Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Du, Minlong Wang, Yan Chen, Yunyan Deng, Lulu Zhang, Tianlang Bai, Mingshan Ji
Summary: Monochoria korsakowii poses a growing threat to rice production in China, especially in Liaoning province. This study collected 30 field populations of M. korsakowii from 11 rice-growing regions in Liaoning and found that 97% of the populations had developed resistance to bensulfuron-methyl. Genetic analysis revealed that Pro197 mutations in AHAS1 and AHAS2 genes were the primary resistance mechanism, with double Pro197Ser mutations conferring higher resistance. This research deepens our understanding of resistance status and mechanisms in M. korsakowii.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Mauricio Alfredo Tcach, Alejandra Mabel Landau, Alex Montenegro, Daniel Diaz, Carlos Acuna, Alberto Raul Prina
Summary: A new mutation conferring tolerance to IMI in cotton was isolated in this research, showing promising potential for the development of commercial cotton cultivars with IMI tolerance. The mode of inheritance of this trait was determined, and field assays confirmed the increased tolerance of the mutant line compared to non-tolerant genotypes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucie Meyer, Fanny Pernin, Severine Michel, Geraldine Bailly, Bruno Chauvel, Valerie Le Corre, Christophe Delye
Summary: Assessing the capacity of weeds to develop herbicide resistance before it occurs in the field is crucial for effective chemical weed control. This study used herbicide selection and controlled crosses to accelerate the evolution of resistance to two commonly used herbicides in Ambrosia artemisiifolia. The results showed that non-target-site-based resistance (NTSR) to herbicides was significantly increased in just two generations of selection. NTSR to the tested herbicides emerged and was reinforced in subsequent generations. Further bioassays confirmed the emergence of resistance to imazamox and/or tribenuron in multiple A. artemisiifolia populations. NTSR was found to be the predominant type of resistance, with only one population showing a mutant ALS allele in addition to NTSR. This study highlights the importance of pre-emptive assessment of resistance evolution in weed populations.
Article
Agronomy
Valentina Anastasini, Mara Belen Depetris, Ana Claudia Ochogavia, Graciela Nestares, Gabriela Breccia
Summary: In wheat, cultivars resistant to imidazolinone herbicides are crucial for weed management. This study evaluated the effect of imazamox on single-gene and two-gene resistant lines, finding variations in transcriptional levels and root damage between the lines. Despite both resistant lines showing high whole-plant resistance, the two-gene resistant cultivars may be more effective in avoiding negative impacts from herbicide residues.
Article
Plant Sciences
Norazua Zakaria, Rabiatuladawiyah Ruzmi, Salmah Moosa, Norhayu Asib, Dzarifah Zulperi, Siti Izera Ismail, Muhammad Saiful Ahmad-Hamdani
Summary: This study revealed the resistance mechanism of L. flava population to AHAS inhibitors, showing that this aquatic weed has developed resistance to these herbicides.
PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ane Valera, Shan Wang, Reuben Carr, Laurent Trembleau, Hai Deng
Summary: The biochemical characterization of a new KARI (MtKARI-II) from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant with a similar kinetic profile to class I KARIs is reported here. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that MtKARI-II is clustered into a class II KARI superfamily.
Article
Agronomy
Yue Guo, Changle Liu, Weihua Long, Jianqin Gao, Jiefu Zhang, Song Chen, Huiming Pu, Maolong Hu
Summary: With the increasing promotion of simplified rapeseed cultivation, the development of cultivars with high resistance to herbicides is urgently needed. In this study, a novel mutant DS3 with high sulfonylurea resistance was obtained through ethyl methane sulfonate mutagenesis. The mutant harbored two mutations in the acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) genes and showed a synergistic effect that greatly increased herbicide resistance.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tatsuya Kato, Mai Kano, Ami Yokomori, Junya Azegami, Hesham A. El Enshasy, Enoch Y. Park
Summary: The mitochondrial membrane potential of the riboflavin-overproducing Ashbya gossypii mutant was decreased compared to the wild type strain, resulting in increased reactive oxygen species. It was discovered that flavoproteins and branched-chain amino acids play crucial roles in riboflavin production.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fanfei Meng, Pengcheng Mi, Zhenwu Yu, Wei Wei, Li Gao, Jinzhou Ren, Zhengming Li, Huanqin Dai
Summary: Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) is an important enzyme in plants and microbes, and its activity can be inhibited by sulfonylureas, leading to the blockage of branched chain amino acid synthesis and causing death in plants and microbes. In this study, several 5-substituted sulfonylureas showed better antifungal activity than Fluconazole and amphotericin B. The structure-activity relationship was analyzed, highlighting the impact of the 5-substituted groups on antimicrobial bioactivity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Leandro O. Costa, Joanei Cechin, Mauro A. Rizzardi, Sara L. Martin, Connie A. Sauder, Fernando S. Adegas, Magali F. Grando
Summary: The study found that radish and wild radish biotypes resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides exhibit ALS gene mutations and changes in enzyme kinetic parameters, resulting in reduced herbicide affinity at the target site and resistance to herbicides.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hudson K. Takano, Zoltan L. Benko, Moriah M. Zielinski, Adel Hamza, Christopher A. Kalnmals, Joshua J. Roth, Karla Bravo-Altamirano, Thomas Siddall, Norbert Satchivi, Jeffrey B. Church, Dilpreet S. Riar
Summary: Herbicides are effective tools for managing weeds and ensuring food production. Corteva Agriscience R&D has discovered new diphenyl-ether compounds with excellent postemergent efficacy on important weed species and corn safety. Through research in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and computational modeling, the primary mode of action for these compounds was elucidated as targeting the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme. These compounds have a unique biochemical profile and show excellent herbicidal activity and corn selectivity, making them a significant development in the search for novel, safe, and sustainable weed control solutions.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shmuel Galili, Joseph Hershenhorn, Marvin Edelman, Vladimir Sobolev, Evgeny Smirnov, Orit Amir-Segev, Aharon Bellalou, Evgenia Dor
Summary: Chickpea is an important crop in Israel, but sensitive to imidazolinone herbicides. A chickpea line resistant to these herbicides was developed using chemical mutagenesis, with a point mutation detected in one of the genes encoding the AHAS catalytic subunit. The mutation provided resistance to a specific group of herbicides and showed single-gene semi-dominant inheritance pattern, as confirmed by genetic transformation in tobacco plants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Candelario Palma-Bautista, Pablo Belluccini, Jose G. Vazquez-Garcia, Ricardo Alcantara-de la Cruz, Francisco Barro, Joao Portugal, Rafael De Prado
Summary: The weed Carduus acanthoides L. has started invading GM crop production systems in Argentina, where glyphosate and 2,4-D are commonly used herbicides. In 2020, a population of C. acanthoides was found to have multiple resistance to both herbicides. The resistance mechanism for glyphosate was a Pro-106 mutation in the EPSPS gene, while resistance to 2,4-D was due to enhanced metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450. This is the first reported case of resistance to glyphosate and 2,4-D in C. acanthoides worldwide.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Berdien De Beer, Ernesto Villacis-Perez, Mousaalreza Khalighi, Corinna Saalwaechter, Marilou Vandenhole, Wim Jonckheere, Ibrahim Ismaeil, Sven Geibel, Thomas Van Leeuwen, Wannes Dermauw
Summary: This study found that resistance to the organotin acaricide FBO in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae is polygenic. Two QTLs on chromosome 1 were associated with FBO resistance, and several cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP) genes, including CYP392E4, CYP392E6 and CYP392E11, were located near the second QTL. A unique V89A mutation in the subunit c of mitochondrial ATP-synthase, located near the first QTL, was found to be enriched in the resistant parents and selected populations. Marker-assisted introgression experiments demonstrated a significant effect of the V89A mutation on the toxicity of organotin acaricides.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Wei Li, Jinze Pei, Yang Chen, Guangshan Xuan
Summary: In this study, sulfonylureas containing imidazole heterocycles were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity. The compound showed good inhibitory effects on ALS and certain phytopathogenic fungi, providing a foundation for further optimization of structure and synthesis of derivatives.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liam A. Wilson, Marcelo M. Pedroso, Rosely A. Peralta, Lawrence R. Gahan, Gerhard Schenk
Summary: Biomimetics have potential applications in biotechnology and medicine, and are often used as benchmarks for studying more complex biological systems. However, the catalytic efficiencies of synthetic systems are often inferior to their biological counterparts due to their smaller size and lower complexity. Nonetheless, artificial catalysts inspired by biology have been developed to mimic various chemical transformations. In this article, we discuss biomimetics of the metallohydrolase purple acid phosphatase (PAP) and the seminal contributions of Prof. Ademir Neves and his group in designing ligands that mimic the active site of PAP.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Letter
Chemistry, Organic
Andrei G. G. Kutateladze, Roderick W. W. Bates, Mikhail Elyashberg, Craig M. M. Williams
Summary: Researchers used chemical intuition and Computer Assisted Structure Elucidation (CASE) and DFT methods to reassign unusual polyenols that violate chemical principles as the nucleosides adenosine and uridine.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hiyori Takebe, Nana Yoshino, Yukako Shimada, Craig M. Williams, Seijiro Matsubara
Summary: The first diastereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted cubanes was achieved using a chiral auxiliary. At least three substituents must be introduced at the appropriate positions to establish chirality within the cubane skeleton. The ready conversion of cubane carboxylic acid to a chiral amide, followed by sequential ortho-selective deprotonations and electrophilic trapping, resulted in the formation of 1,2,3-trisubstituted cubanes with high diastereoselectivity. This new route offers potential for the preparation of enantio-enriched cubanes.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yan Cheng, Thierry Lonhienne, Mario D. Garcia, Craig M. Williams, Gerard Schenk, Luke W. Guddat
Summary: Amidosulfuron (AS), a commercial sulfonylurea herbicide, effectively targets dicot broadleaf weeds by inhibiting acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) in the plants. The crystal structure analysis shows that AS lacks a second aromatic ring compared to other AHAS-inhibiting herbicides, but still exhibits potent herbicidal activity through accumulative inhibition. This study highlights the importance of accumulative inhibition in designing effective herbicides targeting plant AHAS.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vindi M. Jayasinghe-Arachchige, Leonardo F. Serafim, Qiaoyu Hu, Cihan Ozen, Sreerag N. Moorkkannur, Gerhard Schenk, Rajeev Prabhakar
Summary: The hydrolytic activities of hetero- and homobinuclear metallovariants of an asymmetric or symmetric ligand with Fe-III-Zn-II, Zn-II-Zn-II, and Cu-II-Cu-II cores are studied using DFT calculations. The effects of different nucleophiles, coordination numbers, para substituents of the linker, and an external electric field on the energetics of these reactions are computed. The study highlights the influence of critical chemical factors on phosphoester hydrolysis and provides insights for designing versatile metal complexes for various reactions and applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Maria Eduarda Sevilla, Mario D. D. Garcia, Yunierkis Perez-Castillo, Vinicio Armijos-Jaramillo, Santiago Casado, Karla Vizuete, Alexis Debut, Liliana Cerda-Mejia
Summary: Due to the lack of efficient treatment of plastic waste, extensive plastic production has become a serious environmental and health problem. This study focuses on the enzymatic degradation of PET by IsPETase, a cutinase-like enzyme, to completely break down the polymer. Through rational design and mutation of the active site, the researchers were able to enhance the PET-degrading activity of IsPETase, particularly with the S238Y mutant. The modified enzyme showed a 3.3-fold increase in degradation activity compared to the wild-type enzyme and was capable of breaking down highly crystalline PET found in commercial soft drink bottles.
Article
Microbiology
Karen Rodriguez, Marcelo Pedroso, Audrey Harris, Shivani Garg, Damian Hine, Michael Kopke, Gerhard Schenk, Esteban Marcellin
Summary: The challenge of limiting global warming to below 1.5°C requires immediate implementation of new technologies and practices in all industries. The aviation industry, which accounts for 2% of human-induced CO2 emissions and 12% of all transport emissions, has faced difficulties in decarbonizing due to its heavy reliance on high-density liquid fuels. The use of sustainable aviation fuels, derived from first-generation agricultural feedstocks, also creates a trade-off between biomass for food and energy generation. Developing electric aircraft has also presented challenges in decarbonizing aviation. Gas fermentation technologies, utilizing greenhouse gases from food production and waste, offer a feasible alternative for replacing fossil fuels in aviation fuel production, particularly in Australia where there are abundant feedstock resources.
MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Letter
Chemistry, Organic
Roderick W. Bates, Mikhail Elyashberg, Andrei G. Kutateladze, Craig M. Williams
Summary: Using computational methods and chemical intuition, it has been determined that the proposed structure of janthinolide A is incorrect. The material described as janthinolide A is highly likely to be janthinolide C.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ivan M. Novitskiy, Mikhail Elyashberg, Roderick W. Bates, Andrei G. Kutateladze, Craig M. Williams
Summary: The structure of the natural product penicitone, which originally contained a chemically improbable acid chloride functional group, was reassigned to a more probable structure using a combination of chemical knowledge, computer-assisted structure elucidation, and DFT methods.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Nashvin Mikhail Singh Deepak, Andrei G. Kutateladze, Mikhail Elyashberg, Craig M. Williams, Roderick W. Bates
Summary: The proposed structure of arneroma B has been revised from a cyclopentadienone to a 2,4-disubstituted furan. The reassignment has been confirmed by total synthesis of the revised structure.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Yizhou Liu, Benjamin Jian Wen Liang, Naphak Modhiran, G. Paul Savage, Daniel Watterson, Craig M. Williams
Summary: Pirfenidone, an oral medication used for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is proposed to treat post-COVID pneumonia pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, it has side effects. In this study, cubane and cyclooctatetraene (COT) derivatives of pirfenidone were prepared as potential replacements to explore activity changes. The COT derivative showed similar activity and cytotoxicity to pirfenidone in anti-virus and ACE2 inhibition assays.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Da-Yun Jin, Xuejie Chen, Yizhou Liu, Craig M. Williams, Lars C. Pedersen, Darrel W. Stafford, Jian-Ke Tie
Summary: The authors developed a Vitamin K-dependent apoptotic reporter cell line to screen for enzymes associated with Vitamin K-dependent carboxylation. They identified ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) as responsible for warfarin-resistant vitamin K reduction. These findings provide insights into the functions and therapeutic implications of Vitamin K.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tyler Fahrenhorst-Jones, David L. Marshall, Jed. M. Burns, Gregory K. Pierens, Robert E. Hormann, Allison M. Fisher, Paul V. Bernhardt, Stephen J. Blanksby, G. Paul Savage, Philip E. Eaton, Craig M. Williams
Summary: Highly strained cage hydrocarbons have been widely used to explore chemical stability and reactivity, probe physical properties, and as bioactive molecules and in materials discovery. However, the nitrogenous congeners have received less attention. This study presents the synthesis of 1-azahomocubane and its comprehensive characterization, physical property analysis, and chemical reactivity investigation. The findings suggest that nitrogen is well tolerated in a highly strained environment.