SMYD1 is a heart and muscle specific SET-MYND domain containing protein, which functions as a histone methyltransferase and regulates downstream gene transcription. We demonstrated that the expression of SMYD1 is restricted in the heart and skeletal muscle tissues in human. To reveal the regulatory mechanisms of SMYD1 expression during myogenesis and cardiogenesis, we cloned and characterized the human SMYD1 promoter, which contains highly conserved serum response factor (SRF) and myogenin binding sites. Overexpression of SRF and myogenin significantly increased the endogenous expression level of Smyd1 in C2C12 cells, respectively. Deletion of Srf in the heart of mouse embryos dramatically decreased the expression level of Smyd1 mRNA and the expression of Smyd1 can be rescued by exogenous SRF introduction in SRF null ES cells during differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SRF binds to the CArG site and myogenin binds to the E-box element on Smyd1 promoter region using EMSA and ChIP assays. Moreover, forced expression of SMYD1 accelerates myoblast differentiation and myotube formation in C2C12 cells. Taken together, these studies demonstrated that SMYD1 is a key regulator of myogenic differentiation and acts as a downstream target of muscle regulatory factors, SRF and myogenin.

Novel ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and ZnS quantum flakes (QFs) were successfully prepared with graphene nanosheets (GNs) as a special template, and two unique heterostructures of ZnS/GNs were also obtained. Due to the structure-directing template effect of GNs, the as-synthesized ZnS with different morphologies, dots or flakes, were uniformly distributed on the surface of GNs by controlling nucleation and growth. The two different heterostructures of ZnS/GNs exhibited obvious photovoltaic response, and ZnS/GN QFs-on-sheet heterostructures show higher photovoltage than that of ZnS/GN QDs-on-sheet.

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Sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) was used as an intercalation agent and an excellent antenna to synthesize layered rare-earth hydroxide (LRH) materials and directly obtain SSA-modified terbium-doped ytterbium hydroxide nanosheets by mechanical exfoliation. The crystal structure and morphologies of the LRHs and nanosheets were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The particle size and zeta potential of the prepared nanosheets were also analyzed. The as-prepared nanosheets exhibited excellent luminescent properties. The positively charged nanosheets were electrophoretically deposited on a conductive glass to form a thin film. The luminescence of this thin film can be quenched by chromate (CrO 4 2-) and bilirubin (BR), which shows good sensing properties. The quenching mechanism of the sensing film by CrO 4 2and BR was discussed based on the spectra and structure of the film.