L-leucine

The rational design of precisely controlled hierarchical chiral nanostructures from synthetic polymers garnered inspiration from sophisticated biological materials. Since chiral peptide motifs induce helix formation in macromolecules, herein we report the synthesis of a novel type of hybrid polymer consisting of a β-sheet forming a LVF [L = leucine, V = valine, and F = phenylalanine] tripeptide pendant polymethacrylate block and a poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] ( PPEGMA ) block...

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are localized injuries to the skin or the underlying tissue, or both, and are common in older and immobile people, people with diabetes, vascular disease, or malnutrition, as well as those who require intensive or palliative care. People with pressure ulcers often suffer from severe pain and exhibit social avoidance behaviours. The prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers involves strategies to optimize hydration, circulation, and nutrition. Adequate nutrient intake can reduce the risk factor of malnutrition and promote wound healing in existing pressure ulcers...

The extract of mulberry leaf and its active ingredients have already been reported to have anti-diabetic effects; however, further studies are required to obtain better quality extracts and higher yields of active ingredients. Reducose® is a commercially available aqueous extract of mulberry leaves with a high content of active ingredients. In this study, the biological activities of Reducose®, 1-deoxynojirimycin, and l-leucine were evaluated using a glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assay...

Engineering microbial hosts to synthesize pyruvate derivatives depends on blocking pyruvate oxidation, thereby causing severe growth defects in aerobic glucose-based bioprocesses. To decouple pyruvate metabolism from cell growth to improve pyruvate availability, a genome-scale metabolic model combined with constraint-based flux balance analysis, geometric flux balance analysis, and flux variable analysis was used to identify genetic targets for strain design. Using translation elements from a ~3,000 cistronic library to modulate fxpK expression in a bicistronic cassette, a bifido shunt pathway was introduced to generate three molecules of non-pyruvate-derived acetyl-CoA from one molecule of glucose, bypassing pyruvate oxidation and carbon dioxide generation...

Climate change is leading to the upward migration of treelines in mountainous regions, resulting in changes to the carbon and nitrogen inputs in soils. The impact of these alterations on the microbial mineralization of the existing soil organic carbon (SOC) pool remains uncertain, making it challenging to anticipate their effects on the carbon balance. To enhance our prediction and understanding of native SOC mineralization in Himalayan regions resulting from treeline shifts, a study was conducted to quantify soil priming effects (PEs) at high elevations above the treeline ecosystem...

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 390, Issue 5, Page 467-470, February 2024.

BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick disease type C is a rare lysosomal storage disorder. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of N -acetyl-l-leucine (NALL), an agent that potentially ameliorates lysosomal and metabolic dysfunction, for the treatment of Niemann-Pick disease type C. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, we randomly assigned patients 4 years of age or older with genetically confirmed Niemann-Pick disease type C in a 1:1 ratio to receive NALL for 12 weeks, followed by placebo for 12 weeks, or to receive placebo for 12 weeks, followed by NALL for 12 weeks...

A bacterial strain, designated NLS-7T , was isolated through enrichment of landfill cover soil in methane-oxidizing conditions. Strain NLS-7T is a Gram-stain negative, non-motile rod, approximately 0.8 µm wide by 1.3 µm long. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing places it within the genus Methylocystis , with its closest relatives being M. hirsuta , M. silviterrae and M. rosea , with 99.9, 99.7 and 99.6 % sequence similarity respectively. However, average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values below the 95 % threshold compared to all the close relatives and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between 20...

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and metabolic alterations of cancer cachexia are often associated with negative weight loss and muscle mass wasting. In this sense, protein supplementation can be a strategy to help counteract the loss and/or maintenance of mass in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leucine supplementation on body composition in outpatients with gastrointestinal tract cancer. METHODS: It was a randomized, blinded, controlled, parallel trial, performed in male patients with a cancer diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract and appendix organs undergoing chemotherapy...

Pulmonary inflammations such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis are widespread and can be fatal, especially when they are characterized by abnormal mucus accumulation. Inhaled corticosteroids are commonly used for lung inflammations despite their considerable side effects. By utilizing particle engineering techniques, a combined dry powder inhaler (DPI) comprising nanosized ketoprofen-embedded mannitol-coated microparticles was developed. A nanoembedded microparticle system means a novel advance in pulmonary delivery by enhancing local pulmonary deposition while avoiding clearance mechanisms...

Co-amorphous systems (CAMS) were developed between griseofulvin (GRI) and L-leucine (LEU) at 2:1 weight ratio, by application of a novel solvent assisted hot-melt extrusion (HME) method that involved wet processing/drying of the feeds prior to extrusion. CAMS formation was confirmed by powder crystallography (pXRD) and thermal analysis (DSC). Intermolecular H-bonding between the carbonyl groups of GRI and the hydroxyl and amino groups of LEU were identified by vibrational spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The measured glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the extrudates from feeds processed with aqueous acetic acid (AcOH) were markedly lower than that of neat amorphous GRI and values predicted from Gordon-Taylor equation, indicating plasticizing action of AcOH...

Lipopeptides, derived from microorganisms, are promising surface-active compounds known as biosurfactants. However, the high production costs of biosurfactants, associated with expensive culture media and purification processes, limit widespread industrial application. To enhance the sustainability of biosurfactant production, researchers have explored cost-effective substrates. In this study, crude glycerol was evaluated as a promising and economical carbon source in viscosinamide production by Pseudomonas fluorescens DR54...

The emergence of peptide-based functional biomaterials is on the rise. To fulfil this purpose, a series of amphiphilic peptides, such as H2 N-X-Met-Phe-C12 H25 , where X = L-lysine (CP1), X = L-histidine (CP2), and X = L-leucine (CP3), have been designed, synthesised, purified and fully characterised. Herein, we reported peptide-based supramolecular hydrogels with antibacterial and anticancer activities. An attempt has been made to investigate the antibacterial properties of these peptide-based hydrogels against Gram-positive ( S...

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen (N) is an important macronutrient involved in the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites in plants. However, the metabolic regulatory mechanism of low-N-induced triterpenoid saponin and flavonoid accumulation in rhizomatous medicinal Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen remains unclear. METHODS: To explore the potential regulatory mechanism and metabolic basis controlling the response of P. notoginseng to N deficiency, the transcriptome and metabolome were analysed in the roots...

N-Acyl-amino acids can act as mild biobased surfactants, which are used, e.g., in baby shampoos. However, their chemical synthesis needs acyl chlorides and does not meet sustainability criteria. Thus, the identification of biocatalysts to develop greener synthesis routes is desirable. We describe a novel aminoacylase from Paraburkholderia monticola DSM 100849 (PmAcy) which was identified, cloned, and evaluated for its N-acyl-amino acid synthesis potential. Soluble protein was obtained by expression in lactose autoinduction medium and co-expression of molecular chaperones GroEL/S...

Deepwater pink shrimp ( Parapenaus longirostris ) has a significantly high catch yield and is a highly important food source for human nutrition in terms of its nutritional value. The reduction of salt content in seafood products while preserving taste poses a significant challenge. The aim of this study is to reduce the NaCl ratio used in the shrimp marination process by substituting it with KCl and masking the resulting bitterness from KCl using natural flavor enhancers, such as yeast extracts. The marinated shrimp were prepared using 50% KCl instead of 50% NaCl...

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to distinguish type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) from type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI), although their management varies. OBJECTIVES: Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and pseudo-targeted metabolomics to identify biomarkers, investigate metabolic differences, and establish a T2MI subclassification. METHODS: Among 1519 patients with MI, 97 T2MI patients are identified who are 1:1 matched with 97 T1MI patients after considering age, gender, ST-segment elevation, time from onset to coronary angiography, and hs-cTnI on admission by propensity score matching...

Trichoderma longibrachiatum UN32 is known for its efficient production of dendrobine-type total alkaloids (DTTAs). This study aimed to determine the optimal medium composition for the UN32 strain using response surface methodology. Key factors, including glucose, beef extract, and CoCl2 , were selected through the Plackett-Burman design. Subsequently, a factorial optimization approach was employed using the steepest ascent design, and 17 trial sets were completed via the Box-Behnken design. The optimal medium composition was found to consist of 29...

Continuous monocropping can lead to soil sickness and increase of soil-borne disease, which finally reduces crop yield. Microorganisms benefit plants by increasing nutrient availability, participating in auxin synthesis, and defending against pathogens. However, little is known about the influence of short-term successive peanuts cropping on soil properties, enzyme activities, its yield, plant-associated microbes, and their potential correlations in peanut production. Here, we examined the community structure, composition, network structure and function of microbes in the rhizosphere and bulk soils under different monocropping years...

BACKGROUND: Three clinical trials have examined the chronic effects of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) on muscle mass and function in frail older adults (mean age 85 years old). However, significant increases in muscle mass and some muscle function relative to long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) have yet to be shown, possibly due to the small number of participants in each trial. OBJECTIVE: We re-analyzed these previous clinical trials to clarify whether MCT supplementation can increase muscle mass and function...