Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cecile Courreges, Melanie Bonnecaze, Delphine Flahaut, Sophie Nolivos, Regis Grimaud, Joachim Allouche
Summary: This study utilized gold nanoparticles and two mass spectroscopy techniques to obtain a chemical fingerprint of the Escherichia coli cell surface.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlotta Ciaramelli, Alessandro Palmioli, Maura Brioschi, Simona Viglio, Maura D'Amato, Paolo Iadarola, Solveig Tosi, Laura Zucconi, Cristina Airoldi
Summary: In Antarctica, ice-free areas harbor microorganisms adapted to harsh conditions. This study presents an efficient protocol for extracting and metabolically profiling Antarctic soils using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The results demonstrate the complementarity of the two techniques and their suitability for analyzing underexplored samples.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Caitlin M. Tressler, Vinay Ayyappan, Sofia Nakuchima, Ethan Yang, Kanchan Sonkar, Zheqiong Tan, Kristine Glunde
Summary: NMR spectroscopy and MALDI MSI are commonly used methods in metabolomic and lipidomic studies. This study successfully combined these two techniques and highlighted their advantages and capabilities in advancing metabolomic and lipidomic research.
NMR IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Richmond T. Bergner, Sarah Onida, Rahul Velineni, Konstantina Spagou, Manjit S. Gohel, Marielle Bouschbacher, Serge Bohbot, Joseph Shalhoub, Elaine Holmes, Alun H. Davies
Summary: The study aimed to identify potential biomarkers predictive of healing or failure to heal in venous leg ulceration. It found that serum biofluids could differentiate between healing and nonhealing patients, and the ratio of carnitine to ceramide could differentiate between healing phenotypes with 100% sensitivity, 79% specificity, and 91% accuracy. This metabolic signature has potential applications for disease prognostication and development of targeted therapies for venous leg ulceration.
Article
Polymer Science
Olga Trhlikova, Vera Vlckova, Sabina Abbrent, Katerina Valesova, Livia Kanizsova, Katerina Sklenickova, Aleksandra Paruzel, Sonia Bujok, Zuzana Walterova, Petra Innemanova, Martin Halecky, Hynek Benes
Summary: The study found that fully aliphatic PUR foam exhibits significant degradability in microbial degradation, with good biodegradation performance in soil. These results demonstrate that a biologically active PUR foam can be successfully prepared for applications requiring material bioactivity such as biorecycling.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abdul-Hamid Emwas, Kacper Szczepski, Inas Al-Younis, Joanna Izabela Lachowicz, Mariusz Jaremko
Summary: Fluxomics is an innovative research field that measures intracellular flux rates in biological systems, providing insights into molecular interactions and metabolic pathways. It has become increasingly relevant in studying metabolic phenotypes.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maxim S. Kokoulin, Pavel S. Dmitrenok, Lyudmila A. Romanenko
Summary: This article describes a structural study of the R-type lipopolysaccharide isolated from a deep-sea marine Gram-negative bacterium, revealing a novel and unique pentasaccharide skeleton. The study was conducted using a multidisciplinary approach including chemical analyses, NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI mass spectrometry.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Di Feng, Daobing Wang, Dongliang Wang, Qiding Zhong, Guohui Li, Luoqi Zhang, Nannan Chen, Xiaoxian Lin, Shu Miao
Summary: This study used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry to investigate the carbon isotope characteristics of sialic acid in bird's nest products, which can differentiate between natural and synthetic sources. Delta C-13 was proposed as a suitable tool for verifying the authenticity of bird's nest products.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bastian von Holtum, Maximilian Kubot, Christoph Peschel, Uta Rodehorst, Martin Winter, Sascha Nowak, Simon Wiemers-Meyer
Summary: Despite intensive research in lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, the formation of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) in lithium-metal-anode-based battery systems still remains a challenge. This study presents a novel approach using gas, liquid electrolyte, and solid phase accumulation to unravel the SEI compound profile. By leveraging the intrinsic reactivity of lithium metal with the liquid electrolyte, this method offers qualitative and quantitative insights into the wide range of compounds formed in carbonate-based electrolytes through state-of-the-art analytical techniques.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bastian von Holtum, Maximilian Kubot, Christoph Peschel, Uta Rodehorst, Martin Winter, Sascha Nowak, Simon Wiemers-Meyer
Summary: Despite extensive research in lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, there are still unanswered questions regarding the formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) in lithium-metal-anode-based battery systems. This study presents a novel approach that combines the intrinsic behavior of lithium metal with state-of-the-art analytical methods to unravel the compound profile of the SEI. The results reveal the vast variety of compounds formed in carbonate-based electrolytes.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Josiah J. Rensner, Young Jin Lee
Summary: This study developed a highly efficient hydrogen-deuterium exchange technique for more accurate metabolite identification in MALDI-MS imaging, while retaining spatial information. By combining deuterium-labeled matrix and D2O vapor, an HDX efficiency of 73-85% was achieved. This method can systematically improve untargeted metabolite annotation through METASPACE annotation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Chieh Huang, Pierre Tremouilhac, An Nguyen, Nicole Jung, Stefan Braese
Summary: ChemSpectra is a web-based software that visualizes and analyzes spectroscopic data, integrating solutions for various types of spectroscopy. It supports open file formats and can be extended to read other formats, making data interoperable and accessible for further analysis and research.
JOURNAL OF CHEMINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Windi Putri Wulandari, Yongran Ji, Ozlem Erol, Young Hae Choi
Summary: The advances in analytical instrumentation and techniques have provided a foundation for the rapid expansion of metabolomics, but the identification of all existing metabolites in organisms remains a challenge. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) has advantages in chemical profiling and preparative work, making it suitable for metabolite analysis. In this study, HPTLC was used to separate and identify characteristic compounds in four basil cultivars, and the results were compared with other analytical platforms.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anirban Ghosh, Marko Trajkovski, Marie-Paule Teulade-Fichou, Valerie Gabelica, Janez Plavec
Summary: Human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA structures are attractive targets for anticancer drugs. However, the polymorphism of the target complicates drug design. This study reports the discovery of a G-quadruplex ligand that can completely change the fold of the DNA structure, providing valuable insights into the coordination structure of G-quadruplexes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthias Brauser, Tim Heymann, Christina Marie Thiele
Summary: In this study, the intermediate responsible for the acyl transfer in a highly enantioselective tetrapeptide organocatalyst was successfully detected and characterized using NMR-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The formation of complexes between the tetrapeptide and trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diols was also observed, along with monitoring of the acetylation reaction. These findings provide important insights into the understanding of this organocatalyst's mechanism.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Trevor N. Purdy, Min Cheol Kim, Reiko Cullum, William Fenical, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: This study reports a new metabolic deviation in benzylic dehydrogenation reaction, revealing a new synthesis pathway for organic chlorinated compounds. By heterologous expression of oxidoreductase enzymes, divergent oxidative dehydrogenation and pyrrolizine-forming reactions were supported.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tristan de Rond, Julia E. Asay, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: A genome-mining approach was developed to discover biochemical transformations through the analysis of co-occurring enzyme domains in a single protein. This methodology successfully identified new enzymatic activities and provided functional annotation for multidomain enzymes.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Trevor N. Purdy, Bradley S. Moore, April L. Lukowski
Summary: The utilization of ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) intermediates in complex molecule assembly is an efficient strategy designed by Nature and utilized by synthetic chemists. The biosynthetic enzymes that generate o-QMs have great potential for biocatalytic applications, enabling the selective production of desirable compounds that are otherwise difficult to achieve by traditional synthetic methods. Further characterization of these enzymes may lead to the discovery of new enzymes capable of similar chemistry on diverse substrates.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sanjoy Adak, April L. Lukowski, Rebecca J. B. Schafer, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: AETX is a neurotoxin that is deadly to bald eagles in the United States. A recently discovered biosynthetic pathway converts two molecules of tryptophan to AETX using five enzymes, including novel enzymes with unique biochemical functions.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Page N. Daniels, Hyunji Lee, Rebecca A. Splain, Chi P. Ting, Lingyang Zhu, Xiling Zhao, Bradley S. Moore, Wilfred A. van der Donk
Summary: This study identified a new biosynthetic pathway in which glycyl-tRNA is used to attach amino acids to a ribosomally synthesized peptide, generating amino acid-derived natural products. This pathway involves multiple hydroxylations and chemical modifications.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Oussama Yahiaoui, Lauren A. M. Murray, Fengyue Zhao, Bradley S. Moore, Kendall N. Houk, Fang Liu, Jonathan H. George
Summary: We report the first example of a diazo-Hooker reaction, which involves the formation of a phthalazine ring system by the oxidative rearrangement of a diazoketone. Computational studies revealed the reaction mechanism, and a related natural product was used to mimic the biosynthetic origin of the diazoketone functional group.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taylor S. Steele, John K. Brunson, Yukari Maeno, Ryuta Terada, Andrew E. Allen, Mari Yotsu-Yamashita, Jonathan R. Chekan, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: The biosynthetic pathways of domoic acid differ between diatoms and red macroalgae, with the absence of a critical enzyme in red macroalgae. Red macroalgae produce domoic acid via isodomoic acid B, with a unique origin of the rad genes compared to diatoms. The production of domoic acid in diatoms and red macroalgae involves a combination of native eukaryotic CYP450 neofunctionalization and horizontal gene transfer.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katherine D. Bauman, Vikram V. Shende, Percival Yang-Ting Chen, Daniela B. B. Trivella, Tobias A. M. Gulder, Sreekumar Vellalath, Daniel Romo, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: This study reports an enzymatic route to the salinosporamide core and reveals the catalytic role of a ketosynthase, SalC, in transacylation and bond-forming reactions. The crystal structure of SalC and site-directed mutagenesis studies proposed a bicyclization reaction mechanism. This work challenges our understanding of ketosynthase enzymes and provides a foundation for the streamlined production of clinically relevant chemotherapeutics in the future.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Immo Burkhardt, Tristan de Rond, Percival Yang-Ting Chen, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: Octocorals contribute significantly to the chemical diversity of terpenoids in the ocean. Contrary to the conventional belief that natural products in sessile marine animals are primarily synthesized by symbiotic microbes, this study provides evidence of a monophyletic lineage of animal-encoded terpene cyclases (TCs) present in octocorals. The study identified several TC enzymes in octocorals that produce precursors of specific terpenoids unique to corals. The research highlights the biosynthetic capacity of the Animalia kingdom, comparable to plants, and suggests the biotechnological potential of octocorals for biomedical applications.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer H. Wisecaver, Robert P. Auber, Amanda L. Pendleton, Nathan F. Watervoort, Timothy R. Fallon, Olivia L. Riedling, Schonna R. Manning, Bradley S. Moore, William W. Driscoll
Summary: Harmful algal blooms of the toxic haptophyte Prymnesium parvum are a recurrent problem in many inland and estuarine waters around the world. Genomic analysis of 15 diverse strains of P. parvum revealed considerable DNA content variation and identified functional categories associated with metabolic and genome size variation. The results indicate the presence of multiple cryptic species within P. parvum and highlight the need for similar resources for other harmful algal-bloom-forming morphospecies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
April L. Lukowski, Felix M. Hubert, Thuan-Ethan Ngo, Nicole E. Avalon, William H. Gerwick, Bradley S. Moore
Summary: We report the discovery and characterization of an alkynyl halogenase, JamD, which is capable of terminal alkyne halogenation and has broad substrate tolerance. This finding has significant implications for the development of chemoselective biocatalysts, such as the synthesis of haloalkynes.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Amanda T. Alker, Morgan V. Farrell, Alpher E. Aspiras, Tiffany L. Dunbar, Andriy Fedoriouk, Jeffrey E. Jones, Sama R. Mikhail, Gabriella Y. Salcedo, Bradley S. Moore, Nicholas J. Shikuma
Summary: In this study, a modular plasmid toolkit was adapted for use in 12 marine bacteria, and a marine Pseudoalteromonas bacterium was successfully engineered to study its association with its host animal. This work demonstrates the potential of modular genetic tools to be applied to diverse marine bacteria for basic science research and biotechnology innovations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jennifer L. L. Cordoza, Percival Yang-Ting Chen, Linnea R. R. Blaustein, Stella T. T. Lima, Marli F. F. Fiore, Jonathan R. R. Chekan, Bradley S. S. Moore, Shaun M. K. McKinnie
Summary: Researchers have discovered and characterized the biosynthetic pathway of guanitoxin, a neurotoxin containing a cyclic arginine derivative. By comparing the structures and activities, they have identified the amino acid residues that contribute to the catalytic mechanism. This study provides a better understanding of how nature produces cyclic arginine noncanonical amino acids and offers tools for their biocatalytic production and biological applications.
Article
Ecology
Amanda T. Alker, Morgan V. Farrell, Alyssa M. Demko, Trevor N. Purdy, Sanjoy Adak, Bradley S. Moore, Jennifer M. Sneed, Valerie J. Paul, Nicholas J. Shikuma
Summary: The quality of bacteria associated with corals and coral reefs is crucial for coral fitness, as bacteria can stimulate the transition from larval to juvenile life cycle in corals. This study investigates the role of Tetrabromopyrrole (TBP), a small molecule produced by bacteria, in coral metamorphosis. The results show that the gene bmp2 is critical for TBP biosynthesis in the bacteria and its mutation affects the ability of the bacteria to stimulate coral metamorphosis. This study provides new genetic techniques to explore coral-bacteria interactions and has implications for coral restoration.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katherine D. Bauman, Keelie S. Butler, Bradley S. Moore, Jonathan R. Chekan
Summary: With the availability of genetic information for hundreds of thousands of organisms in publicly accessible databases, scientists have unprecedented opportunities to explore the diversity and inner workings of life. By harnessing this information, researchers are able to specifically discover bioactive natural products and their gene clusters using orthogonal genome mining strategies.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2021)