Porous hollow microspheres based on industrial solid waste enhance biomethane recovery from corn straw.

The increasing production of industrial solid waste requires better disposal solutions. Porous hollow microspheres (PHM) are small inorganic materials with high surface area and adsorption capacity, but their potential for use in anaerobic digestion (AD) has not been explored. With PHM as additive, the effects of different industrial solid wastes (waste glass, steel slag, and fly ash) with different loadings (2 %-8 %), respectively, on the AD of corn straw were investigated in this study.

In Vitro Fermentation of Beechwood Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes Provides Evidence for Utilization by Gut Bacteria.

Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) are emerging as a new and natural product with pharmacological and nutraceutical potential. It is uncertain, however, whether LCCs have a positive effect on the microbiota of the gut based on the current evidence. Here, the LCC extracted from beechwood (BW-LCC) was used as a substrate for in vitro fermentation.

Lactucin, a Bitter Sesquiterpene from , Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation by Downregulating the MAPK and Central Carbon Metabolism Pathway.

Lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma, is the second most occurring and highest fatality-causing cancer worldwide. Many natural anticancer compounds, such as sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), show promising anticancer properties. Herein, we examined Lactucin, an SL from the plant , for its cytotoxicity, apoptotic-inducing, cell cycle inhibiting capacity, and associated protein expression.

Coordinated regulation of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron glutamate decarboxylase activity by multiple elements under different pH.

Glutamate decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid, which plays a vital role in the gut-brain axis. Herein, a novel glutamate decarboxylase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BTGAD) was heterologously expressed. BTGAD possessed high catalytic efficiency at 60℃ and pH 3.

Engineering the Active Site Pocket to Enhance the Catalytic Efficiency of a Novel Feruloyl Esterase Derived From Human Intestinal Bacteria .

The human gut microbiota play essential roles in metabolism and human health, especially by enzymatically utilizing dietary fiber that the host cannot directly digest and releasing functional components including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and hydroxycinnamic acids (e.g., ferulic acid).

A reverse catalytic triad Asp containing loop shaping a wide substrate binding pocket of a feruloyl esterase from Lactobacillus plantarum.

Feruloyl esterase is an indispensable biocatalyst in food processing, pesticide and pharmaceutical industries, catalyzing the cleavage of the ester bond cross-linked between the polysaccharide side chain of hemicellulose and ferulic acid in plant cell walls. LP_0796 from Lactobacillus plantarum was identified as a feruloyl esterase that may have potential applications in the food industry, but the lack of the substrate recognition and catalytic mechanisms limits its application. Here, LP_0796 showed the highest activity towards methyl caffeate at pH 6.

The α-Helical Cap Domain of a Novel Esterase from Gut Shaping the Substrate-Binding Pocket.

The human gut microbiota regulates nutritional metabolism, especially by encoding specific ferulic acid esterases (FAEs) to release functional ferulic acid (FA) from dietary fiber. In our previous study, we observed seven upregulated FAE genes during fecal slurry fermentation using wheat bran. Here, a 29 kDa FAE (FAE) from of was characterized and identified as the type-A FAE.

Directed evolution of feruloyl esterase from Lactobacillus acidophilus and its application for ferulic acid production.

Producing ferulic acid (FA) from the natural substrate with feruloyl esterase is promising in industries, screening and engineering new enzymes with high efficiency to increase the FA yield is of great concern. Here, the feruloyl esterase of Lactobacillus acidophilus (FAELac) was heterologous expressed and the FAELac with different oligomerization states was separated. Interestingly, the activity of dimer was 37-fold higher than high-polymer.

The Effect of Xylooligosaccharide, Xylan, and Whole Wheat Bran on the Human Gut Bacteria.

Wheat bran is a cereal rich in dietary fibers that have high levels of ferulic acid, which has prebiotic effects on the intestinal microbiota and the host. Herein we explored the effect of xylooligosaccharide, xylan, and whole wheat bran on the human gut bacteria and screened for potential ferulic acid esterase genes. Using fermentation, we analyzed the air pressure, pH-value, and short-chain fatty acid levels.

The Effect of Fibers With Different Degrees of Polymerization on Human Gut Bacteria.

Human gut bacteria contribute significantly to human health and several studies have evaluated the effects of dietary fibers on human gut bacterial ecology. However, the relationship between different degrees of fiber polymerization and human gut bacteria is unknown. Here, we analyzed three fiber substrates with different degrees of polymerization, namely carboxymethylcellulose, β-glucans, and galactooligosaccharides.

Site-directed mutagenesis of coenzyme-independent carotenoid oxygenase CSO2 to enhance the enzymatic synthesis of vanillin.

Vanillin is a popular flavoring compound and an important food additive. Owing to the consumer preference for inexpensive natural aroma flavors, vanillin production through a biotechnological pathway has become of great interest and commercial value in recent years. In this study, an enzymatic synthetic system for vanillin using a coenzyme-independent decarboxylase (FDC) and oxygenase (CSO2) cascade was reconstituted and optimized.

Citrus sinensis MYB transcription factors CsMYB330 and CsMYB308 regulate fruit juice sac lignification through fine-tuning expression of the Cs4CL1 gene.

Lignin is one of the most important components of the plant cell wall, and the expression and transcriptional regulation of lignin biosynthesis-related genes have been studied widely in Arabidopsis and other plants. Citrus fruit juice sacs often undergo lignification, particularly during fruit ripening and storage periods; however, the underlying genetic mechanisms have been little investigated. In this study, we isolated and identified CsMYB330 and CsMYB308 transcription factors, and found that their expression levels are significantly altered during the lignification of citrus fruit juice sacs.

Fungal Immunomodulatory Protein from Suppresses Growth of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma by Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt Pathway.

Lung cancer is a common disease that is associated with poor prognosis. Fungal immunomodulatory protein from (FIP-nha) has potential as a lung cancer therapeutic; as such, illuminating its anti-tumor mechanism is expected to facilitate novel treatment options. Here, we showed that FIP-nha affects lung adenocarcinoma growth ex vivo and in vivo.

A new perspective of using sequential extraction: To predict the deficiency of trace elements during anaerobic digestion.

Trace elements were commonly used as additives to facilitate anaerobic digestion. However, their addition is often blind because of the complexity of reaction conditions, which has impeded their widespread application. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate deficiencies in trace elements during anaerobic digestion by establishing relationships between changes in trace element bioavailability (the degree to which elements are available for interaction with biological systems) and digestion performance.

Structural Insights into the Thermophilic Adaption Mechanism of Endo-1,4-β-Xylanase from Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis.

Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.

Improving the methane yield of maize straw: Focus on the effects of pretreatment with fungi and their secreted enzymes combined with sodium hydroxide.

In order to improve the methane yield, the alkaline and biological pretreatments on anaerobic digestion (AD) were investigated. Three treatments were tested: NaOH, biological (enzyme and fungi), and combined NaOH with biological. The maximum reducing sugar concentrations were obtained using Enzyme T (2.

Expression and Characterization of Windmill Palm Tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) Peroxidase by Pichia pastoris.

Currently, commercial plant peroxidases are all native and are isolated from plants such as horseradish and soybean. No recombinant plant peroxidase products have been available on the commercial market. The gene encoding peroxidase was cloned from windmill palm tree leaves.

Methane Potential and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion of Silage and Dry Cornstalks: a Substrate Exchange Study.

Silage and dry are the two typical cornstalk forms. Either form could be used as substrate in biogas plants and might be replaced by another when shortage occurred. This study focused on the feeding sequence of these two kinds of feedstocks, aiming to discuss their specific methane potential (SMP).

Enhancing anaerobic digestion of cotton stalk by pretreatment with a microbial consortium (MC1).

Microbial pretreatment is beneficial in some anaerobic digestion systems, but the consortia used to date have not been able to effectively increase methane production from cotton stalk. In this study, a thermophilic microbial consortium (MC1) was used for pretreatment in order to enhance biogas and methane production yields. The results indicated that the concentrations of soluble chemical oxygen demand and volatile organic products increased significantly in the early stages of pretreatment.

Comparison and evaluation of concurrent saccharification and anaerobic digestion of Napier grass after pretreatment by three microbial consortia.

Napier grass is potentially a viable feedstock for biofuel production. The present study investigated biological pretreatment of Napier grass by three microbial consortia followed by saccharification and anaerobic digestion. The pretreatment efficiencies of three microbial consortia were compared in terms of degradation ability, saccharide and biogas yield.

Enhancing the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose of municipal solid waste using a microbial pretreatment method.

The use of biological pretreatment in anaerobic digestion systems has some potential; however, to date, these methods have not been able to effectively increase methane production of lignocellulose of municipal solid waste (LMSW). In this study a thermophilic microbial consortium (MC1) was used as a pretreatment method in order to enhance biogas and methane production yields. The results indicated that sCOD concentration increased significantly in the early stages of pretreatment.

Dynamic changes in the composite microbial system MC1 during and following its rapid degradation of lignocellulose.

To monitor the dynamics of the composite microbial system MC1 during its degradation of lignocellulose and to improve our understanding of the microbial communities involved in this biomass conversion, MC1 was characterized at eight time points over an 18-day, thermophilic, aerobic, static cultivation. We found the microbial communities to be dynamic, rhythmic consortia capable of changing in response to lignocellulose degradation. The growth curve over 18 days was M-shaped.