We have prepared a hetero-tetrametallic assembly consisting of three ytterbium ions coordinated to a central [Ru­(bpm)3]2+ (bpm = 2,2′-bipyrimidine) motif. Irradiation into the absorption band of the peripheral ytterbium ions at 980 nm engenders emission of the 3MLCT state of the central [Ru­(bpm)3]2+ core at 636 nm, which represents the first example of f → d molecular upconversion (UC). Time-resolved measurements reveal a slow rise of the UC emission, which was modeled with a mathematical treatment of the observed kinetics according to a cooperative photosensitization mechanism using a virtual Yb centered doubly excited state followed by energy transfer to the Ru centered 1MLCT state.

Pin1 is a unique phosphorylation-dependent peptidyl-prolyl isomerase that regulates diverse subcellular processes and an important potential therapeutic target. Functional mechanisms of Pin1 are complicated because of the two-domain structural organization: the catalytic domain both binds the specific pSer/Thr-Pro motif and catalyzes the cis/trans isomerization, whereas the WW domain can only bind the trans configuration and is speculated to be responsible for substrate-binding specificity. Numerous studies of Pin1 have led to two divergent conclusions on the functional role of the WW domain. One opinion states that the WW domain is an allosteric effector, and substrate binding to this domain modulates the binding and catalysis in the distal catalytic domain. The other opinion, however, argues that the WW domain does not have any allosteric role. Here, using molecular dynamics and binding free-energy calculations, we examine catalysis and allosteric mechanisms in Pin1 under various substrate- and WW-binding conditions. Our results reveal a strong substrate sequence dependency of catalysis, domain-binding preferences, and allosteric outputs in Pin1. Importantly, we show that the different opinions about the WW domain can be unified in one framework, in which substrate sequences determine whether a positive, negative, or neural allosteric effect will be elicited. Our work further elucidates detailed mechanisms underlying the sequence-dependent allostery of Pin1 and finds that interdomain contacts are key mediators of intraprotein allosteric communications. Our findings collectively provide new insights into the function of Pin1, which may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic drugs targeting Pin1 in the future.

Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) plays a vital role in the maintenance of the viral genome and is the only viral protein expressed in nearly all forms of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) latency and EBV-associated diseases, including numerous cancer types. To our knowledge, no specific agent against EBV genes or proteins has been established to target EBV lytic reactivation. Here we report an EBNA1- and Zn2+-responsive probe (ZRL5P4) which alone could reactivate the EBV lytic cycle through specific disruption of EBNA1. We have utilized the Zn2+chelator to further interfere with the higher order of EBNA1 self-association. The bioprobe ZRL5P4can respond independently to its interactions with Zn2+and EBNA1 with different fluorescence changes. It can selectively enter the nuclei of EBV-positive cells and disrupt the oligomerization andoriP-enhanced transactivation of EBNA1. ZRL5P4can also specifically enhance Dicer1 and PML expression, molecular events which had been reported to occur after the depletion of EBNA1 expression. Importantly, we found that treatment with ZRL5P4alone could reactivate EBV lytic induction by expressing the early and late EBV lytic genes/proteins. Lytic induction is likely mediated by disruption of EBNA1 oligomerization and the subsequent change of Dicer1 expression. Our probe ZRL5P4is an EBV protein-specific agent that potently reactivates EBV from latency, leading to the shrinkage of EBV-positive tumors, and our study also suggests the association of EBNA1 oligomerization with the maintenance of EBV latency.