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Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 acyl ester linkage in phospholipid, producing lysophospholipid and fatty acid in the presence of Ca2+. The hydrolysis mediated by PLA2 has attracted much interest in various fields, such as pharmacy and biotechnology. It is recognized that PLA2 cannot hydrolyze phospholipid monolayers at high surface coverage. However, the origin of different PLA2 activities is not fully understood yet. The present study investigated the interaction between DPPC (16:0 PC) monolayer and PLA2 using heterodyne-detected sum frequency generation spectroscopy, which is interface-specific spectroscopy and highly sensitive to molecular symmetry based on a second-order nonlinear optical process. It was revealed that PLA2 adsorbs to the DPPC monolayer on the aqueous solution surface only when the surface coverage is low. The adsorption at the low surface coverage significantly changes the interfacial structures of PLA2 and the hydration, which are stabilized by the presence of Ca2+. Therefore, the restriction of the hydrolysis of phospholipid monolayers at high surface coverage can be rationalized by the inhabitation of the PLA2 adsorption. The present study deepens our molecular-level understanding of the hydrolysis of phospholipids by PLA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Human milk is the optimal source of nutrition and protection against infection for infants. If breastfeeding is not possible, standard and hydrolyzed infant formulas (IF) are an alternative. Extensively hydrolyzed IFs (eHFs) contain bioactive peptides, but their activities have rarely been evaluated. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the bioactive peptide profiles of different eHFs and standard IFs before and after in vitro digestion. Methods: Two forms, liquid and powder, of intact protein formula (iPF) and eHF were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, mimicking a young infants gut (age 0-4 months) and an older infants gut (>6 months). Bioactive peptides of in vitro digested and undigested formulas were analysed with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Results: In all samples, a variety of peptides with potential bioactive properties were found. Immuno-regulatory peptides, followed by antimicrobial and antioxidative peptides were most frequent, as were peptides promoting wound healing, increasing mucin secretion, regulating cholesterol metabolism, and preventing bacterial infection. Peptides typically found in yoghurt and colostrum were identified in some formula samples. Conclusions: The high amounts of bioactive peptides with various properties in eHFs and iPFs indicate a possible contribution to infection protection, healthy gut microbiomes, and immunological development of infants. eHFs showed similar compositions of bioactive peptides to iPFs, with intermittently increased peptide variety and quantity.

The rapid evolution of viruses generates proteins that are essential for infectivity and replication but with unknown functions, due to extreme sequence divergence1. Here, using a database of 67,715 newly predicted protein structures from 4,463 eukaryotic viral species, we found that 62% of viral proteins are structurally distinct and lack homologues in the AlphaFold database2,3. Among the remaining 38% of viral proteins, many have non-viral structural analogues that revealed surprising similarities between human pathogens and their eukaryotic hosts. Structural comparisons suggested putative functions for up to 25% of unannotated viral proteins, including those with roles in the evasion of innate immunity. In particular, RNA ligase T-like phosphodiesterases were found to resemble phage-encoded proteins that hydrolyse the host immune-activating cyclic dinucleotides 3',3'- and 2',3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP). Experimental analysis showed that RNA ligase T homologues encoded by avian poxviruses similarly hydrolyse cGAMP, showing that RNA ligase T-mediated targeting of cGAMP is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of immune evasion that is present in both bacteriophage and eukaryotic viruses. Together, the viral protein structural database and analyses presented here afford new opportunities to identify mechanisms of virus-host interactions that are common across the virome.

Taurine is a conditionally essential micronutrient and one of the most abundant amino acids in humans1-3. In endogenous taurine metabolism, dedicated enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of taurine from cysteine and in the downstream metabolism of secondary taurine metabolites4,5. One taurine metabolite is N-acetyltaurine6. Levels of N-acetyltaurine are dynamically regulated by stimuli that alter taurine or acetate flux, including endurance exercise7, dietary taurine supplementation8 and alcohol consumption6,9. So far, the identities of the enzymes involved in N-acetyltaurine metabolism, and the potential functions of N-acetyltaurine itself, have remained unknown. Here we show that the body mass index associated orphan enzyme phosphotriesterase-related (PTER)10 is a physiological N-acetyltaurine hydrolase. In vitro, PTER catalyses the hydrolysis of N-acetyltaurine to taurine and acetate. In mice, PTER is expressed in the kidney, liver and brainstem. Genetic ablation of Pter in mice results in complete loss of tissue N-acetyltaurine hydrolysis activity and a systemic increase in N-acetyltaurine levels. After stimuli that increase taurine levels, Pter knockout mice exhibit reduced food intake, resistance to diet-induced obesity and improved glucose homeostasis. Administration of N-acetyltaurine to obese wild-type mice also reduces food intake and body weight in a GFRAL-dependent manner. These data place PTER into a central enzymatic node of secondary taurine metabolism and uncover a role for PTER and N-acetyltaurine in body weight control and energy balance.

Recently, we reported the discovery of a novel endoglucanase of the glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12), designated IfCelS12A, from the haloalkaliphilic anaerobic bacterium Iocasia fonsfrigidae strain SP3-1, which was isolated from a hypersaline pond in the Samut Sakhon province of Thailand (ca. 2017). IfCelS12A exhibits high substrate specificity on carboxymethyl cellulose and amorphous cellulose but low substrate specificity on b-1,3;1,4-glucan. Unlike some endoglucanases of the GH12 family, IfCelS12A does not exhibit hydrolytic activity on crystalline cellulose (i.e., Avicel™). High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analyses of products resulting from IfCelS12-mediated hydrolysis indicate mode of action for this enzyme. Notably, IfCelS12A preferentially hydrolyzes cellotetraoses, cellopentaoses, and cellohexaoses with negligible activity on cellobiose or cellotriose. Kinetic analysis with cellopentaose and barely b-D-glucan as cellulosic substrates were conducted. On cellopentaose, IfCelS12A demonstrates a 16-fold increase in activity (KM = 0.27 mM; kcat = 0.36 s-1; kcat/KM = 1.34 mM-1 s-1) compared to the enzymatic hydrolysis of barley b-D-glucan (KM: 0.04 mM, kcat: 0.51 s-1, kcat/KM = 0.08 mM-1 s-1). Moreover, IfCelS12A enzymatic efficacy is stable in hypersaline sodium chlorids (NaCl) solutions (up to 10% NaCl). Specifically, IfCel12A retains notable activity after 24 h at 2M NaCl (10% saline solution). IfCelS12A used as a cocktail component with other cellulolytic enzymes and in conjunction with mobile sequestration platform technology offers additional options for deconstruction of ionic liquid-pretreated cellulosic feedstock. KEY POINTS: • IfCelS12A from an anaerobic alkaliphile Iocasia fronsfrigidae shows salt tolerance • IfCelS12A in cocktails with other enzymes efficiently degrades cellulosic biomass • IfCelS12A used with mobile enzyme sequestration platforms enhances hydrolysis.

Dichloramine (NHCl2) naturally exists in reverse osmosis (RO) permeate due to its application as an antifouling chemical in membrane-based potable reuse treatment. This study investigated mechanisms of background NHCl2 hydrolysis associated with the generation of oxidative radical species in RO permeate, established a kinetic model to predict the oxidative capacity, and examined its removal efficiency on trace organic contaminants in potable reuse. Results showed that NHCl2 hydrolysis generated transient peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and subsequently dissociated into hydroxyl radical (HO•). The maximal HO• exposure was observed at an RO permeate pH of 8.4, higher than that from typical ultraviolet (UV)-based advanced oxidation processes. The HO• exposure during NHCl2 hydrolysis also peaked at a NH2Cl-to-NHCl2 molar ratio of 1:1. The oxidative capacity rapidly degraded 1,4-dioxane, carbamazepine, atenolol, and sulfamethoxazole in RO permeate. Furthermore, background elevated carbonate in fresh RO permeate can convert HO• to carbonate radical (CO3•-). Aeration of the RO permeate removed total carbonate, significantly increased HO• exposure, and enhanced the degradation kinetics of trace organic contaminants. The kinetic model of NHCl2 hydrolysis predicted well the degradation of contaminants in RO permeate. This study provides new mechanistic insights into NHCl2 hydrolysis that contributes to the oxidative degradation of trace organic contaminants in potable reuse systems.

BACKGROUND: The function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) decreases with age, which results in infectious and inflammatory complications in older individuals. The underlying causes are not fully understood. ATP release and autocrine stimulation of purinergic receptors help PMNs combat microbial invaders. Excessive extracellular ATP interferes with these mechanisms and promotes inflammatory PMN responses. Here, we studied whether dysregulated purinergic signaling in PMNs contributes to their dysfunction in older individuals. RESULTS: Bacterial infection of C57BL/6 mice resulted in exaggerated PMN activation that was significantly greater in old mice (64 weeks) than in young animals (10 weeks). In contrast to young animals, old mice were unable to prevent the systemic spread of bacteria, resulting in lethal sepsis and significantly greater mortality in old mice than in their younger counterparts. We found that the ATP levels in the plasma of mice increased with age and that, along with the extracellular accumulation of ATP, the PMNs of old mice became increasingly primed. Stimulation of the formyl peptide receptors of those primed PMNs triggered inflammatory responses that were significantly more pronounced in old mice than in young animals. However, bacterial phagocytosis and killing by PMNs of old mice were significantly lower than that of young mice. These age-dependent PMN dysfunctions correlated with a decrease in the enzymatic activity of plasma ATPases that convert extracellular ATP to adenosine. ATPases depend on divalent metal ions, including Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+, and we found that depletion of these ions blocked the hydrolysis of ATP and the formation of adenosine in human blood, resulting in ATP accumulation and dysregulation of PMN functions equivalent to those observed in response to aging. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that impaired hydrolysis of plasma ATP dysregulates PMN function in older individuals. We conclude that strategies aimed at restoring plasma ATPase activity may offer novel therapeutic opportunities to reduce immune dysfunction, inflammation, and infectious complications in older patients.

Polymerization of nucleotides under prebiotic conditions simulating the early Earth has been extensively studied. Several independent methods have been used to verify that RNA-like polymers can be produced by hot wet-dry cycling of nucleotides. However, it has not been shown that these RNA-like polymers are similar to biological RNA with 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds. In the results described here, RNA-like polymers were generated from 5'-monophosphate nucleosides AMP and UMP. To confirm that the polymers resemble biological RNA, ribonuclease A should catalyze hydrolysis of the 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds between pyrimidine nucleotides to each other or to purine nucleotides, but not purine-purine nucleotide bonds. Here we show AFM images of specific polymers produced by hot wet-dry cycling of AMP, UMP and AMP/UMP (1:1) solutions on mica surfaces, before and after exposure to ribonuclease A. AMP polymers were unaffected by ribonuclease A but UMP polymers disappeared. This indicates that a major fraction of the bonds in the UMP polymers is indeed 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds. Some of the polymers generated from the AMP/UMP mixture also showed clear signs of cleavage. Because ribonuclease A recognizes the ester bonds in the polymers, we show for the first time that these prebiotically produced polymers are in fact similar to biological RNA but are likely to be linked by a mixture of 3'-5' and 2'-5' phosphodiester bonds.

When grapes are exposed to wildfire smoke, certain smoke-related volatile phenols (VPs) can be absorbed into the fruit, where they can be then converted into volatile-phenol (VP) glycosides through glycosylation. These volatile-phenol glycosides can be particularly problematic from a winemaking standpoint as they can be hydrolyzed, releasing volatile phenols, which can contribute to smoke-related off-flavors. Current methods for quantitating these volatile-phenol glycosides present several challenges, including the requirement of expensive capital equipment, limited accuracy due to the molecular complexity of the glycosides, and the utilization of harsh reagents. To address these challenges, we proposed an enzymatic hydrolysis method enabled by a tailored enzyme cocktail of novel glycosidases discovered through genome mining, and the generated VPs from VP glycosides can be quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The enzyme cocktails displayed high activities and a broad substrate scope when using commercially available VP glycosides as the substrates for testing. When evaluated in an industrially relevant matrix of Cabernet Sauvignon wine and grapes, this enzymatic cocktail consistently achieved a comparable efficacy of acid hydrolysis. The proposed method offers a simple, safe, and affordable option for smoke taint analysis.

Given the multitude of extracellular enzymes at their disposal, many of which are designed to degrade natures polymers (lignin, cutin, cellulose, etc.), fungi are adept at targeting synthetic polyesters with similar chemical composition. Microbial-influenced deterioration of xenobiotic polymeric surfaces is an area of interest for material scientists as these are important for the conservation of the underlying structural materials. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the Papiliotrema laurentii 5307AH (P. laurentii) cutinase, Plcut1. P. laurentii is basidiomycete yeast with the ability to disperse Impranil-DLN (Impranil), a colloidal polyester polyurethane, in agar plates. To test whether the fungal factor involved in this clearing was a secreted enzyme, we screened the ability of P. laurentii culture supernatants to disperse Impranil. Using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), we isolated fractions that contained Impranil-clearing activity. These fractions harbored a single ~22 kD band, which was excised and subjected to peptide sequencing. Homology searches using the peptide sequences identified, revealed that the protein Papla1 543643 (Plcut1) displays similarities to serine esterase and cutinase family of proteins. Biochemical assays using recombinant Plcut1 confirmed that this enzyme has the capability to hydrolyze Impranil, soluble esterase substrates, and apple cutin. Finally, we confirmed the presence of the Plcut1 in culture supernatants using a custom antibody that specifically recognizes this protein. The work shown here supports a major role for the Plcut1 in the fungal degradation of natural polyesters and xenobiotic polymer surfaces.IMPORTANCEFungi play a vital role in the execution of a broad range of biological processes that drive ecosystem function through production of a diverse arsenal of enzymes. However, the universal reactivity of these enzymes is a current problem for the built environment and the undesired degradation of polymeric materials in protective coatings. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a hydrolase from Papiliotrema laurentii 5307AH, an aircraft-derived fungal isolate found colonizing a biodeteriorated polymer-coated surface. We show that P. laurentii secretes a cutinase capable of hydrolyzing soluble esters as well as ester-based compounds forming solid surface coatings. These findings indicate that this fungus plays a significant role in biodeterioration through the production of a cutinase adept at degrading ester-based polymers, some of which form the backbone of protective surface coatings. The work shown here provides insights into the mechanisms employed by fungi to degrade xenobiotic polymers.

The ability to sense chemical gradients and respond with directional motility and chemical activity is a defining feature of complex living systems. There is a strong interest among scientists to design synthetic systems that emulate these properties. Here, we realize and control such behaviors in a synthetic system by tailoring multivalent interactions of adenosine nucleotides with catalytic microbeads. We first show that multivalent interactions of the bead with gradients of adenosine mono-, di- and trinucleotides (AM/D/TP) control both the phoretic motion and a proton-transfer catalytic reaction, and find that both effects are diminished greatly with increasing valence of phosphates. We exploit this behavior by using enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP to AMP, which downregulates multivalent interactivity in situ. This produces a sudden increase in transport of the catalytic microbeads (a phoretic jump), which is accompanied by increased catalytic activity. Finally, we show how this enzymatic activity can be systematically tuned, leading to simultaneous in situ spatial and temporal control of the location of the microbeads, as well as the products of the reaction that they catalyze. These findings open up new avenues for utilizing multivalent interaction-mediated programming of complex chemo-mechanical behaviors into active systems.

Metal hexafluorides hydrolyze at ambient temperature to deposit compounds having fluorine-to-oxygen ratios that depend upon the identity of the metal. Uranium-hexafluoride hydrolysis, for example, deposits uranyl fluoride (UO2F2), whereas molybdenum hexafluoride (MoF6) and tungsten hexafluoride deposit trioxides. Here, we pursue general strategies enabling the prediction of depositing compounds resulting from multi-step gas-phase reactions. To compare among the three metal-hexafluoride hydrolyses, we first investigate the mechanism of MoF6 hydrolysis using hybrid density functional theory (DFT). Intermediates are then validated by performing anharmonic vibrational simulations and comparing with infrared spectra [McNamara et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 25, 2990 (2023)]. Conceptual DFT, which is leveraged here to quantitatively evaluate site-specific electrophilicity and nucleophilicity metrics, is found to reliably predict qualitative deposition propensities for each intermediate. In addition to the nucleophilic potential of the oxygen ligands, several other contributing characteristics are discussed, including amphoterism, polyvalency, fluxionality, steric hindrance, dipolar strength, and solubility. To investigate the structure and composition of pre-nucleation clusters, an automated workflow is presented for the simulation of particle growth. The workflow entails a conformer search at the density functional tight-binding level, structural refinement at the hybrid DFT level, and computation of a composite free-energy profile. Such profiles can be used to estimate particle nucleation kinetics. Droplet formation is also considered, which helps to rationalize the different UO2F2 particle morphologies observed under varying levels of humidity. Development of predictive methods for simulating physical and chemical deposition processes is important for the advancement of material manufacturing involving coatings and thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodopsin (Rho) and cone opsins are essential for detection of light. They respond via photoisomerization, converting their Schiff-base-adducted 11-cis-retinylidene chromophores to the all-trans configuration, eliciting conformational changes to activate opsin signaling. Subsequent Schiff-base hydrolysis releases all-trans-retinal, initiating two important cycles that maintain continuous vision-the Rho photocycle and visual cycle pathway. Schiff-base hydrolysis has been thoroughly studied with photoactivated Rho but not with cone opsins. Using established methodology, we directly measured the formation of Schiff-base between retinal chromophores with mammalian visual and nonvisual opsins of the eye. Next, we determined the rate of light-induced chromophore hydrolysis. We found that retinal hydrolysis from photoactivated cone opsins was markedly faster than from photoactivated Rho. Bovine retinal G protein-coupled receptor (bRGR) displayed rapid hydrolysis of its 11-cis-retinylidene photoproduct to quickly supply 11-cis-retinal and re-bind all-trans-retinal. Hydrolysis within bRGR in native retinal pigment epithelium microsomal membranes was >6-times faster than that of bRGR purified in detergent micelles. N-terminal-targeted antibodies significantly slowed bRGR hydrolysis, while C-terminal antibodies had no effect. Our study highlights the much faster photocycle of cone opsins relative to Rho and the crucial role of RGR in chromophore recycling in daylight. By contrast, in our experimental conditions, bovine peropsin did not form pigment in the presence of all-trans-retinal nor with any mono-cis retinal isomers, leaving uncertain the role of this opsin as a light sensor.

Phytohormone levels are regulated through specialized enzymes, participating not only in their biosynthesis but also in post-signaling processes for signal inactivation and cue depletion. Arabidopsis thaliana (At) carboxylesterase 15 (CXE15) and carboxylesterase 20 (CXE20) have been shown to deplete strigolactones (SLs) that coordinate various growth and developmental processes and function as signaling molecules in the rhizosphere. Here, we elucidate the X-ray crystal structures of AtCXE15 (both apo and SL intermediate bound) and AtCXE20, revealing insights into the mechanisms of SL binding and catabolism. The N-terminal regions of CXE15 and CXE20 exhibit distinct secondary structures, with CXE15 characterized by an alpha helix and CXE20 by an alpha/beta fold. These structural differences play pivotal roles in regulating variable SL hydrolysis rates. Our findings, both in vitro and in planta, indicate that a transition of the N-terminal helix domain of CXE15 between open and closed forms facilitates robust SL hydrolysis. The results not only illuminate the distinctive process of phytohormone breakdown but also uncover a molecular architecture and mode of plasticity within a specific class of carboxylesterases.

A systematic investigation into the factors which influence catalytic activity in 50 simple (mostly) quaternary ammonium- and phosphonium halide catalysts for the hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) has revealed the most efficacious constitutional isomer class and the optimum properties these catalysts should possess. General guidelines for catalyst design are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Glucosidase (α-Glu) is implicated in the progression and pathogenesis of type II diabetes (T2D). In this study, we developed a rapid colorimetric technique using platinum nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan (Ch-PtNPs) to detect α-Glu activity and its inhibitor. The Ch-PtNPs facilitate the conversion of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into oxidized TMB (oxTMB) in the presence of dissolved O2. The catalytic hydrolysis of 2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) by α-Glu produces ascorbic acid (AA), which reduces oxTMB to TMB, leading to the fading of the blue color. However, the presence of α-Glu inhibitors (AGIs) hinders the generation of AA, allowing Ch-PtNPs to re-oxidize colorless TMB back to blue oxTMB. This unique phenomenon enables the colorimetric detection of α-Glu activity and AGIs. The linear range for α-Glu was found to be 0.1–1.0 U mL−1 and the detection limit was 0.026 U mL−1. Additionally, the half-maximal inhibition value (IC50) for acarbose, an α-Glu inhibitor, was calculated to be 0.4769 mM. Excitingly, this sensing platform successfully detected α-Glu activity in human serum samples and effectively screened AGIs. These promising findings highlight the potential application of the proposed strategy in clinical diabetes diagnosis and drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the sustainable advancement of fermentation media by blending the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with organosolv beechwood cellulose. Investigations examined the effects of enzyme dosages and OFMSW integration into organosolv beechwood cellulose on sugar yield. The findings indicate that OFMSW inclusion and Cellic® CTec3 dosage significantly influence hydrolysis across two different batches of beechwood cellulose. Experimental data showed that OFMSW inclusion levels of 35% and 45% (w/w) produced sugar levels comparable to pure beechwood cellulose, achieving 58% to 68% (w/w) saccharification with sugar concentrations of 44 to 46 g/L. This highlights OFMSW's potential as a buffer substitute during the enzymatic conversion of organosolv cellulose. The resulting sugar-rich hydrolysates, derived from OFMSW-cellulose blends and pure cellulose, were evaluated for ethanol and cell biomass production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Mucor indicus, yielding 30 g of ethanol/L hydrolysate. Furthermore, OFMSW inclusion in beechwood cellulose proved to be an excellent alternative to synthetic nitrogen agents for S. cerevisiae cell production, reaching 12.2 g of biomass/L and surpassing the biomass concentration from cultivation on cellulose hydrolysate with nitrogen supplementation by threefold. However, M. indicus did not grow in the OFMSW-cellulose blend, suggesting that the inhibitory compounds of OFMSW may be a bottleneck in the proposed process. The present study demonstrates the benefits of incorporating OFMSW into cellulose material, as it enhances both cost-effectiveness and sustainability. This is attributed to the natural buffering properties and nitrogen content of OFMSW, which reduces the need for synthetic agents in fermentation-based lignocellulose biorefineries. Key points: • OFMSW inclusion significantly influences beechwood cellulose saccharification. • OFMSW could be an excellent alternative for synthetic agents in biorefinery. • S. cerevisiae achieved higher biomass growth on OFMSW/cellulose mix compared to YPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shells of tree important food nuts and the relevance of valorizing nutshells are growing. The potential value of argan nutshells (ANS), which are one of the primary byproducts of the argan oil industry and are wasted to the tune of approximately 60,000 tons each year, has received attention in research related to the same industry. This paper suggests using argan nutshells particles rich in nematic ordered cellulose for producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-II) with a rectangular shape via the chains self-assembly in acid hydrolysis that is useful in many fields of applications. In the experimental results, the chemical composition of ANS was described; moreover, the morphologies of ANS after each chemical treatment were studied. Furthermore, the morphological properties investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the structural properties determined via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR), and the thermal properties via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirm the successful regeneration of nanostructured cellulose (II) with a high crystallinity index (84%) where the XRD was attributed to the CNC type II. Furthermore, the AFM and STEM show a rectangular shape with an average size of 286 nm diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of olive pomace, a waste obtained from olive oil processing, would be greatly increased if its constituents, cellulose, and hemicellulose fractions could be easily converted into fermentable sugars. To achieve this goal, several approaches have been proposed by combining physico-chemical and biological treatments with enzymatic hydrolysis. However, studies on enzymatic hydrolysis, an important step in the conversion process, have been carried out with a fairly well-known range of enzymes. Thus, proposing another enzyme will broaden the range of enzymes intended for lignocellulosic biomass conversion. In the context of such an objective, this work deals with the performance of the Filtrase NLC, an enzyme usually used in the beer brewing process on the hydrolysis of acid and alkaline pretreated olive pomace. Results obtained show that both acid and alkaline treatments allowed a decrease in hemicelluloses and lignin content, but alkali treatment was more efficient. 15.40 g of glucose was released in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the alkali-treated solid when using enzyme at 125 filter paper unit (FPU) per gram of substrate and 15 % (w/v) solid concentration. This conversion has been demonstrated by the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) test, where 11 % (v/v) of ethanol concentration was obtained. Based on these results, Filtrase NLC could be used successfully for the production of fermentable sugars from olive pomace and potentially from other lignocellulosic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass is considered the feedstock of the future to produce bioactive oligosaccharides, due to its low cost and increased availability. In this study, the valorization of the hemicellulose from olive solid residue through structural characterization, oligosaccharide production, and antiproliferative activity was investigated. Three hemicellulose fractions (A, B1, and B2) were isolated by alkaline extraction (NaOH, 10–17.5%). It was observed that the extraction yield of hemicelluloses varied between 0.9 and 32.5% on the basis of the raw materials. The results of FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and MALDI-TOF analyses on the hemicellulose HEM A17.5 supported a structure based on a linear polymer of xylopyranose units linked β-(1 → 4) bonds substituted at C2 by glucuronic acid units. The hydrolysis conditions performed by an acid kaolin catalyst (0.05 N HCl) at 80 °C gave access to ketooligosaccharide (OS1). OS1 and HEM A17.5 were more potent on human breast cancer cells MDA-MB 231 (IC50 ≈ 175 µg, IC50 = 125 µg) and MDA-MB435 (IC50 ≈ 375, IC50 = 500) than neridronate, which was more cytotoxic against epidermoid carcinoma cells A 431. Overall, the findings suggested that olive solid residue presents a promising natural source of bioactive polysaccharides and anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid hydrolysis, which uses concentrated mineral acids to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), is expensive, overdegrades the cellulose material, and is hazardous to human and the environment. Thus recently, research has concentrated on using organic acids to produce CNC for economic and environmental concerns. This study used citric acid anhydrous (85–100 wt%) with a smaller amount of sulfuric acid (0–15wt%) as a catalyst to prepare carboxylated nanocrystals from Oxytenanthera abyssinica cellulose. The highest yield (89.7%) was obtained with a reaction condition of a 9:1wt% ratio of citric acid anhydrous to sulfuric acid, temperature (80 °C), and reaction time (5 h). The carboxyl functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals was affirmed through the conductometric titrimetric method and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The conductometric titration showed a maximum carboxylate concentration of 0.75 ± 0.08 mmol/g; this gave the CNC stable dispersibility. Based on scanning electron microscopy characterization, mostly spherical-like shapes of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals were obtained. The dynamic light scattering analysis showed that the particle possesses a particle size of 68.06 ± 1.05 nm with a maximum absolute value zeta potential of -33 mV. The x-ray diffraction analysis found cellulose crystallinity in the 60.37 to 81.3% range. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that rapid mass loss occurred between 245 and 400 °C, with a maximum weight loss of 95%. Introducing the carboxylic group from citric acid anhydrous to cellulose can enhance the application of cellulose. Since the carboxylic groups are simultaneously introduced to the surface of cellulose during the hydrolysis process, it has the advantage of reducing the amount and chemical prices that cost for series and long-step surface functionalizing reactions. Citric acid could be easily recovered through a rotary evaporator, and since it is obtained from fruits, the carboxylic CNC formed has lower toxic risks. These environmentally friendly, sustainable, and nontoxic properties gave the produced carboxylic CNC high potential application for the production of biofilms, food packaging material, UV protection, drug delivery, and new bio-based nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera (AV) leaf rind, a potent second-generation lignocellulosic biomass, was employed for fermentative co-production of lactic acid (LA) and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) using Bacillus coagulans MTCC 492 and Clostridium acetobutylicum MTCC 11274, respectively. A systematic sequential biomass treatment using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) (Glyc, choline chloride:glycerol, and Reln, choline chloride:urea), mild sulfuric acid (1%, v/v) (MSA), and cellulase was adopted for lignin fractionation, pentose (C5), and hexose (C6) hydrolysates preparation. It has been observed that adoption of DES pretreatment tends to reduce the fermentative inhibitors (predominantly lignin derived) by 2.36-fold after MSA saccharification as compared to the conventional acid (2%, v/v) (CA) pretreatment. Additionally, DES exerted a significant structural disintegration of biomass as evident from SEM, FTIR, NMR, and XRD that favored subsequent saccharification. Maximum delignification of 76.87% (w/w) was obtained when biomass was treated with Glyc-MSA that in turn yielded 70.71 g/L of total sugar. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 492, an efficient LA producer through pentose sugar utilization, resulted in 35.87 g of LA/L of the hydrolysate. Subsequently, the cellulose-rich residual biomass (after Glyc-MSA) when hydrolyzed enzymatically using cellulase yielded a hydrolysate containing 34.44 g/L of total sugar. Clostridium acetobutylicum MTCC 11274 was employed for fermentation of this C6 sugar-rich hydrolysate that resulted in 4.83 g/L of total ABE. Through this study, a multi-product development strategy was formulated for systematic utilization of AV leaf rind cell wall components (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose) towards its segregated bio-based utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm industries produce large quantity of wastes, and their limited usage causes major disposal problem in the mills and environmental pollution. Nevertheless, the oil palm leaves (OPL) contain numerous nutritional components especially protein that is applicable to food as a functional ingredient. Thus, this study aimed to extract protein hydrolysate from OPL using Flavourzyme, which is an endo and exopeptidase enzyme derived from Aspergillus oryzae and determine their physicochemical and functional properties including thermal stability, solubility, and emulsifying properties (EP). The FTIR spectral portrayed that the functional groups of OPL were altered after the enzymatic hydrolysis with the presence of a secondary amine. The protein hydrolysate (769–1167 J/g) showed lower enthalpy heat than OPL (7854 J/g). The protein hydrolysate extracted using 0 and 2% Flavourzyme resulted in a high degree of hydrolysis (74–96%) and absolute zeta potential. The hydrolysate also exhibited good solubility (77–97%) and EP in pH 7 and 10 resuspension solutions, showing that it has wide application in food systems. The results signified that the hydrolysis at pH 7 is optimum for the endogenous enzymes present in OPL to hydrolyze peptides with good functional properties, comparable to other plant protein hydrolysate. In summary, the protein hydrolysate extracted from OPL without using enzyme at pH 7 for 2 h of hydrolysis has high protein content, good solubility, and EP, which serves as a potential functional food to improve nutritional value and food properties. Further study on its biological activities recommended for wider application as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of bioethanol production has several economic drawbacks such as the cost of enzymes, i.e., cellulase, which hydrolyze cellulose to produce fermentable sugars. In this study, to reduce the production cost of cellulase, agricultural wastes such as wheat straw (WS) and rice straw (RS) were used as carbon sources for cellulase production through solid-state fermentation. First, the standard cellulase production conditions were optimized, the initial moisture content of the solid medium was 60%, the biomass particle size was 100 µm to 4 mm size mixed, and the optimal carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in the medium of WS and RS was 59.0 and 41.2, respectively. Subsequently, to simplify process handling, eliminating trace elements such as MgSO4, CaCl2, FeSO4, MnSO4, ZnSO4, CoCl2, and phosphorous compounds such as KH2PO4 in the general Mandel's medium was used for cellulase production medium and compared with the standard medium. Maximum 5.4 filter paper unit (FPU)/g-substrate (WS) and 5.3 FPU/g-substrate (RS) were attained under trace element eliminating medium; these were similar to that from the standard medium of WS (4.8 FPU/g-substrate) and RS (5.7 FPU/g-substrate). Moreover, the produced crude cellulases from RS were evaluated for their potential in hydrolysis of alkaline-treated RS. The performances of the crude cellulases were similar to those of commercial cellulases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF), a biomass waste generated during the production of palm oil is rich in polysaccharides that can be converted to value-added product. The potential of cellulose from OPMF as a prebiotic represents an innovative exploration of biomass waste, which has never been undertaken. This study aims to investigate the effect of supplementation of OPMF in the medium on the growth of probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus casei and enteropathogenic E. coli, and to ascertain the potential OPMF as prebiotic by quantifying prebiotic activity score (PAS). The research was designed using a Randomized Complete Block Design with a single factor and three replications. The factor was the concentration of OPMF extract added to the growth medium, with seven treatment levels: P0 as control (no addition), P1 (1% glucose), P2 (2% prebiotic inulin), P3 (2% OPMF extract), P4 (4% OPMF extract), P5 (6% OPMF extract), P6 (8% OPMF extract), and P7 (10% OPMF extract) (w/v). The results showed that supplementation of OPMF extract significantly supported the growth of both of probiotics used in this study (p < 0.05) similar to on the prebiotic inulin. The growth of S. cerevisiae was the highest on the 8% OPMF extract, with the PAS value of 1.90. In addition, the growth of L. casei on OPMF extract at the minimal concentration of 6% and on inulin were higher significantly than on glucose, with the PAS in the range of 1.98–2.47. In contrast, the growth of E. coli on the OPMF extract and on inulin were lower than on glucose (p < 0.05). Conclusion, the growth of L. casei on OPMF extract was higher than S. cerevisiae, at a minimal concentration of 6%. Therefore, OPMF extract was potential as prebiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in plant-based proteins is driven by sustainability concerns and potential adverse reactions to animal protein consumption. Plant proteins, while promising, are known for their inferior digestibility compared to animal counterparts. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) offers an ancient, cost-effective approach to address this limitation. SSF enhances plant-based foods by augmenting protein content through microbial hydrolysis, thereby improving overall nutritional quality. This method not only boosts protein digestibility but also reduces larger polypeptides, generates bioactive peptides, refines amino acid profiles, and eliminates anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors and tannins. Further investigation is essential to optimize the purification of protein isolates and examine their behaviour during digestion and absorption using in vitro, cellular, and in vivo models. In conclusion, SSF represents a promising, cost-effective, and high-yield processing method to produce nutritionally enhanced plant proteins, aligning with the demands of both the industry and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nitrate, commonly known as nitrocellulose (NC), is an energetic polymer with a broad function in industrial and military applications. The use of biomass waste for nitrocellulose production offers a promising solution to the growing demand for renewable and sustainable raw materials, addressing one of the most critical issues of recent decades. However, the product quality remains suboptimal, presenting one of the biggest challenges in developing NC production from biomass. Enhancing NC performance through the modification of cellulose crystal structures and allomorph is considered an excellent approach. Herein, the transformation of cellulose-I into cellulose-II was explored during the hydrolysis step to produce high-performance NC. The present study demonstrated that cellulose-II precursors effectively produced the highest-performance NC from the solid byproducts of avocado seed extraction (EAS), highlighting its promising potential for high-energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the preparation (80 min) of rice husk (RH)-derived cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) via microwave-irradiation. The unique features of RH-CNWs and the intermediate products were validated with respect to the alteration of morphological structure, particle dimension, crystalline pattern, chemical compositions, functionalities, thermal stability and surface charge. With the integration of microwave heating (MW), the isolation of nano-sized fragments from the matrix of amorphous and non-cellulosic materials has been successfully accomplished, recorded a high conversion yield at 61.5%. The average length and diameter of RH-CNWs were 264.35 nm and 25.26 nm, respectively, recording an average aspect ratio at 10.47. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a crystallinity index of 65.9%, and the diffraction pattern was identical to type-Iβ crystalline cellulose. Further clarifications with respect to the surface functionality, thermal stability and composition analyses have verified the successive esterification of sulfate functional groups over the surface of RH-CNWs, leading to a higher thermal stability and zeta-potential (ζ = − 44.50 mV). Given the explicit characteristics of MW, the synergistic interactions of microwave-chemical actions have offered the additional impact force and dipolar rotation, accelerating the cleavage of hydrogen bonds and complete removal of amorphous domains from the RH surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of hydrolyzed bacterial cellulose (hBC) for UV radiation protection. BC membranes are produced under static conditions by Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans, purified, mechanically shredded, and hydrolyzed. As a result, hBC exhibits colloidal properties at various concentrations (0.34 – 11 mg ml−1). With a water-holding capacity of 89.1% ± 0.341, hBC forms a 3.65 μm thick transparent film with an approximate density of 7 μg per mm2. In Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, the lengths of filamentous BC particles were between 50 and 300 nm, while the lengths of rod-like nanocrystalline cellulose were between 400 and 1500 µm. According to dynamic light scattering (DLS) result, 88% of the particles were approximately 1 µm long. The zeta potential was −25.13 ± 0.65 mV, hBC showed thixotropic behaviour, and its crystallinity was 92. hBC and its films exhibited barrier properties to UV radiation (190–400 nm). The highest UV absorbance (almost 100%) for all UV regions (UV-A, UV-B and UV-C) of hBC in colloidal form is at a concentration of 11 mg ml−1. At most, the UV transmittance of all UV regions of the hBC films was 16%. Sun protective factor (SPF) values of colloidal and film forms of the hBC at a concentration of 11 mg ml−1 and 212 µg/mm2 were 29 and 12, respectively. hBC was not cytotoxic on mouse fibroblast L929 and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. In conclusion, hBC can be an alternative UV radiation protector and thickening agent. This study represents the first report on the UV barrier property of hBC for aqueous formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acid (HA) is widely used in agriculture as a biostimulant to enhance plant growth and nutrient uptake. Studies on the early growth promotion of agarwood seedlings using plant biostimulants have not been explored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to extract and characterize peat-derived HA and to determine the optimum rate that would exert biostimulant action on the early growth of agarwood seedlings at the nursery stage. HA was extracted from peat soil using a modified rapid alkaline hydrolysis method. Produced peat humic acid (PHA) was compared with commercial humic acid (CHA) for its chemical and spectroscopic characteristics. One-month-old agarwood seedlings were treated with PHA at different rates (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg kg−1) before the commencement of the experiment. The study was conducted for four months. The C/N ratio of both PHA and CHA were 25.85 and 26.93, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra observation reveals that PHA and CHA have similar surface morphology and functional groups respectively. Results revealed that agarwood seedlings treated with 80 mg kg−1 of PHA significantly increased the plant height, stem diameter, the number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter weight, N and P concentrations in plant tissues, and N, P and K uptakes. Based on the findings, incorporation of PHA at the rate of 80 mg kg−1 with planting medium could be used as an optimum rate to enhance the growth of agarwood seedlings in the nursery stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size exclusion chromatography with UV detection (SEC‐UV) is a precise method for quantifying polyacrylamides in water. However, its accuracy can be compromised in complex matrices due to chemical degradation of the polymer. This study focuses on the impact of hydrolysis on quantifying sulfonated polyacrylamide copolymers (PAM‐AMPS) via SEC‐UV, analyzing key influencing factors. Using controlled hydrolysis, hydrolyzed copolymer (HPAM‐AMPS) standards with varying hydrolysis degree (HD) (HD = 7%–33%) were prepared without significant changes in polymer chain size. SEC‐UV analysis revealed that quantification accuracy is highly dependent on hydrolysis extent. Errors are minimal for HD up to 10%, but significantly higher for HDs of 22%–33%. Furthermore, this effect is modulated by polymer concentration. Our findings indicate that there are two compensating factors for the decrease in molar absorptivity due to amide‐to‐carboxylate substitution: the sulfonate group acting as an additional chromophore, and a redshift in absorption spectra due to hydrogen bonding at higher concentrations. This interplay between HD and concentration in this type of sulfonated polyacrylamide can help reduce quantification errors in complex aqueous samples prone to chemical degradation, like those found in environmental and subsurface applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discarded Human hairs are considered as waste material in most parts of the world and its accumulation causing several environmental problems. However as a potential material resource, human hair has the advantage that it is completely biodegradable, renewable and available in every locality. Thus reutilizing human hair cut discards with a target of extracting a particular major nutrient supply, namely nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and so forth, can create a positive impact on solving soil's infertility problems and less productivity issues of concerned agrarian communities. This study has tried to develop waste human hair based bio-fertilizer by primarily identify the better performing hydrolyzing mixture rang of formulation (H5), ratio of human hair waste mass to aqueous hydrolyzer mixture usages (1:5), favorable reacting time (90 min) and temperature (70 oC) values progressively. Then the physicochemical characteristics were analyzed to reveal the resulted final product's viscosity (~ 76.0 cp.), density (~ 1.17 gm/l), pH (~ pH 9), organic nutrients availability concerning primary Macronutrients (~ 18:0.03:1 N-P-K ratio), Secondary Macronutrients (~ 0.13:0:7 Ca-Mg-S ratio) and other trace micronutrient constituents; which are considered as requirements for the soil nutrient enrichments and plant growths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides an overview on the fate and behavior of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in agricultural environments. The study focuses on four key aspects: adsorption and leaching of imidacloprid in soil, degradation and hydrolysis of imidacloprid in soil and water, uptake and persistence of imidacloprid in plants, and volatilization of imidacloprid to the atmosphere. The review presents the latest findings from research on each of these topics. While imidacloprid is highly effective at controlling pests, it is also known to persist in the environment, posing risks to non-target organisms such as bees, birds, and aquatic life. Moreover, there is increasing concern about its potential to accumulate in the soil and water systems, which may have long-term effects on the ecosystem. The review suggests that better understanding of the behavior and fate of imidacloprid in agricultural environments is essential for developing effective strategies to minimize its environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiochemical pretreatment was performed using different concentrations of oxalic acid (OA) as a simultaneous pretreatment and saccharification (SPS) process on rice straw to obtain reducing sugar from two‐phasic SPS process using enzymatic and acidic hydrolysis to subsequently ferment to bioethanol in order to maximize the yield of bioethanol. The optimal condition for pretreating rice straw using 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.5 M OA at 120°C for 1 h was evaluated. The morphological and structural changes after simultaneous pretreatment and SPS process were evaluated using Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. It was evaluated that optimum pretreatment conditions using a lesser concentration of OA had resulted in 30.37% of xylan removal from pretreated rice straw obtained after simultaneous pretreatment and SPS process. The ethanol production yield ranged from 0.42 to 0.37 g/g with fermentation efficiency of up to 57.18% and an overall ethanol production yield of 42.84% from the obtained hydrolysate of the two‐phasic SPS process. The highest ethanol concentration from the obtained hydrolysate was produced at 120°C for 1 h with 0.75 M OA; under this condition, maximum degradation of utilized lignocellulosic biomass takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,4-Dihydroquinolones are fundamental motifs widely found in a variety of natural products and drug molecules. Conventional methods for their synthesis suffer from the disadvantages of harsh reaction conditions and inefficiency, as well as selectivity issues. Herein, we develop a practical and efficient platform for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinolones through successive hydrolysis and transfer hydrogenation processes. A wide range of 2-chloroquinolines and other substrates were compatible with this catalytic system and were converted into the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields. The scale-up experiment and late-stage functionalization performance verified the practical use of this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzoate substituted with a cationic quaternary ammonium group at the para‐position, [4‐(CH3)3N(C6H4)CO2], forms mononuclear alkali metal ion complexes, [4‐(CH3)3N(C6H4)CO2M]+ (M=Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs), which are observed by electrospray‐ionisation mass spectrometry. When mass selected and subjected to collision‐induced dissociation each of these complexes undergoes decarboxylation to produce the mononuclear arylalkali complex cations, [4‐(CH3)3N(C6H4)M]+, which subsequently react with water via hydrolysis to yield the quaternary ammonium cation, (CH3)3NC6H5+. The unexpected product ions, [M((CH3)2NC6H5)]+, [M(CH3OH)]+, and M+, which are associated with the hydrolysis pathway, suggest an unusual reaction occurring within the exit channel ion‐molecule complex, [(CH3)3NC6H5+MOH]+. DFT calculations were used to examine the: decarboxylation reaction of [4‐(CH3)3N(C6H4)CO2M]+, which readily proceeds via a four‐centred transition state; the hydrolysis and SN2 reactions accounting for formation of products in the exit channel, which are connected via a roaming mechanism in which the metal hydroxide moiety migrates from the para‐hydrogen of (CH3)3NC6H5+ to one of the methyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iodide precursor oxidation has persistently plagued solution grown iodine‐based perovskite single crystals (IPSCs) that inevitably introduce undesirable triiodide ion (I3−) defects and severely hindering crystal quality, despite IPSCs having garnered remarkable progress in multifarious photoelectronic applications. In this work, the spontaneously inhibited iodide oxidation is discovered in an eco‐friendly solvent, γ‐Valerolactone (GVL), and demonstrates a universal solution approach for fabricating high‐quality IPSCs. Compared to the routine γ‐Butyrolactone (GBL) system, GVL provides a lowered growth temperature and a significantly broadened inverse temperature operation window, thereby improving the theoretical utilization rate of perovskite precursors up to 88.6%. More importantly, due to its higher open‐ring hydrolysis energy, GVL can spontaneously inhibit the iodide precursors oxidation without any additional reductant and therefore effectively prevent the forming I3− defects. Typically, the as‐fabricated MAPbI3 single crystal possesses an extremely low trap density of 3.57 × 108 cm−3 and a high carrier mobility‐lifetime (µτ) product of 2.74 × 10−3 cm2 V−1, which enables its photodetection capabilities to be on a par with the state‐of‐art MAPbI3 single crystal photodetectors. This work paves an efficacious and green pathway for high‐quality IPSC fabrication toward advanced optoelectronic utilizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tartary buckwheat was used as raw material to extract tartary buckwheat protein, and the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of tartary buckwheat protein lipid-lowering peptides were screened by single factor and response surface optimization experiments using the inhibition rate of pancreatic lipase as index. The amino acid composition and lipid lowering activity of lipid-lowering peptides were studied. The results showed that the lipid-lowering peptides obtained from tartary buckwheat protein with bromelain had higher inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase. The optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were hydrolysis time 2.1 h, hydrolysis temperature 62.0 °C, substrate concentration 3.23%, pH7.0 and enzyme substrate ratio 0.4%. Under these conditions, the inhibitory rate of pancreatic lipase was 81.22%±0.16%. Amino acid analysis showed that essential amino acids, hydrophobic amino acids and acidic amino acids accounted for 27.82%, 32.11%, 35.86%, and the ratio of arginine to lysine was 2.28. The EC50/IC50 values of sodium taurine cholic acid binding rate, cholesterol esterase inhibition rate and pancreatic lipase inhibition rate were 9.136, 3.902 and 0.051 mg/mL, respectively. The results provided a new idea and theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of tartary buckwheat resources and the development of tartary buckwheat protein active peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary amides play a crucial role in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis. Herein, we present a rapid and convenient method for transforming diverse DNA‐conjugated nitriles into primary amides utilizing hydrogen peroxide and potassium carbonate. The substrate scope and DEL compatibility of this reaction were thoroughly investigated, revealing a wide range of substrates with moderate‐to‐excellent conversion. This on‐DNA transformation holds significant promise for constructing DNA‐encoded libraries (DELs) and enabling late‐stage functionalization to expand chemical diversity. Our approach not only highlights the versatility of the method but also underscores its potential for broad applications in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Phosphodiester bonds, which form the backbone of DNA, are highly stable in the absence of catalysts. This stability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of genetic information. However, when exposed to catalytic agents, these bonds become susceptible to cleavage. In this study, we investigated the role of different metal dications (Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺, Zn2⁺, Mn2⁺, and Cu2⁺) in promoting the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds. A minimal DNA model was constructed using two pyrimidine nucleobases (cytosine and thymine), two deoxyribose units, one phosphate group, and one metallic dication coordinated by six water molecules. The results highlight that Cu2⁺ is the most efficient in lowering the energy barrier for bond cleavage, with an energy barrier of 183 kJ/mol, compared to higher barriers for metals like Zn2⁺ (202 kJ/mol), Mn2⁺ (202 kJ/mol), Mg2⁺ (210 kJ/mol), and Ca2⁺ (223 kJ/mol). Understanding the interaction between these metal ions and phosphodiester bonds offers insight into DNA stability and organic data storage systems. Methods: DFT calculations were employed using Gaussian 16 software, applying the B3LYP hybrid functional with def2-SVP basis sets and GD3BJ dispersion corrections. Full geometry optimizations were performed for the initial and transition states, followed by identifying energy barriers associated with phosphodiester bond cleavage. The optimization criteria included maximum force, root-mean-square force, displacement, and energy convergence thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that the world's reliance on fossil fuels had negative implications, such as a decline in crude oil supply, a drop in air quality, an increase in global temperature, unpredictable weather change, etc. Biofuel production is one of the best options for minimizing the quantity of conventional fuel used. This article presents theoretical and practical methods for process improvement, as well as a brief review of the characteristics of bioethanol production and limitations by using various pre-treatment techniques with wastes such as fruit and lignocellulose biomass to ethanol production using various microbe species. Bioethanol has a variety of applications, including petrol blending, solvent use, and distillery sectors. The pH (4–4.3), temperature (32 °C), and kind of microorganisms all have a significant impact on bioethanol production. Many significant phenolic chemicals and bioactive substances have been extracted from waste during bioethanol manufacturing. The approaches discussed in this study, such as pre-treatment, extraction, and distillation, can enhance the yield of bio-ethanol, which can be beneficial in many ways in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study describes the fabrication of nano-catalyst by embedding the magnetic nanoparticles as a core in silica shell to obtain the structure of Fe3O4@SiO2 and then functionalized with sulfonyl groups. The intrinsic properties of nano-catalysts were scrutinized for morphological, crystal structure, elemental and chemical bonding analysis using SEM, XRD, EDS and FT-IR, respectively. The acid density and saturation magnetization were observed to be 0.20 mmol g−1 and 56 emu g−1, respectively. In this study, banana peel waste was pre-treated and hydrolyzed into total reducing the sugar by sulfonated silica magnetic catalyst. A single-factor optimization method has also been used to investigate the influence of catalyst/solid quantity, reaction temperature and time on reducing sugar. The optimum sugar-reducing yield of about 73% was achieved with 0.3% (w/v) of catalyst loading at 140 °C for 2 h. In addition, the spent sulfonated silica catalyst was regenerated and reused up to 3 times. The fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was conducted with banana peel hydrolysate, and fermentation efficiency reached 83% after 48 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of triacylglycerols in edible oils into diacylglycerols (DAGs) is of great significance for obtaining products with health benefits. Camellia seed oil (C‐oil), which is rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid, is an excellent raw material for the production of DAGs. In this study, single factor optimization experiments were carried out for hydrolysis and esterification respectively. Using Lipozyme® RM IM as catalyst, the maximum percent of C‐oil hydrolysis reached 87.14% at the reaction temperature of 60°C, reaction time of 24 h, water content of 30% and enzyme addition amount of 4%. The maximum content of camellia seed oil diacylglycerol (C‐DAG) reached 62.49% under the conditions of Lipozyme® RM IM as catalyst, vacuum system, 3% enzyme addition, 2% water addition, reaction temperature of 50°C and substrate molar ratio of free fatty acid to glycerol of 1:1. The high content of DAG was obtained by a coupled method, which eliminated the purification steps and reduced production costs. C‐oil and C‐DAG have been characterized by GC, TG, DSC, and GC‐IMS. Our results showed that the enzymatic coupling method did not affect the structural of the substances, but did affect the crystallization and melting properties of the oils. Moreover, the taste of C‐DAG was more delicate than C‐oil. Finally, the reaction mechanism was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy, revealing that C‐oil was primarily hydrolyzed into free fatty acids. C‐DAG exhibited ester C‐O stretching vibrations in the range 1280–1030 cm−1, indicating successful esterification reaction between camellia seed oil free fatty acids (C‐FFAs) and glycerol catalyzed by lipases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of protease hydrolysis on the stability and flavor of a sesame oil–paste system was investigated. The optimum amount of protease addition, determined by testing the effects of protease addition on the improvement in the oil–paste separation of sesame paste (SP), was investigated using 7% neutral protease (NP), 5% papain (PP), 7% trypsin (TP), and 5% flavourzyme (FZ). The flavor differences among these four groups of samples were investigated, and storage experiments were conducted for 28 days to observe the changes in quality. Finally, the principal component analysis (PCA) calculations showed that the samples in the 5% FP group performed the best, with a considerable improvement in the stability of the sesame paste–oil system during storage. The oil separation capacity (OSC) decreased by 9.1% during storage, the acid value (AV) increased by 1.00 mg/g and the peroxide value (POV) increased by 0.3 mmol/kg compared with those of the control group. This group also had the highest total sensory (4.25 score) and nutty (5.83 score) scores based on the total pyrazine content. Therefore, protease hydrolysis has promising application prospects for increasing the stability of sesame paste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to produce sunflower oil using pectinase, flavor protease, and alkaline protease. The optimal parameters for the enzymatic hydrolysis process were determined through sensory evaluation, resulting in a temperature of 120°C, a duration of 30 minutes, a polysaccharide to protein ratio of 2:1 for the enzymatic hydrolysate, and an enzymatic hydrolysate to oil ratio of 1:3. Under these specific conditions, the sunflower oil (K4) achieved the highest sensory score of 13.9, exhibiting a pronounced oily flavor alongside moderate baked and nutty flavors. Compared to the controls of first‐grade sunflower oil (K1), sunflower kernel oil (K2) and sunflower oil prepared by roasting (K3), the acid value (AV) in K4 exhibited a statistically significant decrease compared to K2 and K3, conversely, the peroxide value (PV) and BaP content in K4 demonstrated a statistically significant increase compared to K1 and K2. Additionally, the tocopherols in K4 exhibited a lower concentration compared to K1, while the sterols were effectively retained and showed no significant difference to these control groups. The fatty acid composition of the four different sunflower oil samples were analyzed, revealing that the contents of oleic acid (C18:1) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in K4 were significantly higher than K2, and there was no significant difference compared to K1. This investigation of the present study could provide a certain theoretical basis for the production of sunflower oil by enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The enzyme-assisted approaches for plant phenolics extraction are more eco-friendly methods compared to acid or alkaline hydrolysis. Carbohydrase enzymes can release free phenolics from plant materials by cleaving the glycosidic bonds between phenolic compounds and cell wall polymers. In this study, the efficiency of carbohydrase-assisted treatment approaches was evaluated to extract bioactive phenolics from hawthorn (Crataegus orientalis) fruit residues. Enzymatic treatment of the fruits was operated by using a crude cellulolytic enzyme cocktail from Rhizomucor miehei NRRL 5282 and a pectinase preparate from Aspergillus niger. Both cellulase and combined cellulase–pectinase treatments improved the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of extracts. The TPC increased to 1899 ± 27 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g dry matter during the combined enzyme treatment, showing a strong correlation with the average antioxidant capacity determined by ferric-reducing antioxidant power (1.7-fold increment) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (1.15-fold increment) reagents. The major phenolics in enzyme-treated extracts were vanillic and ferulic acids, the concentrations of which increased 115.6-fold and 93.9-fold, respectively, during carbohydrase treatment. The planktonic growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Chromobacterium violaceum was slightly inhibited by the extracts with minimum inhibitory concentration values between 15.0 and 77.9 mg/mL, while the yeasts tested were quite resistant to the samples. B. subtilis and yeast biofilms were sensitive to the enzyme-treated extracts, which also showed quorum-sensing inhibitory effects against C. violaceum. The obtained bioactive hawthorn extracts hold potential as a natural source of antioxidants and antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]