enzyme characterization

Engineering bacterial biocatalysts for the degradation of phthalic acid esters

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Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemicals used to make plastics flexible that can leak into the environment and harm human health. Scientists are engineering bacteria with improved enzymes to break down PAEs more efficiently through a process called bioremediation. The review discusses how bacteria naturally degrade these pollutants and outlines strategies to make this process faster and more practical for cleaning contaminated environments.

Screening, identification, metabolic pathway of di-n-butyl phthalate degrading Priestia megaterium P-7 isolated from long-term film mulched cotton field soil in Xinjiang

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This research identifies a special bacterium called Priestia megaterium P-7 that can efficiently break down di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a harmful plastic chemical that accumulates in cotton field soils. Scientists found that this bacterium can completely remove DBP from contaminated soil within 20 hours under optimal conditions. By studying the bacterium’s genes and metabolism, they discovered the specific enzymes and pathways it uses to degrade DBP into harmless compounds. This finding offers a practical biological solution for cleaning up contaminated agricultural soils, particularly in Xinjiang where plastic film mulching is widely used in cotton farming.

L-gulono-γ-lactone Oxidase, the Key Enzyme for L-Ascorbic Acid Biosynthesis

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Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for human health, protecting against disease and supporting numerous body functions. However, humans cannot make their own vitamin C because we lack a functional GULO enzyme gene. This review examines how different organisms produce vitamin C, where these enzymes work in cells, and recent discoveries showing that a simplified version of the enzyme can still work effectively, which could help improve vitamin C production in engineered plants.

Proteases from Pleurotus spp.: Properties, Production and Biotechnological Applications

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Oyster and king oyster mushrooms produce powerful enzymes called proteases that can break down proteins. These enzymes have multiple uses including fighting parasitic infections in animals and plants, making cheese, dissolving blood clots, and being used in detergents and cosmetics. The mushrooms can be grown on agricultural waste, making this a sustainable and cost-effective way to produce these valuable enzymes.

Clade III Synthases Add Cyclic and Linear Terpenoids to the Psilocybe Metabolome

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Researchers identified four enzymes in magic mushrooms that produce various aromatic compounds called terpenes. These findings show that Psilocybe mushrooms make a much wider variety of bioactive molecules beyond just psilocybin. Understanding these additional compounds could help explain why whole mushrooms may have different effects than pure psilocybin alone.

Bifunctional Sesquiterpene/Diterpene Synthase Agr2 from Cyclocybe aegerita Gives Rise to the Novel Diterpene Cyclocybene

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Scientists discovered that a special enzyme from a mushroom called Cyclocybe aegerita can make two different types of aromatic compounds instead of just one. By growing this enzyme in a different mushroom species that provides better raw materials, researchers identified a completely new compound called cyclocybene. This finding shows that using fungi as hosts for producing useful natural chemicals can work better than traditional bacterial systems, potentially opening new paths for making medicines and fragrances.

Updated safety evaluation of the food enzyme AMP deaminase from the non‐genetically modified Streptomyces murinus strain AE‐DNTS

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Scientists evaluated the safety of AMP deaminase, an enzyme used in food processing for yeast and mushroom extract production. The enzyme is produced from a naturally occurring bacterium and is intended to help break down adenosine monophosphate during food manufacturing. Through extensive testing including genetic mutation tests and animal studies, researchers found no safety concerns when used at recommended levels in food processing. The amount of enzyme that consumers might ingest through food is far below levels that could cause any adverse effects.

Bifunctional Sesquiterpene/Diterpene Synthase Agr2 from Cyclocybe aegerita Gives Rise to the Novel Diterpene Cyclocybene

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Scientists discovered that a fungal enzyme from the black poplar mushroom (Cyclocybe aegerita) can produce two different types of beneficial compounds called terpenes. Using a baker’s yeast relative as a host organism, they found that the enzyme makes both a known sesquiterpene and an entirely new diterpene compound they named cyclocybene. This discovery shows that fungi can be better factories for producing these valuable compounds than bacteria previously used, opening doors for developing new medicines, fragrances, and biofuels.

Unprecedented Mushroom Polyketide Synthases Produce the Universal Anthraquinone Precursor

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Scientists discovered that mushrooms in the Cortinarius genus use unique enzymes called polyketide synthases to produce chemical building blocks that become anthraquinone compounds. These mushroom enzymes work differently from similar enzymes found in molds and plants, showing that nature independently invented multiple ways to make the same important molecules. This finding reveals how different organisms evolved similar chemical-making abilities through completely different evolutionary paths, and suggests this principle applies to many other mushroom species as well.

Melatonin-Producing Microorganisms: A Rising Research Interest in Their Melatonin Biosynthesis and Effects on Crops

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Scientists are discovering that certain microorganisms like yeast, algae, and bacteria naturally produce melatonin, the same molecule that helps humans sleep. These melatonin-producing microbes could help farmers grow healthier crops by sharing their melatonin with plants and protecting them from stress like drought and disease. This discovery offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic melatonin and could make agriculture more sustainable as climate change poses increasing challenges.

Research Keyword: enzyme characterization