Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ji-Dong Shen, Xue Cai, Zhi-Qiang Liu, Yu-Guo Zheng
Summary: Nitrilases are natural enzymes that can hydrolyze nitriles into carboxylic acids and ammonia. They have been utilized as green biocatalysts for the production of high value-added products in industry. This review highlights recent advancements in nitrilases including distribution, enzyme screening, molecular structure, catalytic mechanism, protein engineering, and industrial applications.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jia-Chun Lin, Yan Yi, Lan Zhang, Ran Cang, Xiao-Jun Ji, Zhi-Gang Zhang
Summary: This study developed a biocatalytic method for the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids in the aqueous phase using a newly discovered whole-cell D. xibeiensis R13 biocatalyst. The method showed high yield and selectivity, while avoiding the use of toxic transition-metal reagents, making it a green and sustainable alternative.
MOLECULAR CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marta N. Mota, Luis C. Martins, Isabel Sa-Correia
Summary: The study identified hundreds of methanol tolerance determinants through chemogenomic analysis of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant collection, revealing the importance of specific genes in overcoming methanol toxicity. It also highlighted an enrichment of functional categories in the methanol dataset, such as chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and fatty acid biosynthesis. This research provides valuable information on genes and potential regulatory networks involved in improving methanol tolerance in yeasts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ge Gao, Fan Yang, Cheng Wang, Xiaoyu Duan, Meng Li, Yue Ma, Feng Wang, Hongyan Qi
Summary: In this study, a transcriptional repressor, CmMYB44, was found to regulate sucrose and ethylene accumulation in oriental melon fruit by repressing the expression of key genes CmSPS1 and CmACO1. The inhibitory effect of CmMYB44 on these genes could be relieved by overexpressing CmERFI-2 and exogenous ethylene. The findings revealed a molecular regulatory pathway mediated by CmMYB44 and provided insights into the transcriptional responses triggered by ethylene sensing during fruit ripening.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tohru Mizutare, Seigo Sanoh, Takushi Kanazu, Shigeru Ohta, Yaichiro Kotake
Summary: The study indicated that acyl-glucuronidation in liver microsomes at pH 6.0 is closer to physiological conditions in the presence of carboxylic acid compounds, leading to better predictability of intrinsic clearance.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
F. J. Castrillon-Munoz, J. J. Gibson, S. J. Birks
Summary: This study focuses on boreal lakes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada. The study examines the hydrochemistry of 50 lakes that are considered to be acid sensitive and have been monitored by the Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program (RAMP) for the past two decades. The findings suggest that carbonate dissolution and organic matter uptake are the main processes controlling the increase in pH in these lakes. The study also provides insights into the influence of permafrost thaw and climate on the CO2 saturation and pH of the lakes.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qi Jia, Man-Wah Li, Chengwen Zheng, Yiyue Xu, Song Sun, Zhong Li, Fuk-Ling Wong, Junliang Song, Wei-Wei Lin, Qinghua Li, Yebao Zhu, Kangjing Liang, Wenxiong Lin, Hon-Ming Lam
Summary: The study reveals that GmCHX20a and GmCHX1 may work complementally in coping with salt stress, by increasing Na+ uptake into the root and excluding Na+ from the root, addressing both osmotic stress and ionic stress.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jayant Kulkarni, Sripati A. Sahoo, Pawel Herzyk, Vitthal T. Barvkar, Sanjukta A. Kumar, Janani Ravichandran, Areejit Samal, Anna Amtmann, Mahesh Borde, Penna Suprasanna, Ashish K. Srivastava
Summary: Sesuvium portulacastrum is a halophyte that can naturally grow in saline environments. It can tolerate high concentrations of NaCl without significant growth reduction. After salt treatment, it accumulates beneficial substances and restores transcriptional activity. The overexpression of gene SpRAB18 in soybean increases biomass and maintains growth benefits even under high salt conditions. Additionally, the development of an open-access transcriptome database SesuviumKB provides a platform for studying the functional genes of S. portulacastrum and engineering salt tolerance in crops.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Han Zhu, Tuo Li, Chi Li, Yang Liu, Youzhi Miao, Dongyang Liu, Qirong Shen
Summary: This study found that the growth of Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 fungi was significantly inhibited under acid stress. Transcriptome analysis identified genes related to acid stress, including tna1, adh2/4, and bna3, which were significantly up-regulated. Under acid stress, intracellular hydrogen ions accumulated, and ATP synthesis was induced for hydrogen ion transport to maintain balance. Enhanced glycolysis and accumulation of pyruvic acid were also observed. The accumulation of acetaldehyde induced the expression of adh2/4. To cope with acetaldehyde stress, cells increased the expression of tna1 and bna3 genes to enhance NAD(+) synthesis. However, the NAD(+) supplement pathway mediated by bna3 could lead to the accumulation of kynurenine (KYN), an inducer of apoptosis. Additionally, KYN specifically promoted acetaldehyde synthesis by improving eno2 gene expression, resulting in high intracellular acetaldehyde under acidic stress. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the response of filamentous fungi under acid stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mariam Aslam, Kashif Barkat, Nadia Shamshad Malik, Mohammed S. Alqahtani, Irfan Anjum, Ikrima Khalid, Ume Ruqia Tulain, Nitasha Gohar, Hajra Zafar, Ana Claudia Paiva-Santos, Faisal Raza
Summary: This study aimed to fabricate and evaluate a pH sensitive cross-linked polymeric network for controlled drug delivery. The hydrogels showed good drug loading and swelling dynamics, and exhibited controlled drug release behavior. Toxicity evaluation on rabbits indicated that the hydrogels were safe and potential carriers for drug delivery in biomedical applications.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Rizwan Ullah Khan, Jinning Shao, Jia-Yu Liao, Linghui Qian
Summary: Stimuli-responsive polymers are being researched for their potential in targeted delivery, improved stability, and controlled release of therapeutic agents. pH-responsive polymeric nanocarriers are particularly attractive due to the variation in pH levels in different body fluids and intracellular organelles. pH changes can be utilized for selective delivery, enhanced cargo release, and cancer targeting.
Article
Cell Biology
Claudia J. Stocks, Jessica B. von Pein, James E. B. Curson, James Rae, Minh-Duy Phan, Darren Foo, Nilesh J. Bokil, Taiho Kambe, Kate M. Peters, Robert G. Parton, Mark A. Schembri, Ronan Kapetanovic, Matthew J. Sweet
Summary: The study reveals that SLC30A1 marks zinc-containing compartments associated with TLR-inducible zinc toxicity in human macrophages, and its ectopic over-expression can initiate this antimicrobial pathway. Furthermore, other zinc exporters may also contribute to the zinc toxicity response.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pierre Santucci, Daniel J. Greenwood, Antony Fearns, Kai Chen, Haibo Jiang, Maximiliano G. Gutierrez
Summary: It is crucial for tuberculosis chemotherapy to kill the intracellular population of the pathogen, and PZA accumulates and is most effective in acidified phagosomes. Combination with bedaquiline enhances PZA accumulation by a host-dependent process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Simranjeet Singh, Vijay Kumar, Parul Parihar, Daljeet Singh Dhanjal, Rachana Singh, Praveen C. Ramamurthy, Ram Prasad, Joginder Singh
Summary: This article discusses the impact of stress caused by abiotic factors on plant growth and productivity, especially how drought conditions affect plants by disrupting water balance and ion homeostasis. Plants have evolved transportation systems to survive under drought stress, utilizing channels and transporters such as ABA, proteins, and carbohydrates.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun Li, Xuexi Tang, Kehou Pan, Baohua Zhu, Yun Li, Ziqi Wang, Yan Zhao
Summary: By studying the metabolic acclimation strategies of different Chlorella strains to high CO2, we identified differences in energy metabolism, cytoplasmic pH regulation, and organic carbon flow. Furthermore, our study provided new traits for breeding microalgae for CO2 biosequestration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)