bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Activation of GPER1 in macrophages ameliorates UUO-induced renal fibrosis
Authors: Xie Lin , Cheng Ye , Du Wen , Fu Lili , Wei Zhaonan , Guan Yuting , Wang Yi , Mei Changlin , Hao Chuanming , Chen Min , Gu Xiangchen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractNumerous studies have proven the critical role of macrophages in the renal fibrosis process. Notably, G Protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER1), a novel estrogen receptor, has been shown to play a ubiquitous role in regulating macrophage activities and proinflammatory pathways. However, the precise role of GPER1 in macrophage-mediated renal fibrosis is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of macrophage GPER1 in the UUO-induced renal fibrosis model. Compared to vehicle-treated ovariectomized (OVX) female and male unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) models, we observed that G-1 (GPER1 agonist)-treated OVX female and male UUO mice had fewer renal fibrotic lesions and less M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration in the kidney tissues. Conversely, Gper1 deletion in male UUO mice accelerated renal fibrosis and increased inflammation. In vitro studies also revealed that GPER1 activation reduced M0 macrophage polarization towards M1 or M2 phenotypes. The RNA-sequencing analysis and immunoblotting indicated that GPER1 activation was primarily involved in downregulating immune pathways activation and inactivating MAPK pathways. Tubular epithelial cells co-cultured with G-1-pretreated M1 macrophages exhibited fewer injuries and immune activation. In addition, fibroblasts co-cultured with G-1-pretreated M2 macrophages showed downregulated extracellular matrix expression. Overall, this is the first study to demonstrate the effect of GPER1 on macrophage-mediated renal fibrosis via inhibition of M1 and M2 macrophage activation. These findings indicate that GPER1 may be a promising therapeutic target for treating renal fibrosis.
Inhibition of PFKP in renal tubular epithelial cell restrains TGF-β induced glycolysis and renal fibrosis
Authors: Yang Shu , Wu Han , Li Yanchun , Li Lixin , Xiang Jiaqing , Kang Lin , Yang Guangyan , Liang Zhen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMetabolic reprogramming to glycolysis is closely associated with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although it has been reported that phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK) is a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, the role of the platelet isoform of PFK (PFKP) in kidney fibrosis initiation and progression is as yet poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether PFKP could mediate the progression of kidney interstitial fibrosis by regulating glycolysis in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). We induced PFKP overexpression or knockdown in renal tubules via an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector in the kidneys of mice following unilateral ureteral occlusion. Our results show that the dilated tubules, the area of interstitial fibrosis, and renal glycolysis were promoted by proximal tubule-specific overexpression of PFKP, and repressed by knockdown of PFKP. Furthermore, knockdown of PFKP expression restrained, while PFKP overexpression promoted TGF-β1-induced glycolysis in the human PTECs line. Mechanistically, Chip-qPCR revealed that TGF-β1 recruited the small mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) family member 3-SP1 complex to the PFKP promoter to enhance its expression. Treatment of mice with isorhamnetin notably ameliorated PTEC-elevated glycolysis and kidney fibrosis. Hence, our results suggest that PFKP mediates the progression of kidney interstitial fibrosis by regulating glycolysis in PTECs.
Spectroscopy of a mesospheric ghost reveals iron emissions
Authors: Passas-Varo María , Van der Velde Oscar , Gordillo-Vázquez Francisco J. , Gómez-Martín Juan Carlos , Sánchez Justo , Pérez-Invernón Francisco J. , Sánchez-Ramírez Rubén , García-Comas Maya , Montanyà Joan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMesospheric Green emissions from excited Oxygen in Sprite Tops (ghosts) are infrequent and faint greenish transient luminous events that remain for hundreds of milliseconds on top of certain energetic sprites. The main hypothesis to explain this glow persistence is the long lifetime of excited atomic oxygen at 557.73 nm, a well-known emission line in aurora and airglow. However, due to the lack of spectroscopic campaigns to analyse such events to date, the species involved in the process can not yet be identified. Here we report observational results showing the temporal evolution of a ghost spectrum between 500 nm and 600 nm. Besides weak -but certain- traces of excited atomic oxygen, our results show four main contributors related to the slow decay of the glow: atomic iron and nickel, molecular nitrogen and ionic molecular oxygen. Additionally, we are able to identify traces of atomic sodium, and ionic silicon, these observations being consistent with previous direct measurements of density profiles of meteoric metals in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. This finding calls for an upgrade of current air plasma kinetic understanding under the influence of transient luminous events.
ZNF524 directly interacts with telomeric DNA and supports telomere integrity
Authors: Braun Hanna , Xu Ziyan , Chang Fiona , Viceconte Nikenza , Rane Grishma , Levin Michal , Lototska Liudmyla , Roth Franziska , Hillairet Alexia , Fradera-Sola Albert , Khanchandani Vartika , Sin Zi Wayne , Yong Wai Khang , Dreesen Oliver , Yang Yang , Shi Yunyu , Li Fudong , Butter Falk , Kappei Dennis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractTelomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes. In humans, they consist of TTAGGG repeats, which are bound by dedicated proteins such as the shelterin complex. This complex blocks unwanted DNA damage repair at telomeres, e.g. by suppressing nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) through its subunit TRF2. Here, we describe ZNF524, a zinc finger protein that directly binds telomeric repeats with nanomolar affinity, and reveal base-specific sequence recognition by cocrystallization with telomeric DNA. ZNF524 localizes to telomeres and specifically maintains the presence of the TRF2/RAP1 subcomplex at telomeres without affecting other shelterin members. Loss of ZNF524 concomitantly results in an increase in DNA damage signaling and recombination events. Overall, ZNF524 is a direct telomere-binding protein involved in the maintenance of telomere integrity.
Daily vocal exercise is necessary for peak performance singing in a songbird
Authors: Adam Iris , Riebel Katharina , Stål Per , Wood Neil , Previs Michael J. , Elemans Coen P. H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractVocal signals, including human speech and birdsong, are produced by complicated, precisely coordinated body movements, whose execution is fitness-determining in resource competition and mate choice. While the acquisition and maintenance of motor skills generally requires practice to develop and maintain both motor circuitry and muscle performance, it is unknown whether vocal muscles, like limb muscles, exhibit exercise-induced plasticity. Here, we show that juvenile and adult zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis) require daily vocal exercise to first gain and subsequently maintain peak vocal muscle performance. Experimentally preventing male birds from singing alters both vocal muscle physiology and vocal performance within days. Furthermore, we find females prefer song of vocally exercised males in choice experiments. Vocal output thus contains information on recent exercise status, and acts as an honest indicator of past exercise investment in songbirds, and possibly in all vocalising vertebrates.
A unified Watson-Crick geometry drives transcription of six-letter expanded DNA alphabets by E. coli RNA polymerase
Authors: Oh Juntaek , Shan Zelin , Hoshika Shuichi , Xu Jun , Chong Jenny , Benner Steven A. , Lyumkis Dmitry , Wang Dong 
Published: December 2023

AbstractArtificially Expanded Genetic Information Systems (AEGIS) add independently replicable unnatural nucleotide pairs to the natural G:C and A:T/U pairs found in native DNA, joining the unnatural pairs through alternative modes of hydrogen bonding. Whether and how AEGIS pairs are recognized and processed by multi-subunit cellular RNA polymerases (RNAPs) remains unknown. Here, we show that E. coli RNAP selectively recognizes unnatural nucleobases in a six-letter expanded genetic system. High-resolution cryo-EM structures of three RNAP elongation complexes containing template-substrate UBPs reveal the shared principles behind the recognition of AEGIS and natural base pairs. In these structures, RNAPs are captured in an active state, poised to perform the chemistry step. At this point, the unnatural base pair adopts a Watson-Crick geometry, and the trigger loop is folded into an active conformation, indicating that the mechanistic principles underlying recognition and incorporation of natural base pairs also apply to AEGIS unnatural base pairs. These data validate the design philosophy of AEGIS unnatural basepairs. Further, we provide structural evidence supporting a long-standing hypothesis that pair mismatch during transcription occurs via tautomerization. Together, our work highlights the importance of Watson-Crick complementarity underlying the design principles of AEGIS base pair recognition.
Second quantization of many-body dispersion interactions for chemical and biological systems
Authors: Gori Matteo , Kurian Philip , Tkatchenko Alexandre 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe many-body dispersion (MBD) framework is a successful approach for modeling the long-range electronic correlation energy and optical response of systems with thousands of atoms. Inspired by field theory, here we develop a second-quantized MBD formalism (SQ-MBD) that recasts a system of atomic quantum Drude oscillators in a Fock-space representation. SQ-MBD provides: (i) tools for projecting observables (interaction energy, transition multipoles, polarizability tensors) on coarse-grained representations of the atomistic system ranging from single atoms to large structural motifs, (ii) a quantum-information framework to analyze correlations and (non)separability among fragments in a given molecular complex, and (iii) a path toward the applicability of the MBD framework to molecular complexes with even larger number of atoms. The SQ-MBD approach offers conceptual insights into quantum fluctuations in molecular systems and enables direct coupling of collective plasmon-like MBD degrees of freedom with arbitrary environments, providing a tractable computational framework to treat dispersion interactions and polarization response in intricate systems.
Late-stage synthesis of heterobifunctional molecules for PROTAC applications via ruthenium-catalysed C‒H amidation
Authors: Antermite Daniele , Friis Stig D. , Johansson Johan R. , Putra Okky Dwichandra , Ackermann Lutz , Johansson Magnus J. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional molecules emerging as a powerful modality in drug discovery, with the potential to address outstanding medical challenges. However, the synthetic feasibility of PROTACs, and the empiric and complex nature of their structure-activity relationships continue to present formidable limitations. As such, modular and reliable approaches to streamline the synthesis of these derivatives are highly desirable. Here, we describe a robust ruthenium-catalysed late-stage C‒H amidation strategy, to access fully elaborated heterobifunctional compounds. Using readily available dioxazolone reagents, a broad range of inherently present functional groups can guide the C–H amidation on complex bioactive molecules. High selectivity and functional group tolerance enable the late-stage installation of linkers bearing orthogonal functional handles for downstream elaboration. Finally, the single-step synthesis of both CRBN and biotin conjugates is demonstrated, showcasing the potential of this methodology to provide efficient and sustainable access to advanced therapeutics and chemical biology tools.
Large scale purification in semiconductors using Rydberg excitons
Authors: Bergen Martin , Walther Valentin , Panda Binodbihari , Harati Mariam , Siegeroth Simon , Heckötter Julian , Aßmann Marc 
Published: December 2023

AbstractImproving the quantum coherence of solid-state systems is a decisive factor in realizing solid-state quantum technologies. The key to optimize quantum coherence lies in reducing the detrimental influence of noise sources such as spin noise and charge noise. Here we demonstrate that we can utilize highly-excited Rydberg excitons to neutralize charged impurities in the semiconductor Cuprous Oxide - an effect we call purification. Purification reduces detrimental electrical stray fields drastically. We observe that the absorption of the purified crystal increases by up to 25% and that the purification effect is long-lived and may persist for hundreds of microseconds or even longer. We investigate the interaction between Rydberg excitons and impurities and find that it is long-ranged and based on charge-induced dipole interactions. Using a time-resolved pump-probe technique, we can discriminate purification from Rydberg blockade, which has been a long-standing goal in excitonic Rydberg systems.
The second Venus flyby of BepiColombo mission reveals stable atmosphere over decades
Authors: Helbert Jörn , Haus Rainer , Arnold Gabriele , D’Amore Mario , Maturilli Alessandro , Säuberlich Thomas , Hiesinger Harald 
Published: December 2023

AbstractStudies of the Venusian mesosphere provide important information about the current state of the entire Venusian atmosphere. This includes information about the dense cloud structure, its vertical thermal profile, temperature fields, and the resulting dynamical and meteorological processes that contribute to a deeper understanding of the climatologically different evolutionary paths of Earth and Venus. However, the last measurements were acquired in 1983 during Venera-15 mission. In this paper, results of mid-infrared spectral measurements of the Venusian atmosphere are presented. Here we show Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (MERTIS) measurements of the Venusian atmosphere during the second flyby of BepiColombo mission on its way to Mercury. Our Venus measurements provide reliable retrievals of mesospheric temperature profiles and cloud parameters between 60 and 75 km altitude, although MERTIS was only designed to operate in Mercury environment. Our results are in good agreement with the Venera-15 mission findings. This indicates the stability of the Venusian atmosphere on time scales of decades.
Suppression of angiopoietin-like 4 reprograms endothelial cell metabolism and inhibits angiogenesis
Authors: Chaube Balkrishna , Citrin Kathryn M. , Sahraei Mahnaz , Singh Abhishek K. , de Urturi Diego Saenz , Ding Wen , Pierce Richard W. , Raaisa Raaisa , Cardone Rebecca , Kibbey Richard , Fernández-Hernando Carlos , Suárez Yajaira 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAngiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is known to regulate various cellular and systemic functions. However, its cell-specific role in endothelial cells (ECs) function and metabolic homeostasis remains to be elucidated. Here, using endothelial-specific Angptl4 knock-out mice (Angptl4iΔEC), and transcriptomics and metabolic flux analysis, we demonstrate that ANGPTL4 is required for maintaining EC metabolic function vital for vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Knockdown of ANGPTL4 in ECs promotes lipase-mediated lipoprotein lipolysis, which results in increased fatty acid (FA) uptake and oxidation. This is also paralleled by a decrease in proper glucose utilization for angiogenic activation of ECs. Mice with endothelial-specific deletion of Angptl4 showed decreased pathological neovascularization with stable vessel structures characterized by increased pericyte coverage and reduced permeability. Together, our study denotes the role of endothelial-ANGPTL4 in regulating cellular metabolism and angiogenic functions of EC.
D-serine reconstitutes synaptic and intrinsic inhibitory control of pyramidal neurons in a neurodevelopmental mouse model for schizophrenia
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Qin , Xu Le , Zhu Xin-Yi , Tang Zi-Hang , Dong Yi-Bei , Yu Zhi-Peng , Shang Qing , Wang Zheng-Chun , Shen Hao-Wei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe hypothesis of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia constitutes the theoretical basis for the translational application of NMDAR co-agonist D-serine or its analogs. However, the cellular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of D-serine remains unclear. In this study, we utilize a mouse neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia that mimics prenatal pathogenesis and exhibits hypoexcitability of parvalbumin-positive (PV) neurons, as well as PV-preferential NMDAR dysfunction. We find that D-serine restores excitation/inhibition balance by reconstituting both synaptic and intrinsic inhibitory control of cingulate pyramidal neurons through facilitating PV excitability and activating small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels in pyramidal neurons, respectively. Either amplifying inhibitory drive via directly strengthening PV neuron activity or inhibiting pyramidal excitability via activating SK channels is sufficient to improve cognitive function in this model. These findings unveil a dual mechanism for how D-serine improves cognitive function in this model.
Hot luminescence from single-molecule chromophores electrically and mechanically self-decoupled by tripodal scaffolds
Authors: Rai Vibhuti , Balzer Nico , Derenbach Gabriel , Holzer Christof , Mayor Marcel , Wulfhekel Wulf , Gerhard Lukas , Valášek Michal 
Published: December 2023

AbstractControl over the electrical contact to an individual molecule is one of the biggest challenges in molecular optoelectronics. The mounting of individual chromophores on extended tripodal scaffolds enables both efficient electrical and mechanical decoupling of individual chromophores from metallic leads. Core-substituted naphthalene diimides fixed perpendicular to a gold substrate by a covalently attached extended tripod display high stability with well-defined and efficient electroluminescence down to the single-molecule level. The molecularly controlled spatial arrangement balances the electric conduction for electroluminescence and the insulation to avoid non-radiative carrier recombination, enabling the spectrally and spatially resolved electroluminescence of individual self-decoupled chromophores in a scanning tunneling microscope. Hot luminescence bands are even visible in single self-decoupled chromophores, documenting the mechanical decoupling between the vibrons of the chromophore and the substrate.
Emergent zero-field anomalous Hall effect in a reconstructed rutile antiferromagnetic metal
Authors: Wang Meng , Tanaka Katsuhiro , Sakai Shiro , Wang Ziqian , Deng Ke , Lyu Yingjie , Li Cong , Tian Di , Shen Shengchun , Ogawa Naoki , Kanazawa Naoya , Yu Pu , Arita Ryotaro , Kagawa Fumitaka 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe anomalous Hall effect (AHE) that emerges in antiferromagnetic metals shows intriguing physics and offers numerous potential applications. Magnets with a rutile crystal structure have recently received attention as a possible platform for a collinear-antiferromagnetism-induced AHE. RuO2 is a prototypical candidate material, however the AHE is prohibited at zero field by symmetry because of the high-symmetry [001] direction of the Néel vector at the ground state. Here, we show AHE at zero field in Cr-doped rutile, Ru0.8Cr0.2O2. The magnetization, transport and density functional theory calculations indicate that appropriate doping of Cr at Ru sites reconstructs the collinear antiferromagnetism in RuO2, resulting in a rotation of the Néel vector from [001] to [110] while maintaining a collinear antiferromagnetic state. The AHE with vanishing net moment in the Ru0.8Cr0.2O2 exhibits an orientation dependence consistent with the [110]-oriented Hall vector. These results demonstrate that material engineering by doping is a useful approach to manipulate AHE in antiferromagnetic metals.
A deep unrolled neural network for real-time MRI-guided brain intervention
Authors: He Zhao , Zhu Ya-Nan , Chen Yu , Chen Yi , He Yuchen , Sun Yuhao , Wang Tao , Zhang Chengcheng , Sun Bomin , Yan Fuhua , Zhang Xiaoqun , Sun Qing-Fang , Yang Guang-Zhong , Feng Yuan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAccurate navigation and targeting are critical for neurological interventions including biopsy and deep brain stimulation. Real-time image guidance further improves surgical planning and MRI is ideally suited for both pre- and intra-operative imaging. However, balancing spatial and temporal resolution is a major challenge for real-time interventional MRI (i-MRI). Here, we proposed a deep unrolled neural network, dubbed as LSFP-Net, for real-time i-MRI reconstruction. By integrating LSFP-Net and a custom-designed, MR-compatible interventional device into a 3 T MRI scanner, a real-time MRI-guided brain intervention system is proposed. The performance of the system was evaluated using phantom and cadaver studies. 2D/3D real-time i-MRI was achieved with temporal resolutions of 80/732.8 ms, latencies of 0.4/3.66 s including data communication, processing and reconstruction time, and in-plane spatial resolution of 1 × 1 mm2. The results demonstrated that the proposed method enables real-time monitoring of the remote-controlled brain intervention, and showed the potential to be readily integrated into diagnostic scanners for image-guided neurosurgery.
5mC modification orchestrates choriogenesis and fertilization by preventing prolonged ftz-f1 expression
Authors: Zhao Zheng , Li Liang , Zeng Ruichen , Lin Liangguan , Yuan Dongwei , Wen Yejie , Li Na , Cui Yingying , Zhu Shiming , Zhang Zhi-Min , Li Sheng , Ren Chonghua 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDNA methylation at the fifth position of cytosine (5-methylcytosine, 5mC) is a crucial epigenetic modification for regulating gene expression, but little is known about how it regulates gene expression in insects. Here, we pursue the detailed molecular mechanism by which DNMT1-mediated 5mC maintenance regulates female reproduction in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. Our results show that Dnmt1 knockdown decreases the level of 5mC in the ovary, upregulating numerous genes during choriogenesis, especially the transcription factor ftz-f1. The hypomethylation at the ftz-f1 promoter region increases and prolongs ftz-f1 expression in ovarian follicle cells during choriogenesis, which consequently causes aberrantly high levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone and excessively upregulates the extracellular matrix remodeling gene Mmp1. These changes further impair choriogenesis and disrupt fertilization by causing anoikis of the follicle cells, a shortage of chorion proteins, and malformation of the sponge-like bodies. This study significantly advances our understanding of how DNA 5mC modification regulates female reproduction in insects.