The mitochondria-localized deubiquitinase USP30 regulates mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis, playing a significant role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its role in cancer remains poorly understood. Through metabolism-related gene set enrichment analysis, we identified USP30 as a key modulator of glucose metabolism in cancer cells. Utilizing quantitative proteomic and ubiquitinomic approaches coupled with co-immunoprecipitation assays, we elucidated that USP30 regulates glycolysis by interacting with hexokinase HK1 and HK2, a process dependent on its enzymatic activity. USP30 modulates the ubiquitination profile of HK1 and HK2 by preferentially removing atypical ubiquitin chains, thereby enhancing their stability, mitochondrial localization, VDAC1 binding and hexokinase activity. Lysine 144 emerges as a critical regulatory site for USP30-mediated deubiquitination of HK2. Mutation of K144 enhances HK2 stability, increases its mitochondrial localization and binding to VDAC1, and significantly augments hexokinase activity. Furthermore, the HK2 K144 mutation markedly enhances tumor cell glycolysis, fostering increased proliferation and migration both in vitro and in vivo. These findings underscore USP30 as a novel regulator of glycolysis in cancer cells via modulation of HK2 ubiquitination dynamics, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer metabolism.

The characterization of complex natural mixtures remains an analytical challenge due to the lack of specific biomarkers and the structural similarity of constituents. Herein, we report a multidimensional fluorescent sensor array based on anionic poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) derivatives and their corresponding metal complexes for the high-fidelity authentication of tea cultivars. Unlike conventional cross-reactive arrays, our platform utilizes a rationally designed dual-mechanism response framework that synergistically integrates universal π-π stacking and selective competitive coordination between metal ions and polyphenolic motifs. Spectroscopic investigations, characterized by distinct bathochromic shifts and emission broadening, confirm that polyphenol-induced polymer aggregation serves as the ubiquitous underlying process, while metal-ion displacement provides a secondary, selective modulation layer. This synergistic interplay creates an information-rich response landscape, enabling the hierarchical discrimination of 20 commercial tea varieties across four fermentation categories with 100% classification accuracy. Furthermore, the array successfully resolves subtle subvarietal differences, including geographical origin and aging duration. By bridging the gap between nonspecific pattern recognition and mechanistic coordination chemistry, this work provides a robust and cost-effective strategy for the sophisticated analysis of complex natural matrices based on high-resolution polyphenol fingerprinting.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) offer a promising approach to degrade traditionally "undruggable" proteins, surpassing limitations of conventional inhibitors. However, current small-molecule PROTACs suffer from poor membrane permeability attributed to large molecular size, along with undesirable off-target toxicity. In this study, leveraging a novel pretargeted strategy, we developed a peptide-based delivery platform to overcome these limitations. Using the PROTAC DT2216 as a model, this pretargeted system integrates the self-assembling peptide TPE-GK-N3 (targeting tumor integrin αvβ3 via RGD and forming surface-adherent nanofibers) and the DT2216-loaded liposome DSPE-PEG2000-DBCO. The N3-DBCO bioorthogonal pair was designed to facilitate membrane-localized recruitment of DBCO-functionalized liposomes by the azide-bearing peptide, thereby improving tumor-targeted delivery. In vitro, the system (TPE-GK-N3+DSPE-PEG2000-DBCO@DT2216) showed significantly enhanced target protein Bcl-xL degradation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and inhibition of cell migration in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to the free DT2216. In vivo, the system demonstrated profound tumor growth suppression (about 65% inhibition) with no obvious toxicity to normal tissues. This study demonstrates a pretargeted peptide strategy for PROTAC delivery, significantly enhancing anticancer efficacy while mitigating systemic toxicity, offering a promising strategy for future PROTAC development.

Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is strongly associated with the occurrence and progression of breast cancer. Herein, we identified ubiquitin specific peptidase 30 antisense RNA 1 (USP30-AS1) as a markedly upregulated lncRNA in breast cancer tissues, and the transcription factor SPI1 functions upstream to regulate the expression of USP30-AS1. Gene set enrichment analysis suggests that USP30-AS1 may regulate cell proliferation. Knockdown of USP30-AS1 suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth by up-regulating CDKN1A/p21. Mechanistically, USP30-AS1 exhibits dual localization within breast cancer cells. In the cytoplasm, it interacts with HnRNPF, disrupting its binding to the p21 3'UTR, which destabilizes p21 mRNA and ultimately reduces p21 expression. In the nucleus, USP30-AS1 suppresses p21 transcription by enhancing the activity of c-Myc, a known transcriptional repressor of p21. USP30-AS1 binds to enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase, and prevents EZH2 from binding to the c-Myc promoter. This promotes epigenetic up-regulation of c-Myc by reducing H3K27 trimethylation. Together, these findings demonstrate the critical role of USP30-AS1 in breast cancer progression through HnRNPF/p21 and EZH2/c-Myc/p21 axes, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

Precise spatiotemporal control of bioactive molecule release within cells is crucial for understanding cellular processes. Two-photon photocaging provides a noninvasive powerful method for deep-tissue activation. This work introduces a series of organelle-targeted, two-photon photoactivatable fluorophores (PAFs) based on 4-nitrobiphenyl derivatives, designed for mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosome targeting. These PAFs exhibit high brightness and photostability under both one- and two-photon excitation. Organelle specificity was achieved by conjugating organelle-targeted motifs to PAFs, with low cytotoxicity, excellent membrane permeability, and specific organelle localization in different cells. Ex vivo, these PAFs enabled deep-tissue imaging (up to 100 μm) in mouse liver, kidney, and heart via two-photon excitation, while in vivo, they supported high-resolution, three-dimensional structural imaging of subcutaneous tumors with minimal background. The findings highlight the potential of these PAFs for high-resolution, organelle, and deep-tissue imaging, offering a versatile platform for studying subcellular dynamics with applications in biomedical research.

The integration of RNA interference (RNAi) technology with nanotechnology shows significant potential in overcoming the limitations of traditional double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery systems, thereby enabling more efficient dsRNA delivery. Nanoparticles for dsRNA delivery have the potential to enhance the efficiency of RNAi and improve system stability. In this study, we discuss the limitations of conventional RNAi-based biopesticides, systematically introduce common nanoparticle carriers used for RNA pesticide delivery, analyze the interactions between nanoparticles and dsRNA during the delivery, and finally emphasize the overall limitations, associated risks, and challenges in practical applications.

ABSTRACT USP30, a ubiquitin‐specific protease, primarily characterized as a mitochondrial deubiquitinase regulating mitophagy, has not been previously reported to have nuclear functions. In this study, we demonstrate that USP30 is present in both mitochondrial and nuclear compartments. Nutrient deprivation triggers USP30 nuclear translocation via an N‐terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS), mediated through suppression of mTORC1‐dependent phosphorylation at serine 104, a modification constraining nuclear entry. Nuclear USP30 acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cancer stemness and chemoresistance in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Mechanistically, USP30 directly interacts with and deubiquitinates the transcription factor TCF/LEF1 at K379 and K382 residues, disrupting recruitment of CBP/P300 co‐activators to the β‐catenin/LEF1 complex. This abolishes β‐catenin/LEF1 transactivation and suppresses WNT signaling. Clinically, USP30 is downregulated in TNBC and cancer stem cells (CSCs), with notably reduced nuclear levels in cancer tissues. Overexpression of nuclear USP30 markedly reduces lung metastatic burden in TNBC mouse models. These findings uncover a novel role for nuclear USP30 in regulating cancer stemness and suggest that targeting the dynamic relocalization of USP30 from mitochondria to the nucleus could offer new therapeutic strategies for breast cancer metastasis.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a pivotal role in promoting tumorigenesis, drug resistance, invasion, and metastasis. Recent studies indicate that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) directly or indirectly regulate CSCs, influencing tumor progression. This study investigated the role of LncRNA USP30-AS1 in maintaining stemness and chemoresistance in breast cancer. USP30-AS1 was significantly upregulated in BCSC-enriched mammospheres derived from MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines, where it correlated with elevated stemness markers (CD44, ALDH1A1, OCT4) and an increased proportion of ALDH+ cells. Functional experiments demonstrated that knockdown of USP30-AS1 reduced spheroid formation, stemness marker expression, chemoresistance, migration, and invasion, while its overexpression promoted these phenotypes. Mechanistically, USP30-AS1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-3646, which leads to the derepression of Frizzled-7 (FZD7) and subsequent activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings identify USP30-AS1 as a critical promoter of stemness, chemoresistance, and metastasis in BCSCs via the miR-3646/FZD7/Wnt axis, suggesting it is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer intervention.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be crucial regulators in numerous human diseases. However, little is known about their effects on early recurrent miscarriage (RM). Here we aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 on placental trophoblast cell metabolic reprogramming, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of RM. After microarray and GEO database analyses, we found that EPB41L4A-AS1 was significantly increased in early RM placental tissue, and this increase may relate to estradiol-mediated upregulation of PGC-1α. EPB41L4A-AS1 overexpression inhibits glycolysis but increases the dependence on fatty acid oxidation in mitochondrion metabolism and suppresses the Warburg effect, which is necessary for rapid growth of the placental villus, leading to miscarriage. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that EPB41L4A-AS1 functions as a lncRNA in the regulation of VDAC1 and HIF-1α expression through enhancement of H3K4me3 levels in the promoters of VDAC1 and HIF1A-AS1, a natural antisense transcript (NAT) lncRNA of HIF-1α. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that aberrant expression of EPB41L4A-AS1 is involved in the etiology of early RM, and it may be a candidate diagnostic hallmark and a potential therapeutic target for early RM treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and poses a significant threat to human health. Recent studies have underscored the crucial role of aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the initiation and progression of CRC. In this study we identified that lncRNA USP30-AS1 is significantly downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease. This downregulation correlates with reduced survival rates among patients. Enrichment analysis of genes associated with USP30-AS1 indicates a strong association with inflammatory responses. Notably, pro-inflammatory stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were found to upregulate the expression of USP30-AS1. Functional assays demonstrated that the knockdown of USP30-AS1 resulted in increased degradation of IκBα protein and enhanced NF-κB transcriptional activity, as well as elevated expression levels of NF-κB downstream inflammatory molecules, including NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18. Conversely, ectopic expression of USP30-AS1 inhibited NF-κB transactivation. Mechanistically, USP30-AS1 interacts with MYBBP1A, a known regulator of NF-κB signaling. Notably, overexpression of MYBBP1A alleviated the stimulatory effect of USP30-AS1 knockdown on NF-κB activation. Collectively, these findings suggest that USP30-AS1 acts as a suppressor of colorectal cancer cell growth by modulating the MYBBP1A/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby highlighting USP30-AS1 as a potential novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer treatment.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are essential bifunctional molecules that target proteins of interest (POIs) for degradation by cellular ubiquitination machinery. Despite significant progress made in understanding PROTACs' functions, their therapeutic potential remains largely untapped. As a result of the success of highly flexible, scalable, and low-cost mRNA therapies, as well as the advantages of the first generation of peptide PROTACs (p-PROTACs), we present for the first time an engineering mRNA PROTACs (m-PROTACs) strategy. This design combines von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) recruiting peptide encoding mRNA and POI-binding peptide encoding mRNA to form m-PROTAC and promote cellular POI degradation. We then performed proof-of-concept experiments using two m-PROTACs targeting two cancer-related proteins, estrogen receptor alpha and B-cell lymphoma-extra large protein. Our results demonstrated that m-PROTACs could successfully degrade the POIs in different cell lines and more effectively inhibit cell proliferation than the traditional p-PROTACs. Moreover, the in vivo experiment demonstrated that m-PROTAC led to significant tumor regression in the 4T1 mouse xenograft model. This finding highlights the enormous potential of m-PROTAC as a promising approach for targeted protein degradation therapy.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, driven by persistent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, threatens human health worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for an efficient, low-cost, rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection method. Herein, we developed a point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 detection method incorporating recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and DNA-protein crosslinking chemiluminescence (DPCL) (RPADPCL). RPADPCL involves the crosslinking of biotinylated double-stranded RPA DNA products with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled streptavidin (SA-HRP). Modified products are captured using SA-labeled magnetic beads, and then analyzed using a chemiluminescence detector and smartphone after the addition of a chemiluminescent substrate. Under optimal conditions, the RPADPCL limit of detection (LOD) was observed to be 6 copies (within the linear detection range of 1-300 copies) for a plasmid containing the SARS-CoV-2 N gene and 15 copies (within the linear range of 10-500 copies) for in vitro transcribed (IVT) SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The proposed method is convenient, specific, visually intuitive, easy to use, and does not require external excitation. The effective RPADPCL detection of SARS-CoV-2 in complex matrix systems was verified by testing simulated clinical samples containing 10% human saliva or a virus transfer medium (VTM) spiked with a plasmid containing a SARS-CoV-2 N gene sequence or SARS-CoV-2 IVT RNA. Consequently, this method has great potential for detecting targets in clinical samples.

Breast cancer with positive expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha+) accounts for 70% of breast cancer cases, whose predominant treatment is currently endocrine therapy. The main strategy of endocrine therapy for ER alpha+ breast cancer is to inhibit the ER alpha signaling pathway and downregulate ER alpha levels, which often results in mutations in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of ER alpha, leading to significant resistance to subsequent treatment in patients. To combat drug resistance, we first proposed a novel aptamer PROTAC strategy through specifically targeted degradation of ER alpha via targeting the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of ER alpha. We proved that this strategy is capable of targeting ER alpha for degradation through ubiquitination, leading to the inhibition of proliferation in ER alpha+ breast cancer cells and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms involved in overcoming resistance. By circumventing drug resistance associated with LBD mutations in ER alpha, our approach provides a promising avenue for the discovery of new therapeutic agents.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, driven by persistent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, threatens human health worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for an efficient, low-cost, rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection method. Herein, we developed a point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 detection method incorporating recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and DNA–protein crosslinking chemiluminescence (DPCL) (RPADPCL). RPADPCL involves the crosslinking of biotinylated double-stranded RPA DNA products with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled streptavidin (SA-HRP). Modified products are captured using SA-labeled magnetic beads, and then analyzed using a chemiluminescence detector and smartphone after the addition of a chemiluminescent substrate. Under optimal conditions, the RPADPCL limit of detection (LOD) was observed to be 6 copies (within the linear detection range of 1–300 copies) for a plasmid containing the SARS-CoV-2 N gene and 15 copies (within the linear range of 10–500 copies) for in vitro transcribed (IVT) SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The proposed method is convenient, specific, visually intuitive, easy to use, and does not require external excitation. The effective RPADPCL detection of SARS-CoV-2 in complex matrix systems was verified by testing simulated clinical samples containing 10% human saliva or a virus transfer medium (VTM) spiked with a plasmid containing a SARS-CoV-2 N gene sequence or SARS-CoV-2 IVT RNA. Consequently, this method has great potential for detecting targets in clinical samples.

Breast cancer with positive expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα+) accounts for 70% of breast cancer cases, whose predominant treatment is currently endocrine therapy. The main strategy of endocrine therapy for ERα+ breast cancer is to inhibit the ERα signaling pathway and downregulate ERα levels, which often results in mutations in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of ERα, leading to significant resistance to subsequent treatment in patients. To combat drug resistance, we first proposed a novel aptamer PROTAC strategy through specifically targeted degradation of ERα via targeting the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of ERα. We proved that this strategy is capable of targeting ERα for degradation through ubiquitination, leading to the inhibition of proliferation in ERα+ breast cancer cells and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms involved in overcoming resistance. By circumventing drug resistance associated with LBD mutations in ERα, our approach provides a promising avenue for the discovery of new therapeutic agents.

The authors have recognized an error in the selection of the ShNC data for Supplementary Figure 3D. The authors also wish to correct an unintended omission of information regarding the animal experiments.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) (CRISPR/Cas) system enables sensitive and specific detection of biomolecules, thanks to its programmability, high fidelity, and powerful signal amplification capabilities. Herein, a universal smartphone-assisted label-free G-quadruplex (G4) DNAzyme-based chemiluminescence CRISPR/Cas12a biosensing platform (G4CLCas) is firstly described that achieves on-site, ultrasensitive visual detection of nucleic acid and non-nucleic acid targets. The G4CLCas-based sensing platform relies on Cas12a trans-cleavage activation that triggers the cleavage of the G4 DNAzyme, resulting in chemiluminescence signals off/on compared to that of the control. Chemiluminescence signals are captured as images that are quantitatively analyzed and visualized using a smartphone-assisted imaging cartridge. Under optimal conditions, G4CLCas achieves a low limit of detection (LOD) of 8.6 aM (∼5.2 copies/μL) for monkeypox virus (MPXV) DNA within the linear concentration range of 10-300 aM and can accurately quantify viral DNA in spiked samples. G4CLCas can also detect non-nucleic acid targets, whereby it achieves a low LOD value of 84.3 nM for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the linear concentration range of 2-2000 μM. Here, a label-free, portable, on-site CRISPR/Cas12a chemiluminescence biosensing platform based on the G4 DNAzyme substrates is proposed with potential applications in clinical detection and bioanalytical chemistry research.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) have become a significant global public health problem and a major societal burden. The World Health Organization predicts that NDDs will overtake cancer as the second most common cause of human mortality within 20 years. Thus, it is urgently important to identify pathogenic and diagnostic molecular markers related to neurodegenerative processes. Autophagy is a powerful process for removing aggregate-prone proteins in neurons; defects in autophagy are often associated with the pathogenesis of NDDs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested as key regulators in neurodevelopment; aberrant regulation of lncRNAs contributes to neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the study of lncRNAs and autophagy in the context of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The information presented here should provide guidance for future in-depth investigations of neurodegenerative processes and related diagnostic molecular markers and treatment targets.

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics have gained increasing attention due to their ability to regulate various genetic disorders. However, the safe and effective delivery of nucleic acids to their intended cellular sites remains a challenge, primarily due to poor cell membrane permeation and low in vivo stability. Limitations associated with the commonly used nucleic acid delivering agent viral vectors such as carcinogenesis and immunogenicity have driven scientists to develop various nonviral vectors. In this study, we present a highly efficient nucleic acid delivery system based on cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes and single-strand DNA polyplexes with further application in efficient ubiquitin-regulated targeting protein degradation. These polyplexes, formed by 9TC, an aptamer sequence for estrogen receptor (ERα), and cationic PPET3N2 through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, demonstrate improved cellular uptake efficiency as well as enhanced stability against nuclease degradation. Furthermore, by incorporation of 9TC into a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecule (P9TC), PPET3N2/P9TC polyplexes significantly enhance the target protein ERα degradation efficiency. Collectively, our findings suggest that PPET3N2 provides a versatile, low cytotoxicity platform for safe, efficient, and simplified delivery of nucleic acids.