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Current Issues in Molecular Biology 2019Methylotrophic yeasts, which are able to utilize methanol as the sole carbon and energy source, have been intensively studied in terms of physiological function and... (Review)
Review
Methylotrophic yeasts, which are able to utilize methanol as the sole carbon and energy source, have been intensively studied in terms of physiological function and practical applications. When these yeasts grow on methanol, the genes encoding enzymes and proteins involved in methanol metabolism are strongly induced. Simultaneously, peroxisomes, organelles that contain the key enzymes for methanol metabolism, massively proliferate. These characteristics have made methylotrophic yeasts efficient hosts for heterologous protein production using strong and methanol-inducible gene promoters and also model organisms for the study of peroxisome dynamics. Much attention has been paid to the interaction between methylotrophic microorganisms and plants. In this chapter, we describe how methylotrophic yeasts proliferate and survive on plant leaves, focusing on their physiological functions and lifestyle in the phyllosphere. Our current understanding of the molecular basis of methanol-inducible gene expression, including methanol-sensing and its applications, is also summarized.
Topics: Cell Survival; Fungi; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Methanol; Plant Leaves; Quorum Sensing
PubMed: 31166193
DOI: 10.21775/cimb.033.197 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022Methanol, naturally present in small quantities in the distillation of alcoholic beverages, can lead to serious health problems. When it exceeds a certain concentration,...
Methanol, naturally present in small quantities in the distillation of alcoholic beverages, can lead to serious health problems. When it exceeds a certain concentration, it causes blindness, organ failure, and even death if not recognized in time. Analytical techniques such as chromatography are used to detect dangerous concentrations of methanol, which are very accurate but also expensive, cumbersome, and time-consuming. Therefore, a gas sensor that is inexpensive and portable and capable of distinguishing methanol from ethanol would be very useful. Here, we present a resistive gas sensor, based on tin oxide nanowires, that works in a thermal gradient. By combining responses at various temperatures and using machine learning algorithms (PCA, SVM, LDA), the device can distinguish methanol from ethanol in a wide range of concentrations (1-100 ppm) in both dry air and under different humidity conditions (25-75% RH). The proposed sensor, which is small and inexpensive, demonstrates the ability to distinguish methanol from ethanol at different concentrations and could be developed both to detect the adulteration of alcoholic beverages and to quickly recognize methanol poisoning.
Topics: Alcoholic Beverages; Ethanol; Machine Learning; Methanol; Nanowires
PubMed: 35898057
DOI: 10.3390/s22155554 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Biodiesel is generally produced from vegetable oils and methanol, which also generates glycerol as byproduct. To improve the overall economic performance of the process,...
Biodiesel is generally produced from vegetable oils and methanol, which also generates glycerol as byproduct. To improve the overall economic performance of the process, the selective formation of methanol from glycerol is important in biodiesel production. In the present study, a CaO modified HZSM-5 zeolite was prepared by an impregnation method and used for the conversion of glycerol to methanol. We found that the 10%CaO/HZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 38 exhibited highest selectivity to methanol of 70%, with a glycerol conversion of 100% under 340 ℃ and atmospheric pressure. The characterization results showed that the introduction of a small amount of CaO into the HZSM-5 did not affect the structure of zeolite. The incorporation of HZSM-5 as an acidic catalyst and CaO as a basic catalyst in a synergistic catalysis system led to higher conversion of glycerol and selectivity of methanol.
Topics: Zeolites; Methanol; Biofuels; Glycerol; Catalysis
PubMed: 36364049
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217221 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022This research endeavored to boost the applicability of methanol in CI engines utilizing n-decanol as cosolvents. The work was split into binary phases. Firstly, the...
This research endeavored to boost the applicability of methanol in CI engines utilizing n-decanol as cosolvents. The work was split into binary phases. Firstly, the stabilities of pure methanol (M100) and hydrous-methanol (MH10), with diesel as a reference fuel, were examined applying various temperatures: 10 °C, 20 °C, and 30 °C. The findings showed that the M100-diesel and MH10-diesel combinations were unstable. Thus, n-decanol was utilized as a cosolvent. Following by the engine combustion and emissions characteristics were evaluated by manipulating three proportions of M100-diesel mixtures with n-decanol. Three mixtures comprised of 5, 10, and 15% M100 with 20% n-decanol, which are denoted as M5, M10, and M15, correspondingly. These combinations were assessed via thermogravimetric assessment, and their physicochemical properties were assessed corresponding to the ASTM. The maximum in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate, and pressure rise rate diminished by 10, 11, and 10%, respectively, for the M100/diesel/n-decanol combinations compared with the diesel oil. The brake thermal efficiency lowered by 10%, whereas the brake specific fuel consumption enlarged by 10% for the combinations compared with the diesel. NO and smoke opacity levels diminished by about 30 and 50%, respectively, whereas the CO and UHC enlarged by about 50 and 60% for the blends compared with the diesel oil.
Topics: Vehicle Emissions; Methanol; Gasoline; Fatty Alcohols; Biofuels
PubMed: 36347886
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20326-0 -
Arquivos de Neuro-psiquiatria Sep 2018
Topics: Acute Disease; Humans; Male; Methanol; Nervous System Diseases; Young Adult
PubMed: 30365628
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20180060 -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Mar 2016The alcohols, methanol, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, have many features in common, the most important of which is the fact that the compounds themselves are... (Review)
Review
The alcohols, methanol, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, have many features in common, the most important of which is the fact that the compounds themselves are relatively non-toxic but are metabolized, initially by alcohol dehydrogenase, to various toxic intermediates. These compounds are readily available worldwide in commercial products as well as in homemade alcoholic beverages, both of which lead to most of the poisoning cases, from either unintentional or intentional ingestion. Although relatively infrequent in overall occurrence, poisonings by metabolically-toxic alcohols do unfortunately occur in outbreaks and can result in severe morbidity and mortality. These poisonings have traditionally been treated with ethanol since it competes for the active site of alcohol dehydrogenase and decreases the formation of toxic metabolites. Although ethanol can be effective in these poisonings, there are substantial practical problems with its use and so fomepizole, a potent competitive inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, was developed for a hopefully better treatment for metabolically-toxic alcohol poisonings. Fomepizole has few side effects and is easy to use in practice and it may obviate the need for haemodialysis in some, but not all, patients. Hence, fomepizole has largely replaced ethanol as the toxic alcohol antidote in many countries. Nevertheless, ethanol remains an important alternative because access to fomepizole can be limited, the cost may appear excessive, or the physician may prefer ethanol due to experience.
Topics: Acidosis; Antidotes; Ethanol; Ethylene Glycol; Ethylene Glycols; Fomepizole; Humans; Methanol; Pyrazoles
PubMed: 26551875
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12824 -
California Medicine Nov 1946
Topics: Alcoholism; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Methanol
PubMed: 18731119
DOI: No ID Found -
Nature Feb 2015The most powerful oxidant found in nature is compound Q, an enzymatic intermediate that oxidizes methane. New spectroscopic data have resolved the long-running...
The most powerful oxidant found in nature is compound Q, an enzymatic intermediate that oxidizes methane. New spectroscopic data have resolved the long-running controversy about Q’s chemical structure.
Topics: Iron Compounds; Methane; Methanol; Oxygenases
PubMed: 25607367
DOI: 10.1038/nature14199 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B Jan 2007The division of thermodynamic solvation free energies of electrolytes into contributions from individual ionic constituents is conventionally accomplished by using the...
The division of thermodynamic solvation free energies of electrolytes into contributions from individual ionic constituents is conventionally accomplished by using the single-ion solvation free energy of one reference ion, conventionally the proton, to set the single-ion scales. Thus, the determination of the free energy of solvation of the proton in various solvents is a fundamental issue of central importance in solution chemistry. In the present article, relative solvation free energies of ions and ion-solvent clusters in methanol, acetonitrile, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been determined using a combination of experimental and theoretical gas-phase free energies of formation, solution-phase reduction potentials and acid dissociation constants, and gas-phase clustering free energies. Applying the cluster pair approximation to differences between these relative solvation free energies leads to values of -263.5, -260.2, and -273.3 kcal/mol for the absolute solvation free energy of the proton in methanol, acetonitrile, and DMSO, respectively. The final absolute proton solvation free energies are used to assign absolute values for the normal hydrogen electrode potential and the solvation free energies of other single ions in the solvents mentioned above.
Topics: Acetonitriles; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Electrodes; Hydrogen; Ions; Methanol; Surface Properties; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 17214493
DOI: 10.1021/jp065403l -
Environmental Health Perspectives Dec 1993The use of oxygenated fuels is anticipated to increase over the next decades. This paper reviews the toxicological and exposure information for methyl tertiary-butyl... (Review)
Review
The use of oxygenated fuels is anticipated to increase over the next decades. This paper reviews the toxicological and exposure information for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel additive, and methanol, a replacement fuel, and discusses the possible health consequences of exposure of the general public to these compounds. For MTBE, the health effects information available is derived almost exclusively from rodent studies, and the exposure data are limited to a few measurements at some service stations. Based on these data, it appears unlikely that the normal population is at high risk of exposure to MTBE vapor. However, in the absence of health and pharmacokinetic data in humans or in nonhuman primates, this conclusion is not strongly supported. Similarly, there are a number of uncertainties to take into consideration in estimating human risk from the use of methanol as a fuel. Although methanol may be toxic to humans at concentrations that overwhelm certain enzymes involved in methanol metabolism, the data available provide little evidence to indicate that exposure to methanol vapors from the use of methanol as a motor vehicle fuel will result in adverse health effects. The uncertainties in this conclusion are based on the lack of information on dose-response relationship at reasonable, projected exposure levels and of studies examining end points of concern in sensitive species. In developing a quantitative risk assessment, more needs to be known about health effects in primates or humans and the range of exposure expected for the general public for both compounds.
Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Animals; Ethers; Gasoline; Methanol; Methyl Ethers; Reproduction; Solvents
PubMed: 8020439
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.93101s6151