An efficient and eco-friendly approach for the sustainable recovery and properties characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates produced by methanotrophs.

Synthetic biodegradable and bio-based polymers have emerged as sustainable alternatives to nonrenewable petroleum-derived polymers which cause serious environmental issues. In particular, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are promising biopolymers owing to their outstanding biodegradability and biocompatibility. The production of the homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) from type II methanotrophs via microbial fermentation was presented.

Biosynthesis of chiral diols from alkenes using metabolically engineered type II methanotroph.

Methanotrophs are environmentally friendly microorganisms capable of converting gas to liquid using methane monooxygenases (MMOs). In addition to methane-to-methanol conversion, MMOs catalyze the conversion of alkanes to alcohols and alkenes to epoxides. Herein, the efficacy of epoxidation by type I and II methanotrophs was investigated, and type II methanotrophs were observed to be more efficient in converting alkenes to epoxides.

Production and characterization of a biodegradable polymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), using the type II methanotroph, Methylocystis sp. MJC1.

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) through the biological conversion of methane is a promising solution to address both methane emissions and plastic waste. Type II methanotrophs naturally accumulate a representative PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), using methane as the sole carbon source. In this study, we aimed to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV copolymer) with improved properties compared with PHB, using the type II methanotroph, Methylocystis sp.

Comparative genomic analysis of Methylocystis sp. MJC1 as a platform strain for polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthesis.

Biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) can be produced from methane by some type II methanotroph such as the genus Methylocystis. This study presents the comparative genomic analysis of a newly isolated methanotroph, Methylocystis sp. MJC1 as a biodegradable PHB-producing platform strain.

Alginate derived functional oligosaccharides: Recent developments, barriers, and future outlooks.

Alginate is a biopolymer used extensively in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) derived from alginate exhibit superior biological activities and therapeutic potential. Alginate lyases with characteristic substrate specificity can facilitate the production of a broad array of AOS with precise structure and functionality.

Type II methanotrophs: A promising microbial cell-factory platform for bioconversion of methane to chemicals.

Methane, the predominant element in natural gas and biogas, represents a promising alternative to carbon feedstocks in the biotechnological industry due to its low cost and high abundance. The bioconversion of methane to value-added products can enhance the value of gas and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Methanotrophs, methane-utilizing bacteria, can make a significant contribution to the production of various valuable biofuels and chemicals from methane.

Development and Optimization of the Biological Conversion of Ethane to Ethanol Using Whole-Cell Methanotrophs Possessing Methane Monooxygenase.

The biological production of ethanol from ethane for the utilization of ethane in natural gas was investigated under ambient conditions using whole-cell methanotrophs possessing methane monooxygenase. Several independent variables including ethane concentration and biocatalyst amounts, among other factors, were optimized for the enhancement of ethane-to-ethanol bioconversion. We obtained 0.

Systematic metabolic engineering of Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z for 2,3-butanediol production from methane.

Methane is considered a next-generation feedstock, and methanotrophic cell-based biorefinery is attractive for production of a variety of high-value compounds from methane. In this work, we have metabolically engineered Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z for 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) production from methane. The engineered strain 20Z/pBudK.

Identification of 4-Deoxy-L-Etychro-Hexoseulose Uronic Acid Reductases in an Alginolytic Bacterium Vibrio splendidus and their Uses for L-Lactate Production in an Escherichia coli Cell-Free System.

4-Deoxy-L-erythro-hexoseulose uronic acid (DEH) reductase is a key enzyme in alginate utilizing metabolism, but the number of characterized DEH reductase is quite limited. In this study, novel two DEH reductases, VsRed-1 and VsRed-2, were identified in marine bacterium Vibrio splendidus, and the recombinant enzymes were expressed in an Escherichia coli system and purified by Ni-NTA chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature of the recombinant VsRed-1 and VsRed-2 were pH 7.

Biological conversion of methane to chemicals and fuels: technical challenges and issues.

Methane is a promising next-generation carbon feedstock for industrial biotechnology due to its low price and huge availability. Biological conversion of methane to valuable products can mitigate methane-induced global warming as greenhouse gas. There have been challenges for the conversion of methane into various chemicals and fuels using engineered non-native hosts with synthetic methanotrophy or methanotrophs with the reconstruction of synthetic pathways for target products.

Sol narae (Sona) is a Drosophila ADAMTS involved in Wg signaling.

ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteases with thrombospondin motif) family consists of secreted proteases, and is shown to cleave extracellular matrix proteins. Their malfunctions result in cancers and disorders in connective tissues. We report here that a Drosophila ADAMTS named Sol narae (Sona) promotes Wnt/Wingless (Wg) signaling.

Lipase-catalyzed in-situ biosynthesis of glycerol-free biodiesel from heterotrophic microalgae, Aurantiochytrium sp. KRS101 biomass.

Heterotrophic microalgae, Aurantiochytrium sp. KRS101 had a large amount of lipid (56.8% total lipids).

Bioethanol production from carbohydrate-enriched residual biomass obtained after lipid extraction of Chlorella sp. KR-1.

The residual biomass of Chlorella sp. KR-1 obtained after lipid extraction was used for saccharification and bioethanol production. The carbohydrate was saccharified using simple enzymatic and chemical methods using Pectinex at pH 5.

Dimethyl carbonate-mediated lipid extraction and lipase-catalyzed in situ transesterification for simultaneous preparation of fatty acid methyl esters and glycerol carbonate from Chlorella sp. KR-1 biomass.

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and glycerol carbonate were simultaneously prepared from Chlorella sp. KR-1 containing 40.9% (w/w) lipid using a reactive extraction method with dimethyl carbonate (DMC).

Highly efficient extraction and lipase-catalyzed transesterification of triglycerides from Chlorella sp. KR-1 for production of biodiesel.

We developed a method for the highly efficient lipid extraction and lipase-catalyzed transesterification of triglyceride from Chlorella sp. KR-1 using dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Almost all of the total lipids, approximately 38.

Nanoimmobilization of marine epoxide hydrolase of Mugil cephalus for repetitive enantioselective resolution of racemic styrene oxide in aqueous buffer.

We developed two nanoimmobilized biocatalyst systems of thermally unstable Mugil cephalus epoxide hydrolase (McEH) for enantioselective resolution of racemic styrene oxide in aqueous buffer. The recombinant and purified McEH enzyme was immobilized onto magnetic nanoparticles (Mag-NPs) via a two step process of enzyme precipitation and crosslinking. McEH enzyme was also adsorbed, precipitated, and cross-linked in/on polyaniline nanofibers (PANFs).

Chemo-enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol fermentation of lipid-extracted residual biomass of the microalga, Dunaliella tertiolecta.

Chemo-enzymatic saccharification and bioethanol fermentation of the residual biomass of Dunaliella tertiolecta after lipid extraction for biodiesel production were investigated. HCl-catalyzed saccharification of the residual biomass at 121 °C for 15 min produced reducing sugars with a yield of 29.5% (w/w) based on the residual biomass dry weight.

Identification of chromatin-associated regulators of MSL complex targeting in Drosophila dosage compensation.

Sex chromosome dosage compensation in Drosophila provides a model for understanding how chromatin organization can modulate coordinate gene regulation. Male Drosophila increase the transcript levels of genes on the single male X approximately two-fold to equal the gene expression in females, which have two X-chromosomes. Dosage compensation is mediated by the Male-Specific Lethal (MSL) histone acetyltransferase complex.

Severe hypotension following urethral catheterization during general anesthesia in a patient with bladder cancer -A case report-.

The process of micturition is related to activation of the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system. Hypotension with bradycardia often occurs during or immediately after micturition. We experienced a case of sudden severe hypotension and bradycardia following urethral catheterization in a patient who underwent an urethral dilatation and transurethral resection of bladder tumor while under general anesthesia.

Wolbachia bacteria reside in host Golgi-related vesicles whose position is regulated by polarity proteins.

Wolbachia pipientis are intracellular symbiotic bacteria extremely common in various organisms including Drosophila melanogaster, and are known for their ability to induce changes in host reproduction. These bacteria are present in astral microtubule-associated vesicular structures in host cytoplasm, but little is known about the identity of these vesicles. We report here that Wolbachia are restricted only to a group of Golgi-related vesicles concentrated near the site of membrane biogenesis and minus-ends of microtubules.

Transcription rate of noncoding roX1 RNA controls local spreading of the Drosophila MSL chromatin remodeling complex.

The dosage compensation complex in Drosophila is composed of at least five MSL proteins and two noncoding roX RNAs that bind hundreds of sites along the single male X chromosome. The roX RNAs are transcribed from X-linked genes and their RNA products "paint" the male X. The roX RNAs and bound MSL proteins can spread in cis from sites of roX transcription, but the mechanism controlling spreading is unknown.

A sequence motif within chromatin entry sites directs MSL establishment on the Drosophila X chromosome.

The Drosophila MSL complex associates with active genes specifically on the male X chromosome to acetylate histone H4 at lysine 16 and increase expression approximately 2-fold. To date, no DNA sequence has been discovered to explain the specificity of MSL binding. We hypothesized that sequence-specific targeting occurs at "chromatin entry sites," but the majority of sites are sequence independent.

Biosynthesis of (R)-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol from racemic styrene oxide by using bacterial and marine fish epoxide hydrolases.

Enantio-convergent hydrolysis of racemic styrene oxides was achieved to prepare enantiopure (R)-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol by using two recombinant epoxide hydrolases (EHs) of a bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus, and a marine fish, Mugil cephalus. The recombinant C. crescentus EH primarily attacked the benzylic carbon of (S)-styrene oxide, while the M.