Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dominika Stradomska, Jose Coloma, Ulf Hanefeld, Katarzyna Szymanska
Summary: In this study, highly productive synthesis of enantiomerically pure cyanohydrins was achieved by immobilizing hydroxynitrile lyase in a silica microreactor. The use of a flow microreactor not only suppressed background reactions but also maintained high substrate conversion and enantiomeric excess.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Organic
D. H. Sreenivasa Rao, Ayon Chatterjee, Santosh Kumar Padhi
Summary: Chiral beta-nitroalcohols are important building blocks in organic synthesis, and biocatalytic methods have gained significant importance for their asymmetric synthesis. Different biocatalytic strategies, such as kinetic resolution and Henry reaction, have been developed for the asymmetric synthesis of beta-nitroalcohol stereoisomers.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
D. H. Sreenivasa Rao, Kummari Shivani, Santosh Kumar Padhi
Summary: Enantiopure beta-nitroalcohols are versatile intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and chiral synthons. This study demonstrated that immobilized AtHNL catalyzes the preparation of (S)-beta-nitroalcohols from racemic mixtures through retro-Henry reaction with increased efficiency and pH stability. The enzyme showed a broad substrate selectivity and produced products with high enantiomeric excess up to 98.5%.
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Francisco G. Cirujano, Nuria Martin, Neyvis Almora-Barrios, Carlos Marti-Gastaldo
Summary: The porous material based on CuGHK peptide, with pockets decorated with lysine side chain active sites, shows high activity in the Henry reaction by absorbing benzaldehyde molecules. Experimental and computational approaches are used to investigate the mechanistic pathways.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Organic
Badipatla Vishnu Priya, Santosh Kumar Padhi
Summary: Hydroxynitrile lyases (HNLs) are enzymes of significant importance in organic synthesis, primarily catalyzing the stereoselective synthesis of cyanohydrins, and also carrying out asymmetric nitroaldol synthesis. Recent discoveries and developments in HNLs have expanded their synthetic scope and enhanced their catalytic ability through engineering. HNLs show promise in biocatalytic applications, including the synthesis of chiral alpha-cyanohydrins and beta-nitroalcohols, substrate selectivity, and enantioselectivity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gabriele Lupidi, Alessandro Palmieri, Marino Petrini
Summary: A novel riboflavin-promoted reaction of primary nitroalkanes coupled with a nitroaldol reaction was discovered, enabling the synthesis of functionalized nitro alcohols under mild reaction conditions. However, secondary nitroalkanes were consumed under the reaction conditions without yielding the expected nitroaldol products.
ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Robert McGee, Gillian H. Dean, Di Wu, Yuelin Zhang, Shawn D. Mansfield, George W. Haughn
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of manipulating the seed coat epidermal cell extracellular matrix using a targeted genetic engineering approach. By expressing enzymes predicted to modify polysaccharide components of mucilage in Arabidopsis thaliana seed coat epidermal cells, researchers observed significant impacts on mucilage composition and cell adhesion, highlighting the complex relationship between cell wall structure and function.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yingqi Xia, Yingtang Ning, Minjie Liu, Fen -Er Chen
Summary: A poly(ethylene glycol) supported amino alcohol has been developed as a chiral ligand for the copper-catalyzed asymmetric nitrolaldol reaction. The catalyst enables the synthesis of syn-2-nitro-1,3-diols with high yields and stereoselectivities. The PEG moiety allows for easy purification and recycling of the catalyst.
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhiqing Wang, Feng He, Yao Mu, Liping Zhang, Zhiqiang Liu, Danmei Liu, Jinbao Yang, Zhuping Jin, Yanxi Pei
Summary: The overexpression of CBL increases the tolerance of plants to osmotic stress and reduces the aperture of stomata, playing an important role in plant resistance to abiotic stress.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rubina Gilani, Surabhi Lata, Nivedita Rai, Mohd. Akif, Santosh Kumar Padhi, Badipatla Vishnu Priya, D. H. Sreenivasa Rao
Summary: Protein engineering is crucial for enhancing promiscuous catalytic activity in biocatalytic applications. In this study, we investigated the significance of binding site residues in Arabidopsis thaliana hydroxynitrile lyase (AtHNL) for retro-nitroaldolase activity. Through engineering, we improved the enantioselective retro-nitroaldolase activity of AtHNL, enabling the production of enantiopure beta-nitroalcohols with an opposite absolute configuration to the stereopreference of HNL. The variant F179A exhibited a 12-fold increase in selectivity for the retro-nitroaldol reaction compared to the natural activity of the parent enzyme.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel C. Zeeman, Erik M. Solhaug
Summary: Starch metabolism is important for plant growth, but blocking its biosynthesis has species-specific effects.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Thomas J. Struble, Ivor Smajlagic, Hayden Foy, Travis Dudding, Jeffrey N. Johnston
Summary: A pair of chiral bis(amidine) [BAM] proton complexes have been developed as catalysts for highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct aza-Henry reactions, leading to alpha-alkyl-substituted alpha,beta-diamino esters. Computational analysis supports distinct models for selectivity, with the more hindered binding cavity of the C-1-symmetric ligand favoring a pre-syn arrangement. Factors driving unusual high syn-diastereoselection include favorable dispersion forces from the anthracenyl substituent of the C-1-symmetric ligand.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Masahiro Kawada, Ryo Tsuyusaki, Kosuke Nakashima, Misaki Yamada, Akihiro Kozakai, Yasuyuki Matsushima, Shin-ichi Hirashima, Tsuyoshi Miura
Summary: This study presents the first successful example of asymmetric 1,2-additions of nitromethane to trifluoromethyl enones, and achieved highly functionalized products with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities through a novel N,N-dibenzyl diaminomethylenemalononitrile organocatalyst.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Marcia R. R. Renio, Francisco J. P. M. Sousa, Nelia C. T. Tavares, Artur J. M. Valente, M. Elisa da Silva Serra, Dina Murtinho
Summary: The enantioselective Henry reaction is an important carbon-carbon bond forming reaction that requires the use of efficient chiral catalysts. In this study, in situ formed complexes of N-substituted dihydroxypyrrolidines were evaluated as catalysts, showing that the nature of the N-substituent significantly influences the outcome of the reaction. Best results were obtained using a Cu (II) complex of (3S,4S)-N-benzyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine, with products having er up to 92:8 (R:S).
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jose Coloma, Lidwien Teeuwisse, Muhammad Afendi, Peter-Leon Hagedoorn, Ulf Hanefeld
Summary: The Granulicella tundricola hydroxynitrile lyase (GtHNL) can catalyze the synthesis of chiral (R)-cyanohydrins and (R)-beta-nitro alcohols. In this study, the GtHNL-3V variant was immobilized on Celite R-633 and used in batch and continuous flow systems for the synthesis of (R)-2-nitro-1-phenylethanol. The batch system showed higher yield and productivity compared to the flow system, indicating that the batch system is superior for the synthesis of (R)-NPE.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aem Nuylert, Fumihiro Motojima, Chartchai Khanongnuch, Tipparat Hongpattarakere, Yasuhisa Asano
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fumihiro Motojima, Atsushi Izumi, Aem Nuylert, Zhenyu Zhai, Mohammad Dadashipour, Sayaka Shichida, Takuya Yamaguchi, Shogo Nakano, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: Hydroxynitrile lyases (HNLs) are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of cyanohydrin and its synthesis, playing a crucial role in pharmaceutical and fine chemicals preparation. A new HNL from the cyanogenic millipede, Chamberlinius hualienensis, was discovered with unique features and high catalytic activity in (R)-mandelonitrile ((R)-MAN) synthesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Duangthip Trisrivirat, Narin Lawan, Pirom Chenprakhon, Daisuke Matsui, Yasuhisa Asano, Pimchai Chaiyen
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomoharu Motoyama, Nozomi Hiramatsu, Yasuhisa Asano, Shogo Nakano, Sohei Ito
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aem Nuylert, Makoto Nakabayashi, Takuya Yamaguchi, Yasuhisa Asano
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daisuke Matsui, Yusuke Okayama, Yoshiki Yamamoto, Yuna Miyauchi, Zhenyu Zhai, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: A newly purified enzyme showing L-histidine oxidase activity was characterized by the formation of hydrogen peroxide in this study. The enzyme was found to be a heterodimer of two proteins and its stability and activity were investigated under various conditions. The natural enzyme composed of AchHAL and AchURO was demonstrated to produce hydrogen peroxide following the spontaneous decomposition of imidazolone propionate.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hilmi Yavuzer, Yasuhisa Asano, Harald Groeger
Summary: The study rationalizes the unique stereochemical phenomenon of enantioselective dehydration catalyzed by aldoxime dehydratase, which selectively forms both enantiomeric forms of a chiral nitrile. Theoretical investigations and experimental validations demonstrate the relationship between enzyme cavity size and enantioselectivities in nitrile syntheses, leading to the design of mutants with superior enantioselectivities compared to wild-type enzymes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kohei Kozuka, Shogo Nakano, Yasuhisa Asano, Sohei Ito
Summary: This study introduces partial consensus design (PCD) as a derivative approach of consensus design (CD), which can independently or synergistically improve the thermostability and activity of proteins by introducing consensus mutations in different regions of the protein. The results suggest that introducing consensus mutations into the loop region of a protein can independently enhance thermostability, while changing the combination of mutations can synergistically improve enzyme kinetic parameters and average productivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daijun Zheng, Makoto Nakabayashi, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: In this study, the 3D structure of hydroxynitrile lyase from Linum usitatissimum and its ligand complexes were determined using X-ray crystallography. The structures revealed the substrate binding geometry and a novel reaction mechanism for cyanohydrin decomposition, providing important insights into the study of hydroxynitrile lyases.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuka Hayashi, Masaya Nakamura, Shogo Nakano, Sohei Ito, Yasuhisa Asano, Daisuke Sugimori
Summary: In this study, the thermostability of a mesophilic L-glutamate oxidase was successfully enhanced using a full consensus protein design approach without a decrease in enzymatic activity. By substituting 104 amino acids among the 690 amino acids of the enzyme, the mutant showed a melting temperature of 72 degrees C, which is higher than the original enzyme and the highest among known L-glutamate oxidases. These findings provide a new approach to improve enzyme thermostability.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nobuhiro Kawahara, Kunwadee Palasin, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: This study demonstrates a new enzymatic method for imine synthesis catalyzed by a variant of pkDAO, identifying the mechanism of PPEA synthesis through experimental validation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Suguru Shinoda, Aoi Itakura, Haruka Sasano, Ryoma Miyake, Hiroshi Kawabata, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: The study established a protocol to identify aggregation hotspots for recombinant protein production. By analyzing the primary structure and using hotspot prediction methods, highly soluble and active XdPH variants were designed and expressed in the E. coli system. These variants showed improved soluble expression levels and thermostability compared to the wild-type XdPH.
Article
Plant Sciences
Takuya Yamaguchi, Takuya Nomura, Yasuhisa Asano
Summary: Cytochrome P450 CYP77A59 is responsible for the biosynthesis of phenylacetonitrile in loquat flowers. This study identified CYP77A58 and CYP77A59 as candidate enzymes that catalyze PAN production from (E/Z)-PAOx. These cytochrome P450s catalyze the dehydration of aldoximes, contrary to typical cytochrome P450 activity. CYP77A59 likely plays a key role in PAN biosynthesis in loquat flowers.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daijun Zheng, Yasuhisa Asano
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joan Gimenez-Dejoz, Kousuke Tsuchiya, Ayaka Tateishi, Yoko Motoda, Takanori Kigawa, Yasuhisa Asano, Keiji Numata