Improving the Thermostability and Catalytic Activity of DAAO by a Combinatorial Strategy Using Sequence Consensus Design and SpyTag/SpyCatcher Self-Cyclization.

d-Amino acid oxidase from (DAAO) is valuable for pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis due to its high enantioselectivity, but its poor thermostability limits extensive application. This study proposed a synergistic strategy of "sequence consensus design coupled with structure modification" to enhance DAAO thermostability. Through homologous sequence analysis and greedy algorithm-based optimization, a triple mutant M3 (S18T/V7I/Y132F) was obtained, showing a 3.

Enhanced mixing and mass transfer of non-Newtonian fluids for DHA production via Schizochytrium sp. fermentation.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production via aerobic fermentation of Schizochytrium sp. is a green strategy, and the fermentation broth is a highly viscous, non-Newtonian fluid. In this study, the mixing and mass transfer of non-Newtonian fluids were enhanced using computational fluid dynamics combined with particle image velocimetry.

Restoring the enteric neuroimmune crosstalk via hollow mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles in inflammatory bowel disease treatment.

The enteric neuro-immune crosstalk is considered crucial for maintaining intestinal mucosal immune homeostasis, offering a promising way to achieve clinical cure of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, neuron loss, disruption of the enteric nervous system, and impaired acetylcholine (ACh) biosynthesis in the intestine are prevalent in IBD patients, which severely disrupts enteric neuroimmune function. Exploring effective treatments for the disease has become the research hotspot and the goal of current IBD research.

Enhancing Thermostability of a Highly Active Chitinase Chi1 Through Semirational Design for Efficient Chitin Hydrolysis.

In this study, a semirational design strategy integrating sequence and structural analyses was utilized to improve the thermostability of the highly active chitinase Chi1. Comprehensive screening for thermostability and enzymatic activity led to the identification of a beneficial mutant, D615S. Thermostability evaluations demonstrated that the half-life of the D615S mutant at 40 and 45 °C was prolonged by 3.

Silver-Catalyzed Unusual Cyclization and Skeletal Rearrangement to Selectively Synthesize 2D Benzo[]fluorenones and 3D Barbaralone Rings.

A silver-catalyzed strategy that divergently constructs either planar benzo[]fluorenones or three-dimensional barbaralones from common alkynol precursors, governed solely by ligand and silver salt, is reported. This protocol enables rapid molecular complexity enhancement (up to a 91% yield). In addition, mechanistic studies suggest that the alkalinity of silver salt is the key point to distinguish the two types of reaction and binuclear silver complexes would be more likely to be a transition state rather than the radical species.

Enhanced Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrability of BACE1 SiRNA-Loaded Prussian Blue Nanocomplexes for Alzheimer's Disease Synergy Therapy.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition was an important pathomechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ generation was highly regulated by beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which is a prime drug target for AD therapy. The silence of BACE1 function to slow down Aβ production was accepted as an effective strategy for combating AD.

The Pathogenesis and Medical Treatment of Depression: Opportunity and Challenge.

Depression is a common mental disorder with high economic burden, characterized by high disability and mortality rates. The etiology of depression remains unclear to date, and there are various hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of depression in clinical practice, including the monoamine neurotransmitter hypothesis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation hypothesis, the inflammatory cytokine hypothesis, and the neurotrophic factor hypothesis. These theories offer specific directional aid in the clinical management of individuals suffering from depression.

Tunable Copolymerization of Oxetane and Anhydrides via a Nonsymmetric Three-Center Four-Electron Iodine Activation Mode.

The copolymerization of low-strain cyclic ethers, such as oxetane and anhydrides, still presents opportunities for improving compositional control in polymer synthesis. In this study, we report a halogen-bond catalysis platform based on a nonsymmetric three-center four-electron ([O···I···O]) iodine activation mode that enables highly selective and tunable copolymerization of oxetane and anhydride. This active catalytic structure mediates oxetane insertion through a dynamic equilibrium between nonsymmetric and symmetric iodine-carboxylate complexes ([O_···I···O_] versus [O_···I···O_]), thereby regulating ester and ether linkage ratio.

Synthesis and application of nanoscale ZIF-67 for enhanced phospholipase A1 immobilization and high phospholipid-DHA conversion.

Phospholipid-DHA (PL-DHA) is a highly bioavailable form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with enzymatic catalysis being its most promising preparation method. However, challenges such as low enzyme loading and poor catalytic efficiency restrain industrial applications. In this study, a nanoscale zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) was synthesized as a novel carrier for immobilizing phospholipase A1 (PLA1).

Recent Advances in the Biological Synthesis of l-Tyrosine Derivatives by Genetically Engineered Microbes.

l-Tyrosine (l-Tyr) is an important aromatic amino acid. Meanwhile, derivatives of l-Tyr also exhibit promising applications across various industries, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Empowered by synthetic biology, the biological synthesis of l-Tyr derivatives via microbial fermentation has emerged as a promising alternative to overcome the limitations of traditional production methods, such as the low production efficiency, high cost, and environmental pollution.

Impact of cell disruption technologies on the structure, functionality, and digestibility of Cordyceps militaris protein isolates.

Cell disruption is essential for extracting intracellular proteins from fungal biomass. However, its effects on the structural and functional properties of proteins remain insufficiently understood. This study used Cordyceps militaris as a model to evaluate three cell disruption techniques-high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasonication (US), and cellulase hydrolysis-for extracting C.

Pectin/arabinoxylan dietary polysaccharide microcapsule encapsulated with Clostridium butyricum for targeted delivery in colitis treatment.

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and its dysbiosis is a key factor in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as colitis. This study developed an innovative dual-layer synbiotic microcapsule system for targeted delivery of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) to treat dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis.

Evaluation of the application effect of surface immobilization technology on fuel ethanol production at industrial scale.

This study evaluates the viability of surface immobilization method for ethanol production utilizing a 3400 m bioreactor. The reactor's agitation mechanism, featuring an integrated suspended carrier, was optimized by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, succeeded by a quantitative assessment of the fluid field distribution. A second intermittent fermentation experiment was performed in the optimized reactor, utilizing high-concentration maize hydrolysate as the substrate.

Based on Mitochondrial Genomes and Gene Order Rearrangements: Phylogenetic Relationships and Terrestrial Adaptability in Paguroidea (Crustacea: Decapoda).

The complete mitochondrial genome provides pivotal information that enhances our understanding of molecular phylogenetic analysis, evolution, and gene rearrangement. Anomura, a decapod taxon with exceptional phenotypic diversity, inhabits hydrothermal vents and various aquatic and terrestrial habitats. However, debates regarding the deep-level phylogeny of Anomura persist, particularly concerning its complex evolutionary relationships.

Tryptamine-Functionalized Lipid Nanocarriers Co-delivering SMO/BRD4 Inhibitors for Synergistic Medulloblastoma Therapy.

The management of medulloblastoma (MB) remains a significant challenge, primarily attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells and the inadequate delivery of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier. GLI, as a regulator of the hedgehog signaling pathway in normal cerebellum development, also exerts pivotal functions in MB initiation, progression, and metastasis and maintains the stemness of MB stem cells. In this study, we devised a combined therapeutic approach by integrating the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 with the SMO inhibitor saikosaponin B1 (SSB1) to inhibit MB via regulation of GLI activation.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Nitrofurantoin Derivatives as Antibacterial Agents Against Acinetobacter Baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the first batches of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in urgent need of new antibiotics, poses a great threat to global health. Nitrofurantoin is a kind of broad-spectrum antibacterial drug, which is usually used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in clinics. A.

Advances in Metabolic Engineering of Microbial Cell Factories for the Biosynthesis of l-Serine.

l-Serine, a nonessential amino acid in humans, possesses significant physiological functions and is widely used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Driven by steadily growing market demand and promising prospects, increasing attention has focused on the sustainable, biobased production of l-serine via low-carbon microbial synthesis, facilitated by advances in biotechnology. Significant progress has been made in the metabolic engineering of microbial cell factories for the biosynthesis of l-serine.

Water-soluble polysaccharides derived from Poria cocos protect against LPS-induced renal injury through inhibiting the NF-κB-NOX4 signaling pathway.

Sepsis frequently results in acute kidney injury (AKI), characterized by oxidative damage and inflammation. Polysaccharides derived from Poria cocos have significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study aims to investigate the role of water-soluble Poria cocos polysaccharide (WPCP) in sepsis-related renal damage by administering lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

Improvement of feed nutritional value of sprayed corn bran through two-stage solid-state fermentation by non-protein nitrogen utilization microorganisms.

Background: Sprayed corn bran - a by-product of starch extraction from corn by wet-milling technology - is often used as feedstuff to partially substitute protein feed. However, the utilization of sprayed corn bran is greatly restricted in feed because of its low protein content and poor taste.

Results: Three microbes with non-protein nitrogen utilization ability were screened and applied to the solid-state fermentation of sprayed corn bran and urea with incubation of the fungus Aspergillus niger, and a two-stage (aerobic and anaerobic) solid-state fermentation was established.

Direct Synthesis of Amino Acids from Plastic, Air, and Water.

Amino acids as fundamental building blocks exhibit versatile applications spanning from food science to pharmaceutical development. Conventional biological and chemical synthetic approaches suffer from low efficiency and elevated energy demands. While emerging thermocatalysis and photocatalysis strategies offer promising alternatives, their environmental sustainability is substantially constrained by their reliance on Haber-Bosch-derived ammonia as a nitrogen source, which contributes to a significant carbon footprint.

Tailoring Regioselectivity-Controlled UDP-Glycosyltransferase for Bidirectional Glycosylation of Tyrosol via Free Energy-Driven Pocket Reshaping and Tunnel Engineering.

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are pivotal biocatalysts for synthesizing pharmaceutically valuable active components; however, their application is frequently constrained by poor regioselectivity and suboptimal catalytic efficiency. In this study, a tailored, free energy-driven, substrate-binding pocket reshaping strategy is implemented to pinpoint the specific residues in UGT1 that control bidirectional regioselective glycosylation of tyrosol, enabling the synthesis of salidroside and icariside D2 without the need for large-scale screening. Additionally, modifications in the tunnel lead to two strictly regioselective mutants with improved catalytic efficiency due to the faster release of the products.

Enzyme and cofactor engineering to increase d-xylonate dehydratase activity for improved d-1,2,4-butanetriol production from d-xylose.

d-1,2,4-Butanetriol (BTO), a C4 platform compound, is widely used in fields such as military and pharmaceuticals. Biosynthesis of d-1,2,4-BTO from lignocellulose-derived d-xylose presents a promising production route. However, the low catalytic activity of d-xylonate dehydratase leading to the accumulation of d-xylonic acid remains a key bottleneck for the efficient production of d-1,2,4-BTO.

Sustainable production through spatial niche partitioning in engineered light-driven microbial community.

Light-driven microbial communities consisting of phototrophs and heterotrophs represent an emerging frontier for biochemicals production from carbon dioxide (CO). However, the construction of stable and robust light-driven artificial microbial communities remains challenging because the dominant strain wins the competition for nutrient and leads to the instability of subpopulations. Inspired by natural ecosystems, one promising approach to assemble stable consortia is to construct spatial niches partitioning subpopulations-that is, physically separating different microbial members into distinct microenvironments to reduce competition and enable stable coexistence.

Insights into Lead Toxicity and Detoxification Mechanisms in the Silkworm, .

, a key lepidopteran model with economic importance, is highly susceptible to environmental heavy metal pollution. This study investigated the mechanisms of Pb toxicity and the associated detoxification and metabolic defense responses in silkworms, employing transcriptome sequencing, enzyme activity assays, and histopathological analysis. Pb exposure caused significant histopathological changes and apoptosis in the fat body, marked by structural disorganization, swollen adipocytes, and degraded extracellular matrix.

Industrial-Scale Bioconversion of Three-Phase Residue by Larvae: Dynamics of Gut Microbiota and Their Ecological Driver.

The escalating global population coupled with rising living standards in developing nations has created dual challenges in sustainable food production and organic waste management [...