Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evgeniy Protasov, Michael Martinov, Elena Sinauridze, Victor Vitvitsky, Fazoil Ataullakhanov
Summary: A mathematical model was constructed to analyze the energy metabolism in erythrocyte-bioreactors containing alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. These erythrocytes can convert ethanol to acetate and potentially be used for alcohol intoxication treatment. The analysis revealed that the rate of ethanol consumption by the erythrocyte-bioreactors increases until a specific threshold level of enzyme activity is reached. Beyond this threshold, the model switches to an oscillation mode, leading to the accumulation of glycolytic intermediates and the destruction of erythrocyte-bioreactors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Victor. K. K. Sharma, Kylee. J. J. Cosse, Thomas. P. P. Binder, Jeffrey. S. S. McFarlane, Alan. M. M. Allgeier
Summary: In this study, furfuryl alcohol (FOL) was biocatalytically produced from biomass-derived furfural (FAL) using ethanol (EtOH) as the terminal reductant, employing NAD(P)H-dependent yeast alcohol dehydrogenase I (YADH) as the catalyst. The conversion of FAL to FOL reached up to 74% under pH 8 with initial FAL and EtOH concentrations of 40 mM and 160 mM, respectively. This research lays the foundation for developing alternative processes to biomass-derived ethanol.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Samantha Nunez, Maria Barra, Daniel Garrido
Summary: In this study, a molecular quantification method of free fucose was designed and developed using fluorescent Escherichia coli. The molecular circuit showed specificity against other monosaccharides and exhibited a linear response in the range of 0-45 mM. The biosensor was successfully tested on different concentrations of free fucose and the supernatant of Bifidobacterium bifidum JCM 1254, indicating its applicability in detecting free fucose.
Article
Biology
Wenxin Hu, Zhiming Wang, Hongjin Zheng
Summary: The study describes the structure of a bacterial MscS-like channel, YnaI, in its closed state, highlighting the membrane sensor paddle domain and lipid pockets' important roles in mechanosensitive channels.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Gita Naseri, Hannah Raasch, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Marc Erhardt
Summary: In this study, a set of arabinose-inducible artificial transcription factors (ATFs) were developed using CRISPR/dCas9 and Arabidopsis-derived DNA-binding proteins to control gene expression in E. coli and Salmonella over a wide range of inducer concentrations. The transcriptional output of the ATFs varied greatly, particularly in Salmonella strains rewired for arabinose catabolism. The developed ATFs were used to engineer a Salmonella biosensor strain and regulate beta-carotene biosynthesis in E. coli, resulting in significantly higher production compared to traditional methods.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Shiheng Liu, Xian Xia, James Zhen, Zihang Li, Z. Hong Zhou
Summary: This study reports the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the endogenous 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC) and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) cores from bovine kidney, and provides a direct structural comparison between them. The study reveals distinct interdomain and intertrimer interactions of the OGDC and PDC E2 cores, which may serve as a means of regulating self-assembly to mitigate heterologous binding.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ibrahim S. Al'Abri, Daniel J. Haller, Zidan Li, Nathan Crook
Summary: Directed evolution is a powerful method for engineering biology without detailed sequence-function relationships. To address the evolution of multigene pathways, the Inducible Directed Evolution (IDE) approach was developed and successfully applied in accelerating tagatose catabolism and improving utilization of melezitose in E. coli.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kazane Sugiyama, Kana Iijima, Miyako Yoshino, Hideo Dohra, Yuji Tokimoto, Koji Nishikawa, Hideaki Idogaki, Nobuyuki Yoshida
Summary: Fructobacillus, a genus of lactic acid bacteria, was found to have the potential for producing NMN and NR, which are important for nutraceutical applications. Draft genome sequencing suggested that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase plays a key role in NMN and NR production in these fructophilic bacteria.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helmut Hirt, Kerryl E. Greenwood-Quaintance, Aaron M. T. Barnes, Melissa J. Karau, Lisa M. Till, Elise Palzer, Weihua Guan, Michael S. VanNieuwenhze, Purna C. Kashyap, Robin Patel, Gary M. Dunny
Summary: Microbial communities protect their hosts by excluding pathogenic invaders, and plasmid transfer and effects on host colonization of Enterococcus faecalis in the intestinal tract of mice play a key role in this process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongjiang Liu, Mark A. Arbing, James U. Bowie
Summary: The article demonstrates the conversion of ethanol into acetyl-CoA and ATP using a cell-free system, as well as the production of acetone as a byproduct. This process has the potential to produce diverse chemicals from ethanol and other simple carbon compounds.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patricia Amara, Claire Saragaglia, Jean-Marie Mouesca, Lydie Martin, Yvain Nicolet
Summary: This study reports the crystal structure of ThiH and its substrate L-tyrosine, revealing an unexpected protonation state and a tunneling effect that lowers the reaction energy barrier. Structural comparison with NosL and computational studies show that subtle structural changes between the two enzymes affect the difference in reaction specificity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Antonio Valle, Anouar Hailaf, Alvaro Ceballos, Domingo Cantero, Jorge Bolivar
Summary: The combustion of fossil fuels is causing global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen (H-2) is a clean and sustainable energy source, which can be produced by modifying Escherichia coli through metabolic engineering. Malate plays a crucial role in H-2 synthesis, and redirecting C-flux from malate to H-2 can increase production efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li Wang, Leilei Wang, Ruiming Wang, Zhaoyun Wang, Junqing Wang, Haibo Yuan, Jing Su, Yan Li, Suzhen Yang, Tingting Han
Summary: In this study, we improved the biosynthesis of 10-HDA by optimizing reaction conditions and gene overexpression. The conversion rate and yield of the product were significantly increased. The findings are of great significance for promoting the production of 10-HDA and other alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Joanne Hothersall, Alexander Osgerby, Rita E. Godfrey, Tim W. Overton, Stephen J. W. Busby, Douglas F. Browning
Summary: A novel urea-inducible recombinant protein production system has been developed, utilizing the Proteus mirabilis urease ureR-ureD promoter region and ureR AraC-family transcriptional regulator. The system allows tight regulation of promoter activity with up to 100-fold induction by varying urea concentration, showcasing potential for cost reduction in large-scale protein production. Exploiting temperature and different urea concentrations, the system can fine-tune expression levels for proteins of biopharmaceutical interest, demonstrating versatility and efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mian A. Ali, Graziela C. Sedenho, Jessica C. Pacheco, Rodrigo M. Iost, Asma Rahman, Ayaz Hassan, Daniel R. Cardoso, Roberto S. Gomes, Frank N. Crespilho
Summary: In this study, a membraneless and metal-free ethanol-O2 biofuel cell was developed, which operates efficiently with a redox-active quinone-based catalyst, providing renewable electricity at a lower cost.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2022)