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GRAS proteins belong to a plant-specific protein family with many members and play essential roles in plant growth and development, functioning primarily in transcriptional regulation. Proteins in the family are minimally defined as containing the conserved GRAS domain. Here, we determined the structure of the GRAS domain of Os-SCL7 from rice (Oryza sativa) to 1.82 Å. The structure includes cap and core subdomains and elucidates the features of the conserved GRAS LRI, VHIID, LRII, PFYRE, and SAW motifs. The structure is a dimer, with a clear groove to accommodate double-stranded DNA. Docking a DNA segment into the groove to generate an Os-SCL7/DNA complex provides insight into the DNA binding mechanism of GRAS proteins. Furthermore, the in vitro DNA binding property of Os-SCL7 and model-defined recognition residues are assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis and mutagenesis assays. These studies reveal the structure and preliminary DNA interaction mechanisms of GRAS proteins and open the door to in-depth investigation and understanding of the individual pathways in which they play important roles.

A bioinspired photocatalytic nanocomposite membrane was successfully prepared via polydopamine (pDA)-coated poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane, as a secondary platform for vacuum-filtrated Au-TiO nanocomposites, with enhanced photocatalytic activity. The degradation efficiency of Au-TiO/pDA/PVDF membranes reached 92% when exposed to visible light for 120 min, and the degradation efficiency of Au-TiO/pDA/PVDF membranes increased by 26% compared to that of Au-TiO powder and increased by 51% compared to that of TiO/pDA/PVDF nanocomposite membranes. The degradation efficiency remained about 90% after five cycle experiments, and the Au-TiO/pDA/PVDF nanocomposite membranes showed good stability, regeneration performance, and easy recycling. The pDA coating not only served as a bioadhesion interface to improve the bonding force between the catalyst and the membrane substrate but also acted as a photosensitizer to broaden the wavelength response range of TiO, and the structure of Au-TiO/pDA/PVDF also improves the transfer rate of photogenerated electrons; the surface plasmon resonance effect of Au also played a positive role in improving the activity of the catalyst. Therefore, we believe that this study opens up a new strategy in preparing the bioinspired photocatalytic nanocomposite membrane for potential wastewater purification, catalysis, and as a membrane separation field.

Magnesium alloys may potentially be applied as biodegradable metallic materials in cardiovascular stent. However, the high corrosion rate hinders its clinical application. In this study, a new approach was adopted to control the corrosion rate by fabricating a biocompatible micro-arc oxidation/poly-L-lactic acid (MAO/PLLA) composite coating on the magnesium alloy WE42 substrate and the biocompatibility of the modified samples was investigated. The scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images were used to demonstrate the morphology of the samples before and after being submerged in hanks solution for 4 weeks. The degradation was evaluated through the magnesium ions release rate and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test. The biocompatibility of the samples was demonstrated by coagulation time and hemolysis behavior. The result shows that the poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) effectively improved the corrosion resistance by sealing the microcracks and microholes on the surface of the MAO coating. The modified samples had good compatibility.

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Photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 into valuable hydrocarbon fuels is one of the green ways to solve the energy problem and achieve carbon neutrality. Exploring photocatalyst with low toxicity and highefficiency is the key to realize it. Here we report a lead-free halide perovskite-based 0D/2D Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 /Bi 2 WO 6 (CBB/BWO) S-scheme heterojunction for CO 2 photoreduction, prepared by a facile electrostatic self-assembly approach. The CBB/BWO shows superior photoreduction of CO 2 under visible light with CO generation rate of 220.1 μmol•g −1 •h −1 , which is ∼115.8 and ∼18.5 times higher than that of Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 perovskite quantum dots (CBB PQDS) and Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets (BWO NS), respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the tight 0D/2D structure and S-scheme charge transfer pathway between the Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 PQDS and atomic layers of the Bi 2 WO 6 NS, which shortens transmission distance of photogenerated carriers and boosts efficient separation and transfer of the carriers. This work provides insight in manufacturing potential lead-free perovskite-based photocatalysts for achieving carbon neutrality.