Discovery of novel dihydropyrrolidone-thiadiazole compound crosstalk between the YycG/F two-component regulatory pathway and cell membrane homeostasis to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The rapid emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive pathogens present a significant challenge to global healthcare. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a particular concern because of its high resistance to most antibiotics. Based on our previously reported chemical structure of compound 62, a series of novel derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activities.

Recent Advances and New Insights in Genome Analysis and Transcriptomic Approaches to Reveal Enzymes Associated with the Biosynthesis of Dendrobine-Type Sesquiterpenoid Alkaloids (DTSAs) from the Last Decade.

species, which are perennial herbs widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, are notable for their therapeutic properties attributed to various bioactive compounds, including dendrobine-type sesquiterpenoid alkaloids (DTSAs). The objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the biosynthesis of DTSAs, including their extraction from species and endophytes, elucidation of associated genes through genomic and transcriptomic sequencing in both spp. and endophytes, exploration of the biosynthetic pathways of DTSAs, and drawing conclusions and outlining future perspectives in this field.

Analysis of Correlation Effects of Double Mutations in Enzymes: A Revised Residual-Contact Network Clique Model.

The relationship between amino acid mutations and enzyme bioactivity is a significant challenge in modern bio-industrial applications. Despite many successful designs relying on complex correlations among mutations at different enzyme sites, the underlying mechanisms of these correlations still need to be explored. In this study, we introduced a revised version of the residual-contact network clique model to investigate the additive effect of double mutations based on the mutation occurrence topology, secondary structures, and physicochemical properties.

Charge Variants Characterization of Co-Formulated Antibodies by Three-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Co-formulated antibodies can bring clinical benefits to patients by combining two or more antibodies in a single dosage form. However, the quality analysis of co-formulated antibodies raises additional challenges, compared to individual antibodies, due to the need for accurate analysis of multiple antibodies in one solution. It is extremely difficult to effectively separate the charge variants of the two co-formulated antibodies using one ion exchange chromatography (IEC) method because of their similar characteristics.

Engineering an Ancestral Glycosyltransferase for Biosynthesis of 2-Phenylethyl-β-d-Glucopyranoside and Salidroside.

Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are naturally occurring glycosides derived from plants with various biological activities. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the production of PhGs from phenylethanols via a transglycosylation reaction. The low activity and stability of glycosyltransferase limit its industrial application.

Functional adhesive hydrogels for biological interfaces.

Hydrogel adhesives are extensively employed in biological interfaces such as epidermal flexible electronics, tissue engineering, and implanted device. The development of functional hydrogel adhesives is a critical, yet challenging task since combining two or more attributes that seem incompatible into one adhesive hydrogel without sacrificing the hydrogel's pristine capabilities. In this Review, we highlight current developments in the fabrication of functional adhesive hydrogels, which are suitable for a variety of application scenarios, particularly those that occur underwater or on tissue/organ surface conditions.

High adsorption capacities for dyes by a pH-responsive sodium alginate/sodium lignosulfonate/carboxylated chitosan/polyethyleneimine adsorbent.

Dyes are indispensable for the rapid development of society, but untreated dye wastewater can threaten human health. In this study, an adsorbent (SA/SL/CCS/PEI@MNPs) was synthesized by one-pot method using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), sodium alginate (SA), sodium lignosulfonate (SL), carboxylated chitosan (CCS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The adsorbent was mesoporous micrometer-sized particles with pore size of 34.

Microbial biofilms as a platform for diverse biocatalytic applications.

Microbial biofilms have gained significant traction in commercial wastewater treatment due to their inherent resilience, well-organized structure, and potential for collaborative metabolic processes. As our understanding of their physiology deepens, these living catalysts are finding exciting applications beyond wastewater treatment, including the production of bulk and fine chemicals, bioelectricity generation, and enzyme immobilization. While the biological applications of biofilms in different biocatalytic systems have been extensively summarized, the applications of artificially engineered biofilms were rarely discussed.

Biodetoxification of Lignocellulose Hydrolysate for Direct Use in Succinic Acid Production.

The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass with acid generates phenolic and furanyl compounds that function as toxins by inhibiting microbial growth and metabolism. Therefore, it is necessary to detoxify acid-pretreated lignocellulosic biomass for better utilization. Among the various detoxification methods that are available, biodetoxification offers advantages that include mild reaction conditions and low energy consumption.

Photo-triggered AuAg@g-CN composite nanoplatform for multimodal broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy.

Strategies based on nanomaterials for sterilization address the problem of antibiotic resistance faced by conventional antimicrobials, with the contribution of photocatalytic compounds being particularly prominent. Herein, to integrate multiple bactericidal techniques into a system for generating synergistic antibacterial effects, a novel photo-triggered AuAg@g-CN composite nanoplatform was constructed by anchoring AuAg on the surface of a g-CN layer. As the composite nanoplatform had a lower bandgap and superior visible light utilization efficiency, it could facilitate free electron transfer better and exhibit superior photocatalytic activity under light conditions.

Structural characteristics and wound-healing effects of Bletilla striata fresh tuber polysaccharide.

A homogeneous polysaccharide from Bletilla striata fresh tuber (BSPS) was prepared and extensively characterized using HP-GPC, colorimetry, FT-IR, methylation, GC-MS, NMR, Congo red experiment, SEM, and AFM. The molecular weight of BSPS was 722.90 kDa.

Enhancement of the degradation capacity of PETase by acidic amino acids insertion and carbohydrate-binding module fusion.

The biocatalytic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) through enzymatic methods has garnered considerable attention due to its environmentally friendly and non-polluting nature, as well as its high specificity. While previous efforts in enhancing PETase performance have focused on amino acid substitutions in protein engineering, we introduced an amino acid insertion strategy in this work. By inserting a negatively charged acidic amino acid, Glu, at the right-angle bend of PETase, the binding capability between the enzyme's active pocket and PET was improved.

Reinforcing thermostability and pH robustness of exo-inulinase facilitated by ReverseTag/ReverseCatcher tagging system.

Enhancing protein stability is pivotal in the field of protein engineering. Protein self-cyclization using peptide a tagging system has emerged as an effective strategy for augmenting the thermostability of target proteins. In this study, we utilized a novel peptide tagging system, ReverseTag/ReverseCatcher, which leverages intramolecular ester bond formation.

Engineering UDP-Glycosyltransferase UGTPg29 for the Efficient Synthesis of Ginsenoside Rg3 from Protopanaxadiol.

Rare ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, which exhibit diverse pharmacological effects, are derivatives of protopanaxadiol (PPD). UDP-glycosyltransferases, such as the M315F variant of Bs-YjiC (Bs-YjiCm) from Bacillus subtilis and UGTPg29 from Panax ginseng, can efficiently convert PPD into Rh2 and Rh2 into Rg3, respectively. In the present study, the N178I mutation of Bs-YjiCm was introduced, resulting in an increase in Rh2 production.

Ene-Reductase-Catalyzed Aromatization of Simple Cyclohexanones to Phenols.

Direct aromatization of cyclohexanones to synthesize substituted phenols represents a significant challenge in modern synthetic chemistry. Herein, we describe a novel ene-reductase (TsER) catalytic system that converts substituted cyclohexanones into the corresponding phenols. This process involves the successive dehydrogenation of two saturated carbon-carbon bonds within the six-membered ring of cyclohexanones and utilizes molecular oxygen to drive the reaction cycle.

BhrPETase catalyzed polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization: A quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics approach.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used material in our daily life, particularly in areas such as packaging, fibers, and engineering plastics. However, PET waste can accumulate in the environment and pose a great threat to our ecosystem. Recently enzymatic conversion has emerged as an efficient and green strategy to address the PET crisis.

in Combination with Chito-oligosaccharides Modulate Inflammation and Gut Microbiota for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment.

Synbiotics, the combination of probiotics and prebiotics, are thought to be a pragmatic approach for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The synergistic therapeutic effects of probiotics and prebiotics remain underexplored. , a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producer, has been recognized as a promising probiotic candidate that can offer health benefits.

Chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective tetrafunctionalization of fluoroalkynes enables divergent synthesis of 5-7-membered azacycles.

Alkyne annulation has been widely used in organic synthesis for the construction of azacycles with unique structural and physicochemical properties. However, the analogous transformation of fluoroalkynes remains a challenge and has seen limited progress. Herein we report a 1,2,3,4-tetrafunctionalization of polyfluoroalkynes for the divergent construction of 5-7-membered ()-1,2-difluorovinyl azacycles.

NIR-excited imaging of drug-induced liver injury using a superoxide-activated ratiometric upconversion luminescence nanoprobe.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) poses a significant risk to human health. Increasing evidence indicates that the superoxide anion (O), as the precursor of the other reactive oxygen species, is key in the pathological processes associated with DILI. Nonetheless, understanding of the mechanisms of DILI is difficult due to the lack of an imaging tool for monitoring the fluctuation of O levels during the progression of DILI.

Water-mediated active conformational transitions of lipase on organic solvent interfaces.

When it comes to enzyme stability and their application in organic solvents, enzyme biocatalysis has emerged as a popular substitute for conventional chemical processes. However, the demand for enzymes exhibiting improved stability remains a persistent challenge. Organic solvents can significantly impacts enzyme properties, thereby limiting their practical application.

Tandem Integration of Biological and Electrochemical Catalysis for Efficient Polyester Upcycling under Ambient Conditions.

Excessive production of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) poses an ecological challenge, which necessitates developing technologies to extract the values from end-of-life PET. Upcycling has proven effective in addressing the low profitability of current recycling strategies, yet existing upcycling technologies operate under energy-intensive conditions. Here we report a cascade strategy to steer the transformation of PET waste into glycolate in an overall yield of 92.

PCL/Locust bean gum nanofibers loaded with HP-β-CD/Epicatechin clathrate compounds for fruit packaging.

In this work, the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD)/Epicatechin (EC) clathrate compounds were rapidly prepared based on an ultrasound-mediated method, and Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Locust bean gum (LBG) nanofibers loaded clathrate compounds were fabricated by electrostatic spinning (ELS) for fruit packaging. The results of infrared spectrum and crystal type analysis proved that clathrate compounds were successfully prepared. With the addition of clathrate compounds, the diameter of fibers increased from 553.