Regulation of glucose and glutamine metabolism to overcome cisplatin resistance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a bile duct cancer and a rare malignant tumor with a poor prognosis owing to the lack of an early diagnosis and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. A combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is the typically attempted first-line treatment approach. However, the underlying mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy is poorly understood.

Biosynthesis of two quercetin O-diglycosides in Escherichia coli.

Various flavonoid glycosides are found in nature, and their biological activities are as variable as their number. In some cases, the sugar moiety attached to the flavonoid modulates its biological activities. Flavonoid glycones are not easily synthesized chemically.

Bacterial synthesis of N-hydroxycinnamoyl phenethylamines and tyramines.

Background: Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) including cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, are C6-C3 phenolic compounds that are synthesized via the phenylpropanoid pathway. HCAs serve as precursors for the synthesis of lignins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, stilbenes and other phenolic compounds. HCAs can also be conjugated with diverse compounds including quinic acid, hydroxyl acids, and amines.

Biological synthesis of coumarins in Escherichia coli.

Background: Coumarins are a major group of plant secondary metabolites that serves as defense compounds against pathogens. Although coumarins can be obtained from diverse plant sources, the use of microorganisms to synthesize them could be an alternative way to supply building blocks for the synthesis of diverse coumarin derivatives.

Results: Constructs harboring two genes, F6'H (encoding feruloyl CoA 6' hydroxylase) and 4CL (encoding 4-coumarate CoA:ligase), were manipulated to increase the productivity of coumarins.

Biosynthesis and production of glycosylated flavonoids in Escherichia coli: current state and perspectives.

Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites containing several hydroxyl groups that are targets for modification reactions such as methylation and glycosylation. In plants, flavonoids are present as glycones. Although glucose is the most common sugar attached to flavonoids, arabinose, galactose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, and xylose are also linked to flavonoids.

Production of kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside from glucose using engineered Escherichia coli.

Flavonoids are ubiquitous phenolic compounds and at least 9,000 have been isolated from plants. Most flavonoids have been isolated and assessed in terms of their biological activities. Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are efficient systems for the synthesis of flavonoids.