New thermostable endoglucanase from Spirochaeta thermophila and its mutants with altered substrate preferences.

Endoglucanases are key elements in several industrial applications, such as cellulosic biomass hydrolysis, cellulose fiber modification for the production paper and composite materials, and in nanocellulose production. In all of these applications, the desired function of the endoglucanase is to create nicks in the amorphous regions of the cellulose. However, endoglucanase can be diverted from its activity on the fibers by other substrates-soluble oligosaccharides.

Chemo-enzymatic three-step conversion of glucose to kojic acid.

Kojic acid is an important biomolecule, currently produced by fermentation and having a wide range of potential applications. A faster and more direct chemical route could open the door for its large-scale production and wider utilization in biorefineries. Here we describe an efficient method for the preparation of kojic acid from d-glucose via glucosone by a three-step chemo-enzymatic route.

Construction of Artificial TNF-Binding Proteins Based on the 10th Human Fibronectin Type III Domain Using Bacterial Display.

Construction of antibody mimetics on the base of alternative scaffold proteins is a promising strategy for obtaining new products for medicine and biotechnology. The aim of our work was to optimize the cell display system for the 10th human fibronectin type III domain (Fn3) scaffold protein based on the AT877 autotransporter from Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 and to construct new artificial TNF-binding proteins. We obtained a Fn3 gene combinatorial library and screened it using the bacterial display method.

Enzymatic Processes to Unlock the Lignin Value.

Main hurdles of lignin valorization are its diverse chemical composition, recalcitrance, and poor solubility due to high-molecular weight and branched structure. Controlled fragmentation of lignin could lead to its use in higher value products such as binders, coatings, fillers, etc. Oxidative enzymes (i.

SNP detection using trityl mass tags.

A new method suitable for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection using differential oligonucleotide probe extension has been developed. Sulfur-linked laser-cleavable trityl labels are implemented in this protocol. The method is based on mass spectrometry and utilizes a single surface for affinity purification of extended probes and matrix-independent desorption-ionization of the cleavable labels.