Bio-Based Valorization of Lignin-Derived Phenolic Compounds: A Review.

Lignins are the most abundant biopolymers that consist of aromatic units. Lignins are obtained by fractionation of lignocellulose in the form of "technical lignins". The depolymerization (conversion) of lignin and the treatment of depolymerized lignin are challenging processes due to the complexity and resistance of lignins.

Nanopore Cas9-targeted sequencing enables accurate and simultaneous identification of transgene integration sites, their structure and epigenetic status in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The integration of a transgene expression construct into the host genome is the initial step for the generation of recombinant cell lines used for biopharmaceutical production. The stability and level of recombinant gene expression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) can be correlated to the copy number, its integration site as well as the epigenetic context of the transgene vector. Also, undesired integration events, such as concatemers, truncated, and inverted vector repeats, are impacting the stability of recombinant cell lines.

Metabolism of Aldoximes and Nitriles in Plant-Associated Bacteria and Its Potential in Plant-Bacteria Interactions.

In plants, aldoximes per se act as defense compounds and are precursors of complex defense compounds such as cyanogenic glucosides and glucosinolates. Bacteria rarely produce aldoximes, but some are able to transform them by aldoxime dehydratase (Oxd), followed by nitrilase (NLase) or nitrile hydratase (NHase) catalyzed transformations. Oxds are often encoded together with NLases or NHases in a single operon, forming the aldoxime-nitrile pathway.

Functional Expression and Characterization of a Panel of Cobalt and Iron-Dependent Nitrile Hydratases.

Nitrile hydratases (NHase) catalyze the hydration of nitriles to the corresponding amides. We report on the heterologous expression of various nitrile hydratases. Some of these enzymes have been investigated by others and us before, but sixteen target proteins represent novel sequences.

Novel Promoters Derived from Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells via In Silico and In Vitro Analysis.

For the industrial production of recombinant proteins in mammalian cell lines, a high rate of gene expression is desired. Therefore, strong viral promoters are commonly used. However, these have several drawbacks as they override cellular responses, are not integrated into the cellular network, and thus can induce stress and potentially epigenetic silencing.

The impact of deuteration on natural and synthetic lipids: A neutron diffraction study.

The structural investigation of cellular membranes requires access to model systems where the molecular complexity is representative of the cellular environment and that allow for the exploitation of structural techniques. Neutron scattering, and in particular neutron diffraction can provide unique and detailed information on the structure of lipid membranes. However, deuterated samples are desirable to fully exploit this powerful method.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose and pretreated wheat straw: a detailed comparison using convenient kinetic analysis.

Marked slow-down of soluble sugar production at low degree of substrate conversion limits the space-time yield of enzymatic hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic materials. A simple set of kinetic descriptors was developed to compare reducing sugar release from pure crystalline cellulose (Avicel) and pretreated wheat straw by Trichoderma reesei cellulase at 50 °C. The focus was on the rate-retarding effect of maximum hydrolysis rate at reaction start (r(max)), limiting hydrolysis rate (r(lim)) at extended reaction time (24h), and substrate conversion, marking the transition between the r(max) and r(lim) kinetic regimes (C(trans)).