metabolize

Aspergillus section Flavi (Flavi) is a diverse group of fungal species whose common members include A. flavus and A. parasiticus. These are well-known for the production of aflatoxin (AF) B and G and other toxic metabolites, like cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). They are saprophytic soil dwellers and also become crop opportunistic epiphytes. The consequence is contamination of the crop with mycotoxins, such as carcinogenic AF. We investigated the Flavi community structure of maize and that of their surrounding soil, including their mycotoxigenicity...

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) of chickens is an acute, high-contact, lytic infectious disease caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The attenuated inactivated vaccine produced by DF-1 cells is an effective control method, but the epidemic protection demands from the world poultry industry remain unfulfilled. To improve the IBDV vaccine production capacity and reduce the economic losses caused by IBDV in chicken, cellular metabolic engineering is performed on host cells. In this study, when analyzing the metabolomic after IBDV infection of DF-1 cells and the exogenous addition of reduced glutathione (GSH), we found that glutathione metabolism had an important role in the propagation of IBDV in DF-1 cells, and the glutathione synthetase gene (gss) could be a limiting regulator in glutathione metabolism...

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels are rising to alarming concentrations in earth's atmosphere, causing adverse effects and global climate changes. In the last century, innovative research on CO2 reduction using chemical, photochemical, electrochemical and enzymatic approaches has been addressed. In particular, natural CO2 conversion serves as a model for many processes and extensive studies on microbes and enzymes regarding redox reactions involving CO2 have already been conducted. In this review we focus on the enzymatic conversion of CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) as the chemical conversion downstream of CO production render CO particularly attractive as a key intermediate...

Nervonic acid, a natural fatty acid compound and also a core component of nerve fibers and nerve cells, has been widely used to prevent and treat related diseases of the brain nervous system. At present, fatty acids and their derivatives are mainly obtained by natural extraction or chemical synthesis which are limited by natural resources and production costs. In this study, the de novo synthetic pathway of nervonic acid was constructed in Yarrowia lipolytica by means of synthetic biology, and the yield of nervonic acid was further improved by metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization...

A significant distinction between cigar production and tobacco lies in the necessary aging process, where intricate microbial growth, metabolic activities, enzymatic catalysis, and chemical reactions interact. Despite its crucial role in determining the final quality of cigars, our comprehension of the underlying chemical and biological mechanisms within this process remains insufficient. Biomass and alkaloids are the primary constituents that influence the flavor of cigars. Consequently, investigating the entire aging process could begin by exploring the involvement of microbes and enzymes in their biodegradation...

This article discusses the complex network of ion transporters, genes, microRNAs, and transcription factors that regulate crop tolerance to saline-alkaline stress. The framework aids scientists produce stress-tolerant crops for smart agriculture. Salinity and alkalinity are frequently coexisting abiotic limitations that have emerged as archetypal mediators of low yield in many semi-arid and arid regions throughout the world. Saline-alkaline stress, which occurs in an environment with high concentrations of salts and a high pH, negatively impacts plant metabolism to a greater extent than either stress alone...

The interaction network and pathway map uncover the potential crosstalk between sugar and hormone metabolisms as a possible reason for leaf senescence in P. ternata. Pinellia ternata, an environmentally sensitive medicinal plant, undergoes leaf senescence twice a year, affecting its development and yield. Understanding the potential mechanism that delays leaf senescence could theoretically decrease yield losses. In this study, a typical senescent population model was constructed, and an integrated analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of P...

The intracellular protozoan Eimeria tenella is responsible for avian coccidiosis which is characterized by host intestinal damage. During developmental cycle, E. tenella undergoes versatile transitional stages such as oocyst, sporozoites, merozoites, and gametocytes. These developmental transitions involve changes in cell shape and cell size requiring cytoskeletal remodeling and changes in membrane proteins, which may require transcriptional and translational regulations as well as post-translational modification of proteins...

RATIONALE: Patients with schizophrenia with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) treatment have shown an increased risk of bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture; however, it is still unclear whether this risk is derived from the effect of antipsychotics on balance of bone metabolism. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the changes of two bone turnover biomarkers (BTMs) concentrations in people with schizophrenia receiving SGAs: procollagen type I aminoterminal propeptide (PINP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1) as BTMs of osteogenesis and bone resorption, respectively, to explore how antipsychotics contribute to bone fragility...

This study explores the molecular underpinnings of neuropathic pain (NPP) and neuroinflammation, focusing on the role of TRIM28 in the regulation of autophagy and microglia ferroptosis. Leveraging transcriptomic data associated with NPP, we identified TRIM28 as a critical regulator of ferroptosis. Through comprehensive analysis, including Gene Ontology enrichment and protein-protein interaction network assessments, we unveiled GSK3B as a downstream target of TRIM28. Experimental validation confirmed the capacity of TRIM28 to suppress GSK3B expression and attenuate autophagic processes in microglia...

Metal contamination of the environment poses a significant threat to human health and can cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems. Danio rerio was exposed to Sorocaba River water for 96 h from two different sites in summer (S) and winter (W). Concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn were determined in the exposure water and in sediment. At the end of the exposure, the concentrations of Al, Cu and Mn at the Ibiúna point (P1) and Mn at the Itupararanga point (P2) decreased compared to the initial concentrations in the water...

Terpenoids are pervasive in nature and display an immense structural diversity. As the largest category of plant secondary metabolites, terpenoids have important socioeconomic value in the fields of pharmaceuticals, spices, and food manufacturing. The biosynthesis of terpenoid skeletons has made great progress, but the subsequent modifications of the terpenoid framework are poorly understood, especially for the functionalization of inert carbon skeleton usually catalyzed by hydroxylases. Hydroxylase is a class of enzymes that plays an important role in the modification of terpenoid backbone...

The transition-metal-catalyzed [4 + 4] cycloaddition leading to cyclooctanoids has been centralizing on dimerization between 1,3-diene type substrates. Here, we extend a [4σ + 4π - 1] and [4σ + 4π] cycloaddition strategy to access the 7/8-membered fused carbocycles through Rh-catalyzed coupling between the 4σ-donor (benzocyclobutenones) and pendant diene (4π) motifs. The two pathways can be controlled by adjusting the solvated CO concentration. A broad scope (>40 examples) of 5-6-7 and 5-6-8 polyfused carbocycles was obtained with good yields (up to 90%)...

Currently, microbial manufacturing is widely used in various fields, such as food, medicine and energy, for its advantages of greenness and sustainable development. Process optimization is the committed step enabling the commercialization of microbial manufacturing products. However, the present optimization processes mainly rely on experience or trial-and-error method ignoring the intrinsic connection between cellular physiological requirement and production performance, so in many cases the productivity of microbial manufacturing could not been fully exploited at economically feasible cost...

Sparingly-soluble phosphate rock (PR), a raw material for P-fertilizer production, can be effectively utilized by the As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata but not most plants. In this study, we investigated the associated mechanisms by measuring dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and acid phosphatase in the rhizosphere, and nutrient uptake and gene expression related to the As metabolism in P. vittata . The plants were grown in a soil containing 200 mg kg-1 As and/or 1.5% PR for 30 days. Compared to the As treatment, the P...

RATIONALE: Standardized dosing of anti-tubercular (TB) drugs leads to variable plasma drug levels, which are associated with adverse drug reactions, delayed treatment response, and relapse. Mutations in genes affecting drug metabolism explain considerable interindividual pharmacokinetic variability; however, pharmacogenomic (PGx) assays that predict metabolism of anti-TB drugs have been lacking. OBJECTIVES: To develop a Nanopore sequencing panel and validate its performance in active TB patients to personalize treatment dosing...

Embryo quality is an important determinant of successful implantation and a resultant live birth. Current clinical approaches for evaluating embryo quality rely on subjective morphology assessments or an invasive biopsy for genetic testing. However, both approaches can be inherently inaccurate and crucially, fail to improve the live birth rate following the transfer of in vitro produced embryos. Optical imaging offers a potential non-invasive and accurate avenue for assessing embryo viability. Recent advances in various label-free optical imaging approaches have garnered increased interest in the field of reproductive biology due to their ability to rapidly capture images at high-resolution, delivering both morphological and molecular information...

Background: Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) has been used as a payload for several Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). It is known that MMAE is released from the ADC following binding, internalization and proteolytic degradation in target tissues. A striking discrepancy in systemic MMAE levels has been observed across species with 50-fold higher MMAE levels in human than that in rodents when normalized by ADC dose with unknown mechanism. Hypothesis and purpose: Multiple factors could affect systemic MMAE levels such as production and elimination of unconjugated MMAE following ADC dosing...

Wilms tumor, the most common pediatric kidney cancer, resembles embryonic renal progenitors. Currently, there are no ways to therapeutically target Wilms tumor driver mutations, such as in the microRNA processing gene DROSHA. Here we used a "multi-omics" approach to define the effects of DROSHA mutation in Wilms tumor. We categorized Wilms tumor mutations into four mutational subclasses with unique transcriptional effects: microRNA processing, MYCN activation, chromatin remodeling, and kidney developmental factors...

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is a crucial factor contributing to the occurrence and development of secondary damage in spinal cord injuries (SCI), ultimately impacting the recovery process. α-lipoic acid (ALA) exhibits potent antioxidant properties, effectively reducing secondary damage and providing neuroprotective benefits. However, the precise mechanism by which ALA plays its antioxidant role remains unknown. METHODS: We established a model of moderate spinal cord contusion in rats...