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Current Opinion in Biotechnology Aug 2023Methanol is a promising feedstock for industrial bioproduction: it can be produced renewably and has high solubility and limited microbial toxicity. One of the key... (Review)
Review
Methanol is a promising feedstock for industrial bioproduction: it can be produced renewably and has high solubility and limited microbial toxicity. One of the key challenges for its bio-industrial application is the first enzymatic oxidation step to formaldehyde. This reaction is catalysed by methanol dehydrogenases (MDH) that can use NAD, O or pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) as an electron acceptor. While NAD-dependent MDH are simple to express and have the highest energetic efficiency, they exhibit mediocre kinetics and poor thermodynamics at ambient temperatures. O-dependent methanol oxidases require high oxygen concentrations, do not conserve energy and thus produce excessive heat as well as toxic HO. PQQ-dependent MDH provide a good compromise between energy efficiency and good kinetics that support fast growth rates without any drawbacks for process engineering. Therefore, we argue that this enzyme class represents a promising solution for industry and outline engineering strategies for the implementation of these complex systems in heterologous hosts.
Topics: NAD; Methanol; Hydrogen Peroxide; PQQ Cofactor; Bioengineering
PubMed: 37320962
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102953 -
Journal of Mass Spectrometry and... Aug 2023Engaging pipetting events were developed to assess and challenge technicians' practical sample handling using matrices common to the clinical laboratory. As correct...
INTRODUCTION
Engaging pipetting events were developed to assess and challenge technicians' practical sample handling using matrices common to the clinical laboratory. As correct pipetting stands as a prerequisite for accurate clinical laboratory testing, this helped to understand sources of imprecision and bias attributed to the underlying step of aspirating and dispensing patient samples and internal standard in clinical LC-MS/MS assays while highlighting the importance for the clinical laboratory to evaluate this source of variability on an on-going basis and mitigate its impact.
METHODS
The events involved pipetting water, methanol, serum, and whole blood. Gravimetric analysis was used to determine the exact volumetric delivery of each matrix using two different techniques. Imprecision and bias were calculated based on the volume derived from the mass and density of each matrix, using literature values for each matrix type.
RESULTS
Low imprecision and bias were observed when pipetting water, as in common commercial pipetting assessment programs. Significantly increased imprecision and bias were observed in more applicable matrices (i.e., serum, whole blood, and methanol), indicating that water-based pipetting proficiency assessment leads to a false sense of technical ability. Additionally, the events within illuminated areas for training, leading to improved imprecision and bias. It was shown that pre-rinsing (aspirating and dispensing matrix three times to coat the tip) improved bias, particularly for delivery of methanol and whole blood.
CONCLUSIONS
Precise and accurate pipetting within the clinical laboratory should not be taken for granted, nor implicitly inferred from proficiency assessment using aqueous solutions. The engaging and collegial events fostered training opportunities. Assay-specific patient sample delivery considerations (pipets and matrices) can inform the practicality of these events - the Pipetting Olympics - and drive improvements within the laboratory.
PubMed: 37502392
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2023.06.002 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023Soy leghemoglobin is one of the most important and key ingredients in plant-based meat substitutes that can imitate the colour and flavour of the meat. To improve the...
Soy leghemoglobin is one of the most important and key ingredients in plant-based meat substitutes that can imitate the colour and flavour of the meat. To improve the high-yield production of leghemoglobin protein and its main component-heme in the yeast Pichia pastoris, glycerol and methanol cultivation conditions were studied. Additionally, in-silico metabolic modelling analysis of growth-coupled enzyme quantity, suggests metabolic gene up/down-regulation strategies for heme production. First, cultivations and metabolic modelling analysis of P. pastoris were performed on glycerol and methanol in different growth media. Glycerol cultivation uptake and production rates can be increased by 50% according to metabolic modelling results, but methanol cultivation-is near the theoretical maximum. Growth-coupled metabolic optimisation results revealed the best feasible upregulation (33 reactions) (1.47% of total reactions) and 66 downregulation/deletion (2.98% of total) reaction suggestions. Finally, we describe reaction regulation suggestions with the highest potential to increase heme production yields.
Topics: Glycerol; Leghemoglobin; Methanol; Heme
PubMed: 37739976
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42865-w -
ACS Omega May 2024, also known as crowfoot (buttercup), has a rich tradition of use in various biological contexts. While antibacterial studies on extracts from this plant have been...
, also known as crowfoot (buttercup), has a rich tradition of use in various biological contexts. While antibacterial studies on extracts from this plant have been conducted, the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antidiabetic effects remain unexplored. In this study, the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antidiabetic effects of its methanol and aqueous extracts were investigated. Our approach involved gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), alongside quantitative and qualitative methods, for phytochemical profiles. Additionally, concerning biological activities, the antioxidant effect was assessed through 2, 2-diphenyl-pieryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) assays, while the antidiabetic effect was examined through the α-amylase inhibitory assay. The chloroform, ethyl acetate, and -hexane extracts of revealed the presence of 14 distinct compounds. In the methanol extract, sterols, quinones, glycosides, lactones, lignin, and flavonoids were identified. The aqueous extract contained sterols, alkaloids, glycosides, triterpenes, terpenoids, quinones, leucoanthocyanins, and lactones. The total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), total tannin content (TTC), and reducing sugar content (RDC) were determined in plant extracts, and a linear relationship was found between these parameters. Additionally, the TTC, TPC, and TFC values for both extracts hovered around 0.3786, 0.0476, and 0.1864 μg/mL, respectively, across all plant concentrations, while RDC ranged from 0.9336 to 1.0119 μg/mL in all four extracts. In vitro assays demonstrated dose-dependent antidiabetic activity in both methanolic and aqueous extracts by inhibiting α-amylase. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity observed in the DPPH assay was greater in the aqueous extract compared with the methanolic extract. In addition, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest inhibition among chloroform and -hexane in the ABTS assay. The results suggest that can be a potential source of natural antioxidants and antidiabetic agents, and further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of its therapeutic effects.
PubMed: 38799316
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08631 -
Cureus Jun 2023Introduction Methanol poisoning is an acute medical emergency. If not recognized in time and treated properly, it can lead to a considerable magnitude of morbidity as...
Introduction Methanol poisoning is an acute medical emergency. If not recognized in time and treated properly, it can lead to a considerable magnitude of morbidity as well as mortality. This article aims to report cases of methanol toxicity, focusing on clinical presentation, management, and outcomes. Method Nine ICU-admitted patients with confirmed positive serum methanol levels were analyzed in a case series at King Fahad General Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between November 2022 and January 2023. Results Among the nine patients admitted to the ICU due to methanol poisoning, the majority were middle-aged males, with two females included. Gastrointestinal symptoms were seen in two-thirds of patients, while three patients required immediate mechanical ventilation due to a low Glasgow Coma Scale. Severe metabolic acidosis was observed in most cases. All patients received sodium bicarbonate and hemodialysis, with six patients also receiving fomepizole. However, two patients in the study with low initial low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), severe metabolic acidosis, and diffuse brain edema, did not survive. One patient reported acute complete vision loss. Conclusion This case series highlights the importance of promptly recognizing and managing methanol toxicity in ICU settings. The clinical presentation of methanol toxicity can be challenging, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent irreversible damage.
PubMed: 37519541
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41108 -
Membranes Oct 2023The purpose of this study is to identify the steps involved in fabricating silica/chitosan composite membranes and their suitability for fuel cell applications. It also...
The purpose of this study is to identify the steps involved in fabricating silica/chitosan composite membranes and their suitability for fuel cell applications. It also intends to identify the physical characteristics of chitosan composite membranes, including their degree of water absorption, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and functional groups. In this investigation, composite membranes were fabricated using the solution casting method with a chitosan content of 5 g and silica dosage variations of 2% and 4% while stirring at a constant speed for 2 h. According to the findings, the analysis of composite membranes produced chitosan membranes that were successfully modified with silica. The optimum membrane was found to be 4% s-SiO from the Sol-gel method with the composite membrane's optimal condition of 0.234 cm/s proton conductivity, water uptake of 56.21%, and reduced methanol permeability of 0.99 × 10 cm/s in the first 30 min and 3.31 × 10 in the last 150 min. Maintaining lower water uptake capacity at higher silica content is still a challenge that needs to be addressed. In conclusion, the fabricated membranes showed exceptional results in terms of proton conductivity and methanol permeability.
PubMed: 37888010
DOI: 10.3390/membranes13100838 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Increasing carbon dioxide (CO) concentration in the atmosphere is considered one of the most important challenges today. Therefore, capturing CO and producing...
Increasing carbon dioxide (CO) concentration in the atmosphere is considered one of the most important challenges today. Therefore, capturing CO and producing alternative energy sources through Power-to-X (PtX) approaches have become relevant scientific topics in recent years. However, there is a significant research gap regarding water management in PtX processes, particularly in offshore operations. The present study evaluates relevant aspects and possible challenges with respect to water management as well as mass and energy balances in conceptual offshore methane and methanol production platforms. The results show that 1600 m of seawater must be desalinated to supply the electrolyzer and reach a daily 50-Megagram (Mg) hydrogen production. Around 1100 m of brine coming out of the desalination plant may be discharged to the sea as long as prior environmental impact assessments are conducted. Additionally, 273 Mg and 364 Mg CO need to be generated daily by direct air capture to produce 99 Mg day methane and 265 Mg day methanol, respectively. The daily produced methane and methanol wastewater is estimated to be 223 and 149 m, respectively. Based on the scant literature on methanol wastewater, this is expected to contain toxic substances. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is proposed as wastewater method. The corresponding energy demand for the water management facilities is projected to be negligible compared to the other PtX processes. The presented management of water streams in PtX platforms would not only help recover some of the resources (water, hydrogen and methanol), but also substantially contribute to the production cycle itself while leading toward a more sustainable approach.
PubMed: 37507463
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38933-w -
Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2023Balanophora latisepala (BL) is a chlorophyll-free and obligate parasitic plant found across mountainous areas of An Giang, Vietnam. This study was conducted to evaluate...
INTRODUCTION
Balanophora latisepala (BL) is a chlorophyll-free and obligate parasitic plant found across mountainous areas of An Giang, Vietnam. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of extracts from BL, herbs mentioned in many traditional medicines in the treatment of diabetes, on laboratory mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The effects of BL aqueous, methanol, and ethanol extracts on the blood glucose levels, hematological indices, liver enzymes, and pancreatic tissue structure of normal, glucose-tolerant mice, and diabetic mice treated with streptozotocin (STZ) were assessed. Mice were orally administered extracts at a concentration of 500 mg/kg.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The aqueous and ethanol extracts did not affect the blood glucose levels of healthy and glucose-tolerant mice (P > 0.05). The methanol extract reduced the blood glucose of healthy mice (P < 0.05) but did not affect the blood glucose of glucose-tolerant mice 3 h after administration (P > 0.05). When taking the methanol and ethanol extracts, the diabetic mice experienced a 45.67% and a 40.33% decrease in blood glucose levels after 21 days of research, respectively. Aqueous extract and gliclazide (10 mg/kg) showed no effect on reducing blood glucose levels in diabetic mice over the 21 days of the study. Both methanol and ethanol extracts were effective in regulating liver enzyme levels in diabetic mice. In both untreated and treated diabetic mice, pancreatic islet structures were degraded with the appearance of gaps resulting from β-cell degeneration.
CONCLUSION
This implies that ethanol extracts have potential applications in regulating blood glucose levels.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Blood Glucose; Hypoglycemic Agents; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Plant Extracts; Methanol; Glucose; Ethanol; Water; Streptozocin
PubMed: 37737076
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_253_23 -
ACS Omega Aug 2023As the urgency to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 intensifies, industries face an imperative to reimagine their role in the fight against climate change. One...
As the urgency to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 intensifies, industries face an imperative to reimagine their role in the fight against climate change. One promising avenue arises from the realization that industrial emissions, often deemed pollutants, can be the building blocks of a circular economy strategy. By directly utilizing these carbon emissions as raw materials, we can produce net-zero or low-carbon fuels, carbonates, polymers, and chemicals. At the heart of this paradigm shift lies the production of carbon-neutral methanol from industrial flue gas-a technically viable approach that has gained significant momentum in recent years. The conditions under which such a circular economy model for producing renewable methanol becomes commercially sustainable based on realistic constraints, however, are not sufficiently explored in the existing literature. This paper fills this gap by investigating if and when net-zero methanol production from industrial flue gas will be a sustainable long-term strategy. Using detailed technoeconomic modeling of integrated hydrogen and methanol production ecosystems for two production capacities, I will evaluate 32 practical production scenarios using realistic regulatory, economic, and market conditions. Even though renewable methanol from industrial emissions can be a viable technical solution to address climate change and global warming, I will show why this strategy will be commercially feasible only under favorable economic, regulatory, and market conditions. Furthermore, I will demonstrate how the market price of methanol and the cost of carbon-free electricity critically influence the commercial feasibility of this approach. When these two parameters are unfavorable, I will show why other factors, namely, carbon credits and byproduct (oxygen) sales, will not be sufficient to create an economically sustainable circular economy of renewable methanol from industrial emissions. Finally, I will provide arguments on why one has to think through stakeholder cooperation and public-private partnerships to mitigate various project risks. Despite the importance of this topic, it is not sufficiently covered in the available scientific literature. To advance policy and regulatory frameworks in this area, I strongly believe that further research and development is needed. I will also share perspectives on regulatory derisking mechanisms, which can help align regulations with private investors' preferences. With the analyses and arguments showcased in this paper, I will firmly assert that without favorable conditions, strong partnerships, and stakeholder cooperation, the production of renewable net-zero methanol from industrial emissions risks becoming a dead-end strategy.
PubMed: 37599969
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02441 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Jun 2024Methanol is a promising feedstock for the bio-based economy as it can be derived from organic waste streams or produced electrochemically from CO. Acetate production...
Methanol is a promising feedstock for the bio-based economy as it can be derived from organic waste streams or produced electrochemically from CO. Acetate production from CO in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has been widely studied, while more valuable compounds such as butyrate are currently attracting attention. In this study, methanol was used as a co-substrate with CO to enhance butyrate production in MES. Feeding with CO and methanol resulted in the highest butyrate production rates and titres of 0.36 ± 0.01 g L d and 8.6 ± 0.2 g L, respectively, outperforming reactors with only CO feeding (0.20 ± 0.03 g L d and 5.2 ± 0.1 g L, respectively). Methanol acted as electron donor and as carbon source, both of which contributed ca. 50% of the carbon in the products. Eubacterium was the dominant genus with 52.6 ± 2.5% relative abundance. Thus, we demonstrate attractive route for the use of the C1 substrates, CO and methanol, to produce mainly butyrate. KEY POINTS: • Butyrate was the main product from methanol and CO in MES • Methanol acted as both carbon and electron source in MES • Eubacterium dominating microbial culture was enriched in MES.
Topics: Methanol; Carbon Dioxide; Butyrates; Bioreactors; Carbon; Acetates
PubMed: 38874789
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13218-y