Anti-TF (C-terminal) Polyclonal Antibody

The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor (TF) superfamily play crucial roles in plant growth and development as well as biotic and abiotic stresses response. Here, we systematically characterized 375 AP2/ERF TFs in the Nicotiana tabacum genome. Phylogenetic tree topology and conserved domain number allowed TF classifications into three families of 29 AP2, 341 ERF, and 5 RAV genes, which were unevenly distributed throughout 24 tobacco chromosomes. Gene family expansions were retained from whole genome or segmental duplications followed by tandem duplication. Gene structure and motif analysis revealed intra-group conservation. MicroRNA target site prediction identified nine miR172 family members targeting six NtAP2-family genes; 41 NtAP2/ERFs participated in protein co-regulatory networks. NtAP2/ERF gene global expression profiles ascertained by RNA-seq displayed diverse expression patterns across tissues and under different abiotic and biotic stresses (including drought, cold, and Phytopthora parasitica inoculation). As determined by qRT-PCR, the expression of NtAP2/ERF were induced by five hormone and four abiotic stress. RNA interference of NtRAV-4 in tobacco accelerates seed germination, enhance root development and leaf photosynthetic ability. Suppression of NtRAV-4 increases drought tolerance by improving antioxidant defense ability and reduced relative electrolyte leakage under drought stress. These results enhance understanding of NtAP2/ERF gene function and will facilitate genetic improvement of tobacco stress tolerance.

As the key component of organic solar cells (OSCs), the acceptor plays key roles in determining the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Based on the famous non-fullerene acceptor ITIC, a series of acceptors (A1-A5) were designed by introducing fused-ring units (phenanthrene, pyrene, benzopyrazine, dibenzo[a,c]phenazine, and phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine) as the end groups. Theoretical calculations showed that A1-A5 display improved solubility and redshifted absorption spectra compared with ITIC. More importantly, the newly designed acceptors exhibit much higher electron mobility, where the electron mobility of A5_h (similar to A5 but with the same hexyl side chain as ITIC) is about four orders of magnitude larger than that of ITIC. The computed binding energies of the donor PBDB-TF with the acceptor ITIC and A5_h are -2.52 eV and -3.75 eV, indicating much stronger interface interactions in PBDB-TF/A5_h. In terms of charge-transfer (CT) mechanism, we found that both PBDB-TF/ITIC and PBDB-TF/A5_h can generate CT states through direct excitation and hot excitons, meanwhile there exist more opportunities of producing CT statesviathe intermolecular electric field (IEF) mechanism in PBDB-TF/A5_h. Our results not only offer a set of promising ITIC-based acceptors, but also provide new insights into the donor/acceptor interface properties, which are closely related to the PCE of OSCs.