Altering the inhibitory kinetics and molecular conformation of maltase by Tangzhiqing (TZQ), a natural α-glucosidase inhibitor.

Background: Tangzhiqing (TZQ), as a potential α-glycosidase inhibitor, possesses postprandial hypoglycaemic effects on maltose in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which TZQ attenuates postprandial glucose by interrupting the activity of maltase, including inhibitory kinetics and circular dichroism studies.

Methods: In this study, we determined the inhibitory effect of TZQ on maltase by kinetic analysis to determine the IC value and enzyme velocity studies and line weaver-burk plot generation to determine inhibition type.

Repetitive δ-integration of a cellulase-encoding gene into the chromosome of an industrial Angel Yeast-derived strain by URA3 recycling.

Genetic modification of industrial yeast strains often faces more difficulties than that of laboratory strains. Thus, new approaches are still required. In this research, the Angel Yeast-derived haploid strain Kα was genetically modified by multiple rounds of δ-integration, which was achieved via URA3 recycling.

Investigation of heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr) stabilization in river sediment by nano-zero-valent iron/activated carbon composite.

Nano-zero-valent iron/activated carbon (nZVI/AC) composite was evaluated for its effectiveness in the stabilization of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr in dredged river sediment. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) were adopted to compare the effects of nZVI/AC dosage, particle size, time duration, and temperature on heavy metal leachability. The results show that leachability dropped considerably with the addition of nZVI/AC and powdered particles in the size of 0.