Design and Use of de novo Cascades for the Biosynthesis of New Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids

The benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are an important group of secondary metabolites from higher plants and have been reported to show significant biological activities. The production of BIAs through synthetic biology approaches provides a higher‐yielding strategy than traditional synthetic methods or isolation from plant material. However, the reconstruction of BIA pathways in microorganisms by combining heterologous enzymes can also give access to BIAs through cascade reactions. Most importantly, non‐natural BIAs can be generated through such artificial pathways. In the current study, we describe the use of tyrosinases and decarboxylases and combine these with a transaminase enzyme and norcoclaurine synthase for the efficient synthesis of several BIAs, including six non‐natural alkaloids, in cascades from l ‐tyrosine and analogues.     

Correction to: Quantitative analysis of PET microplastics in environmental model samples using quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy: validation of an optimized and consistent sample clean-up method

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - The original version of this article contained a mistake.     

Molecular structure of 4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)benzoic acid trifluoroacetate

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound has been determined by X-ray analysis. 4-(3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-l-yl)benzoic acid trifluoroacetate crystallizes in the 12/a space group witha=20.6584(13),b=9.9068(3),c=14.9467(6) , =106.195(4),V=2937.6(2) ų, Dc=1.494 g/cm³ andZ=8. The ions pack in chains parallel to thea axis through O–HO and N–HO hydrogen bond interactions. Solid-state¹³C CPMASNMR spectroscopy has been used to compare the structure of the trifluoracetate with that of the neutral molecule [4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-l-yl)benzoic acid].     

Dielectric classification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-amino acids by thermal and analytical methods

Dielectric analysis (DEA), supported by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) and photomicrography, reveal the chiral difference in the amino acids. The acids are classified as dielectric materials based on their structure, relating chirality to the vector sum of the average dipole moment, composed of the constant optical (electronic) and infra-red (atomic) polarizabilities, as well as dipole orientation. This study encompasses 14 L-and D-amino acid isomers. Physical properties recorded include AC electrical conductivity, charge transfer complexes, melting, recrystallization, amorphous and crystalline phases, and relaxation spectra, activation energies and polarization times for the electrical charging process.     

Kinetics of the reaction of aqueous iron(vi) (FeVIO42-) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

The reaction of aqueous iron(vi) (FeVIO42-, Fe(vi)) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was studied kinetically as a function of pH (1.98-12.40) and temperature (15-45 degrees C) using a stopped flow kinetic technique. The rate law for the reaction of Fe(vi) with EDTA was found to be first-order with respect to each reactant over the entire studied pH range. The observed rate constants, k, decrease with an increase in pH, varying from 4.19 x 10(4) to 8.60 x 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1) over the pH range. The speciation of Fevi (H3FeO4+, H2FeO4, HFeO4-, and FeO42-) and EDTA (H4Y, H3Y-, H2Y2-, HY3-, and Y4-, Y = EDTA) species was used to explain the pH dependence of the k values. From the temperature effect on k at pH 5.4, 7.1, and 9.2, activation parameters, DeltaS(double dagger) and DeltaH(double dagger), were obtained for the reactions of Fe(VI) with EDTA. The values of DeltaS(double dagger) for the reactions were found to be negative, implying a highly ordered transition state in the reaction. The DeltaH(double dagger) for the reaction at pH 7.1 and 9.2 showed similar values within experimental error. Using the observed enthalpy parameters and the enthalpy of deprotonation of HFeO4- and EDTA species (HEDTA3- and H2EDTA2-), the enthalpy of deprotonation of H2FeO4 (DeltaH0H2FeO4) was determined as 5.7 +/- 3.0 kJ mol(-1). The reactivity of Fe(VI) with aminopolycarboxylates (APCs) was also studied in alkaline medium. The order of reactivity was determined as primary > secondary > tertiary, which suggests that FeVIO42- attacks at the nitrogen atom sites of APCs.     

Analysis of size-classified fine and ultrafine particulate matter on substrates with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Airborne particulate matter in the fine (0.1 µm–2.5 µm) and ultrafine (≤ 0.1 µm) size range is supposed to affect human health significantly. Smaller particles intrude more deeply into the lungs, so that an organism directly absorbs toxic compounds. Therefore, knowledge of the size-dependent composition of airborne particles is required to determine their health hazard. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to directly analyze size-classified particulate matter samples without any sample preparation. Samples analyzed are collected on filter substrates using a cascade impactor. Greased aluminum foils are used as filter substrate. To reduce ablation of the substrate material, low pulse energies of 0.6 mJ are used for plasma excitation. The plasma light is observed using an Echelle spectrometer. The effect of ambient gas and pressure on the line intensities is studied. Calibration samples for 14 elements relevant for human health were produced, and the system was calibrated for concentration ranges up to four orders of magnitude. Finally, the collected samples of particulate originating from steel-making processes were analyzed. The measurements show that the composition of these particles depends strongly on their size. For example, the elements lead, cadmium and copper are enriched within particles of about 200 nm diameter.     

Protein immobilization on epoxy-activated thin polymer films: effect of surface wettability and enzyme loading

A series of epoxy-activated polymer films composed of poly(glycidyl methacrylate/butyl methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were prepared. Variation in comonomer composition allowed exploration of relationships between surface wettability and Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) binding to surfaces. By changing solvents and polymer concentrations, suitable conditions were developed for preparation by spin-coating of uniform thin films. Film roughness determined by AFM after incubation in PBS buffer for 2 days was less than 1 nm. The occurrence of single CALB molecules and CALB aggregates at surfaces was determined by AFM imaging and measurements of volume. Absolute numbers of protein monomers and multimers at surfaces were used to determine values of CALB specific activity. Increased film wettability, as the water contact angle of films increased from 420 to 550, resulted in a decreased total number of immobilized CALB molecules. With further increases in the water contact angle of films from 55 degrees to 63 degrees, there was an increased tendency of CALB molecules to form aggregates on surfaces. On all flat surfaces, two height populations, differing by more than 30%, were observed from height distribution curves. They are attributed to changes in protein conformation and/or orientation caused by protein-surface and protein-protein interactions. The fraction of molecules in these populations changed as a function of film water contact angle. The enzyme activity of immobilized films was determined by measuring CALB-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate. Total enzyme specific activity decreased by decreasing film hydrophobicity.     

The swap graph of the finite soluble groups

A graph is reflexive if the second largest eigenvalue of its adjacency matrix is less than or equal to 2. In this paper, we characterize trees whose line graphs are reflexive. It turns out that these trees can be of arbitrary order—they can have either a unique vertex of arbitrary degree or pendant paths of arbitrary lengths, or both. Since the reflexive line graphs are Salem graphs, we also relate some of our results to the Salem (graph) numbers.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations of d1 vanadocene compounds with chelated dithiolate ligands: implications for pyranopterin Mo/W enzymes

Gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory have been used to investigate the electronic structures of open-shell bent vanadocene compounds with chelating dithiolate ligands, which are minimum molecular models of the active sites of pyranopterin Mo/W enzymes. The compounds Cp2V(dithiolate) [where dithiolate is 1,2-ethenedithiolate (S2C2H2) or 1,2-benzenedithiolate (bdt), and Cp is cyclopentadienyl] provide access to a 17-electron, d1 electron configuration at the metal center. Comparison with previously studied Cp2M(dithiolate) complexes, where M is Ti and Mo (respectively d0 and d2 electron configurations), allows evaluation of d0, d1, and d2 electronic configurations of the metal center that are analogues for the metal oxidation states present throughout the catalytic cycle of these enzymes. A "dithiolate-folding effect" that involves an interaction between the vanadium d orbitals and sulfur p orbitals is shown to stabilize the d1 metal center, allowing the d1 electron configuration and geometry to act as a low-energy electron pathway intermediate between the d0 and d2 electron configurations of the enzyme.     

A Landscape of Lignocellulosic Biopolymer Transformations into Valuable Molecules by Heterogeneous Catalysis in C’Durable Team at IRCELYON

This review article highlights part of the research activity of the C’Durable team at IRCELYON in the field of sustainable chemistry. This review presents a landscape of the work performed on the valorization of lignocellulosic biopolymers. These studies intend to transform cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin into valuable molecules. The methodology usually consists in evaluating the behavior of the biopolymers in the absence of catalyst under various conditions (solvent, temperature), and then to assess the influence of a catalyst, most often a heterogeneous catalyst, on the reactivity. The most significant results obtained on the upgrading of cellulose and lignin, which have been mainly investigated in the team, will be presented with an opening on studies involving raw lignocellulose.