Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Troy Batugal, Geetanjali Pendyala, Luke Tomasovic, Chad Varner, Jeremy D. Caplin, Alexander M. Page, Michelle Davis, Sarah W. Satola, Andres J. Garcia, Ravi S. Kane
Summary: We developed a simple strategy to identify sites for incorporating noncanonical amino acids into lysostaphin, allowing the enzyme to retain its stapholytic activity. The modified lysostaphin could be further functionalized with polyethylene glycol through copper-free click cycloaddition. The site-specific modification of lysostaphin holds potential for improving biocompatibility, incorporating the enzyme into biomaterials, and studying protein structure and dynamics.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Henry C. Wilkinson, Paul A. Dalby
Summary: This study explores the effects of site-specific saturation mutagenesis within enzyme active sites and the potential benefits of incorporating noncanonical amino acids (ncAA) on improving enzyme activity and stability simultaneously. By fine-tuning residue 385 with different aromatic ring substituents, the researchers were able to significantly enhance specific activity, catalytic performance, and stability of the enzyme, showcasing the advantages of expanding designer libraries to include ncAAs.
Article
Microbiology
Huawei Yi, Jing Zhang, Famin Ke, Xiurong Guo, Jian Yang, Peijuan Xie, Li Liu, Qin Wang, Xiaowei Gao
Summary: Incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins allows for manipulation of protein structure and function, with potential applications in industrial settings. Studying the transcriptome and proteome profiles of E. coli C321.Delta A, a strain ideal for ncAA-containing protein expression, revealed differential expression of metabolic pathways and functions compared to the parental strain. Integration of the T7 RNA polymerase system further improved yields of ncAA-containing proteins in this strain.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Heresh Rayej, Mohammad Reza Vaezi, Behzad Aghabarari, Ramiro Ruiz-Rosas, Juana M. Rosas, Jose Rodriguez-Mirasol, Tomas Cordero
Summary: This work demonstrates the preparation of oxygen reduction reaction catalysts by pyrolysis of amino acid functionalized graphene oxide, with Histidine showing promising results in enhancing capacitance, conductivity, and ORR activity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ekaterina Yu. Bezsudnova, Alena Yu. Nikolaeva, Alina K. Bakunova, Tatiana V. Rakitina, Dmitry A. Suplatov, Vladimir O. Popov, Konstantin M. Boyko
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship between structure and function of transaminase from Thermobaculum terrenum, creating a panel of enzyme variants through site-directed mutagenesis to achieve (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamine selectivity while retaining specificity for traditional substrates. Spatial reorganization of active sites resulted in changes in activity, allowing for a better understanding of the role of specific active site residues in expanding substrate specificity.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Katarzyna Domanska-Blicharz, Edyta Swieton, Agnieszka Swiatalska, Isabella Monne, Alice Fusaro, Karolina Tarasiuk, Krzysztof Wyrostek, Natalia Stys-Fijol, Aleksandra Giza, Marta Pietruk, Blanca Zechchin, Ambra Pastori, Lukasz Adaszek, Malgorzata Pomorska-Mol, Grzegorz Tomczyk, Calogero Terregino, Stanislaw Winiarczyk
Summary: In late June/early July 2023, Poland experienced an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in cats. This study aimed to characterize the identified virus and investigate possible sources of infection. Next generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that 25 out of 46 sampled cats tested positive for avian influenza virus, belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype CH (H5N1 A/ Eurasian wigeon/Netherlands/3/2022-like). These viruses were very similar to each other, suggesting a common source of infection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jingbiao Fan, Tao Wang, Bo Wu, Chunru Wang
Summary: A new catalyst C-60-EDA/TiO2 was prepared by a hydrothermal method, which can effectively degrade formaldehyde at room temperature under solar light irradiation. The introduction of C-60-EDA improves the adsorption of formaldehyde molecules, enhances the utilization of sunlight, and suppresses photoelectron-hole recombination. The results show that this catalyst exhibits higher performance in formaldehyde removal efficiency compared to other reported catalysts, and maintains a high removal rate even after multiple cycles. Additionally, a potential formaldehyde degradation pathway was deduced.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guilin Cheng, Qi Wu, Chengjun Jiang
Summary: Nanobiohybrid CAL-B/MNPs were synthesized through enzyme in situ reduction of metal ions. The hybrid catalysts showed highly dispersed nanoparticles without agglomeration. It was found that the amino acid sequence AGLFFSSKDL in lipase CAL-B played a key role in the in situ reduction of metal ions into highly dispersed nanoparticles.
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryusei Goda, Soichi Watanabe, Takumi Misaka
Summary: In vertebrates, nutritional tastants are recognized by taste receptor type 1 (T1R) family. Zebrafish and medaka fish have oral receptors highly sensitive to amino acids, especially l-proline. Functional assays confirmed the presence of specific T1Rs in these fish, reflecting the physiological importance of l-proline in teleosts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kai Yang, Bin Huang, Charles Amanze, Zhen Yan, Guanzhou Qiu, Xueduan Liu, Hongbo Zhou, Weimin Zeng
Summary: In this study, the catalytic activity of DAAO towards D-glufosinate (D-PPT) was significantly increased through mutagenesis, leading to the establishment of an efficient enzymatic route for synthesizing L-PPT. This research also proposes a new perspective on enzyme engineering for the biosynthesis of unnatural amino acids.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hideaki Nakamura, Appiah Enoch, Shotaro Iwaya, Sakura Furusho, Shoko Tsunoda, Ma-moru Haratake
Summary: By conjugating polyethylene glycol to fDAO to form PEG-fDAO, high enzymatic activity can accumulate in tumor tissue and exhibit anti-tumor effects; however, high enzyme activity in the plasma limits therapeutic outcome.
CURRENT DRUG DELIVERY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Lorena Martin-Morales, Sara Manzano, Maria Rodrigo-Faus, Adrian Vicente-Barrueco, Victor Lorca, Gonzalo Nunez-Moreno, Paloma Bragado, Almudena Porras, Trinidad Caldes, Pilar Garre, Alvaro Gutierrez-Uzquiza
Summary: A variant in the MMP11 gene has been identified to increase the tumorigenic properties of colorectal cancer cells, potentially leading to early onset of colorectal cancer. Further study of this gene in other colorectal cancer cases may improve patient treatment in the future.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Vyasa Williams, Yuxia Cui, Jiadong Zhao, Han Fu, Xuecheng Jiao, Yulei Ma, Xiang Li, Xin Du, Na Zhang
Summary: In this study, an engineered ketoreductase, apKRED-9, was immobilized on two different platforms for continuous flow and batch synthesis of (R)-tetrahydrothiophene-3-ol. Both platforms demonstrated high operational stability and conversion rates during long-term usage.
ORGANIC PROCESS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kiet N. Tran, Sei-Heon Jang, ChangWoo Lee
Summary: This study investigates the impact of subtle differences in aromatic residues in the substrate-binding pocket of psychrophilic G6PD isozymes on enzymatic activity and stability. Results show that an aromatic residue (Tyr or Phe) is crucial for substrate binding in SpG6PD1, with Tyr preferred for enzymatic activity and Phe preferred for thermal stability. Substitution of bulky Trp for Tyr or Phe leads to significant loss of activity.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Mio K. Shibuta, Sachihiro Matsunaga
Summary: Transcriptional activity is highly suppressed in the sperm chromatin of flowering plants, possibly due to the lack of completely assembled RNAPII and the inhibition of transcriptional elongation by phosphatase activities.