Screening and modification of (+)-germacrene A synthase for the production of the anti-tumor drug (-)-β-elemene in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

(-)-β-Elemene is a primary bioactive compound derived from Curcuma wenyujin and has been widely utilized as an anti-tumor agent for various types of cancer. Due to the inefficiency of plant extraction methods for β-elemene, significant efforts have been directed toward the heterogeneous biosynthesis of β-elemene using microbial cell factories. However, there has been less emphasis on the stereochemical configuration of germacrene A and its rearranged product, β-elemene.

Reprogramming the Metabolism of Yeast for High-Level Production of Miltiradiene.

Miltiradiene serves as a crucial precursor in the synthesis of various high-value abietane-type diterpenes, exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities. Previous efforts to enhance miltiradiene production have primarily focused on the mevalonate acetate (MVA) pathway. However, limited emphasis has been placed on optimizing the supply of acetyl-CoA and NADPH.

The triangular relationship between traditional Chinese medicines, intestinal flora, and colorectal cancer.

Over the past decade, colorectal cancer has reported a higher incidence in younger adults and a lower mortality rate. Recently, the influence of the intestinal flora in the initiation, progression, and treatment of colorectal cancer has been extensively studied, as well as their positive therapeutic impact on inflammation and the cancer microenvironment. Historically, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of colorectal cancer via promoted cancer cell apoptosis, inhibited cancer metastasis, and reduced drug resistance and side effects.

Emerging Significance and Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), are membrane-bound vesicles that have many advantages over traditional nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery. Evidence from recent studies indicate that EVs have therapeutic capability with chemical or biological modification. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) were used as a new type of antigens or tumor vaccines in anti-tumor immunotherapy.

Direct speciation analysis of organic mercury in fish and kelp by on-line complexation and stacking using capillary electrophoresis.

To determine organic mercury (Hg) species that could not be detected by ultraviolet (UV), a highly automated on-line complexation method was established, which combined with normal stacking by capillary electrophoresis-diode array detector. The approach was based on the fact that the compounds and complex reagent interacted to form hydrophilic chelates under the effect of the separation voltage, which was effectively separated and detected by UV. Key parameters, such as the type and concentration of complex reagent, separation voltage and so on were systematically investigated.