A new species of Bostrychus (Gobiiformes: Eleotridae) from the East China Sea

DEAR EDITOR,Bostrychus,a genus in the family Eleotridae of the order Gobiiformes,was first established by Lacepède in 1801(Buffon,1801).Bostrychus currently contains seven recognized species,including two recent additions(B.microphthalmos and B.scalaris)described in 2005(Hoese&Kottelat,2005)and 2008(Larson,2008),respectively.The natural range of Bostrychus species extends from East Asia to Australia,with the exception of B.africanus,Steindachner,1879,which is distributed in West Africa(Herre,1946).Among the recognized species,B.sinensis,B.zonatus,and B.africanus are relatively widespread,inhabiting diverse areas from estuaries to freshwater streams,while B.scalaris is only found at a single mangrove site in the Selangor State of Malaysia(Larson,2008).The remaining three species exhibit a high degree of habitat specialization and are highly localized(Hoese&Kottelat,2005):B.microphthalmos inhabits a cave stream in the Maros karst of southern Sulawesi,B.aruensis is confined to freshwater environments in the Aru Islands of Indonesia,and B.strigogenys is found only in freshwater areas in southern Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya.

CRL2^(APPBP2)-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts human mesenchymal stem cell senescence

Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases(CRLs),the largest family of multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotic cells,represent core cellular machinery for executing protein degradation and maintaining proteostasis.Here,we asked what roles Cullin proteins play in human mesenchymal stem cell(hMSC)homeostasis and senescence.To this end,we conducted a comparative aging phenotype analysis by individually knocking down Cullin members in three senescence models:replicative senescent hMSCs,Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome hMSCs,and Werner syndrome hMSCs.Among all family members,we found that CUL2 deficiency rendered hMSCs the most susceptible to senescence.To investigate CUL2-specific underlying mechanisms,we then applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology to generate CUL2-deficient human embryonic stem cells(hESCs).When we differentiated these into h MSCs,we found that CUL2 deletion markedly accelerates hMSC senescence.Importantly,we identified that CUL2 targets and promotes ubiquitin proteasome-mediated degradation of TSPYL2(a known negative regulator of proliferation)through the substrate receptor protein APPBP2,which in turn downregulates one of the canonical aging marker-P21^(waf1/cip1),and thereby delays senescence.Our work provides important insights into how CRL2^(APPBP2)-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts hMSC senescence,providing a molecular basis for directing intervention strategies against aging and aging-related diseases.

DNA methylation clocks for estimating biological age in Chinese cohorts

Epigenetic clocks are accurate predictors of human chronological age based on the analysis of DNA methylation(DNAm)at specific CpG sites.However,a systematic comparison between DNA methylation data and other omics datasets has not yet been performed.Moreover,available DNAm age predictors are based on datasets with limited ethnic representation.To address these knowledge gaps,we generated and analyzed DNA methylation datasets from two independent Chinese cohorts,revealing age-related DNAm changes.Additionally,a DNA methylation aging clock(iCAS-DNAmAge)and a group of DNAm-based multi-modal clocks for Chinese individuals were developed,with most of them demonstrating strong predictive capabilities for chronological age.The clocks were further employed to predict factors influencing aging rates.The DNAm aging clock,derived from multi-modal aging features(compositeAge-DNAmAge),exhibited a close association with multi-omics changes,lifestyles,and disease status,underscoring its robust potential for precise biological age assessment.Our findings offer novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of age-related DNAm changes and extend the application of the DNAm clock for measuring biological age and aging pace,providing the basis for evaluating aging intervention strategies.

MAVS Antagonizes Human Stem Cell Senescence as a Mitochondrial Stabilizer

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark feature of cellular senescence and organ aging.Here,we asked whether the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein(MAVS),which is essential for driving antiviral response,also regulates human stem cell senescence.To answer this question,we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and directed differentiation techniques to generate various MAVS-knockout human stem cell models.We found that human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs)were sensitive to MAVS deficiency,as manifested by accelerated senescence phenotypes.We uncovered that the role of MAVS in maintaining mitochondrial structural integrity and functional homeostasis depends on its interaction with the guanosine triphosphatase optic atrophy type 1(OPA1).Depletion of MAVS or OPA1 led to the dysfunction of mitochondria and cellular senescence,whereas replenishment of MAVS or OPA1 in MAVS-knockout hMSCs alleviated mitochondrial defects and premature senescence phenotypes.Taken together,our data underscore an uncanonical role of MAVS in safeguarding mitochondrial homeostasis and antagonizing human stem cell senescence.

基于天然高分子的导电材料制备及其在柔性传感器件中的应用

天然高分子材料具有来源广泛、化学成分多样、生物相容性和生物降解性良好等优势,是一类绿色可持续再生资源.近年来,基于天然高分子的绿色柔性传感器件研究受到了国内外学者的广泛关注,并取得了长足的进展.本文以天然高分子导电材料为主线,总结了基于天然高分子制备导电材料的模板法和掺杂法.模板法直接以天然高分子材料的天然骨架结构作为基质,而掺杂法以天然高分子材料处理后的产物或衍生物作为基质.归纳了基于天然高分子的柔性导电材料在湿度、温度、应变、气流/气体、光、生物传感器件中应用的研究进展,最后展望了基于天然高分子的柔性导电材料在设计和组装柔性传感器方面的前景,为高效发展绿色柔性电子和天然高分子材料的高值化利用提供新思路.

Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveals a gatekeeper role for FoxP1 in primate cardiac aging

Aging poses a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases,the leading cause of death in the aged population.However,the cell type-specific changes underlying cardiac aging are far from being clear.Here,we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis of left ventricles from young and aged cynomolgus monkeys to define cell composition changes and transcriptomic alterations across different cell types associated with age.We found that aged cardiomyocytes underwent a dramatic loss in cell numbers and profound fluctuations in transcriptional profles.Via transcription regulatory network analysis,we identified FOxP1,a core transcription factor in organ development,as a key downregulated factor in aged cardiomyocytes,concomitant with the dysregulation of FoxP1 target genes associated with heart function and cardiac diseases.Consistently,the deficiency of FOxP1 led to hypertrophic and senescent phenotypes in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.Altogether,our findings depict the celiular and molecular landscape of ventricular aging at the single-cell resolution,and identify drivers for primate cardiac aging and potential targets for intervention against cardiac aging and associated diseases.

CRISPR-based screening identifies XPO7 as a positive regulatorof senescence

Dear Editor,Cells enter senescence,or irreversible growth arrest,when exposed to stressors such as DNA damage,epigenetic alterations and chronic inflammation(Zhao and Chen,2022).In aging and aging-related diseases,senescent cells are known to accumulate across tissues and organs(Sun et al.,2022;Lopez-Otin et al.,2023).

APOE-mediated suppression of the lncRNA MEG3 protects human cardiovascular cells from chronic inflammation

Dear Editor,Cardiovascular diseases(CVDs)are the leading cause of death world-wide.Thus,diagnosing and treating CVD remains at the forefront for clinicians while identifying targetable disease mechanisms in preclinical models are focus areas for researchers and drug developers(Cai et al.,2022a).The polymorphic protein apolipoprotein E(APOE),central to lipid transport and metabolism,is well-recognized for the role of its isoforms as important predictors for human cardiovascular disorders and neurodegenerative diseases(Tudorache et al.,2017).Plasma APOE is generated primarily from liver hepatocytes,accounting for around 75%of the APOE production from the whole body(Getz and Reardon,2009),and plays important functional roles in monocytes/macrophages,adipocytes,and the central nervous system(Kockx et al.,2018).However,despite the fact that APOE is widely expressed in different mammalian cells,studies on the functional roles of APOE mostly focus on its extracellular secreted form,and the specific effects of APOE,particularly intracellular form in cell types closely related to human cardiovascular diseases are therefore still poorly understood.

Low-dose chloroquine treatment extends the lifespan of aged rats

Dear Editor,Chloroquine(CQ)has long been used as an anti-malarial agent(Wellems and Plowe,2001).Recently,CQ has also been applied to treat viral infection and related diseases(Wellems and Plowe,2001;Huang et al.,2020).However,the safety and efficacy of its applications are still under extensive debate(Solomon and Lee,2009).Here,we discovered that low-dose CQ has a geroprotective effect on physiologically aged rats.Low-dose CQ prolonged lifespan,repressed systemic inflammation,and inhibited fibrosis across multiple tissue types in aged rats.Furthermore,we constructed transcriptomic maps for 6 tissues(kidney,small intestine,liver,heart,lung,and aorta)upon CQ treatment,thus revealing the effects of CQ at a systemic level.CQ treatment mitigated age-related molecular changes and repressed genes linked to fibrosis and the inflammatory response.Altogether,our data provide a valuable resource for investigating the impact of CQ on multiple aged tissues,which may facilitate the development of clinical applications that mitigate age-related changes in the elderly.

Optimization of vinegar-steaming process for Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) with response surface method

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the vinegar-steaming process of Wuweizi(Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis)using the response surface method(RSM)based on the Box-Behnken design.METHODS:A regression model was constructed with the response variables,the content of Deoxyschizandrin,and the three explanatory factors:length of steaming time,the quantity of vinegar and length of moistening time to evaluate the effects on the processing of Wuweizi(Fructus SchisandraeChinensis).RESULTS:There was a linear relationship between the content of Deoxyschizandrin and the three explanatory factors.When the steaming time was5.49 h,with 2.365 g of vinegar added and a moistening time of 4.13 h,the content of Deoxyschizandrin reached the maximum predicted value of0.1076%,and under the conditions the average content of Deoxyschizandrin was 0.1058%.CONCLUSION:The correlation coefficient of thenonlinear mathematical model was relatively high and the model matched the data well,potentially providing a method for the study of the steaming process.

Surface modification of Li_(3)InCl_(6)provides superior electrochemical performance for LiMn_(2)O_(4)cathode materials

Li Mn_(2)O_(4)(LMO)is the substance of choice for small and medium-sized energy storage materials in daily life.In this work,Li3InCl6(LIC)is prepared on the surface of LiMn_(2)O_(4)by hydrothermal method using InCl_(3)and LiCl as raw materials.This method stabilizes the LMO crystal structure by uniformly coating the LIC on the LMO surface and effectively maintains the morphology of LMO crystals during the cycling process.SEM and EDS analysis confirm the morphology and homogeneity of the synthesized material LIC on the LMO surface.The prepared material is put into a battery,and the charge-discharge test is carried out at 0.5 C and 1 C.The results show that the LIC surface-modified samples exhibit more than 6%higher cycling performance than the unmodified samples after long cycling.