Article
Microbiology
Cheng-Zhen Wang, Xun Gao, Qi-Wen Yang, Lu-Chao Lv, Miao Wan, Jun Yang, Zhong-Peng Cai, Jian-Hua Liu
Summary: The study identified a novel mobile gene cluster, tmexCD2-toprJ2, present in Raoultella ornithinolytica, which confers resistance to multiple antimicrobials and may have originated from a Pseudomonas species. The expression of tmexCD2-toprJ2 in Escherichia coli resulted in increased resistance to tigecycline and decreased susceptibility to other antimicrobials. Genetic context analyses demonstrated that tmexCD2-toprJ2 might have been captured and mobilized by a XerD-like tyrosine recombinase system.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatsuya Kondo, Yui Nakamura, Shingo Nojima, Min Yao, Tomoya Imai
Summary: Cellulose synthase plays two distinct roles in the synthesis and crystallization of cellulose chains. The study reveals that the crystallization subunit BcsD interacts with the polymerization complex BcsAB through direct protein-protein interactions and indirect interactions mediated by the cellulose product. This dynamic behavior of BcsD protein regulates the cellulose crystallization process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laure Ayme, Agnes Hebert, Bernard Henrissat, Vincent Lombard, Nathalie Franche, Stephanie Perret, Etienne Jourdier, Senta Heiss-Blanquet
Summary: The study identified six GH9 enzymes from a compost metagenome and characterized three of them, revealing their diverse structures and functional characteristics. These enzymes play a crucial role in bacterial biomass deconstruction.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guohui Li, Li Wang, Yu Deng, Qufu Wei
Summary: This review summarizes 30 cellulose-producing bacteria, discussing their physiological functions, metabolic synthesis mechanisms, and cellulose synthases, providing a reference for the exploration of new cellulose-producing microbes.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rui Ding, Laipeng Luo, Ruixiang Han, Meiling Zhang, Tingting Li, Jihui Tang, Shenghai Huang, Jiong Hong
Summary: The bioflocculant-producing strain Raoultella ornithinolytica 160-1 efficiently produced EPS-160 with a yield of 10.01 g/(L.d) after optimization, showing over 90% flocculation activity with the aid of Al(III). The combination of EPS-160 and AlCl3 demonstrated improved flocculation ability and turbidity elimination during kaolin suspensions and wastewater treatment, making it a promising option for various applications.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Anurakti Shukla, Ankita Gupta, Sudhakar Srivastava
Summary: The present study investigated the effects of individual microbes and their consortium on growth and responses of rice plants under As stress. The results showed that the bacterial consortium significantly improved the growth and biomass accumulation of rice plants, and reduced the level of malondialdehyde. Sulfur metabolism and cell wall synthesis were stimulated by bacterial and thiourea amendments, leading to a reduction in As concentration. The bacterial consortium proved to be more effective than the combined treatment with thiourea.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Agata Sommer, Hanna Staroszczyk
Summary: This study compared the properties of disintegrated bacterial cellulose before and after freeze-drying, as well as its nanocrystals obtained using H2SO4 under different time and concentration conditions. The results showed that nanocrystals obtained with 30% acid had a similar structure to the parent cellulose, while nanocrystals obtained with 65% acid showed allomorphic transformation and cellulose sulfates formation. Nanocrystals obtained with 30% acid, as well as native bacterial cellulose, ensured the high stability of O/W emulsion containing up to 20% olive oil due to their strong surface charge density from negatively charged sulfate groups.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melina Shamshoum, Filipe Natalio
Summary: Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are important enzymes that catalyze the formation of glycosidic bonds between donor and acceptor molecules. In this study, it was found that bacterial cellulose and chitin synthases share a conserved active site motif, despite their low sequence and structural similarities. This discovery challenges the current understanding that these enzymes are substrate specific, and opens up new possibilities for future experimental assessments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaine Ferrareis Menegasso, Nayara Alves Celinca Moraes, Tatiana Pineda Vasquez, Francielly Andressa Felipetti, Regina Vasconcellos Antonio, Rafael Cypriano Dutra
Summary: This study investigated the effects of bacterial cellulose hydrogel incorporated into montmorillonite on skin wound healing in a mouse model of pressure injury. The results showed that the BCH-MMT treated group exhibited significant healing effects, including reduced redness and pain, decreased inflammatory cell levels, and complete epidermis re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Yvonne Gmach, Daniel Van Opdenbosch
Summary: In this study, oriented bacterial cellulose was prepared from Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans through rheotactic growth in a simple and adaptable setup. The resulting materials were evaluated for their properties, showing differences in toughness due to structural and mechanical anisotropies. This work also discusses the limits of achievable structural alignment in bacterial cellulose and the correlation between crystallinity and disorder in the crystalline phase.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shen Song, Xiaoyuan Liu, Ling Ding, Mohamed Aamer Abubaker, Ji Zhang, Yulong Huang, Shengrong Yang, Zengjie Fan
Summary: The study prepared a water-soluble bacterial cellulose sulfate using sulfur trioxide pyridine complex and bacterial cellulose, which exhibited shear thinning behavior and temperature-sensitive weak elastic gel characteristics based on rheological properties. The modified bacterial cellulose existed in linear polymer form in aqueous solution and could potentially be used as a renewable material in the field of biological tissue engineering.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Evandro A. Araujo, Artur Hermano Sampaio Dias, Marco A. S. Kadowaki, Vasily Piyadov, Vanessa O. A. Pellegrini, Mateus B. Urio, Luiz P. Ramos, Munir S. Skaf, Igor Polikarpov
Summary: Processive cellulases like BlCel48B from Bacillus licheniformis are efficient molecular engines that break down cellulose, with their enzymatic properties impacted by cellulose size and surface morphology. Structural analysis and molecular dynamics reveal the critical role of co-evolved residues in the active site in stabilizing ligands in the catalytic tunnel, providing mechanistic insights into activity and substrate binding of BlCel48B.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Amjad Farooq, Mengmeng Li, Abeer Alasood, Aamir Farooq, Muhammad Ashraf, Mohammed Kayes Patoary, Lifang Liu
Summary: This study explored the pretreatment of Ficus natalensis barkcloth cellulose (FNBC) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for cellulose nanofibril (CNF) production. Results showed that DMSO pretreatment induced significant morphological changes and structural disruption in FNBC, leading to increased crystallinity and thermal stability. The study suggested that F. natalensis barkcloth could serve as an alternative source of cellulose for various industrial applications.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Penghui Li, Xin Wang, Chunchun Zhang, Dingguo Xu
Summary: This study investigates the processive binding mechanism of cellulase family 9 (Cel9G) to polysaccharides. The simulations reveal that the binding of the cellulose chain exhibits several local minima, which are influenced by the CH/pi interactions between sugar rings and aromatic residues. Y520 is found to be critical for processive binding, and the straight-line morphology of the substrate is observed after the formation of the slide mode. The study proposes a four-step catalytic cycle for Cel9G.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Qi Li, Yufei Zhang, Zengshe Liu, Shilin Liu, Fenghong Huang, Mingming Zheng
Summary: In this study, functional oil/water Pickering emulsions with excellent photocatalytic activity were prepared by adsorbing nano-titanium oxide into bacterial cellulose. The hybrid structure enhanced the interfacial diffusion rate and mechanical strength of the emulsion system. The photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants was faster in the emulsion system compared to traditional suspension.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lucas Miranda Fonseca, Lucas Salera Parreiras, Mario Tyago Murakami
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camila R. Santos, Pedro A. C. R. Costa, Plinio S. Vieira, Sinkler E. T. Gonzalez, Thamy L. R. Correa, Evandro A. Lima, Fernanda Mandelli, Renan A. S. Pirolla, Mariane N. Domingues, Lucelia Cabral, Marcele P. Martins, Rosa L. Cordeiro, Atilio T. Junior, Beatriz P. Souza, Erica T. Prates, Fabio C. Gozzo, Gabriela F. Persinoti, Munir S. Skaf, Mario T. Murakami
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Renato M. Domingos, Raphael D. Teixeira, Ari Zeida, William A. Agudelo, Thiago G. P. Alegria, Jose F. da Silva Neto, Plinio S. Vieira, Mario T. Murakami, Chuck S. Farah, Dario A. Estrin, Luis E. S. Netto
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ricardo Rodrigues de Melo, Evandro Antonio de Lima, Gabriela Felix Persinoti, Plinio Salmazo Vieira, Amanda Silva de Sousa, Leticia Maria Zanphorlin, Priscila Oliveira de Giuseppe, Roberto Ruller, Mario Tyago Murakami
Summary: The cold-adapted endo-beta-1,4-glucanase XacCel8 has unique features such as activity at near-neutral pH and a broad temperature range, stimulation by cobalt ions, and potential application in caffeine extraction from guarana seeds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariana A. B. Morais, Joan Coines, Mariane N. Domingues, Renan A. S. Pirolla, Celisa C. C. Tonoli, Camila R. Santos, Jessica B. L. Correa, Fabio C. Gozzo, Carme Rovira, Mario T. Murakami
Summary: Family 43 glycoside hydrolases (GH43) are involved in the breakdown of hemicellulose. Functional, structural and computational characterization of a GH43 enzyme, including a snapshot of an active Michaelis complex, reveal the hydrolysis mechanism and suggest two possible reaction pathways.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Valeria R. Turowski, Diego M. Ruiz, Andrey F. Z. Nascimento, Claudia Millan, Massimo D. Sammito, Judith Juanhuix, Aline Sampaio Cremonesi, Isabel Uson, Priscila O. Giuseppe, Mario T. Murakami
Summary: The study revealed potential differences in cargo selection and recognition mechanisms of plant-specific myosins MyoXIs compared to those of animals and fungi, with the unique alpha 5-alpha 6 loop in the GTD potentially serving a structural stabilizing role.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Youssef Bacila Sade, Camila Silva Goncalves, Sandra Mara Naressi Scapin, Guilherme Luiz Pinheiro, Roberto Becht Flatschart, Wanderley de Souza, Norton Heise, Ednildo de Alcantara Machado
Summary: This study reports the identification and characterization of a novel endoglucanase AfEG66 from the snail Achatina fulica, which shows high activity and stability against polysaccharide substrates, contributing to the improvement of production efficiency of green fuels.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
V. R. Flores, L. C. Berbert, J. B. Succar, C. P. Victorio, I. C. N. Direito, A. M. Cardoso
Summary: This study analyzed toxic metals in black mangrove leaves and marine sediment samples to measure contamination levels and demonstrate the potential of Avicennia schaueriana leaves as bioindicators of environmental pollution. The research found high concentrations of manganese in the leaves and suggested that A. schaueriana can be used as a phytoremediator for this toxic metal in impacted coastal environments. The study reported the first utilization of Avicennia schaueriana as an efficient accumulator for manganese.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Plinio S. Vieira, Isabela M. Bonfim, Evandro A. Araujo, Ricardo R. Melo, Augusto R. Lima, Melissa R. Fessel, Douglas A. A. Paixao, Gabriela F. Persinoti, Silvana A. Rocco, Tatiani B. Lima, Renan A. S. Pirolla, Mariana A. B. Morais, Jessica B. L. Correa, Leticia M. Zanphorlin, Jose A. Diogo, Evandro A. Lima, Adriana Grandis, Marcos S. Buckeridge, Fabio C. Gozzo, Celso E. Benedetti, Igor Polikarpov, Priscila O. Giuseppe, Mario T. Murakami
Summary: Xyloglucans are polysaccharides found in plant cell walls. The phytopathogenic Xanthomonas bacteria have a xyloglucan depolymerization machinery, and the sugars released by this system induce the expression of key virulence factors driving pathogenesis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alexander M. Cardoso, Carlos V. F. da Silva, Rodolpho M. Albano, Vania L. M. Padua
Summary: The current knowledge of bean plant microbiome is incomplete, with different bacterial communities found in the rhizosphere and bulk soils, as well as variations in bacterial community structures among different bean cultivars. The biofortified common bean cultivar may have the ability to select and maintain differential abundances of microbial groups in the rhizosphere environment.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana Abrahao Bueno Morais, Joice Helena Paiva, Mario Tyago Murakami
Summary: Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are independently folded domains associated with carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). The high-resolution SAD-solved structure of a CBM from family 3 (BsCBM3) that binds to crystalline cellulose is reported, showing molecular plasticity and structural differences between crystalline forms. Variations in the cellulose binding interface were observed, supporting the idea that family 3 CBMs are structurally dynamic and suggesting a role in polysaccharide recognition and enzyme activity modulation.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kayo Bianco, Beatriz Oliveira de Farias, Andressa Silva Goncalves-Brito, Ana Paula Alves do Nascimento, Mariana Magaldi, Kaylanne Montenegro, Claudia Flores, Samara Oliveira, Mychelle Alves Monteiro, Bernardete Ferraz Spisso, Mararlene Ulberg Pereira, Rosana Gomes Ferreira, Rodolpho Mattos Albano, Alexander Machado Cardoso, Maysa Mandetta Clementino
Summary: This study evaluated antimicrobial residues, bacterial diversity, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in two important watersheds and tap water samples in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The presence of various antimicrobial residues and a wide range of ARGs was observed in the water sources. Specific bacterial populations and multiple antibiotic resistance genes were also detected. The study emphasizes the need to reduce the discharge of antibiotics and other pollutants to prevent potential negative impacts on human health.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Priscila O. Giuseppe, Isabela M. Bonfim, Mario T. Murakami
Summary: Xanthomonas plant pathogens have developed sophisticated strategies to overcome plant defenses using multiple secretion systems and virulence factors. They possess a diverse repertoire of Carbohydrate-Active enzymes (CAZymes) that not only enable them to utilize complex plant carbohydrates, but also play important roles in virulence and bacterial lifestyle. These CAZymes are often organized in multienzymatic systems similar to Bacteroidetes' Polysaccharide Utilization Loci (PUL) known as CUT systems. Xanthomonas bacteria also produce distinct exopolysaccharides, such as xanthan gum, associated with biofilm formation.
ESSAYS IN BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V. R. Bevilaqua, Mariele C. Carvalho, Gabriel F. Pelentir, Atilio Tomazini, Mario Murakami, Vadim R. Viviani
Summary: The study demonstrated that deletion of the C-terminal domain significantly affected the overall bioluminescence activities and slightly impacted the oxidative activities of luciferases. The results indicated that the C-terminal plays a crucial role in shielding the active site during the light emitting step, contributing to the adenylation reaction and bioluminescence coloration.
PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin Davis, Keri Backus, Georg Winter, Roberto Chica, Dan Li, Sang Yup Lee, Chuan He, Amy Weeks, Christopher Overall, Shinya Hagihara, Ben Thuronyi, Siddhesh Kamat, Ling-Ling Chen, Ramon Hurtado Guerrero, Shao Yao, Lara K. Mahal, Christopher Voigt, Christina Woo, Erick Strauss, Kazuya Kikuchi, Timothy Dore, Sheena Radford, Xiang David Li, Won Do Heo, Giulio Superti-Furga, Tara Deans, Vsevolod Belousov, Megan Matthews, Colin Jackson, Shiva Malek, Herbert Waldmann, Anna Rising, Michael Jewett, Dimitrios Stamou, Emily Parker, Mario Murakami, Karen Polizzi, Itaru Hamachi, Tobias Erb, Chirlmin Joo, Motonari Uesugi, Rab Prinjha, Gidi Rechavi, Roberto Solano, Brenda Schulman, Yael David, Rob Oslund
Summary: In the last five years, the most exciting research achievements or technological innovations in chemical biology have garnered attention from many chemical biologists.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)