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At least 73 records · Page 4

Mechanism of the hydroxyl radical oxidation of methacryloyl peroxynitrate (MPAN) and its pathway toward secondary organic aerosol formation in the atmosphere

Methacryloyl peroxynitrate (MPAN), the acyl peroxynitrate of methacrolein, has been suggested to be an important secondary organic aerosol (SOA) precursor from isoprene oxidation. Yet, the mechanism by which MPAN produces SOA through reaction with the hydroxyl radical (OH) is unclear. We systematically evaluate three proposed mechanisms in controlled chamber experiments and provide the first experimental support for the theoretically-predicted lactone formation pathway from the MPAN + OH reaction, producing hydroxymethyl-methyl-α-lactone (HMML). The decomposition of the MPAN–OH adduct yields HMML + NO 3 (~75%) and hydroxyacetone + CO + NO 3 (~25%), out-competing its reaction with atmospheric oxygen. The production of other proposed SOA precursors, e.g., methacrylic acid epoxide (MAE), from MPAN and methacrolein are negligible (<2%). Furthermore, we show that the beta-alkenyl moiety of MPAN is critical for lactone formation. Alkyl radicals formed cold via H-abstraction by OH do not decompose to HMML, even if they are structurally identical to the MPAN–OH adduct. The SOA formation from HMML, from polyaddition of the lactone to organic compounds at the particle interface or in the condensed phase, is close to unity under dry conditions. However, the SOA yield is sensitive to particle liquid water and solvated ions. In hydrated inorganic particles, HMML reacts primarily with H 2 O to produce the monomeric 2-methylglyceric acid (2MGA) or with aqueous sulfate and nitrate to produce the associated organosulfate and organonitrate, respectively. 2MGA, a tracer for isoprene SOA, is semivolatile and its accommodation in aerosol water decreases with decreasing pH. Conditions that enhance the production of neutral 2MGA suppress SOA mass from the HMML channel. In conclusion, considering the liquid water content and pH ranges of ambient particles, 2MGA will exist largely as a gaseous compound in some parts of the atmosphere.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Producing biofuels using polyketide synthases

The present invention provides for a non-naturally occurring polyketide synthase (PKS) capable of synthesizing a carboxylic acid or a lactone, and a composition such that a carboxylic acid or lactone is included. The carboxylic acid or lactone, or derivative thereof, is useful as a biofuel. The present invention also provides for a recombinant nucleic acid or vector that encodes such a PKS, and host cells which also have such a recombinant nucleic acid or vector. The present invention also provides for a method of producing such carboxylic acids or lactones using such a PKS.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Chain-End Controlled Depolymerization Selectivity in α,α-Disubstituted Propionate PHAs with Dual Closed-Loop Recycling and Record-High Melting Temperature

In this article, within the large poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) family, C3 propionates are much less studied than C4 butyrates, with the exception of α,α-disubstituted propionate PHAs, particularly poly(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropionate), P3H(Me) 2 P, due to its high melting temperature (T m ~ 230 °C) and crystallinity (~76%). However, inefficient synthetic routes to its monomer 2,2-dimethylpropiolactone [(Me) 2 PL] and extreme brittleness of P3H(Me) 2 P largely hinder its broad applications. Here, we introduce simple, efficient step-growth polycondensation (SGP) of a hydroxyacid or methyl ester to afford P3H(Me) 2 P with low to medium molar mass, which is then utilized to produce lactones through base-catalyzed depolymerization. The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the 4-membered lactone leads to high-molar-mass P3H(Me) 2 P, which can be depolymerized by hydrolysis to the hydroxyacid in 99% yield or methanolysis to the hydroxyester in 91% yield, achieving closed-loop recycling via both SGP and ROP routes. Intriguingly, the chain end of the SGP-P3H(Me) 2 P determines the depolymerization selectivity toward 4- or 12-membered lactone formation, while both can be repolymerized back to P3H(Me) 2 P. Through the formation of copolymers P3H(Me/R) 2 P (R = Et, n Pr), PHAs with high tensile strength and ductility, coupled with high barriers to water vapor and oxygen, have been created. Notably, the PHA structure–property study led to P3H( n Pr) 2 P with a record-high T m of 266 °C within the PHA family.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

X-ray crystal structures of the pheromone-binding domains of two quorum-hindered transcription factors, YenR of Yersinia enterocolitica and CepR2 of Burkholderia cenocepacia : KIM et al.

The ability of LuxR-type proteins to regulate transcription is controlled by bacterial pheromones, N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). Most LuxR-family proteins require their cognate AHLs for activity, and some of them require AHLs for folding and stability, and for protease-resistance. However, a few members of this family are able to fold, dimerize, bind DNA, and regulate transcription in the absence of AHLs; moreover, these proteins are antagonized by their cognate AHLs. One such protein is YenR of Yersinia enterocolitica, which is antagonized by N-3-oxohexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (OHHL). This pheromone is produced by the OHHL synthase, a product of the adjacent yenI gene. Another example is CepR2 of Burkholderia cenocepacia, which is antagonized by N-octanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (OHL), whose synthesis is directed by the cepI gene of the same bacterium. Here, we describe the high-resolution crystal structures of the AHL binding domains of YenR and CepR2. YenR was crystallized in the presence and absence of OHHL. While this ligand does not cause large scale changes in the YenR structure, it does alter the orientation of several highly conserved YenR residues within and near the pheromone-binding pocket, which in turn caused a significant movement of a surface-exposed loop.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The quorum-quenching lactonase from Geobacillus caldoxylosilyticus : purification, characterization, crystallization and crystallographic analysis

Lactonases are enzymes that are capable of hydrolyzing various lactones such as aliphatic lactones or acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), with the latter being used as chemical signaling molecules by numerous Gram-negative bacteria. Lactonases therefore have the ability to quench the chemical communication, also known as quorum sensing, of numerous bacteria, and in particular to inhibit behaviors that are regulated by this system, such as the expression of virulence factors or the production of biofilms. A novel representative from the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily, dubbed GcL, was isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus caldoxylosilyticus . Because of its thermophilic origin, GcL may constitute an interesting candidate for the development of biocontrol agents. Here, we show that GcL is a thermostable enzyme with a half-life at 75°C of 152.5 ± 10 min. Remarkably, it is also shown that GcL is among the most active lactonases characterized to date, with catalytic efficiencies ( k cat / K m ) against AHLs of greater than 10 6 M $-$1 s $-$1 . The structure of GcL is expected to shed light on the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme and the molecular determinants for the substrate specificity in this class of lactonases. Here, the expression, purification, characterization, crystallization and X-ray diffraction data collection to 1.6 Å resolution of GcL are reported.

lactonase↗

High Performance Polymers from Biomass

The objective of this study was to demonstrate feasibility and scale-up of cellulosic feedstocks for the production of a commercial C6 lactone. Visolis, Inc. has developed a fermentation platform for production of the lactone at high titers and yields. The lactone is used in high-end cosmetics industry and also serves as a valuable intermediate for production of biopolymers and biofuels. Strains employed by Visolis are capable of metabolizing both glucose and xylose, enabling full utilization of cellulosic hydrolysates as feedstock. Visolis and ABPDU conducted a 2L proof-of-concept fermentation campaign followed by a 50L scale-up campaign.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Production of C5 Hydrocarbons from Water Biomass

The objective of this study was to demonstrate feasibility and scale-up of cellulosic feedstocks for the production of a commercial C 6 lactone. Visolis, Inc. has developed a fermentation platform for production of the lactone at high titers and yields. The lactone is used in high-end cosmetics industry and also serves as a valuable intermediate for production of biopolymers and biofuels. Strains employed by Visolis are capable of metabolizing both glucose and xylose, enabling full utilization of cellulosic hydrolysates as feedstock. Visolis and ABPDU conducted a 2L proof-of-concept fermentation campaign followed by a 50L scale-up campaign.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Switch of SpnR function from activating to inhibiting quorum sensing by its exogenous addition

The opportunistic human pathogen Serratia marcescens AS-1 produces the N-hexanoylhomoserine lactone (C6HSL) receptor SpnR, a homologue of LuxR from Vibrio fischeri, which activates pig clusters to produce the antibacterial prodigiosin. In this study, we attempted to artificially regulate quorum sensing (QS) by changing the role of SpnR in N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated QS. SpnR was obtained as a fusion protein tagged with maltose-binding protein (MBP) from overexpression in Escherichia coli, and its specific affinity to C6HSL was demonstrated by quartz crystal microbalance analysis and AHL-bioassay with Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Prodigiosin production was effectively inhibited by externally added MBP-SpnR in both wild-type AS-1 and the AHL synthase-defective mutant AS-1(ΔspnI). For the mutant, the induced amount of prodigiosin was drastically reduced to approximately 4% with the addition of 18 μM MBP-SpnR to the liquid medium, indicating 81% trapping of C6HSL. A system for inhibiting QS can be constructed by adding exogenous AHL receptor to the culture broth to keep the concentration of free AHL low, whereas intracellular SpnR naturally functions as the activator in response to QS. - Highlights: • Quorum sensing (QS) regulates the expression of some bacterial genes. • We added an AHL receptor to culture media to inhibit QS in Serratia marcescens AS-1. • The exogenous receptor effectively bound C6HSL and inhibited QS. • This approach can be used to artificially regulate AHL-mediated QS.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

UV-filters and musk fragrances in seafood commercialized in Europe Union: Occurrence, risk and exposure assessment

Highlights: • Largest survey on UV-Fs and musks in seafood commercialized in Europe. • Farmed seabream showed the highest average concentration of UV-Fs. • Wild mackerel showed the highest average concentration of polycyclic musks. • UV-Fs and musks in raw samples were far below the estimated toxicological reference value. In the framework of the FP7 ECsafeSeafood project, 62 seafood samples commercialized in Europe Union from several representative species – mackerel, tuna, salmon, seabream, cod, monkfish, crab, shrimp, octopus, perch and plaice – were analysed for residues of 21 personal care products (PCPs), including 11 UV-filters (UV-Fs) and 10 musk fragrances (musks). PCPs analysis were performed by Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective Rugged, Safe (QuEChERS), combined with liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) or dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE), followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The results showed the presence in a wide range of samples of nine out of eleven UV-Fs compounds analysed, namely 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS), 2-ethylhexyl,4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC), 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC), benzophenone-1 (BP1), benzophenone-3 (BP3), isoamyl-4-methoxycinnamate (IMC), 2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone (DHMB), homosalate (HS), and octocrylene (OC), whereas galaxolide (HHCB), galaxolide lactone (HHCB-lactone), and tonalide (AHTN) were the most found musks. The potential risks to human health associated with the exposure to eight of the more prevalent PCPs – EHS, EHMC, 4-MBC, BP1, BP3, IMC, HHCB, and AHTN - through seafood consumption were assessed for consumers from five European countries (Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain). Results showed that the human exposure to UV-Fs and musks estimated from the concentration values found in seafood and the daily consumption of concerned seafood species, were far below toxicological reference values.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Closed‐Loop Recycling of Mixed Plastics of Polyester and CO 2 ‐Based Polycarbonate to a Single Monomer

Abstract Physical blending is an effective strategy for tailoring polymeric materials to specific application requirements. However, physically blended mixed plastics waste adds additional barriers in mechanical or chemical recycling. This difficulty arises from the intricate requirement for meticulous sorting and separation of the various polymers in the inherent incompatibility of mixed polymers during recycling. To overcome this impediment, this work furthers the emerging single‐monomer – multiple‐materials approach through the design of a bifunctional monomer that can not only orthogonally polymerize into two different types of polymers – specifically lactone‐based polyester and CO 2 ‐based polycarbonate – but the resultant polymers and their mixture can also be depolymerized back to the single, original monomer when facilitated by catalysis. Specifically, the lactone/epoxide hybrid bifunctional monomer (BiL O ) undergoes ring‐opening polymerization through the lactone manifold to produce polyester, PE(BiL O ), and is also applied to ring‐opening copolymerization with CO 2 , via the epoxide manifold, to yield polycarbonate, PC(BiL O ). Remarkably, a one‐pot recycling process of a BiL O ‐derived PE/PC blend back to the constituent monomer BiL O in >99 % selectivity was achieved with a superbase catalyst at 150 °C, thereby effectively obviating the requirement for sorting and separation typically required for recycling of mixed polymers.

Shi, Changxia↗

Closed‐Loop Recycling of Mixed Plastics of Polyester and CO 2 ‐Based Polycarbonate to a Single Monomer

Abstract Physical blending is an effective strategy for tailoring polymeric materials to specific application requirements. However, physically blended mixed plastics waste adds additional barriers in mechanical or chemical recycling. This difficulty arises from the intricate requirement for meticulous sorting and separation of the various polymers in the inherent incompatibility of mixed polymers during recycling. To overcome this impediment, this work furthers the emerging single‐monomer – multiple‐materials approach through the design of a bifunctional monomer that can not only orthogonally polymerize into two different types of polymers – specifically lactone‐based polyester and CO 2 ‐based polycarbonate – but the resultant polymers and their mixture can also be depolymerized back to the single, original monomer when facilitated by catalysis. Specifically, the lactone/epoxide hybrid bifunctional monomer (BiL O ) undergoes ring‐opening polymerization through the lactone manifold to produce polyester, PE(BiL O ), and is also applied to ring‐opening copolymerization with CO 2 , via the epoxide manifold, to yield polycarbonate, PC(BiL O ). Remarkably, a one‐pot recycling process of a BiL O ‐derived PE/PC blend back to the constituent monomer BiL O in >99 % selectivity was achieved with a superbase catalyst at 150 °C, thereby effectively obviating the requirement for sorting and separation typically required for recycling of mixed polymers.

Chemistry↗

Identification and functional characterization of three type III polyketide synthases from Aquilaria sinensis calli

Type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) play an important role in biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites and plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Aquilaria sinensis (A. sinensis) is the main plant species for production of agarwood, little is known about its PKS family. In this study, AsCHS1 and two new type III PKSs, AsPKS1 and AsPKS2, were isolated and characterized in A. sinensis calli. The comparative sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 belonged to non-CHS group different from AsCHS1. The recombinant AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 produced the lactone-type products, suggesting their different enzyme activities from AsCHS1. Three PKS genes had a tissues-specific pattern in A. sinensis. Moreover, we examined the expression profiles of three PKS genes in calli under different abiotic stresses and hormone treatments. AsCHS1 transcript was most significantly induced by salt stress, AsPKS1 abundance was most remarkably enhanced by CdCl{sub 2} treatment, while AsPKS2 expression was most significantly induced by mannitol treatment. Furthermore, AsCHS1, AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 expression was enhanced upon gibberellins (GA3), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), or salicylic acid (SA) treatment, while three PKS genes displayed low transcript levels at the early stage under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. In addition, three GFP:PKSs fusion proteins were localized in the cytoplasm and cell wall in Nicotiana benthamiana cells. These results indicated the multifunctional role of three type III PKSs in polyketide biosynthesis, plant resistance to abiotic stresses and signal transduction. - Highlights: • Two new PKS genes (AsPKS1 and AsPKS2) were isolated and characterized from A. sinensis. • The recombinant AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 catalyzed lactone-type products in vitro. • AsCHS1, AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 were involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses and hormone stimuli. • Our results also indicated that AsCHS1, AsPKS1 and AsPKS2 were predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and cell wall.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structural and biochemical characterization of AidC, a quorum-quenching lactonase with atypical selectivity

Quorum-quenching catalysts are of interest for potential application as biochemical tools for interrogating interbacterial communication pathways, as antibiofouling agents, and as anti-infective agents in plants and animals. Herein, the structure and function of AidC, an N-acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL) lactonase from Chryseobacterium , is characterized. Steady-state kinetics show that zinc-supplemented AidC is the most efficient wild-type quorum-quenching enzymes characterized to date, with a k cat /K M value of approximately 2 × 10 6 M -1 s -1 for N-heptanoyl-l-homoserine lactone. The enzyme has stricter substrate selectivity and significantly lower KM values (ca. 50 μM for preferred substrates) compared to those of typical AHL lactonases (ca. >1 mM). X-ray crystal structures of AidC alone and with the product N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine were determined at resolutions of 1.09 and 1.67 Å, respectively. Each structure displays as a dimer, and dimeric oligiomerization was also observed in solution by size-exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle light scattering. Lastly, the structures reveal two atypical features as compared to previously characterized AHL lactonases: a "kinked" α-helix that forms part of a closed binding pocket that provides affinity and enforces selectivity for AHL substrates and an active-site His substitution that is usually found in a homologous family of phosphodiesterases. We discuss implications for the catalytic mechanism of AHL lactonases.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Comparative Theoretical Study of the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Caprolactam vs Caprolactone Using QM/MM Methods

Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) efficiently catalyzes the ring-opening polymerization of lactones to high molecular weight products in good yield. In contrast, an efficient enzymatic synthesis of polyamides has so far not been described in the literature. This obvious difference in enzyme catalysis is the subject of our comparative study of the initial steps of a CALB catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε- caprolactone and ε-caprolactam. We have applied docking tools to generate the reactant state complex and performed quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) PBE0 level of theory to simulate the acylation of Ser105 by the lactone and the lactam, respectively, via the corresponding first tetrahedral intermediates. We could identify a decisive difference in the accessibility of the two substrates in the ring-opening to the respective acyl enzyme complex as the attack of ε-caprolactam is hindered because of an energetically disfavored proton transfer during this part of the catalytic reaction while ε-caprolactone is perfectly processed along the widely accepted pathway using the catalytic triade of Ser105, His224, and Asp187. Since the generation of an acylated Ser105 species is the crucial step of the polymerization procedure, our results give an explanation for the unsatisfactory enzymatic polyamide formation and opens up new possibilities for targeted rational catalyst redesign in hope of an experimentally useful CALB catalyzed polyamide synthesis.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗