2025Äê1ÔÂ
The trade-off between individual metabolic specialization and versatility determines the metabolic efficiency of microbial communities
Miaoxiao Wang, Xiaoli Chen, Yuan Fang, Xin Zheng, Ting Huang, Yong Nie, Xiao-Lei Wu
Abstract
In microbial systems, a metabolic pathway can be either completed by one autonomous population or distributed among a consortium performing metabolic division of labor (MDOL). MDOL facilitates the system's function by reducing the metabolic burden; however, it may hinder the function by reducing the exchange efficiency of metabolic intermediates among individuals. As a result, the function of a community is influenced by the trade-offs between the metabolic specialization and versatility of individuals. To experimentally test this hypothesis, we deconstructed the naphthalene degradation pathway into four steps and introduced them individually or combinatorically into different strains with varying levels of metabolic specialization. Using these strains, we engineered 1,456 synthetic consortia and found that 74 consortia exhibited higher degradation function than both the autonomous population and rigorous MDOL consortium. Quantitative modeling provides general strategies for identifying the most effective MDOL configuration. Our study provides critical insights into the engineering of high-performance microbial systems.
Source
CELL SYSTEMS
Volume15Issue1Page63-+
DOI10.1016/j.cels.2023.12.004
2025Äê2ÔÂ
Biosynthesis of Epipyrone A Reveals a Highly Specific Membrane-Bound Fungal C-Glycosyltransferase for Pyrone Galactosylation
Aili Fan, Boyuan Zhong, Dong Liu, Yubo Lu, Mengyue Wu, Hongwei Jin, Xiao-Meng Shi, Jinwei Ren, Bo Zhang, Xiao-Dong Su, Ming Ma, Shu-Ming Li, Wenhan Lin
Abstract
Epipyrone A is a unique C-galactosylated 4-hydroxy-2-pyrone derivative with an antifungal potential from the fungus Epicoccum nigrum. We elucidated its biosynthesis via heterologous expression and characterized an unprecedented membrane-bound pyrone C-glycosyltransferase biochemically. Molecular docking and mutagenesis experiments suggested a possible mechanism for the heterocyclic C-glycosylation and the importance of a transmembrane helix for its catalysis. These results expand the repertoire of C-glycosyltransferases and provide new insights into the formation of C-glycosides in fungi.
Source
ORGANIC LETTERS
Volume26Issue6Page1160-1165
DOI10.1021/acs.orglett.3c04259
2025Äê3ÔÂ
High immigration rates critical for establishing emigration-driven diversity in microbial communities
Xiaoli Chen,Miaoxiao Wang,Laipeng Luo,Liyun An,Xiaonan Liu,Yuan Fang,Ting Huang,Yong Nie,Xiao-Lei Wu
Abstract
Unraveling the mechanisms governing the diversity of ecological communities is a central goal in ecology. Although microbial dispersal constitutes an important ecological process, the effect of dispersal on microbial diversity is poorly understood. Here, we sought to fill this gap by combining a generalized Lotka-Volterra model with experimental investigations. Our model showed that emigration increases the diversity of the community when the immigration rate crosses a defined threshold, which we identified as I neutral . We also found that at high immigration rates, emigration weakens the relative abundance of fast-growing species and thus enhances the mass effect and increases the diversity. We experimentally confirmed this finding using co -cultures of 20 bacterial strains isolated from the soil. Our model further showed that I neutral decreases with the increase of species pool size, growth rate, and interspecies interaction. Our work deepens the understanding of the effects of dispersal on the diversity of natural communities.
Source
CELL SYSTEMS
Volume15Issue3
DOI10.1016/j.cels.2024.02.001
2025Äê3ÔÂ
Effects of global warming and Tibetan Plateau uplift on East Asian climate during the mid-Cretaceous
Zhang, Jian; Wang, Licheng ; Flogel, Sascha ; Hu, Yongyun ; Wang, Chengshan
Abstract
Sedimentary records indicate that subtropical and mid-latitude East Asia exhibited considerable drying and wetting, respectively, during the mid-Cretaceous, which is considered to be relevant to much higher atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO(2)) concentrations and/or proto-Tibetan Plateau (proto-TP) uplift. In order to explore and compare their roles on the East Asian climate evolution, we conducted simulations of the mid-Cretaceous climate system with different atmospheric pCO(2)levels and varying topographies. The results show that both factors had significant influences on the East Asian climate. As the increase in atmospheric pCO(2)levels from -560-1120 ppmv to -1120-2240 ppmv, the precipitation increases considerably over mid-latitude East Asia, but only small changes in the subtropical portion of East Asia occur. Simultaneously, the effects of the proto-TP uplift are opposite to those of global warming trend during that period. Generally, it leads to a precipitation decrease over subtropical East Asia, but rather minor changes over mid-latitude East Asia. These changes are qualitatively consistent with the deduction based on the geological records, but the magnitudes of the modeled precipitation changes are relatively smaller. Therefore, we can conclude that the subtropical East Asian drying during the midCretaceous can be partly explained by the proto-TP uplift, while the mid-latitude East Asian wetting was partly due to global warming. However, additional factor(s) also played a significant role in the East Asian climate evolution during the mid-Cretaceous.
Source
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
Volume637
DOI10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.112007
2025Äê4ÔÂ
Multimodal Soft Amphibious Robots Using Simple Plastic-Sheet-Reinforced Thin Pneumatic Actuators
Jiaxi Wu; Mingxin Wu; Wenhui Chen; Chen Wang; Guangming Xie
Abstract
A large challenge in the field of soft amphibiousrobotics is achieving high maneuverability and multiterrain adapt-ability through multimodal locomotion in hybrid terrestrial-aquatic environments. To address this issue, drawing inspiration from fruit-fly larvae and Spanish dancer sea slugs, a novel tethered soft amphibious robot with multimodal locomotion is pro-posed in this article, performing forward, backward, turning, and self-overturn motions both on land and in water. It leverages plastic-sheet-reinforced thin pneumatic actuators, which are con-structed from thermoplastic membranes and embedded with anonstretchable plastic sheet, enabling bidirectional bending with large angles. The robot achieves a forward jumping velocity of1.77 BL/s and a forward swimming velocity of 0.69 BL/s, both faster than previously reported soft amphibious robots; connecting two actuator units in parallel, it achieves agile turning with avelocity of 111.8 degrees/s. Our proposed robot demonstrates exceptional multiterrain adaptability, facile terrestrial-aquatic transition capabilities, and underwater buoyancy adjustment ability. Especially when accidentally overturned, it can recover itself without external assistance, a capability rarely achieved by other soft robots.
Source
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ROBOTICS
Volume40Page1874-1889
DOI10.1109/TRO.2024.3360961
2025Äê4ÔÂ
Late Pleistocene island weathering and precipitation in the Western Pacific Warm Pool
Zhaojie Yu, Jiaoyang Ruan, Lina Song, Kyung-Sook Yun, Xiaojie Tang, Christophe Colin, David J. Wilson, Haowen Dang, Pedro N. DiNezio, Fengming Chang, Xiaolei Pang, Franck Bassinot & Shiming Wan
Abstract
Deciphering past climate variability in the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP), the Earth's largest heat and moisture centre, is vital for understanding the global climate system. Nevertheless, its long-term evolution remains controversial, largely due to ambiguities in existing proxy interpretations and discrepancies between records. Here, we present a weathering and erosion reconstruction from the WPWP spanning the last 140,000 years, based on the mineralogy and geochemistry of a sediment core from offshore of northern New Guinea. The paleo-weathering reconstruction is consistent with the simulated precipitation evolution on nearby islands, thereby suggesting a close coupling between climate variability and island weathering in a tropical setting. In addition, our combined data-model interpretation of WPWP climate history shows many similarities to the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) variability over orbital timescales. Overall, our study highlights the critical role of precession-paced interhemispheric energy redistribution, via the West Pacific meridional sea-surface pressure gradient, in linking orbital-scale WPWP climate and EASM variability.
Source
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
Volume7Issue1
DOI10.1038/s41612-024-00642-0
2025Äê6ÔÂ
Controlling factors for the global meridional overturning circulation: A lesson from the Paleozoic
Shuai Yuan, Yonggang Liu, Yongyun Hu, Jie Mei, Jing Han, Xiujuan Bao, Xiang Li, Qifan Lin, Mengyu Wei, Zhibo Li, Zihan Yin, Kai Man, Jiaqi Guo, Yue Liu, Yudong Sun, Jiacheng Wu, Jian Zhang, Qiang Wei, Jun Yang, Ji Nie
Abstract
The global meridional overturning circulation (GMOC) is important for redistributing heat and, thus, determining global climate, but what determines its strength over Earth's history remains unclear. On the basis of two sets of climate simulations for the Paleozoic characterized by a stable GMOC direction, our research reveals that GMOC strength primarily depends on continental configuration while climate variations have a minor impact. In the mid- to high latitudes, the volume of continents largely dictates the speed of westerly winds, which in turn controls upwelling and the strength of the GMOC. At low latitudes, open seaways also play an important role in the strength of the GMOC. An open seaway in one hemisphere allows stronger westward ocean currents, which support higher sea surface heights (SSH) in this hemisphere than that in the other. The meridional SSH gradient drives a stronger cross-equatorial flow in the upper ocean, resulting in a stronger GMOC. This latter finding enriches the current theory for GMOC.
Source
SCIENCE ADVANCES
Volume10Issue26
DOI10.1126/sciadv.adm7813
2025Äê7ÔÂ
Real-time position and pose prediction for a self-propelled undulatory swimmer in 3D space with artificial lateral line system
Liu, Ruosi ; Ding, Yang ; Xie, Guangming
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using an artificial lateral line (ALL) system for predicting the real-time position and pose of an undulating swimmer with Carangiform swimming patterns. We established a 3D computational fluid dynamics simulation to replicate the swimming dynamics of a freely swimming mackerel under various motion parameters, calculating the corresponding pressure fields. Using the simulated lateral line data, we trained an artificial neural network to predict the centroid coordinates and orientation of the swimmer. A comprehensive analysis was further conducted to explore the impact of sensor quantity, distribution, noise amplitude and sampling intervals of the ALL array on predicting performance. Additionally, to quantitatively assess the reliability of the localization network, we trained another neural network to evaluate error magnitudes for different input signals. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding future research on mutual sensing and schooling in underwater robotic fish.
Source
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
Volume19Issue4
DOI10.1088/1748-3190/ad493b
2025Äê8ÔÂ
A novel algorithm to extrapolate ultraviolet absorption of chromophoric dissolved organic matter from remote sensing ocean color
Zhongli Liu,Shansheng Mo,Fei Liu,Gregory Korshin,Mingquan Yan
Abstract
Accurate estimation of the absorption of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range is crucial for understanding photochemical and biochemical processes in the global ocean. Here, we propose a novel UV absorption extrapolation (UVAE) algorithm. It extrapolates the absorption coefficients ( a g (lambda) where lambda is the wavelength in nm) of CDOM in the UV wavelength range from ocean color data in the visible wavelength range observed by satellite remote sensing. The extrapolation is based on the assumption that three characteristic Gaussian bands describe the CDOM UV-visible absorption spectra (275-443 nm). The UVAE algorithm retrieves the a g (275), a g (295), a g (330), and a g (380) using the characteristics of the spectral slope ( S ) of the absorbance spectra of CDOM at specific wavelength intervals, namely 275-295, 295-330, 330-380, and 380-443 nm. With the UVAE algorithm, the spatial variability of CDOM spectral features can be captured on a global scale using data from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua mission. The retrieved a g (275), a g (295), a g (330), and a g (380) values match well with in-situ observed values, with mean absolute percent differences (MAPDs) of 19.2 %, 26.1 %, 36.9 %, and 46.6 %, respectively. The performance of the UVAE algorithm demonstrates a significant improvement compared to that of existing algorithms, especially for a g (lambda) at lower wavelengths.
Source
ISPRS JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING
Volume214Page104-118
DOI10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2024.05.026
2025Äê8ÔÂ
The evolution of autonomy from two cooperative specialists in fluctuating environments
Xiaoli Chen, Miaoxiao Wang, Laipeng Luo, and Xiao-Lei Wu
Abstract
From microbes to humans, organisms perform numerous tasks for their survival, including food acquisition, migration, and reproduction. A complex biological task can be performed by either an autonomous organism or by cooperation among several specialized organisms. However, it remains unclear how autonomy and cooperation evolutionarily switch. Specifically, it remains unclear whether and how cooperative specialists can repair deleted genes through direct genetic exchange, thereby regaining metabolic autonomy. Here, we address this question by experimentally evolving a mutualistic microbial consortium composed of two specialists that cooperatively degrade naphthalene. We observed that autonomous genotypes capable of performing the entire naphthalene degradation pathway evolved from two cooperative specialists and dominated the community. This evolutionary transition was driven by the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between the two specialists. However, this evolution was exclusively observed in the fluctuating environment alternately supplied with naphthalene and pyruvate, where mutualism and competition between the two specialists alternated. The naphthalene-supplied environment exerted selective pressure that favors the expansion of autonomous genotypes. The pyruvate-supplied environment promoted the coexistence and cell density of the cooperative specialists, thereby increasing the likelihood of HGT. Using a mathematical model, we quantitatively demonstrate that environmental fluctuations facilitate the evolution of autonomy through HGT when the relative growth rate and carrying capacity of the cooperative specialists allow enhanced coexistence and higher cell density in the competitive environment. Together, our results demonstrate that cooperative specialists can repair deleted genes through a direct genetic exchange under specific conditions, thereby regaining metabolic autonomy.
Source
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume121Issue35
DOI10.1073/pnas.2317182121
2025Äê8ÔÂ
Octopus-Inspired Underwater Soft Robotic Gripper with Crawling and Swimming Capabilities
Mingxin Wu, Waqar Hussain Afridi, Jiaxi Wu, Rahdar Hussain Afridi, Kaiwei Wang, Xingwen Zheng, Chen Wang, and Guangming Xie
Abstract
Can a robotic gripper only operate when attached to a robotic arm? The application space of the traditional gripper is limited by the robotic arm. Giving robot grippers the ability to move will expand their range of applications. Inspired by rich behavioral repertoire observed in octopus, we implement an integrated multifunctional soft robotic gripper with 6 independently controlled Arms. It can execute 8 different gripping actions for different objects, such as irregular rigid/soft objects, elongated objects with arbitrary orientation, and plane/curved objects with larger sizes than the grippers. Moreover, the soft gripper can realize omnidirectional crawling and swimming by itself. The soft gripper can perform highly integrated tasks of releasing, crawling, swimming, grasping, and retrieving objects in a confined underwater environment. Experimental results demonstrate that the integrated capabilities of multimodal adaptive grasping and omnidirectional motions enable dexterous manipulations that traditional robotic arms cannot achieve. The soft gripper may apply to highly integrated and labor-intensive tasks in unstructured underwater environments, including ocean litter collecting, capture fishery, and archeological exploration.
Source
RESEARCH
Volume7
DOI10.34133/research.0456
2025Äê8ÔÂ
Global diversity and ecological functions of viruses inhabiting oil reservoirs
Liyun An, Xinwu Liu, Jianwei Wang, Jinbo Xu, Xiaoli Chen, Xiaonan Liu, Bingxin Hu, Yong Nie & Xiao-Lei Wu
Abstract
Oil reservoirs, being one of the significant subsurface repositories of energy and carbon, host diverse microbial communities affecting energy production and carbon emissions. Viruses play crucial roles in the ecology of microbiomes, however, their distribution and ecological significance in oil reservoirs remain undetermined. Here, we assemble a catalogue encompassing viral and prokaryotic genomes sourced from oil reservoirs. The catalogue comprises 7229 prokaryotic genomes and 3,886 viral Operational Taxonomic Units (vOTUs) from 182 oil reservoir metagenomes. The results show that viruses are widely distributed in oil reservoirs, and 85% vOTUs in oil reservoir are detected in less than 10% of the samples, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of viral communities within oil reservoirs. Through combined microcosm enrichment experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we validate the ecological roles of viruses in regulating the community structure of sulfate reducing microorganisms, primarily through a virulent lifestyle. Taken together, this study uncovers a rich diversity of viruses and their ecological functions within oil reservoirs, offering a comprehensive understanding of the role of viral communities in the biogeochemical cycles of the deep biosphere.
Oil reservoirs host diverse microbial communities affecting energy production and carbon emissions. Here, the authors use metagenomics data to construct and characterize a catalogue of viral and prokaryotic genomes from 182 oil reservoirs world-wide, and further validate an ecological role of viruses in regulating the community structure of sulfate reducing microorganisms.
Source
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Volume15Issue1
DOI10.1038/s41467-024-51101-6
2025Äê8ÔÂ
Reticular Origami Soft Robotic Gripper for Shape-Adaptive and Bistable Rapid Grasping
Ningzhe Hou, Mingxin Wu, Qin Zhao, Zhenhua Tang, Kaiwei Wang, Xiaoxian Xu, Xingwen Zheng, and Guangming Xie xiegming
Abstract
The top-down approach in designing and fabricating origami robots could achieve far more complicated functions with compliant and elegant designs than traditional robots. This study presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a reticular origami soft robotic gripper that could adapt to the shape of the grasping subject and grasp the subject within 80 ms from the trigger instance. A sensing mechanism consisting of the resistive pressure sensor array and flexible elongation sensor is designed to validate further the shape-adaptive grasping capability and model the rough shape and size of the subject. The grasping test on various objects with different shapes, surface textures, sizes, and living animals further validates the excellent grasping capabilities of the gripper. The gripper could be either actively triggered by actuation or passively triggered by a minimum of 0.0014 J disturbance energy. Such features make it particularly suitable for applications such as capturing underwater creatures and illegal drone control.
Source
SOFT ROBOTICS
Volume11Issue4Page550-560
DOI10.1089/soro.2023.0051
2025Äê8ÔÂ
Discovery of a Hybrid Molecule with Phytotoxic Activity by Genome Mining, Heterologous Expression, and OSMAC Strategy
Yubo Lu, Yanpeng Li, Min Dou, Dong Liu, Wenhan Lin, Aili Fan
Abstract
Genome mining in association with the OSMAC (one strain, many compounds) approach provides a feasible strategy to extend the chemical diversity and novelty of natural products. In this study, we identified the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) of restricticin, a promising antifungal agent featuring a reactive primary amine, from the fungus Aspergillus sclerotiorum LZDX-33-4 by genome mining. Combining heterologous expression and the OSMAC strategy resulted in the production of a new hybrid product (1), along with N-acetyl-restricticin (2) and restricticinol (3). The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data, including optical rotation and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, for configurational assignment. Compound 1 represents a fusion of restricticin and phytotoxic cichorin. The biosynthetic pathway of 1 was proposed, in which the condensation of a primary amine of restricticin with a precursor of cichorine was postulated. Compound 1 at 5 mM concentration inhibited the growth of the shoots and roots of Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, and Lactuca sativa with inhibitory rates of 71.3 and 88.7% for L. perenne, 79.4 and 73.0% for F. arundinacea, and 58.2 and 52.9% for L. sativa. In addition, compound 1 at 25 ¦Ìg/mL showed moderate antifungal activity against Fusarium fujikuroi and Trichoderma harzianum with inhibition rates of 22.6 and 31.6%, respectively. These results suggest that heterologous expression in conjunction with the OSMAC approach provides a promising strategy to extend the metabolite novelty due to the incorporation of endogenous metabolites from the host strain with exogenous compounds, leading to the production of more complex compounds and the acquisition of new physiological functions.
Source
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
Volume72Issue33Page18520-18527
DOI10.1021/acs.jafc.4c04244
2025Äê9ÔÂ
Ocean Circulation on Tide-locked Lava Worlds. I. An Idealized 2D Numerical Model
Lai, Yanhong; Yang, Jun; Kang, Wanying
Abstract
A magma ocean is expected to exist on the dayside of tide-locked planets if surface temperature exceeds the melting temperature of typical crust. As highly prioritized targets for the James Webb Space Telescope, more information about the surface and atmosphere of lava planets will soon be available. In most previous studies of lava planets, the system is typically assumed to be vigorously convecting and isentropic. This implies a magma ocean depth reaching O (104-105) m, determined by the adiabats and melting curves. In this study, we aim to simulate ocean circulation and ocean depth on tidally locked lava worlds using an idealized 2D (x-z) model developed by the authors. Our simulation results show that under zero or a small internal source, the maximum zonal current speed ranges from 0.1 to 1.0 m s-1 and the magma ocean depth remains O (100) m, being more than 100 times shallower than that predicted in a fully convecting system. We demonstrate that the ocean heat transport divergence is consistently smaller than the stellar insolation by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Consequently, the impact of ocean circulation on the thermal phase curve of tidally locked lava worlds is minimal in observations.
Source
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
Volume5Issue9
DOI10.3847/PSJ/ad7111
2025Äê9ÔÂ
Ocean Circulation on Tide-locked Lava Worlds. II. Scalings
Lai, Yanhong; ;
Abstract
On tidally locked lava planets, a magma ocean can form on the permanent dayside. The circulation of the magma ocean can be driven by stellar radiation and atmospheric winds. The strength of ocean circulation and the depth of the magma ocean depend on external forcings and the dominant balance of the momentum equation. In this study, we develop scaling laws for the magma ocean depth, oceanic current speed, and ocean heat transport convergence driven by stellar and wind forcings in three different dynamic regimes: nonrotating viscosity-dominant Regime I, nonrotating inviscid limit Regime II, and rotation-dominant Regime III. Scaling laws suggest that magma ocean depth, current speed, and ocean heat transport convergence are controlled by various parameters, including vertical diffusivity/viscosity, substellar temperature, planetary rotation rate, and wind stress. In general, scaling laws predict that magma ocean depth ranges from a few meters to a few hundred meters. For Regime I, results from scaling laws are further confirmed by numerical simulations. Considering the parameters of a typical lava super-Earth, we found that the magma ocean is most likely in the rotation-dominant Regime III.
Source
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
Volume5Issue9
DOI10.3847/PSJ/ad70b4
2025Äê9ÔÂ
Ocean data visualization software (ODV and JOA) and new applications in marine geochemical studiesº£ÑóÊý¾Ý¿ÉÊÓ»¯Èí¼þODVºÍJOA¼°ÆäÔÚº£ÑóµØÇò»¯Ñ§Ñо¿ÖеÄÐÂÓ¦ÓÃ
WANG Zhenxi, LIANG Yongqi, GAO Pan, QIAN Na, ZHOU Liping
Abstract
Climate and biogeochemical cycle are important issues in marine sciences research fields, and the demand for fully utilizing and deeply mining marine geochemical data is growing.The internal structure of the ocean is complex and the interaction processes are diverse. The study of the internal mechanism and biogeochemical cycle of the ocean usually requires collaborative analysis of various marine physical and chemical parameters. Therefore, ocean data visualization software becomes more and more important. At present, there are few Chinese guides on the use of ocean data visualization software. Detailed description of operation level is required. Here we outline the basic functions of two data visualization softwares: Ocean Data View (ODV) and Java OceanAtlas (JOA), and provide a detailed practical guide on the production of map, section, surface, scatter, station and waterfall for the visualization, with a comparison of the differences between the two software. We also give examples of some new applications of ODV within the broad field of marine geochemistry.
Source
Marine Geology Frontiers
2024 40(9): 96-108.
DOI: 10.16028/j.1009-2722.2022.032
2025Äê9ÔÂ
CD22-targeted glyco-engineered natural killer cells offer a further treatment option for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Xin Jin, Rui Sun, Zhu Li, Xianwu Wang, Xia Xiong, Wenyi Lu, Hairong Lyu, Xia Xiao, Yunpeng Tian, Hongkai Zhang, Zhihong Fang, Luqiao Wang, Mingfeng Zhao
Abstract
No abstract available
Source
Haematologica. 2024 May 2.
doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284241
2025Äê10ÔÂ
Target Discovery of Dhilirane-Type Meroterpenoids by Biosynthesis Guidance and Tailoring Enzyme Catalysis 2
Zhaolun Sun, Mengyue Wu, Boyuan Zhong, Jingshuai Wu, Dong Liu, Jinwei Ren, Shilong Fan, Wenhan Lin, Aili Fan
Abstract
Dhilirane-type meroterpenoids (DMs) featuring a 6/6/6/5/5 ring system represent a rare group of fungal meroterpenoids. To date, merely 11 DMs have been isolated or derived, leaving their chemical diversity predominantly unexplored. Herein, we leverage an understanding of biosynthesis to develop a workflow for discovery of DMs by genome mining, metabolite analysis, and tailoring enzyme catalysis. Twenty-three new DMs, including seven unprecedented scaffolds, were consequently identified. An ¦Á-ketoglutarate (¦Á-KG)-dependent oxygenase DhiD was found to catalyze the stereodivergent ring contraction of dhilirolide D to form the dhilirane skeleton; while the cytochrome P450 DhiH reshaped the structural diversity by establishing diverse C¨CC bonds and oxidation. Crystallographic and mutagenesis experiments provide a molecular basis for the DhiD reaction and its stereodivergent products. Notably, DhiD exhibits substrate-controlled catalytic versatility in the chemical expansion of DMs through ring contraction, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, epoxidation, isomerization, epimerization, and ¦Á-ketol cleavage. Bioassay results demonstrated that the obtained meroterpenoids exhibited anti-inflammatory and insecticidal activities. Our work provides insight into nature¡¯s arsenal for DM biosynthesis and the functional versatility of ¦Á-KG-dependent oxygenase and P450, which can be applied for target discovery and diversification of DM-type natural products.
Source
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Vol 146/Issue 44
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c09298
2025Äê10ÔÂ
Influence of Orbital Forcing on the Snowball Earth Deglaciation
Wu, Jiacheng; Liu, Yonggang
Abstract
Neoproterozoic snowball Earth events lasted for multiple million years, experiencing many orbital cycles. Here we investigate whether the deglaciation of these events would be triggered more easily at certain orbital configurations than others, by using an atmosphere-land model that considers meltpond formation on land ice. Results show that the threshold concentration of atmospheric CO2 (pCO2) required for deglaciation can vary from 6 to 10 ¡Á 104 ppmv under different orbital forcings. The threshold pCO2 decreases with the equatorial maximum monthly insolation (EMMI), which is affected most by the eccentricity and secondarily by obliquity. Therefore, we conclude that the snowball Earth deglaciation likely occurred when the eccentricity was high and obliquity was low. Compared to previous estimate that used present-day orbital configuration which has a minimal eccentricity, the duration of snowball Earth events would likely be much shorter when the influence of orbital variations are considered.
Source
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume51Issue20
DOI10.1029/2024GL111326
2025Äê10ÔÂ
Distinct seasonal changes and precession forcing of surface and subsurface temperatures in the mid-latitudinal North Atlantic during the onset of the Late Pliocene
Xiaolei Pang, Antje H. L. Voelker, Sihua Lu, and Xuan Ding
Abstract
The Late Pliocene marks the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation (iNHG), offering a unique opportunity to study climate evolution and ice-sheet-related feedback mechanisms. In this study, we present high-resolution Mg / Ca-based sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and subsurface temperatures (SubTs) derived from the foraminiferal species Globigerinoides ruber and Globorotalia hirsuta, respectively, at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 306 Site U1313 in the mid-latitudinal North Atlantic during the early Late Pliocene, 3.65-3.37 million years ago (Ma). We find distinct differences between our new G. ruber Mg / Ca-based SST record and previously published alkenone-based SST records from the same location. These discrepancies in both absolute values and variations highlight distinctly different seasonal influences on the proxies. The G. ruber Mg / Ca-based SST data were primarily influenced by local summer insolation, showing a dominant precession cycle. Conversely, the variations in alkenone-based SST, dominated by the obliquity and lacking the precession cycle, are found to be more indicative of cold-season changes, despite previous interpretations of these records as reflecting annual mean temperatures. A simultaneous decline in Mg / Ca-based SST and SubT records from 3.65 to 3.5 Ma suggests a diminished poleward oceanic heat transport, implying a weakening of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). A comparison with Early Pleistocene G. ruber Mg / Ca-based SST records shows a shift in the dominant climatic cycle from precession to obliquity, alongside a marked increase in amplitude, indicating an enhanced influence of obliquity cycles correlated with the expansion of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets.
Source
CLIMATE OF THE PAST
Volume20Issue9Page2103-2116
DOI10.5194/cp-20-2103-2024
2025Äê11ÔÂ
Persistently active El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation since the Mesozoic
Xiang Li, Shineng Hu, Yongyun Hu, and Ji Nie
Abstract
The El Ni & ntilde;o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), originating in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is a defining mode of interannual climate variability with profound impact on global climate and ecosystems. However, an understanding of how the ENSO might have evolved over geological timescales is still lacking, despite a well- accepted recognition that such an understanding has direct implications for constraining human- induced future ENSO changes. Here, using climate simulations, we show that ENSO has been a leading mode of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the past 250 My but with substantial variations in amplitude across geological periods. We show this result by performing and analyzing a series of coupled time- slice climate simulations forced by paleogeography, atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and solar radiation for the past 250 My, in 10- My intervals. The variations in ENSO amplitude across geological periods are little related to mean equatorial zonal SST gradient or global mean surface temperature of the respective periods but are primarily determined by interperiod difference in the background thermocline depth, according to a linear stability analysis. In addition, variations in atmospheric noise serve as an independent contributing factor to ENSO variations across intergeological periods. The two factors together explain about 76% of the interperiod variations in ENSO amplitude over the past 250 My. Our findings support the importance of changing ocean vertical thermal structure and atmospheric noise in influencing projected future ENSO change and its uncertainty.
Source
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume121Issue45
DOI10.1073/pnas.2404758121
2025Äê11ÔÂ
Existence and fate of microplastics in terrestrial environment: A global fretfulness and abatement strategies
Tariqul Islam, Hefa Cheng
Abstract
Widespread use of plastics in consumer products, packaging, cosmetics, and industrial and agricultural production has resulted in the ubiquitous occurrence of microplastics in terrestrial environment. Compared to the marine environment, only limited studies have investigated the microplastics pollution and associated risk in terrestrial environment. The present review summarizes the global distribution of microplastics in terrestrial environment, their transport pathways and fate, risk to ecosystem and human health, and abatement strategies. Small particle sizes (<500 mu m); fragment, fiber, and film shapes; transparent and white color; polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers were the major characteristics of the microplastics found in terrestrial environment. Microplastics in soils negatively affect soil organisms, while the impact of microplastics in terrestrial environment on human health is poorly understood, which needs to be explored further as there is clear evidence on their presence in human bodies. The removal of microplastics from soil environment is quite complex and costly, thus prevention of their releases is preferable. Among the existing abatement options, biodegradation, which harnesses bacterial strains to degrade microplastics through enzymatic hydrolysis, hold promise for terrestrial environment. Strengthening global cooperation, implementing timely policies on plastic use and recycle, and developing new technologies for control of microplastics are recommended to reduce the pollution in terrestrial environment. Global effort on reducing plastic wastes and enhancing their management is imperative, while substitution with biodegradable plastics could help minimize future accumulation of microplastics in terrestrial environment.
Source
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Volume953
DOI10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176163
2025Äê11ÔÂ
Mercury enrichments as a paleo-volcanism proxy: Sedimentary bias and a critical analysis across the end-Triassic
Xia Hua, David B. Kemp, Jun Shen, Runsheng Yin, Xin Jin, Chunju Huang
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) anomalies in sedimentary rocks have been increasingly used in paleoclimatology studies for tracing volcanic signals, as Hg emissions from volcanic activity can cause contemporaneous sedimentary Hg enrichment. However, non-volcanic sedimentary controls on Hg have clear potential to mask these signals. These factors include host phase variability linked to environmentally controlled sourcing and settling changes, and/or variable preservation conditions associated with weathering, oxidation and diagenesis. Such factors can limit the efficacy of Hg as a paleo-volcanism proxy. In this study, sedimentary effects on Hg concentration within a complex depositional system in southwest England (St. Audrie's Bay) across the end-Triassic have been analyzed, together with published data from coeval end-Triassic sections globally - an interval of time coeval with the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). Our statistical analysis of Hg and associated geochemical data highlights significant fluctuations in sedimentary Hg due to relative supply differences in Hg and host phases, as well as the changing types and preservation conditions of host phases. End-Triassic sections globally show a consistent undersupply of Hg relative to organic matter across the end-Triassic mass extinction (ETME). To better assess the magnitude and significance of possible Hg enrichments in sedimentary rocks, we present a statistical method for quantifying Hg anomalies to robustly distinguish Hg variations linked to host phase/depositional changes from paleo-volcanism. Our method supports the existence of transient but asynchronous Hg anomalies linked to volcanism from the CAMP across the end-Triassic in most global sections, albeit not in the St. Audrie's Bay section.
Source
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
Volume242
DOI10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104589
2025Äê12ÔÂ
Praelolide alleviates collagen-induced arthritis through increasing catalase activity and activating Nrf2 pathway
Xinyi Qi, Junjun Meng, Changhong Li, Wei Cheng, Aili Fan, Jian Huang, Wenhan Lin
Abstract
Background: Marine diterpenes represent a promising reservoir for identifying potential anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) candidates. Praelolide is a gorgonian-derived briarane-type diterpenoid with antioxidative and anti-osteoclastogenetic properties. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of praelolide against RA and investigate its underlying mechanisms both in vivo and in vitro. Method: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and human RA fibroblast-like synoviocyte MH7A cells were employed for bioassays. The VisuGait system was utilized to assess gait dysfunction resulting from joint pain. Histopathological changes in ankle and synovial tissues were evaluated using micro-computed tomography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Safranin-O/Fast Green staining, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase staining, and immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and surface plasmon resonance were employed to investigate interactions between praelolide and catalase. The production of inflammatory cytokines and expression levels of proteins were assessed using ELISA and Western blotting, respectively. Result: Praelolide significantly reduced paw swelling and arthritis scores, improved gait deficits, and restored synovial histopathological alterations and bone erosion in CIA mice. In vivo and in vitro, praelolide effectively decreased the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6. Additionally, praelolide inhibited osteoclastogenesis on bone surface of the ankle joints and in a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced MH7A/bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) co-culture system, and it strongly suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mechanistically, praelolide modulated catalase through non-covalent interactions, inducing conformational alterations that enhanced catalase activity and stability against time- and temperature-induced degradation. Further investigation revealed that praelolide significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2, subsequently activating downstream antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion: Praelolide markedly alleviated synovial inflammation and bone destruction in CIA mice by enhancing catalase activity and activating the Nrf2 pathway to reduce disease-related ROS accumulation, highlighting praelolide as a promising candidate for multitarget treatment of RA.
Source
PHYTOMEDICINE
Volume135
DOI10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156040
2025Äê12ÔÂ
Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in shoreline sediments of the Yellow River Delta
Islam, Tariqul ; Cheng, Hefa
Abstract
As the intersection of river, sea, and land, river deltas are hotspots for the accumulation of microplastics (MPs). This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of MPs in surface sediments from shoreline area of the Yellow River Delta in northern China, elucidated their sources, and assessed their risk. The MPs isolated from sediment samples were detected and characterized using optical microscopy and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (mu-FTIR). The results showed that MPs were abundant (360-2160 items/kg) in the area, and occurred mainly in small sizes (<250 mu m), as fibers (20.2-50.0%), filament (4.8-21.5%), and granules (8.5-20.6%), and in transparent (27.8-40.3%), blue (11.2-31.6%), or black (7.9-26.5%) color. Polyethylene terephthalate (26.08%), polyethylene (20.47%), polypropylene (13.49%), and polyvinyl chloride (10.71%) were the dominant polymer types for the MPs. The pollution load indices (1-6) indicated that all sampling sites were polluted by MPs, while the polymeric hazard indices (65.14-91.44) suggested that MPs pollution of the area was in medium range. Overall, the ecological risk indices (91.44-475.38) of the sampling sites indicated that MPs in shoreline sediments of the Yellow River Delta posed low to considerable potential ecological risk. While the dominance of polymers with medium polymeric risk scores rendered the MPs in the shoreline sediments with relatively low risk, the majority of MPs occurred in small sizes, which complicates the actual risk posed by MPs in shoreline sediments of the Yellow River Delta and deserves attention.
Source
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume204
DOI10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106933
2025Äê12ÔÂ
1.6 Ma biostratigraphy, oxygen isotope record and paleoceanography of the IODP 353 Site U1443 in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean
Molin Wang,Xuan Ding, Liping Zhou
Abstract
Paleoceanographic studies rely heavily on an accurate stratigraphy as well as the interpretation of the oxygen isotope (518O) records generated from microfossils. In this study, we present new planktonic foraminiferal assemblage and stable oxygen isotope records of both planktonic and benthic foraminifera from sedimentary deposits at the IODP Site U1443 on the northern Ninety East Ridge in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean. Five planktonic foraminiferal datums were identified, which allowed us to refine the Pleistocene biostratigraphical sequence of the site. Our benthic 518O record was tuned to that of the LR04 stack with consideration of the planktonic foraminifera and nannofossil datums, volcanic ash, and geomagnetic reversal events. This led to a refined stratigraphic framework for 1.6 Ma at the IODP Site U1443. We focus our discussion on the paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic interpretations of the newly obtained 518O records. The synchronous variations of the U1443 planktonic 518O record with the obliquity fluctuations during the 1.6 Ma - 0.8 Ma point to the presence of a signal of high-latitude insolation in the surface waters of the study area. By contrast, from 0.8 Ma, the 518O record exhibits distinct precession signal, as observed in the South China Sea, which we interpret as being influenced by regional hydroclimate dynamics, such as monsoons. This study therefore provides new data for investigating possible mechanisms that link the high and low latitudes into the early Pleistocene.
Source
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
Volume243
DOI10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104617
2025Äê12ÔÂ
Distributed Acoustic Sensing: A Promising Tool for Finger-Band Anomaly Detection
Kunpeng Zhang, Haochu Ku, Su Wang, Min Zhang, Xiangge He, and Hailong Lu
Abstract
The straddle-type monorail is an electric-powered public vehicle widely known for its versatility and ease of maintenance. The finger-band is a critical connecting structure for the straddle-type monorail, but issues such as loose bolts are inevitable over time. Manual inspection is the primary method for detecting bolt looseness in the finger-band, but this approach could be more efficient and resistant to missed detections. In this study, we conducted a straddle-type monorail finger-band-anomaly-monitoring experiment using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), a distributed multi-point-monitoring system widely used in railway monitoring. We analyzed track vibration signals' time-domain and frequency-domain characteristics under different monorail operating conditions. Our findings revealed the following: 1. DAS can effectively identify the monorail's operating status, including travel direction, starting and braking, and real-time train speed measurement. 2. Time-domain signals can accurately pinpoint special track structures such as turnouts and finger-bands. Passing trains over finger-bands also results in notable energy reflections in the frequency domain. 3. After the finger-band bolts loosen, there is a significant increase in vibration energy at the finger-band position, with the degree of energy increase corresponding to the extent of loosening.
Source
PHOTONICS
Volume11Issue10
DOI10.3390/photonics11100896
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