Superconducting diodes,which enable dissipationless supercurrent flow in one direction while blocking it in the reverse direction,are emerging as pivotal components for superconducting electronics.The development of e...Superconducting diodes,which enable dissipationless supercurrent flow in one direction while blocking it in the reverse direction,are emerging as pivotal components for superconducting electronics.The development of editable superconducting diodes could unlock transformative applications,including dynamically reconfigurable quantum circuits that adapt to operational requirements.Here,we report the first observation of the superconducting diode effect(SDE)in LaAlO_(3)/KTaO_(3) heterostructures—a two-dimensional oxide interface superconductor with exceptional tunability.We observe a strong SDE in Hall-bar(or strip-shaped)devices under perpendicular magnetic fields(<15 Oe),with efficiencies above 40%and rectification signals exceeding 10 mV.Through conductive atomic force microscope lithography,we demonstrate reversible nanoscale editing of the SDE’s polarity and efficiency by locally modifying the superconducting channel edges.This approach enables multiple nonvolatile configurations within a single device,realizing an editable superconducting diode.Our work establishes LaAlO_(3)/KTaO_(3) as a platform for vortex-based nonreciprocal transport and provides a pathway toward designer quantum circuits with on-demand functionalities.展开更多
In Japanese,it’s being described as'Mongee'—the'super'banana.It looks just like any other banana,but it’s supposed to be softer and sweeter—and its peel is edible.Even though they cost around$6 eac...In Japanese,it’s being described as'Mongee'—the'super'banana.It looks just like any other banana,but it’s supposed to be softer and sweeter—and its peel is edible.Even though they cost around$6 each,the special bananas have had no trouble attracting customers to the one place in the country where they’re sold.展开更多
The rapid development of supercapacitors and wearable devices has allowed the construction of integrated self-powered wearable devices.However,most current research focuses on increasing supercapacitor capacity and th...The rapid development of supercapacitors and wearable devices has allowed the construction of integrated self-powered wearable devices.However,most current research focuses on increasing supercapacitor capacity and the sensitivity of sensors,overlooking the self-powered and integration of one single device.In this study,the editable,flexible yarn-based supercapacitor(FYSC)and an integrated self-powered wearable sensor(SPWS)were constructed based on one yarn.The FYSC demonstrated adjustable capacitive behaviors by controlling the electrode reduction degree,electrode spaces,and integration.The supercapacitors exhibit a high specific capacitance of 1.82 F cm^(-3),92.57%capacity retention after 5000 cycles,and stable performance under static and dynamic strain conditions.Additionally,the integrated SPWSs demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity in discriminating bending magnitudes.The SPWSs further present the accuracy and stability in recognizing human physiological activities(joint motions of finger,wrist,knee,and elbow,respiration,and handwriting).The proposed strategy offers a practical approach to developing energy storage systems with customizable functionality.More importantly,the self-powered devices realized the integration of supercapacitors and sensors would facilitate the seamless integration of 1D functional yarns into wearable electronics.展开更多
Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted t...Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted the important therapeutic potential of Tregs in neurological diseases and tissue repair,emphasizing their multifaceted roles in immune regulation.This review aims to summarize and analyze the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of Tregs in relation to neurological diseases and neural regeneration.Beyond their classical immune-regulatory functions,emerging evidence points to non-immune mechanisms of regulatory T cells,particularly their interactions with stem cells and other non-immune cells.These interactions contribute to optimizing the repair microenvironment and promoting tissue repair and nerve regeneration,positioning non-immune pathways as a promising direction for future research.By modulating immune and non-immune cells,including neurons and glia within neural tissues,Tregs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.Preclinical studies have revealed that Treg cells interact with neurons,glial cells,and other neural components to mitigate inflammatory damage and support functional recovery.Current mechanistic studies show that Tregs can significantly promote neural repair and functional recovery by regulating inflammatory responses and the local immune microenvironment.However,research on the mechanistic roles of regulatory T cells in other diseases remains limited,highlighting substantial gaps and opportunities for exploration in this field.Laboratory and clinical studies have further advanced the application of regulatory T cells.Technical advances have enabled efficient isolation,ex vivo expansion and functionalization,and adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells,with efficacy validated in animal models.Innovative strategies,including gene editing,cell-free technologies,biomaterial-based recruitment,and in situ delivery have expanded the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells.Gene editing enables precise functional optimization,while biomaterial and in situ delivery technologies enhance their accumulation and efficacy at target sites.These advancements not only improve the immune-regulatory capacity of regulatory T cells but also significantly enhance their role in tissue repair.By leveraging the pivotal and diverse functions of Tregs in immune modulation and tissue repair,regulatory T cells–based therapies may lead to transformative breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological diseases.展开更多
Powered by an inexhaustible supply of solar energy,photoelectrochemical(PEC)nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)provides an ideal solution for the synthesis of green ammonia(NH_(3)).Although great efforts have been made i...Powered by an inexhaustible supply of solar energy,photoelectrochemical(PEC)nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)provides an ideal solution for the synthesis of green ammonia(NH_(3)).Although great efforts have been made in the past decades,there are still significant challenges in increasing the NH_(3) yields of the PEC-NRR devices.In addition to the issues of low activity and selectivity similar to electrochemical NRR,the progress of PEC-NRR is also impeded by the limited increase in NH_(3) yields as the electrode is enlarged.Here,we propose an editable electrode design strategy that parallels unit photo-electrodes to achieve a linear increase in NH_(3) yields with electrode active area.We demonstrate that the editable electrode design strategy minimizes the electrode charge transfer resistance,allowing more photo-generated carriers to reach the electrode surface and promote the catalytic reaction.We believe that this editable electrode design strategy provides an avenue to achieve sustainable PEC NH_(3) production.展开更多
Optimizing plant architecture for specific cultivation methods is essential for enhancing fruit productivity.Unlike indeterminate growth plants,the total productivity of determinate growth plants relies on cumulative ...Optimizing plant architecture for specific cultivation methods is essential for enhancing fruit productivity.Unlike indeterminate growth plants,the total productivity of determinate growth plants relies on cumulative fruit production and synchronized fruit ripening from both main and axillary shoots.Here,we focused on SlD14and SlMAX1,two key genes involved in the regulation of strigolactone(SL)signaling and biosynthesis,with the goal of maximizing yield and syn chronizing fruit ripening by fine-tuning axillary shoot growth.Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9)technology,we found that the sld14,slmax1,and sld14 slmax1mutant plants exhibited reduced plant height and increased axillary shoot proliferation compared to wild-type plants.However,these mutants showed reduced yield and delayed ripening,likely due to a source-sink imbalance caused by excessive axillary shoot development.A weak sld14 allele displayed a milder phenotype,maintaining total fruit yield and harvest index despite smaller individual fruit size.These findings indicate that allelic variation in SL-related genes can influence plant architecture and yield components.Our results suggest that weak or partial alleles may serve as promising targets for tailoring tomato architecture to space-limited cultivation systems.展开更多
High-quality silage is the cornerstone to sustainable livestock development and animal food production.As the core fermentation bacteria of silage,Lactobacillus directly regulates silage fermentation by producing lact...High-quality silage is the cornerstone to sustainable livestock development and animal food production.As the core fermentation bacteria of silage,Lactobacillus directly regulates silage fermentation by producing lactic acid,enzymes,and other bioactive molecules.However,traditional screening methods for functional strains are labor-intensive and time-consuming.Recent advances in synthetic biology,particularly the development of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology,offer a revolutionary approach to designing Lactobacillus strains with customized traits.This review systematically reviewed the importance of silage in sustainable agricultural development and the limitations of current silage preparation and promotion.It also discussed the application of strain engineering approaches in optimizing the phenotypic performance of Lactobacillus for better silage.Building on this,we reviewed the research progress of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in Lactobacillus and discussed how to leverage its high efficiency and precision to optimize the strain's traits for improved silage quality and functionality.CRISPR-Cas9 toolkits are expected to achieve directed evolution of strain performance,ultimately yielding next-generation silage microbial inoculants with multiple functions,adaptability to multiple substrates,and eco-friendly characteristics.The use of such innovative biotechnologies would facilitate resource-efficient utilization,promote animal performance and health for sustainable development in livestock production.展开更多
Acetolactate synthase(ALS)-targeting herbicides are among the most widely used weed-control chemicals globally.Mutations in the ALS gene can confer herbicide resistance in crops,thereby allowing selective elimination ...Acetolactate synthase(ALS)-targeting herbicides are among the most widely used weed-control chemicals globally.Mutations in the ALS gene can confer herbicide resistance in crops,thereby allowing selective elimination of weeds without harming crops.Herbicide-resistant ALS alleles were initially discovered in weeds and subsequently developed through artificial mutagenesis techniques.With the advancement of CRISPR/Cas technologies,various genome-editing tools are now available to introduce these resistant alleles,as well as novel variants,into diverse crop species.Moreover,emerging methodologies,such as directed evolution,enable the generation and screening of large populations of random ALS mutants.Consequently,ALS has become one of the most extensively targeted genes in plant gene evolution.This paper provides a comprehensive overview of both conventional and recently developed strategies for ALS evolution,with particular emphasis on CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and directed evolution.Future perspectives on technological application are also discussed.By advancing our understanding of herbicide-resistant ALS allele development for crop improvement,these methodologies may also pave the way for their application to the evolution of other agronomically important genes.展开更多
The demand for Erigeron breviscapus,a medicinal Compositae plant with cardiovascular therapeutic properties,has been increasing by 15%annually,exceeding production capacity and necessitating improvements in yield and ...The demand for Erigeron breviscapus,a medicinal Compositae plant with cardiovascular therapeutic properties,has been increasing by 15%annually,exceeding production capacity and necessitating improvements in yield and bioactive compound content.Genetic transformation remains essential for functional genomics,yet current Agrobacterium and biolistic methods are inefficient and expensive.In this study,we cloned the full-length sequences of the BABY BOOM,WUSCHEL and GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR(GRF)genes of E.breviscapus and then transformed them into E.breviscapus explants.The transformation efficiency for the GRF gene reached 45%,and all the transgenic E.breviscapus plants were fertile without obvious developmental defects.Furthermore,we inserted EbGRF4 and Cas9-EbPDS-sgRNA into the same vector for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to effectively knock out the PDS gene,resulting in albino seedlings,with a gene editing efficiency of 33.3%.These findings provide a solid foundation for functional genomic research and the genetic improvement of E.breviscapus,as well as an important reference for establishing high-efficiency genetic transformation systems for other medicinal plants.展开更多
Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4(CCD4)controls the rate-limiting step ofβ-ionone biosynthesis,making it a valuable target for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications.Nicotiana tabacum,a carotenoid-richd crop spec...Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4(CCD4)controls the rate-limiting step ofβ-ionone biosynthesis,making it a valuable target for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications.Nicotiana tabacum,a carotenoid-richd crop species,is a promising source forβ-ionone production.This study aimed to modify CCD4 activity to increaseβ-ionone yield in tobacco.We identified two isoforms of CCD4 in N.tabacum,NtCCD4a and NtCCD4b,with NtCCD4a exhibiting significantly higher expression levels than NtCCD4b.Using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC–MS),we demonstrated that NtCCD4a effectively catalyzes the cleavage ofβ-carotene to produceβ-ionone.To improve its enzymatic activity,we applied structure-based rational design to reconstruct the active pocket of NtCCD4a,followed by high-throughput screening of mutant variants.Three single base mutants,F181G,F184L,and F337M,in NtCCD4a showed enhancedβ-ionone production compared to the wild-type,with F337M yielding the highest amount.No synergistic effects were observed among the three mutants.Transgenic tobacco plants expressing the F181G,F184L,and F337M mutations had acceleratedβ-carotene cleavage and increasedβ-ionone production relative to the wild-type NtCCD4a.Our results establish a framework for the design of CCD4 in major crop species through genome editing technology.展开更多
Background:The golden Syrian hamster is a valuable animal model for studying carcinogenesis,metabolic disorders,cardiovascular diseases,and viral infections due to its biological and pathological similarities to human...Background:The golden Syrian hamster is a valuable animal model for studying carcinogenesis,metabolic disorders,cardiovascular diseases,and viral infections due to its biological and pathological similarities to humans.However,the development of genetically engineered hamsters has lagged behind that of mice and rats,largely because of an embryonic development block at the two-cell stage in vitro.Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout has been achieved in hamsters,precise DNA fragment insertion or conditional knockout(cKO)models have not previously been reported,likely due to technical limitations in embryo manipulation and insufficient efficiency of homology-directed repair(HDR).Methods:In this study,we generated conditional alleles of the ApoF gene in golden Syrian hamsters.A two-cut strategy was applied using Cas9 protein,two sgRNAs,and a single donor plasmid containing exon 2 flanked by loxP sites and two~0.8 kb homology arms.A mixture of Cas9 protein,sgRNAs,and the donor plasmid was microinjected into the pronuclei of one-cell stage hamster embryos.Results:The efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loxP knock-in reached up to 27%,and the genetically modified floxed alleles were successfully transmitted through the germline.The functionality of the inserted loxP sites was validated by in vivo Cremediated recombination following local administration of AAV vectors,including AAV-cTnT-Cre in the heart and AAV-CMV-Cre in the brain.Conclusions:To our knowledge,this work represents the first successful establishment of a conditional knockout model in the golden Syrian hamster,providing a valuable tool for mechanistic studies of gene function and disease modeling.展开更多
A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synth...A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synthetic metabolic engineering offers a method to modify and redesign metabolic pathways to increase the nutritional value of crops.We summarize recent advances in the biofortification of key nutrients including provitamin A,vitamin C,vitamin B9,iron,zinc,anthocyanins,flavonoids,and unsaturated fatty acids.We discuss the potential of multi-gene stacking,gene editing,enzyme engineering,and artificial intelligence in synthetic metabolic engineering.We propose future research directions and potential solutions centered on leveraging AI-driven systems biology,precision gene editing,enzyme engineering,agrobacterium-mediated genotype-independent transformation,and modular metabolic engineering strategies to develop next-generation nutritionally enhanced super crops and transform global food systems.展开更多
As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Ye...As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Year of the Horse symbolizes endeavor and far-reaching journeys,reflecting our own spirit of continuous exploration and breakthrough innovation on the path of crop science.Here,I extendmysincere appreciation to all our authors and reviewers for their invaluable time,expertise,and dedication,which are instrumental in the success of The Crop Journal,establishing it as a premier platform for the global crop science research community.The Crop Journal publishes its 2026 first issue as a special issue themed“Synthetic Biology for Crop Improvement”,ably vip-edited by four young scientists.The issue provides a comprehensive overview of major advances in the field.In the past few years,crop science has made long strides in metabolic engineering of important pathways in secondary metabolism.The achievements expedite the emergence of synthetic biology as a potent methodology for crop breeding and represent a fundamental paradigm shift from“deciphering crops”to“designing crops”,which is further empowered by artificial intelligence(AI).At this turning point of the New Year,I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief retrospective and future perspective.展开更多
Rice, a global staple food, is critical for food security. The cultivated Oryza sativa, domesticated from wild O. rufipogon, derives~80%of its 993 identified domestication-related genes from O. rufipogon and 20%from S...Rice, a global staple food, is critical for food security. The cultivated Oryza sativa, domesticated from wild O. rufipogon, derives~80%of its 993 identified domestication-related genes from O. rufipogon and 20%from South/Southeast Asian wild O. nivara(Jing et al., 2023). Genes like An-1, BH4, PROG1,SH4, Rc, Rd, and GS3—which regulate awn length, hull color,til er angle, seed shattering, pericarp color, seed length, and thousand-grain weight, respectively—were selected against during domestication to form modern O. sativa(Yu et al., 2021).However, domestication and yield-focused breeding eliminated wild rice's valuable genes(e.g., for disease resistance, stress tolerance, nutrition), narrowing genetic diversity and impeding efforts to meet growing societal demands.展开更多
Emerging and powerful genome editing tools,particularly CRISPR/Cas9,are facilitating functional genomics research and accelerating crop improvement(Jiang et al.2021;Cao et al.2023;Chen C et al.2023;Liu et al.2023a).Ho...Emerging and powerful genome editing tools,particularly CRISPR/Cas9,are facilitating functional genomics research and accelerating crop improvement(Jiang et al.2021;Cao et al.2023;Chen C et al.2023;Liu et al.2023a).However,the detection and screening of transgenic lines remain major bottlenecks,being time-consuming,labor-intensive,and inefficient during transformation and subsequent mutation identification.A simple and efficient visual marker system plays a critical role in addressing these challenges.Recent studies demonstrated that the GmW1 and RUBY reporter systems were used to obtain visual transgenic soybean(Glycine max) plants(Chen L et al.2023;Chen et al.2024).展开更多
Organic and pharmaceutical synthesis have traditionally relied on the stepwise transformation ofactivated functional groups to synthesize cyclic molecules.The design of valuable heterocyclic compounds,for instance,has...Organic and pharmaceutical synthesis have traditionally relied on the stepwise transformation ofactivated functional groups to synthesize cyclic molecules.The design of valuable heterocyclic compounds,for instance,has depended on multi-step routes such as polar or radical cyclization,cycloadditions,and the manipulation of various functional groups to achieve ring formation or connection[1,2].展开更多
Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional bree...Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity,epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression,ultimately impacting crop yield.Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes,including histone modification,DNA modification,RNA modification,non-coding RNA,and chromatin remodeling.This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process.We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding,combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics(SynEpi).Finally,we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.展开更多
Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is cruci...Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.展开更多
“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic o...“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.The journal started publication in 1955.The original name at starting publication was “Journal of Natural Science of Northeast People University”,which was changed into “Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Jilinensis” in 1958owing to the name change of the university.展开更多
Skeletal editing has emerged as a powerful tool in organic chemistry,enabling the simplification of synthetic routes to complex molecules[1].Indoles,electron-rich nitrogen-containing building blocks,represent privileg...Skeletal editing has emerged as a powerful tool in organic chemistry,enabling the simplification of synthetic routes to complex molecules[1].Indoles,electron-rich nitrogen-containing building blocks,represent privileged scaffolds prevalent in pharmaceuticals,natural products,and bioactive compounds.The application of skeletal editing strategies to modify such structures is highly valuable and in growing demand.Leveraging the electronrich nature of indoles at C2 and C3,single-carbon atom insertion using cationic carbyne equivalents offers an efficient approach for indole ring expansion to quinoline(Scheme 1a).However,existing methods predominantly rely on halocarbene precursors,which restricts the functional groups of ring-expanded products to halogen[2],alkyl,aryl,heteroaryl and ester moieties[3].This limitation hinders their utility in late-stage skeletal modifications of complex targets.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No.2023YFA1406400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.12534005 and 12325402)。
文摘Superconducting diodes,which enable dissipationless supercurrent flow in one direction while blocking it in the reverse direction,are emerging as pivotal components for superconducting electronics.The development of editable superconducting diodes could unlock transformative applications,including dynamically reconfigurable quantum circuits that adapt to operational requirements.Here,we report the first observation of the superconducting diode effect(SDE)in LaAlO_(3)/KTaO_(3) heterostructures—a two-dimensional oxide interface superconductor with exceptional tunability.We observe a strong SDE in Hall-bar(or strip-shaped)devices under perpendicular magnetic fields(<15 Oe),with efficiencies above 40%and rectification signals exceeding 10 mV.Through conductive atomic force microscope lithography,we demonstrate reversible nanoscale editing of the SDE’s polarity and efficiency by locally modifying the superconducting channel edges.This approach enables multiple nonvolatile configurations within a single device,realizing an editable superconducting diode.Our work establishes LaAlO_(3)/KTaO_(3) as a platform for vortex-based nonreciprocal transport and provides a pathway toward designer quantum circuits with on-demand functionalities.
文摘In Japanese,it’s being described as'Mongee'—the'super'banana.It looks just like any other banana,but it’s supposed to be softer and sweeter—and its peel is edible.Even though they cost around$6 each,the special bananas have had no trouble attracting customers to the one place in the country where they’re sold.
基金supported in part by the Science Foundation of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University(20200209-Y)。
文摘The rapid development of supercapacitors and wearable devices has allowed the construction of integrated self-powered wearable devices.However,most current research focuses on increasing supercapacitor capacity and the sensitivity of sensors,overlooking the self-powered and integration of one single device.In this study,the editable,flexible yarn-based supercapacitor(FYSC)and an integrated self-powered wearable sensor(SPWS)were constructed based on one yarn.The FYSC demonstrated adjustable capacitive behaviors by controlling the electrode reduction degree,electrode spaces,and integration.The supercapacitors exhibit a high specific capacitance of 1.82 F cm^(-3),92.57%capacity retention after 5000 cycles,and stable performance under static and dynamic strain conditions.Additionally,the integrated SPWSs demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity in discriminating bending magnitudes.The SPWSs further present the accuracy and stability in recognizing human physiological activities(joint motions of finger,wrist,knee,and elbow,respiration,and handwriting).The proposed strategy offers a practical approach to developing energy storage systems with customizable functionality.More importantly,the self-powered devices realized the integration of supercapacitors and sensors would facilitate the seamless integration of 1D functional yarns into wearable electronics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.32271389,31900987(both to PY)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.BK20230608(to JJ)。
文摘Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted the important therapeutic potential of Tregs in neurological diseases and tissue repair,emphasizing their multifaceted roles in immune regulation.This review aims to summarize and analyze the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of Tregs in relation to neurological diseases and neural regeneration.Beyond their classical immune-regulatory functions,emerging evidence points to non-immune mechanisms of regulatory T cells,particularly their interactions with stem cells and other non-immune cells.These interactions contribute to optimizing the repair microenvironment and promoting tissue repair and nerve regeneration,positioning non-immune pathways as a promising direction for future research.By modulating immune and non-immune cells,including neurons and glia within neural tissues,Tregs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.Preclinical studies have revealed that Treg cells interact with neurons,glial cells,and other neural components to mitigate inflammatory damage and support functional recovery.Current mechanistic studies show that Tregs can significantly promote neural repair and functional recovery by regulating inflammatory responses and the local immune microenvironment.However,research on the mechanistic roles of regulatory T cells in other diseases remains limited,highlighting substantial gaps and opportunities for exploration in this field.Laboratory and clinical studies have further advanced the application of regulatory T cells.Technical advances have enabled efficient isolation,ex vivo expansion and functionalization,and adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells,with efficacy validated in animal models.Innovative strategies,including gene editing,cell-free technologies,biomaterial-based recruitment,and in situ delivery have expanded the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells.Gene editing enables precise functional optimization,while biomaterial and in situ delivery technologies enhance their accumulation and efficacy at target sites.These advancements not only improve the immune-regulatory capacity of regulatory T cells but also significantly enhance their role in tissue repair.By leveraging the pivotal and diverse functions of Tregs in immune modulation and tissue repair,regulatory T cells–based therapies may lead to transformative breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological diseases.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52071231 and 51722103)the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin city(No.19JCJQJC61900).
文摘Powered by an inexhaustible supply of solar energy,photoelectrochemical(PEC)nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)provides an ideal solution for the synthesis of green ammonia(NH_(3)).Although great efforts have been made in the past decades,there are still significant challenges in increasing the NH_(3) yields of the PEC-NRR devices.In addition to the issues of low activity and selectivity similar to electrochemical NRR,the progress of PEC-NRR is also impeded by the limited increase in NH_(3) yields as the electrode is enlarged.Here,we propose an editable electrode design strategy that parallels unit photo-electrodes to achieve a linear increase in NH_(3) yields with electrode active area.We demonstrate that the editable electrode design strategy minimizes the electrode charge transfer resistance,allowing more photo-generated carriers to reach the electrode surface and promote the catalytic reaction.We believe that this editable electrode design strategy provides an avenue to achieve sustainable PEC NH_(3) production.
基金funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant from the Ministry of Science and ICT(MSIT),Republic of Korea(Nos.RS-2024-00407469 and RS-2025-00517964)the BK21 FOUR program of Graduate School,Kyung Hee University(GS-1-JO-NON-20240417)。
文摘Optimizing plant architecture for specific cultivation methods is essential for enhancing fruit productivity.Unlike indeterminate growth plants,the total productivity of determinate growth plants relies on cumulative fruit production and synchronized fruit ripening from both main and axillary shoots.Here,we focused on SlD14and SlMAX1,two key genes involved in the regulation of strigolactone(SL)signaling and biosynthesis,with the goal of maximizing yield and syn chronizing fruit ripening by fine-tuning axillary shoot growth.Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9)technology,we found that the sld14,slmax1,and sld14 slmax1mutant plants exhibited reduced plant height and increased axillary shoot proliferation compared to wild-type plants.However,these mutants showed reduced yield and delayed ripening,likely due to a source-sink imbalance caused by excessive axillary shoot development.A weak sld14 allele displayed a milder phenotype,maintaining total fruit yield and harvest index despite smaller individual fruit size.These findings indicate that allelic variation in SL-related genes can influence plant architecture and yield components.Our results suggest that weak or partial alleles may serve as promising targets for tailoring tomato architecture to space-limited cultivation systems.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.U20A2002)。
文摘High-quality silage is the cornerstone to sustainable livestock development and animal food production.As the core fermentation bacteria of silage,Lactobacillus directly regulates silage fermentation by producing lactic acid,enzymes,and other bioactive molecules.However,traditional screening methods for functional strains are labor-intensive and time-consuming.Recent advances in synthetic biology,particularly the development of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology,offer a revolutionary approach to designing Lactobacillus strains with customized traits.This review systematically reviewed the importance of silage in sustainable agricultural development and the limitations of current silage preparation and promotion.It also discussed the application of strain engineering approaches in optimizing the phenotypic performance of Lactobacillus for better silage.Building on this,we reviewed the research progress of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in Lactobacillus and discussed how to leverage its high efficiency and precision to optimize the strain's traits for improved silage quality and functionality.CRISPR-Cas9 toolkits are expected to achieve directed evolution of strain performance,ultimately yielding next-generation silage microbial inoculants with multiple functions,adaptability to multiple substrates,and eco-friendly characteristics.The use of such innovative biotechnologies would facilitate resource-efficient utilization,promote animal performance and health for sustainable development in livestock production.
基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023B1515120050,2023A1515110529 and 2024A1515012454)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20230807145759008 and KJZD20240903100206009).
文摘Acetolactate synthase(ALS)-targeting herbicides are among the most widely used weed-control chemicals globally.Mutations in the ALS gene can confer herbicide resistance in crops,thereby allowing selective elimination of weeds without harming crops.Herbicide-resistant ALS alleles were initially discovered in weeds and subsequently developed through artificial mutagenesis techniques.With the advancement of CRISPR/Cas technologies,various genome-editing tools are now available to introduce these resistant alleles,as well as novel variants,into diverse crop species.Moreover,emerging methodologies,such as directed evolution,enable the generation and screening of large populations of random ALS mutants.Consequently,ALS has become one of the most extensively targeted genes in plant gene evolution.This paper provides a comprehensive overview of both conventional and recently developed strategies for ALS evolution,with particular emphasis on CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and directed evolution.Future perspectives on technological application are also discussed.By advancing our understanding of herbicide-resistant ALS allele development for crop improvement,these methodologies may also pave the way for their application to the evolution of other agronomically important genes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82160727)the Major Science and Technique Programs in Yunnan Province(202304BT090021-ML05)Yunnan Agricultural University research start-up Fund(KY2022-02).
文摘The demand for Erigeron breviscapus,a medicinal Compositae plant with cardiovascular therapeutic properties,has been increasing by 15%annually,exceeding production capacity and necessitating improvements in yield and bioactive compound content.Genetic transformation remains essential for functional genomics,yet current Agrobacterium and biolistic methods are inefficient and expensive.In this study,we cloned the full-length sequences of the BABY BOOM,WUSCHEL and GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR(GRF)genes of E.breviscapus and then transformed them into E.breviscapus explants.The transformation efficiency for the GRF gene reached 45%,and all the transgenic E.breviscapus plants were fertile without obvious developmental defects.Furthermore,we inserted EbGRF4 and Cas9-EbPDS-sgRNA into the same vector for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to effectively knock out the PDS gene,resulting in albino seedlings,with a gene editing efficiency of 33.3%.These findings provide a solid foundation for functional genomic research and the genetic improvement of E.breviscapus,as well as an important reference for establishing high-efficiency genetic transformation systems for other medicinal plants.
基金funded High-Level Talents project of Henan Agricultural University(111-30501301)Project of the National key R&D Program of China(2021YFA0909600)+3 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(242300420141)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M672308)Cultivation Program for Young Backbone Teachers at Henan University of Technology(DC 11)Science Project 110202101042(JY 19)/2022530000241007,110202102033,110202202038.
文摘Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4(CCD4)controls the rate-limiting step ofβ-ionone biosynthesis,making it a valuable target for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications.Nicotiana tabacum,a carotenoid-richd crop species,is a promising source forβ-ionone production.This study aimed to modify CCD4 activity to increaseβ-ionone yield in tobacco.We identified two isoforms of CCD4 in N.tabacum,NtCCD4a and NtCCD4b,with NtCCD4a exhibiting significantly higher expression levels than NtCCD4b.Using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC–MS),we demonstrated that NtCCD4a effectively catalyzes the cleavage ofβ-carotene to produceβ-ionone.To improve its enzymatic activity,we applied structure-based rational design to reconstruct the active pocket of NtCCD4a,followed by high-throughput screening of mutant variants.Three single base mutants,F181G,F184L,and F337M,in NtCCD4a showed enhancedβ-ionone production compared to the wild-type,with F337M yielding the highest amount.No synergistic effects were observed among the three mutants.Transgenic tobacco plants expressing the F181G,F184L,and F337M mutations had acceleratedβ-carotene cleavage and increasedβ-ionone production relative to the wild-type NtCCD4a.Our results establish a framework for the design of CCD4 in major crop species through genome editing technology.
基金State Key Laboratory Special Fund,Grant/Award Number:2060204Open Research Project in State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling,Grant/Award Number:Peking University,202411+3 种基金The Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,Grant/Award Number:2023-PT180-01Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem Innovation Fund,Grant/Award Number:HH24KYZX0007CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences,Grant/Award Number:2021-I2M-1-024,2022-I2M-1-020 and 2023-I2M-2-001the National Key Research and Development Program of China from the Ministry of Science and Technology,Grant/Award Number:2021YFF0702802。
文摘Background:The golden Syrian hamster is a valuable animal model for studying carcinogenesis,metabolic disorders,cardiovascular diseases,and viral infections due to its biological and pathological similarities to humans.However,the development of genetically engineered hamsters has lagged behind that of mice and rats,largely because of an embryonic development block at the two-cell stage in vitro.Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout has been achieved in hamsters,precise DNA fragment insertion or conditional knockout(cKO)models have not previously been reported,likely due to technical limitations in embryo manipulation and insufficient efficiency of homology-directed repair(HDR).Methods:In this study,we generated conditional alleles of the ApoF gene in golden Syrian hamsters.A two-cut strategy was applied using Cas9 protein,two sgRNAs,and a single donor plasmid containing exon 2 flanked by loxP sites and two~0.8 kb homology arms.A mixture of Cas9 protein,sgRNAs,and the donor plasmid was microinjected into the pronuclei of one-cell stage hamster embryos.Results:The efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loxP knock-in reached up to 27%,and the genetically modified floxed alleles were successfully transmitted through the germline.The functionality of the inserted loxP sites was validated by in vivo Cremediated recombination following local administration of AAV vectors,including AAV-cTnT-Cre in the heart and AAV-CMV-Cre in the brain.Conclusions:To our knowledge,this work represents the first successful establishment of a conditional knockout model in the golden Syrian hamster,providing a valuable tool for mechanistic studies of gene function and disease modeling.
基金supported by grants from the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Project(GKAA24206023)the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD04077)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272120)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1000800)the Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Precise Breeding of Future Crops Major Project(FCBRCE-202502,FCBRCE-202504).
文摘A growing global population and the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues such as“hidden hunger”,obesity,hypertension,and diabetes necessitate a fundamental rethinking of crop design and breeding.Synthetic metabolic engineering offers a method to modify and redesign metabolic pathways to increase the nutritional value of crops.We summarize recent advances in the biofortification of key nutrients including provitamin A,vitamin C,vitamin B9,iron,zinc,anthocyanins,flavonoids,and unsaturated fatty acids.We discuss the potential of multi-gene stacking,gene editing,enzyme engineering,and artificial intelligence in synthetic metabolic engineering.We propose future research directions and potential solutions centered on leveraging AI-driven systems biology,precision gene editing,enzyme engineering,agrobacterium-mediated genotype-independent transformation,and modular metabolic engineering strategies to develop next-generation nutritionally enhanced super crops and transform global food systems.
文摘As we welcome the spring of 2026,we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to colleagues worldwide in the field of crop science,our partners,and all those committed to sustainable agricultural development!The Year of the Horse symbolizes endeavor and far-reaching journeys,reflecting our own spirit of continuous exploration and breakthrough innovation on the path of crop science.Here,I extendmysincere appreciation to all our authors and reviewers for their invaluable time,expertise,and dedication,which are instrumental in the success of The Crop Journal,establishing it as a premier platform for the global crop science research community.The Crop Journal publishes its 2026 first issue as a special issue themed“Synthetic Biology for Crop Improvement”,ably vip-edited by four young scientists.The issue provides a comprehensive overview of major advances in the field.In the past few years,crop science has made long strides in metabolic engineering of important pathways in secondary metabolism.The achievements expedite the emergence of synthetic biology as a potent methodology for crop breeding and represent a fundamental paradigm shift from“deciphering crops”to“designing crops”,which is further empowered by artificial intelligence(AI).At this turning point of the New Year,I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief retrospective and future perspective.
基金supported by the Biological BreedingMajor Projects(2023ZD04076)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32300312)+2 种基金the Innovation Program of Chinses Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS-CSIAF-202303)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2020B1515120086)the KeyArea Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(2021B0707010006)。
文摘Rice, a global staple food, is critical for food security. The cultivated Oryza sativa, domesticated from wild O. rufipogon, derives~80%of its 993 identified domestication-related genes from O. rufipogon and 20%from South/Southeast Asian wild O. nivara(Jing et al., 2023). Genes like An-1, BH4, PROG1,SH4, Rc, Rd, and GS3—which regulate awn length, hull color,til er angle, seed shattering, pericarp color, seed length, and thousand-grain weight, respectively—were selected against during domestication to form modern O. sativa(Yu et al., 2021).However, domestication and yield-focused breeding eliminated wild rice's valuable genes(e.g., for disease resistance, stress tolerance, nutrition), narrowing genetic diversity and impeding efforts to meet growing societal demands.
基金supported by the Jilin Science and Technology Development Program,China (20240602032RC)the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project,China (CXGC2024ZD001)+1 种基金the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project,China (CXGC2024ZY012)the Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission-Project for Improving the Independent Innovation Capacity of Major Grain Crops,China (2024C002)。
文摘Emerging and powerful genome editing tools,particularly CRISPR/Cas9,are facilitating functional genomics research and accelerating crop improvement(Jiang et al.2021;Cao et al.2023;Chen C et al.2023;Liu et al.2023a).However,the detection and screening of transgenic lines remain major bottlenecks,being time-consuming,labor-intensive,and inefficient during transformation and subsequent mutation identification.A simple and efficient visual marker system plays a critical role in addressing these challenges.Recent studies demonstrated that the GmW1 and RUBY reporter systems were used to obtain visual transgenic soybean(Glycine max) plants(Chen L et al.2023;Chen et al.2024).
基金supported by the MSIT(2022R1F1A106268,RS-2023-00213491,RS-2023-00219859,RS-2024-00405261,RS-2024-00409589,RS-2025-25460522,and RS-2025-00642970)Republic of Korea,the InnoCORE program of the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea(N10250153 and 1.250022.01)the Creative Research Program and KAIST Cross-Generation Collaborative Lab Project.
文摘Organic and pharmaceutical synthesis have traditionally relied on the stepwise transformation ofactivated functional groups to synthesize cyclic molecules.The design of valuable heterocyclic compounds,for instance,has depended on multi-step routes such as polar or radical cyclization,cycloadditions,and the manipulation of various functional groups to achieve ring formation or connection[1,2].
基金supported by funding from the National Key R&D Program of China(2023ZD0407304)the Sci-Tech Innovation 2030 Agenda(2022ZD0115703)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-Profit of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Y2023PT20).
文摘Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity,epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression,ultimately impacting crop yield.Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes,including histone modification,DNA modification,RNA modification,non-coding RNA,and chromatin remodeling.This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process.We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding,combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics(SynEpi).Finally,we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.
基金supported by a sub-award to the University of Missouri from the Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf funded by the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(OPP1155704)(Bing Yang)and the China Scholar Council(Chenhao Li,as a joint Ph.D.student).
文摘Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.
文摘“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.The journal started publication in 1955.The original name at starting publication was “Journal of Natural Science of Northeast People University”,which was changed into “Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Jilinensis” in 1958owing to the name change of the university.
文摘Skeletal editing has emerged as a powerful tool in organic chemistry,enabling the simplification of synthetic routes to complex molecules[1].Indoles,electron-rich nitrogen-containing building blocks,represent privileged scaffolds prevalent in pharmaceuticals,natural products,and bioactive compounds.The application of skeletal editing strategies to modify such structures is highly valuable and in growing demand.Leveraging the electronrich nature of indoles at C2 and C3,single-carbon atom insertion using cationic carbyne equivalents offers an efficient approach for indole ring expansion to quinoline(Scheme 1a).However,existing methods predominantly rely on halocarbene precursors,which restricts the functional groups of ring-expanded products to halogen[2],alkyl,aryl,heteroaryl and ester moieties[3].This limitation hinders their utility in late-stage skeletal modifications of complex targets.
