Publications by authors named "Q Rascon-Cruz"

In the search for effective strategies to control the Colorado Potato Beetle, RNA interference technology has emerged as a promising method due to its capacity to suppress genes selectively. Factors such as the target gene and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) length are critical for optimizing gene silencing efficiency. In this study, we designed and synthesized in vitro dsRNAs of varying lengths targeting the gene, which encodes the AChE1 isoform of acetylcholinesterase in the beetle.

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The toxigenic strains secrete tilymicin and tilivalline enterotoxins, which cause antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis. Both enterotoxins are non-ribosomal peptides synthesized by enzymes encoded in two divergent operons clustered in a pathogenicity island. The transcriptional regulator Lrp (eucine-responsive egulatory rotein) controls the expression of several bacterial genes involved in virulence.

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Due to their ability to produce isomaltulose, sucrose isomerases are enzymes that have caught the attention of researchers and entrepreneurs since the 1950s. However, their low activity and stability at temperatures above 40 °C have been a bottleneck for their industrial application. Specifically, the instability of these enzymes has been a challenge when it comes to their use for the synthesis and manufacturing of chemicals on a practical scale.

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Objective: To increase the thermal stability of sucrose isomerase from Erwinia rhapontici NX-5, we designed a comprehensive strategy that combines different thermostabilizing elements.

Results: We identified 19 high B value amino acid residues for site-directed mutagenesis. An in silico evaluation of the influence of post-translational modifications on the thermostability was also carried out.

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Lactoferrin is an iron binding glycoprotein with multiple roles in the body. Its participation in apoptotic processes in cancer cells, its ability to modulate various reactions of the immune system, and its activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms, including respiratory viruses, have made it a protein of broad interest in pharmaceutical and food research and industry. In this review, we have focused on describing the most important functions of lactoferrin and the possible mechanisms of action that lead to its function.

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