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Tiny droplets offer glimpse of real life inside a living cell

Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have developed a system to study cellular reactions in a way that more closely reflects how molecules behave in a living cell. By mixing a polymer with protein, they created membraneless droplets that can mimic the molecular properties of how molecules move in the cell.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2021

Supernova: A glowing DNA enzyme

Researchers at IOCB Prague have created a glowing DNA enzyme called Supernova, which catalyzes a chemiluminescent reaction. This breakthrough uses artificial evolution to identify light-producing deoxyribozymes in a vast library of DNA molecules, opening up new possibilities for point-of-care assays and high-throughput screens.

Cold-adapted enzymes can transform at room temperature

Cold-adapted enzymes from low-temperature organisms exhibit distinctive properties that enable them to function in freezing conditions. However, they often stop functioning at around room temperature, until they start melting. Researchers have now explained this phenomenon through extensive computer simulations.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 26, 2020

New mathematical model for amyloid formation

Scientists develop a mathematical model that describes the chemical reactions responsible for amyloid fibril formation, revealing catalytic sites at interfaces and implications for laboratory data interpretation. The model has a simpler mathematical form than previous models, making it more accessible for future studies.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJan 28, 2020

Analysis and detoxification in one step

A Thai research team has created a novel approach for simultaneously detecting and detoxifying harmful phenol compounds in one step. The innovative technique leverages natural enzymatic reactions to convert toxic chemicals into luciferin, a bioluminescent compound produced by fireflies.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 8, 2019

Re-designing hydrogenases

Researchers at EPFL have successfully synthesized a manganese-hydrogenase by incorporating a manganese complex into an iron-hydrogenase. The resulting semi-synthetic enzyme is active for the native reaction of iron-hydrogenase, marking a significant breakthrough in metalloenzyme design.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 21, 2019

SibFU scientists simulated the intracellular environment of a luminescent bacteria cell

The study investigated the effect of viscosity on enzymatic reactions in a simulated intracellular environment. Scientists found that sucrose limited enzyme mobility more efficiently than glycerol, affecting reaction rates and mechanisms. The approach to constructing metabolic chains inside luminescent bacteria cells was proposed.

SourceSiberian Federal University·JournalMolecular Catalysis·DateOct 26, 2018

Breakthrough in industrial CO2 usage

Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed an enzymatic process to produce methionine from gaseous CO2, replacing the current petrochemical-based method. The new process requires just two enzymes and has a yield of 40 percent, compared to photosynthesis which uses 14 enzymes with only a 20 percent yield.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Catalysis·DateJul 26, 2018

'Tricking' bacteria into hydroxylating benzene

Researchers have successfully used E.coli bacteria to oxidize C-H bonds in benzene to generate phenol by activating a genetically inserted cytochrome P450BM3 enzyme with a decoy molecule. This novel approach enables whole-cell biotransformation without harsh conditions or genetic modification.

SourceNagoya University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 11, 2018

Computer redesigns enzyme

University of Groningen biotechnologists successfully redesigned aspartase enzyme using computational method, producing kilograms of pure building blocks for pharmaceuticals and other bioactive compounds.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMay 21, 2018

Nanocapsules enable cell-inspired metabolic reactions

Scientists at the University of Basel created bio-catalytic capsules capable of producing glucose-6-phosphate, a key metabolite involved in carbohydrate degradation and energy storage. The nanocapsules, measuring less than 200 nanometers, can be taken up by cells and may pave the way for new disease treatments.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalChemical Communications·DateSep 19, 2017

On the path to vitamin A in rice

Scientists from the University of Freiburg successfully elucidated the three-dimensional structure of phytoene desaturase, a crucial enzyme in carotene production. This breakthrough offers insights into herbicide binding and reaction mechanisms, which may lead to new agents for crop protection and Golden Rice development.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalStructure·DateJul 21, 2017

Old enzyme, new role

A team of researchers at UD has discovered a new function for an enzyme involved in bacterial metabolism. They found that the enzyme plays a major role when generating sugars from non-sugar substrates and facilitates 'back-flow' even when sugar is being consumed.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 27, 2017

Biochemistry: Combining two catalytic worlds

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum have successfully combined enzyme and chemical catalysts using a gel matrix to overcome the challenge of different reaction conditions. This approach enables more efficient and cost-effective synthesis of polyphenols, with potential applications in cancer therapies.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 19, 2016