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Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anuwatchakij Klamrak, Jaran Nabnueangsap, Natsajee Nualkaew
Summary: A new artificial pathway was established in E. coli to transform sodium benzoate into 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone, paving the way for further syntheses of benzophenone derivatives by adding various catalytic genes for functional groups.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jennifer Perrin, Natalja Kulagina, Marianne Unlubayir, Thibaut Munsch, Ines Carqueijeiro, Thomas Duge de Bernonville, Johan-Owen De Craene, Marc Clastre, Benoit St-Pierre, Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc'h, David Gagneul, Arnaud Lanoue, Vincent Courdavault, Sebastien Besseau
Summary: THCSpd are plant specialized metabolites with promising pharmacological activities, and can be biosynthesized in yeast using a dual enzymatic system. By exploring enzyme diversity and substrate promiscuities, various new-to-nature THCSpd can be produced, demonstrating a versatile biotechnological platform for tailor-made synthesis.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Anahita Nejatfard, Nicholas Wauer, Satarupa Bhaduri, Adam Conn, Saroj Gourkanti, Narinderbir Singh, Tiffany Kuo, Rachel Kandel, Rommie E. Amaro, Sonya E. Neal
Summary: A recent study identified a new protein, Dfm1, that plays a key role in retrotranslocation process, with conserved residues critical for this function. Additionally, it was found that Dfm1 possesses lipid thinning function to facilitate the removal of ER membrane substrates, a feature also conserved in its human homolog, Derlin-1.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Salinda Wijeratne, Weijing Liu, Jinlan Dong, Wenjing Ning, Nishanka Dilini Ratnayake, Kevin D. Walker, Merlin L. Bruening
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tetyana Berbasova, Elizabeth M. Santos, Meisam Nosrati, Chrysoula Vasileiou, James H. Geiger, Babak Borhan
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meisam Nosrati, Tetyana Berbasova, Chrysoula Vasileiou, Babak Borhan, James H. Geiger
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gayanthi Attanayake, Tyler Walter, Kevin D. Walker
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haizhen A. Zhong, Elizabeth M. Santos, Chrysoula Vasileiou, Zheng Zheng, James H. Geiger, Babak Borhan, Kenneth M. Merz
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Prakash K. Shee, Nishanka Dilini Ratnayake, Tyler Walter, Olivia Goethe, Edith Ndubuaku Onyeozili, Kevin D. Walker
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alireza Ghanbarpour, Elizabeth M. Santos, Cody Pinger, Zahra Assar, Seyedmehdi Hossaini Nasr, Chrysoula Vasileiou, Dana Spence, Babak Borhan, James H. Geiger
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Prakash K. Shee, Honggao Yan, Kevin D. Walker
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Baptiste Demoulin, Margherita Maiuri, Tetyana Berbasova, James H. Geiger, Babak Borhan, Marco Garavelli, Giulio Cerullo, Ivan Rivalta
Summary: The study shows that modifying the electrostatic environment of the chromophore through protein point mutations can affect its excited state properties, allowing control of its photophysics with the same power as chemical modifications of the chromophore. This fine control is essential for the design of bio-mimetic opto-electronic and photonic devices.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gayanthi Attanayake, Guohong Mao, Kevin D. Walker
Summary: In this study, a regioselective semibiocatalytic process was developed to synthesize important alkylpyrazine isomers for flavorants in food and beverage industries. Experimentation showed that changing physical parameters of the reaction conditions and substituting different reactants can effectively control the selectivity of the reactions.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aimen Al-Hilfi, Kevin D. Walker
Summary: A 10-O-deacetylbaccatin III 10-O-acetyltransferase biocatalyst from Taxus plants was expressed and studied in bacteria whole-cells. The research showed that the cells provided necessary coenzymes and non-natural coenzymes, resulting in the acylation of 10-O-deacetylbaccatin III into different products, which are precursors for synthesizing new generation paclitaxel analogs.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hannah M. Parks, Maris A. Cinelli, Matthew A. Bedewitz, Josh M. Grabar, Steven M. Hurney, Kevin D. Walker, A. Daniel Jones, Cornelius S. Barry
Summary: This study reveals major changes in the root alkaloid metabolome of Atropa belladonna when pyrrolidine ketide synthase (AbPyKS) is silenced, leading to the discovery of almost 40 pyrrolidine alkaloids that increase. These alkaloids share a core structure formed through the nonenzymatic Mannich-like decarboxylative condensation of the N-methyl Delta(1)-pyrrolinium cation with 2-O-malonylphenyllactate. This research provides insights into the complexity of the A. belladonna root metabolome and lays the foundation for further exploration of the biosynthesis, function, and potential applications of these novel alkaloids.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jean Bosco Shingiro, Prakash K. Shee, Randolph M. Beaudry, Deepa Thiagarajan, Leslie D. Bourquin, Kevin D. Walker
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between potato-taste defect (PTD) positive coffee samples and the concentrations of certain flavor compounds formed during coffee roasting. The results showed that these compounds played an important role in PTD occurrence. Regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between PTD-negative samples and the ratios of IBMP:EDMP and IBMP:FFT. Further research is needed to understand why increases in PTD-associated compounds are correlated with PTD-negative scores.
ACS FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chelsea K. Thornburg, Tyler Walter, Kevin D. Walker
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruth Muchiri, Kevin D. Walker