The GTP responsiveness of PI5P4Kβ evolved from a compromised trade-off between activity and specificity.

Unlike most kinases, phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase β (PI5P4Kβ) utilizes GTP as a physiological phosphate donor and regulates cell growth under stress (i.e., GTP-dependent stress resilience).

Exploration and structure-based engineering of alkenal double bond reductases catalyzing the CαCβ double bond reduction of coniferaldehyde.

Lignin, a complex aromatic polymer, represents a significant obstacle in lignocellulosic biomass utilization. The polymerization of lignin occurs by radical couplings, which mainly form ether and C-C bonds between monolignol units. The chemical stability of these bonds between monolignol units causes the recalcitrant nature of lignin.

FAD-dependent -glycoside-metabolizing enzymes in microorganisms: Screening, characterization, and crystal structure analysis.

-glycosides have a unique structure, in which an anomeric carbon of a sugar is directly bonded to the carbon of an aglycone skeleton. One of the natural -glycosides, carminic acid, is utilized by the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, for a total of more than 200 tons/y worldwide. However, a metabolic pathway of carminic acid has never been identified.

Characterization of a novel type of carbonic anhydrase that acts without metal cofactors.

Background: Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are universal metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible conversion of carbon dioxide (CO) and bicarbonate (HCO). They are involved in various biological processes, including pH control, respiration, and photosynthesis. To date, eight evolutionarily unrelated classes of CA families (α, β, γ, δ, ζ, η, θ, and ι) have been identified.

Author Correction: Iron acquisition system of Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6, a degrader of lignin-derived aromatic compounds.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Iron acquisition system of Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6, a degrader of lignin-derived aromatic compounds.

Iron, an essential element for all organisms, acts as a cofactor of enzymes in bacterial degradation of recalcitrant aromatic compounds. The bacterial family, Sphingomonadaceae comprises various degraders of recalcitrant aromatic compounds; however, little is known about their iron acquisition system. Here, we investigated the iron acquisition system in a model bacterium capable of degrading lignin-derived aromatics, Sphingobium sp.

The crystal structure of a new O-demethylase from Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6.

Unlabelled: In the cell, tetrahydrofolate (H folate) derivatives with a C1 unit are utilized in various ways, such as for the synthesis of amino acids and nucleic acids. While H folate derivatives with the C1 unit are typically produced in the glycine cleavage system, Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6, which can utilize lignin-derived aromatic compounds as a sole source of carbon and energy, lacks this pathway, probably due to its unique nutrient requirements.

Inhibition on Numb/Notch signal pathway enhances radiosensitivity of lung cancer cell line H358.

The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of the Numb/Notch signal pathway on the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cell line H358. MTT assay and colony forming assay were used to detect the effects of different doses of X-rays and MW167 on the in vitro proliferation of the lung cancer cell line H358. Flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the effects of X rays on the apoptosis of H358.

Nimotuzumab enhances the radiosensitivity of cancer cells in vitro by inhibiting radiation-induced DNA damage repair.

Background: Nimotuzumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody specifically targeting EGFR. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of nimotuzumab in its effects of enhancing cancer cell radiosensitivity.

Principal Finding: Lung cancer A549 cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells were pretreated with or without nimotuzumab for 24 h before radiation to perform the clonogenic survival assay and to analyze the cell apoptosis by flow ctyometry.