Development of a DNA‐Templated Peptide Probe for Photoaffinity Labeling and Enrichment of the Histone Modification Reader Proteins

Histone post‐translational modifications (HPTMs) provide signal platforms to recruit proteins or protein complexes to regulate gene expression. Therefore, the identification of these recruited partners (readers) is essential to understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms. However, it is still a major challenge to profile these partners because their interactions with HPTMs are rather weak and highly dynamic. Herein we report the development of a HPTM dual probe based on DNA‐templated technology and a photo‐crosslinking method for the identification of HPTM readers. By using the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4, we demonstrated that this HPTM dual probe can be successfully utilized for labeling and enrichment of HPTM readers, as well as for the discovery of potential HPTM partners. This study describes the development of a new chemical proteomics tool for profiling HPTM readers and can be adapted for broad biomedical applications.     

A Mixed‐Ligand Approach for a Gigantic and Hollow Heterometallic Cage {Ni64RE96} for Gas Separation and Magnetic Cooling Applications

Nanosized aggregations of metal ions shielded by organic ligands possessing both exquisite structural aesthetics and intriguing properties are fundamentally interesting. Three isostructural gigantic transition‐metal–rare‐earth heterometallic coordination cages are reported, abbreviated as {Ni₆₄RE₉₆} (RE=Gd, Dy, and Y) and obtained by a mixed‐ligand approach, each possessing a cuboidal framework made of 160 metal ions and a nanosized spherical cavity in the center. Along with the structural novelty, these hollow cages show highly selective adsorptions for CO₂ over CH₄ or N₂ at ambient temperatures. Moreover, the gadolinium analogue exhibits large magnetocaloric effect at ultralow temperatures.     

Highly Efficient Far Red/Near‐Infrared Solid Fluorophores: Aggregation‐Induced Emission,Intramolecular Charge Transfer,Twisted Molecular Conformation,and Bioimaging Applications

The development of organic fluorophores with efficient solid‐state emissions or aggregated‐state emissions in the red to near‐infrared region is still challenging. Reported herein are fluorophores having aggregation‐induced emission ranging from the orange to far red/near‐infrared (FR/NIR) region. The bioimaging performance of the designed fluorophore is shown to have potential as FR/NIR fluorescent probes for biological applications.     

Poisoning Deactivation of Mesoporous Titanosilicate-Supported WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> During Metathesis of Butene to Propene

Deactivation by poisoning is studied in the metathesis of 2-butene to propene on mesoporous titanosilicate-supported WO₃ (WO₃/MTS–9), for which we focus on the effect of polar organic oxygenates on the activity of the catalyst. It is found that deactivation is strongly influenced by these oxygenates in feedstock, and the rate of deactivation increases with the increase of the polarity of the organic oxygenates. The deactivation by poisoning is reversible. The deactivation catalyst can be recovered by treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere at a high temperature.     

Magnetic Properties of Pt-Based Nanoalloys: A Critical Review

In recent years, magnetic nanoalloys (MNAs) have attracted many attentions from all over the world, due to their potential applications in the broad fields of magneto-optics, data storage, engineering, and biology. Among these MNAs, Pt–M (M = Fe, Co, Ni) MNAs have been considered to be the most promising ones, due to their superparamagnetism and response to a magnetic field. Here, we firstly review the experimental work on the synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties of Pt–Fe, Pt–Co, and Pt–Ni MNAs. Then, we discuss the recent theoretical work on Pt–Fe, Pt–Co, and Pt–Ni MNAs. Moreover, we also review the main applications of Pt–Fe, Pt–Co, and Pt–Ni MNAs in the fields of biology, information storage, and magnetic separation. It is found that the size, shape, and composition of Pt–Fe, Pt–Co, and Pt–Ni MNAs play a critical role on their fundamental magnetic properties from both the experimental and theoretical points of view. It is expected that this review could be a valuable resource for both experimental and theoretical researchers, who are interested in Pt-based MNAs.     

Au/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Graphene Composite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity Under Both UV and Visible Light Irradiation

Au/TiO₂/graphene composite was synthesized by the combination of electrostatic attraction and photo-reduction method. In the composite, graphene sheets act as an adsorption site for dye molecules to provide a high concentration of dye near to the TiO₂ and Au nanoparticles (NPs), and work as an excellent electron transporter to separate photoinduced e ^?/h ⁺ pairs. Under UV irradiation, photogenerated electrons of TiO₂ are transferred effectively to Au NPs and graphene sheets, respectively, retarding the recombination of electron–hole pairs. Under visible light irradiation, the Au NPs are photo-excited due to the surface plasmon resonance effect, and charge separation is accomplished by the interfacial electron injection from the Au NPs to the conduction band of TiO₂ and then transfer further to graphene sheets. As a result, compared with pure TiO₂, Au/TiO₂/graphene composite exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue under both UV and visible light irradiation, based on the synergistic effect of Au, graphene in contact with TiO₂, allowing response to the visible light, effective separation of photoinduced charges, and better adsorption of the dye molecules.     

Protein‐Framed Multi‐Porphyrin Micelles for a Hybrid Natural–Artificial Light‐Harvesting Nanosystem

A micelle‐like hybrid natural–artificial light‐harvesting nanosystem was prepared through protein‐framed electrostatic self‐assembly of phycocyanin and a four‐armed porphyrin star polymer. The nanosystem has a special structure of pomegranate‐like unimolecular micelle aggregate with one phycocyanin acceptor in the center and multiple porphyrin donors in the shell. It can inhibit donor self‐quenching effectively and display efficient transfer of excitation energy (about 80.1 %) in water. Furthermore, the number of donors contributing to a single acceptor could reach as high as about 179 in this nanosystem.     

Modification of microcrystalline cellulose with pyridone derivatives for removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was modified with pyridone derivatives such as pyridone diester (PDE) and pyridone diacid (PDA) by using succinic acid anhydride as a linker. The modified MCCs were characterized by the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and solid state ¹³C NMR. The adsorption capacities of the modified MCCs to cationic dyes were examined by using methylene blue (MB) as a model dye. It was found that the kinetic adsorption data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption equilibriums were reached less than 10 min. The isothermal adsorption data were fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model very well, from which the maximum adsorption capacities of the MCCs modified with PDE and PDA were determined to be 101.01 and 142.86 mg/g, respectively. Further investigation showed that the modified MCCs were pH-dependent for adsorption of MB in aqueous solutions. The modified MCCs could be used for removal of MB from an aqueous solution at pH 8, and reused by regeneration in an acidic solution. It was tested that the modified MCCs had a high reusability for removal of MB from aqueous solutions, and still maintained high adsorption capacities even after multiple cycles of desorption–adsorption processes. Hence, the MCCs modified with PDE and PDA could be an effective and efficient approach to removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Pomegranate‐Structured Fe3O4/Carbon Nanospheres‐Doped Graphene Aerogel for High‐Rate Lithium Ion Batteries

A unique hierarchically nanostructured composite of iron oxide/carbon (Fe₃O₄/C) nanospheres‐doped three‐dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel has been fabricated by a one‐pot hydrothermal strategy. In this novel nanostructured composite aerogel, uniform Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals (5–10 nm) are individually embedded in carbon nanospheres (ca. 50 nm) forming a pomegranate‐like structure. The carbon matrix suppresses the aggregation of Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals, avoids direct exposure of the encapsulated Fe₃O₄ to the electrolyte, and buffers the volume expansion. Meanwhile, the interconnected 3D graphene aerogel further serves to reinforce the structure of the Fe₃O₄/C nanospheres and enhances the electrical conductivity of the overall electrode. Therefore, the carbon matrix and the interconnected graphene network entrap the Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals such that their electrochemical function is retained even after fracture. This novel hierarchical aerogel structure delivers a long‐term stability of 634 mA h g^?1 over 1000 cycles at a high current density of 6 A g^?1 (7 C), and an excellent rate capability of 413 mA h g^?1 at 10 A g^?1 (11 C), thus exhibiting great potential as an anode composite structure for durable high‐rate lithium‐ion batteries.     

Synthesis and Rearrangement of P‐Nitroxyl‐Substituted PIII and PV Phosphanes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Case Study

Low‐temperature generation of P‐nitroxyl phosphane 2 (Ph₂POTEMP), which was obtained by the reaction of Ph₂PH ( 1 ) with two equivalents of TEMPO, is presented. Upon warming, phosphane 2 decomposed to give P‐nitroxyl phosphane P‐oxide 3 (Ph₂P(O)OTEMP) as one of the final products. This facile synthetic protocol also enabled access to P‐sulfide and P‐borane derivatives 7 and 13 , respectively, by using Ph₂P(S)H ( 6 ) or Ph₂P(BH₃)H ( 11 ) and TEMPO. Phosphane sulfide 7 revealed a rearrangement to phosphane oxide 8 (Ph₂P(O)STEMP) in CDCl₃ at ambient temperature, whereas in THF, thermal decomposition of sulfide 7 yielded salt 10 ([TEMP‐H₂][Ph₂P(S)O]). As well as EPR and detailed NMR kinetic studies, indepth theoretical studies provided an insight into the reaction pathways and spin‐density distributions of the reactive intermediates.