Article
Polymer Science
Catherine E. Miles, Mariana R. N. Lima, Fatima Buevich, Christine Gwin, N. Sanjeeva Murthy, Joachim Kohn
Summary: The total meniscus replacement scaffold composed of collagen-hyaluronan sponge and poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine dodecyl dodecanedioate) fibers has shown success in supporting functional neo-meniscus tissue in a sheep model, with high biocompatibility. Accelerated degradation studies have provided insights into the degradation mechanism and optimal conditions, essential for the use of this innovative polymer in medical devices.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ziyan Zhang, Kaiming Fan, Yanling Liu, Shengji Xia
Summary: This review systematically summarizes the research progress of polyester and polyester-amide nanofiltration membranes, including the synthesis strategies, property tuning mechanisms, and application advantages. Current challenges and future development directions are also proposed. This review provides guidance for designing high-performance polyester and polyester-amide membranes, thereby further enhancing the efficacy of nanofiltration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jinxing Zhai, Xiaoxiao Li, Birte Svensson, Zhengyu Jin, Yuxiang Bai
Summary: In this study, rice flour (RF) with higher protein content was prepared using a granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme (GSHE). The hydrolytic mechanism of RF and rice starch (RS) was established through characterization of particle size, morphology, crystallinity, and molecular structures. Processability of RF was evaluated through thermal, pasting, and rheological properties. The GSHE treatment resulted in sequential hydrolysis of crystalline and amorphous areas on the starch granule surface, leading to changes in amylose content and protein content in RF. However, the processability of RF was properly maintained.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qianxi Li, Yiran Dong, Qian Zhang, Wei Jia, Xiaoli Cheng
Summary: Soil enzyme activity is regulated by a complex interplay of abiotic (such as soil organic C, total N, and pH) and biotic factors (such as root biomass, microbial biomass). While abiotic factors were more reliable in reflecting spatial patterns of enzyme activity across afforested systems, vegetation-related factors indirectly influenced enzyme activity by regulating soil abiotic factors. The enzymatic C/N ratio within ecosystems did not follow a global pattern, and microbial community composition had a minor impact on enzyme activity compared to soil abiotic factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Hong Wang, Hongpeng Li, Chee Keong Lee, Noreen Suliani Mat Nanyan, Guan Seng Tay
Summary: This article presents the reaction modes of enzyme-catalyzed polyester synthesis and the mechanism of lipase-catalyzed polymerization. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of enzyme-catalyzed polyester synthesis under different solvent systems. Furthermore, it examines the challenges for further industrialization of this method.
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Lina Sun, Ruishu Zhu, Hongmei Hu, Jianyong Yu, Xueli Wang, Liqian Huang, Xiucai Liu
Summary: The yellowing issue of poly(ethylene terephthalate)-co-amide salts was investigated, and an unconventional yellowing mechanism was discovered. The yellowing phenomenon was successfully inhibited by end-capping technology.
TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chris Rader, Christoph Weder, Roger Marti
Summary: The global plastic waste production is increasing steadily, with food packaging being a major area of plastic consumption. The use of PEAs nanocomposites can improve the biodegradability and gas barrier properties of packaging materials.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Jian Zhang, Jie Zhu, Zan Hua, Guang-Ming Liu
Summary: This study investigates the specific ion effects on the enzymatic degradation of polyester plastics using poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as a model biodegradable plastic. The results show that the specific ion effects vary with temperature and ionic strength. The study suggests that the ion-specific enzymatic degradation can be understood by considering the ion-specific cation-anion interaction, ionic dispersion force, salting-out effect and salting-in effect. The findings contribute to the development of new biodegradable and environmentally friendly synthetic plastics.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric L. Young, Armando G. McDonald
Summary: Lignin-based copolymers with thermoplastic behavior were synthesized with properties influenced by lignin content, DAB content, and diacid chain length. AA-based copolyesters/amides were flexible, while SA-based copolyesters/amides were relatively stiff and brittle. Beyond 30 wt.% lignin, the lignin-copolyesters/amides did not exhibit melt behavior, showcasing the potential of utilizing undervalued lignin as a macromonomer for producing sustainable thermoplastic materials.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jinyun Gu, Dandan Wang, Qian Wang, Weiming Liu, Xiaoyi Chen, Xianzhen Li, Fan Yang
Summary: This study reports the properties of a xanthan-degrading enzyme called Mibgl3, isolated from Microbacterium sp. XT11. Mibgl3 shows typical structural features of the GH3 family, but has low sequence identity with other GH3 enzymes. It exhibits a wide pH range tolerance and can be activated by high concentrations of NaCI, making it commercially valuable. Mibgl3 has higher substrate specificity for oligoxanthan and can effectively hydrolyze it to release glucose and glucuronate. This knowledge of Mibgl3's enzymatic properties and hydrolysis mechanism will be beneficial for future applications.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Canyu Zhang, Qingting Li, Tianbin Xu, Wei Li, Yungang He, Hongzhou Gu
Summary: This study identified two new classes of DNA-hydrolyzing deoxyribozymes by programming a terminal hybridization stem, in addition to the previously reported classes, using the old selection strategy. These new deoxyribozymes can specifically hydrolyze DNA in the presence of Zn2+ and may have potential applications in engineering DNA-responsive DNA hydrolyzers for detecting target ssDNA sequences.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mengmei Zhang, Wen Lai, Yuanting Zhu, Shujuan Chen, Kang Zhou, Xiaolin Ao, Li He, Yong Yang, Likou Zou, Aiping Liu, Kai Yao, Shuliang Liu
Summary: A novel esterase produced by Bacillus licheniformis B-1 isolated from tea garden soil was able to effectively degrade cypermethrin, reducing the residue in vegetables under specific treatment conditions.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dandan Liu, Yiting Guo, Junsong Zhu, Weijie Tian, Min Chen, Haile Ma
Summary: Enzymatic hydrolysis of walnut protein to produce walnut peptide with antihypertensive activity may not be necessary, as both walnut protein and walnut hydrolysate demonstrated significant blood pressure lowering effects in in vivo experiments. The mechanism of antihypertensive activities involves regulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the kallikrein-kinin system, as well as endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor and relaxing factors.
Article
Polymer Science
Federico Di Bisceglie, Felice Quartinello, Robert Vielnascher, Georg M. Guebitz, Alessandro Pellis
Summary: Polyurethanes are widely used synthetic polymers in Europe, and their recycling poses a major challenge for the industry. This study investigated the enzymatic hydrolysis of a polyurethane-polyester copolymer to achieve decomposition under milder conditions. The results showed that the enzyme effectively hydrolysed the polymer and reduced its molecular weight, indicating the potential for environmentally friendly recycling strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying Wen, Ning Jing, Min Zhang, Fangjun Huo, Zhuoyu Li, Caixia Yin
Summary: This study developed a new fluorescent probe that can rapidly and selectively detect human carboxylesterase as a potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma, improving the accuracy of diagnosis.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sebastian A. A. Mayr, Nikolaus Schwaiger, Hedda K. K. Weber, Janez Kovac, Georg M. M. Guebitz, Gibson S. S. Nyanhongo
Summary: Enzymatic polymerization of lignin using laccase from a thermophilic fungus successfully produced water-insoluble polymers by coupling a hydrophobicity enhancing fluorophenol molecule onto lignosulfonate. The addition of 2% fluorophenol significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the polymer while reducing its swelling capacity.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Felice Quartinello, Klemens Kremser, Herta Schoen, Donatella Tesei, Leon Ploszczanski, Magdalena Nagler, Sabine M. Podmirseg, Heribert Insam, Guadalupe Pinar, Katja Sterflingler, Doris Ribitsch, Georg M. Guebitz
Summary: Microorganisms from cattle rumen have been found to possess hydrolytic enzymes that can degrade synthetic polyesters, such as PBAT and PEF, which is significant for plastic degradation and recycling. The study demonstrated the hydrolytic activity of rumen fluid on synthetic aromatic polyesters, with dominant bacteria species in the rumen microbiome showing potential for polyester hydrolysis.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sabine Spiess, Jiri Kucera, Hathaichanok Seelajaroen, Amaia Sasiain, Sophie Thallner, Klemens Kremser, David Novak, Georg M. Guebitz, Marianne Haberbauer
Summary: This study investigates the impact of electrode pretreatments on microbial enrichment and composition in bioelectrochemical systems. The results show that electrode pretreatments influence microbial diversity, leading to the enrichment of specific electroactive genera, which in turn affects the system's performance.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jenny Arnling Baath, Vera Novy, Leonor Carneiro, Georg M. Guebitz, Lisbeth Olsson, Peter Westh, Doris Ribitsch
Summary: This study rigorously characterized two almost identical cutinases and demonstrated that even minor sequence differences in cutinases can drastically affect their substrate binding, substrate specificity, and catalytic efficiency.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Martin Nagl, Oskar Haske-Cornelius, Lukas Skopek, Florian Bausch, Alessandro Pellis, Wolfgang Bauer, Gibson S. Nyanhongo, Georg M. Guebitz
Summary: Endoglucanases are potential solutions for reducing energy consumption in the pulp and paper industry, but the performance varies due to the different enzyme formulations. This study investigated the effect of four endoglucanases on softwood and hardwood pulp, revealing that degradation of amorphous regions is beneficial for the refining process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Franziska Steger, Johanna Reich, Werner Fuchs, Simon K. -M. R. Rittmann, Georg M. Guebitz, Doris Ribitsch, Guenther Bochmann
Summary: Strategies for depleting carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gases are urgently needed, and carbonic anhydrases (CAs) can contribute to solving this problem. This current study examines four recombinantly produced CAs from different organisms, namely CAs from Acetobacterium woodii (AwCA or CynT), Persephonella marina (PmCA), Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (MtaCA or Cab), and Sulphurihydrogenibium yellowstonense (SspCA). The highest expression yields and activities were found for AwCA and PmCA. AwCA showed high stability in a mesophilic temperature range, while PmCA proved to be exceptionally thermostable. These results indicate the potential to utilize CAs from anaerobic microorganisms for CO2 sequestration applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastian A. Mayr, Raditya Subagia, Renate Weiss, Nikolaus Schwaiger, Hedda K. Weber, Johannes Leitner, Doris Ribitsch, Gibson S. Nyanhongo, Georg M. Guebitz
Summary: Modification of kraft lignin (KL) typically involves harsh and energy-intensive processes. This study evaluated the potential of the bacterial laccase CotA for oxidizing KL under mild conditions, showing that the origin and purity of KL significantly impact the efficiency of oxidation. Under the tested conditions, it was observed that medium ash content hardwood KL (MA_H) showed the highest susceptibility to CotA oxidation, suggesting a potential method for producing sustainable resins and adhesives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Raphaela Hellmayr, Sabrina Bischof, Jasmin Wuehl, Georg M. Guebitz, Gibson S. Nyanhongo, Nikolaus Schwaiger, Falk Liebner, Rupert Wimmer
Summary: This study investigates the effect of enzymatic polymerization of lignosulfonate on the formulation of a lignosulfonate-based adhesive. The results show that the enzyme-polymerized lignosulfonate adhesive has similar mechanical properties to standard carpenter's glue, but with different failure modes at the bonding area. The pre-polymerization time has an impact on the viscosity and tensile shear strength of the adhesive.
Article
Polymer Science
Federico Di Bisceglie, Felice Quartinello, Robert Vielnascher, Georg M. Guebitz, Alessandro Pellis
Summary: Polyurethanes are widely used synthetic polymers in Europe, and their recycling poses a major challenge for the industry. This study investigated the enzymatic hydrolysis of a polyurethane-polyester copolymer to achieve decomposition under milder conditions. The results showed that the enzyme effectively hydrolysed the polymer and reduced its molecular weight, indicating the potential for environmentally friendly recycling strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
David A. Hueting, Sudarsana R. Vanga, Per-Olof Syren
Summary: In this paper, a hyperstable variant of the terpene cyclase PtmT2 was created using ancestral sequence reconstruction, and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the molecular mechanisms contributing to activity at an elevated temperature and increased melting temperature. The study highlights the importance of loop flexibility in enzyme thermoadaptation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ximena Lopez-Lorenzo, Heba Asem, Arne Stamm, Sathiyaraj Subramaniyan, Minna Hakkarainen, Per-Olof Syren
Summary: This study presents a sustainable method for the synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) through whole-cell mediated synthesis. By introducing the gene of P. thermopropionicum HmfF (PtHmfF) into E. coli, the UbiD-UbiX system is utilized to produce FDCA from 2-furoic acid (FA). The resulting whole-cell system enables the carboxylation of FA under mild conditions for the production of FDCA. Furthermore, enzymatic polycondensation catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is employed to generate FDCA-based biopolymers using enzymatically produced FDCA.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bernd A. Nebel, Michael Breuer, Andreas Schneider, Benjamin Aberle, Stephan C. Hammer, Per-Olof Syren, Martin J. Weissenborn, Bettina M. Nestl
Summary: This article reflects on Professor Bernhard Hauer's distinguished career in biocatalysis and highlights his contributions to the application and development of enzymes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sathiyaraj Subramaniyan, Nasim Najjarzadeh, Sudarsana Reddy Vanga, Anna Liguori, Per-Olof Syren, Minna Hakkarainen
Summary: Bio-based plastics have the potential to positively impact the environment, but to make a difference, they need to be managed and sustainably recycled. Chemical, mechanical, and/or organic recycling should be considered from the start. In this study, we synthesized vanillin-derived Schiff base monomers and corresponding polymers, which showed potential for chemical recycling and enzymatic degradation by PETase.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boyang Guo, Ximena Lopez-Lorenzo, Yuan Fang, Eva Backstrom, Antonio Jose Capezza, Sudarsan Reddy Vanga, Istvan Furo, Minna Hakkarainen, Per-Olof Syren
Summary: Recycling plastics is crucial for achieving a sustainable materials economy. Biocatalytic degradation of plastics using microwave irradiation as a pre-treatment process, followed by enzymatic reaction, shows promising results in improving substrate accessibility and increasing conversion yield.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Renate Weiss, Sebastian Gritsch, Guenter Brader, Branislav Nikolic, Marc Spiller, Julia Santolin, Hedda K. Weber, Nikolaus Schwaiger, Sylvain Pluchon, Kristin Dietel, Georg Guebitz, Gibson Nyanhongo
Summary: Bioactive coatings based on lignosulfonate and developed using laccase as a biocatalyst were successfully created to improve soil for lawns. The addition of glycerol, xylitol, and sorbitol as plasticizers helped reduce brittleness in the coatings, while thermal enzyme inactivation at 100 degrees Celsius enabled stable coating production. The incorporation of beneficial microorganisms and the ability to reduce CO2 emissions make these coatings a promising alternative to fossil-based options.
