The Use of Yeast Mixed Cultures for Deacidification and Improvement of the Composition of Cold Climate Grape Wines

Interest in the use of non-Saccharomyces yeast in mixed cultures is increasing due to the perceived improvement in the quality and complexity of the resulting wines. The aim of the study was to determine the ability of monocultures and mixed yeast cultures for deacidification and improvement of the composition of cold climate grape wines. Fermentation of grape musts with increased total acidity was carried out with the use of monocultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MH020215","term_id":"1354060763","term_text":"MH020215"}}MH020215 (Sc), Zygosaccharomyces bailii 749 (Zb) and Metschnikowia pulcherrima {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MG970690","term_id":"1345626285","term_text":"MG970690"}}MG970690 (Mp), and their mixed cultures, inoculated simultaneously and sequentially. Oenological parameters, organic acids and volatile compounds profiles of obtained wines were characterized. The fermentation kinetics and analytical profiles of the obtained wines showed that the use of mixed yeast cultures contributed to the reduction of volatile acidity and acetic acid content in the wines, as well as obtaining a favorable aromatic profile of the wines. The dominant higher alcohols in all wines were 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol. Significantly higher amounts of the first two compounds were found in wines obtained with M. pulcherrima {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MG070690","term_id":"1463836175","term_text":"MG070690"}}MG070690, both in monoculture and in mixed cultures. The monocultures of M. pulcherrima {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MG070690","term_id":"1463836175","term_text":"MG070690"}}MG070690 (Mp) compared with Z. bailli 749 (Zb) synthesized higher levels of esters in wines, including ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, isobutyl acetate, ethyl pyroracemate and isoamyl acetate.     

Pharmaceutical Drug Metformin and MCL1 Inhibitor S63845 Exhibit Anticancer Activity in Myeloid Leukemia Cells via Redox Remodeling

Metabolic landscape and sensitivity to apoptosis induction play a crucial role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) resistance. Therefore, we investigated the effect of metformin, a medication that also acts as an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and MCL-1 inhibitor {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"S63845","term_id":"400540","term_text":"S63845"}}S63845 in AML cell lines NB4, KG1 and chemoresistant KG1A cells. The impact of compounds was evaluated using fluorescence-based metabolic flux analysis, assessment of mitochondrial Δψ and cellular ROS, trypan blue exclusion, Annexin V-PI and XTT tests for cell death and cytotoxicity estimations, also RT-qPCR and Western blot for gene and protein expression. Treatment with metformin resulted in significant downregulation of OXPHOS; however, increase in glycolysis was observed in NB4 and KG1A cells. In contrast, treatment with {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"S63845","term_id":"400540","term_text":"S63845"}}S63845 slightly increased the rate of OXPHOS in KG1 and KG1A cells, although it profoundly diminished the rate of glycolysis. Generally, combined treatment had stronger inhibitory effects on cellular metabolism and ATP levels. Furthermore, results revealed that treatment with metformin, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"S63845","term_id":"400540","term_text":"S63845"}}S63845 and their combinations induced apoptosis in AML cells. In addition, level of apoptotic cell death correlated with cellular ROS induction, as well as with downregulation of tumor suppressor protein MYC. In summary, we show that modulation of redox-stress could have a potential anticancer activity in AML cells.     

Identification of Key Candidate Genes Involved in the Progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal, agnogenic interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. To investigate vital genes involved in the development of IPF, we integrated and compared four expression profiles ({"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE110147","term_id":"110147"}}GSE110147, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE53845","term_id":"53845"}}GSE53845, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE24206","term_id":"24206"}}GSE24206, and {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE10667","term_id":"10667"}}GSE10667), including 87 IPF samples and 40 normal samples. By reanalyzing these datasets, we managed to identify 62 upregulated genes and 20 downregulated genes in IPF samples compared with normal samples. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to illustrate relevant pathways of IPF, biological processes, molecular function, and cell components. The DEGs were then subjected to protein–protein interaction (PPI) for network analysis, serving to find 11 key candidate genes (ANXA3, STX11, THBS2, MMP1, MMP9, MMP7, MMP10, SPP1, COL1A1, ITGB8, IGF1). The result of RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical staining verified our finding as well. In summary, we identified 11 key candidate genes related to the process of IPF, which may contribute to novel treatments of IPF.     

Relative Abundance of Alpha-Amylase/Trypsin Inhibitors in Selected Sorghum Cultivars

Sorghum is of growing interest and considered as a safe food for wheat related disorders. Besides the gluten, α-amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) have been identified as probable candidates for these disorders. Several studies focused on wheat-ATIs although there is still a lack of data referring to the relative abundance of sorghum-ATIs. The objective of this work was therefore to contribute to the characterization of sorghum ATI profiles by targeted proteomics tools. Fifteen sorghum cultivars from different regions were investigated with raw proteins ranging from 7.9 to 17.0 g/100 g. Ammonium bicarbonate buffer in combination with urea was applied for protein extraction, with concentration from 0.588 ± 0.047 to 4.140 ± 0.066 mg/mL. Corresponding electrophoresis data showed different protein profiles. UniProtKB data base research reveals two sorghum ATIs, {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81367","term_id":"3913899","term_text":"P81367"}}P81367 and {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81368","term_id":"3913900","term_text":"P81368"}}P81368; both reviewed and a targeted LC–MS/MS method was developed to analyze these. Quantifier peptides ELAAVPSR ({"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81367","term_id":"3913899","term_text":"P81367"}}P81367) and TYMVR ({"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P81368","term_id":"3913900","term_text":"P81368"}}P81368) were identified and retained as biomarkers for relative quantification. Different reducing and alkylating agents were assessed and combination of tris (2 carboxyethyl) phosphine/iodoacetamide gave the best response. Linearity was demonstrated for the quantifier peptides with standard recovery between 92.2 and 107.6%. Nine sorghum cultivars presented up to 60 times lower ATI contents as compared to wheat samples. This data suggests that sorghum can effectively be considered as a good alternative to wheat.     

Chemical and Pharmacological Potential of Coccoloba cowellii,an Endemic Endangered Plant from Cuba

Coccoloba cowellii Britton (Polygonaceae) is an endemic and critically endangered plant that only grows in Camagüey, a province of Cuba. In this study, a total of 13 compounds were identified in a methanolic leaf extract, employing a dereplication of the UHPLC-HRMS data by means of feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) analysis in the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Network (GNPS), together with the interpretation of the MS/MS data and comparison with the literature. The major constituents were glucuronides and glycosides of myricetin and quercetin, as well as epichatechin-3-O-gallate, catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid, all of them being reported for the first time in C. cowellii leaves. The leaf extract was also tested against various microorganisms, and it showed a strong antifungal effect against Candida albicans ATCC {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"B59630","term_id":"2614348"}}B59630 (azole-resistant) (IC₅₀ 2.1 µg/mL) and Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"B66663","term_id":"2640641"}}B66663 (IC₅₀ 4.1 µg/mL) with no cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ > 64.0 µg/mL) on MRC-5 SV2 cells, determined by the resazurin assay. Additionally, the extract strongly inhibited COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activity using a cell-free experiment in a dose-dependent manner, being significantly more active on COX-1 (IC₅₀ 4.9 µg/mL) than on COX-2 (IC₅₀ 10.4 µg/mL). The constituents identified as well as the pharmacological activities measured highlight the potential of C. cowellii leaves, increasing the interest in the implementation of conservation strategies for this species.     

Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by the Valorization of Biomass and Synthetic Waste

Synthetic pollutants are a looming threat to the entire ecosystem, including wildlife, the environment, and human health. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biodegradable microbial polymers with a promising potential to replace synthetic plastics. This research is focused on devising a sustainable approach to produce PHAs by a new microbial strain using untreated synthetic plastics and lignocellulosic biomass. For experiments, 47 soil samples and 18 effluent samples were collected from various areas of Punjab, Pakistan. The samples were primarily screened for PHA detection on agar medium containing Nile blue A stain. The PHA positive bacterial isolates showed prominent orange–yellow fluorescence on irradiation with UV light. They were further screened for PHA estimation by submerged fermentation in the culture broth. Bacterial isolate 16a produced maximum PHA and was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. It was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia HA-16 ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MN240936","term_id":"1712425297","term_text":"MN240936"}}MN240936), reported first time for PHA production. Basic fermentation parameters, such as incubation time, temperature, and pH were optimized for PHA production. Wood chips, cardboard cutouts, plastic bottle cutouts, shredded polystyrene cups, and plastic bags were optimized as alternative sustainable carbon sources for the production of PHAs. A vital finding of this study was the yield obtained by using plastic bags, i.e., 68.24 ± 0.27%. The effective use of plastic and lignocellulosic waste in the cultivation medium for the microbial production of PHA by a novel bacterial strain is discussed in the current study.     

Hydrogen storage in SiC,GeC, and SnC nanocones functionalized with nickel,Density Functional Theory—Study

Hydrogen is regarded as one of the most potential sustainable energy sources in the future. Applications include transportation. Still, the event of materials for its storage is difficult notably as a fuel in vehicular transport. Nanocones are a promising hydrogen storage material. Silicon, germanium, and tin carbide nanocones have recently been proposed as promising hydrogen storage materials. In the present study, we have investigated the hydrogen storage capacity of $\mathrm{SiC},\mathrm{GeC},$ and $\mathrm{SnC}$ nanocones functionalized with Ni. The functionalized Ni atom are found to be adsorbed on $\text{SiCNC},\text{GeCNC},$ and $\text{SnCNC}$ with an adsorption energy of −5.56, −6.70, and −4.25 eV. The functionalized $\text{SiCNC},\text{GeCNC}$, and $\text{SnCNC}$ bind up to seven, six and four molecules of hydrogen with the adsorption energy of (−0.34, −0.35, and −0.26 eV) and an average desorption temperature of around 434, 447, and 332 K (ideal for fuel cell applications). The SiC, GeC, and SnC nanocones systems exhibit a maximum gravimetric storage capacity of 12.51, 7.78, and 4.08 wt%. We suggested that Ni SiCNC and Ni GeCNC systems can act as potential H₂ storage device materials because of their higher H₂ uptake capacity as well as their stronger interaction with adsorbed hydrogen molecules than Ni SnCNC systems. The hydrogen storage reactions are characterized in terms of the charge transfer, the partial density of states, the frontier orbital band gaps, and isosurface plots. And electrophilicity are calculated for the functionalized and hydrogenated $\mathrm{SiC},\mathrm{GeC},$ and $\mathrm{SnC}$ nanocones.     

An integrated electrocatalytic nESI-MS platform for quantification of fatty acid isomers directly from untreated biofluids

Positional isomers of alkenes are frequently transparent to the mass spectrometer and it is difficult to provide convincing data to support their presence. This work focuses on the development of a new reactive nano-electrospray ionization (nESI) platform that utilizes non-inert metal electrodes (e.g., Ir and Ru) for rapid detection of fatty acids by mass spectrometry (MS), with concomitant localization of the C C bond to differentiate fatty acid isomers. During the electrospray process, the electrical energy (direct current voltage) is harnessed for in situ oxide formation on the electrode surface via electro-oxidation. The as-formed surface oxides are found to facilitate in situ epoxide formation at the C C bond position and the products are analyzed by MS in real-time. This phenomenon has been applied to analyze isomers of unsaturated fatty acids from complex serum samples, without pre-treatment.

An electrocatalytic nESI MS platform enables positional isomer differentiation through the localization of C C bonds in fatty acids present in complex biofluids.     

Redox deracemization of β,γ-alkynyl α-amino esters

The first non-enzymatic redox deracemization method using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant has been described. The one-pot deracemization of β,γ-alkynyl α-amino esters consisted of a copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation and chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation with excellent functional group compatibility. By using benzothiazoline as the reducing reagent, an exclusive chemoselectivity at the C N bond over the C C bond was achieved, allowing for efficient deracemization of a series of α-amino esters bearing diverse α-alkynyl substituent patterns. The origins of chemo- and enantio-selectivities were elucidated by experimental and computational mechanistic investigation. The generality of the strategy is further demonstrated by efficient deracemization of β,γ-alkenyl α-amino esters.

A one-pot deracemization of β,γ-alkynyl α-amino esters consisting of an aerobic oxidation and chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation has been described.     

Tri-insertion with dearomatization of terminal arylalkynes using a carborane based frustrated Lewis pair template

Intramolecular vicinal Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) have played a significant role in the activation of small molecules, and their stabilities and reactivities are found to strongly depend on the nature of the bridging units. This work reports a new carborane based FLP, 1-PPh₂-2-BPh₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (2), which reacts with an equimolar amount of p-R₂NC₆H₄C CH (R = Me, Et, Ph) at room temperature to give C C triple bond addition products 1,2-[PPh₂C(R₂NC₆H₄) CHBPh₂]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (3) in high yields. Compounds 3 react further with two equiv. of p-R₂NC₆H₄C CH (R = Me, Et) at 60–70 °C to give unprecedented stereoselective tri-insertion products, 3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydronaphtho[1,8a-b]borole tricycles (4), in which one of the aryl rings from arylacetylene moieties has been dearomatized with the formation of four stereocenters including one quaternary carbon center. It is noted that the phosphine unit functions as a catalyst during the reactions. After trapping and structural characterization of a key intermediate, a reaction mechanism is proposed, involving sequential alkyne insertion and 1,2-boryl migration.

A carborane based frustrated Lewis pair enables tri-insertion with dearomatization of arylalkynes, forming unprecedented products, borole tricycles, with the construction of four stereocenters including one quaternary carbon center in one process.