Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luisana Avilan, Bruce R. Lichtenstein, Gerhard Koenig, Michael Zahn, Mark D. Allen, Liliana Oliveira, Matilda Clark, Victoria Bemmer, Rosie Graham, Harry P. Austin, Graham Dominick, Christopher W. Johnson, Gregg T. Beckham, John E. McGeehan, Andrew R. Pickford
Summary: Enzyme-based depolymerization is a viable approach for recycling PET, but the concentration-dependent inhibition of IsPETase hinders its effectiveness. This study finds that the inhibition depends on incubation time, solution conditions, and PET surface area. Furthermore, this inhibition is also observed in other mesophilic PET-degrading enzymes, but not in the highly thermostable HotPETase. This work highlights the limitations of using natural mesophilic hydrolases for PET hydrolysis and the potential benefits of enhancing their thermostability.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sven M. Lange, Lee A. Armstrong, Yogesh Kulathu
Summary: This review summarizes the multiple layers of regulation that control autoinhibition, activation, and substrate specificity of DUBs. It discusses different strategies to inhibit DUBs and the progress in developing selective small-molecule DUB inhibitors. It also proposes a classification system of DUB inhibitors based on their mode of action.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ibrahim Yildiz, Banu Sizirici Yildiz
Summary: Notum is a crucial enzyme in the Wnt signaling pathway, and its inhibition has therapeutic effects on diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. This study focuses on the proposed irreversible inhibition mechanism using esters of 4-(indolin-1-yl)-4-oxobutanoic acid. The computational analysis provides insights into the transesterification and hydrolysis steps, as well as the role of active-site residues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oliwia Degorska, Daria Szada, Teofil Jesionowski, Jakub Zdarta
Summary: Due to the importance of synthesizing APIs in enantiomerically pure form, new methods of asymmetric synthesis are being sought. Biocatalysis is a promising technique that can lead to enantiomerically pure products. In this study, lipase immobilized on modified silica nanoparticles was used to achieve kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of 3H3P, with the most suitable IL being [BMIM]Cl.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladimir Kren, Wolfgang Kroutil, Melanie Hall
Summary: Kurt Faber, a synthetic organic chemist, has made significant contributions to the field of biocatalysis. His work has recognized the importance of natural catalysts in organic synthesis and has provided a solid foundation for this discipline. He has also been involved in teaching and mentoring young scientists, and his book "Biotransformations in Organic Chemistry" has become a renowned resource for chemists and biotechnologists. In recognition of his innovative contributions, he received the Biotrans senior award at the Biotrans 2021 symposium.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeric Mun Chung Kwan, Yuan Qiao
Summary: Serving as a crucial element in bacteria but absent in mammalian cells, peptidoglycan is a vital antibiotic target and a recognized signaling molecule in bacterial communication. The review focuses on the activities of various enzymes involved in peptidoglycan assembly and breakdown, providing insights into their regulation mechanisms and potential inhibition modes.
Article
Oncology
Kirsten Broderick, Mohamed Taha Moutaoufik, Khaled A. Aly, Mohan Babu
Summary: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are common products of cellular metabolism and can cause nucleotide modifications. Noncanonical nucleotides integrated into DNA during replication can be hydrolyzed by sanitization enzymes. The MTH1 NUDIX hydrolase is a potential target for developing anticancer treatments due to its increased activity in cancer cells with high ROS levels. Multiple strategies for MTH1 inhibition have emerged, highlighting the potential of NUDIX hydrolases for anticancer therapeutics.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Farshid Nourbakhsh, Sareh Abbasi, Aghafakhr Mirlohi, Mohammad Reza Sabzalian
Summary: This study investigated the effects of the symbiotic relationship between Epichloe coenophiala and grasses on the rhizosphere microbial and enzyme activities. The results showed that endophyte infection enhanced arginine ammonification rates and increased the activities of most soil hydrolases in the rhizosphere.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Blazquez-Sanchez, Jhon A. Vargas, Adriano A. Furtado, Aransa Grinen, Diego A. Leonardo, Susana A. Sculaccio, Humberto D'Muniz Pereira, Christian Sonnendecker, Wolfgang Zimmermann, Beatriz Diez, Richard C. Garratt, Cesar A. Ramirez-Sarmiento
Summary: Chimeric design can increase the activity and stability of PETases active at moderate temperatures, providing a new approach for further improvement of PETase activity at moderate temperatures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Blazquez-Sanchez, Jhon A. Vargas, Adriano A. Furtado, Aransa Grinen, Diego A. Leonardo, Susana A. Sculaccio, Humberto D'Muniz Pereira, Christian Sonnendecker, Wolfgang Zimmermann, Beatriz Diez, Richard C. Garratt, Cesar A. Ramirez-Sarmiento
Summary: Chimeric design strategy can enhance the activity and stability of PETase Mors1 active at 25 degrees Celsius. By incorporating the active site loop structure of a thermophilic cutinase into Mors1, the optimal activity temperature was shifted to 45 degrees Celsius and the PET hydrolysis rate increased fivefold.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jerome Desire, Quentin Foucart, Ana Poveda, Gurvan Gourlaouen, Yuna Shimadate, Maki Kise, Cameron Proceviat, Roger Ashmus, David J. Vocadlo, Jesus Jimenez-Barbero, Atsushi Kato, Yves Bleriot
Summary: A series of bicyclic iminosugar C-glycosides based on an octahydrofuro[3,2-b]pyridine motif have been synthesized. These carbohydrate mimics showed promising inhibitory activity against glycosidases, suggesting their potential for drug development.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashleigh S. Paparella, Briana L. Aboulache, Rajesh K. Harijan, Kathryn S. Potts, Peter C. Tyler, Vern L. Schramm
Summary: Clostridium difficile produces toxins TcdA and TcdB causing diarrhea by affecting host cell functions using UDP-glucose, leading to disease onset. Researchers identified potential therapeutic approach using transition state analogue iminosugars.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yan Zhang, Dalong Li, Jinli Qiao, Yana Ni, Pei Liu, Dejian Huang, Junwei Huo
Summary: The structure and mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of proanthocyanidins in bird cherry fruits were thoroughly investigated for the first time using HPLC-ESI/MS2 and MALDI-TOF/MS analyses. The proanthocyanidins in bird cherry fruits were identified as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (mDP = 5.6) composed of (epi)gallocatechins and (epi)catechins. These proanthocyanidins showed significant inhibition activity against starch hydrolases, indicating their potential as functional food components.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ibrahim Yildiz, Banu Sizirici Yildiz
Summary: Notum is a serine hydrolyse enzyme that plays crucial functions in modulating the Wnt signaling pathway. Recent research on the inhibition mechanism of Notum using computational methods has shed light on its potential therapeutic effects against diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. The study provides insights into the irreversible inhibition mechanism and the catalytic mechanism of Notum.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Przemyslaw Domaszewski, Pawel Pakosz, Mariusz Konieczny, Dawid Baczkowicz, Ewa Sadowska-Krepa
Summary: The study confirmed the effectiveness of caffeine supplementation in improving muscle activation time during sports. It demonstrated that a dose of 9 mg/kg of caffeine can significantly reduce contraction time and muscle displacement in professional athletes, who regularly consume caffeine-rich products.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qunfei Zhao, Zheng Zhuang, Tian Liu, Qing Yang, Qing-Li He, Wen Liu, Guo-Qiang Lin
Summary: This study identified and characterized the biosynthetic gene cluster of phlegmacins in ascomycete Talaromyces sp. F08Z-0631, and demonstrated an unprecedented enzymatic coupling reaction through heterologous reconstitution. These findings provide new insights into the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qiuyu Gong, Lei Chen, Jining Wang, Fenghou Yuan, Zhiming Ma, Guoxin Chen, Yinjuan Huang, Yansong Miao, Tian Liu, Xin-Xing Zhang, Qing Yang, Jing Yu
Summary: This study reports that a highly abundant cuticular protein OfCPH-1 from the Asian corn borer has the ability to form gel-like droplets in the presence of chitosan. The transition from liquid-like to gel-like state is driven by hydrogen-bonding interactions and is associated with the induced beta-sheet structure of OfCPH-1. This liquid-liquid phase separation process and its aging behavior may play critical roles in the formation of the insect cuticle.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xianglai Liu, Yetong Lin, Wenyi Peng, Zhaolun Zhang, Longwei Gao, Yueer Zhou, Zhe Song, Yingjie Wang, Peng Xu, Biao Yu, Haopeng Sun, Weijia Xie, Wei Li
Summary: This study reports the use of 2-(diphenylphosphinoyl)acetyl as a remote stereodirecting group in the direct synthesis of challenging beta-glycosides. The method showed high effectiveness in the synthesis of a deoxy-trisaccharide mimic of landomycin E's sugar chain and in the assembly of Citrobacter freundii O-antigens.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shengyang Wang, You Yang, Qian Zhu, Guo-Qiang Lin, Biao Yu
Summary: In this article, we summarize the chemical syntheses of glycans containing over 20 monosaccharide units. The recent syntheses of ultra-long glycans, such as a 92mer arabinogalactan, a 100mer and a 151mer mannan, and a 128mer rhamnomannan, are highlighted. The assembly strategies, glycosylation methods, and protecting group manipulations, which are crucial for successful synthesis, are discussed to provide guidance for the future synthesis of various polysaccharides.
CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Ahmed Elgehama, Yixuan Wang, Ying Yu, Lin Zhou, Zhixiu Chen, Liwei Wang, Lijun Sun, Jian Gao, Biao Yu, Yan Shen, Qiang Xu
Summary: This study unravels the action mechanism of PTP1B in stabilizing Bcr-Abl1 protein and indicates that the PTP1B-Bcr-Abl1 interaction might be one of druggable targets for TKI-resistant CML with point mutations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi Ma, Yi Hu, Xiaona Li, Rongkun Liu, E. Xia, Peng Xu, You Yang
Summary: In this study, a SPhosAuNTf2-promoted DMF-modulated glycosylation approach was developed for the highly alpha-selective synthesis of various linkage types of alpha-glucans using glycosyl (Z)-ynenoates as donors. The substituent groups were found to play a significant role in the alpha-selective glucosylation reactions. The approach was effectively applied to the stereospecific synthesis of the alpha-1,6-linked triglucoside.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Youxi Chen, Guozhi Xiao, Dapeng Zhu, Biao Yu
Summary: Sepositoside A is a prototypical cyclic steroid glycoside with a hybrid 16-membered ring composed of the steroid skeleton and a 1,2-trans-linked trisaccharide. We report a convenient method to construct the strained 16-membered ring via Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular addition of alcohol to epoxide, leading to two simplified analogues. Although a similar macroetherification in relevant steroid trisaccharides has been extensively studied, it has failed to provide the macrocyclic skeleton of Sepositoside A.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bingfeng Shi, Youxi Chen, Mingyu Geng, Dapeng Zhu, Biao Yu
Summary: Sepositoside A is a major cyclic steroid glycoside found in starfishes, featuring a strained 16-membered ring formed by a linear trisaccharide tethered to C3 and C6 of the steroid aglycone. Attempts to synthesize the desired steroid-pyranose etherate linkage and assemble the glycans stepwise have been unsuccessful. Alternative approaches to construct the steroid-pyranose etherate linkage will be explored in future articles.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dapeng Zhu, Mingyu Geng, Dacheng Shen, Biao Yu
Summary: This article presents a formal total synthesis study of starfish cyclic steroid glycosides 1 and 2 isolated from the Pacific starfish Echinaster Luzonicus. The synthetic route is highly modular and versatile, involving Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular glycosylation for constructing the 16-membered macrocycles, efficient installation of unsaturated sugar moieties using ortho-hexynylbenzoates, post-oxidation elaboration of the glucuronic acid unit, and de novo synthesis of the ether-linked pyranose unit.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojuan Zhang, Peng Xu, Zhengbing Zhou, Yazhou Zhang, Biao Yu, Yugen Zhu
Summary: Due to the complexity and diversity of carbohydrates, efficient methods for homogeneous oligosaccharides are limited. Chemical synthesis is a reliable approach for accessing homogeneous samples, relying on glycosylation reactions. This study presents a novel leaving group, 8-phenylethynyl-1-naphthoate, which enables efficient glycosylation reactions under mild gold(I)-catalysis. The unique base-stability of the anomeric naphthoate group allows compatibility with various chemical transformations, and the protocol allows for minimally protected glycosylation processes. Mechanistic studies explain the characteristics of 8-phenylethynyl-1-naphthoate.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Bei-Bei Zhan, Kai-Sheng Xie, Qian Zhu, Weiping Zhou, Dapeng Zhu, Biao Yu
Summary: A Cu-(OTf)(2)-catalyzed glycosylation protocol using glycosyl ortho-N-phthalimidoylpropynyl benzoates(NPPBs) as donors was developed, which exhibits an inexpensive catalyst, convenient conditions, high to excellent yields, and a broad substrate scope. Mechanistic studies showed the formation of an isochromen-4-ylcopper-(II) intermediate upon leaving group departure.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Liu, Ziqiang Wang, Tayyab Gulzar, Xiaodong Zhang, Guoping Ding, Peng Xu, Biao Yu
Summary: We have revealed that EPP glycosides can be utilized as glycosylation donors through an unprecedented activation mechanism. We further report that EPP glycosides without the 3,5-dimethyl groups, previously installed to prevent side reactions, can also undergo effective glycosylation. By employing an EPP 2-azidoglucoside as a donor, we have successfully constructed the challenging alpha-GlcN-(1 -> 4)-GlcA linkage, leading to a heparin tri-saccharides precursor.
PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaona Li, Cristina Di Carluccio, He Miao, Lvfeng Zhang, Jintao Shang, Antonio Molinaro, Peng Xu, Alba Silipo, Biao Yu, You Yang
Summary: We report a promoter-controlled cycloglycosylation approach for the synthesis of cyclic α-(1→6)-linked mannosides up to a length of 32 units. The method relies on the role of a gold(I) complex in the proper preorganization of the ultra-large cyclic transition state. NMR experiments and a computational study revealed that the cyclic 2-mer, 4-mer, 8-mer, 16-mer, and 32-mer mannosides adopted different conformational states and shapes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Yan Xia, Yingjie Wang, Zhaolun Zhang, Tayyab Gulzar, Yuqi Lin, Jing Wang, Dapeng Zhu, Biao Yu
Summary: The synthesis of neopetrosins A and C, two 2-indolyl C-a-D- mannopyranosides, and their congeners has been achieved via a direct Ni/photoredox-catalyzed reductive coupling of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-iodo-1H-indoles with pyranosyl bromides.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Wei Liu, Zhifei Hu, Peng Xu, Biao Yu
Summary: Here, we presented a convenient procedure to prepare EPP glycosides and their application in the synthesis of the clinically approved anticoagulant fondaparinux. Additionally, we successfully achieved the synthesis of heparin-like tetrasaccharides using EPP glycosides in a one-pot orthogonal glycosylation reaction.
