Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zuying Zhang, Wenchao Chen, Liu Tao, Xixing Wei, Lingling Gao, Yadi Gao, Jinwei Suo, Weiwu Yu, Yuanyuan Hu, Baoru Yang, Huifeng Jiang, Mohamed A. Farag, Jiasheng Wu, Lili Song
Summary: Exogenous ethylene treatment significantly increased the levels of amino acids, especially umami amino acids, in Torreya grandis nuts. Glutamic and aspartic acids showed a 1.9-fold and 2.1-fold increase, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of genes involved in alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. RT-qPCR confirmed upregulation of biosynthesis genes (TgGOGAT1, TgAATC1, TgAATC4) and suppression of degradation enzymes (TgGS2, TgGAD1, TgGAD3, TgASNS1) after ethylene treatment. Ethylene treatment appears to enhance umami taste-active amino acids and improve the quality of T. grandis nuts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Tyler Nelson, Mark R. Charbonneau, Heidi G. Coia, Mary J. Castillo, Corey Holt, Eric S. Greenwood, Peter J. Robinson, Elaine A. Merrill, David Lubkowicz, Camilla A. Mauzy
Summary: Engineered bacteria, or synthetic biotics, utilize synthetic biology tools for therapeutic purposes and require translational testing to predict their function in the human body. Gut-on-a-chip microfluidics technology allows for characterization of strain function within a simulated human gastrointestinal tract, providing a framework to predict the function of candidate strains in vivo.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Normando Ribeiro-Filho, Charfedinne Ayed, Patchaniya Akepach
Summary: This study investigated the effect of single amino acids on the pH and buffering capacity of brewing wort. Results showed that aspartic acid demonstrated the best buffering capacity among all amino acids.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sahabaj Mondal, Surajit Singh, Ananda Shit, Santosh Kumar, Debasish Haldar
Summary: The tryptophan-mediated photo cleavage of disulfide bonds and resulting defibrillation process has been demonstrated. A supramolecular fiber-like network structure is formed through the self-assembly of dibenzyloxycarbonyl-L-cystine by non-covalent interactions, resulting in a hydrogel. The hydrogel shows thixotropic properties and is responsive to heat and pH. However, UV irradiation leads to disulfide bond cleavage, causing defibrillation and a gel-to-sol transition. The fiber exhibits amyloid-like structure and positive results in the Congo red assay.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lucas dos Reis Izolan, Solange Bandiera, Rianne Remus Pulcinelli, Mauricio Schuler Nin, Felipe Borges Almeida, Douglas Marques, Fernada Urruth Fontella, Roberto Farina de Almeida, Mirna Bainy Leal, Rosane Gomez
Summary: A low-cost apparatus for rodent exposure to cigarette smoke was presented, showing reliable replication of human cigarette smoke use. The study's findings on the effects of cigarette smoke on the central nervous system have significant implications and provide a feasible and safe alternative to expensive commercial equipment.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthias Rohmer, Jan Freudenberg, Wolfgang Hubertus Binder
Summary: The secondary structure of poly(amino acids) is a useful tool for studying proteins. This article discusses the secondary structures of homopolymers made from glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, and reviews factors such as side groups, solvent interactions, and chain interactions. The folding of hybrid-polymers, which consist of both oligo(amino acids) and synthetic polymers, is also explored. This overview is part of a larger study on protein fibrillation and supramolecular polymers, and provides insights into amyloid fibrillation, which is crucial for the design of biomolecules.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Marja K. Puurunen, Jerry Vockley, Shawn L. Searle, Stephanie J. Sacharow, John A. Phillips, William S. Denney, Benjamin D. Goodlett, David A. Wagner, Larry Blankstein, Mary J. Castillo, Mark R. Charbonneau, Vincent M. Isabella, Vasu V. Sethuraman, Richard J. Riese, Caroline B. Kurtz, Aoife M. Brennan
Summary: The engineered E. coli strain SYNB1618 shows potential for the treatment of PKU, as it was safe and well tolerated in a phase 1/2a clinical trial with both healthy volunteers and PKU patients. The study demonstrated dose-responsive increases in strain-specific Phe metabolites in plasma and urine, supporting the proof of concept for using engineered bacteria in the treatment of rare metabolic disorders.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hafiza Iqra Almas, Zaib Un-Nisa, Sumera Anwar, Abida Kausar, Fozia Farhat, Muneeb Munawar, Raziah Khalizadieh
Summary: The foliar spray of 0.02% Met significantly improved growth and yield parameters under 6 dS/m stress condition. The combination of 0.02% Met + 0.02% Phe increased carotenoid contents, total carbohydrates, total free amino acids, proline contents, while reducing lipid peroxidation rate and electrolyte leakage compared to salt-treated plants alone. The foliar application of Met and Phe enhanced plasma membrane stability, osmolyte contents, and antioxidative enzyme activity in tomato plants, indicating that it effectively mitigated the harmful effects of salinity and increased tomato yield.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Laura E. Martinez-Gomez, Isabel Ibarra-Gonzalez, Cynthia Fernandez-Lainez, Teresa Tusie, Hortensia Moreno-Macias, Carlos Martinez-Armenta, Guadalupe Elizabeth Jimenez-Gutierrez, Paola Vazquez-Cardenas, Patricia Vidal-Vazquez, Juan P. Ramirez-Hinojosa, Ana P. Rodriguez-Zulueta, Gilberto Vargas-Alarcon, Gustavo Rojas-Velasco, Fausto Sanchez-Munoz, Rosalinda Posadas-Sanchez, Felipe de J. Martinez-Ruiz, Dulce M. Zayago-Angeles, Mariana L. Moreno, Edith Barajas-Galicia, Gerardo Lopez-Cisneros, Nadia C. Gonzalez-Fernandez, Silvestre Ortega-Pena, Brigida Herrera-Lopez, Jessel Olea-Torres, Manuel Juarez-Arias, Maritza Rosas-Vasquez, Sara Aileen Cabrera-Nieto, Jonathan J. Magana, Maria del Carmen Camacho-Rea, Carlos Suarez-Ahedo, Irma Coronado-Zarco, M. Y. Valdespino-Vazquez, Gabriela Angelica Martinez-Nava, Carlos Pineda, Marcela Vela-Amieva, Alberto Lopez-Reyes
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the profile of amino acids and acylcarnitines in COVID-19 patients. The findings suggest that metabolic imbalance may affect disease progression in COVID-19 patients, and phenylalanine may serve as a potential metabolic biomarker for evaluating disease severity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liuzhu Wang, Shiqing Diao, Yangyang Sun, Shuiqin Jiang, Yan Liu, Hualei Wang, Dongzhi Wei
Summary: A dual cofactor-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase was identified in this study to improve the cofactor utilization efficiency in whole-cell catalysis by changing its substrate specificity. By constructing a three-enzyme co-expression system and using high concentration of starting material, a high yield of product can be obtained efficiently.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Chenxi Wu, Lance T. Hall, David C. Brandon
Summary: An 82-year-old man underwent outpatient nuclear medicine gastric-emptying scintigraphy for dysphagia and regurgitation. The scintigraphy showed delayed gastric emptying but subsequent CT scan and upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy revealed normal stomach size and function, with an enormously dilated esophagus indicating achalasia. It is important to pay attention to the location and shape of the visualized stomach and recognize that a significantly dilated esophagus can mimic an elongated stomach during scintigraphy.
CLINICAL NUCLEAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Raj K. Goyal
Summary: Research shows that gastric emptying abnormalities in diabetes can lead to postprandial dyspepsia and impaired plasma glucose regulation. Treatment should address whether the emptying is delayed or rapid.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Iris Scala, Daniela Concolino, Anna Nastasi, Giulia Esposito, Daniela Crisci, Simona Sestito, Stefania Ferraro, Lucia Albano, Margherita Ruoppolo, Giancarlo Parenti, Pietro Strisciuglio
Summary: The study demonstrates that the use of slow-release large neutral amino acids (srLNAAs) can effectively prevent an increase in Phe levels following a Phe dietary load, maintaining stable plasma Phe levels. This method can increase tyrosine levels and decrease the Phe/Tyrosine ratio during acute oral Phe loads, with no adverse events reported.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Lihong Yang, Gang Wang, Tonggui Liu, Ye Wan, Haoyi Peng, Lijian Leng, Qifan Zhong
Summary: Amino acids, such as phenylalanine, are important constituents in biomass and their pyrolysis mechanisms were studied through experiments and simulations. Both inorganic and organic compounds were found as gaseous products, with peak concentrations observed at certain temperatures. New reaction pathways were identified in addition to the previously known pyrolysis mechanisms.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mariangela Rondanelli, Francesco Porta, Clara Gasparri, Gaetan Claude Barrile, Alessandro Cavioni, Francesca Mansueto, Giuseppe Mazzola, Zaira Patelli, Gabriella Peroni, Martina Pirola, Claudia Razza, Alice Tartara, Simone Perna
Summary: Early dietary treatment is crucial for patients with phenylketonuria to protect their brain. Transition from pediatric to adult care is challenging, with many patients discontinuing diet or being lost at follow-up. This review aims to evaluate dietary treatment for adults and provide a food pyramid for this population.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)