Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chao Yang, Zhi Li, Dongdong Zhao, Jing Chen, Xinna Zhu, Xueli Zhang, Changhao Bi
Summary: By investigating the endogenous hydrogenase genes of Escherichia coli, a versatile biological platform was constructed for efficient utilization of H-2, with further improvements made through modulation of gene expression and engineering of the rTCA cycle and CO2 supplementation pathways, resulting in increased succinate yield.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meng-Ke Zhang, Meng-Yao Zhang, Shuo-Bo Liu, Ying-Ying Yang, Ya-Jun Zhai, Dan-Dan He, Hua Wu, Yu-Shan Pan, Jian-Hua Liu, Li Yuan, Gong-Zheng Hu
Summary: This study revealed that the double deletion of cpxR and tolC significantly increases the susceptibility of S. Typhimurium to colistin. The molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon were elucidated through transcriptomic analysis.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Enrico Orsi, Nico J. Claassens, Pablo Nikel, Steffen N. Lindner
Summary: Synthetic biology has revolutionized the ability to redesign microbial metabolic networks by combining metabolic pathway-modularization with growth-coupled selection schemes. This powerful tool enables deep rewiring of cell factories' biochemistry for rational bioproduction.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tianzhi Jin, Yajing Wang, Shun Yao, Chuxiao Hu, Ting Ma, Wenjie Xia
Summary: This study successfully converted carbon dioxide into succinic acid and produced hydrogen using Citrobacter BD11. By optimizing the conditions, a high succinic acid production rate and carbon fixation rate were achieved. This research provides a new approach for the utilization of carbon dioxide and chemical synthesis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Jiao Zhu, Sheng-Chen Huang, Zhi-Gang Qian, Xiao-Xia Xia
Summary: An efficient biosynthetic strategy was developed to produce large amounts of DOPA-incorporated structural proteins for fabricating hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties. Synthetic genes encoding repetitive resilin-like proteins (RLPs) with varying proportions of tyrosine residues were constructed and DOPA was incorporated into RLPs via mis-aminoacylation. By developing a stoichiometry-guided two-phase culture strategy, high levels of DOPA-incorporated RLPs were produced with a high DOPA incorporation yield. The DOPA-containing RLPs were then successfully cross-linked into hydrogels via facile DOPA-Fe3+ complexations.
Article
Microbiology
Daniel H. F. Rubin, Kevin C. Ma, Kathleen A. Westervelt, Karthik Hullahalli, Matthew K. Waldor, Yonatan H. Grad
Summary: The evolution of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a human pathogen is influenced by diverse host environments and antibiotics. Variations in antibiotic resistance across N. gonorrhoeae lineages indicate that metabolic differences may affect the acquisition of specific resistances. A study found that the requirement for supplemental CO2 in some isolates is due to a single substitution in a beta-carbonic anhydrase, CanB. This metabolic variation also influences fluoroquinolone resistance in N. gonorrhoeae by increasing the likelihood of acquisition.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jiaoqi Gao, Yunxia Li, Wei Yu, Yongjin J. Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates that engineering the production of free fatty acids from methanol can lead to cell death and decreased phospholipid levels, but cell growth can be restored through adaptive laboratory evolution. Inactivating certain genes preserves cell survival by restoring phospholipid metabolism. By manipulating metabolic pathways, high-level production of free fatty acids from methanol can be achieved. The prevention of methanol-associated toxicity is linked to lipid metabolism and methanol tolerance.
Article
Microbiology
Sayed Golam Mohiuddin, Asian Massahi, Mehmet A. Orman
Summary: Bacterial persisters are nongrowing cells highly tolerant to bactericidal antibiotics. Lon protein plays a critical role in resuscitation of antibiotic-tolerant cells in Escherichia coli, and the mechanism involves a SulA- and ftsZ-dependent pathway. The transition from nonculturable to culturable state in lon-deficient persisters is transient, with altered Z-ring architecture serving as a key biomarker during this process.
Article
Microbiology
Sayed Golam Mohiuddin, Aslan Massahi, Mehmet A. Orman
Summary: Lon protease plays a critical role in the fluoroquinolone persistence of Escherichia coli. Lon deletion impairs the ability of persister cells to form colonies during recovery and the nonculturable state of antibiotic-tolerant Delta lon cells is transient and can be restored under certain conditions. The ratio of cell length to number of FtsZ rings can be used as a potential biomarker for persisters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bin Liu, Lingyan Jiang, Yutao Liu, Hongmin Sun, Jun Yan, Chenbo Kang, Bin Yang
Summary: The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is a complex environment that hosts a diverse microbial community. This study discovered that enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 imports L-malate from the host and microbiota using the DcuABC transporters, converting it into fumarate to fuel anaerobic respiration and promote colonization. L-malate also acts as a signaling molecule to activate virulence gene expression in EHEC O157:H7.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marcos Valenzuela-Ortega, Jack T. Suitor, Mirren F. M. White, Trevor Hinchcliffe, Stephen Wallace
Summary: In this study, the researchers developed a new method to convert PET plastic waste into adipic acid using genetic engineering. By optimizing gene expression and enzyme activity, as well as immobilizing cells, they achieved efficient conversion. This research has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil resources and promote the reuse of waste materials.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Huaiqiong Chen, Yongguang Guan, Anyi Wang, Qixin Zhong
Summary: The combination of TO and scCO(2) treatments significantly improved the disinfection effectiveness on raw almonds inoculated with E. coli K12. Temperature had the most significant effect on log reduction.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying-Chen Yi, I-Son Ng
Summary: Researchers are exploring biological methods to reduce carbon dioxide emissions instead of using physical and chemical methods currently. They have successfully produced glycolic acid, a promising component for bioplastics, food, and pharmaceutical industries, using genetically engineered Escherichia coli in a low-carbon manner. By optimizing certain genes, they achieved a high yield of glycolic acid and improved carbon dioxide uptake. This eco-friendly and cost-efficient approach could contribute to chemical production with reduced carbon emissions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
George M. Taylor, Andrew Hitchcock, John T. Heap
Summary: Researchers have successfully overcome genetic instability in engineered cyanobacteria using large-scale parallel metabolic engineering, achieving the production of target products from atmospheric CO2. This approach provides a new platform for developing genetically stable cyanobacterial biocatalysts for sustainable light-driven production, avoiding the use of fossil carbon or competition with food production.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela Kranz, Tino Polen, Christian Kotulla, Annette Arndt, Graziella Bosco, Michael Bussmann, Ava Chattopadhyay, Annette Cramer, Cedric-Farhad Davoudi, Ursula Degner, Ramon Diesveld, Raphael Freiherr von Boeselager, Kim Gaertner, Cornelia Gaetgens, Tobias Georgi, Christian Geraths, Sabine Haas, Antonia Heyer, Max Huennefeld, Takeru Ishige, Armin Kabus, Nicolai Kallscheuer, Larissa Kever, Simon Klaffl, Britta Kleine, Martina Kocan, Abigail Koch-Koerfges, Kim J. Kraxner, Andreas Krug, Aileen Krueger, Andreas Kueberl, Mohamed Labib, Christian Lange, Christina Mack, Tomoya Maeda, Regina Mahr, Stephan Majda, Andrea Michel, Xenia Morosov, Olga Mueller, Arun M. Nanda, Jens Nickel, Jennifer Pahlke, Eugen Pfeifer, Laura Platzen, Paul Ramp, Doris Rittmann, Steffen Schaffer, Sandra Scheele, Stephanie Spelberg, Julia Schulte, Jens-Eric Schweitzer, Georg Sindelar, Ulrike Sorger-Herrmann, Markus Spelberg, Corinna Stansen, Apilaasha Tharmasothirajan, Jan van Ooyen, Philana van Summeren-Wesenhagen, Michael Vogt, Sabrina Witthoff, Lingfeng Zhu, Bernhard J. Eikmanns, Marco Oldiges, Georg Schaumann, Meike Baumgart, Melanie Brocker, Lothar Eggeling, Roland Freudl, Julia Frunzke, Jan Marienhagen, Volker F. Wendisch, Michael Bott
Summary: Corynebacterium glutamicum is a major host for amino acid production and has been extensively studied in microbial biotechnology. This study presents a large compendium of transcriptional profiles, allowing researchers to investigate gene expression changes under different environmental conditions or genetic modifications. The compendium provides valuable insights into the understanding of C. glutamicum as a microbial cell factory.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gyo-Yeon Seo, Hoe-Suk Lee, Hyeonsoo Kim, Sukhyeong Cho, Jeong-Geol Na, Young Joo Yeon, Jinwon Lee
Summary: Two putative methylglyoxal synthases from Oceanithermus profundus and Clostridium difficile were characterized for activity and thermal stability, with the former being hyperthermophilic and the latter mesophilic. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed structural differences between the two enzymes, with specific interactions contributing to the stability of the hyperthermophilic enzyme. This study provides insights for potential engineering and industrial applications of the enzyme.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junho Bang, Jung Ho Ahn, Jong An Lee, Chang Hun Hwang, Gi Bae Kim, Jinwon Lee, Sang Yup Lee
Summary: This paper reviews recent advances in the development of synthetic formatotrophs, focusing on biological FA and CO2 utilization pathways, enzymes involved and newly developed, and metabolic engineering and ALE strategies employed. Future challenges in cultivating formatotrophs to higher cell densities and producing chemicals from FA and CO2 are also discussed.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Hyunwoo Kim, Shinje Lee, Jinwon Lee, Wangyun Won
Summary: An integrated strategy was developed to utilize different fractions of biomass, producing 1,6-hexanediol, furfural, and high-purity lignin, with heat integration to mitigate energy challenges. Techno-economic analysis showed favorable economics for the process, with sensitivity to economic parameters affecting the minimum selling price of 1,6-hexanediol.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee
Summary: Amine-based water-lean solvents show promise as energy-saving alternatives for CO2 capture. This study determined the kinetic parameters of a specific water-lean solvent and found that it had higher CO2 absorption rates compared to conventional aqueous amine solvents. The overall mass transfer coefficient decreased with increasing temperature due to changes in the physical properties of the solvent.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee
Summary: This study proposes a pseudo counter-current fluidized bed adsorption (FLBA) process with internal heat integration for energy-efficient large-scale CO2 capture. By recovering sensible heat from the cooling process and implementing pseudo counter-current operation, the CO2 cyclic capacity of the solid sorbent is enhanced.
Article
Thermodynamics
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee
Summary: The study presents a techno-economic analysis of four different solid sorbent processes for post-combustion CO2 capture, showcasing the feasibility of achieving low CO2 capture costs through internal heat integration and enhanced CO2 cyclic capacity.
Article
Thermodynamics
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee
Summary: This paper proposes a novel polyamine-based aqueous amine solution for absorption-based CO2 capture. The proposed solvent shows higher CO2 solubility and overall mass transfer coefficient compared to conventional MEA solutions, making it a promising energy-efficient alternative for large-scale CO2 capture.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wonho Jung, Seulah Lee, Hyeona Kim, Woo-Jae Kim, Jinwon Lee
Summary: We proposed an integrated process to produce methyl acetate (MA) from shale gas-derived dimethyl ether (DME), with high selectivity and conversion rate achieved using specific catalysts. The mathematically modeled technoeconomic analysis demonstrated low production costs and high net present values, supporting the feasibility of industrially producing MA from syngas-derived DME intermediates.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sukhyeong Cho, Yun Seo Lee, Hanyu Chai, Sang Eun Lim, Jeong Geol Na, Jinwon Lee
Summary: Ectoine production was significantly enhanced in M. alcaliphilum 20Z by disrupting the ectD and ectR genes under optimized conditions, leading to the highest ectoine production from methane to date. This study demonstrates effective genetic engineering in methanotrophic bacteria, with enhanced ectoine production from methane as the sole carbon source, suggesting a potential transformational path to commercial sugar-based ectoine production.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
