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Table of Content

    23 April 2023, Volume 45 Issue 2
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    Invited Special Paper
    Assembly and promoter recognition mechanisms of pretranscriptional initiation complexes
    CHEN Xizi, XU Yanhui
    2023, 45(2):  79-88.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.001
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    As the key step of the genetic central dogma, transcription generates RNA using DNA as template to control differential gene expression. The transcription initiation occurs in highly diverse promoter regions of tens of thousands of different genes. The preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly on core promoter is a key step of eukaryotic transcription initiation and requires precise regulation. Previous structural studies focused on PIC assembled on TATA box promoters with TFIID replaced by its subunit, TATA box-binding protein (TBP). However, the TFIID complex is essential for PIC assembly for almost all Pol II-mediated transcription, especially on the TATA-less promoters, which account for more than 85% of core promoters of human coding genes. The functions of TFIID could not be replaced by TBP. The recent breakthrough in structure determination of TFIID-based PIC complexes in different assembly stages and in complex of the +1 nucleosome revealed mechanistic insights into PIC assembly on core promotes and in the context of chromatin, providing a framework for further investigation of transcription initiation.
    Social computing in the metaverse
    GUO Yike, WU Chao
    2023, 45(2):  89-92.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.002
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    The continuous development of science and technology has promoted the transformation of social forms, and the world has entered the era of zero-distance. In this context, metaverse has entered the public eyes and has gradually been a highly anticipated emerging industry in various fields. This article analyzes the transformation and development of key technologies in the zero-distance society, and explores new ways to solve social problems in combination with the metaverse. But at the same time, metaverse has also had a profound impact on traditional industries, and has brought risks such as platform monopoly and user privacy leakage. The vigorous rise of the metaverse has a solid foundation in reality, but while developing and iterating, one should also be alert to the social risks derived from the metaverse.
    Application status and prospects of magnesium alloy structural materials
    TAN Jun, WANG Fanglei, JIANG Bin, PAN Fusheng
    2023, 45(2):  93-105.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.003
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    The density of magnesium alloy is only that of 2/3 of aluminum alloy, 1/4 of steel. Therefore, the mass application of magnesium alloy parts can help lightweight and energy-saving. In the background of carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality policies, the development of magnesium material application has huge potential and great promise. This paper analyzes the current situation and processing techniques of magnesium alloy industry at home and abroad. The development and application of magnesium alloy as structural materials in automobile, rail transportation, bicycle, 3C (computer, communication and consumer electronics), aerospace, defense industry, etc., are highlighted and reviewed. The main problems of the current magnesium industry are summarized. Finally, the prospects of magnesium alloy as structural materials are outlined.
    Focusing on ChatGPT: development, impact, and challenges
    LUO Ge, ZHANG Xinpeng
    2023, 45(2):  106-108.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.004
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    ChatGPT is a product of the continuous development and an optimization of a large-scale natural language model GPT. Recently, it has received a great deal of attentions from both academia and industry. “He” uses the most basic language communication form to complete interactions with anyone, and paves the way for language to connect to the multimodal world. In this article, we retrospect the development history of ChatGPT and introduce its impact on multimodality, personalization, and interactivity. Finally, we discuss potential issues that may arise in the current and future applications of ChatGPT.
    Science for the Future
    New materials in the 6G era
    ZHU Hongwei
    2023, 45(2):  109-112.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.005
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    6G is the sixth-generation mobile communication network following 5G, and it will face greater challenges in communication rate, latency, energy consumption, and coverage depth. This article focuses on the technical characteristics of 6G and elaborates on the importance of new spectrum communication materials, third-generation semiconductors, novel functional materials, intelligent materials, and electromagnetic shielding and thermal management materials in 6G applications, and looks forward to the development trend of new materials in the 6G era.
    Progress
    Hydrogen fuel gas turbine and large-scale hydrogen power generation
    LI Xingguo
    2023, 45(2):  113-118.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2022.03.006
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    The utilization of clean and renewable hydrogen energy is regarded as an important way to reduce CO2 emission, which has been highly valued over the world. The efficient conversion from electric energy to hydrogen energy and back to electric energy is one of the core technologies in the utilization of hydrogen energy. The industry requires large-scale output of more than 100 MW and highly efficient conversion from hydrogen to electric energy, but the current fuel cell technology struggles to meet the demand. Hydrogen fuel gas turbine can realize large-scale conversion from hydrogen energy to electric energy, and the conversion efficiency will increase with output power. It will be an important hydrogen to electricity technology to explore. This paper introduces the performance characteristics of hydrogen fuel gas turbine, research trends in various countries, model types and characteristics, output power and thermal efficiency, ammonia fuel gas turbine, and puts forward the idea of hydrogen energy utilization system using hydrogen fuel gas turbine to realize water to water cycle. 
    Disputes and research on cryptospores
    WANG Kai, XU Honghe
    2023, 45(2):  119-126.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.007
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    The emergence of land plant is an evolutionarily important event in geological history, which has profoundly affected the atmosphere and surface environments, and laid the foundation for the development and prosperity of land organisms. As a group of sporomorphs stratigraphically ranging from mid-Cambrian to Early Devonian, cryptospores are significant for understanding of land plant origination and early evolution. However, there is yet no consensus about the definition of cryptospore, over which obvious dispute has arisen. Combined with research findings in recent years, this paper succinctly reviews the basic issues and progresses on cryptospore researching. Comprehensive research on cryptospore, including morphology, systematics, and paleobiogeography etc., greatly promotes new understandings of origin and early evolution of land plant, and sheds new lights on the evolution of life and environment on the earth.
    Effect of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes on mitochondrial function
    SUN Zhaoxin, FENG Hong
    2023, 45(2):  127-138.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.01.010
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    Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles where the chemical energy required for all cellular activities including biosynthesis, respiration, secretion, and mechanical movement in living organisms which is supplied by mitochondria. Mitochondriaassociated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are lipid raft-like domains closely associated with mitochondria and located between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). MAMs not only structurally connect ER and mitochondria but also are enriched in a variety of linking and functional proteins, so MAMs must have an impact on ER and mitochondrial function. This review focuses on the structure and molecular composition of MAMs, and the effects of MAMs on mitochondrial function. The main focus was on mitochondrial fusion, mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. It is hoped to provide a reference for researchers who can improve related diseases by regulating mitochondrial function through MAMs.
    Neutrophil extracellular traps and autoimmune diseases
    GENG Xiaoke, YU Shuxiang, YAN Jianshe
    2023, 45(2):  139-147.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.01.009
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    Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are networks of extracellular structures, primarily composed of decondensed nuclear chromatin and associated proteins, which are released by activated neutrophils. NETs protect against infection. Recently, they have also been found to exist in pathological environments of various diseases and are closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases. In this review, we briefly summarize the research progress in the roles and mechanisms of NETs in pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), and type 1 diabetes (T1D).
    Comprehensive Survey
    The transition from sea to land of the western Tarim Basin: Evidence from Shell Mountain of Wuqia County
    YANG Wanshu, XIONG Xin, XI Dangpeng, WAN Xiaoqiao
    2023, 45(2):  148-154.  doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.02.010
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    The western Tarim Basin, located in the interior of the Asian continent and far away from the ocean, is a typical arid desert landscape. However, the western Tarim Basin was marine environment before 34 Ma. The famous “Shell Mountain” in Wuqia County provides the direct evidence of the transition from sea to land in the western Tarim Basin. Based on the detailed study on the strata and fossils of the “Shell Mountain”, the process of how the western Tarim Basin changed from sea to land are carried out. The “Shell Mountain” is composed of marine oyster fossils in the middle Eocene (~46 Ma), indicating that the western Tarim Basin was a gulf in the northeastern margin of the Neotethys Ocean, with warm climate, shallow water, and rich in marine organisms represented by oysters. As a result, a set of thick shell layers, namely, the Karatal Formation, is deposited. During the late Eocene to early Oligocene, the sea gradually retreated from the western Tarim Basin. With the continuous uplift of the Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains since the late Oligocene, the previously buried shell layers are re-exposed, forming the present Shell Mountain.
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