Preparation of electrocatalysts often relies on the use of multiple starting materials, with examples arising from a single precursor being less common. We have surveyed a series of heterobivalent scaffolds to identify an iron/benzimidazole-based metal–organic framework as a uniform starting material. By merging the catechol and imidazole units together, we get a direct entry into a highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, which alleviates the need for dopants and modifying conditions. We demonstrate that by fine-tuning the chemical nature of an organic linker, one is able to modulate the electrochemical properties of a single precursor-derived electrocatalyst material.

Sustainable technologies rely on the development of universal catalyst materials. While a lot of the attention has been given to improving the performance of one single catalyst material for one...

<div> <div> <div> <p>Preparation of electrocatalysts often relies on the use of multiple starting materials – inorganic salts or organometallic precursors, nanostructured carbon supports, organic additives, dopants and carbonization under modifying atmospheres (e.g. NH₃or H₂) – with the examples of electrocatalysts arising from a single precursor being much less common. Herein, we have surveyed a series of heterobivalent scaffolds to identify an iron/benzimidazole-based metal– organic framework as a uniform starting material. By merging the catechol and imidazole units together, we get direct entry into a highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, which alleviates the need for additional dopants and modifying conditions (ORR: <i>E</i>_on = 1.01 V, <i>E</i>_1/2 = 0.87 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH; OER: 1.60 V @10 mA cm^–2 in 0.1 M KOH; ∆<i>E</i> = 0.73 V). We demonstrate that by fine-tuning the chemical nature of an organic linker, one is able modulate the electrochemical properties of a single precursor-derived electrocatalyst material. </p> </div> </div> </div>

Serine/threonine protein kinase ULK3 is implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including autophagy, cell division, and execution of the Sonic hedgehog pathway. However, very little about how its biological activity could be controlled is known. This study focuses on unraveling biochemical insights into the mechanism of inhibition and activation of ULK3. We identify novel phosphorylation sites in ULK3 and show that autophosphorylation has no impact on the kinase activity of the protein. We further demonstrate that phosphorylation of two residues in the kinase domain of ULK3 by an as yet unidentified kinase may completely abolishes its catalytic activity. We show that a low-molecular weight inhibitor SU6668, designed as an ATP competitive inhibitor for tyrosine kinases, binds in the ATP pocket of ULK3 yet inhibits ULK3 kinase activity in a partially ATP noncompetitive manner. Finally, we demonstrate that the ULK3 kinase domain, annotated in silico, is not sufficient for its kinase activity, and additional amino acids in the 271−300 region are required.

<div> <div> <div> <p>Preparation of electrocatalysts often relies on the use of multiple starting materials – inorganic salts or organometallic precursors, nanostructured carbon supports, organic additives, dopants and carbonization under modifying atmospheres (e.g. NH₃or H₂) – with the examples of electrocatalysts arising from a single precursor being much less common. Herein, we have surveyed a series of heterobivalent scaffolds to identify an iron/benzimidazole-based metal– organic framework as a uniform starting material. By merging the catechol and imidazole units together, we get direct entry into a highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, which alleviates the need for additional dopants and modifying conditions (ORR: <i>E</i>_on = 1.01 V, <i>E</i>_1/2 = 0.87 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH; OER: 1.60 V @10 mA cm^–2 in 0.1 M KOH; ∆<i>E</i> = 0.73 V). We demonstrate that by fine-tuning the chemical nature of an organic linker, one is able modulate the electrochemical properties of a single precursor-derived electrocatalyst material. </p> </div> </div> </div>