Insect Science
·
2026
·
IF 3.7
Kang-Kang Xu,Yang-Fan Zhou,Wen-Jia Yang,Fang-Hao Wan,Guy Smagghe,Can Li
Laccase-2 (Lac2) is a key phenoloxidase that catalyzes cuticular sclerotization and pigmentation, which are processes essential for insect molting and metamorphosis. Although the alternatively spliced isoform Lac2A is known to function in cuticular tanning, the physiological role of Lac2B has remained largely unresolved. Here, we identified and functionally characterized two Lac2 isoforms, LsLac2A and LsLac2B , from the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne , a globally important stored-product pest. Both isoforms are highly expressed during the pupal and eclosion stages, with transcripts localized mainly in the cuticle and wing tissues, and are transcriptionally induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), linking their activity to endocrine regulation of development. Functional analyses revealed that LsLac2A and LsLac2B have distinct and complementary roles in molting and metamorphosis. During larval molting, LsLac2A promotes the synthesis of new cuticle by regulating genes involved in cuticular protein and chitin biosynthesis, whereas LsLac2B facilitates degradation of the old cuticle through modulation of chitinolytic and cuticular protein-degrading genes. In the pupal stage, both isoforms influence elytral pigmentation, sclerotization, and wing morphogenesis via the coordinated regulation of wing development-related and yellow family genes. These results reveal isoform-specific functions of LsLac2 in cuticle renewal and morphogenesis, uncovering a novel mechanism of hormonal and genetic integration during insect development. This work provides new insight into the molecular specialization of Lac2 and identifies promising RNAi-based targets for the sustainable control of L. serricorne .
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 8.2
Hu Xu,Niannian Lv,Yongqin Liu
Psychrophilic cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) is a promising biocatalyst for cold-process dairy manufacturing, yet its industrial application is hampered by the inherent trade-off between low-temperature activity and substrate affinity. To overcome this limitation, a semi-rational design strategy was implemented on a psychrophilic CE (psyCE). A GFP-based fluorescence assay was developed to normalize mutant expression, enabling precise identification of activity improvements. Structure analysis pinpointed six key residues for targeted mutagenesis, and a saturation mutagenesis library was constructed accordingly. Screening of the library yielded a robust double mutant (FR) with superior kinetics. The FR variant exhibited a record-breaking catalytic turnover (245.7 s −1 vs. 219.9 s −1 ) and an improved substrate affinity (208.9 mM vs. 261.9 mM), resulting in a 40% increase in overall catalytic efficiency. In a practical biocatalysis trial at 8 °C, FR achieved a 21% epilactose yield within 3 h, outperforming the wild type (20% within 4 h). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the structural basis of this enhancement by showing the FR mutant evolves an enlarged binding pocket, while simultaneously establishing a strengthened hydrogen-bond network. This study not only provides a highly efficient cold-active biocatalyst but also establishes a screening platform for engineering psychrophilic enzymes.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2026
·
IF 7.8
Jiling Zhao,Zhaonan Yan,Qing Zhao,Weiran Diao,Ruichao Zhang,Jingyi Feng,Pingxia Zhang,Juan Wen,Yong Qin
The pursuit of high-purity cobalt is driven by its irreplaceable role in advanced electronic devices, particularly as a promising interconnect material for next-generation integrated circuits. However, the coexistence of nickel, which shares highly similar physicochemical properties with cobalt, presents a critical bottleneck in achieving electronic-grade purity cobalt. Developing efficient and selective separation materials is therefore paramount. In this study, we designed and synthesized an environmentally friendly adsorbent-chitosan beads functionalized with bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (CBs-PY). The CBs-PY adsorbent exhibits exceptional selectivity for Ni(II) over Co(II) under strongly acidic conditions (pH 2), achieving a remarkable separation factor of 100.31, significantly outperforming conventional pyridine-based resins. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS) revealed the formation of stable Ni–N2 coordination structure on CBs-PY, with adsorbed Ni(II) ions showing low surface oligomerization. Furthermore, the adsorbent demonstrats excellent acid stability, reusability, and consistent performance in high-salinity environments. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for the separation of Ni(II) and Co(II) in acidic media, offering significant potential for applications.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Advanced Science
·
2026
·
IF 14.1
Sidi Yang,Kun Li,Lihong Liu,Linsen Zeng,Qifeng Deng,Jiacheng Huang,Xiaoran Dong,Xin Wang,Jianwei Liang,Hongchao Liu,Hong Peng,Yuxin Lin,Xiaolu Xie,Yuzhen Ye,Tiefeng Xu,Zhaohuan Wang,Chun-Mei Li,Deyin Guo
SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF3a contributes to viral pathogenesis through membrane remodeling, immune evasion, and inflammation induction. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ORF3a-mediated pathogenesis remain poorly characterized, and no therapeutic strategies targeting ORF3a currently exist. Here, we demonstrate that palmitoylation, a post-translational modification, governs ORF3a-mediated viral pathogenesis. Specifically, ORF3a undergoes ZDHHC18-mediated palmitoylation at evolutionarily conserved Cys130/Cys133 residues, which stabilizes the protein by masking an intrinsic proteasomal degradation signal. This palmitoylation competitively inhibits tripartite motif-containing 16 (TRIM16)-dependent K27-linked polyubiquitination, thereby preventing ORF3a degradation and enhancing viral replication and inflammatory responses. A designed ORF3a-mimicking palmitoylation-inhibitory peptide (OPIP) blocked ORF3a palmitoylation, promoted its degradation, and significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity. Collectively, these findings establish ZDHHC18-mediated palmitoylation as a central regulator of ORF3a stability and virulence, revealing a potentially druggable axis for disrupting SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MINERALS ENGINEERING
·
2026
·
IF 6
Suofeiya Ba,Junjie Zhang,Jiehong Liu,Zhe Liu,Yibo Li,Chengchao Liu,Shouxing He,Yaoguo Huang,Wen Tan
5-methyl isobutylxanthate-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione (MIXODT) was designed. • Ionic MIXODT exhibits enhanced electron-donating ability. • Stronger adsorption on chalcopyrite than galena was confirmed. • Cu–S/N orbital hybridization governs selective chemisorption. • Flotation tests agree well with theoretical predictions. To achieve highly selective separation of chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) from galena (PbS), we introduced a xanthate ester group into the 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione skeleton based on a synergistic coordination design strategy and synthesized a collector, 5-isobutyl xanthate methyl ester-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione (MIXODT), with 5-heptyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione (HPODT) lacking this group as a control. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the ionized form (MIXODT − ) is the predominant reactive species. MIXODT⁻ exhibited significantly higher adsorption energy on the chalcopyrite (0 0 1) surface than on the galena (1 0 0) surface, and outperformed HPODT − . Density of states (DOS) and charge analysis revealed that MIXODT⁻ formed multi-site Cu–S/Cu–N coordination bonds with surface Cu atoms through S and N active sites, leading to pronounced orbital hybridization and electron transfer, while only weak interactions occurred at Pb sites. Flotation experiments confirmed this selective interfacial bonding and achieved a distinct “high Cu, low Pb” separation window under low-alkaline conditions. The core innovation of this work lies in the multi-site synergistic coordination mechanism at the interface, which establishes an inherent link among molecular design, interfacial coordination chemistry, and selective flotation behavior, providing theoretical guidance for the rational design of collectors for copper-lead sulfide ores. Combining quantum chemical calculations with flotation experiments, this work systematically elucidated the multi-site coordination mechanism and selective flotation behavior of oxadiazole-2-thione-based collectors in chalcopyrite-galena separation. Download: Download high-res image (132KB) Download: Download full-size image
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
·
2026
·
IF 5.2
Dandan Chen,Bin Yin,Zhirun Ji,Zhiqi Liu,Jiahao Li,Fei Liu,Xuping Wu
Amplification-free digital detection of SARS-CoV-2 via CRISPR/Cas12a. • Pneumatically actuated droplet microfluidics enables uniform ∼30 μm droplets. • Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 with demonstrated performance in clinical samples. • Offers a simple, portable method for rapid virus detection. Outbreaks of respiratory viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2), Influenza A (IAV), and Influenza B (IBV) viruses, present a formidable challenge to global public health, driving the urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and deployable diagnostic tools. Here, we present an amplification-free digital nucleic acid detection platform that synergistically integrates a pneumatically actuated droplet microfluidics platform (PADMP) with CRISPR/Cas12a. PADMP enables the precise generation of highly uniform, monodisperse microdroplets (∼30 μm), within which an optimized Cas12a reaction is compartmentalized. This digital partitioning strategy exponentially increases the local target concentration and facilitates single-molecule detection without pre-amplification. Through systematic optimization of droplet stability, surfactant formulation, and Cas12a assay kinetics, the PADMP-Cas12a platform achieves a detection limit (LOD) of 100 pM for synthetic SARS-CoV-2 N gene targets within 40 min. It demonstrates exceptional specificity, showing no cross-reactivity with non-target respiratory viruses (IAV, IBV, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HRSV). The platform successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 in clinical positive samples, with mean droplet fluorescence intensity negatively correlated with Ct values. By combining the advantages of droplet microfluidics with the programmable recognition and trans -cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas12a, this platform provides a rapid, amplification-free, and highly specific digital detection pathway for RNA viruses, marking an important advance toward high-throughput and point-of-care testing (POCT) for molecular diagnostics. Download: Download high-res image (127KB) Download: Download full-size image
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Journal of Materials Chemistry B
·
2026
·
IF 6.2
Xiaoyu Ma,Zhuang Zhang,Dandan Yang,Hui Wang,Hao Zhang,Yue Yang,Siying Li,Yuping Shan
Beyond the canonical angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-mediated entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into host cells, basigin (BSG) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) may also act as alternative receptors that can facilitate viral attachment and subsequent endocytosis. Herein, we analyzed the binding efficiency and binding dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs), mediated by BSG and DPP4 at the single-particle level, by combining super-resolution direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). dSTORM imaging demonstrated that DPP4 exhibits higher surface expression levels than BSG on HepG2 cells. However, SARS-CoV-2 VLPs display a distinct preference for BSG-dependent cellular entry. Using SMFS, we further probed the binding dynamics between the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and these two receptors. The results demonstrated that RBD-BSG exhibits greater stability and a more rapid formation rate compared to RBD-DPP4. Subsequently, a real-time force tracing technique was used to show that BSG-mediated VLP entry requires lower force and faster speed compared with DPP4-mediated entry. In particular, we confirmed that the structural integrity of intramolecular disulfide bonds within the RBD is indispensable for mediating high-affinity receptor binding. These findings elucidate the distinct receptor-mediated endocytic dynamic mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 entry mediated by BSG and DPP4, expanding our understanding of viral invasion beyond the ACE2 pathway and providing insights into potential intervention strategies targeting viral infection.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
·
2026
·Vol. 46
·期 14
·118532
·
IF 6.3
Jingdan Lei,Xiaoyun Yang,Mengxiang Wu,Xiwei Zhang,Di Yuan,Huijuan Geng,Chong Han,Zhaoyang Han,Zhenjie Tang,Chao Wang
Mg 3 (Sb, Bi) 2 is a promising mid- to low- temperature thermoelectric material owing to its earth-abundant composition. However, its performance is limited by low intrinsic carrier concentration and the inherent trade-off among thermoelectric parameters. Herein, large-grain sized Mg 3.01 Sb 1.3 Bi 0.69 Te 0.01 Ho 0.07 are fabricated via melting method at 1423 K using a tantalum-sealing technique. A high peak zT of 1.6 at 700 K is realized, along with a peak power factor of 24 μW cm −1 K −2 and a low κ L of 0.41 W m −1 K −1 . The superior performance originates from synergistic manipulation of electron and phonon transport. Ho doping optimizes carrier concentration up to 7.2 × 10 19 cm −3 due to its small electronegativity difference with Mg, while the large grain ensures high carrier mobility. Simultaneously, atomic-scale alloy disorder suppresses phonon propagation, resulting in a substantial reduction in lattice thermal conductivity. This work highlights the great potential of synergistic transport engineering for high-performance Mg 3 (Sb, Bi) 2 -based thermoelectric materials.
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
Particle and Fibre Toxicology
·
2026
·
IF 10.6
Sun Ying,Xu Xiaoqin,Sun Guoting,Li Jiang,Yu Bowei,Wang Yuying,Zhang Kun,Xia Fangzhen,Lu Yingli,Wang Ningjian
Background Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with potential hepatotoxicity, yet direct epidemiological evidence linking internal MP exposure to liver injury is scarce, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this cross-sectional study nested within the METAL2 cohort, we aimed to characterize blood microplastic profiles in patients with T2D and to determine whether specific MP polymers are associated with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis risk, with experimental validation of the identified polymer. Results In patients with T2D, multiple MP polymers were detectable in blood, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide 66 (PA66), and polystyrene (PS) being the most prevalent. Although PVC constituted the largest proportion of total MP burden, PS showed the most consistent nominal positive liver-related signal in the human analyses, including higher levels in participants with elevated fibrosis risk and higher FIB-4 and ALT in the highest exposure quartile. Experimental validation in diabetic mice demonstrated that PS microplastics markedly exacerbated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and collagen deposition, leading to overt liver fibrosis. Mechanistically, PS-MPs exposure disrupted hepatic lipid homeostasis and concurrently activated the NLRP3 inflammasome and the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, promoting inflammatory amplification and hepatic stellate cell activation. Conclusion This integrated human and experimental study provides preliminary evidence that circulating PS-associated signals are linked to liver-related indices in T2D, while experimental findings support the biological plausibility that PS exposure may aggravate hepatic injury under diabetic conditions.
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
·
2026
·
IF 10.9
Zhao Tong,Zhao Yichen,Mao Tingting,Da Weixuan,Qin Lina,Liu Li,Liu Huan,Cheng Bolun,Wen Yan,Zhang Feng,Jia Yumeng
Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a multifactorial endemic osteoarthropathy that has been associated with nutritional and environmental factors, including selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin exposure. However, whether combined selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin exposure affects hepatic xenobiotic metabolism has not been systematically investigated. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a selenium-adequate or selenium-deficient diet for 4 weeks, followed by another 4 weeks with or without daily oral T-2 toxin (0.2 mg/kg). Plasma selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured. Hepatic histology, activities of major mouse cytochrome P450 (Cyp450) isoforms, and corresponding mRNA and protein expression were assessed. RNA sequencing was performed using liver samples from four biological replicates per group to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways. Selenium deficiency was confirmed by significantly reduced plasma selenium levels and GPx activity. Histological examination revealed marked hepatic steatosis. Transmission electron microscopy further showed prominent ultrastructural alterations including endoplasmic reticulum dilation. The activities of five hepatic Cyp450 isoforms, Cyp1a2, Cyp2b10, Cyp2c29, Cyp2c50, and Cyp3a11, were significantly increased to 1.64–2.51 times the control levels, consistent with increased mRNA and protein expression. Combined selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin exposure was associated with increased hepatic Cyp450 enzyme activity and expression, identifying the liver as a responsive target of KBD-related exposures. These findings suggest the need to further evaluate hepatic xenobiotic metabolism in populations from KBD-endemic areas.
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2025
·
IF 8.2
Ling Yu,Fengkai Qiu,Yumin Hu,Tingting Liao,Mengqian Zhai,Ronghua Wu,Qianhui He,Huilin Hu,Shuiwei Xia,Junguo Hui,Zufei Wang,Yang Yang,Rongfang Qiu,Minjiang Chen,Weiqian Chen,Jianfei Tu,Jiansong Ji,Chenying Lu
Because of the high incidence and mortality of cancer, there is an urgent need for more effective tumor diagnostic imaging and treatment strategies. Single-molecule therapeutics have emerged as a promising strategy to address the limitations of independent imaging and therapeutic modalities, thereby significantly reducing adverse side effects for patients. For the first time, we successfully synthesized NaGd(MoO4)2 nanoparticles via a homogeneous precipitation method in polyol media, which serve as a single-molecule agent for MRI imaging and metallic immunotherapy. With the addition of iRGD, we obtained iRGD-NaGd(MoO4)2. The iRGD-NaGd(MoO4)2 nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor-targeting capability and significantly enhance T1-weighted MRI contrast with a longitudinal relaxivity of 4.95 mM–1 s–1. In terms of antitumor immunotherapy, iRGD-NaGd(MoO4)2 not only directly activates the cGAS-STING pathway but also induces ferroptosis in tumor cells, resulting in the generation of aberrant dsDNA and thereby indirectly activating the STING pathway. The dual pathway elicits a tumor-specific immune response, plays a significant role in promoting the maturation of DC cells, activates DC and T cells to secrete high levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and other cytokines, and regulates the polarization of macrophages from M2 phenotype to M1 phenotype. This mechanism significantly suppresses tumor growth. Beyond the metallic immunotherapy induced by Mn2+, Zn2+, and Co2+, this study provides robust validation of MoO42– as an effective cGAS-STING agonist. Moreover, this study achieved the synergy of multiple disciplines including biomaterials, tumor immunotherapy and medical imaging. This not only promotes the innovative integration in various fields, but also provides new treatment strategies and imaging tools for cancer treatment, which has important clinical application prospects.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2025
·
IF 9.8
Wenjing Qian,Yumei Chen,Hongliang Liu,Yankai Liu,Chao Liang,Xifang Zhu,Enping Liu,Aiping Wang,Jingming Zhou
A novel electrochemical immunosensor was proposed for rapid determination of virginiamycin M1 (VIR M1). To enhance the sensitivity, anti-VIR M1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and silver nanoparticles-Zinc 2-methylimidazole MOF (AgNPs-ZIF-8) nanocomposite were used as bio-recognition element and electrode modification material for signal amplification, respectively. The characterization of nanocomposite was performed using ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under optimal conditions, proposed immunosensor achieved quantitative detection of VIR M1 in range from 0.4 to 20 ng/mL, with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.32 ng/mL. The immunosensor was applied to feed and food of animal origin with recoveries ranging from 90.51 % to 101.17 %, featuring RSDs within 2.8 % to 8.8 %. Therefore, the immunosensor could be a promising tool for determining VIR M1 levels in feed and residues in food of animal origin.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）