The InnovationPub Date : 2025-01-30eCollection Date: 2025-04-07DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100831
Suyao Li, Wenrui Zhao, Quanlin An, Lei Wang, Mengxuan Zhu, Junjie Ni, Xuan Huang, Yudong Jiang, Min Li, Jiayun Hou, Yiyi Yu, Shan Yu, Lai Wei, Heng Jiao, Tianshu Liu, Xin Cao
{"title":"Novel cancer stem cell-targeted retinoid ZSH-512 impedes colorectal cancer progress via KDM3A-mediated epigenetic reprogramming.","authors":"Suyao Li, Wenrui Zhao, Quanlin An, Lei Wang, Mengxuan Zhu, Junjie Ni, Xuan Huang, Yudong Jiang, Min Li, Jiayun Hou, Yiyi Yu, Shan Yu, Lai Wei, Heng Jiao, Tianshu Liu, Xin Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100831","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits weak responses to multiple therapies, primarily due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which drive high recurrence rates, metastasis, and drug resistance. We have previously systematically conducted CSC-targeted compound discovery and evaluation studies to inhibit CSC-mediated tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here, we identified ZSH-512, a novel synthetic retinoid that selectively targets retinoic acid receptor (RAR)γ, demonstrating its ability to effectively inhibit CRC-CSCs and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) <i>in vitro</i> and significantly reduce CSC-mediated tumor formation and liver metastasis in mouse models without noticeable toxicity. Mechanistically, integrated analysis of Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that ZSH-512 exerted its effect by modulating the RARγ-KDM3A axis to mediate epigenetic reprogramming and broadly suppress stemness-related signaling pathways, including Wnt, Hippo, and Hedgehog. ZSH-512 efficiently inhibited tumorigenesis in CRC-patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) with high KDM3A expression, suggesting KDM3A as a potential predictive biomarker. Collectively, ZSH-512 is a promising therapeutic candidate for targeting CRC-CSCs with high efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 4","pages":"100831"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12130993/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The InnovationPub Date : 2025-01-29eCollection Date: 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100815
Xinwei Ban, Li Qin, Jijun Yan, Jianxin Wu, Qianjin Li, Xiao Su, Yanrong Hao, Qingliang Hu, Liquan Kou, Zongyun Yan, Peiyong Xin, Yuqin Zhang, Lemeng Dong, Harro Bouwmeester, Hong Yu, Qinghui Yu, Sanwen Huang, Tao Lin, Qi Xie, Yuhang Chen, Jinfang Chu, Xia Cui, Jiayang Li, Bing Wang
{"title":"Manipulation of a strigolactone transporter in tomato confers resistance to the parasitic weed broomrape.","authors":"Xinwei Ban, Li Qin, Jijun Yan, Jianxin Wu, Qianjin Li, Xiao Su, Yanrong Hao, Qingliang Hu, Liquan Kou, Zongyun Yan, Peiyong Xin, Yuqin Zhang, Lemeng Dong, Harro Bouwmeester, Hong Yu, Qinghui Yu, Sanwen Huang, Tao Lin, Qi Xie, Yuhang Chen, Jinfang Chu, Xia Cui, Jiayang Li, Bing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100815","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae family cause substantial economic losses and pose significant threats to global agriculture. However, management of such parasitism is challenging, and very few resistance genes have been cloned and characterized in depth. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study using 152 tomato accessions and identified <i>SlABCG45</i> as a key gene that mediates host resistance to <i>Phelipanche aegyptiaca</i> by affecting the level of strigolactones (SLs) in root exudates. SLs are synthesized and released by host plants and act as germination stimulants for parasitic weeds. We found that SlABCG45 and its close homolog SlABCG44 were membrane-localized SL transporters with essential roles in exudation of SLs to the rhizosphere, resistance to <i>Phelipanche</i> and <i>Orobanche</i>, and upward transport of SLs from roots to shoots. As a predominant environmental stimulant exacerbates parasitism, phosphorus deficiency dramatically induced <i>SlABCG45</i> expression and weakly induced <i>SlABCG44</i> expression via the transcription factors SlNSP1 and SlNSP2. Knockout of <i>SlABCG45</i> in tomato had little effect on yield traits in a broomrape-free field, but conferred increased resistance to different <i>Phelipanche</i> and <i>Orobanche</i> species, resulting in an ∼30% yield increase in a <i>Phelipanche</i>-infested field. Our findings reveal that targeting a single gene by genome editing can confer broad-spectrum parasite resistance in tomato, providing an effective strategy for the sustainable control of parasitic plants in agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 3","pages":"100815"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910882/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-calibrating multiplexed microneedle electrode array for continuous mapping of subcutaneous multi-analytes in diabetes.","authors":"Xiangling Li, Shantao Zheng, Mengyi He, Xinshuo Huang, Cheng Yang, Jingshan Mo, Jingbo Yang, Chengduan Yang, Huijiuan Chen, Xi Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100781","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monitoring multiplexed biochemical markers is beneficial for the comprehensive evaluation of diabetes-associated complications. Techniques for multiplexed analyses in interstitial fluids have often been restricted by the difficulties of electrode materials in accurately detecting chemicals in complex subcutaneous spaces. In particular, the signal stability of enzyme-based sensing electrodes often inevitably decreases due to enzyme degradation or interference <i>in vivo</i>. In this study, we developed a self-calibrating multiplexed microneedle (MN) electrode array (SC-MMNEA) capable of continuous, real-time monitoring of multiple types of bioanalytes (glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, lactate, reactive oxygen species [ROSs], Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, and pH) in the subcutaneous space. Each type of analyte was detected by a discrete MN electrode assembled in an integrated array with single-MN resolution. Moreover, this device utilized an MN-delivery-mediated self-calibration technique to address the inherent problem of decreased accuracy of implantable electrodes caused by long-term tissue variation and enzyme degradation, and this technique might increase the reliability of the MN sensors. Our results indicated that SC-MMNEA could provide real-time monitoring of multiplexed analyte concentrations in a rat model with good accuracy, especially after self-calibration. SC-MMNEA has the advantages of <i>in situ</i> and minimally invasive monitoring of physiological states and the potential to promote wearable devices for long-term monitoring of chemical species <i>in vivo</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 2","pages":"100781"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11846035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The InnovationPub Date : 2025-01-24eCollection Date: 2025-04-07DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100811
Aiping Lu
{"title":"Elevating traditional Chinese medicine in global health research: The case for Chinese herbal medicine formulas in mainstream therapeutics.","authors":"Aiping Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100811","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 4","pages":"100811"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12130980/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The InnovationPub Date : 2025-01-23eCollection Date: 2025-05-05DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100810
Peng-Yi Tang, Jordi Arbiol
{"title":"The rise of single-atom catalysts in hematite photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting.","authors":"Peng-Yi Tang, Jordi Arbiol","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100810","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 5","pages":"100810"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144162656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The InnovationPub Date : 2025-01-22eCollection Date: 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100782
Michael Y Toriyama, G Jeffrey Snyder
{"title":"Topological insulators for thermoelectrics: A perspective from beneath the surface.","authors":"Michael Y Toriyama, G Jeffrey Snyder","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100782","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100782","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermoelectric properties of topological insulators have traditionally been examined in the context of their metallic surface states. However, recent studies have begun to unveil intriguing thermoelectric effects emerging from the bulk electronic states of topological insulators, which have largely been overlooked in the past. Charge transport phenomena through the bulk are especially important under typical operating conditions of thermoelectric devices, necessitating a comprehensive review of both surface and bulk transport in topological insulators. Here, we review thermoelectric properties that are uniquely observed in topological insulators, placing special emphasis on unconventional phenomena emerging from bulk states. We demonstrate that unusual thermoelectric effects arising from bulk states, such as band inversion-driven warping, can be discerned in experiments through a simple analysis of the weighted mobility. We believe that there is still plenty to uncover within the bulk of topological insulators, yet our current understanding can already inspire new strategies for designing and discovering new materials for next-generation thermoelectrics.</p>","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 3","pages":"100782"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910883/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oxidant-free cross-dehydrogenative oxyalkylation enables late-stage functionalization of drugs.","authors":"Weiqiu Liang, Jiahao Li, Jianbin Li, Chengda Wu, Zhiyu Tu, Bo-Shuai Mu, Yang Xu, Longlong Song, Mengxin Xu, Xi-Yang Cui, Chao-Jun Li, Zhibo Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xinn.2025.100809","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Late-stage functionalization is an attractive strategy that allows chemists to bypass lengthy synthetic processes, facilitating the rapid generation of drug analogs with potentially enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties. This study describes a novel approach for cross-dehydrogenative oxyalkylation, leveraging a unique γ-ray-enabled photoredox process to generate oxyalkyl radicals, followed by a Minisci-type addition in an aqueous solution. The metal- and oxidant-free aqueous conditions, coupled with excellent functional group compatibility, establish this method as a versatile protocol for the late-stage oxyalkylation of unprotected, structurally complex drug molecules. Notably, this method demonstrated improved pharmacokinetics in hydroxymethylated fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) molecules, highlighting its potential to accelerate drug discovery efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":36121,"journal":{"name":"The Innovation","volume":"6 4","pages":"100809"},"PeriodicalIF":33.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131014/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}