Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology最新文献

Researchers' attention has been greatly focused on the use of lignocellulosic wastes to produce bioethanol and biogas due to the depletion of non-renewable energy resources. In our effort to find a potent cellulase-producing fungal strain, the fungus NAS51 was isolated among eight isolates from a sponge collected from the Red Sea, Jeddah, and selected as it displayed the highest cellulase activity including (FP-ase, CMC-ase, and β-glucosidase enzymes) at levels of 3.13 U/ml, 2.52 U/ml, and 0.69 U/ml, respectively. The fungus was identified morphologically and genetically by sequencing its 18SrRNA gene as Aspergillus sp. NAS51. The cellulase activity of Aspergillus sp. NAS51 was optimized and maximum enzyme production was obtained at initial pH7, temp 30^oC, incubation period 11 days, moisture content 70%, urea as a nitrogen source, and K2HPO4 (2 g/L). The crude cellulases from strain NAS51 were characterized, and results showed that the enzyme is stable over a wide pH range (6–10), with peak activity at pH 7.0 and 40 °C. The cellulase gene has been sequenced and the protein 3D structure was generated via in silico homology modeling. Determination of binding sites and biological annotations of the constructed protein was carried out via COACH and COFACTOR based on the I-TASSER structure prediction. To reach the maximum enzyme hydrolysis, the rice straw collected from Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was pretreated with NaOH 1.5% to remove lignin and to enhance the saccharification process by Cellulase. The saccharified product was measured using HPLC, fermented by S. cerevisiae and the bioethanol yield produced from the fermentation was 0.454 mL ethanol/g fermentable sugars. This study indicates the potential application of fungal enzymes such as cellulase enzymes in biofuel generation and waste management.

Nanobiotechnology could aid in developing honey-based natural wound healing agents. In the present work, stingless bee honey (SBH) loaded alginate nanoparticles (H-ALG NPs) were formulated with an ionic crosslinking method and thoroughly characterized. The average size of the H-ALG NPs was observed to be 312 ± 4.32 nm, with 0.112 ± 0.04 PDI and - 21.2 ± 0.29 mV Zeta potential. TEM and SEM imaging confirmed the presence of spherical-shaped NPs. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity were observed to be 84.74% and 23.12%, respectively. Further, H-ALG NPs showed dose-dependent radical scavenging activity against DPPH with IC₅₀ 23.20 compared to 35.99 mg/mL for SBH, suggesting antioxidant potential. The H-ALG NPs were also tested for cytotoxicity on a human dermal fibroblast cell line and exhibited low toxicity with a higher IC₅₀ than SBH (970.07 vs. 755.67 μg/mL; P < 0.001). H-ALG NPs also significantly promoted the migration of fibroblasts as indicated by scratch assay. The qPCR analysis for gene expression demonstrated that H-ALG NPs potentially promote the production of proinflammatory mediators (i.e., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-8) in fibroblasts, which play a crucial role in wound healing, albeit at lower levels compared to SBH. The mouse wound model confirmed that H-ALG NPs accelerated wound healing (P < 0.05) with improved histological characteristics. These findings highlight H-ALG NPs as a potential natural and effective therapeutic agent for wound management and advocate for further exploration of the antioxidant-based medicinal properties of SBH.

The physiochemical methods for metallic nanoparticles (MNP) are expensive and the use of toxic chemicals are not ecofriendly. Thus, in the past two decades, green fabrication of MNPs has gained attention due to its ecofriendly nature, low-consumption and high-yield outputs. Microalgae have been proven to contain varieties of value-added pigments and compounds inside their biomass. Microalgae can be considered as bio factory for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs). The present review briefly summarizes the various metal precursors used for the biosynthesis of microalgal-based MNPs. This review also summarizes the reported MNPs from microalgae, factors affecting the biosynthesis of MNPs, fabrication mechanisms of biosynthesis, and their characterization techniques. This present review critically discusses the potential applications and future perspectives and further studies that focus on the advancement in microalgal-based MNPs biosynthesis.

Arsenic is a matter of concern across the globe especially for the countries like India where a good number of people depend on rice as the staple source of carbohydrate. Arsenic has lot of deleterious effects on the plant and through food chain gets accumulated to human being and is highly toxic and carcinogenic for human health. The present research is a biomarker based study to understand the difference in arsenic induced toxicity with application of Mg-salt. The primary objective was to see the difference in the expression of Superoxide dismutase gene. In the electrophoresis, sample with Mg-salt treatment gave less dense band compared to the control one. This was also corroborated with the reduction in antioxidant and stress biomarkers like, phenol, malonaldehyde, flavonoid, superoxide dismutase content. On the contrary chlorophyll content showed an increase of more than twice and protein content 1.7 times in Mg-salt treated plants compared to the control. Interestingly root arsenic content showed almost two times increased value and shoot arsenic content showed decrease of 1.5 times in Mg-salt treated plants. It can be deciphered that Mg might have acted as a reason for less translocation of arsenic in case of paddy plant.

Genomic instability segregation significantly contributes to the cellular mechanisms that affect the transition from normal to neoplastic cell proliferation, which enhances the ability of cancer cells to spread to distant sites and cause secondary growth, leading to cancer development. Mutated chromosome segregation can result from various factors, such as compromised centromere duplication, and disrupted assembly of the mitotic spindle. Due to metastasis, cancer is known to be associated with an increased mortality rate among patients. Hence, to suggest the development of more effective treatment strategies, it is essential to identify biomolecular and genetic markers that can serve as prognostic and predictive indicators in the progression of breast cancer. For instance, Ran GTPase (1K5G) has been recognised as a potential contributor to breast cancer. Ran, a small GTPase, plays a role in various cellular processes. The primary objective of the study was to assess the potential therapeutic advantages of natural compounds against breast cancer, with a specific focus on the Ran GTPase protein. The approach involved a virtual screening method to identify the most efficient compounds from the NP-lib database at the MTiOpenScreen website against 1K5G. Following the screening process, the top three compounds were selected for molecular docking along with a co-crystallized GUANOSINE-5′-DIPHOSPHATE (GDP) inhibitor serving as a reference compound. In the active site of 1K5G against the reference inhibitor GDP, each compound showed significant docking energy between −9.1 and −8.9 kcal/mol. Further, the study also used molecular dynamic simulation (100 ns) to analyze the stability and physical movements of atoms and molecules. The compounds within this group can disrupt interactions involving the Ran GTPase protein within cells.

Aphis craccivora and Planococcus lilacinus are significant plant virus carriers and severe pests of legumes, fruits, and commercial crops. Inappropriate use of inorganic pesticides for the management of pests leads to resistance, detrimental to natural enemies of pests and the environment. In this study, methanolic root extract, different fractions, and isolated compounds from Thalictrum foliolosum DC were investigated for their pesticidal and enzyme inhibition potential against target pests. The findings revealed that thalidasine and berberine were most effective against A. craccivora (LD₅₀ = 0.43–0.47 μl/insect), followed by n-butanol fraction (LD₅₀ = 1.37 μl/insect). Similarly, the aqueous fraction was more promising against P. lilacinus (LD₅₀ = 0.24 μl/insect) as compared to jatrorrhizine and thalidasine (LD₅₀ = 0.60–0.64 μl/insect). Further UHPLC-PDA-based analysis revealed that chloroform fraction showed higher thalidasine (37.86 ± 0.923 mg/g) and berberine (37.76 ± 0.398 mg/g) content, whereas berberine (36.06 ± 0.045 mg/g) also quantified in dominating amount in n-butanol fraction, together with jatrorrhizine (23.74 ± 0.177 mg/g). In reproduction inhibition assay, the chloroform and methanol extract showed a higher inhibition rate at 10 000 mg/L (98.69–99.46%). Additionally, methanolic extract significantly inhibited the detoxifying enzymes (glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase) in target pests. Therefore, based on field bio efficacy data of extract/fractions and compounds, the lead (s) can be employed further for the preparation of botanical insecticide. The present finding provides the first report on simultaneous quantification of three isoquinoline alkaloids by UHPLC-PDA and the bio-insecticidal potential of T. foliolosum.

This review article provides phytochemical profiling, nutritional and medicinal importance of Nigella sativa (NS). Its seeds are rich in thymol, thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, organic acids, resins, reducing sugars, metarbin, poisonous glucoside, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins. Its sees serve as an important nutritional source and healthy dietary supplement for human beings and animals to improve their growth performance in cattle and chickens. The use of NS helps in fighting against various infections including inflammation, cancer, asthma, fungus, lowering blood sugar and heart-related diseases. Intake of NS seeds (NSS) results in significant lowering of systolic blood pressure, body weight, hip ratio, waist fasting blood sugar, uric acid, SGOT, SGPT, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and serum testosterone. Its seeds have carminative, appetite, digestive and stimulant properties and are useful for treating flatulence, anorexia, indigestion and gas production in the digestive tract. They improve liver and stomach functions and are effective against nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, leprosy, freckling, alopecia, eczema of the skin, and seasonal viral illnesses. Chewing of its seeds is useful in controlling the antimicrobial activities in the oral cavity. NS improves digestive juice secretion and prostaglandin production, stimulates menstrual flow, reduces breast milk abnormalities and increases milk production. NSS oil is effective for vitiligo patients and skin re-pigmentation, especially in the pubic area, face, and hands. Its seeds stimulate urination and are used to remove kidney stones.

Valeriana officinalis (valerian) roots and rhizomes possess a long history of medicinal use due to their sedative, antiepileptic, and anticonvulsant properties. Valerenic acid, a bioactive sesquiterpene with therapeutic potential, is present in limited quantities within these tissues. This study explores the application of hairy root cultures for enhanced valerenic acid production. Hairy root induction was attempted on valerian leaves and petioles using three Rhizobium rhizogenes strains (ATCC15834, A4, and MSU440) across three culture media (Murashige and Skoog (MS), Gamborg's B5 (B5), and Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH)). A non-destructive imaging system and periodic analyses were employed to identify superior hairy root clones exhibiting increased branching frequency. Leaf explants co-cultured with R. rhizogenes strain ATCC15834 yielded the most promising clones, characterized by the highest dry weight (1.03 mg) and valerenic acid content (0.384 mg/g dry weight) when grown in a half-strength SH liquid medium. Following strain and media optimization, the impact of 50 mM hydrogen peroxide as an elicitor on valerenic acid production was investigated. This treatment resulted in a significant 1.76-fold increase in valerenic acid accumulation compared to the control group at the first day post-treatment. This approach presents a valuable strategy for the early identification of high-yielding hairy root lines. Moreover, the utilization of hydrogen peroxide, a safe and cost-effective elicitor, offers a rapid method for enhancing valerenic acid production in the selected superior clone. This study establishes a promising platform for the sustainable production of valuable plant compounds within both research and industrial settings.

Succinic acid is a valuable platform chemical that can be produced from renewable resources, such as lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). The utilization of LCB to produce succinic acid involves a pretreatment step that results in a hemicellulosic hydrolysate. This hydrolysate is enriched with sugars, but it also contains inhibitory compounds at levels that could impede the growth of microorganisms due to their toxicity and can hamper fermentation process. Hydrolysate detoxification is a critical step in the production of succinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass, aiming to remove inhibitory compounds that hinder fermentation efficiency. This review evaluates hydrolysate production from lignocellulosic biomass towards succinic acid production. A comprehensive discussion was done on detoxification methods, including adsorption techniques, evaporation, overliming, neutralization, membrane filtration, solvent extraction, enzymatic, microbial, and combined detoxification approaches. Each method's principles, effectiveness, advantages, and limitations are discussed. Furthermore, future perspectives in hydrolysate detoxification for succinic acid production are outlined, focusing on tailored detoxification protocols, novel detoxification agents and technologies, biotechnological approaches, process optimization and scale-up, technoeconomic and environmental analysis, and mathematical and computational modeling. Overall, this review highlights the importance of continued research and development in hydrolysate detoxification to advance sustainable succinic acid production from lignocellulosic biomass.

The aim of the study was the bioconversion of green walnut husk (GWH) to nutrimental foods through mushroom cultivation technology. Two isolates of Pleurotus ostreatus and three isolates of Pleurotus eryngii cultivated in four different growing media supplemented different ratios of GWH were investigated for cultivation cycle, yield, biological efficiency (BE), fruiting body properties and nutritional composition of Pleurotus spp. In the study, poplar sawdust (PS) was used as a base substrate, and GWH were added at the ratios of 9:1, 8:2 and 7:3 to prepare the growing media. The control medium was prepared using PS only. Although increasing the GWH content led to prolonged pinning and flushing times, the addition of GWH at 10–20% ratios had a positive impact on mushroom performance. The yield and BE (%) of P. ostreatus and P. eryngii isolates ranged between 120.2 and 230.0 g/kg and 40.1–74.2% BE and 121.8–222.5 g/kg and 40.6–76.2% BE, respectively, depending on the growing medium used. Moreover, the fruitbodies of both strains of P. ostreatus demonstrated significant increases in protein and fat content when produced on substrates containing GWH, especially at a 20% ratio in the growing medium. These results indicate that GWH, an agricultural waste that poses a risk to the environmental health, could be successfully used in the cultivation of both oyster mushroom species.