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Amperometric sensors assist in analyzing food safety

Researchers at Kazan Federal University have created a novel amperometric sensor to detect sterically hindered phenols, including synthetic phenolic antioxidants. The sensor uses electropolymerized carminic acid as the sensitive layer and has been successfully tested on linseed oils, confirming high accuracy of antioxidant detection.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalJournal of Electroanalytical Chemistry·DateApr 23, 2020

Subtle flavors

A team of scientists at UC Santa Barbara has discovered that multiple opsin proteins function as taste receptors, enabling the detection of subtle chemical signals. This finding raises questions about the original role of opsin proteins in ancient organisms and may extend to mammals, including humans.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 2, 2020

New metabolism discovered in bacteria

Researchers at Goethe University discover a unique metabolism in Acetobacterium woodii that enables the bacterium to recycle hydrogen, allowing it to survive in oxygen-poor environments. This discovery has implications for our understanding of ancient life forms and their metabolic capabilities.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateMar 30, 2020

New bile discovery will rewrite textbooks

Scientists at Michigan State University discovered new bile acids produced by microbes in the gut, which expand our understanding of mammalian bile and its connection to gastrointestinal diseases. These novel acids are particularly abundant in people suffering from conditions like Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateFeb 26, 2020

Novel biotechnological route developed to obtain fine chemicals from agricultural waste

A novel simplified biotechnological route has been developed to convert sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw into fine chemicals. The new process uses a cascade of three catalytic enzymes to release ferulic acid from lignocellulosic biomass and convert it directly into coniferol, resulting in high conversion yields.

Light burns with new acids

Researchers at NAIST developed a new photo-acid generator that produces Lewis acids with a significantly higher quantum yield than existing Brønsted acids. This breakthrough enables the activation of previously inaccessible biological and photo-polymer systems, opening up new opportunities for organic synthesis.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 7, 2020

Fecal excretion of PFAS by pets

Researchers measured PFAS in cat and dog feces, detecting 13 compounds with longer-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids being most abundant. Estimated exposure levels for pets and potentially their owners were found to be above minimal risk levels.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateFeb 5, 2020

Hops compounds help with metabolic syndrome while reducing microbiome diversity

Researchers found that xanthohumol and its derivatives can decrease microbiome diversity while reducing inflammation and improving energy metabolism in laboratory animals with high-fat diets. The study suggests that hops compounds may help combat metabolic syndrome by altering bile acid metabolism and changing gut microbiota.

SourceOregon State University·JournalMolecular Nutrition & Food Research·DateNov 25, 2019

Uncovering the pathway to wine's acidity

The University of Adelaide team identified an enzyme that helps produce natural tartaric acid in grapes, enabling winemakers to balance sweetness and acidity. This discovery has the potential to save the Australian wine industry significant sums of money by reducing reliance on expensive additives.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 18, 2019

Just add water

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and their international team have uncovered the mechanism behind doping organic semiconductors using Lewis acids. The discovery reveals that water plays a crucial role in this process, enabling scientists to design even better dopants for greater control over these materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 16, 2019

Flame retardants -- from plants

Researchers have identified potentially less toxic and biodegradable flame retardants from plants, which could replace hazardous organohalogen compounds. The new substances, derived from gallic acid and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, perform as well as many existing flame retardants on the market.

How plants synthesize salicylic acid

An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has unraveled the mechanism for the biosynthesis of salicylic acid in plants. The study reveals that isochorismate-derived compounds accumulate when a specific gene is removed, leading to the formation of salicylic acid.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalScience·DateAug 13, 2019

Small-volume, high-throughput organic synthesis

A new method for synthesizing and evaluating large numbers of potential drug leads has been developed by the University of Groningen. This technique uses acoustic dispensing to create thousands of variant molecules in a high-throughput system, making it possible to quickly identify promising candidates.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 9, 2019

Duplicate or mirror?

Scientists have discovered that the direction of laser light hitting a molecule determines its chiral form. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient production of molecules with uniform chirality for pharmaceuticals. The research was conducted using the planar formic acid molecule and the reaction microscope method.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 14, 2019

Critical materials: Researchers eye huge supply of rare-earth elements from mining waste

Researchers have developed a method to extract rare-earth elements from phosphogypsum mining waste, a potentially game-changing solution to alleviate the world's REE supply shortages. The use of microorganisms to dissolve the elements has shown promise as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods.

SourceDOE/Idaho National Laboratory·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics·DateMar 13, 2019

Researchers find potential new source of rare earth elements

A study published in the Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics found that organic acids produced by bacteria can extract six rare earth elements from synthetic phosphogypsum. This method could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods, benefiting the US clean energy and electronics industries.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics·DateMar 4, 2019

New chemical probes advance search for new antibiotics

Researchers at Indiana University have developed a new tool to observe living cells in real time under a microscope, advancing knowledge on how bacteria build their cell walls. This technology has significant value in addressing antibiotic resistance, which affects at least 2 million people in the US each year.

SourceIndiana University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 1, 2019

Turning a porous material's color on and off with acid

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a porous material that turns yellow to reddish-brown when exposed to acid vapor, returning to its original color upon removal. The material's stability is remarkable, maintaining its structure at high temperatures and resisting common organic solvents.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 8, 2019

Engineered E. coli using formic acid and CO2 as a C1-refinery platform strain

Researchers developed an engineered E. coli strain that converts formic acid and CO2 to pyruvate, producing cellular energy from formic acid through reconstructed one-carbon pathways. The strain efficiently utilizes formic acid as a carbon source while reducing glucose consumption.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2018