The centrosome linker serves to hold the duplicated centrosomes together until they separate in late G2/early mitosis. Precisely how the linker is assembled remains an open question. In this study, we identify Cep44 as a novel component of the linker in human cells. Cep44 localizes to the proximal end of centrioles, including mother and daughter centrioles, and its ablation leads to loss of centrosome cohesion. Cep44 does not impinge on the stability of C-Nap1 (also known as CEP250), LRRC45 or Cep215 (also known as CDK5RAP2), and vice versa, and these proteins are independently recruited to the centrosome. Rather, Cep44 associates with rootletin and regulates its stability and localization to the centrosome. Our findings reveal a role of the previously uncharacterized protein Cep44 for centrosome cohesion and linker assembly.

In this study, novel “green” and highly stable biocidal materials composed of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and ZnO–chitosan (ZnO–CS) hybrids are constructed by combing vacuum filtration and heat‐press processing without the use of any organic solvent. CNF/ZnO–CS films are soaked in a 10% sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution to endow antibacterial activity. The chlorinated CNF/ZnO–CS samples and chlorinated CNF/ZnO‐CS (CNF/ZnO‐CS‐Cl) possess quick antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli within 30 min of contact compared with CNF and CNF/ZnO–CS controls. The addition of ZnO endows the films with remarkable UV light stability. After exposure to a UV chamber for 24 h, the chlorine loadings on the prepared samples decrease to 0.13%, where 76% of the chlorine loss can be regained after rechlorination. Furthermore, cytotoxicity evaluations reveal the feasibility of the films for in vitro applications. The prepared rechargeable CNF/ZnO–CS–Cl films will have many promising antibacterial applications.

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In this study, silane-modified polypyrrole (PPy) was coated onto cotton fabrics through a conventional “in situ polymerization” method. And by chlorination with NaClO solution, we obtained antimicrobial conductive PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics. The PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. Also, the electrical conductivity property, antibacterial property, and ultraviolet light stability of the coated fabrics were tested. The PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics showed antimicrobial and electrical conductivity properties when the chlorination time was up to 30 s. The chlorine content was 0.30 wt% and the resistance was 26.79 kΩ/cm. The PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics (Cl+% 0.30) showed excellent antibacterial properties against 100% Staphylococcus aureus and 100% Escherichia coli O157:H7 were inactivated within 1 min of contact. Due to the proportional relationship of the electrical conductivity and chlorine content of the PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics, the electrical conductivity of the PPy/Si–Cl–cotton fabrics can be used for monitoring the antimicrobial activity.