Replicating PET Hydrolytic Activity by Positioning Active Sites with Smaller Synthetic Protein Scaffolds.

Evolutionary constraints significantly limit the diversity of naturally occurring enzymes, thereby reducing the sequence repertoire available for enzyme discovery and engineering. Recent breakthroughs in protein structure prediction and de novo design, powered by artificial intelligence, now enable to create enzymes with desired functions without solely relying on traditional genome mining. Here, a computational strategy is demonstrated for creating new-to-nature polyethylene terephthalate hydrolases (PET hydrolases) by leveraging the known catalytic mechanisms and implementing multiple deep learning algorithms and molecular computations.

The ABF4-bHLH28-COMT5 module regulates melatonin synthesis and root development for drought tolerance in citrus.

Melatonin significantly influences the regulation of plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying melatonin accumulation for drought tolerance in citrus are not fully understood. In this study, we first demonstrated that application of exogenous melatonin resulted in better drought tolerance by reducing water loss and maintaining redox homeostasis.

Formation of an outer glassy shell hinders the drying of trehalose droplets.

Background: Airflow drying of mammalian cells has not been successful yet, with one obstacle being the improper drying time of cells-laden trehalose droplets.

Objective: To evaluate the major factors affecting the drying kinetics of aqueous trehalose droplets.

Materials And Methods: A numerical analysis was applied to the evaporation behavior of aqueous trehalose droplets for the preservation of biomaterials.

Natural variation and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing demonstrate the potential for a group VII ethylene response factor HvERF62 in regulating barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) waterlogging tolerance.

Waterlogging stress is a serious problem all over the world, which inhibits plant growth and development, and even leads to plant death in severe circumstances. Ethylene-responsive VII transcription factor (ERFVII) is a key factor regulating plant waterlogging tolerance. In this study, a major QTL conferring chlorophyll content under waterlogging stress was detected on chromosome 4H through GWAS using a natural population.