Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Wei Jin, Aiyun Li, Yuanyang Li, Yuanying Yu, Jie Shen, Jing Zhou, Wen Chen
Summary: A novel pentafluorostyrene (PFS) interface modifier was used to improve the interfacial compatibility and enhance the dielectric properties of SiO2/PTFE composites, reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). With a PFS content of 5 wt%, the CTE was reduced to 86 ppm/degrees C and the dielectric loss ranged from 0.71 x 10-3 to 1.53 x 10-3 at frequencies from 5 to 40 GHz. The PFS-modified composite exhibited stable dielectric properties across a temperature range of 0-150 degrees C, making it suitable for high-frequency and high-temperature applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miho Oda, Ryutaro Asano
Summary: Antibody-enzyme complexes (AECs) are ideal molecular recognition elements for immunosensing applications. Fragment antibodies have been developed as alternatives to intact antibodies for the production of AECs, overcoming ethical and cost issues. Various methods, including direct fusion, enzymatic conjugation, and Catcher/Tag system coupling, have been developed for the fabrication of homogeneous AECs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Merve Arslan, Murat Karadag, Ebru Onal, Emine Gelinci, Gulcin Cakan-Akdogan, Sibel Kalyoncu
Summary: Single chain antibody fragments (scFvs) are widely used in diagnostics and therapeutics due to their small size and various engineering approaches. The design of the linker between the variable heavy and light chains of scFv plays a crucial role in its construction. The flexibility of the linker is determined by its length and sequence content, and flexible linkers such as glycine-serine (GS) are commonly preferred. However, repeated sequences in GS linkers can cause problems in PCR-based engineering and immunogenicity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Dohun Yoon, Hyunjung Lee, Taehoon Kim, Youngbin Song, Taeyeon Lee, Jongho Lee, Jae Hun Seol
Summary: Due to their remarkable properties, polymers are widely used in industry. However, the low thermal conductivity of polymers poses limitations. In this study, we demonstrate that increasing chain orientation and intermolecular interaction can enhance the thermal conductivity of polyimide (PI). Our results show that electrospun PI nanofibers and hot-pressed nanofibrous PI films have significantly higher thermal conductivity values compared to solution-casting PI films. Molecular-scale structural characterizations reveal the mechanisms behind the improved thermal conductivity.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Takumi Tomono, Haruya Yagi, Saki Kanemoto, Masami Ukawa, Kohei Miyata, Koichi Shigeno, Shinji Sakuma
Summary: This study evaluated the absorption-enhancing abilities and safety profiles of oligopeptides with short chain arginine residues conjugated to hyaluronic acid. The results showed that diglycine-L-tetraarginine-linked hyaluronic acid had the ability to enhance absorption and was relatively safe.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pengsheng Jing, Jinmei Du, Dagang Miao, Guowei Xiao, Yang Jiang, Changhai Xu
Summary: In this study, a method of synthesizing polyurethane fiber (MPUF) by adding poly(HMDITBDEA) to a CPUF spinning solution was proposed, which exhibited enhanced dyeability toward acid dyes. It was found that MPUF had similar elastic recovery to CPUF, but lower elongation at break and break strength. The zeta potential test demonstrated that MPUF showed increased electropositivity under acidic conditions.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lei Zhang, Xin Ye, Yan Zhang, Fengqing Wang, Fanqing Zhang, Yan Jia, Dangjin Wu, Kalbinur Tohti, Manling Cheng, Jianguo Zhu
Summary: This study focused on obtaining single-chain fragment variables (scFvs) against the virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus, evaluating their protective effect on bovine mammary epithelial cells and mice mammary gland tissues infected by S. aureus. Results showed that the scFvs effectively inhibited bacterial growth, reduced cell damage, and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo.
Article
Neurosciences
Sen Li, Yushan Yi, Ke Cui, Yanqiu Zhang, Yange Chen, Dou Han, Ling Sun, Xiaohui Zhang, Fei Chen, Yixin Zhang, Yufeng Yang
Summary: A new potential therapeutic agent against AD, the scFv T1 antibody, was screened in this study. It showed strong ability to inhibit tau aggregation in dilute solutions and under conditions of macromolecular crowding, and could depolymerize preformed tau aggregates in vitro, indicating its potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nam Gyu Yang, Sung Jae Jeon, Young Hoon Kim, Hyoung Seok Lee, Dong Hyun Hong, Doo Kyung Moon
Summary: This study investigates the enhancement of stability in organic solar cells (OSCs) through the introduction of a UV blocking layer. A polymer with tert-butoxycarbonyl side chains was synthesized and used as a protective layer on the back surface of the glass substrate. The results show that this strategy can effectively increase the stability of OSCs.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Rui Qin, Liansi Peng, Hua Deng, Yang Liu, Xiangyang Liu
Summary: Flexible polyimide composite films with superior thermal properties can be improved by constraining early relaxation of macromolecular chains, resulting in significantly decreasing coefficient of thermal expansion and enhancing thermal stability. Constraining structure was successfully achieved by mechano-mixing fluorinated multi-walled carbon nanotubes into benzimidazole-contained polyimide. Experimental results showed noticeable improvements in thermal and mechanical properties of the composite films.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Garrett F. Bass, Thomas H. Epps
Summary: Fossil fuels, while important for polymeric materials, are being replaced by bio-based alternatives due to their limited supply and non-renewable nature. Lignin, as the largest natural source of aromatic carbon on earth, with its abundance, functional handles, and thermal stability, has become an attractive target for bio-based polymers. However, the challenge lies in valorizing lignin into high-performance and cost-competitive materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takahiro Hayashi, Yuji O. Kamatari, Masayuki Oda
Summary: The antibody G2 exhibits multi-specificity in binding to different antigen peptides. By analyzing the thermodynamics and kinetics of a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody, it was found that the binding mechanism and stability of G2 vary with different antigen peptides.
BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ling Ni, You-Xin Li
Summary: The study demonstrates that DM1 nanoparticles decorated with anti-HER2 single-chain Fv fragment can effectively target HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells, showing better antitumor effects compared to traditional monoclonal antibody-decorated nanoparticles. This approach could potentially be developed into a novel drug delivery system for HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Basheer Aaliya, Kappat Valiyapeediyekkal Sunooj, Shaji Ashina, Kethavath Priyanka, Muhammed Navaf, Plachikkattu Parambil Akhila, Pajjuru Raviteja, Suraj Kumar Sinha, Vidhu Yadav, Shabir Ahmad Mir, Maximilian Lackner, Johnsy George, Monica R. Nemtanu
Summary: Modification of talipot starch using non-thermal plasma treatment and Aloe vera gel incorporation improved the properties of the resulting films, including surface features, crystallinity, and permeability. The addition of Aloe vera gel also enhanced control over pH and total soluble solids, and offered improved protection for fruit quality.
FOOD PACKAGING AND SHELF LIFE
(2023)
Article
International Relations
Man Teng Long
Summary: Due to its low-cost, highly educated and abundant labor, improved infrastructure, and foreign direct investment, China has played a crucial role in enhancing global supply chains. However, the implementation of domestic and global supply chains in China needs improvement in its legal system. The article aims to explore legal options to overcome current barriers and highlight the role of UNCITRAL in creating favorable legal rulings for China's global supply chains, while emphasizing the need for further legislation to address legal deficiencies.
GLOBAL TRADE AND CUSTOMS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huan Sun, Haiyang Jia, Diego A. Ramirez-Diaz, Nediljko Budisa, Petra Schwille
Summary: Mapping and elucidating molecular mechanisms of self-organization in prokaryotic cells using light-mediated assembly of functional protein modules is a promising strategy for creating minimal cells.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Federica Agostini, Ludwig Sinn, Daniel Petras, Christian J. Schipp, Vladimir Kubyshkin, Allison Ann Berger, Pieter C. Dorrestein, Juri Rappsilber, Nediljko Budisa, Beate Koksch
Summary: Organofluorine compounds are toxic to a variety of organisms, but some organisms (such as bacteria) can adapt to fluorinated molecules and utilize them for the synthesis of cellular macromolecules. Experiments with E. coli exposed to fluorinated amino acids revealed the cellular mechanisms behind adaptation to unnatural amino acids.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Organic
Vladimir Kubyshkin, Rebecca Davis, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: Fluorinated proline replacements, such as (4R)- and (4S)-fluoroproline, have shown advantages in elevating protein expression speed and yields, as well as improving folding profiles. They are considered useful tools in biotechnological applications and may potentially be used for proteome-wide proline-to-fluoroproline substitutions in the future. Furthermore, laboratory evolutionary methods with fluoroprolines could enable the introduction of fluorine into living cells, potentially creating synthetic cells with artificial biodiversity containing fluorine as a bioelement.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paolo Bollella, Zhong Guo, Selvakumar Edwardraja, Vasantha Krishna Kadambar, Kirill Alexandrov, Artem Melman, Evgeny Katz
Summary: The study used switchable glucose dehydrogenase to realize the IMPLY and INHIB Boolean logic gates in biofuel cells, enabling control over different input signals and driving molecule release functions.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Junrong Li, Alain Wuethrich, Selvakumar Edwardraja, Richard J. Lobb, Simon Puttick, Stephen Rose, Christopher B. Howard, Matt Trau
Summary: The proposal introduces a highly sensitive and specific detection method for SARS-CoV-2 using nanoyeast single-chain-variable fragments and plasmonic nanoboxes. This technique can detect infections as low as 17 virus/mu L and has successfully demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 detection in saliva samples.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erhan Deniz, Luis Valino-Borau, Jan G. Loeffler, Katharina B. Eberl, Adnan Gulzar, Steffen Wolf, Patrick M. Durkin, Robert Kaml, Nediljko Budisa, Gerhard Stock, Jens Bredenbeck
Summary: Vibrational energy transfer (VET) is crucial for protein function, aiding in efficient energy dissipation at reaction sites and connecting to allosteric communication pathways. In this study, a tryptophan zipper was used for experiments to map VET, revealing hydrogen bonds as the dominant pathway even if backbone stretches are cut short in proteins.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikolaj G. Koch, Peter Goettig, Juri Rappsilber, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: The engineering of PylRS variants capable of incorporating an entire library of aliphatic small-tag ncAAs has been reported. By mutating a specific PylRS, the shortest non-bulky ncAA was successfully designed and incorporated, expanding the range of translationally active small-tag ncAAs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhong Guo, Rinky D. Parakra, Ying Xiong, Wayne A. Johnston, Patricia Walden, Selvakumar Edwardraja, Shayli Varasteh Moradi, Jacobus P. J. Ungerer, Hui-wang Ai, Jonathan J. Phillips, Kirill Alexandrov
Summary: This study constructs a synthetic allosteric version of circular permutated NanoLuc luciferase, enabling protein allosteric regulation and creating biosensors for proteins and small molecules, capable of quantifying their cognate ligands in human fluids.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hsueh-Wei Tseng, Marcus Moldenhauer, Thomas Friedrich, Eugene G. Maksimov, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is a water-soluble photoreceptor involved in photoprotection of cyanobacteria. By replacing essential residues of the photoactive OCP with non-canonical aromatic analogues, the key contacts with non-canonical amino acids can be controlled and manipulated, altering the state preference of OCP.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cagla Ergun Ayva, Maria M. Fiorito, Zhong Guo, Selvakumar Edwardraja, Joe A. Kaczmarski, Dejan Gagoski, Patricia Walden, Wayne A. Johnston, Colin J. Jackson, Tom Nebl, Kirill Alexandrov
Summary: This study presents an in vitro expression-based platform for analyzing chimeric protein libraries. The researchers focused on chimeras between PQQ-glucose dehydrogenase and calmodulin. Through screening, they identified 50 chimeras that were activated by calmodulin-binding peptides. Analysis of the active chimeras revealed an anticorrelation between their dynamic range and response times. Structural changes induced by the receptor domains were investigated using CD spectroscopy and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huan Sun, Haiyang Jia, Olivia Kendall, Jovan Dragelj, Vladimir Kubyshkin, Tobias Baumann, Maria-Andrea Mroginski, Petra Schwille, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: In this study, the authors investigated the halogenation of the prokaryotic cell division protein FtsZ and demonstrated its effects on protein structure and dynamics. They provided valuable insights into the mechanism of halogen influence through experiments and theories.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nisha Mohanan, Michael C. -H. Wong, Nediljko Budisa, David B. Levin
Summary: In this study, genes encoding an intracellular lipase (LIP3), an extracellular lipase (LIP4), and an intracellular PHA depolymerase (PhaZ) were identified in Pseudomonas chlororaphis PA23. These genes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical and substrate preferences of the enzymes were characterized. The results showed that these enzymes exhibited different properties, but they demonstrated broad substrate specificity and could hydrolyze various polymers, including PHAs, pNP alkanoates, and PLA. Furthermore, the enzymes were able to degrade both biodegradable and synthetic polymers, such as PCL and PES, as evidenced by GPC analyses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Georg Johannes von Freiherr Sass, Matthew Blain-Hartung, Tobias Baumann, Katrina T. Forest, Peter Hildebrandt, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: Orthogonal translation is an efficient tool for parameterization of structural and dynamic phenomena in proteins. Nitrile-containing tryptophan analogs are useful probes for studying local electrostatics and hydrogen bonding. This study reports the engineering of a tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase variant capable of incorporating 5-cyanotryptophan via orthogonal translation, and demonstrates its utility by inserting it into a photosensor protein.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Goettig, Nikolaj G. Koch, Nediljko Budisa
Summary: Amino acids play crucial roles in organisms, being encoded by genetic code and modified post-translationally to generate various functional amino acids. These non-canonical amino acids are important for protein stability and function, and have wide applications in drug development and biological research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladimir Kubyshkin, Jochen Burck, Oleg Babii, Nediljko Budisa, Anne S. Ulrich
Summary: Circular dichroism is a conventional method for studying the secondary structures of peptides and proteins. The polyproline-II helix, while not exhibiting strictly conserved spectroscopic appearance, is significantly influenced by the surrounding solvent environment. Changes in solvation can lead to shifts and variations in the circular dichroism spectra, with new features potentially emerging in nonpolar environments. Additionally, the transition to a transmembrane state in isotropic liposomes is correlated with specific spectral changes, indicating the importance of considering the solvent environment in assessing circular dichroism spectra.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)