Further Characterization of Lipase B from Ustilago maydis Expressed in Pichia pastoris: a Member of the Candida antarctica Lipase B-like Superfamily.

Lipases from the basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis are promising but underexplored biocatalysts due to their high homology with Candida antarctica lipases. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of a recombinant CALB-like lipase from U. maydis, expressed in Pichia pastoris (rUMLB), and compares its properties with those of the well-studied recombinant lipase B from C.

Microplate method for regioselective lipase screening with structured punicic acid triglycerides: finding Lip4 lipase as sn-2-regioselective from Candida rugosa isoforms.

In this study, we propose a continuous assay that provides a high-throughput, efficient method for screening the regioselectivity of lipases at the sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions on triacylglycerols (TAGs). This assay measures the specific hydrolysis rates at the primary and secondary positions of TAGs derivates containing oleic (O) and punicic (P) acids. The method is based on the absorbance ratio of released punicic acid from the hydrolysis of sn-POP (sn-1,3 regiospecific lipases) and sn-OPO (sn-2 regiospecific lipases).

Spectrophotometric assay for the screening of selective enzymes towards DHA and EPA ethyl esters hydrolysis.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), hold notable significance due to their pharmaceutical relevance. Obtaining PUFAs from diverse sources like vegetables, fish oils, and algae poses challenges due to the mixed fatty acid (FA) composition. Therefore, focusing on particular FAs necessitates purification and resolution processes.

Thermosensitive chitosan-based hydrogel: A vehicle for overcoming the limitations of nose-to-brain cell therapy.

Cell therapy is a promising strategy for treating neurological pathologies but requires invasive methods to bypass the blood-brain barrier restrictions. The nose-to-brain route has been presented as a direct and less invasive alternative to access the brain. The primary limitations of this route are low retention in the olfactory epithelium and poor cell survival in the harsh conditions of the nasal cavity.

Long chain capsaicin analogues synthetized by CALB-CLEAs show cytotoxicity on glioblastoma cell lines.

Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal tumors, displaying striking cellular heterogeneity and drug resistance. The prognosis of patients suffering from glioblastoma after 5 years is only 5%. In the present work, capsaicin analogues bearing modifications on the acyl chain with long-chain fatty acids showed promising anti-tumoral activity by its cytotoxicity on U-87 and U-138 glioblastoma multiforme cells.

Identification, Antioxidant Capacity, and Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) In Silico Inhibition of Haloarchaeal Carotenoids from sp. and .

Natural pigments from haloarchaea are of great interest; bacterioruberin is the major pigment, it shows higher antioxidant power when compared with β-carotene. However, characterization of bacterioruberin and its isomers along with its antioxidant and the matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) inhibition activities in extracts from sp. TC6 and SU10 was not previously described, being the aim of this work.

Effects of kosmotropic, chaotropic, and neutral salts on Candida antarctica B lipase: An analysis of the secondary structure and its hydrolytic activity on triglycerides.

The effects of different concentrations of Hofmeister salts on the hydrolytic activity on triglycerides and the secondary structure of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) were investigated. Structural changes after short- and long-time incubation at high salt concentrations were determined using circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and RMSD-RMSF simulations. At 5.

Murine experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an update.

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose aetiology is unknown. It is characterised by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration. Approximately 90% of cases of ALS are sporadic, whereas the other 10% are familial.

Screening, synthesis optimization, and scaling-up of phytopathogen antifungals derived from natural hydroxycinnamic acids.

Unlabelled: A simple screening methodology was employed to correlate the structures of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) and their esterified derivatives with their in vitro antifungal activity over f. sp. .

Chitosan-Hydroxycinnamic Acids Conjugates: Emerging Biomaterials with Rising Applications in Biomedicine.

Over the past thirty years, research has shown the huge potential of chitosan in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and regeneration, cancer therapy, and antimicrobial treatments, among others. One of the major advantages of this interesting polysaccharide is its modifiability, which facilitates its use in tailor-made applications. In this way, the molecular structure of chitosan has been conjugated with multiple molecules to modify its mechanical, biological, or chemical properties.

Nose-to-Brain: The Next Step for Stem Cell and Biomaterial Therapy in Neurological Disorders.

Neurological disorders are a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, giving rise to a growing need to develop treatments to revert their symptoms. This review highlights the great potential of recent advances in cell therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. Through the administration of pluripotent or stem cells, this novel therapy may promote neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and neuroregeneration in lesion areas.

Exosomes and Biomaterials: In Search of a New Therapeutic Strategy for Multiple Sclerosis.

Current efforts to find novel treatments that counteract multiple sclerosis (MS) have pointed toward immunomodulation and remyelination. Currently, cell therapy has shown promising potential to achieve this purpose. However, disadvantages such as poor survival, differentiation, and integration into the target tissue have limited its application.

Feruloyl Esterases Protein Engineering to Enhance Their Performance as Biocatalysts: A Review.

Feruloyl esterases (FAEs) are versatile enzymes able to release hydroxycinnamic acids or synthesize their ester derivatives, both molecules with interesting biological activities such as: antioxidants, antifungals, antivirals, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, among others. The importance of these molecules in medicine, food or cosmetic industries provides FAEs with several biotechnological applications as key industrial biocatalysts. However, FAEs have some operational limitations that must be overcome, which can be addressed through different protein engineering approaches to enhance their thermal stability, catalytic efficiencies, and selectivity.

Optimization of Lipopeptide Biosurfactant Production by sp. 4CTb in Batch Stirred-Tank Bioreactors.

Halophilic microorganisms are potentially capable as platforms to produce low-cost biosurfactants. However, the robustness of bioprocesses is still a challenge and, therefore, it is essential to understand the effects of microbiological culture conditions through bioreactor engineering. Based on a design of experiments (DOE) and a response surface methodology (RSM) tailored and taken from the literature, the present work focuses on the evaluation of a composite central design (CCD) under batch cultures in stirred-tank bioreactors with the halophilic bacteria sp.

Potential benefits of structured lipids in bulk compound chocolate: Insights on bioavailability and effect on serum lipids.

The bioavailability impact of serum lipids in compound chocolate products based on structured lipids was studied. Compound chocolate products containing fat with and without structured lipids were digested in vitro under simulated gastrointestinal lipolysis conditions and were studied in vivo in healthy C57BL/6J mice. The in vitro digestion results show that products containing structured lipids, milk compound chocolate filling and white compound coating, significantly reduced the release rate of Free Fatty Acids (FFA) and improved the caloric reduction between 12.

Intranasal Administration of Undifferentiated Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells as a Potential Approach to Deliver Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells into Brain.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) migration is a mechanism involved in remyelination; these cells migrate from niches in the adult CNS. However, age and disease reduce the pool of OPCs; as a result, the remyelination capacity of the CNS decreases over time. Several experimental studies have introduced OPCs to the brain via direct injection or intrathecal administration.

Presenilin mutations and their impact on neuronal differentiation in Alzheimer's disease.

The presenilin genes (PSEN1 and PSEN2) are mainly responsible for causing early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease, harboring ~300 causative mutations, and representing ~90% of all mutations associated with a very aggressive disease form. Presenilin 1 is the catalytic core of the γ-secretase complex that conducts the intramembranous proteolytic excision of multiple transmembrane proteins like the amyloid precursor protein, Notch-1, N- and E-cadherin, LRP, Syndecan, Delta, Jagged, CD44, ErbB4, and Nectin1a. Presenilin 1 plays an essential role in neural progenitor maintenance, neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, synaptic function, neuronal function, myelination, and plasticity.

Approaches for the enzymatic synthesis of alkyl hydroxycinnamates and applications thereof.

Alkyl hydroxycinnamates (AHs) is a group of molecules of biotechnological interest due to their cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical applications. Among their most interesting uses are as UV protectants, skin depigmentation agents, and antioxidant ingredients which are often claimed for their antitumoral potential. Nowadays, many sustainable enzymatic approaches using low-cost starting materials are available and interesting immobilization techniques are helping to increase the reuse of the biocatalysts, allowing the intensification of the processes and increasing AHs accessibility.

Infection Mechanism of SARS-COV-2 and Its Implication on the Nervous System.

In late December 2019, multiple atypical pneumonia cases resulted in severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by a pathogen identified as a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The most common coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms are pneumonia, fever, dry cough, and fatigue. However, some neurological complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection include confusion, cerebrovascular diseases, ataxia, hypogeusia, hyposmia, neuralgia, and seizures.

Biocompatibility of ferulic/succinic acid-grafted chitosan hydrogels for implantation after brain injury: A preliminary study.

Nowadays it is known that neural cells are capable of regenerating after brain injury, but their success highly depends on the local environment, including the presence of a biological structure to support cell proliferation and restore the lost tissue. Different chitosan-based biomaterials have been employed in response to this necessity. We hypothesized that hydrogels made of antioxidant compounds functionalizing chitosan could provide a suitable environment to home new cells and offer a way to achieve brain repair.

Chitosan-based CLEAs from Aspergillus niger type A feruloyl esterase: high-productivity biocatalyst for alkyl ferulate synthesis.

The enzymatic synthesis of alkyl ferulates is an important reaction in cosmetic and pharmaceutical chemistries, since it may allow to expand the biorefinery concept valorizing biomass wastes enriched in ferulic acid. However, robust biocatalysts for that purpose are scarce. Herein, we have immobilized the type A feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus niger (AnFaeA) as cross-linked enzyme aggregates, employing chitosan as co-feeder (ChCLEAs).

Particles Containing Cells as a Strategy to Promote Remyelination in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

The repair of demyelinated lesions is a key objective in multiple sclerosis research. Remyelination fundamentally depends on oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) reaching the lesion; this is influenced by numerous factors including age, disease progression time, inflammatory activity, and the pool of OPCs available, whether they be NG2 cells or cells derived from neural stem cells. Administering OPCs has been proposed as a potential cell therapy; however, these cells can only be administered directly.

Potential of Chitosan and Its Derivatives for Biomedical Applications in the Central Nervous System.

It is well known that the central nervous system (CNS) has a limited regenerative capacity and that many therapeutic molecules cannot cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). The use of biomaterials has emerged as an alternative to overcome these limitations. For many years, biomedical applications of chitosan have been studied due to its remarkable biological properties, biocompatibility, and high versatility.

Differential Activation of Ferulic Acid Catabolic Pathways of Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 in Submerged and Surface Cultures.

Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 catabolizes ferulic acid by the non-oxidative deacetylation and β-oxidation pathways to produce vanillin and vanillic acid, respectively. In submerged culture, vanillin productivity decreased more than 8-fold, when ferulic, p-coumaric, and caffeic acids were employed in pre-cultures of the microorganism in order to activate the ferulic acid catabolic pathways, resulting in a carbon redistribution since vanillic acid and guaiacol productivities increased more than 5-fold compared with control.

Carrier-bound and carrier-free immobilization of type A feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus niger: Searching for an operationally stable heterogeneous biocatalyst for the synthesis of butyl hydroxycinnamates.

Feruloyl esterases synthesize butyl hydroxycinnamates, molecules possessing interesting biological properties, nonetheless, they exhibit a low stability under synthesis conditions in organic solvents, restricting its use. To enhance its operational stability in synthesis, we immobilized type A feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus niger (AnFAEA) using several carrier-bound and carrier-free strategies. The most active biocatalysts were: 1) AnFAEA immobilized on epoxy-activated carriers (protein load of 0.