β1,6-Selective Enzymatic N-Acetylglucosamination Catalyzed by the Family GH84 N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and its Glycosyl Acceptor Specificity.

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides presents a highly attractive methodology with significant potential for diverse applications, particularly through using various glycosidases. In this study, the O-glycan core 6 disaccharide moiety, GlcNAcβ1-6GalNAc, was successfully synthesized via enzymatic glycosylation using an N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BtOGA), a member of glycoside hydrolase family 84 (GH84), alongside an N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oxazoline derivative (GlcNAc-oxa) as the glycosyl donor. Furthermore, an investigation into glycosyl acceptor recognition in BtOGA-catalyzed enzymatic glycosylation indicated that the presence of an aromatic group at the anomeric position and an axial hydroxy group at the 4-position of the saccharide moiety is crucial for effective recognition of BtOGA as a glycosyl acceptor.

A tandem conversion process for the synthesis of polyitaconic acid from glucose in the Aspergillus terreus culture.

In this study, a bio-based vinylidene monomer, itaconic acid (IA), produced by a fungus Aspergillus terreus NBRC 6123 was polymerized in the culture. The inhibition of IA polymerization by the culture components was eased by extraction with 4-methyltetrahydropyran (4mTHP). The extraction with 4mTHP for 4 days under aerobic condition resulted in IA production at 67.

Synthesis and Binding Properties of High-Affinity Histidine-Bearing Polymers for Wood Lignin.

The pursuit of molecules capable of binding to wood lignin is pivotal for advancing lignin degradation technology, particularly when combined with lignin degradation catalysts. In this study, synthetic polymers bearing histidine moieties, demonstrating remarkable affinity for wood lignin are reported. These polymers, featuring varying degrees of histidine substitution in the form of histidine methyl esters, are synthesized through controlled radical polymerization of an activated ester-bearing monomer, employing a fluorescein-labeled chain transfer agent and subsequent postpolymerization amidation with histidine methyl ester.

Recent Advances in Polymers Bearing Activated Esters for the Synthesis of Glycopolymers by Postpolymerization Modification.

Glycopolymers are functional polymers with saccharide moieties on their side chains and are attractive candidates for biomaterials. Postpolymerization modification can be employed for the synthesis of glycopolymers. Activated esters are useful in various fields, including polymer chemistry and biochemistry, because of their high reactivity and ease of reaction.

Cellulose-fueled microbial fuel cells equipped with a bipolar membrane using hydrogen phosphate as the final electron acceptor.

Objectives: A bipolar membrane microbial fuel cell (bMFC) is used to generate electricity using cellulose in phosphate buffer solution as fuel, and the mechanism of electricity generation is elucidated from five reference experiments.

Results: The bMFC was operated for 20 days using cellulose as fuel and Cellulomonas fimi. In the first reference experiment, no microorganism was used.

Photoclick reaction for rapid and simple fluorescence detection of itaconic acid and its derivatives in fungal cultures.

Itaconic acid (IA) and its derivatives produced by fungi have significant potential as industrial feedstocks. We recently developed a method for the detection of these compounds based on their terminal C-C double bonds. However, the presence of reducing agents, such as glucose and other fungal metabolites, leads to undesirable side reactions, and consequently, deteriorates the detection specificity.

Production of glycerate from glucose using engineered Escherichiacoli.

In this study, glycerate was produced from glucose using engineered Escherichia coli BW25113. Plasmid pSR3 carrying gpd1 and gpp2 encoding two isoforms of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and plasmid pLB2 carrying aldO encoding alditol oxidase from Streptomyces violaceoruber were introduced into E. coli to enable the production of glycerate from glucose via glycerol.

The first report of enzymatic transglycosylation catalyzed by family GH84 N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase using a sugar oxazoline derivative as a glycosyl donor.

O-Glycosylated N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine-selective N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 84 (GH84), is known as a retaining glycosidase with the possibility of enzymatic transglycosylation. However, no enzymatic transglycosylation catalyzed by GH84 O-GlcNAcase has been reported. Here, enzymatic transglycosylation catalyzed by GH84 O-GlcNAcase was first reported.

Utility of Thermal Cross-Linking in Stabilizing Hydrogels with Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate and/or Epigallocatechin Gallate for Use in Bone Regeneration Therapy.

β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules are commonly used materials in dentistry or orthopedic surgery. However, further improvements are required to raise the operability and bone-forming ability of β-TCP granules in a clinical setting. Recently, we developed epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-modified gelatin sponges as a novel biomaterial for bone regeneration.

Microbial fuel cells using α-amylase-displaying Escherichia coli with starch as fuel.

Escherichia coli JM109 (pGV3-SBA) can assimilate starch by fusing the starch-digesting enzyme α-amylase from Streptococcus bovis NRIC1535 to an OprI' lipoprotein anchor on the cell membrane. This study shows microbial fuel cells (MFCs) development using this recombinant type of E. coli and starch as fuel.

Production of R- and S-1,2-propanediol in engineered Lactococcus lactis.

1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) is a versatile chemical used in multiple manufacturing processes. To date, some engineered and non-engineered microbes, such as Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus buchneri, and Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum, have been used to produce 1,2-PDO. In this study, we demonstrated the production of R- and S-1,2-PDO using engineered Lactococcus lactis.

Aqueous One-pot Synthesis of Glycopolymers by Glycosidase-catalyzed Glycomonomer Synthesis Using 4,6-Dimetoxy Triazinyl Glycoside Followed by Radical Polymerization.

Glycopolymers have attracted increased attention as functional polymeric materials, and simple methods for synthesizing glycopolymers remain needed. This paper reports the aqueous one-pot and chemoenzymatic synthesis of four types of glycopolymers via two reactions: the β-galactosidase-catalyzed glycomonomer synthesis using 4,6-dimetoxy triazinyl β-D-galactopyranoside and hydroxy group-containing (meth)acrylamide and (meth)acrylate derivatives as the activated glycosyl donor substrate and as the glycomonomer precursors, respectively, followed by radical copolymerization of the resulting glycomonomer and excess glycomonomer precursor without isolating the glycomonomers. The resulting glycopolymers bearing galactose moieties exhibited specific and strong interactions with the lectin peanut agglutinin as glycoclusters.

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of Lacto-N-biose I catalyzed by β-1,3-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans using 4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl β-galactopyranoside as a glycosyl donor.

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of lacto-N-biose I (LNB) catalyzed by β-1,3-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans (BgaC) has been developed using 4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl β-galactopyranoside (DMT-β-Gal) and GlcNAc as the donor and acceptor substrates, respectively. BgaC transferred the Gal moiety to the acceptor, giving rise to LNB. The maximum yield of LNB was obtained at the acceptor : donor substrate ratio of 1:30.

Gas Permeability of Mold during Freezing Process Alters the Pore Distribution of Gelatin Sponge and Its Bone-Forming Ability.

Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is widely used in the preparation of porous biomaterials. Nevertheless, limited information is known regarding the effect of gas permeability on molds to obtain porous materials. We demonstrated that the different levels of gas permeability of molds remarkably altered the pore distribution of prepared gelatin sponges and distinct bone formation at critical-sized bone defects of the rat calvaria.

Itaconic acid derivatives: structure, function, biosynthesis, and perspectives.

Itaconic acid possessing a vinylidene group, which is mainly produced by fungi, is used as a biobased platform chemical and shows distinctive bioactivities. On the other hand, some fungi and lichens produce itaconic acid derivatives possessing itaconic acid skeleton, and the number of the derivatives is currently more than seventy. Based on the molecular structures, they can be categorized into two groups, alkylitaconic acids and α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones.

Engineering Escherichia coli for Direct Production of 1,2-Propanediol and 1,3-Propanediol from Starch.

Diols are versatile chemicals used for multiple manufacturing products. In some previous studies, Escherichia coli has been engineered to produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glucose. However, there are no reports on the direct production of these diols from starch instead of glucose as a substrate.

One-pot chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycopolymers from unprotected sugars via glycosidase-catalysed glycosylation using triazinyl glycosides.

Glycopolymers were successfully synthesised from unprotected sugars in aqueous media via a one-pot chemoenzymatic process of three reactions; the direct synthesis of 4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl glycosides from unprotected sugars, a glycosidase-catalysed glycosylation using the triazinyl glycoside to afford glycomonomers and a radical polymerisation. The resulting glycopolymers exhibited specific interactions with the corresponding lectin as glycoclusters.

Correction: Sano, M., et al. Microbial Screening Based on the Mizoroki-Heck Reaction Permits Exploration of Hydroxyhexylitaconic-Acid-Producing Fungi in Soils. Microorganisms 2020, , 648.

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...

Biobased Poly(itaconic Acid--10-Hydroxyhexylitaconic Acid)s: Synthesis and Thermal Characterization.

Renewable vinyl compounds itaconic acid (IA) and its derivative 10-hydroxyhexylitaconic acid (10-HHIA) are naturally produced by fungi from biomass. This provides the opportunity to develop new biobased polyvinyls from IA and 10-HHIA monomers. In this study, we copolymerized these monomers at different ratios through free radical aqueous polymerization with potassium peroxodisulfate as an initiator, resulting in poly(IA--10-HHIA)s with different monomer compositions.

Augmentation of Bone Regeneration by Depletion of Stress-Induced Senescent Cells Using Catechin and Senolytics.

Despite advances in bone regenerative medicine, the relationship between stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) in cells and bone regeneration remains largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that the implantation of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) sustained-release gelatin sponge (LS-G) increases the number of SIPS cells and that the elimination of these cells promotes bone formation in critical-sized bone defects in the rat calvaria. Histological (hematoxylin-eosin and SA-β-gal) and immunohistological (p16 and p21 for analyzing cellular senescence and 4-HNE for oxidation) staining was used to identify SIPS cells and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Microbial Screening Based on the Mizoroki-Heck Reaction Permits Exploration of Hydroxyhexylitaconic-Acid-Producing Fungi in Soils.

Recently, we developed a unique microbial screening method based on the Mizoroki-Heck reaction for itaconic acid (IA)-producing fungi. This method revealed that 37 out of 240 fungal strains isolated from soils produce vinyl compounds, including IA. In this study, we further characterized these compounds in order to verify that the screening method permits the isolation of fungi that produce other vinyl compounds, excluding IA.

Synthesis and Aggregation Behavior of Temperature- and pH-Responsive Glycopolymers as Sugar-Displaying Conjugates.

Stimuli-responsive polymers have attracted significant interest in the fields of advanced materials and biomaterials. Herein, temperature- and pH-responsive glycopolymers, which are composed of -isopropylacrylamide, methacrylic acid, and an acrylamide derivative bearing a lactose moiety, were synthesized via radical copolymerization. The series of resulting glycopolymers had different degrees of substitution of the lactose moieties, were responsive to temperatures between 26.

Effect of the Application of a Dehydrothermal Treatment on the Structure and the Mechanical Properties of Collagen Film.

Dehydrothermal (DHT) treatment was used to improve the properties of collagen casings because of its non-cytotoxicity. Understanding the effects of DHT treatment on the structure and mechanical properties of collagen films is beneficial to developing satisfying collagen casings. Herein, DHT treatment with various temperatures (85-145 °C) and timescales (1-7 days) were investigated.

Releasing Behavior of Lipopolysaccharide from Gelatin Modulates Inflammation, Cellular Senescence, and Bone Formation in Critical-Sized Bone Defects in Rat Calvaria.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a well-known strong inducer of inflammation. However, there is little information regarding how LPS-release behavior affects cellular senescence at the affected area. In this paper, we demonstrate that a vacuum-heating technique (dehydrothermal treatment) can be utilized to prepare an LPS sustained-release gelatin sponge (LS-G).

Integration of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Gelatin Sponges Attenuates Matrix Metalloproteinase-Dependent Degradation and Increases Bone Formation.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are well-known gelatinases that disrupt the extracellular matrix, including gelatin. However, the advantages of modulating MMP expression in gelatin-based materials for applications in bone regenerative medicine have not been fully clarified. In this study, we examined the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol catechin isolated from green tea, on MMP expression in gelatin sponges and its association with bone formation.