Hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) converts carbohydrates into triglycerides and is known to influence systemic lipid homoeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that the zinc finger protein Zbtb20 is required for DNL. Mice lacking Zbtb20 in the liver exhibit hypolipidemia and reduced levels of liver triglycerides, along with impaired hepatic lipogenesis. The expression of genes involved in glycolysis and DNL, including that of two ChREBP isoforms, is decreased in livers of knockout mice. Zbtb20 binds to and enhances the activity of the ChREBP-α promoter, suggesting that altered metabolic gene expression is mainly driven by ChREBP. In addition, ChREBP-β overexpression largely restores hepatic expression of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, and increases plasma and liver triglyceride levels in knockout mice. Finally, we show that Zbtb20 ablation protects from diet-induced liver steatosis and improves hepatic insulin resistance. We suggest ZBTB20 is an essential regulator of hepatic lipogenesis and may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of fatty liver disease.

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Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks are promising for photocatalysis by virtue of their structural and functional diversity, but generally suffer from low activities relative to their inorganic competitors. To fulfil their full potential requires a rational tailoring of their structures at different scales as well as their surface properties. Herein, we demonstrate benzobisthiazole-based covalent organic frameworks as a superior photocatalyst for hydrogen production. The product features high crystallinity with ordered 2.5 nm-wide cylindrical mesopores and great water wettability. These structural advantages afford our polymeric photocatalyst with fast charge carrier dynamics as evidenced by a range of spectroscopic characterizations, and excellent catalytic performances when suspended in solution or supported on melamine foams. Under the visible light irradiation, it enables efficient and stable hydrogen evolution with a production rate of 487 μmol h–1 (or a mass-specific rate of 48.7 mmol g–1 h–1) — far superior to the previous state of the art. We also demonstrate that the hydrogen production can be stoichiometrically coupled with the oxidation conversion of biomass as exemplified by the conversion of furfuryl alcohol to 2-furaldehyde.

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