Hong Liu

Bio: Hong Liu is an academic researcher from Shandong University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Materials science. The author has an hindex of 100, co-authored 1905 publications receiving 57561 citations. Previous affiliations of Hong Liu include Shanghai University & Guangzhou University.

The gating charge pathway of an epilepsy-associated potassium channel accommodates chemical ligands.

Abstract: Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels derive their voltage sensitivity from movement of gating charges in voltage-sensor domains (VSDs). The gating charges translocate through a physical pathway in the VSD to open or close the channel. Previous studies showed that the gating charge pathways of Shaker and Kv1.2-2.1 chimeric channels are occluded, forming the structural basis for the focused electric field and gating charge transfer center. Here, we show that the gating charge pathway of the voltage-gated KCNQ2 potassium channel, activity reduction of which causes epilepsy, can accommodate various small molecule ligands. Combining mutagenesis, molecular simulation and electrophysiological recording, a binding model for the probe activator, ztz240, in the gating charge pathway was defined. This information was used to establish a docking-based virtual screening assay targeting the defined ligand-binding pocket. Nine activators with five new chemotypes were identified, and in vivo experiments showed that three ligands binding to the gating charge pathway exhibit significant anti-epilepsy activity. Identification of various novel activators by virtual screening targeting the pocket supports the presence of a ligand-binding site in the gating charge pathway. The capability of the gating charge pathway to accommodate small molecule ligands offers new insights into the gating charge pathway of the therapeutically relevant KCNQ2 channel.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in Ang II-induced kidney damage via mitochondrial dysfunction.

Abstract: // Yi Wen 1 , Yiran Liu 1 , Taotao Tang 1 , Linli Lv 1 , Hong Liu 1 , Kunling Ma 1 and Bicheng Liu 1 1 Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China Correspondence to: Bicheng Liu, email: // Keywords : NLRP3 inflammasome, angiotensin II, mitochondrial dysfunction, RAS, Pathology Section Received : December 05, 2015 Accepted : June 29, 2016 Published : August 05, 2016 Abstract Growing evidence has shown that NLRP3 inflammasome activation promotes the development of tubulointerstitial inflammation and progression of renal injury. We previously found that mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical determinant for the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in albumin-overload rats. Angiotensin (Ang) II plays an important role in mitochondrial homeostasis. Here, we investigated the role of Ang II in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in this process. In vitro , Ang II triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and this effect is mediated by AT1 receptor rather than AT2 receptor. MitoTEMPO, a mitochondrial targeted antioxidant, attenuated Ang II induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production and NLRP3 inflammation activation. Following chronic Ang II infusion for 28 days, we observed remarkable tubular epithelial cells (TECs) injury, mitochondrial damage, and albuminuria in WT mice. However, these abnormalities were significantly attenuated in AT1 receptor KO mice. Then, we examined the role of mitochondria in Ang II-infused mice with or without mitoTEMPO treatment. As expected, Ang II-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation was markedly inhibited by mitoTEMPO. Notably, NLRP3 deletion signally protected TECs from Ang II-triggered mitochondrial dysfunction and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Ang II induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation in TECs which is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Tandem Coupling/Cyclization: An Efficient Synthesis of Pyrrolo‐/Pyrido[2,1‐b]benzo[d][1,3]oxazin‐ 1‐ones

Abstract: A highly efficient method has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of multi-ring heterocyclic compounds such as pyrrolo-/pyrido[2,1-b]benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-1-ones from o-aminobenzyl alcohols via a gold(I)-catalyzed tandem coupling/ cyclization reaction. Significantly, the strategy presents a straightforward and efficient approach to construct novel tricyclic or polycyclic molecular architectures in which two new C-N bonds and one C-O bond are formed in a one-pot reaction operation from two simple starting materials. Moreover, a broad spectrum of substrates can participate in the process effectively to produce the desired products in good yields.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose on bronze for monitoring of saliva glucose using a smart toothbrush

Abstract: Bronze is one of copper alloy materials that have been widely used not only in the Bronze Age, but also nowadays because they are hard, easy to cast and resistant against corrosion. For bronze, tin is commonly used as the major non-copper ingredient of bronze because of many highly desirable characteristics including the fact that metallic tin is not toxic. We find that the tin bronze is a suitable electrode material for non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing in saliva. For electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose on the bronze electrode, a negative potential is applied for proton reduction which creates a temporary alkaline condition. The sensor has a linear range from 0 to 320 μM with the regression equation: i = 11 + 0.015 C (i is the current in μA and C is the concentration in μM) with a correlation coefficient of 0.994. The sensitivity is found to be 480 μA mM−1 cm-2, and the detection limit is 6.6 μM with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The electrode is found to be highly selective towards glucose oxidation in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid and uric acid. The electrochemical senor is integrated into a smart toothbrush for monitoring of saliva glucose, which is potentially useful for non-invasive screening of diabetes. Compared with other electrochemical glucose sensors, a naked bronze electrode is used as the working electrode to ensure the robustness of the sensor. No additional reagent is involved for the electrochemical determination of saliva glucose and the electrode can be regenerated simply by mechanically polishing for long-term uses.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

The chemistry of two-dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets

Abstract: Ultrathin two-dimensional nanosheets of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are fundamentally and technologically intriguing. In contrast to the graphene sheet, they are chemically versatile. Mono- or few-layered TMDs - obtained either through exfoliation of bulk materials or bottom-up syntheses - are direct-gap semiconductors whose bandgap energy, as well as carrier type (n- or p-type), varies between compounds depending on their composition, structure and dimensionality. In this Review, we describe how the tunable electronic structure of TMDs makes them attractive for a variety of applications. They have been investigated as chemically active electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and hydrosulfurization, as well as electrically active materials in opto-electronics. Their morphologies and properties are also useful for energy storage applications such as electrodes for Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors.