No abstract

Graphene oxide (GO)/silica nanosheets (GO/MS@ HBP) were synthesized through in situ hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets, followed by modification of hyperbranched polymer (HBP) to remove multiple pollutants (Cr(VI) and Congo red (CR)). Characterization methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Raman, N 2 adsorption/desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. were adopted. The results of Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET) analysis revealed that the prepared GO/MS@HBP has a multistage pore structure with a specific surface area of 345.7176 m 2 •g −1 . The factors of adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, initial solution concentration, pH, etc. that influence adsorption were studied. The maximum adsorption quantities of Cr(VI) and CR at room temperate were 92.2510 and 416.6667 mg•g −1 , respectively, and the removal could still be over 90% after three cycles for Cr(VI). Pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherms were more suitable to describe the adsorption process. A possible adsorption mechanism was also proposed. It could be considered as a promising adsorbent because of its good adsorption effect and reproducible property.

Herein, dual-mesoporous structure silica (with pore sizes from 2 to 4 nm and from 4 to 16 nm) simultaneously modified with amino and carboxyl groups was successfully synthesized.

Aquaporins are a specific type of membrane channel protein that efficiently transports water molecules and other small molecular substrates in plants. In this study, we isolated the plasma membrane aquaporin gene EuPIP1;2 from Eucommia ulmoides, an important medicinal plant in China. The EuPIP1;2 protein was localized on the plasma membrane. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that EuPIP1;2 was constitutively expressed in all analyzed tissues, with the highest expression levels detected in the fruit and root. Overexpression of EuPIP1;2 in transgenic tobacco enhanced plant tolerance of drought and salinity. Under drought and salt stress, the transgenic lines exhibited higher percentage germination, longer roots, and enhanced percentage survival compared with wild-type plants. The contents of malonaldehyde and proline suggested that EuPIP1;2 improved drought and salt tolerance in transgenic lines by reducing damage to membranes and improving osmotic adjustment. We predict that EuPIP1;2 could be applied to improve drought and salt tolerance in transgenic plants.

PIN-formed (PIN) proteins are important auxin carriers that participate in the polar distribution of auxin in plants. In this study, 16 ZaPIN genes were identified from the whole genome of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. The physicochemical properties and structure of PIN proteins were determined, and the gene sequences and promoter regions were analyzed to identify cis-acting elements and conserved motifs. The transcript profiles of ZaPIN genes in different tissues and in response to auxin and gibberellin treatments were also analyzed. A phylogenetic analysis separated the 16 ZaPIN genes into four groups. The ZaPIN genes showed the closest evolutionary relationship to those of Citrus sinensis and the most distant evolutionary relationship to those of Oryza sativa. A cis-element analysis revealed a large number of cis elements in ZaPIN promoter regions related to plant hormones, plant growth and development, and stress stimuli, suggesting that ZaPINs have a wide range of biological activities. Additionally, gene expression profiling revealed that ZaPINs had different expression patterns in nine tissues. Further qRT-PCR analyses revealed that most ZaPINs were upregulated by auxin and gibberellin in young leaves. Our results provide useful information for further structural and functional analyses of the ZaPIN gene family in Z. armatum.