Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicolas Reinaldo Finkler, Bjorn Gucker, Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha
Summary: This study examined the impact of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges on nutrient concentrations in receiving rivers in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The results showed that WWTP discharges significantly increased nutrient concentrations and loads, with limited net nutrient uptake along the river reaches. These findings suggest that WWTPs with limited nutrient removal have considerable effects on water chemistry and nutrient cycling, potentially impairing downstream ecosystems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Raquel Torres, Leonardo Mata, Rui Santos, Ana Alexandre
Summary: The study evaluated the uptake kinetics of inorganic and organic nitrogen forms by the tetrasporophyte of Asparagopsis armata, revealing two different uptake phases and the species' preference for ammonium during the internally controlled phase. Surprisingly, amino acids had higher surge uptake rates than inorganic forms, highlighting their importance for the species' nutrition. This information is crucial for the mass production of Asparagopsis to reduce enteric methane production in the livestock industry.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marit A. J. Nederlof, Am Ir Neori, Marc C. J. Verdegem, Aad C. Smaal, Henrice M. Jansen
Summary: This study examines the growth, tissue content, and nutrient removal rates of Ulva spp. when exposed to different nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in a recirculating IMTA system. The results show that unfavorable N:P stoichiometry does not restrict Ulva spp. growth, high orthophosphate concentration is toxic to Ulva spp., and high nitrate concentration does not inhibit phosphorus uptake. The study highlights the importance of acclimatization periods and contributes to the understanding of sustainable and circular production techniques.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qiaohan Wang, Lan Lan, Huiru Li, Qingli Gong, Xu Gao
Summary: This study investigated the growth and biochemical performance of Grateloupia turuturu under different nitrogen conditions. The results showed that G. turuturu can adapt well to high nitrogen concentrations, and protein and residual organic nitrogen were identified as the main nitrogen storage pools. These findings suggest that G. turuturu can produce profitable compositions at high nitrogen concentrations, making it a promising biofilter for remediating eutrophication.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paraskevi Malea, Antonios Emmanouilidis, Dimitrios Phaedon Kevrekidis, Michael Moustakas
Summary: This study evaluated the ecotoxicity of CuO nanoparticles and Cu ions on seaweeds. The results showed that hydrogen peroxide generation, antioxidant stress markers, and growth inhibition are reliable early warning indicators for toxicity. CuO nanoparticles had a stronger toxic effect at 1 mg/L compared to Cu ions, while Cu ions had higher toxicity at 5 mg/L. The experimental threshold of intracellular Cu in seaweed was consistent with the onset of oxidative stress, suggesting a substantial risk to marine environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yunna Zhu, Baifu Qi, Yanwei Hao, Houcheng Liu, Guangwen Sun, Riyuan Chen, Shiwei Song
Summary: Compared with the control, T1 and T2 significantly increased the economic yield of flowering Chinese cabbage, while T3 significantly reduced plant yield. Different NH4+/NO3- ratios significantly affected the nutrient content and growth performance of flowering Chinese cabbage.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Youqiang Fu, Xuhua Zhong, Chusheng Lu, Kaiming Liang, Junfeng Pan, Xiangyu Hu, Rui Hu, Meijuan Li, Qunhuan Ye, Yanzhuo Liu
Summary: Mixed provision of ammonium-and nitrate-nitrogen (MPAN) at a moderate level promotes growth of rice plants. The GH751 rice line shows a higher response to MPAN compared to the W6827 line. Under 75:25 MPAN, GH751 exhibited the best growth performance with an increase in shoot biomass by 8.3%. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes related to membrane proteins, metal ion binding, oxidoreductase activity, and other biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis identified genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and zeatin biosynthesis, which contribute to improved nutrient uptake and growth of seedlings under 75:25 MPAN.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Miaomiao Wang, Guolei Li, Zhaozhong Feng, Yong Liu, Yansen Xu, Mercedes Uscola
Summary: Research has shown that white poplar trees exhibit different preferences for nitrogen forms at different developmental stages and under environmental stress, influenced by internal carbon and nitrogen utilization needs as well as external factors. Triploid white poplars can alleviate nitrogen uptake reduction under high ozone levels, switching to similar preferences among nitrogen forms.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Leticia D. L. Gomes, Mauricio L. Ferreira, Shoey Kanashiro, Armando R. Tavares
Summary: The roots of silver vase bromeliad are more efficient in absorbing and utilizing inorganic nitrogen compared to leaf-absorbing trichomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Khalid Hameed, Wajid Umar, Ali Razzaq, Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Aamer Maqsood, Shiwei Wei, Qingliang Niu, Danfeng Huang, Liying Chang
Summary: Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth, and different nitrogen sources and forms have significant effects on the biomass, quality, and metabolite composition of lettuce. The NH4+/NO3- ratio plays a crucial role in determining the chlorophyll content and biomass of lettuce. The 25% NH4+/75% NO3- ratio is the most suitable for increasing lettuce biomass in hydroponic cultivation systems. Different concentrations of nitrogen sources also affect the taste and quality-related compounds in lettuce.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ho-Hyeon Lee, Qikun Xing, Ji-Sook Park, Hojun Lee, Charles Yarish, Jang K. Kim
Summary: In this study, the effects of fluorescent lamps (T8 and T5) and white LED lamp on the growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake rates of Neopyropia yezoensis and Ulva prolifera were tested. It was found that white LED lamp had the highest enhancement of growth. The optimal PAR for the growth of Ulva prolifera with T5 fluorescent light was lower than with T8 fluorescent light. T8 fluorescent light increased the phosphorous uptake rate in Ulva prolifera.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonas Blomme, Xiaojie Liu, Thomas B. Jacobs, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: In this study, a molecular cloning toolkit was developed for the green seaweed U. mutabilis, containing various entry vectors, destination vectors, and functionally validated expression vectors. The importance of endogenous regulatory sequences for transgene expression was demonstrated, and two vector architectures for transgene expression were described. The toolkit enables the study of gain-of-function lines and gene characterization in a green seaweed, paving the way for large-scale functional genomics studies.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xia Liu, Yun Li, Ruijie Shen, Min Zhang, Feizhou Chen
Summary: The response of diatoms to reduced nitrogen and high phosphorus concentration in a eutrophic lake was studied. The results showed that the growth of diatoms was more sensitive to nitrogen reduction, and their response to nitrogen changed with water temperature.
Article
Plant Sciences
Marcus Griffiths, Sonali Roy, Haichao Guo, Anand Seethepalli, David Huhman, Yaxin Ge, Robert E. Sharp, Felix B. Fritschi, Larry M. York
Summary: It was found that there is substantial genetic variation in maize for multiple ion-uptake rates and specific nutrient uptake rates are positively correlated with specific root respiration, indicating shared mechanisms governing uptake. RNA-seq analysis of maize lines with high and low specific uptake rates identified key regulatory components involved in nutrient uptake. The high-throughput multiple ion-uptake kinetics pipeline will further understanding of nutrient uptake and help identify breeding targets for crops with more efficient nutrient acquisition.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stephanie Revilla-Lovano, Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Jose Antonio Zertuche-Gonzalez, Maria Dolores Belando-Torrentes, Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, Laura Karina Rangel-Mendoza, Alejandra Ferreira-Arrieta, Jose Manuel Guzman-Calderon, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Raquel Muniz-Salazar, Maria del Carmen Avila-Lopez
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the physiological plasticity and growth of Ulva ohnoi during its cultivation, showing that changes in cultivation conditions can affect the physiological performance and growth of the seaweed. By understanding the capacity of U. ohnoi to acclimate to changing culture conditions, it could be possible to improve its productivity and chemical composition.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefan Jarl Christensen, Michael Schmidt Madsen, Signe Schram Zinck, Christinne Hedberg, Ole Bandsholm Sorensen, Birte Svensson, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: 4-alpha-glucanotransferase mediated glucan transfer allows for the production of clean label starch ingredients with unique gelling properties. Researchers have studied six different GH77 members and found that four of them exhibit starch modifying activity, leading to a decrease in amylose content, elongation of amylopectin chains, and the formation of firm starch gels. The enzyme Tt4 alpha GT from Thermus thermophilus showed the highest temperature optimum (73 degrees C) and the best potato starch modifying efficacy compared to the other enzymes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
I Oliveira, A. Meyer, S. Afonso, B. Goncalves
Summary: This study aimed to compare leaf traits of Portuguese traditional almond cultivars and foreign cultivars under different weather conditions. The results showed the complex behavior of almond trees under drought conditions and highlighted the potential drought resistance in Portuguese cultivars.
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thore Bach Thomsen, Sune W. Schubert, Cameron J. Hunt, Peter Westh, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: Enzymatic degradation of PET has shown promise as an ecofriendly approach to biodegrading plastic waste. This study presents a novel UV absorbance assay for continuous detection of soluble hydrolysis products released during PET degradation. The assay allows for fast exploration and robust kinetic characterization of PET degrading enzymes.
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lichuang Cao, Cameron J. Hunt, Shang Lin, Anne S. Meyer, Qian Li, Rene Lametsch
Summary: Gamma-Glu-Val-Gly (gamma-EVG) is a potent kokumi peptide that can be synthesized from bovine milk (BoGGT) through the transpeptidase reaction catalyzed by gamma-glutamyl transferase. The molecular mechanism between BoGGT and L-glutamine was explored by generating gamma-glutamyl peptides under various reaction conditions. The suitable conditions for gamma-EVG production using BoGGT were determined, and it was discovered that NaCl could inhibit the transpeptidase activity by disrupting hydrogen bonds between BoGGT and L-glutamine.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Silvia Afonso, Ivo Oliveira, Carlos Ribeiro, Alice Vilela, Anne S. Meyer, Berta Goncalves
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the postharvest effect of plant-based edible coatings on sweet cherries. Results showed that coatings made from extracts of mint, savory and thyme could reduce weight and firmness losses of sweet cherries, and delay their ripening process. These coatings improved the antioxidant activity of sweet cherries without negative effects on their content of bioactive compounds and sensory profile. Therefore, these coatings could be a safe, natural, effective, beneficial and innovative approach to preserve sweet cherry quality in postharvest storage.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jane Wittrup Agger, Michael Schmidt Madsen, Line Korte Martinsen, Pedro Alves Martins, Kristian Barrett, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: This review summarizes the latest research on glucuronoyl esterases (GEs), with a focus on fungal variants. The study reveals that fungal enzymes largely fall into one major branch, with only a minor subset of bacterial enzymes in the same branch. Additionally, some fungal proteins carry a CBM1 binding domain. Molecular docking experiments suggest that there are no direct interactions between the enzyme and lignin polymer, and an elongated carbon chain between the ester linkage and the first phenyl of lignin is preferred. The next step for these enzymes is to explore their application in utilizing lignocellulose as a renewable resource.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thore B. Thomsen, Sune Schubert, Cameron J. Hunt, Kim Borch, Kenneth Jensen, Jesper Brask, Peter Westh, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: The response of PET-hydrolases to increased substrate crystallinity (X-C) of PET leads to a decrease in reaction rate, but this effect varies for different enzymes. This study examines the influence of X-C on product release rate for six thermostable PET-hydrolases. The results show that the duration of the lag phase before product formation increases with X-C. PHL7 enzyme is efficient on amorphous PET but sensitive to increased X-C, while LCCICCG, LCC, and DuraPETase enzymes tolerate higher X-C and have activity on PET with X-C of 24.4%.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Caio de Oliveira Gorgulho Silva, Marlene Vuillemin, Mirjam A. A. Kabel, Willem J. H. van Berkel, Anne S. S. Meyer, Jane W. W. Agger
Summary: Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) catalyze the conversion of monophenols to diphenols, which act as reducing agents for lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). The role of the catalytic products of the PPO MtPPO7 in priming and fueling the activity of the LPMO NcAA9C is investigated. It is found that the catalytic products of MtPPO7 provide the initial electron for the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), but cannot provide sufficient reducing power for continuous fueling of the LPMO activity. This priming reaction occurs with low amounts of MtPPO7 products and does not generate significant levels of H2O2 to fuel the LPMO peroxygenase activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lichuang Cao, Cameron J. J. Hunt, Anne S. S. Meyer, Rene Lametsch
Summary: Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations were used to explore the substrate preferences and catalytic mechanisms of bovine ?-glutamyltransferase (BoGGT) for L-glutamine and L-?-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (?-GpNA) as donors, as well as the acceptor abilities for valine-glycine (Val-Gly), L-methionine, and L-leucine. The study identified crucial residues responsible for the interactions between BoGGT and donors, as well as the intermediate and acceptors, providing new insights into the substrate selectivity and catalytic mechanism of BoGGT.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristian Barrett, Cameron J. Hunt, Lene Lange, Igor Grigoriev, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: Carbohydrate-processing enzymes, CAZymes, are classified into families based on sequence and three-dimensional fold. The peptide-based clustering method CUPP provides further delineation of these enzymes by defining small protein groups with shared sequence motifs. The updated CUPP-webserver includes all published fungal and algal genomes from the Joint Genome Institute, allowing users to browse for specific predicted functions or protein families.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Karolina Bachosz, Jakub Zdarta, Muhammad Bilal, Anne S. Meyer, Teofil Jesionowski
Summary: Enzymatic processes are becoming increasingly important, and the role of enzymatic cofactors is crucial for efficient biocatalytic activities. Therefore, the development of cofactor regeneration systems is essential. This review summarizes current knowledge on enzymatic regeneration methods and highlights potential directions for further development.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thore Bach Thomsen, Tobias S. Radmer, Anne S. Meyer
Summary: Plastic pollution, particularly from PET, is a significant environmental challenge. This study investigates the enzyme kinetics of PET degradation and finds that the degree of crystallinity (X-C) has a substantial impact on the enzymatic reaction rate. The mobile amorphous fraction (X-MAF) is a better descriptor for the rate of enzymatic degradation. The longer lag phase observed with increased X-C is proposed to be due to increased substrate entanglement density and unproductive enzyme binding to the crystalline regions of PET.
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maria Dalgaard Mikkelsen, Vy Ha Nguyen Tran, Sebastian Meier, Thuan Thi Nguyen, Jesper Holck, Hang Thi Thuy Cao, Tran Thi Thanh Van, Pham Duc Thinh, Anne S. Meyer, Jens Preben Morth
Summary: This study presents the structural characterization and activity of a novel endo-alpha(1,4)-fucoidanase, Mef1, from the marine bacterium Muricauda eckloniae. Mef1 specifically catalyzes the cleavage of alpha(1,4)-linkages between fucose residues in fucoidan from Fucus evanescens. The crystal structure of Mef1 reveals a single-domain organization with an extended, positively charged groove as the active site.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Bartlomiej M. Kolaczkowski, Olga V. Moroz, Elena Blagova, Gideon J. Davies, Marie Sofie Moller, Anne S. Meyer, Peter Westh, Kenneth Jensen, Keith S. Wilson, Kristian B. R. M. Krogh
Summary: Many eukaryotic proteins are N-glycosylated with high-mannose N-glycans and alpha-1,6-mannan backbones. GH92 alpha-mannosidases release mannose residues from these N-glycans, allowing alpha-endomannanases to degrade the alpha-mannan backbone. The structure and function of a multidomain GH92 alpha-mannosidase CBM have not been characterized. This study provides insights into the structure and function of a full-length five-domain GH92 alpha-mannosidase from Neobacillus novalis, demonstrating the importance of CBMs for the overall structural integrity of the enzyme.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina N. Perna, Kristian Barrett, Anne S. Meyer, Birgitte Zeuner
Summary: Glycoside hydrolase family 29 (GH29) consists of enzymes called alpha-L-fucosidases, which catalyze the release of fucose from fucosylated glycans. These enzymes have important roles in biology. GH29 alpha-L-fucosidases can be divided into two subfamilies, GH29A and GH29B, based on their substrate specificities. However, the sequence traits that determine their substrate specificity and transglycosylation ability are not well understood.
