Publications by authors named "Gytis Druteika"

The widespread TnpB proteins of IS200/IS605 transposon family have recently emerged as the smallest RNA-guided nucleases capable of targeted genome editing in eukaryotic cells. Bioinformatic analysis identified TnpB proteins as the likely predecessors of Cas12 nucleases, which along with Cas9 are widely used for targeted genome manipulation. Whereas Cas12 family nucleases are well characterized both biochemically and structurally, the molecular mechanism of TnpB remains unknown.

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Transposition has a key role in reshaping genomes of all living organisms. Insertion sequences of IS200/IS605 and IS607 families are among the simplest mobile genetic elements and contain only the genes that are required for their transposition and its regulation. These elements encode tnpA transposase, which is essential for mobilization, and often carry an accessory tnpB gene, which is dispensable for transposition.

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The prospects of industrial uses of microbial enzymes have increased greatly during the 21st century. Fused lipolytic enzymes (where one or both fused domains possess lipolytic activity) is a rapidly growing group of industrial biocatalysts. However, the most effective fusion strategy, catalytic behavior of each domain and influence of added linkers on physicochemical and kinetic characteristics of such biocatalysts has not been yet explored.

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This study presents a new microbial lipolytic enzyme GD-95RM designed via random mutagenesis using previously characterized GD-95 lipase as a template. The improvement in activity of GD-95 lipase was caused by E100K, F154V and V174I mutations. Compared with GD-95 lipase, the GD-95RM lipase had 1.

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In this study three lipases GD-28, GD-95 and GD-66 (all 43 kDa in size), isolated from Geobacillus spp. were subjected to directed evolution experiments to yield a new synthetic lipolytic enzyme. This new lipase, obtained by DNA shuffling and epPCR, was named GDlip43 (also 43 kDa in size).

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Lipases are used as biocatalysts in industrial processes mainly because of their stability at broad temperature and pH range, resistance to organic solvents and wide spectrum of substrates. The usage of several lipolytic domains, each with different activity and resistance profiles, enables both the flexibility and efficiency of industrial processes. In this study, GD-95 and GD-66 lipases produced by Geobacillus sp.

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