggregates to be photochromic switches.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) affects the global swine industry and causes disastrous economic losses each year. The genome of PRRSV is an enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA of approximately 15 kb. The PRRSV replicates primarily in alveolar macrophages of pig lungs and lymphatic organs and causes reproductive problems in sows and respiratory symptoms in piglets. To date, studies on how PRRSV survives in the host, the host immune response against viral infections, and pathogenesis, have been reported. PRRSV vaccines have been developed, including inactive virus, modified live virus, attenuated live vaccine, DNA vaccine, and immune adjuvant vaccines. However, there are certain problems with the durability and effectiveness of the licensed vaccines. Moreover, the high variability and fast-evolving populations of this RNA virus challenge the design of PRRSV vaccines, and thus effective vaccines against PRRSV have not been developed successfully. As is well known, viruses interact with the host to escape the host’s immune response and then replicate and propagate in the host, which is the key to virus survival. Here, we review the complex network and the mechanism of PRRSV–host interactions in the processes of virus infection. It is critical to develop novel antiviral strategies against PRRSV by studying these host–virus interactions and structures to better understand the molecular mechanisms of PRRSV immune escape.

A ternary nanocomposite of ZnMoNCs containing ZnO, ZnS and MoS2 has been synthesized by a facile strategy derived from polyoxometalate and ZIF-8, which shows high SERS activity by increased adsorption sites and synergistically improved charge transfer.

Relative of Early Flowing 6 (REF6) is a DNA-sequence-specific H3K27me3/2 demethylase that contains four zinc finger (ZnF) domains and targets several thousand genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The ZnF domains are essential for binding target genes, but the structural basis remains unclear. Here, we determined crystal structures of the ZnF domains and REF6-DNA complex, revealing a unique REF6-family-specific half-cross-braced ZnF (RCZ) domain and two C2H2-type ZnFs. DNA-binding induces a profound conformational change in the hinge region of REF6. Each REF6 recognizes six bases and DNA methylation reduces the binding affinity. Both the acidic region and basic region are important for the self-association of REF6. The REF6 DNA-binding affinity is determined by the sequence-dependent conformations of DNA and also the cooperativity in different target motifs. The conformational plasticity enables REF6 to function as a global transcriptional regulator that directly binds to many diverse genes, revealing the structural basis for the epigenetic modification recognition.