Search results for "Bioengineering"

A subset of flavaglines inhibits KRAS nanoclustering and activation.

2020

The RAS oncogenes are frequently mutated in human cancers and among the three isoforms (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS), KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene. Here, we demonstrate that a subset of flavaglines, a class of natural anti-tumour drugs and chemical ligands of prohibitins, inhibit RAS GTP loading and oncogene activation in cells at nanomolar concentrations. Treatment with rocaglamide, the first discovered flavagline, inhibited the nanoclustering of KRAS, but not HRAS and NRAS, at specific phospholipid-enriched plasma membrane domains. We further demonstrate that plasma membrane-associated prohibitins directly interact with KRAS, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid, and these int…

Fibronectin-binding nanoparticles for intracellular targeting addressed by B. burgdorferi BBK32 protein fragments.

2011

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are created by the self-assembly of multiple copies of envelope and/or capsid proteins from many viruses, mimicking the conformation of a native virus. Such noninfectious nanostructures are mainly used as antigen-presenting platforms, especially in vaccine research; however, some of them recently were used as scaffolds in biotechnology to produce targeted nanoparticles for intracellular delivery. This study demonstrates the creation of fusion VLPs using hepatitis B core protein-based system maintaining a fibronectin-binding property from B. burgdorferi BBK32 protein, including the evidence of particles’ transmission to BHK-21 target cells via caveolae/rafts endoc…

Considering syntrophic acetate oxidation and ionic strength improves the performance of models for food waste anaerobic digestion.

2021

Current mechanistic anaerobic digestion (AD) models cannot accurately represent the underlying processes occurring during food waste (FW) AD. This work presents an update of the Anaerobic Digestion Model no. 1 (ADM1) to provide accurate estimations of free ammonia concentrations and related inhibition thresholds, and model syntrophic acetate oxidation as acetate-consuming pathway. A modified Davies equation predicted NH3 concentrations and pH more accurately, and better estimated associated inhibitory limits. Sensitivity analysis results showed the importance of accurate disintegration kinetics and volumetric mass transfer coefficients, as well as volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and hydrogen up…

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) synthase genes in pseudomonads strains, isolation and heterologous expression

2010

Low-Cost Synthesis of Smart Biocompatible Graphene Oxide Reduced Species by Means of GFP.

2015

The aim of this work is focused on the engineering of biocompatible complex systems composed of an inorganic and bio part. Graphene oxide (GO) and/or graphite oxide (GtO) were taken into account as potential substrates to the linkage of the protein such as Anemonia sulcata recombinant green fluorescent protein (rAsGFP). The complex system is obtained through a reduction process between GO/GtO and rAsGFP archiving an environmentally friendly biosynthesis. Spectroscopic measurements support the formation of reduced species. In particular, photoluminescence shows a change in the activity of the protein when a bond is formed, highlighted by a loss of the maximum emission signal of rAsGFP and a …

A descriptive model for citrate utilization by Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis

1993

A model for the use of citrate by Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis bv diacetylactis CNRZ 125 is proposed. Citrate metabolism by this strain leads to the production of acetate, CO2 and C4 compounds (diacetyl, acetoin, 2,3-butylene glycol). The model furnishes correct simulations, consistent with published results on the pathways used and on lactose-citrate co-metabolism. Citric acid is incorporated independently of growth. The production of flavoring compounds is a complex process, depending on the rate of citrate utilization, on the proportion of pyruvate arising from citrate and which condenses to form α-acetolactate and CO2, on the rate of transformation of α-acetolactate to diacetyl and ace…

Characterization of particle morphology of biochanin A molecularly imprinted polymers and their properties as a potential sorbent for solid-phase ext…

2014

Abstract Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with biochanin A as a template were obtained using a bulk polymerization with non-covalent imprinting approach. The polymers were prepared in acetonitrile as porogen, using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as cross-linking agent. The synthesis, with an application of 1′,1′-azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) (ACHN) as an initiator, has been performed thermally. During the synthesis process the effect of different functional monomers such as methacrylic acid (MAA), acrylamide (AA) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) was investigated. The application of nitrogen sorption porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spec…

Modeling solid waste decomposition.

2004

The hydrolysis rate coefficients of sorted municipal waste were evaluated from the biochemical methane potential tests using non-linear regression. A distributed mathematical model of anaerobic digestion of rich (food) and lean (non-food) solid wastes with greatly different rates of polymer hydrolysis/acidogenesis was developed to describe the balance between the rates of hydrolysis/acidogenesis and methanogenesis. The model was calibrated using previously published experimental data [Biores. Technol. 52 (1995) 245] obtained upon various initial food waste loadings. Simulations of one- and two-stage digestion systems were carried out. The results showed that initial spatial separation of fo…

Complete genome sequence of the strain Defluviitoga tunisiensis L3, isolated from a thermophilic, production-scale biogas plant.

2015

An anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium belonging to the phylum Thermotogae was isolated from a rural, thermophilic biogas plant (54 degrees C) producing methane-rich biogas from maize silage, barley, cattle and pig manure. Here we report the first complete genome sequence of the Defluviitoga tunisiensis strain L3, an isolate from the family Thermotogaceae. The strain L3 encodes several genes predicted to be involved in utilization of a large diversity of complex carbohydrates including cellobiose and xylan for the production of acetate, hydrogen (H-2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The genome sequence of D. tunisiensis L3 provides the basis for biotechnological exploitation of genetic determinants…

Double Thermoresponsive Block Copolymers Featuring a Biotin End Group

2010

A poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-block-poly(N-isopropyl methacrylamide) (POEGMA-b-PNIPMAM) block copolymer with a biotin end group on the PNIPMAM block as a biotarget was synthesized as a model system for temperature-controlled polymer immobilization. The synthesis was based on RAFT polymerization followed by postpolymerization modification of an activated ester precursor block and an exchange of the dithioester end group within one step. NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and turbidimetry measurements were performed to investigate the stimulus-responsive properties. The double thermoresponsive POEGMA-b-PNIPMAM with biot…