Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Chao Wen, He-Chun Wu, Wen-Hong Ouyang, Jia-Xing Nie, Yi-Ping Guo, Feng Wang, Li-Li Hu, Jin-Hua Yang, Li-Juan Zheng, Jia-Lu Wang, Wei Huang, Guang-Ping Liang, Ren-Wang Jiang
Summary: In this study, a catalytically flexible and reversible glycosyltransferase (HtUGT72AS1) was cloned and characterized from Helleborus thibetanus. HtUGT72AS1 could catalyze the 3-OH glycosylation of flavonols and the 4' and 7-OH glycosylation of other types of flavonoids. The HtUGT72AS1-catalyzed reaction was highly reversible, making it suitable for the production of bioactive glycosides.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Takahiro Mori, Xin Sun, Stanislav Kadlcik, Jiri Janata, Ikuro Abe
Summary: LmbT is a glycosyltransferase enzyme that incorporates the rare amino acid L-ergothioneine (EGT) into secondary metabolites. Our analysis shows that LmbT has promiscuous substrate specificity and exhibits conformational changes upon substrate binding. The interaction between EGT and LmbT is mediated by specific salt-bridge and cation-pi interactions. This study provides structural insights into the S-glycosylation reaction catalyzed by LmbT with EGT.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiao Chen, Junfeng Chen, Jingxian Feng, Yun Wang, Shunuo Li, Ying Xiao, Yong Diao, Lei Zhang, Wansheng Chen
Summary: This study demonstrated that two UGTs from Isatis indigotica Fort. can catalyze the glycosylation of lignans, showing preferences towards different sugars and substrates. The research also identified the essential structural characteristic for sugar acceptors and highlighted the potential biological roles of UGTs in modifying lignans. Overall, this study sheds light on lignan biosynthesis and the functional diversity within the UGT family.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Huiping Bi, Ge Qu, Shuai Wang, Yibin Zhuang, Zhoutong Sun, Tao Liu, Yanhe Ma
Summary: This study describes a novel method for de novo production of rosavin E in Escherichia coli, achieving a titer of 92.9 mg/L and further optimizing the method to reach 782.0 mg/L. This represents an excellent example of producing a natural product with a disaccharide chain using glycosyltransferase engineering and artificial pathway construction.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jiaying Tang, Linlin Ren, Jianwei Li, Yonggong Wang, Dongyan Hu, Xiaogang Tong, Chengfeng Xia
Summary: The indolocarbazole ring system was synthesized through a photochemical method, demonstrating exceptional functional group tolerance and successfully applied in the concise synthesis of natural products tjipanazoles B and D.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qi Sheng, Lingxin Yi, Bin Zhong, Xiaoyu Wu, Liming Liu, Bin Zhang
Summary: This review discusses recent advances in the development of SA-producing strains, including genetic modification strategies, metabolic pathway construction, and biosensor-assisted evolution. The development of SA biosensors and dynamic molecular switches, as well as genetic modification strategies and optimization of the fermentation process based on omics technology, can improve the performance of SA-producing strains.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Caiyun Li, Khorshed Alam, Yiming Zhao, Jinfang Hao, Qing Yang, Youming Zhang, Ruijuan Li, Aiying Li
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a serious global issue, and the discovery of new natural products to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens is in high demand. Lanthipeptides, with their diverse chemical structures and mechanisms of action, are a valuable source of drug candidates that can be discovered through genome mining and biosynthetic engineering. This review covers recent advances in the discovery and development of microbial-derived lanthipeptides.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peng Zhang, Yu Ji, Shuaiqi Meng, Zhongyu Li, Dennis Hirtz, Lothar Elling, Ulrich Schwaneberg
Summary: The PhyloDirect approach, combining directed evolution and phylogenetic mining, improves the catalytic efficiency of GT BarGT-3 and expands its substrate range, offering new opportunities for the development and application of efficient biocatalysts in green chemistry and other industrial processes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengya Wang, Qiushuang Ji, Bin Lai, Yirong Liu, Kunrong Mei
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of plant UGTs in natural product synthesis and their research progress in catalytic mechanisms and substrate recognition. It also summarizes and evaluates protein engineering strategies used to improve the catalytic activities of plant UGTs, with a particular focus on high-throughput screening methods.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fei Cao, Wen-Tao Tao, Qian Yu, Chu-Xuan Xu, Jin-Tao Cheng, Ruo-Xi Liu, Qing-Wei Zhao, Xin-Hang Jiang, Yu Liu, Yong-Quan Li, Zha-Jun Zhan, Ting Shi, Xu-Ming Mao
Summary: This study identified two new semi-pinacolases from the epoxide hydrolase family, expanding the biocatalyst family for semipinacol rearrangement. Through comprehensive mutations and chemical calculations, critical residues were identified for the catalytic mechanisms of selective epoxide collapse and subsequent SPR.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shangshang Sun, Chun You
Summary: Disaccharide phosphorylases (DSPs) are carbohydrate-active enzymes with the potential to convert common table sugar into products with attractive properties. Most DSPs have strict stereo- and regiospecificities, making them useful in synthesizing specific disaccharides. Protein engineering of DSPs is currently being pursued in various laboratories to create a toolbox of new catalysts for glycoside synthesis.
SYNTHETIC AND SYSTEMS BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shucheng Ma, Fangjie Li, Guisheng Zhang, Lei Shi, Xiaoming Wang
Summary: A nickel-catalyzed reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 1,4-difluoroalkylarylation products from 1,3-butadiene with easily accessible difluoroalkyl bromides and arylboronic acids. The involvement of a key alkyl radical in the catalysis was demonstrated by a radical clock experiment. The operational simplicity, excellent functional-group compatibility, and high efficiency of this three-component reaction make it highly promising for the cost-efficient synthesis of difluoroalkylated compounds.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhan Gao, Yuwen He, Quan He, Wei Wei, Yuanqing Luo, Zihan Ma, Weiwei Chen, Fengjian Chu, Shuheng Zhang, Yaqin Liu, Yuanjiang Pan
Summary: This study designed two novel complex ions for the identification and relative quantification of 14 glycan isomers. The unique fragmentation patterns of these ions allowed for complete distinction of the isomers. The method was also able to identify mixtures of linkage isomers and successfully applied to the identification of two disaccharide isomers in dairy beverages.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hui Liu, Bernd Nidetzky
Summary: This study demonstrated the continuous production of the natural C-glycoside nothofagin through flow synthesis using co-immobilized C-glycosyltransferase and sucrose synthase. The process has the potential to promote glycosyltransferase applications for natural product glycosides and oligosaccharides.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
T. Rehka, Deepti Sharma, Fu Lin, Yeu Khai Choong, Chinchin Lim, Chacko Jobichen, Congqiang Zhang
Summary: The crystal structure of Agrocybe pediades linalool synthase (Ap.LS) was determined, revealing that its specificity is determined by the region of 60-69aa and Tyr299. Mutants of Ap.LS Y299 produced long-chain products. It was also found that microbial terpene synthases with asparagine at a specific position mainly produce cyclized products, while those with a bulky tyrosine produce linear products.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan A. Clinger, Xiachang Wang, Wenlong Cai, Yanyan Zhu, Mitchell D. Miller, Chang-Guo Zhan, Steven G. Van Lanen, Jon S. Thorson, George N. Phillips
Summary: Abyssomicins are natural product molecules with antibiotic activity by inhibiting the folate synthesis pathway in microbiota, and they undergo a necessary [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The structure of a flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent reductase, AbsH3, from the biosynthetic gene cluster of novel abyssomicins found in Streptomyces sp. LC-6-2 has been reported.
PROTEINS-STRUCTURE FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Nour W. Al Haj Baddar, Varun B. Dwaraka, Larissa V. Ponomareva, Jon S. Thorson, S. Randal Voss
Summary: The study shows that there is a specific temporal window from tail amputation to re-epithelialization during which injury-activated cells are highly sensitive to CoCl2 perturbation of redox homeostasis, partially restoring tail regeneration inhibited by romidepsin. Extending the use of CoCl2 beyond this window inhibits regeneration or leads to lethality, suggesting a delicate balance in the timing and dosage of CoCl2 treatment in the context of tissue regeneration.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
J. R. Rivas, Y. Liu, S. S. Alhakeem, J. M. Eckenrode, F. Marti, J. P. Collard, Y. Zhang, K. A. Shaaban, N. Muthusamy, G. C. Hildebrandt, R. A. Fleischman, L. Chen, J. S. Thorson, M. Leggas, S. Bondada
Summary: In CLL, T-cell dysfunction is driven by molecules like PD-L1 and IL-10. Suppressing IL-10 using a novel inhibitor enhances antitumor T-cell activity and responses to ICB. Targeting IL-10 provides a novel strategy to improve immunotherapies in CLL patients who do not respond well to current therapies.
Article
Microbiology
Mohsin T. Cheema, Larissa Ponomareva, Tao Liu, S. Randal Voss, Jon S. Thorson, Khaled A. Shaaban, Imran Sajid
Summary: Actinobacteria have been identified as major producers of bioactive compounds, with 35 strains isolated from soil samples in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. Strains were screened based on biological and chemical criteria, with strain PU-MM93 identified as a promising producer of cytotoxic compounds. Further exploration in this region could lead to the discovery of commercially significant compounds.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Elnaz Jalali, Jon S. Thorson
Summary: Transferases are highlighted as effective catalysts for enzyme-mediated bioorthogonal functional group installation in various biological applications. The focus of this review is on the key technologies and applications of methyltransferases (MTs) in bioorthogonal labeling and conjugation reactions involving DNA, RNA, proteins, and natural products.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yongyong Zhang, Mohsin T. Cheema, Larissa Ponomareva, Qing Ye, Tao Liu, Imran Sajid, Juergen Rohr, Qing-Bai She, S. Randal Voss, Jon S. Thorson, Khaled A. Shaaban
Summary: Seven new anthraquinone-derived metabolites, himalaquinones A-G, were isolated from Streptomyces sp. PU-MM59 in the Himalayas. Comparative bioactivity assessment revealed that cytotoxic landomycin and saquayamycin analogues inhibit 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and regeneration, while himalaquinone G, a new 5,6-dihydrodiol-bearing angucyclinone, also shows cytotoxic and regeneration inhibitory effects but does not affect 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. This suggests a unique mechanism for himalaquinone G and similar compounds.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jucelia Iantas, Daiani Cristina Savi, Renata da Silva Schibelbein, Sandriele Aparecida Noriler, Beatriz Marques Assad, Guilherme Dilarri, Henrique Ferreira, Juergen Rohr, Jon S. Thorson, Khaled A. Shaaban, Chirlei Glienke
Summary: This study explored the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants in two regions of Brazil, identifying strains with activity against phytopathogens. Notably, new species of fungi showing promising bioactive natural product production were discovered, highlighting the biotechnological potential of medicinal plants in Brazil.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sarah K. Alvarado, Mitchell D. Miller, Minakshi Bhardwaj, Jon S. Thorson, Steven G. Van Lanen, George N. Phillips
Summary: The crystal structure of DynU16, a protein found in the dynemicin biosynthetic gene cluster, reveals a didomain helix-grip fold with an open cavity that may be involved in the biosynthesis of dynemicin.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Abigael J. Kosgei, Mitchell D. Miller, Minakshi Bhardwaj, Weijun Xu, Jon S. Thorson, Steven G. Van Lanen, George N. Phillips
Summary: This paper reports the crystal structure of DynF, a gene product within the biosynthetic gene cluster of dynemicin. DynF is revealed to be a dimeric eight-stranded beta-barrel structure with palmitic acid bound within a cavity. The presence of palmitic acid suggests that DynF may be involved in binding the precursor polyene heptaene, which is central to the synthesis of the ten-membered ring of the enediyne core.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
S. Randal Voss, Jeramiah J. Smith, Raissa F. Cecil, Mirindi Kabangu, Timothy J. Duerr, James R. Monaghan, Nataliya Timoshevskaya, Larissa V. Ponomareva, Jon S. Thorson, Alan Veliz-Cuba, David Murrugarra
Summary: The study demonstrated that the HDAC inhibitor romidepsin has a concentration-dependent effect on transcription and regeneration outcomes, potently inhibiting axolotl embryo tail regeneration above a certain threshold concentration. By altering the expression of key genes associated with regeneration, romidepsin can influence whether regenerative success or failure occurs, suggesting a potential role for HDAC activity in regulating gene expression across cell types during tissue regeneration.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James C. Hower, Zeljka Fiket, Kevin R. Henke, John K. Hiett, Jon S. Thorson, Madan Kharel, Shifeng Dai, Luis F. O. Silva, Marcos L. S. Oliveira
Summary: The mineralogical and geochemical features of mining and processing wastes collected from Owen County, part of the Central Kentucky Lead-Zinc district, were investigated. The main minerals found in the samples were calcite, quartz, and dolomite, with sphalerite, galena, and barite as the principal sulfides and sulfates. The geochemistry of major elements reflected the mineralogy, while trace elements showed different groupings between minerals. The data illustrated the processes and conditions that control sulfide-mineral oxidation and its potential environmental impact.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rongbin Wang, Jennifer Nguyen, Jacob Hecht, Nora Schwartz, Katelyn Brown, Larissa Ponomareva, Magdalena Niemczura, Dino van Dissel, Gilles P. van Wezel, Jon S. Thorson, Mikko Metsa-Ketela, Khaled A. Shaaban, S. Eric Nybo
Summary: By developing the BIOPOLYMER toolbox, we have overcome the limitations of slow growth and lack of genetic tools in actinomycetes for the synthesis of anthracyclinones. We successfully improved the production host and optimized the production of anthracyclinones, identifying optimal combinations for different molecules. Additionally, we demonstrated the moderate cytotoxicity of the anthracyclinones against multiple cancer cell lines.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jucelia Iantas, Daiani Cristina Savi, Larissa V. Ponomareva, Jon S. Thorson, Juergen Rohr, Chirlei Glienke, Khaled A. Shaaban
Summary: Chemical investigation of the endophyte Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum CMRP4328 isolated from the medicinal plant Stryphnodendron adstringens resulted in the discovery of ten compounds, including two new dihydrochromones. The study found that four of these compounds exhibited antifungal activity against the citrus pathogen Phyllosticta citricarpa, and the development of citrus black spot symptoms in citrus fruits was also inhibited by two of the compounds. These findings suggest that further research on the strain CMRP4328 of P. stromaticum and its metabolites is warranted for the control of citrus black spot disease.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minakshi Bhardwaj, Zheng Cui, Erome Daniel Hankore, Faruk H. Moonschi, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Edward Kalkreuter, Chun Gui, Dong Yang, George N. Phillips, Jon S. Thorson, Ben Shen, Steven G. Van Lanen
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Jacqueline R. Rivas, Sara S. Alhakeem, Yang Liu, Joseph M. Eckenrode, James P. Collard, Yinan Zhang, Khaled A. Shaaban, Natarajan Muthusamy, Gerhard C. Hildebrandt, Roger A. Fleischman, Li Chen, Jon S. Thorson, Markos Leggas, Subbarao Bondada
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
