Hyaluronic acid fuels pancreatic cancer cell growth.

Rewired metabolism is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA). Previously, we demonstrated that PDA cells enhance glycosylation precursor biogenesis through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) via activation of the rate limiting enzyme, glutamine-fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT1). Here, we genetically ablated GFAT1 in human PDA cell lines, which completely blocked proliferation in vitro and led to cell death.

The incidence of intraoperative gastric tube malposition verified by Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

Background: Over a million gastric tubes are placed yearly for varying medical reasons including gastric decompression. In the operating room (OR), this is performed blindly, and position is confirmed by auscultation, aspiration, or palpation by a surgeon. Despite the known risks of malpositioned gastric tubes, there is limited data in anesthesia literature about the incidence of intraoperative malpositioned gastric tubes.

In Vivo Imaging of Glutamine Metabolism to the Oncometabolite 2-Hydroxyglutarate in IDH1/2 Mutant Tumors.

The oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) is a signature biomarker in various cancers, where it accumulates as a result of mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). The metabolic source of 2-HG, in a wide variety of cancers, dictates both its generation and also potential therapeutic strategies, but this remains difficult to access in vivo. Here, utilizing patient-derived chondrosarcoma cells harboring endogenous mutations in IDH1 and IDH2, we report that 2-HG can be rapidly generated from glutamine in vitro.

Effect of acetate as a co-feedstock on the production of poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxyalkanoate) by pflA-deficient Escherichia coli RSC10.

Developing Escherichia coli strains that are tolerant to acetate toxicity is important in light of an increased interest in the efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks for the biosynthesis of value-added products. In this study, four strains known to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from the typical hemicellulosic sugar xylose were tested for their tolerance to acetate. E.

Hyperpolarized C pyruvate mouse brain metabolism with absorptive-mode EPSI at 1T.

The expected signal in echo-planar spectroscopic imaging experiments was explicitly modeled jointly in spatial and spectral dimensions. Using this as a basis, absorptive-mode type detection can be achieved by appropriate choice of spectral delays and post-processing techniques. We discuss the effects of gradient imperfections and demonstrate the implementation of this sequence at low field (1.

Consolidated bioprocessing of poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) from xylan as a sole feedstock by genetically-engineered Escherichia coli.

Consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulose is an attractive strategy for the sustainable production of petroleum-based alternatives. One of the underutilized sources of carbon in lignocellulose is the hemicellulosic fraction which largely consists of the polysaccharide xylan. In this study, Escherichia coli JW0885 (pyruvate formate lyase activator protein mutant, pflA(-)) was engineered to express recombinant xylanases and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing enzymes for the biosynthesis of poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(LA-co-3HB)] from xylan as a consolidated bioprocess.

(13)C-labeled biochemical probes for the study of cancer metabolism with dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

In recent years, advances in metabolic imaging have become dependable tools for the diagnosis and treatment assessment in cancer. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has recently emerged as a promising technology in hyperpolarized (HP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and has reached clinical relevance with the successful visualization of [1-(13)C] pyruvate as a molecular imaging probe in human prostate cancer. This review focuses on introducing representative compounds relevant to metabolism that are characteristic of cancer tissue: aerobic glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism, glutamine addiction and glutamine/glutamate metabolism, and the redox state and ascorbate/dehydroascorbate metabolism.

Deletion of the pflA gene in Escherichia coli LS5218 and its effects on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using beechwood xylan as a feedstock.

Engineering of microorganisms to directly utilize plant biomass as a feedstock for the biosynthesis of value-added products such as bioplastics is the aim of consolidated bioprocessing. In previous research we successfully engineered E. coli LS5218 to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from xylan.

Enhanced production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from beechwood xylan by recombinant Escherichia coli.

Microbial conversion of plant biomass to value-added products is an attractive option to address the impacts of petroleum dependency. In this study, a bacterial system was developed that can hydrolyze xylan and utilize xylan-derived xylose for growth and production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). A β-xylosidase and an endoxylanase were engineered into a P(LA-co-3HB)-producing Escherichia coli strain to obtain a xylanolytic strain.

Electron beam pretreatment of switchgrass to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis to produce sugars for biofuels.

Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to value added products such as ethanol and other platform chemicals is enhanced by pretreatment, which reduces the crystallinity and molecular weight of cell wall polymers, thus increasing the available reaction sites. In this study, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was pretreated with high energy electron beam (EB) irradiation to reduce its recalcitrance and achieve higher sugar conversion rates during treatment with cellulases and β-glucosidase.