-
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Jun 2024Galactitol, a rare sugar alcohol, has promising potential in the food industry and pharmaceutical field. The available industrial production methods rely on harsh...
Galactitol, a rare sugar alcohol, has promising potential in the food industry and pharmaceutical field. The available industrial production methods rely on harsh hydrogenation processes, which incur high costs and environmental concerns. It is urgent to develop environmentally friendly and efficient biosynthesis technologies. In this study, a xylose reductase named AnXR derived from CBS 513.88 was identified and characterized for the enzymatic properties. AnXR exhibited the highest activity at 25 ℃ and pH 8.0, and it belonged to the NADPH-dependent aldose reductase family. To engineer a strain for galactitol production, we deleted the galactokinase (GAL1) gene in by using the recombinant gene technology, which significantly reduced the metabolic utilization of D-galactose by host cells. Subsequently, we introduced the gene encoding AnXR into this modified strain, creating an engineered strain capable of catalyzing the conversion of D-galactose into galactitol. Furthermore, we optimized the whole-cell catalysis conditions for the engineered strain, which achieved a maximum galactitol yield of 12.10 g/L. Finally, we tested the reduction ability of the strain for other monosaccharides and discovered that it could produce functional sugar alcohols such as xylitol and arabinitol. The engineered strain demonstrates efficient biotransformation capabilities for galactitol and other functional sugar alcohols, representing a significant advancement in environmentally sustainable production practices.
Topics: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Aldehyde Reductase; Galactitol; Aspergillus niger; Galactose; Metabolic Engineering; Fermentation; Industrial Microbiology; Galactokinase
PubMed: 38914500
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.230744 -
[Analysis of enzyme activity and substrate specificity of dolichyl-phosphate β-glucosyltransferase].Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Jun 2024Protein folding and quality control processes primarily occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER-resident molecular chaperones play a crucial role in guiding nascent...
Protein folding and quality control processes primarily occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER-resident molecular chaperones play a crucial role in guiding nascent polypeptides towards their correct tertiary structures. Some of these chaperones specifically recognize glucosylated -glycan moieties on peptide. It is of great significance to study the -glycan biosynthetic pathway and glycoprotein quality control system by analyzing the sugar donor of ER luminal glucosyltransferases, known as dolichol phosphate glucose (Dol-P-Glc), or its analogues . In this study, we investigated a range of dolichol analogues to synthesize lipid phosphate glucose, which served as substrates for dolichyl-phosphate β-glucosyltransferase E (Alg5E) derived from . The results demonstrated that the recombinant Alg5E, expressed in , exhibited strong catalytic activity and the ability to recognize lipid phosphate glucose with varying chain lengths. Interestingly, the enzyme's catalytic reaction was found to be faster with longer carbon chains in the substrate. Additionally, Alg5E showed a preference for branched chain methyl groups in the lipid structure. Furthermore, our study confirmed the importance of divalent metal ions in the binding of the crucial DXD motif, which is essential for the enzyme's catalytic function. These findings lay the groundwork for future research on glucosyltransferases Alg6, Alg8, and Alg10 in the synthesis pathway of dolichol-linked oligosaccharide (DLO).
Topics: Glucosyltransferases; Substrate Specificity; Escherichia coli; Trichomonas vaginalis; Recombinant Proteins; Dolichol Phosphates; Endoplasmic Reticulum
PubMed: 38914494
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.230737 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Jun 20242-phenylethanol (2-PE), an aromatic alcohol with a rose fragrance, is the second most widely used flavoring substance in the world. It is widely used in the cosmetic,... (Review)
Review
2-phenylethanol (2-PE), an aromatic alcohol with a rose fragrance, is the second most widely used flavoring substance in the world. It is widely used in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries. This paper introduces the chemical synthesis methods of 2-PE and the synthetic pathways in plants and microorganisms, summarizes the strategies to improve the microbial synthesis of 2-PE, reviews the research progress in synthesis of 2-PE in microorganisms, and makes an outlook on the research prospects, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the industrial production of 2-PE.
Topics: Phenylethyl Alcohol; Industrial Microbiology; Flavoring Agents; Bacteria; Plants
PubMed: 38914486
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.230762 -
PloS One 2024Gaseous and semi-volatile organic compounds emitted by the transport sector contribute to air pollution and have adverse effects on human health. To reduce harmful...
Gaseous and semi-volatile organic compounds emitted by the transport sector contribute to air pollution and have adverse effects on human health. To reduce harmful effects to the environment as well as to humans, renewable and sustainable bio-hybrid fuels are explored and investigated in the cluster of excellence "The Fuel Science Center" at RWTH Aachen University. However, data on the effects of bio-hybrid fuels on human health is scarce, leaving a data gap regarding their hazard potential. To help close this data gap, this study investigates potential toxic effects of a Ketone-Ester-Alcohol-Alkane (KEAA) fuel blend on A549 human lung cells. Experiments were performed using a commercially available air-liquid interface exposure system which was optimized beforehand. Then, cells were exposed at the air-liquid interface to 50-2000 ppm C3.7 of gaseous KEAA for 1 h. After a 24 h recovery period in the incubator, cells treated with 500 ppm C3.7 KEAA showed significant lower metabolic activity and cells treated with 50, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm C3.7 KEAA showed significant higher cytotoxicity compared to controls. Our data support the international occupational exposure limits of the single KEAA constituents. This finding applies only to the exposure scenario tested in this study and is difficult to extrapolate to the complex in vivo situation.
Topics: Humans; A549 Cells; Lung; Biofuels; Cell Survival; Gases; Volatile Organic Compounds; Alkanes; Air Pollutants
PubMed: 38913629
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300772 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) May 2024Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) and Bactrocera neohumeralis (Hardy) are sibling fruit fly species that are sympatric over much of their ranges. Premating isolation of these...
Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) and Bactrocera neohumeralis (Hardy) are sibling fruit fly species that are sympatric over much of their ranges. Premating isolation of these close relatives is thought to be maintained in part by allochrony-mating activity in B. tryoni peaks at dusk, whereas in B. neohumeralis, it peaks earlier in the day. To ascertain whether differences in pheromone composition may also contribute to premating isolation between them, this study used solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to characterize the rectal gland volatiles of a recently collected and a more domesticated strain of each species. These glands are typical production sites and reservoirs of pheromones in bactrocerans. A total of 120 peaks were detected and 50 were identified. Differences were found in the composition of the rectal gland emissions between the sexes, species, and recently collected versus domesticated strains of each species. The compositional variation included several presence/absence and many quantitative differences. Species and strain differences in males included several relatively small alcohols, esters, and aliphatic amides. Species and strain differences in females also included some of the amides but additionally involved many fatty acid esters and 3 spiroacetals. While the strain differences indicate there is also heritable variation in rectal gland emissions within each species, the species differences imply that compositional differences in pheromones emitted from rectal glands could contribute to the premating isolation between B. tryoni and B. neohumeralis. The changes during domestication could also have significant implications for the efficacy of Sterile Insect Technique control programs.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Tephritidae; Pheromones; Sympatry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Species Specificity; Reproductive Isolation; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Solid Phase Microextraction
PubMed: 38913610
DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieae066 -
Journal of Applied Biomedicine Jun 2024Myo-inositol (MI), present in a variety of foods, is essential in several important processes of cell physiology. In this study, we explored the protective effects of MI...
Myo-inositol (MI), present in a variety of foods, is essential in several important processes of cell physiology. In this study, we explored the protective effects of MI against hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in db/db mice, a typical animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MI supplement effectively suppressed the high plasma glucose and insulin levels and markedly relieved the insulin resistance (IR) in the db/db mice, comparable to metformin's effects. In MIN6 pancreatic β cells, MI also restrained the upsurge of insulin secretion stimulated by high-concentration glucose but had no impact on the promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, MI abated the enhanced plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the db/db mice. Notably, the lipid droplet formation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from db/db mice was significantly diminished after the treatment of MI, indicating that MI could effectively inhibit the differentiation of db/db mouse MSCs into adipocytes. However, MI regretfully failed to control obesity in db/db mice. This work proved that MI significantly helped db/db mice's metabolic disorders, indicating that MI has potential as an effective adjunctive treatment for hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in T2DM patients.
Topics: Animals; Insulin Resistance; Dyslipidemias; Inositol; Mice; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Male; Insulin; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Blood Glucose; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Adipocytes; Hyperglycemia
PubMed: 38912862
DOI: 10.32725/jab.2024.009 -
Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica Jun 2024Adolescents tend to experiment with ethanol which often results in heavy episodic drinking patterns leading to serious health concerns later in life. Chronic ethanol use...
INTRODUCTION
Adolescents tend to experiment with ethanol which often results in heavy episodic drinking patterns leading to serious health concerns later in life. Chronic ethanol use damages renal tissue, promotes collagen deposition, and induces renal inflammation, thereby causing renal dysfunction. Therefore, an intervention such as simvastatin (a blood cholesterol-lowering drug) that could suppress the effects of ethanol on the kidney may be beneficial. This study explored the impact of simvastatin against the onset of renal morphological damage, fibrosis, and inflammation caused by ethanol exposure in mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten four-week old C57BL/6J mice (F = 5; M = 5) were assigned to each experimental group: (I) NT; no administration of ethanol or simvastatin; (II) EtOH; 2.5 g/kg/day of 20% ethanol; intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) (III) SIM; 5 mg/kg/day of simvastatin; orally (iv) EtOH + SIM5; 5 mg/kg/day of simvastatin, orally, followed by 2.5 g/kg/day of 20% ethanol; i.p. and (v) EtOH + SIM15; 15 mg/kg/day simvastatin, orally, followed by 2.5 g/kg/day of 20% ethanol; i.p. After the 28-day treatment period, the right kidney was removed and processed for haematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, or Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) immunohistochemistry. The renal corpuscular area, glomerular area, and urinary space area were measured and the area of collagen or TNF-α expression was quantified using ImageJ software.
RESULTS
Ethanol administration significantly increased the renal corpuscular area, the glomerular area, the area of collagen, and the area of tissue with TNF-α immunoreactivity but decreased the area of urinary space. Simvastatin generally suppressed the ethanol effects in both sexes, although to varying degrees.
CONCLUSIONS
Simvastatin proved to suppress collagen deposition and the TNF-α production induced by ethanol in the kidney of mice thus indicating its effectiveness in the treatment of ethanol-related renal diseases.
PubMed: 38912569
DOI: 10.5603/fhc.95685 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Poor distillation practices in the production of spirits have historically resulted in many instances of adverse health outcomes including death. Concern has focused on...
OBJECTIVE
Poor distillation practices in the production of spirits have historically resulted in many instances of adverse health outcomes including death. Concern has focused on lead and copper contamination as well as unhealthy levels of methanol and glyphosate. This study assesses home-distilled and commercially distilled alcohols from Texas for these substances of concern, highlighting their potential risks to public health.
METHODS
Atomic absorption spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to determine lead and copper, methanol, and glyphosate levels in 12 commercial and 36 home-distilled alcohol samples.
RESULTS
Our findings showed that 11 % of the home-distilled alcohols exceeded the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's copper safety limits of 0.5 mg/L for wine. Additionally, 36 % of these samples surpassed the European Commission (EC)'s lead legal threshold of 0.15 mg/L set for wine products. Results from commercial alcohols indicated that no samples exceeded the same safety limits for copper, and 33 % exceeded the same legal threshold for lead. Both commercial and home-distilled alcohols exhibited methanol concentrations remarkably below the 0.35 % limit for brandy set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Only two home-distilled samples contained detectable glyphosate concentrations well below 100 μg/L, the maximum residue level in beer and wine established by the EC.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested that consumption of alcohol in Texas may pose potential health risks associated with the elevated content of lead and copper. There is a need for increased focus on alcohol as a potential source of exposure to heavy metals.
PubMed: 38912503
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32317 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Specific anthocyanins and phenolic compounds exhibit acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEi) activity. In this study, the AChEi activity of jaboticaba peel extracts were...
Specific anthocyanins and phenolic compounds exhibit acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEi) activity. In this study, the AChEi activity of jaboticaba peel extracts were investigated based on their high phenol contents. Jaboticaba peel ethanolic extract (PEX) and aqueous extract (PAX) were prepared by extracting jaboticaba peel with 95% ethanol and boiling water, respectively. Through HPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-PDA analysis, gallic acid was identified in PAX with a concentration of 598.13 ± 42.43 mg/100 g extract, and ellagic acid in PEX with a concentration of 350.47 ± 8.53 mg/100 g extract. Both PEX and PAX showed dose-dependent inhibition against AChE activity, with IC values of 3.54 and 4.07 mg/mL, respectively. The mechanism of inhibition of PEX was determined to be non-competitive inhibition based on the decreasing and relatively constant with increasing PEX concentration, as determined using a Lineweaver-Burk plot.
PubMed: 38912491
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32322 -
Dose-response : a Publication of... 2024This study focuses on the investigation of the significance of polymers in drug delivery approaches. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and...
This study focuses on the investigation of the significance of polymers in drug delivery approaches. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and dextrin-based hydrogel membrane were prepared and employed for the sustained release of third-generation oral antibiotic (cefixime). Different proportions of CMC, PVA and dextrin were blended and hydrogel membranes were fabricated via solvent casting method. The prepared membrane was characterized by FTIR, SEM, UV-visible, TGA and swelling analysis. Cefixime drug was incorporated in the CMC/PVA/dextrin matrix and drug release was investigated. The sustained release of the tested drug (cefixime) was investigated and the drug was released in 120 min in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. The antibacterial activity of the prepared membrane was promising against , and strains. The swelling capabilities, thermal stability and non-toxic nature of the prepared CMC/PVA/dextrin membrane could have potential applications for cefixime drug in delivery in a controlled way for the treatment of infectious diseases.
PubMed: 38912332
DOI: 10.1177/15593258241264951