Over-application of nitrogen fertilizer in fields has had a negative impact on both environment and human health. Domesticated rice varieties with high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) reduce fertilizer for sustainable agriculture. Here, we perform genome-wide association analysis of a diverse rice population displaying extreme nitrogen-related phenotypes over three successive years in the field, and identify an elite haplotype of nitrate transporter OsNPF6.1HapB that enhances nitrate uptake and confers high NUE by increasing yield under low nitrogen supply. OsNPF6.1HapB differs in both the protein and promoter element with natural variations, which are differentially trans-activated by OsNAC42, a NUE-related transcription factor. The rare natural allele OsNPF6.1HapB, derived from variation in wild rice and selected for enhancing both NUE and yield, has been lost in 90.3% of rice varieties due to the increased application of fertilizer. Our discovery highlights this NAC42-NPF6.1 signaling cascade as a strategy for high NUE and yield breeding in rice.

No abstract

No abstract

The spontaneous formation of discrete spherical nanosized molecules is prevalent in nature, but the authentic structural mimicry of such highly symmetric polyhedra from edge sharing of regular polygons has remained elusive. Here we present a novel ball-shaped {(HNEt3)[Ag37S4(SC6H4(t)Bu)24(CF3COO)6(H2O)12]} cluster () that is assembled via a one-pot process from polymeric {(HNEt3)2[Ag10(SC6H4(t)Bu)12]}n and CF3COOAg. Single crystal X-ray analysis confirmed that is a Td symmetric spherical molecule with a [Ag36(SC6H4(t)Bu)24] anion shell enwrapping a AgS4 tetrahedron. The shell topology of belongs to one of 13 Archimedean solids, a truncated tetrahedron with four edge-shared hexagons and trigons, which are supported by a AgS4 Platonic solid in the core. Interestingly, the cluster emits green luminescence centered at 515 nm at room temperature. Our investigations have provided a promising synthetic protocol for a high-nuclearity silver cluster based on underlying geometrical principles.

Fatal influenza outcomes result from a combination of rapid virus replication and collateral lung tissue damage caused by exaggerated pro-inflammatory host immune cell responses. There are few therapeutic agents that target both biological processes for the attenuation of influenza-induced lung pathology. We show that Saikosaponin A, a bioactive triterpene saponin with previouslyestablished anti-inflammatory effects, demonstrates both in vitro and in vivo anti-viral activity against influenza A virus infections. Saikosaponin A attenuated the replication of three different influenza A virus strains, including a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. This anti-viral activity occurred through both downregulation of NF-κB signaling and caspase 3-dependent virus ribonucleoprotein nuclear export as demonstrated by NF-κB subunit p65 and influenza virus nucleoprotein nuclear translocation studies in influenza virus infected A549 cells. Critically, Saikosaponin A also attenuated viral replication, aberrant pro-inflammatory cytokine production and lung histopathology in the widely established H1N1 PR8 model of influenza A virus lethality in C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometry studies of mouse bronchoalveolar lavage cells revealed that SSa exerted immunomodulatory effects through a selective attenuation of lung neutrophil and monocyte recruitment during the early peak of the innate immune response to PR8 infection. Altogether, our results indicate that Saikosaponin A possesses novel therapeutic potential for the treatment of pathological influenza virus infections.

No abstract

Four Preyssler P5W30 based inorganic-organic hybrids, formulated as {[Cu12(pbtz)2(Hpbtz)2(OH)4(H2O)16][Na(H2O)P5W30O110]}·16H2O (1; H2pbtz = 5'-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H,2'H-3,3'-bi(1,2,4-triazole)), {[Cu10(ttbz)2(Httbz)4(OH)6(H2O)8][K(H2O)H2P5W30O110]}·30H2O (2; Httbz = 1-(tetrazo-5-yl)-4-(triazo-1-yl)benzene), {[Ni6(bpz)6(H2O)16][Na(H2O)H2P5W30O110]}·36H2O (3; bpz = 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4-bipyrazole), {[Co4(bpz)6(H2O)9][K(H2O)H6P5W30O110]}·46H2O (4), have been isolated and structurally identified via microanalysis, thermogravimetry (TG), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Compound 1 exhibits a 3D binodal (3,6)-connected ant framework composed of dodeca-supported P5W30 polyoxometalate (POM) clusters and discrete [Cu6(pbtz)(Hpbtz)(OH)2(H2O)8] subunits. Compound 2 is a pillared-layer 3D network constructed from [Cu5(ttbz)(Httbz)2(OH)3(H2O)4] sheets pillared by individual P5W30 clusters. Compound 3 contains octa-supporting P5W30 POM clusters and novel [Ni6(bpz)6] crown-like metallamacrocycles, which construct a (4,4)-connected pts network. Compound 4 displays a complicated 3D (5,5)-connected {4(5)·6(4)·8}{4(5)·6(5)} network built by pentasupporting P5W30 POM clusters and discrete [Co4(bpz)6(H2O)9] subunits. In 1-4, the unified features are the Preyssler-type [P5W30O110] POM as the fundamental building block, which supports the transition-metal compounds with different modes to give the resultant diverse networks. The magnetism studies indicated antiferromagnetically coupled systems for the hexa- and pentanuclear Cu(II) units in 1 and 2, respectively. The electrochemical properties demonstrate that all compounds have electrocatalytic abilities toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the catalytic activities of 1 in the cyanosilylation of aldehydes reaction have been investigated.

No abstract