Efficient Production of the Colorless Carotenoid Phytoene in through Metabolic Engineering.

Phytoene, a colorless carotenoid with unique ultraviolet (UV)-B absorption properties, offers potential for applications in functional food, cosmetics, and therapeutics. However, their low natural yield poses a challenge for large-scale production. This study aims to enhance phytoene production in the oleaginous yeast by introducing a heterologous phytoene synthase gene combined with metabolic engineering approaches.

Scyllatoxin-based peptide design for E. coli expression and HIV gp120 binding.

Targeting the hydrophobic Phe43 pocket of HIV's envelope glycoprotein gp120 is a critical strategy for antiviral interventions due to its role in interacting with the host cell's CD4. Previous inhibitors, including small molecules and CD4 mimetic peptides based on scyllatoxin, have demonstrated significant binding and neutralization capabilities but were often chemically synthesized or contained non-canonical amino acids. Microbial expression using natural amino acids offers advantages such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, and efficient production of fusion proteins.

Augmentation of NK-cell activity and immunity by combined natural polyphenols and saccharides in vitro and in vivo.

Curcuma longa and Sargassum coreanum are commonly used in traditional pharmaceutical medicine to improve immune function in chronic diseases. The present study was designed to systematically elucidate the in vitro and in vivo immuno-enhancing effects of a combination of C. longa and S.

High-Performance Electrochromic Devices Based on Size-Controlled 2D WO Nanosheets Prepared Using the Intercalation Method.

It is difficult to obtain ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) tungsten trioxide (WO) nanosheets through direct exfoliation from bulk WO in solution due to the strong bonding between interlayers. Herein, WO nanosheets with controllable sizes were synthesized via K intercalation and the exfoliation of WO powder using sonication and temperature. Because of the intercalation and expansion in the interlayer distance, the intercalated WO could be successfully exfoliated to produce a large quantity of individual 2D WO nanosheets in -methyl-2-pyrrolidone under sonication.

Fisetin Inhibits UVA-Induced Expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 through the NOX/ROS/MAPK Pathway in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Human Epidermal Keratinocytes.

Fisetin is a flavonoid found in plants and has been reported to be effective in various human diseases. However, the effective mechanisms of ultraviolet-A (UVA)-mediated skin damage are not yet clear. In this study, we investigated the protective mechanisms of fisetin regarding UVA-induced human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) damages.

Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for sustainable ricinoleic acid production: A pathway to free fatty acid synthesis.

Ricinoleic acid (C18:1-OH, RA) is a valuable hydroxy fatty acid with versatile applications. The current industrial source of RA relies on the hydrolysis of castor bean oil. However, the coexistence of the toxic compound ricin and the unstable supply of this plant have led to an exploration of promising alternatives: generating RA in heterologous plants or microorganisms.

Enhancing the thermostability and activity of glycosyltransferase UGT76G1 via computational design.

The diterpene glycosyltransferase UGT76G1, derived from Stevia rebaudiana, plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of rebaudioside A, a natural sugar substitute. Nevertheless, its potential for industrial application is limited by certain enzymatic characteristics, notably thermostability. To enhance the thermostability and enzymatic activity, we employed a computational design strategy, merging stabilizing mutation scanning with a Rosetta-based protein design protocol.

ANCA: artificial nucleic acid circuit with argonaute protein for one-step isothermal detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Endonucleases have recently widely used in molecular diagnostics. Here, we report a strategy to exploit the properties of Argonaute (Ago) proteins for molecular diagnostics by introducing an artificial nucleic acid circuit with Ago protein (ANCA) method. The ANCA is designed to perform a continuous autocatalytic reaction through cross-catalytic cleavage of the Ago protein, enabling one-step, amplification-free, and isothermal DNA detection.

Pushing ML Predictions Into DBMSs.

In the past decade, many approaches have been suggested to execute ML workloads on a DBMS. However, most of them have looked at in-DBMS ML from a training perspective, whereas ML inference has been largely overlooked. We think that this is an important gap to fill for two main reasons: (1) in the near future, every application will be infused with some sort of ML capability; (2) behind every web page, application, and enterprise there is a DBMS, whereby in-DBMS inference is an appealing solution both for efficiency (e.

Design of hypoxia responsive CRISPR-Cas9 for target gene regulation.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a widely used gene-editing tool, offering unprecedented opportunities for treating various diseases. Controlling Cas9/dCas9 activity at specific location and time to avoid undesirable effects is very important. Here, we report a conditionally active CRISPR-Cas9 system that regulates target gene expression upon sensing cellular environmental change.

The Distinctive Permutated Domain Structure of Periplasmic α-Amylase (MalS) from Glycoside Hydrolase Family 13 Subfamily 19.

Periplasmic α-amylase MalS (EC. 3.2.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Complex Regulates Inflammatory Cytokine Production through the Hyaluronic Acid Pathway.

In this study, we aimed to develop natural and/or functional materials with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We obtained extracts from natural plants through an oil and hot-water extraction process and prepared an extract composite of an effective unsaturated fatty acid complex (EUFOC). Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of the extract complex was evaluated, and the anti-inflammatory effect was explored by assessing its inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production through its HA-promoting effect.

Effects of taxifolin from enzymatic hydrolysis of on hair growth promotion.

Flavonoid aglycones possess biological activities, such as antioxidant and antidiabetic activities compared to glycosides. Taxifolin, a flavonoid aglycones, is detected only in trace amounts in nature and is not easily observed. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the hair tonic and hair loss inhibitors effect of taxifolin, high content of taxifolin aglycone extract was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis.

Hypercompact adenine base editors based on transposase B guided by engineered RNA.

Transposon-associated transposase B (TnpB) is deemed an ancestral protein for type V, Cas12 family members, and the closest ancestor to UnCas12f1. Previously, we reported a set of engineered guide RNAs supporting high indel efficiency for Cas12f1 in human cells. Here we suggest a new technology whereby the engineered guide RNAs also manifest high-efficiency programmable endonuclease activity for TnpB.

Ligation-free isothermal nucleic acid amplification.

In this study, we uncover a ligation-free DNA extension method in two adjacent fragmented probes, which are hybridized to target RNA, for developing a ligation-free nucleic acid amplification reaction. In this reaction, DNA elongation occurs from a forward probe to a phosphorothioated-hairpin probe in the presence of target RNA regardless of ligation. The second DNA elongation then occurs simultaneously at the nick site of the phosphorothioated probe and the self-priming region.

Effect of Intersection Angle of Input Channels in Droplet Generators.

In this paper, we studied the effects of the intersection angle between the inlet channels on the droplet diameter using a COMSOL Multiphysics simulation. We employed the level-set method to study the droplet generation process inside a microfluidic flow device. A flow-focusing geometry was integrated into a microfluidics device and used to study droplet formation in liquid-liquid systems.

Regulation of Cytokines and Dihydrotestosterone Production in Human Hair Follicle Papilla Cells by Supercritical Extraction-Residues Extract of .

This study was conducted to examine the anti-hair loss mechanism of the supercritical fluid extraction-residues extract of by the regulation of cytokine production and hormone function in human dermal follicle papilla cells (HDFPCs). To investigate the modulatory effects on HO-induced cytokines, we measured transforming growth factor-beta and insulin-like growth factor 1 secreted from HDFPCs. To investigate the regulatory effects of supercritical extraction-residues extract of on dihydrotestosterone hormone production, cells were co-incubated with high concentrations of testosterone.

Hemodynamics and Wall Shear Stress of Blood Vessels in Aortic Coarctation with Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation.

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of blood flow in aortic coarctation based on stenotic shape structure, stenosis rate, and the distribution of the wall load delivered into the blood vessels and to predict the impact on aneurysm formation and rupture of blood vessels by using a computational fluid dynamics modeling method. It was applied on the blood flow in abdominal aortic blood vessels in which stenosis occurred by using the commercial finite element software ADINA on fluid-solid interactions. The results of modeling, with an increasing stenosis rate and Reynolds number, showed the pressure drop was increased and the velocity was greatly changed.

Dimeric architecture of maltodextrin glucosidase (MalZ) provides insights into the substrate recognition and hydrolysis mechanism.

Maltodextrin glucosidase (MalZ) is a key enzyme in the maltose utilization pathway in Escherichia coli that liberates glucose from the reducing end of the short malto-oligosaccharides. Unlike other enzymes in the GH13_21 subfamily, the hydrolytic activity of MalZ is limited to maltodextrin rather than long starch substrates, forming various transglycosylation products in α-1,3, α-1,4 or α-1,6 linkages. The mechanism for the substrate binding and hydrolysis of this enzyme is not well understood yet.

Detection of Infectious Viruses Using CRISPR-Cas12-Based Assay.

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has severely influenced public health and economics. For the detection of SARS-CoV-2, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated protein (Cas)-based assays have been emerged because of their simplicity, sensitivity, specificity, and wide applicability. Herein, we have developed a CRISPR-Cas12-based assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.