The Protein Engineering of Zearalenone Hydrolase Results in a Shift in the pH Optimum of the Relative Activity of the Enzyme.

An acidic shift in the pH profile of zearalenone hydrolase (ZHD), the most effective and well-studied zearalenone-specific lactone hydrolase, is required to extend the range of applications for the enzyme as a decontamination agent in the feed and food production industries. Amino acid substitutions were engineered in the active center of the enzyme to decrease the pKa values of the catalytic residues E126 and H242. The T216K substitution provided a shift in the pH optimum by one unit to the acidic region, accompanied by a notable expansion in the pH profile under acidic conditions.

N-linked glycosylation affects catalytic parameters and fluctuation of the active center of Aspergillus awamori exo-inulinase.

Heterogeneous expression of enzymes allows large-scale production with reduced costs. Changes in glycosylation often occur due to changes in the expression host. In the study, the catalytic and biochemical properties of Aspergillus awamori exo-inulinase 1 are compared for A.

Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals Based on Porous Anodic Aluminum Oxide.

Photonic crystals (PCs) consisting of a periodic arrangement of holes in dielectric media have found success in light manipulation and sensing. Among them, three-dimensional (3D) PCs are in high demand due to their unique properties originating from multiple photonic band gaps (PBGs) and even full ones. Here, 3D PCs based on porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) were fabricated for the first time.

Chirp-driven control over fast-slow light effects in epsilon-near-zero metamaterials.

Optical applications based on fast and slow light effects force the usage of metamaterials famous for their flexible dispersion properties. In this work, we apply the unique optical nonlocality of metal nanorod-based epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials along with the chirp of femtosecond laser pulses for astonishing control of these effects. We demonstrate the switching between the fast and slow light phenomena via the change of the angle of incidence and/or the central wavelength of chirped pulses in the vicinity of metamaterial zero-transmission regime mediated by the ENZ nonlocality.

The role of intracellular β-glucosidase in cellulolytic response induction in filamentous fungus Penicillium verruculosum.

In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to knockout the bgl2 gene encoding intracellular β-glucosidase filamentous fungus Penicillium verruculosum. This resulted in a dramatic reduction of secretion of cellulolytic enzymes. The study of P.