p-Type semiconductors enable new opportunities for the development of photocatalysts. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) could now be manufactured for a wide range of applications. The zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), in particular, shows important desirable properties like good stability and a high surface area. Considering the p-type semiconducting intrinsic catalytic performance of CuBi2O4 (CBO) and the unique porous nanostructure and stability of ZIF-8, in this paper, we innovatively propose and investigate a new p-type semiconductor@MOFs (CBO@ZIF-8) material. Moreover, we focus on its application as a novel dual-function platform for simultaneous detection and degradation. The experimental results reveal that the platform is well suited for absorption, degradation, and fluorescent detection of certain targets. Using the contaminant, antibiotic tetracycline, as an example, the platform confirms excellent fluorescence sensing performance and good photodegradation properties under visible light. These results could aid the future design and implementation of novel and more sophisticated multifunction p-type semiconductor@MOFs platforms. The presented strategy represents the early stages of a future, genuine, general, multifunction platform.

BackgroundThe WRKYs are a major family of plant transcription factors that play roles in the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses; however, a comprehensive study of the WRKY family in roses (Rosa sp.) has not previously been performed.ResultsIn the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the WRKY genes in the rose (Rosa chinensis), including their phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, chromosomal locations, and collinearity. Using a phylogenetic analysis, we divided the 56 RcWRKY genes into three subgroups. The RcWRKYs were unevenly distributed across all seven rose chromosomes, and a study of their collinearity suggested that genome duplication may have played a major role in RcWRKY gene duplication. A Ka/Ks analysis indicated that they mainly underwent purifying selection. Botrytis cinerea infection induced the expression of 19 RcWRKYs, most of which had undergone gene duplication during evolution. These RcWRKYs may regulate rose resistance against B. cinerea. Based on our phylogenetic and expression analyses, RcWRKY41 was identified as a candidate regulatory gene in the response to B. cinerea infection, which was confirmed using virus-induced gene silencing.ConclusionsThis study provides useful information to facilitate the further study of the function of the rose WRKY gene family.

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Mitophagy is a vital cellular process playing vital roles in regulating cellular metabolism and mitochondrial quality control. Mitochondrial viscosity is a key microenvironmental index, closely associated with mitochondrial status. To monitor mitophagy and mitochondrial viscosity, three molecular rotors (Mito-1, Mito-2, and Mito-3) were developed. All probes contain a cationic quinolinium unit and a C12 chain so that they can tightly bind mitochondria and are not affected by the mitochondrial membrane potential. Optical studies showed that all probes are sensitive to viscosity changes with an off–on fluorescence response, and Mito-3 shows the best fluorescence enhancement. Bioimaging studies showed that all these probes can not only tightly locate and visualize mitochondria with near-infrared fluorescence but also effectively monitor the mitochondrial viscosity changes in cells. Moreover, Mito-3 was successfully applied to visualize the mitophagy process induced by starvation, and mitochondrial viscosity was found to show an increase during mitophagy. We expect Mito-3 to become a useful imaging tool for studying mitochondrial viscosity and mitophagy.

Dietary supplement use is increasing globally, especially among children. However, few studies have been conducted to examine dietary supplement use among Chinese children. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dietary supplement use and the associated factors in primary school students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary schools in Hunan province, China. A total of 706 Chinese parents/caregivers of school children aged 6–12 years old were enrolled. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to collect information about the children’s dietary supplement use, and their socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of dietary supplement use in primary school students was 20.4%. Calcium (16.7%), vitamin C (9.2%), and vitamin D (8.5%) were the most commonly used types of dietary supplement. The main reasons for parents/caregivers to purchase dietary supplements for their children were immunity improvement (43.6%), and for growth promotion (36.5%). Some caregivers (26.4%) purchased dietary supplements online, including from dubious or unknown sellers. However, 37.5% of caregivers did not receive formal guidance on supplementation even if they purchased their supplements through formal channels. Parents/caregivers were unclear about the appropriate choices for children’s dietary supplement use. Guidelines and counseling regarding dietary supplements for children may be helpful in public health work.

Background The AP2/ERFs belong to a large family of transcription factors in plants. The AP2/ERF gene family has been identified as a key player involved in both biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants, however, no comprehensive study has yet been carried out on the AP2/ERF gene family in rose (Rosa sp.), the most important ornamental crop worldwide. Results The present study comprises a genome-wide analysis of the AP2/ERF family genes (RcERFs) in the rose, involving their identification, gene structure, phylogenetic relationship, chromosome localization, collinearity analysis, as well as their expression patterns. Throughout the phylogenetic analysis, a total of 131 AP2/ERF genes in the rose genome were divided into 5 subgroups. The RcERFs are distributed over all the seven chromosomes of the rose, and genome duplication may have played a key role in their duplication. Furthermore, Ka/Ks analysis indicated that the duplicated RcERF genes often undergo purification selection with limited functional differentiation. Gene expression analysis revealed that 23 RcERFs were induced by infection of the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Presumably, these RcERFs are candidate genes which can react to the rose’s resistance against Botrytis cinerea infection. By using virus-induced gene silencing, we confirmed that RcERF099 is an important regulator involved in the B.cinerea resistance in the rose petal. Conclusion Overall, our results conclude the necessity for further study of the AP2/ERF gene family in rose, and promote their potential application in improving the rose when subjected to biological stress.

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is an important ornamental plant with a wide variety of flower colors. Despite its economic value, few biochemical and molecular studies have explored the generation of flower color in this species. To study the mechanism underlying marigold petal color, we performed a metabolite analysis and de novo cDNA sequencing on the inbred line ‘V-01’ and its petal color mutant ‘V-01M’ at four flower developmental stages. A total of 49,217 unigenes were identified from 24 cDNA libraries. Based on our metabolites and transcriptomic analyses, we present an overview of carotenoid biosynthesis, degradation, and accumulation in marigold flowers. The carotenoid content of the yellow mutant ‘V-01M’ was higher than that of the orange inbred line ‘V-01’, and the abundances of the yellow compounds lutein, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and antheraxanthin were significantly higher in the mutant. During flower development, the carotenoid biosynthesis genes were upregulated in both ‘V-01’ and ‘V-01M’, with no significant differences between the two lines. By contrast, the carotenoid degradation genes were dramatically downregulated in the yellow mutant ‘V-01M’. We therefore speculate that the carotenoid degradation genes are the key factors regulating the carotenoid content of marigold flowers. Our research provides a large amount of transcriptomic data and insights into the marigold color metabolome.

Ferrite nanoparticles have been widely used in the biomedical field (such as magnetic targeting, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic hyperthermia, etc.) due to their appealing magnetic properties. In tumor acidic microenvironment, ferrite nanoparticles show intrinsic peroxidase-like activities, which can catalyze the Fenton reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce highly toxic hydroxyl free radicals (•OH), causing the death of tumor cell. Recent progresses in this field have shown that the enzymatic activity of ferrite can be improved via converting external field energy such as alternating magnetic field and near-infrared laser into nanoscale heat to produce more •OH, enhancing the killing effect on tumor cells. On the other hand, combined with other nanomaterials or drugs for cascade reactions, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can also be increased to obtain more efficient cancer therapy. In this review, we will discuss the current status and progress of the application of ferrite nanoparticles in ROS-mediated cancer therapy and try to provide new ideas for this area.