Longchen Zhu

Abstract Click to copy section linkSection link copied! The hydrogen isotope composition (δ2H) of fatty acids is a promising proxy for tracing cellular metabolic pathways and rates and for cancer diagnosis. However, conventional methods based on gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) could only measure molecular-average isotopic values, obscuring position-specific variations that could be more sensitive to metabolisms.

Abstract Water molecules, as solvents for biomolecules, are essential to cells. The water potential of the cell decreases under water-deficient conditions1,2, yet how cells sense changes in water potential remains unknown. Here we identify a sterile alpha motif (SAM)-containing protein, SAM8, that undergoes water-potential-dependent condensation both in vivo and in vitro and is crucial for hyperosmotic stress tolerance and seed germination.

Abstract Polymeric nanoparticles represent one of the most promising classes of non-lipid-based drug delivery vehicles. However, their clinical translation remains limited by poor drug loading capacity and suboptimal delivery efficiency. We here develop one type of polymeric nanoparticles, referred to as PCCMs (Polymeric Coacervate Core Micelles), which are assembled from a sulfoxide-containing block polymer.