On the regulation of human D-aspartate oxidase.

The human flavoenzyme D-aspartate oxidase (hDASPO) controls the level of D-aspartate in the brain, a molecule acting as an agonist of NMDA receptors and modulator of AMPA and mGlu5 receptors. hDASPO-induced D-aspartate degradation prevents age-dependent deterioration of brain functions and is related to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Notwithstanding this crucial role, less is known about hDASPO regulation.

Towards a metabolomic approach to investigate iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis.

Iron-sulfur clusters are prosthetic groups that are assembled on their acceptor proteins through a complex machine centered on a desulfurase enzyme and a transient scaffold protein. Studies to establish the mechanism of cluster formation have so far used either in vitro or in vivo methods, which have often resulted in contrasting or non-comparable results. We suggest, here, an alternative approach to study the enzymatic reaction, that is based on the combination of genetically engineered bacterial strains depleted of specific components, and the detection of the enzymatic kinetics in cellular extracts through metabolomics.

Bioclimatic Prosthesis: Experimental dataset for a low-cost Trombe wall to existing social housing refurbishment for an intermediate valley (Chillán) city in the south of Chile.

This dataset is part of the article entitled "Design and experimental study of a low-cost prefab Trombe Wall to improve indoor temperatures in social housing in the Biobío Region in Chile" [1], [2]. The dataset represents the outcome of experimental measurements during a 1-year monitoring campaign to assess the performance of an adaptable and low-cost prefabricated Trombe Wall (TW) with a vertical water storage system. The experiments include periods with mobile insulation during winter nights and external shading during summer which were added to test their effect on the thermal performance.

Evaluation of a combined brown rot decay-chemical delignification process as a pretreatment for bioethanol production from Pinus radiata wood chips.

Wood chips of Pinus radiata softwood were biotreated with the brown rot fungus (BRF) Gloeophyllum trabeum for periods from 4 and 12 weeks. Biodegradation by BRF leads to an increase in cellulose depolymerization with increasing incubation time. As a result, the intrinsic viscosity of holocellulose decreased from 1,487 cm(3)/g in control samples to 783 and 600 cm(3)/g in 4- and 12-week decayed wood chips, respectively.