Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zachary J. Liveris, Emma H. Kelley, Emma Simmons, Katherine Konczak, Marlon R. Lutz Jr., Miguel Ballicora, Kenneth W. Olsen, Daniel P. Becker
Summary: The global crisis caused by the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria has led to the search for new class of antibiotics. The enzyme DapE, found exclusively in many pathogenic bacterial strains, is a promising target due to its key role in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. DapE catalyzes the hydrolysis of L,L-SDAP to produce succinate and L,L-DAP, which are important for cell-wall synthesis and peptide synthesis. Inhibition of DapE avoids side effects in humans. N,N-dimethyl-SDAP was synthesized and used as a substrate in a modified DapE assay, confirming its potential use as an inhibitor.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Eve Bernet, Marthe Lebughe, Antony T. Vincent, Mohammad Mehdi Haghdoost, Golara Golbaghi, Steven Laplante, Annie Castonguay, Frederic J. Veyrier
Summary: The study suggests that a boron-based salt, sodium tetraphenylborate (NaBPh4), displays high bactericidal activity against Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with limited impact on closely related commensal species. The drug candidate's target(s) are likely located intracellularly or within the cell envelope, and mutants with decreased susceptibility show reduced virulence. This narrow selectivity of NaBPh4 is observed to have potential therapeutic importance.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Emma Ispasanie, Lukas Muri, Anna Schubart, Christine Thorburn, Natasa Zamurovic, Thomas Holbro, Michael Kammuller, Gerd Pluschke
Summary: The study examined the protective effect of vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease in patients treated with alternative pathway inhibitors. The findings suggest that while alternative pathway inhibitors can impact the killing of meningococci, vaccination can still provide protection against invasive disease.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Kochert, Boguslaw P. Nocek, Thahani S. Habeeb Mohammad, Elliot Gild, Kaitlyn Lovato, Tahirah K. Heath, Richard C. Holz, Kenneth W. Olsen, Daniel P. Becker
Summary: The study reported the atomic-resolution X-ray crystal structure of an N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase from Neisseria meningitidis and demonstrated inhibition by sulfate. Molecular dynamics experiments revealed the conformational change of the enzyme from open to closed form when binding substrate.
Article
Immunology
Emma Ispasanie, Lukas Muri, Marc Schmid, Anna Schubart, Christine Thorburn, Natasa Zamurovic, Thomas Holbro, Michael Kammueller, Gerd Pluschke
Summary: Inhibitors of complement components C5 and/or C3 are used to treat diseases caused by dysregulation of complement activation. However, these inhibitors increase the risk of invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis. In this study, the effect of inhibitors targeting different complement pathways on serum bactericidal activity (SBA) against serogroup B meningococci was compared.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chad A. Brambley, Tarah J. Yared, Marriah Gonzalez, Amanda L. Jansch, Jamie R. Wallen, Mitch H. Weiland, Justin M. Miller
Summary: The research has revealed the biodegradation mechanism of PAA in bacteria, providing important clues for further studies in related fields. The structures of PahZ1(KT-1) and PahZ2(KT-1) will facilitate protein engineering efforts to develop novel biodegradation reagents.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Arredondo-Alonso, George Blundell-Hunter, Zuyi Fu, Rebecca A. Gladstone, Alfred Fillol-Salom, Jessica Loraine, Elaine Cloutman-Green, Pal J. Johnsen, Orjan Samuelsen, Anna K. Poentinen, Francois Cleon, Susana Chavez-Bueno, Miguel A. De la Cruz, Miguel A. Ares, Manivanh Vongsouvath, Agnieszka Chmielarczyk, Carolyne Horner, Nigel Klein, Alan McNally, Joice N. Reis, Jose R. Penades, Nicholas R. Thomson, Jukka Corander, Peter W. Taylor, Alex J. McCarthy
Summary: Escherichia coli is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in humans. The study reveals the distribution, evolution, and functions of the K1 capsule, a potent capsule type, in E. coli. The findings emphasize the importance of assessing virulence factors in population levels to predict and control bacterial infections.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Niedzwiecka, Carita Sequeira, Ping Zhang, Chang-Chun Ling
Summary: Bacterial nonulosonic acids are a family of 9-carbon monosaccharides with unique structures that can be used as antigens in vaccinations against drug-resistant bacterial infections. The challenging stereochemistries of these acids have attracted attention from chemists. This work reports an improved synthesis for 2,4-di-N-acetyl-l-altrose, a key hexose for the synthesis of pseudaminic acids, overcoming pitfalls in previous syntheses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Lin, Pin Zhang, Xiaochen Chen, Wei Hu, Mohamed A. Abdel-Samie, Changzhu Li, Haiying Cui
Summary: This study demonstrated that Poly-L-aspartic acid (PASP) can damage Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilms by affecting bacterial adhesion, metabolic activity, and extracellular polymeric substances. The generation of eDNA was reduced by 49.4% after treatment with PASP. Nanoparticles prepared by PASP and hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan showed long-lasting anti-biofilm activity and significant permeation and dispersion effects on biofilms. The sensory properties of chicken breast were not affected by these nanoparticles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Ciocci Pardo, Leandro A. Diaz Zegarra, Luisa F. Gonzalez Arbelaez, Alejandro M. Ibanez, Romina G. Diaz, Ernesto A. Aiello, Susana M. Mosca
Summary: The non-carbonic anhydrase inhibitor N-methylacetazolamide (NMA) was found to protect the myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury. It achieved this by attenuating mitochondrial fission through the calcineurin/Akt/PKCe-dependent pathway, as well as decreasing ICaL current. These findings suggest that NMA has potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Yuxi Huang, Xiao Han, Huan Peng, Xiaohang Wang, Ruijun Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) caused more damage to Streptococcus agalactiae than L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) from the serum of Siganus oramin (SR). Metabolite analysis showed significant differences between SR-LAAO and H2O2-treated S. agalactiae. L-ergothioneine was the most significantly up-regulated amino acid in the H2O2 treatment group, and it was found to up-regulate the expression of SR-LAAO and reduce the mortality of S. agalactiae-challenged zebrafish.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xin Li, Guoqing Chen, Anqi Hu, Yi Xiong, Taiqun Yang, Chaoqun Ma, Lei Li, Hui Gao, Chun Zhu, Yan Zhou, Weinan Guan, Wei Zhang, Zicheng Cai, Binghui Liu, Dong Yang
Summary: In this study, an ingenious method for detecting trace amounts of ascorbic acid (AA) was presented using a fluorescent sensing system. The system was composed of periodate (IO4 ) and nitrogen-boron co-doped carbon dots (N, B-CDs). Highly photoluminescent carbon dots were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method, and the fluorescence of N, B-CDs was statically quenched by IO4 . By pre-adding ascorbic acid, the fluorescence quenching process was inhibited, allowing for the detection of AA with an extremely low limit of detection.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qingyun Luo, Chongshi Wang, Wei Zhu, Hongchao Yu, Chunyan Wang, Chuanhong Chen
Summary: Polymer gel exhibits excellent performances in the treatment of wastewater containing thorium due to its high adsorption capacity and adsorption efficiency. In this study, glutaraldehyde cross-linked N-(4-Aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamic acid modified chitosan (CCS-AGA) was used for the first time to adsorb Th(IV) ions from aqueous solutions. Results from FT-IR and SEM showed the chemical structure and surface morphology of CCS-AGA. The adsorption behavior of CCS-AGA for Th(IV) was accurately predicted by the Langmuir model, with a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 162 mg/g. Moreover, CCS-AGA exhibited excellent reusability and adsorption selectivity for Th(IV).
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yannick Fotio, Roberto Ciccocioppo, Daniele Piomelli
Summary: The study found that NAAA inhibitors can reduce voluntary alcohol intake without affecting water, food, or saccharin consumption. Additionally, NAAA inhibitors also attenuate voluntary alcohol self-administration.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Chao Sui, Dandan Jiang, Xiangju Wu, Sidang Liu, Feng Li, Li Pan, Xiaoyan Cong, Juntong Li, Dongwan Yoo, Daniel L. Rock, Laura C. Miller, Changhee Lee, Yijun Du, Jing Qi
Summary: The leader protease (Lpro) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) promotes viral replication by antagonizing the OAS/RNase L pathway and interfering with the host's innate immune response. This virus-host interaction is species-specific, only detected in swine cells, not in human, monkey, or canine cells. Additionally, Lpro inhibits apoptosis to promote cell survival.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Daria Kowalczykiewicz, Katarzyna Szymanska, Danuta Gillner, Andrzej B. Jarzebski
Summary: A more systematic study of biocatalysts using porous siliceous pellets/enzyme carriers was conducted. MH-OA was found to be the preferred catalyst for hydrolysis reactions, while MH-O was the top choice for esterification reactions.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Kochert, Boguslaw P. Nocek, Thahani S. Habeeb Mohammad, Elliot Gild, Kaitlyn Lovato, Tahirah K. Heath, Richard C. Holz, Kenneth W. Olsen, Daniel P. Becker
Summary: The study reported the atomic-resolution X-ray crystal structure of an N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase from Neisseria meningitidis and demonstrated inhibition by sulfate. Molecular dynamics experiments revealed the conformational change of the enzyme from open to closed form when binding substrate.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Irene R. A. M. Ogutu, Richard C. Holz, Brian Bennett
Summary: Research has shown that an eight amino acid peptide based on the metal binding motif of Co-type nitrile hydratase from Pseudonocardia thermophilia can coordinate Fe(II) under anaerobic conditions. Exposure to air results in the formation of a low-spin Fe(III)-peptide complex, similar to the nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus equi TG328-2.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wasantha Lankathilaka Karunagala Pathiranage, Natalie Gumataotao, Adam T. Fiedler, Richard C. Holz, Brian Bennett
Summary: A new method was employed to trap catalytic intermediate species in Fe-type nitrile hydratase ReNHase. The reaction induced significant changes in EPR spectra, with a previously unobserved signal indicating a catalytically competent intermediate. Density functional theory calculations facilitated the assignment of observed EPR signals, providing new insights into the catalytic mechanism of NHase.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sofia Lemak, M. Anca Serbanescu, Anna N. Khusnutdinova, Milosz Ruszkowski, Natalia Beloglazova, Xiaohui Xu, Greg Brown, Hong Cui, Kemin Tan, Andrzej Joachimiak, Dennis G. Cvitkovitch, Alexei Savchenko, Alexander F. Yakunin
Summary: In this study, the crystal structure of SmuCas5c was determined, revealing its role in processing CRISPR RNA transcripts and its metal-independent ribonuclease activity. The analysis also showed significant sequence variation tolerance of SmuCas5c during substrate RNA cleavage.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Correction
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shibin Chacko, Helena I. M. Boshoff, Vinayak Singh, Davide M. Ferraris, Deviprasad R. Gollapalli, Minjia Zhang, Ana P. Lawson, Michael J. Pepi, Andrzej Joachimiak, Menico Rizzi, Valerie Mizrahi, Gregory D. Cuny, Lizbeth Hedstrom
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leila T. Alexander, Rosalba Lepore, Andriy Kryshtafovych, Athanassios Adamopoulos, Markus Alahuhta, Ann M. Arvin, Yannick J. Bomble, Bettina Bottcher, Cecile Breyton, Valerio Chiarini, Naga Babu Chinnam, Wah Chiu, Krzysztof Fidelis, Rhys Grinter, Gagan D. Gupta, Marcus D. Hartmann, Christopher S. Hayes, Tatjana Heidebrecht, Andrea Ilari, Andrzej Joachimiak, Youngchang Kim, Romain Linares, Andrew L. Lovering, Vladimir V. Lunin, Andrei N. Lupas, Cihan Makbul, Karolina Michalska, John Moult, Prasun K. Mukherjee, William Sam Nutt, Stefan L. Oliver, Anastassis Perrakis, Lucy Stols, John A. Tainer, Maya Topf, Susan E. Tsutakawa, Mauricio Valdivia-Delgado, Torsten Schwede
Summary: The ability to predict protein structures in CASP14 has significantly improved, with many challenging targets modeled accurately. Experimentalists highlighted that computational models can accurately reproduce critical structural features and can guide further studies on biologically-relevant properties of proteins.
PROTEINS-STRUCTURE FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Gyan Modi, Gary M. Marqus, Mohana Rao Vippila, Deviprasad R. Gollapalli, Youngchang Kim, Adhar C. Manna, Shibin Chacko, Natalia Maltseva, Xingyou Wang, Ryan T. Cullinane, Yubo Zhang, Judy L. M. Kotler, Petr Kuzmic, Minjia Zhang, Ann P. Lawson, Andrzej Joachimiak, Ambrose Cheung, Barry B. Snider, David M. Rothstein, Gregory D. Cuny, Lizbeth Hedstrom
Summary: This study identified potent inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus IMPDH with antibacterial activity, but the emergence of resistant strains raises questions about the vulnerability of IMPDH as a target for treating S. aureus infections, suggesting alternative functions of this protein may be involved in infection.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alfa Herrera, Youngchang Kim, Jiexi Chen, Robert Jedrzejczak, Shantanu Shukla, Natalia Maltseva, Grazyna Joachimiak, Lukas Welk, Grant Wiersum, Lukasz Jaroszewski, Adam Godzik, Andrzej Joachimiak, Karla J. F. Satchell
Summary: Alpha-pore-forming toxins (alpha-PFTs) are secreted by various bacteria and can form bi- or tripartite toxins, specifically targeting phagocytic cells.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Franz J. St John, Casey Crooks, Youngchang Kim, Kemin Tan, Andrzej Joachimiak
Summary: This report describes the first X-ray crystallographic structure models of a xylobiohydrolase (XBH) from Acetivibrio clariflavus, shedding light on the high functional specificity of this new bacterial GH30 XBH subfamily.
Article
Cell Biology
Wisath Sae-Lee, Caitlyn L. McCafferty, Eric J. Verbeke, Pierre C. Havugimana, Ophelia Papoulas, Claire D. McWhite, John R. Houser, Kim Vanuytsel, George J. Murphy, Kevin Drew, Andrew Emili, David W. Taylor, Edward M. Marcotte
Summary: This study reveals the proteome and interactome of red blood cells using quantitative mass spectrometry and machine learning, and builds structural models of protein complexes. It provides a comprehensive resource for future research.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marta Przypis, Agata Wawoczny, Danuta Gillner
Summary: The focus on sustainable development and the circular bioeconomy has generated significant interest in the efficient utilization of biomass as a raw material. However, the solubility of lignocellulose or its ingredients is a crucial issue for the transition to bio-based resources. This review explores the latest research on biomass dissolution, emphasizing the use of environmentally friendly solvents such as ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents. The impact of solvent composition and structure on the process of cellulose dissolution, as well as novel approaches involving inorganic salts and specific metal complexes, are also discussed.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Agata Wawoczny, Danuta Gillner
Summary: There is a growing interest in replacing synthetic products and additives with natural ones, especially in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, which focus on natural and bioactive chemicals from plants or microorganisms. The main challenge lies in developing efficient and ecological methods for isolating these substances. Green solvents and environmentally friendly technologies, such as deep eutectic solvents, are promising alternatives to traditional methods.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Karla Diviesti, Glory A. Russell-Parks, Brian G. Trewyn, Richard C. Holz
Summary: Triazine hydrolase TrzN was successfully immobilized on mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSNs), and the TrzN:MSN-10:Chit biomaterial exhibited the best catalytic profile and stability, indicating its potential as a biocatalyst for the bioremediation of atrazine.
ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Ogutu, Richard Holz, Brian Bennett