Electrophoresis Research Articles

Esomeprazole inhibits liver inflammation and carcinogenesis by suppressing farnesoid X receptors and NF-κB signaling.

The activity of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) hinders the function of proton pumps that generate stomach acid. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcriptional factor engaged in inflammation, immunity and the formation of cancer. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor that governs the metabolism of bile acids and the metabolic functioning of the liver. The impact of PPIs on the signaling of FXRs and NF-κB is not well understood. We aimed to study the effects of esomeprazole on FXRs and NF-κB signaling in liver cells. For the liver cell model, we used the human liver cell line HepaG2. Cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and esomeprazole, and then we assessed the effects of esomeprazole on inflammatory and carcinogenic markers, NF-κB and FXR. We applied the techniques of western blotting, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), confocal microscopic imaging, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Lipopolysaccharides-induced FXRs and NF-κB signaling upregulated the NF-κB-associated cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Esomeprazole inhibited the upregulation of all these cytokines. Additionally, esomeprazole inhibited LPS-induced FXR expression and NF-κB signaling in HepaG2 cells. The net effect on FXRs and NF-κB signaling was the lower levels of the associated inflammatory and carcinogenic cytokines. Our study provides insight into the potential therapeutic effects of esomeprazole on hepatic inflammation and carcinogenesis by inhibiting LPS-induced NF-κB and FXR expression in HepG2 cells.

TRPC6 Channel Regulates Airway Remodeling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Causing Right Heart Failure.

The role of the canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) channel in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains poorly understood at the mechanistic level. Objects: This study aims to investigate the involvement of TRPC6 in COPD and its signaling mechanisms in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Methods and Results: The study found that mRNA and protein expression of TRPC6 increased in cultured HASMCs that were incubated with nicotine, as measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Nicotine treatment significantly enhanced TRPC6 transcriptional activity in HASMCs through nuclear factor (NF)-κB, as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Furthermore, miR-135a/b-5p was shown to downregulate TRPC6 expression in HASMCs at the mRNA and protein levels, as confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. Immunohistochemistry assays in a mouse model of cigarette-induced airway remodeling revealed a significant increase in smooth muscle (SM) cell proliferation and SM layer mass. Conclusion: These findings suggest that nicotine exposure increases HASMC proliferation and migration through NF-κB signaling, and that cigarette smoke inhalation causes airway SM layer remodeling via altered TRPC6-induced Ca2+ influx, which is abolished by miR-135a/b-5p both in vitro and invivo. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

Classical Models of Hydroxide for Proton Hopping Simulations.

Hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions perform structural diffusion in water via sequential proton transfers ("Grotthuss hopping"). This phenomenon can be accounted for by interspersing stochastic proton transfer events in classical molecular dynamics simulations. The implementation of OH--mediated proton hopping is particularly challenging because classical force fields are known to produce overcoordinated solvation structures around the OH- ion. Here, we first explore the ability of two-particle point-charge models to reproduce both the solvation free energy and coordination number in TIP3P water. We find that this is possible only with unphysical changes in the nonbonded parameters which create problems in proton hopping simulations. We then construct a classical OH- model with the charge of oxygen distributed among three auxiliary particles. This model favors a lower coordination number by accepting three hydrogen bonds and weakly donating one. The model was implemented in the MOBHY module of the CHARMM program and was fit to reproduce the experimental aqueous diffusion coefficient of OH-. This parameterization gave reasonable electrophoretic mobilities and the expected accelerated transport under nanoconfinement.

ArMYB89 and ArCOP1 interaction modulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in Acer rubrum leaves under low-temperature conditions.

Acer rubrum, a famous ornamental tree, produces bright red-coloured leaves because of the temperature decline from summer to autumn. This process's molecular mechanism is elusive, so we have investigated how anthocyanin biosynthesis is induced in A. rubrum leaves under low temperatures. The results of low-temperature treatment under light and dark conditions showed that the low-temperature promoted anthocyanin accumulation in A. rubrum is light-dependent. The transcriptome analysis showed that ArMYB89 was significantly highly expressed in leaves of A. rubrum growing under low temperatures with light conditions. The findings from the Dap-seq analysis, yeast one hybridisation, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter assay indicated that the ArMYB89 transcription factor binds directly to the promoter of ArUGT52 and stimulates its transcription. The co-expression of ArUGT52 with ArMYB89 significantly induced anthocyanin levels under low temperatures with light conditions. Enzyme activity analysis showed that ArUGT52 could convert Cyanidins and Pelargonidins into Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and Pelargonidin 3-glucoside, which are considered the main anthocyanins in red colour leaves of A. rubrum. The results of yeast two hybridisation, pulldown assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiment showed an interaction between COP1 and ArMYB89, while in vivo and in vitro protein ubiquitination assay demonstrated that ArCOP1 ubiquitinates ArMYB89. Notably, co-expression of ArCOP1 with ArMYB89 significantly reduced anthocyanin levels, while the virus-induced gene silencing of ArCOP1 significantly induced anthocyanin levels under low temperatures with light conditions. In conclusion, this work revealed the molecular mechanism regulating anthocyanin accumulation in the A. rubrum leaves under low temperatures.

VOZ‐dependent priming of salicylic acid‐dependent defense against Rhizopus stolonifer by β‐aminobutyric acid requires the TCP protein TCP2 in peach fruit

SUMMARYVascular plant one‐zinc finger (VOZ) transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in plant immunity. Nevertheless, how VOZs modulate defense signaling in response to elicitor‐induced resistance is not fully understood. Here, the defense elicitor β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA) resulted in the visible suppression of Rhizopus rot disease of peach fruit caused by Rhizopus stolonifer. Defense priming by BABA was notably associated with increased levels of salicylic acid (SA) and SA‐dependent gene expression. Data‐independent acquisition proteomic analysis revealed that two VOZ proteins (PpVOZ1 and PpVOZ2) were substantially upregulated in BABA‐induced resistance (BABA‐IR). Furthermore, the interaction of PpVOZ1 and PpVOZ2 and their potential target of the TEOSINTE‐BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP)‐family protein PpTCP2 screened from protein–protein interaction networks was confirmed by yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H), luciferase complementation imaging and glutathione S‐transferase pull‐down assays. Furthermore, subcellular localization, yeast one‐hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual‐luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that nuclear localization of both PpVOZ1 and PpVOZ2 was critical for their contribution to BABA‐IR, as these proteins potentiated the PpTCP2‐mediated transcriptional activation of isochorismate synthase genes (ICS1/2). The overexpression of both PpVOZ1 and PpVOZ2 could activate the transcription of SA‐dependent genes and provide disease resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis. In contrast, the ppvoz1cas9 and ppvoz2cas9 loss‐of‐function mutations and the voz1cas9 voz2cas9 double mutation attenuated BABA‐IR against R. stolonifer. Therefore, the three identified positive TFs, PpVOZ1, PpVOZ2, and PpTCP2, synergistically contribute to the BABA‐activated priming of systemic acquired resistance in postharvest peach fruit by a VOZ‐TCP‐ICS regulatory module.

Functionalisation of chitosan with methacryloyl and crotonoyl groups as a strategy to enhance its mucoadhesive properties

Mucoadhesive polymers are crucial for prolonging drug retention on mucosal surfaces. This study focuses on synthesising and characterising novel derivatives by reacting chitosan with crotonic and methacrylic anhydrides. The structure of the resulting derivatives was confirmed using proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. It was established that the degree of substitution plays a crucial role in the pH-dependent solubility profiles and electrophoretic mobility of the chitosan derivatives. Spray-drying chitosan solutions enabled preparation of microparticles, whose mucoadhesive properties were evaluated using fluorescence flow-through studies and tensile test, demonstrating improved retention on sheep nasal mucosa for modified derivatives. Acute toxicity studies conducted in vivo using planaria and in vitro using MTT assay with the Caco-2 cell line, a model of the mucosal epithelium in vitro, showed that the novel derivatives are not cytotoxic. These findings emphasise the potential of tailored chitosan chemical modifications for enhancing transmucosal drug delivery.

GmSTOP1-3 regulates flavonoid synthesis to reduce ROS accumulation and enhance aluminum tolerance in soybean

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a significant limiting factor for crop production in acid soils. The functions and regulatory mechanisms of transcription factor STOP1 (Sensitive to Proton Rhizotoxicity 1) family genes in Al-tolerance have been widely studied in many plant species, except for soybean. Here, expression of GmSTOP1-3 was significantly enhanced by Al stress in soybean roots. Overexpression of GmSTOP1-3 resulted in enhanced root elongation and decreased Al content, which was accompanied by increased antioxidant capacity under Al treatment. Furthermore, RNA-seq identified 498 downstream genes of GmSTOP1-3, including genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Among them, the expression of chalcone synthase (GmCHS) and isoflavone synthase (GmIFS) were highly enhanced by GmSTOP1-3 overexpression. Further quantitative flavonoid metabolome analysis showed that overexpression of GmSTOP1-3 significantly increased the content of naringenin chalcone, naringenin, and genistein in soybean roots under Al treatment, which positively correlated with the expression level of the genes relative to flavonoid biosynthesis. Notably, genistein had a significant positive correlation with the expression levels of GmIFS. Combination of Dual Luciferase Complementation (LUC) and Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) revealed that GmSTOP1-3 directly bound to the promoters of GmCHS/GmIFS and activated both genes’ transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that GmSTOP1-3 enhances soybean Al tolerance partially through regulating the flavonoid synthesis.

Transcription factor Pofst3 regulates Pleurotus ostreatus development by targeting multiple biological pathways

Pleurotus ostreatus is a popular edible mushroom cultivated worldwide. However, the mechanism of P. ostreatus primordia formation is unclear. Pofst3 is a MHR superfamily transcription factor, which has the function of regulating primordia formation. In this study, the target genes of Pofst3 in P. ostreatus were identified by DAP-Seq approach at the genome level, 1481 peaks were obtained and the Pofst3 binding motif sequence was GARGRVGARGAR. The interaction between transcription factor Pofst3 and this motif was confirmed in vitro and in vivo through electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) and yeast one-hybrid screening (Y1H) assays. Among the top 20 GO enrichment results, most were related to transcriptional regulation, and some transcription factor encoding genes, such as HMG-box (gene_5346), MADS-box (gene_86), FOG (gene_6211) and RFX (gene_3496) were obtained. Besides basic metabolism, MAPK signaling pathway, Inositol phosphate metabolism, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis and Pentose phosphate pathway were significantly enriched in the KEGG pathway analysis. The expression levels of randomly selected 11 genes, some transcription factor genes, and genes involved in metabolic pathways in wild and Pofst3 transgenic P. ostreatus strains indicated that target genes likely involved in the development of the P. ostreatus primordia. These results indicated that transcription factor Pofst3 ultimately negatively regulated the development of P. ostreatus primordia very likely through regulating a series of biological pathways.

Pretreatment-free aptasensing of lactoferrin in complex biological samples by portable electrophoretic mobility shift assay

Aptamers are attractive recognition ligands for sensing proteins due to their favorable affinity, specificity, stability, and easy synthesis. However, it is difficult to detect proteins directly in complex biological samples without sophisticated equipment or tedious sample pretreatment. Herein, we developed a portable electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) platform for direct protein aptasensing in complex biological samples. This portable EMSA consists of a mini agarose gel apparatus and a simple blue light transmission instrument integrated a smartphone camera. Lactoferrin (LF), which plays critical roles in food quality and dry eye diagnosis, was selected for feasibility verification. The successful direct determination of LF in dairy samples revealed that agarose gel not only provides separation power for the LF-aptamer complex but also functions as a physical barrier, excluding milk fat globules and casein micelles and further eliminating their interference. In addition, this pretreatment-free approach also exhibits good generality and multiplexity for other proteins assay by altering aptamer sequences. Therefore, the portable EMSA could be a reliable, affordable, user-friendly and pretreatment-free tool for protein aptasensing in biological and clinical samples for point-of-need diagnostics as well as food quality and safety.

The global regulator SpoVG is involved in biofilm formation and stress response in foodborne Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a primary culprit of food poisoning. As a highly adaptable pathogen, S. aureus demonstrates formidable biofilm-forming and stress tolerance capabilities, inducing significant challenges to eradicate food contamination caused by this organism. SpoVG, a regulatory protein in S. aureus, controls the expression of numerous genes. However, its role in biofilm formation and stress response in foodborne S. aureus remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the functions of SpoVG involved in food-related stress responses and biofilm formation in S. aureus RMSA50. The results demonstrated that SpoVG deletion enhanced biofilm formation and resistance to heat and desiccation, while decreased tolerance to oxidative stress. Further analysis revealed that cell aggregation and the accumulation of extracellular DNA (eDNA) may contribute to the enhanced biofilm formation. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that the expression levels of nuc and sasC, which are related to cell aggregation and eDNA concentration, were significantly altered in the spoVG mutant. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) confirmed that SpoVG directly binds to the promoter region of nuc and sasC to regulate their expression. These findings suggest that SpoVG may serve as a target to decrease biofilm formation and control S. aureus contamination in the food industry.

TaGPAT6 enhances salt tolerance in wheat by synthesizing cutin and suberin monomers to form a diffusion barrier.

One mechanism plants use to tolerate high salinity is the deposition of cutin and suberin to form apoplastic barriers that limit the influx of ions. However, the mechanism underlying barrier formation under salt stress is unclear. Here, we characterized the glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) family gene TaGPAT6, encoding a protein involved in cutin and suberin biosynthesis for apoplastic barrier formation in wheat (Triticum aestivum). TaGPAT6 has both acyltransferase and phosphatase activities, which are responsible for the synthesis of sn-2-monoacylglycerol (sn-2 MAG), the precursor of cutin and suberin. Overexpressing TaGPAT6 promoted the deposition of cutin and suberin in the seed coat and the outside layers of root tip cells and enhanced salt tolerance by reducing sodium ion accumulation within cells. By contrast, TaGPAT6 knockout mutants showed increased sensitivity to salt stress due to reduced cutin and suberin deposition and enhanced sodium ion accumulation. Yeast-one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified TaABI5 as the upstream regulator of TaGPAT6. TaABI5 knockout mutants showed suppressed expression of TaGPAT6 and decreased barrier formation in the seed coat. These results indicate that TaGPAT6 is involved in cutin and suberin biosynthesis and the resulting formation of an apoplastic barrier that enhances salt tolerance in wheat.

Effectiveness of preformed physical factors in the correction of dry eye syndrome after phacoemulsification: a randomized trial

Introduction. Currently, modern high-tech methods of small incision cataract surgery are not always immune to the development of iatrogenic «dry eye» syndrome. Currently, one of the common complications of the anterior segment of the eye after small incision cataract surgery is the development of iatrogenic dry eye syndrome, which leads to a decrease in the quality of medical and social rehabilitation of operated patients. Aim. Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of the complex use of preformed physical factors in the correction of «dry eye» syndrome in patients after phacoemulsification of cataract. Materials and methods. The open randomized controlled clinical trial involved 90 patients (90 eyes) aged from 58 to 75 years, who were diagnosed with «dry eye» syndrome (DES) on the 1st day after phacoemulsification (PE) of cataract. Patients, depending on the treatment, were divided into three groups of 30 people (30 eyes).In the control group, patients received standard tear replacement therapy (RT) with Stillavit 4 times a day for 7 days,in the comparison group — in addition to ST 7 procedures of low-frequency magnetic therapy in the orbital area and in the main group — TRT was expanded by the complex application of low-frequency magnetic therapy to the orbital area and medicinal electrophoresis (EP) of the Taufon using the orbital-occipital technique for 7 daily procedures performed daily. Evaluation of parameters of ocular xerosis included: tear film rupture time, total tear production, and ocular surface disease index according to the OSDI questionnaire. The duration of the study was 6 months. Results and discussion. Complete regression of the xerotic process was observed immediately after treatment in 76,7 % (23) of patients in the main group, in 40 % (12) patients in the comparison group and 20 % (6) of patients in the control group. After 6 months after surgery — in 96.7 % (29) of patients in the main group, in 83,3 % (25) of patients in the comparison group and 70 % (21) of patients in the control group. Conclusion. The developed comprehensive program for the treatment of postoperative «dry eye» syndrome, which includes low-frequency magnetic therapy and medicinal electrophoresis Taufon against the background of tear replacement therapy, helps to significantly improve the clinical outcome of treatment, reduce the recovery time of the ocular surface and improve the quality of life of patients.

Binding of MAP3773c Protein of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the Mouse Ferroportin1 Coding Region

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is known to cause paratuberculosis. One notable protein, MAP3773c, plays a critical role in iron metabolism as a transcription factor. This study aims to investigate the binding affinity of MAP3773c to the chromatin of the Ferroportin1 (FPN1) gene in murine macrophage J774 A.1. We conducted a sequence alignment to identify potential interaction sites for MAP3773c. Following this, we used in silico analysis to predict binding interactions, complemented by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to confirm in vitro binding of MAP3773c. The map3773c gene was cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector, with subsequent expression analysis carried out via Western blotting and real-time PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHiP) assays were performed on transfected macrophages to confirm binding in the native chromatin context. Our in silico and in vitro analysis indicated that MAP3773c interacts with two binding motifs within the FPN1 coding region. The ChiP results provided additional validation, demonstrating the binding of MAP3773c to the FPN1 chromatin through successful amplification of the associated chromatin fragment via PCR. Our study demonstrated that MAP3773c binds to FPN1 and provides insight into the role of MAP3773c and its effect on host iron transport.

Theoretical and experimental study on optical polarization states in overhead optical cables under complex weather conditions such as real lightning

Abstract By analyzing the changes in three Stokes vectors, the trajectory of polarization state on the Poincaré sphere, and the polarization change rate, both theoretical and practical aspects of polarization state variations in signal light within optical fiber composite overhead power ground wires (OPGWs) during real thunderstorm conditions, were examined. Our findings reveal that lightning and mechanical vibrations both impact the polarization state of the signal light in OPGW. Theoretical models demonstrate that lightning induces polarization changes through the Faraday magneto-optic effect and exhibits nonlinear electro-optic effects, leading to a maximum polarization change rate of Mrad s−1. In contrast, mechanical vibrations cause long-term, low-intensity polarization rate changes, with a maximum polarization rate of Krad s−1, highlighting a significant optical birefringence effect. Digital signal processing algorithms for coherent receivers with over 100G polarization multiplexing provide valuable guidance for recovering polarization states.

CCT39-COMT1/BGLU18-2 module promotes lignin biosynthesis in poplar

Lignin is a crucial constituent of cell walls and plays a pivotal role in plant growth and development. However, the transcriptional regulatory network governing lignin biosynthesis is not fully understood. In this study, we observed that PpnCCT39 overexpression resulted in greener stems, larger basal diameters, and increased stem dry weight. Additionally, the secondary xylem of lines overexpressing PpnCCT39 was wider, had larger xylem fiber cell areas, and thicker cell walls, compared to those of wild-type plants. Furthermore, PpnCCT39 overexpression led to elevated lignin content and enhanced the rigidity of secondary cell walls. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq association analyses identified 826 potential regulatory target genes of PpnCCT39 that were upregulated and expressed in 1-month-old PpnCCT39 overexpression lines. Gene enrichment analyses revealed enrichment in pathways related to cell wall formation, xylem and phloem development, and the phenylpropanoid pathway. Two genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, PagCOMT1 and PagBGLU18–2, exhibited significantly increased expression in stems of lines overexpressing PpnCCT39, as demonstrated by high FPKM values and RT-qPCR results. Further investigations using yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that PpnCCT39 directly activates the transcription of PagCOMT1 and PagBGLU18–2, thereby promoting lignin biosynthesis. This study elucidated the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of PpnCCT39 in poplars and revealed its role in activating the expression of key lignin biosynthesis genes. PpnCCT39 facilitates lignin biosynthesis and secondary growth processes, offering a novel theoretical framework for modulating lignin biosynthesis and enhancing timber yield through molecular design.

Blue Phase-Polymer-Templated Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystal.

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (NFLCs) are promising electronic materials owing to their giant permittivity, polarization, and nonlinear optical coefficients. Although it is difficult to polymer-stabilize the NFLC orientation state due to their low affinity to polymers, in this study, we have succeeded in stabilizing the orientation into a blue phase (BP) three-dimensional structure by using BP polymer networks. This BP polymer-templated NFLC retains their ferroelectric properties and stabilizes with macroscopically canceled polarization due to the BP structure. The large polarization and dielectric constant of the NFLCs resulted in a large electro-optical Kerr effect. In addition, Curie point was observed in the BP polymer-templated NFLC, indicating the existence of multiple kinetic modes in the NFLCs themselves. This breakthrough expands the range of applications for both BPs and NFLCs.

Design principles for accurate folding of DNA origami

We describe design principles for accurate folding of three-dimensional DNA origami. To evaluate design rules, we reduced the problem of DNA strand routing to the known problem of shortest-path finding in a weighted graph. To score candidate DNA strand routes we used a thermodynamic model that accounts for enthalpic and entropic contributions of initial binding, hybridization, and DNA loop closure. We encoded and analyzed new and previously reported design heuristics. Using design principles emerging from this analysis, we redesigned and fabricated multiple shapes and compared their folding accuracy using electrophoretic mobility analysis and electron microscopy imaging. Redesigned shapes showed 6- to 30-fold improvements in yield compared to original designs. We demonstrate accurate folding can be achieved by optimizing staple routes using our model and provide a computational framework for applying our methodology to any design.

CsWRKY12 interacts with CsVQ4L to promote the accumulation of galloylated catechins in tender leaves of tea plants.

Galloylated catechins in tea leaves, primarily epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), possess prominent biological activities. It is well established that EGCG and ECG are abundantly present in tender leaves but are less prevalent in mature leaves. However, the fundamental regulatory mechanisms underlying this distribution remain unknown. In this study, we integrated transcriptome data and catechin component levels in tea leaves from six leaf positions using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. This analysis revealed a positive correlation between variations in CsWRKY12 expression and EGCG and ECG levels. Further investigation using yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays, as well as electrophoretic mobility shift assay, demonstrated that CsWRKY12 activated the transcription of CsSCPL4 and CsSCPL5, which encode enzymes responsible for galloylated catechins biosynthesis, by directly binding to W-box elements in their promoters. Overexpression of CsWRKY12 in tea leaves promoted the expression of CsSCPL4 and CsSCPL5, leading to an increase in EGCG and ECG content. Moreover, we found that a VQ motif-containing protein, CsVQ4L, interacted with CsWRKY12 and facilitated its transcriptional function by regulating the expression of CsSCPL4 and CsSCPL5. Collectively, our findings suggest that the interaction between CsWRKY12 and CsVQ4L contributes to the accumulation of galloylated catechins in tender leaves of tea plants.

Integrated lithium niobate Vernier micro-ring filter with wide and fast tuning capabilities

Tunable optical micro-ring filters play significant roles in optical communications, microwave photonics, and photonic neural networks. Typical micro-ring filters are based on either a thermo-optic (TO) effect with microsecond timescales or an electro-optic (EO) effect with a limited tuning range. Here, we report a continuously tunable lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) Vernier cascaded micro-ring filter with wire-bonded packaging integrated with both TO and EO tuning electrodes, featuring a 40-nm free spectral range (FSR), 2.3 GHz EO bandwidth, and a high sidelobe suppression ratio of 21.7 dB, simultaneously. Our high-performance optical micro-ring filter could become an important element in future LNOI photonic circuits with applications in high-capacity wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems, broadband microwave photonics, fast-tunable external-cavity lasers, and high-speed photonic neural networks.

Precise wavelength alignment of second-harmonic generation in thin-film lithium niobate resonators.

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) plays a significant role in modern photonic technology. Integrated photonic resonators fabricated with thin-film lithium niobate can achieve ultrahigh efficiencies by combining small mode volumes with high material nonlinearity. Cavity-enhanced SHG requires accurate phase and frequency matching conditions, where fundamental and second-harmonic wavelengths are both on resonance. However, this double-resonance condition can typically be realized only at a fixed random wavelength due to the high sensitivity of photonic resonances to the device geometry and fabrication variations. Here, we propose a novel method that can achieve the double-resonance condition over a large wavelength range. We combine thermal-optic and electro-optic (EO) effects to realize the separate tuning of fundamental and second-harmonic resonances. We demonstrated that the optimum SHG efficiency can be maintained over a wavelength range that exceeds the limit achievable with only thermal tuning. With this flexible tuning capability, we further show the precise alignment of SHG wavelengths of two separate thin-film lithium niobate resonators without sacrificing efficiencies.