Article
Plant Sciences
Simon Miranda, Jorge Lagreze, Anne-Sophie Knoll, Andrea Angeli, Richard Espley, Andrew P. Dare, Mickael Malnoy, Stefan Martens
Summary: In this study, researchers identified putative 3-hydroxylases in two wild Malus species that are capable of producing sieboldin, a specialised secondary metabolite of the dihydrochalcone group. They also discovered key residues mutations in the CYP98A protein of wild accessions that allow it to accept the substrate phloretin, leading to sieboldin accumulation. These findings provide important insights into the biosynthesis of sieboldin in Malus species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David C. Lamb, Tatiana Y. Hargrove, Bin Zhao, Zdzislaw Wawrzak, Jared Goldstone, William David Nes, Steven L. Kelly, Michael R. Waterman, John J. Stegeman, Galina Lepesheva
Summary: Sterol biosynthesis in Methylococcus capsulatus involves a simplified pathway with the key step of sterol 14 alpha-demethylation catalyzed by CYP51. The structure of CYP51fx from M. capsulatus is the first of a bacterial sterol biosynthetic enzyme, suggesting a common evolutionary origin of eukaryotic and bacterial CYP51s. Bioinformatic analysis reveals the presence of CYP51 genes in over 1,000 bacteria, supporting the idea that early eukaryotes may have recruited CYP51 from bacterial sources.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Meghan E. Davies, Daniel Tsyplenkov, Vincent J. J. Martin
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time de novo synthesis of nepetalactone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, overcoming bottleneck in the pathway by introducing exogenous genes and optimizing gene copy numbers. By optimizing the pathway, the researchers were able to achieve high yields of nepetalactone from simple sugar in microtiter plates, paving the way for scalable production of the compound.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lukas S. Wijaya, Carina Rau, Theresa S. Braun, Serif Marangoz, Vincent Spegg, Matthijs Vlasveld, Wiebke Albrecht, Tim Brecklinghaus, Hennicke Kamp, Joost B. Beltman, Jan G. Hengstler, Bob van de Water, Marcel Leist, Stefan Schildknecht
Summary: This study found that the antibiotic NFT can transiently elevate intracellular glutathione levels by regulating the Nrf2-GCL axis, enhancing cells' resistance to various stressors.
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Weixian Li, Xiaohui Ma, Guodong Li, Aili Zhang, Dong Wang, Feiyu Fan, Xiaolin Ma, Xueli Zhang, Zhubo Dai, Zigang Qian
Summary: Tunicosaponins are natural products extracted from Psammosilene tunicoides, with representative aglycones being gypsogenin and quillaic acid. Two novel cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases involved in the biosynthesis of tunicosaponins were identified, and the whole biosynthesis pathway of the tunicosaponin aglycones was successfully reconstituted in yeast.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Freeborn Rwere, Sangchoul Im, Lucy Waskell
Summary: By altering the 140s FMN binding loop of CYPOR, the activity with cyt P450s can be affected, with the mutant activity primarily determined by its ability to reduce ferric cyt P450. The different behaviors of the mutants are mainly due to the altered structure and mobility of the loop.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lemeng Dong, Aldo Almeida, Jacob Pollier, Bekzod Khakimov, Jean-Etienne Bassard, Karel Miettinen, Dan Staerk, Rahimi Mehran, Carl Erik Olsen, Mohammed Saddik Motawia, Alain Goossens, Soren Bak
Summary: Through de novo transcriptomics and comparative genomics, researchers revealed the evolutionary origin of the insect deterrent cucurbitacins in Iberis amara, identifying key enzymes and catalytic steps in cucurbitacin biosynthesis. Additionally, the results showed that cucurbitacin biosynthesis has evolved convergently in different plant families through different biosynthetic routes. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of recurrent evolution and diversification of plant defensive chemicals.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Genlai Dong, Shijie Xu, Shuobo Shi
Summary: This study developed a novel method to produce high levels of C18:1ω-7 fatty acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae while reducing the content of C18:1ω-9. By optimizing enzyme expression and the source of cytochrome b5, the production of C18:1ω-7 was significantly increased, while the content of C18:1ω-9 was greatly reduced in the yeast.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Florencia Tomasina, Jennyfer Martinez, Ari Zeida, Maria Laura Chiribao, Veronica Demicheli, Agustin Correa, Celia Quijano, Laura Castro, Robert H. Carnahan, Paige Vinson, Matt Goff, Tracy Cooper, W. Hayes McDonald, Natalie Castellana, Luciana Hannibal, Paul T. Morse, Junmei Wan, Maik Huttemann, Ronald Jemmerson, Lucia Piacenza, Rafael Radi
Summary: Cytochrome c (cyt c) undergoes reversible conformational changes under biologically relevant conditions, but revealing these alternative conformations at the cell and tissue level is challenging. This study successfully resurrected a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes a key conformational change in cyt c and showed similar performance to the original mAb. Using this antibody, alternative conformations of cyt c were identified in cells under oxidative or senescence-induced challenge, and these conformations translocated to the nucleus without causing apoptosis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Soudeh Bahramian Nasab, Ahmad Homaei, Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente, Jon Del Arco, Jesus Fernandez-Lucas
Summary: The use of marine enzymes as catalysts for biotechnological applications is a hot topic. In this study, a liver NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) from the marine fish Liza klunzingeri (LkCPR) was isolated, purified and biochemically characterized. LkCPR showed remarkable catalytic features, such as a wide range of pH and temperature stability, high catalytic activity, and highest thermostability among reported CPRs. These findings suggest that LkCPR has great potential as a biocatalyst.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mlamuli Ndabambi, Ki Yong Kim, Jee-Hyun Jung, Un-Hyuk Yim, Jeong-Eun Oh
Summary: The study investigated the biotransformation and tissue distribution of methylated phenanthrenes in black rockfish, and identified these compounds as potential biomarkers of rockfish exposure to petrogenic PAHs that can be effectively eliminated from the fish's body.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shu-Ming Li, Zheng-Xi Zhang, Zhang-Hai Li
Summary: The highly oxygenated indole alkaloid speradine F (4) with a 6/5/6/5/5/5 hexacyclic skeleton was isolated from a culture of Penicillium palitans, together with its precursors beta-cyclopiazonic acid (beta-CPA, 5) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 1). Gene deletion and heterologous expression led to the identification of the responsible five-gene spe cluster for the speradine skeleton formation. Precursor supply experiments proved that 1 was enzymatically converted, via 2-oxoCPA (2), to speradine A (3), which subsequently undergoes multistep nonenzymatic hydroxylations to 4.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan-Long Yang, Man Zhou, Lin Yang, Markus Gressler, Johannes Rassbach, Jacob M. Wurlitzer, Ying Zeng, Kun Gao, Dirk Hoffmeister
Summary: In this study, the genetic locus responsible for the biosynthesis of panepoxydone in the basidiomycete mushroom Panus rudis was identified. The cytochrome P450 enzyme PanH was characterized as the catalyst for epoxide formation in this pathway. The study also demonstrated the ability to synthesize bioactive epoxycyclohexenone compounds using a PanH-producing yeast as a biocatalyst.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chunshun Li, Yifei Hu, Xiaohua Wu, Spencer D. Stumpf, Yunci Qi, John M. D'Alessandro, Keshav K. Nepal, Ariel M. Sarotti, Shugeng Cao, Joshua A. V. Blodgett
Summary: Rare actinomycetes are a valuable but underexploited source of bioactive compounds. In this study, a targeted metabologenomic approach was used to identify piperazyl compounds in the rare actinomycete Lentzea flaviverrucosa DSM 44664. The discovery of two dimeric biaryl-cyclohexapeptides, petrichorins A and B, with potent anticancer activity, highlights the potential of rare actinomycetes for drug discovery.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin J. Hardy, Alvaro Martin Hermosilla, Dinesh K. Chinthapalli, Carol V. Robinson, J. L. Ross Anderson, Paul Curnow
Summary: In this study, a minimal diheme membrane cytochrome was computationally designed and produced in live bacteria. The synthetic construct mimics a four-helix bundle found in respiratory complexes and has no sequence homology to natural polypeptides. This artificial membrane metalloprotein has the potential to function as an electron transfer module in both synthetic protocells and living systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vlada B. Urlacher, Marco Girhard
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Electrochemistry
Paula Lopes, Katja Koschorreck, Jannik Nedergaard Pedersen, Alexey Ferapontov, Samuel Lorcher, Jan Skov Pedersen, Vlada B. Urlacher, Elena E. Ferapontova
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thomas Hilberath, Leonie M. Windeln, Davide Decembrino, Priska Le-Huu, Florestan L. Bilsing, Vlada B. Urlacher
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna C. Olbrich, Jan N. Schild, Vlada B. Urlacher
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ansgar Bokel, Ansgar Ruehlmann, Michael C. Hutter, Vlada B. Urlacher
Article
Crystallography
Guido J. Reiss, Viada B. Urlacher, U. Joost Luelf
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KRISTALLOGRAPHIE-NEW CRYSTAL STRUCTURES
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nina Jankowski, Katja Koschorreck, Vlada B. Urlacher
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Davide Decembrino, Esther Ricklefs, Stefan Wohlgemuth, Marco Girhard, Katrin Schullehner, Guido Jach, Vlada B. Urlacher
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Davide Decembrino, Marco Girhard, Vlada B. Urlacher
Summary: The study demonstrated that triggering CueO activity by adding CuSO4 in vivo can facilitate the conversion of phenolic compounds by E. coli cells. Subsequently, a four-step cascade reaction was successfully used to convert coniferyl alcohol to the valuable plant lignan (-)-matairesinol.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vlada B. Urlacher, Katja Koschorreck
Summary: Aryl-alcohol oxidases have a broad substrate spectrum and potential applications in various fields, making them promising biocatalysts. However, the challenge lies in producing sufficient amounts of these enzymes for larger-scale applications.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Crystallography
U. Joost Luelf, Guido J. Reiss, Ansgar Bokel, Vlada B. Urlacher
Summary: The passage describes the crystal structure of a chemical substance, including its crystal system, cell parameters, cell volume, and temperature.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KRISTALLOGRAPHIE-NEW CRYSTAL STRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrea Steinmann, Maurice Finger, Christian Nowacki, Davide Decembrino, Georg Hubmann, Marco Girhard, Vlada B. Urlacher, Stephan Luetz
Summary: This study investigated the biotransformation of coniferyl alcohol to secoisolariciresinol using recombinant Escherichia coli in a stirred-tank reactor. The researchers optimized the production conditions by monitoring the lignan pathway activity and metabolite concentrations. The results showed that copper concentration and substrate-feeding strategy had a significant impact on lignan production.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ansgar Bokel, Michael C. Hutter, Vlada B. Urlacher
Summary: Saturation mutagenesis was used to construct a variant of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 154E1, enabling the effective two-step synthesis of a potential antidepressant. A recombinant E. coli whole-cell system was essential for screening and oxidation of the substrate at a higher scale.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Imola Cs Szigyarto, Judith Mihaly, Andras Wacha, Dora Bogdan, Tunde Juhasz, Gergely Kohut, Gitta Schlosser, Ferenc Zsila, Vlada Urlacher, Zoltan Varga, Ferenc Fulop, Attila Bota, Istvan Mandity, Tamas Beke-Somfai
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. V. Krivitskaya, A. A. Pometun, P. D. Parshin, M. G. Khrenova, V. B. Urlacher, V. I. Tishkov
MOSCOW UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY BULLETIN
(2020)
