Structural and functional studies of the first tripartite protein complex at the Trypanosoma brucei flagellar pocket collar

The flagellar pocket (FP) is the only endo- and exocytic organelle in most trypanosomes and, as such, is essential throughout the life cycle of the parasite. The neck of the FP is maintained enclosed around the flagellum via the flagellar pocket collar (FPC). The FPC is a macromolecular cytoskeletal structure and is essential for the formation of the FP and cytokinesis. FPC biogenesis and structure are poorly understood, mainly due to the lack of information on FPC composition. To date, only two FPC proteins, BILBO1 and FPC4, have been characterized. BILBO1 forms a molecular skeleton upon which other FPC proteins can, theoretically, dock onto. We previously identified FPC4 as the first BILBO1 interacting partner and demonstrated that its C-terminal domain interacts with the BILBO1 N-terminal domain (NTD). Here, we report by yeast two-hybrid, bioinformatics, functional and structural studies the characterization of a new FPC component and BILBO1 partner protein, BILBO2 (Tb927.6.3240). Further, we demonstrate that BILBO1 and BILBO2 share a homologous NTD and that both domains interact with FPC4. We have determined a 1.9 Å resolution crystal structure of the BILBO2 NTD in complex with the FPC4 BILBO1-binding domain. Together with mutational analyses, our studies reveal key residues for the function of the BILBO2 NTD and its interaction with FPC4 and evidenced a tripartite interaction between BILBO1, BILBO2, and FPC4. Our work sheds light on the first atomic structure of an FPC protein complex and represents a significant step in deciphering the FPC function in Trypanosoma brucei and other pathogenic kinetoplastids.

Preparation of Cellulose-Based Fluorescent Materials as Coating Pigment by Use of DMSO/DBU/CO2 System

A series of cellulose-based fluorescent materials are prepared under relative mild conditions by use of the DMSO/DBU/CO2 system to utilize as coating pigments. Through the observation under 365nm UV light, the cellulose-based fluorescent materials exhibit good fluorescence response and bright color. Furthermore, due to the limitation of the molecular skeleton of cellulose, the intrinsic aggregation caused quenching phenomenon commonly existed in conventional organic fluorescent pigments can be effectively inhibited, which is very helpful to retain good fluorescence response in epoxy-based coating material and its coating films. Moreover, the addition of cellulose-based fluorescent materials also increases the mechanical properties of the coating film. The increase of tensile strength and tensile modulus respectively reaches ~39% and ~66%. Solvent resistance and thermal property of the coating films generally remain unchanged. The fabrication of cellulose-based fluorescent materials in DMSO/DBU/CO2 system provides a feasible way to develop the functional application of cellulose.

Preparation of Cellulose-based fluorescent materials as coating pigment by use of reversible DMSO/DBU/CO2 system

A series of cellulose-based fluorescent materials are prepared under relative mild conditions by use of the reversible DMSO/DBU/CO2 system to utilize as coating pigments. Through the observation under 365nm UV light, the cellulose-based fluorescent materials exhibit good fluorescence response and bright color. Furthermore, due to the limitation of the molecular skeleton of cellulose, the intrinsic aggregation caused quenching phenomenon commonly existed in conventional organic fluorescent pigments can be effectively inhibited, which is very helpful to retain good fluorescence response in epoxy-based coating material and its coating films. Moreover, the addition of cellulose-based fluorescent materials also increases the mechanical properties of the coating film. The increase of tensile strength and tensile modulus respectively reaches ~ 39% and ~ 66%. Solvent resistance and thermal property of the coating films generally remain unchanged. The fabrication of cellulose-based fluorescent materials in DMSO/DBU/CO2 system provides a feasible way to develop the functional application of cellulose.

Preparation of Cellulose-based fluorescent materials as coating pigment by use of reversible DMSO/DBU/CO2 system

A series of cellulose-based fluorescent materials are prepared under relative mild condition by use of the particular reversible DMSO/DBU/CO2 system to utilize as coating pigments. Through the observation under 365nm UV light, the cellulose-based fluorescent materials exhibit good fluorescence response and bright color. Furthermore, due to the limitation of the molecular skeleton of cellulose, the intrinsic aggregation caused quenching phenomenon commonly existed in conventional organic fluorescent pigments can be effectively inhibited, which is very helpful to retain good fluorescence response in epoxy-based coating material and its coating films. Moreover, the addition of cellulose-based fluorescent materials also increases the mechanical properties of the coating film. The increase of tensile strength and tensile modulus respectively reaches ~ 39% and ~ 66%. Solvent resistance and thermal property of the coating films generally remain unchanged. The fabrication of cellulose-based fluorescent materials in DMSO/DBU/CO2 system provides a feasible way to develop the functional application of cellulose.

Molecular engineering of diketopyrrolopyrrole-conjugated polymer nanoparticles by chalcogenide variation for photoacoustic imaging guided photothermal therapy

This work presents an efficient method of accessing DPP-SO that not only possess an excellent anti-tumour property but also regulates the photothermal performance of DPP-conjugated polymers by changing the heteroatom in the molecular skeleton.

Rational design of reversibly photochromic molecules with aggregation-induced emission by introducing photoactive thienyl and benzothienyl groups

A general strategy to design reversible photochromic molecules with solid-state fluorescence by introducing photoactive thienyl and benzothienyl groups into an AIE-active molecular skeleton was proposed.