Design and development of spectrophotometric enzymatic cyanide assays.

Determination of free cyanide (fCN) is required for various industrial, environmental, food, and clinical samples. Enzymatic methods are not widely used in this field despite their selectivity and mild conditions. Therefore, we present here a proof of concept for new spectrophotometric enzymatic assays of fCN.

Cell-free reduction of carboxylic acids with secreted carboxylic acid reductase.

Mycobacterium marinum CAR (MmCAR) is one of the most widely used CARs as the key enzyme for the synthesis of aldehydes, alcohols and further products from the respective carboxylic acids. Herein, we describe the first functionally secreted 131 kDa CAR and its isolated A-domain using Komagataella phaffii and a methanol-free constitutive expression strategy. Precipitated and lyophilized MmCAR (500 µg) was isolated from the culture supernatant and showed no decrease in activity for piperonylic acid (80% conversion), even when stored for up to 3 weeks at 4°C.

Bio-Based Valorization of Lignin-Derived Phenolic Compounds: A Review.

Lignins are the most abundant biopolymers that consist of aromatic units. Lignins are obtained by fractionation of lignocellulose in the form of "technical lignins". The depolymerization (conversion) of lignin and the treatment of depolymerized lignin are challenging processes due to the complexity and resistance of lignins.

Dual mode of IFI16 binding to supercoiled and linear DNA: A closer insight.

IFI16 (Interferon inducible protein 16) is a DNA sensor responsible for innate immune response stimulation and a direct viral restriction by modulating gene expression and replication. Many IFI16-DNA binding properties were described - length-dependent and sequence-independent binding, oligomerization of IFI16 upon recognition, sliding on the DNA, and preference for supercoiled DNA. However, the question of the role of IFI16-DNA binding in distinct IFI16 functions remains unclear.

Organic Acid to Nitrile: A Chemoenzymatic Three-Step Route.

Various widely applied compounds contain cyano-groups, and this functional group serves as a chemical handle for a whole range of different reactions. We report a cyanide free chemoenzymatic cascade for nitrile synthesis. The reaction pathway starts with a reduction of carboxylic acid to aldehyde by carboxylate reductase enzymes (CARs) applied as living cell biocatalysts.

Laccases and Tyrosinases in Organic Synthesis.

Laccases (Lac) and tyrosinases (TYR) are mild oxidants with a great potential in research and industry. In this work, we review recent advances in their use in organic synthesis. We summarize recent examples of Lac-catalyzed oxidation, homocoupling and heterocoupling, and TYR-catalyzed -hydroxylation of phenols.

Metabolism of Aldoximes and Nitriles in Plant-Associated Bacteria and Its Potential in Plant-Bacteria Interactions.

In plants, aldoximes per se act as defense compounds and are precursors of complex defense compounds such as cyanogenic glucosides and glucosinolates. Bacteria rarely produce aldoximes, but some are able to transform them by aldoxime dehydratase (Oxd), followed by nitrilase (NLase) or nitrile hydratase (NHase) catalyzed transformations. Oxds are often encoded together with NLases or NHases in a single operon, forming the aldoxime-nitrile pathway.

Chemoenzymatic one-pot reaction from carboxylic acid to nitrile oxime.

We report a new chemoenzymatic cascade starting with aldehyde synthesis by carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) followed by chemical oxime formation. The final step to the nitrile is catalyzed by aldoxime dehydratase (Oxd). Full conversions of phenylacetic acid and hexanoic acid were achieved in a two-phase mode.

Biobased Waterborne Polyurethane-Ureas Modified with POSS-OH for Fluorine-Free Hydrophobic Textile Coatings.

Waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions (WPUD), which are based on fully biobased amorphous polyester polyol and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), have been successfully synthesized obtaining a finishing agent that provides textiles with an enhanced hydrophobicity and water column. Grafting of trans-cyclohexanediol isobutyl POSS (POSS-OH) to the biobased polymer backbone has also been investigated for the first time and its properties compared to a standard chain extender, 1,3-propanediol (PDO). The chemical structure of WPUD has been characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Sandwich Structures Reflecting Thermal Radiation Produced by the Human Body.

Far infrared (FIR) textiles are a new category of functional textiles that have presumptive health and well-being functionality and are closely related to human thermo-physiological comfort. FIR exerts strong rotational and vibrational effects at the molecular level, with the potential to be biologically beneficial. In general, after absorbing either sunlight or heat from the human body, FIR textiles are designed to transform the energy into FIR radiation with a wavelength of 4-14 μm and pass it back to the human body.

Biobased Waterborne Polyurethane-Urea/SWCNT Nanocomposites for Hydrophobic and Electrically Conductive Textile Coatings.

Waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions (WPUD), which are based on 100% bio-based semi-crystalline polyester polyol and isophorone diisocyanate, have been successfully synthesized and doped with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to obtain a finishing agent that provides textiles with multifunctional properties. The chemical structure of WPUD has been characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The thermal properties have been evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA).

Plant Nitrilase Homologues in Fungi: Phylogenetic and Functional Analysis with Focus on Nitrilases in and .

Fungi contain many plant-nitrilase (NLase) homologues according to database searches. In this study, enzymes NitTv1 from and NitAb from were purified and characterized as the representatives of this type of fungal NLase. Both enzymes were slightly more similar to NIT4 type than to NIT1/NIT2/NIT3 type of plant NLases in terms of their amino acid sequences.

Genetic and Functional Diversity of Nitrilases in Agaricomycotina.

Nitrilases participate in the nitrile metabolism in microbes and plants. They are widely used to produce carboxylic acids from nitriles. Nitrilases were described in bacteria, Ascomycota and plants.

Overproduction and characterization of the first enzyme of a new aldoxime dehydratase family in Bradyrhizobium sp.

Almost 100 genes within the genus Bradyrhizobium are known to potentially encode aldoxime dehydratases (Oxds), but none of the corresponding proteins have been characterized yet. Aldoximes are natural substances involved in plant defense and auxin synthesis, and Oxds are components of enzymatic cascades enabling bacteria to transform, utilize and detoxify them. The aim of this work was to characterize a representative of the highly conserved Oxds in Bradyrhizobium spp.

Biocatalytic production of mandelic acid and analogues: a review and comparison with chemical processes.

The aim of this study is to summarize the current progress in the design of biocatalytic processes applicable for the production of optically pure mandelic acids and their analogues. These compounds are used as building blocks for pharmaceutical chemistry and as chiral resolving agents. Their enzymatic syntheses mainly employed nitrile hydrolysis with nitrilases, ester hydrolysis, ammonolysis or esterification with lipases or esterases, and ketone reduction or alcohol oxidation with dehydrogenases.

Recent advances and challenges in the heterologous production of microbial nitrilases for biocatalytic applications.

The aim of this study is to review the current state of and highlight the challenges in the production of microbial nitrilases as catalysts for the mild hydrolysis of industrially important nitriles. Together with aldoxime dehydratase, the nitrile-hydrolyzing enzymes (nitrilase, nitrile hydratase) are key enzymes in the aldoxime-nitrile pathway which is widely distributed in bacteria and fungi. The availability of nitrilases has grown significantly over the past decade due to the use of metagenomic and database-mining approaches.

[Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma - Recommendations of the Czech Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group].

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation remains the current standard of treatment for young patients with Hodgkin lymphoma in first relapse or in those who are refractory to first-line treatment. The most important prognostic factors in relapses are clinical stage IV, poor performance status, bulky mass, and less than partial remission after salvage chemotherapy. Standard salvage chemotherapy in relapse before autologous transplantation has not been defined; however, DHAP and ICE are most frequently used in this setting.

The integration of cyanide hydratase and tyrosinase catalysts enables effective degradation of cyanide and phenol in coking wastewaters.

The aim of this study was to design an effective method for the bioremediation of coking wastewaters, specifically for the concurrent elimination of their highly toxic components - cyanide and phenols. Almost full degradation of free cyanide (0.32-20 mM; 8.

Cotton Fabric Coated with Conducting Polymers and its Application in Monitoring of Carnivorous Plant Response.

The paper describes the electrical plant response to mechanical stimulation monitored with the help of conducting polymers deposited on cotton fabric. Cotton fabric was coated with conducting polymers, polyaniline or polypyrrole, in situ during the oxidation of respective monomers in aqueous medium. Thus, modified fabrics were again coated with polypyrrole or polyaniline, respectively, in order to investigate any synergetic effect between both polymers with respect to conductivity and its stability during repeated dry cleaning.

Recombinant Tyrosinase from Polyporus arcularius: Overproduction in Escherichia coli, Characterization, and Use in a Study of Aurones as Tyrosinase Effectors.

Tyrosinases act in the development of organoleptic properties of tea, raisins, etc., but also cause unwanted browning of fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms. The tyrosinase from Agaricus bisporus has been used as a model to study tyrosinase inhibitors, which are also indispensable in the treatment of skin pigmentation disorders.