Histone crotonylation is a new lysine acylation type of post-translational modification (PTM) enriched at active gene promoters and potential enhancers in yeast and mammalian cells. However, lysine crotonylation in nonhistone proteins and plant cells has not yet been studied. In the present study, we performed a global crotonylation proteome analysis of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) using high-resolution LC-MS/MS coupled with highly sensitive immune-affinity purification. A total of 2044 lysine modification sites distributed on 637 proteins were identified, representing the most abundant lysine acylation proteome reported in the plant kingdom. Similar to lysine acetylation and succinylation in plants, lysine crotonylation was related to multiple metabolism pathways, such as carbon metabolism, the citrate cycle, glycolysis, and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Importantly, 72 proteins participated in multiple processes of photosynthesis, and most of the enzymes involved in chlorophyll synthesis were modified through crotonylation. Numerous crotonylated proteins were implicated in the biosynthesis, folding, and degradation of proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Several crotonylated proteins related to chromatin organization are also discussed here. These data represent the first report of a global crotonylation proteome and provide a promising starting point for further functional research of crotonylation in nonhistone proteins.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Laponite (PNIPAM/Laponite) gradient nanocomposite hydrogel actuators are developed as temperature-controlled actuators with excellent performance using a facile electrophoresis method. The actuators exhibit a rapid (20 s response time) and reversible response, as well as large deformation (bending angle of 231°), which is due to the graded forces generated by the thermo-induced anisotropic shrinkage and extension of the gradient hydrogels. A good linear relationship is observed between the maximum bending angles and the corresponding temperatures for the actuators with fixed sizes. Moreover, the gradient hydrogel with high water content achieved larger actuation angles and shorter response time than the one with low water content, showing an interesting water-promoted effect. Meanwhile, different types of actuators are designed to suit for more specific scenarios, and may be used for various applications, such as biosensing, artificial organization, and transportation of targeted objects.

According to our previous research on the antiviral activity of β-carboline and tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives, using (1S,3S)-1-methyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carbohydrazide (1) as a lead compound, series of novel tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives containing acylhydrazone moiety were designed, synthesized, and first evaluated for their biological activities. Most of these compounds exhibited excellent antiviral activity both in vitro and in vivo. The in vivo inactivation, curative, and protection activities of compounds 8, 9, 12, 16, 28, 29, and 30 were much higher than that of ribavirin (37.6%, 39.4%, and 37.9% at 500 μg/mL) and the lead compound (40.0%, 42.3%, and 39.6% at 500 μg/mL). Especially, the in vitro and in vivo activities of compound 16 (36.9%, 33.6%, 30.2%, and 35.8%) at 100 μg/mL, which were very close to that of ribavirin (40.0% for in vitro activity) at 500 μg/mL. Compounds 9 and 29 were chosen for the field trials of antiviral efficacy against TMV (tobacco mosaic virus); the results exhibited that both compounds, especially compound 29, showed better activities than control plant virus inhibitors. At the same time, the fungicidal results showed that compounds 6, 9, and 11 exhibited good fungicidal activities against 14 kinds of phytopathogens. Additionally, compounds 3 and 23 exhibited moderate insecticidal activity against the four tested species of insects.

On the basis of a self-assembly technique with polystyrene (PS) spheres as colloidal template, the composite TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres are synthesized by combining a water bath with a calcining postprocessing method. XRD, UV−vis/ DRS, XPS, SEM−EDS, TEM, HR-TEM, and N 2 adsorption−desorption measurements are employed to characterize the composition, structure, and morphology of TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres. The results show that TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres are mainly TiO 2 anatase and retain well the spherical structure of the PS crystal template, whose shell is closely packed by TiO 2 − ZrO 2 nanoparticles, with thickness of ca. 24 nm. The combination of TiO 2 and ZrO 2 and the special hollow structure are beneficial to improve the photocatalytic activity. TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres have remarkable photocatalytic properties under UV light, simulated sunlight, and microwave-assisted three different modes, which can also degrade organic pollutants of different structures. In addition, the H 2 evolution quantity in 8 h, which is produced by the photolysis of water, is 23.7 μmol, indicating that TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres have a certain hydrogen production performance. Moreover, the results of the trapping experiment indicate that the active radicals • O 2 − , h + , and • OH − are responsible for the photocatalytic reaction, and the possible reaction mechanism of TiO 2 −ZrO 2 hollow spheres in both photocatalytic degradation and photocatalytic H 2 evolution from splitting water is also proposed.

HighlightsApoferritin improved MPTP-induced motor deficits.Apoferritin rescued dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. Apoferritin inhibited MPTP-induced iron aggregation.Apoferritin prevented MPTP-induced ferroptosis by regulation of ACSL4 and FSP1.