Biomass Components Research Articles

Exploring the effect of Ulva prolifera components on the biochar carbon sequestration potential

The global natural disaster caused by the green tide of Ulva prolifera (U. prolifera) has had significant impacts on marine ecological balance and human activities. Pyrolysis, a green technology, can convert U. prolifera into carbon-rich biochar, has the potential to achieve “green tide management” and “dual carbon target” simultaneously. However, the variability of U. prolifera components in environment poses a challenge to this win-win strategy. Therefore, this study is based on U. prolifera, de-ashed U. prolifera, and its main component model compounds (fucoidan, cellulose, and protein) to explore the effect of biomass internal components on pyrolysis behavior and carbon sequestration potential of biochar. The results indicated that the pyrolysis of U. prolifera followed a sequential order of fucoidan (model compound of soluble polysaccharide), protein, and cellulose. The sub-thermogravimetry (TG) curves of the component disclosed a good fit with the total TG curve of U. prolifera, with an average fluctuation of ±23.25 %. Characterizations revealed that soluble polysaccharide may be the main component determining the properties of U. prolifera biochar. Meanwhile, the deviation rate for yield, pH, O/C, pHpzc, and acidic functional group content was less than 13 % based on the theoretical calculation. The assessment of carbon sequestration potential by a prediction formula suggested that maintaining the soluble polysaccharide content below 47.66 % could extend the half-life of U. prolifera biochar to meet the requirements of the European Biochar Certificate. Additionally, correlation analysis implied that the specific surface area, O/C, and refractory organic-C were the most relevant factors for carbon sequestration potential of biochar. The obtained results revealed the potential linkages among biomass components and carbon sequestration potential of biochar, which can provide new perspectives to promote sustainable global waste management.

Biorefinery approach for rhamnolipid production by metabolically engineered Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120

Most biorefinery processes based on lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) focus only on the utilization of sugars hydrolysate from the pre-treated biomass, thus underutilizing or not utilizing lignin. Although there is considerable focus on metabolic engineering for bioconversion of synthetic lignin-related aromatics, it has been far less on using depolymerized lignin as a substrate due to its complex nature. In this work, we demonstrate an integrated biorefinery approach to co-utilize all components of corncob biomass for bioconversion to rhamnolipids by using a metabolically engineered Pseudomonas taiwanensis VL120. Our results show that sequential processes of steam explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, and base catalysis could result in sugar-rich and lignin-rich streams that can be used for rhamnolipid production. We first show that base-catalyzed depolymerization of lignin-rich fraction of corncob (leftover from the cellulose hydrolysis of pre-treated corncob LCB) results in 5.6 g/L of p-coumarate as the predominant monomer in the aromatic mixture. This was used as a substrate by P. taiwanensis VL120 to achieve 500 mg/L of rhamnolipid. In addition, the sugar-rich hydrolysate obtained from corncob with glucose and xylose as major sugars was used to produce 1.4 g/L rhamnolipids. Further, 650 mg/L rhamnolipid production was achieved from a substrate mixture containing the sugar-rich hydrolysate and p-coumarate-rich depolymerized lignin. This is the first report demonstrating rhamnolipid production in a single-pot fermentation by utilizing all three major monomers from hydrolyzed corncob biomass.

Enhanced physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of low-temperature ethylenediamine/urea pretreated lignin.

Low-temperature ethylenediamine (EDA)/urea pretreatment had been demonstrated to be an efficient pretreatment method for enzymatic hydrolysis and bioethanol production. For high-value utilization of the third main components of lignocellulosic biomass, the physicochemical structure characteristics and biological activities of low-temperature EDA/urea pretreated lignin (EUL) were comprehensively investigated in the present study. The results demonstrated that the pretreatment process facilitated the depolymerization of lignin, resulting in notable reduction in molecular weight and polydispersity index from 2.32 to 1.42kg/mol and 1.44 to 1.20, respectively. The EDA/urea pretreated lignin (EUL) exhibited enhanced ultraviolet absorption capacity and the most significant DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus in comparison to the primary lignin (PL) and the NaOH pretreated lignin (NL). Enhanced physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of EUL make it more suitable to be developed as sunscreen ingredient or antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in food preservation and conservation.

Soil and Microbial Biomass Response to Land-Use Changes in the Loess Plateau

Vegetation restoration is a critical strategy for addressing ecosystem degradation globally. However, understanding the specific impacts of land-use changes, particularly the conversion of farmland to forestland and grassland, on soil nutrients and microbial biomass in the Loess Plateau remains limited and requires further evaluation. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore how these conversions affect soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and microbial biomass components under various land-use patterns. We studied the SOC, TN, TP, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content and their ratios under six land-use patterns (Farmland (FL), Abandoned cropland (ACL), Natural grassland (NG), Alfalfa grassland (Medicago sativa L. (MS)), Spruce forestland (Picea asperata Mast. (PA)) and Cypress forestland (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (PO))). The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland significantly increased C:N and C:P by 9.82~64.12%, 10.57~126.05%, and 51.44~113.40%, 22.10~116.09%, respectively. The conversion of FL to ACL reduced the C:N and C:P by 5.34~13.57% and 1.51~7.55%, respectively. The conversion of FL to NG can increase soil N:P. The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland increased soil MBC, MBN, and MBP by −31.54~84.48%, −48.39~1533.93%, −46.55~173.85%, and −34.96~17.13%, 68.72~432.14%, −38.39~318.46%, respectively. However, the MBC, MBN, and MBP contents in the soil converted from FL to ACL varied from −28.21~11.95%, 11.17~531.25%, and −82.64~70.77%, respectively. Soil SOC, TN, TP, available potassium (AK), pH, and soil bulk density (BD) are the main factors causing microbial biomass differences. These results indicate that converting farmland into forestland and grassland can improve soil nutrient structure and increase soil microbial biomass and carbon accumulation. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the scientific management of regional land.

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizobium on physiology and yield of peanut under drought conditions

Drought is the one primary issue limiting peanut growth and productivity. The study aimed to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), rhizobium (Rhi), and their combinations on phenolic content, proline content, growth, and yield of peanut under different soil water regimes. The pot experiments were carried out for two growing seasons under greenhouse conditions and designed based on a 2×3 factorial in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Factor A comprised two soil water regimes: field capacity (FC) and 1/3 available soil water (1/3 AW), whereas factor B included three different types of microorganisms: (i) uninoculated control, (ii) arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF), and (iii) a combination of AMF and rhizobium (Rhi) inoculations. Data were collected for growth, proline content, phenolic content, yield, and yield components. Drought stress significantly reduced in relative water content, leaf area, biomass, yield, and yield components of peanut, whereas leaf phenolic content was increased under drought stress. Higher pod dry weight was achieved under FC conditions (28.87 g plant-1), and it was reduced to 16.06 g plant-1 under 1/3 FC. Interestingly, AMF+Rhi synergistically increased the leaf area compared with non-incubated peanut under 1/3 FC conditions. AMF-inoculated peanut tended to increase biomass, while the combination of AMF+Rhi tended to have higher yield components compared with uninoculated control, especially for the weight of 100 seeds.

Insights into the interactions between cellulose and hemicellulose during pyrolysis for optimizing the properties of biochar as a potential energy vector

Cellulose and hemicellulose, the main components of biomass, undergo noticeable interactions during biomass pyrolysis. In this study, biochar was produced by the co-pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. Three co-pyrolysis parameters, namely, pyrolysis temperature (400–800 °C), residence time (5–30 min), and percentage of cellulose (0–100 %), were investigated to optimize the properties of biochar, including the application of response surface methodology in the experimental study. The analysis revealed that co-pyrolysis interactions could improve the biochar yield by up to 41.37 % (567.74 °C, 19.52 min, 50 % cellulose percentage). The co-pyrolysis interactions specifically enhanced the fixed carbon content, elemental carbon content, and higher heating value of the biochar, with the most significant enhancements being 0.87 %, 3.60 %, and 3.85 %, respectively, while simultaneously decreasing the volatile content, [H]/[C] ratio, and [O]/[C] ratio of the biochar, with the most significant reductions of −9.30 %, −10.81 %, and −26.71 %. Based on the observed decrease in the intensity ratio of the D-band and G-band of biochar in the Raman spectra, greater co-pyrolysis interactions increased the graphitization degree of the biochar. The analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations revealed that the interactions enhanced the contents of the C-C, C-O/C-O-C, aromatic, and OH functionalities while reducing the number of COO-, COOH, and CO functional groups. The results of this work indicate that the co-pyrolysis interaction between cellulose and hemicellulose contributes to optimizing the properties of biochar as a potential energy vector.

A comprehensive DFT-based study of the antioxidant properties of monolignols: Mechanism, kinetics, and influence of physiological environments

Monolignols, p-coumaryl alcohol (CouA), coniferyl alcohol (ConiA), and sinapyl alcohol (SinA), are the fundamental materials for lignin biosynthesis, a major component of lignocellulosic biomass. In the present study, we report a comprehensive analysis of the antioxidant properties of monolignols, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Under model physiological conditions, monolignols demonstrated a high hydroperoxyl radical scavenging capacity in polar media, with overall rate constants (koverall) ranging from 5.80 × 106 to 1.15 × 107 M−1 s−1. In contrast, this activity was less pronounced in lipid media, with koverall in the range of 2.66 × 102 to 2.61 × 104 M−1 s−1. The single electron transfer (SET) mechanism was found to play a decisive role in water at physiological pH and under basic conditions, whereas the formal hydrogen transfer (FHT) mechanism was the exclusive pathway in aqueous acid conditions and lipid media. Furthermore, the monolignols ConiA and SinA, demonstrated a strong capacity to chelate Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions in water, with apparent equilibrium constants in the range of 9.21 × 1014 to 5.93 × 1021 M−1 s−1. Their complexes were also found to be highly effective in blocking the reduction of Cu(II)-to-Cu(I) and Fe(III)-to-Fe(II) via the ascorbic acid anion pathway.

Renewable Fuels and Chemical Recycling of Plastics via Hydrothermal Liquefaction.

ConspectusHydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) converts a wide range of biomass feedstocks into a renewable bio-oil via reactions in hot, compressed water. Other products that form partition into the gas, aqueous, or solid phases. The reactions taking place during HTL include hydrolysis, decarboxylation, condensations, additions, deamination, and dehydration. Bio-oil production from HTL has been demonstrated for many renewable materials including microalgae, macroalgae, sludge from water treatment, food waste, agricultural residues, bacteria, yeast, and a wide variety of lignocellulosic materials. HTL of whole biomass is an energy densification process as it generally recovers about 70-80% of chemical energy in an oil product that is just 20-50 wt % of the mass of the original feedstock. The oil is typically rich in oxygen (10 -20 wt %) and also in nitrogen (about 5 wt %), if the biomass contains protein. The oil also contains metals such as iron. Therefore, an upgrading and/or refining process would be required to convert the crude bio-oil to a finished fuel. Each biochemical component in biomass (e.g., polysaccharides, protein, lipids, lignin) contributes different proportions of its initial mass to biocrude. Lipids provide the highest biocrude yields whereas polysaccharides and lignin provide the lowest. Kinetics models have been developed that incorporate different reactivities for the different biochemical components. These models, which are effective in correlating and predicting the yields of biocrude and other product fractions from HTL, can be used in technoeconomic analysis and life-cycle assessments to advance commercial adoption of the technology.HTL is also effective in producing an oil product from decomposition of many different plastics. Thus, it can be used for chemical recycling or valorization of post-consumer waste plastics. Polyolefins and polycarbonates can give oil yields exceeding 90 wt %. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) gives very low oil yields. The major product from PET hydrolysis, terephthalic acid, is a solid at room temperature and not soluble in the organic solvents typically used to recover oil.Hydrothermal decomposition of isolated biochemical components of biomass and individual synthetic polymers provides insights into the governing chemical reaction pathways. Results from such experiments also enable development of component additivity models that can predict oil yields and other outcomes from HTL of biomass, plastics, and their mixtures.Research needs in this field include more detailed, molecular-level kinetics models, experimental work on HTL and hydrolysis of the many synthetic plastics that have not yet been adequately explored, and experiments and modeling for mixtures of different plastics and mixtures of plastics with biomass.

Importance of additional aliphatic structures generated from in-situ oxidation in development of extra pores in activation of spring jasmine wood

Aliphatic organics are reactive components of biomass in activation, playing important roles in pore development. They could be consumed with progress of activation while introducing external O2 might create additional aliphatic structures via oxidation, probably facilitating generation of extra pores in resulting activated carbon (AC). This was investigated herein by activation of spring jasmine wood with ZnCl2 or K2C2O4 in presence of 11 % or 5 % O2 at 550 or 700 °C. The results suggested that the oxygen added diminished yield of ACO2ZnCl2 by 21.7 % and yield of ACO2K2C2O4 by 29.0 %, resulting from partial oxidation of carbonaceous organics on nascent AC. Nonetheless, O2 presence promoted pore development, increasing SBET from 1833.8 m2g-1 for ACN2-ZnCl2 to 2018.2 m2g-1 for ACO2ZnCl2. The SBET of ACO2K2C2O4 also increased by 35.6 % with presence of O2. Oxidization of nascent AC generated more oxygen-containing species that actively involved in polymerization with ZnCl2 or cracking with K2C2O4 to form more pores. Additionally, O2 presence generated smaller pores in ACO2ZnCl2 while larger ones in ACO2-K2C2O4, enhancing the latter AC for adsorption. Oxidation reactions could also form the AC with oxygen-rice surface and hydrophilic nature, which negatively affect aromatization and reduced interplanar spacing of carbon crystals in AC.

Revealing the Potential of Bimetallic Carbide Catalysts for Upgrading Biomass‐Derived Bio‐Oil: A First Principles‐Based Investigation Using Representative Bio‐Oil Constituents

AbstractBimetallic carbides, especially based on molybdenum carbide, proved to be a promising hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalyst, with enhanced selectivity towards C─O bonds cleavage. However, catalysts are generally investigated using limited model components derived from only one of the biopolymers in biomass (either lignin or carbohydrates), therefore, HDO of raw biomass‐derived bio‐oil still remains a challenge, as it contains molecules of different functionalities. This paper presents a systematic comparison of the monometallic carbide, Mo2C, with the novel bimetallic carbide incorporating W using representative bio‐oil components of different functionalities and derived from different bio‐polymers components of biomass. We employed quantum mechanical investigation to reveal that the W‐doped Mo2C carbide (MoWC) catalyst with increased oxophilicity, owing to tungsten incorporation, can perform HDO of real bio‐oil more effectively in comparison to its monometallic counterpart (Mo2C) using six substrates representing different components of bio‐oil. We showed MoWC can selectively cleave both single/double (C─O/C═O) bonds with similar barriers in comparison to Mo2C which can only selectively cleave single C─O bonds. This observation was consistent for 5‐HMF, Acetic acid, and Methyl Glyoxal. We also showed that MoWC outperforms its metallic counterpart Mo2C in the HDO for aromatic and carbohydrates components.

Synergistic effect of nitrogen-rich pyrolysis of three components and nitrogen transformation mechanism

The synergistic mechanism of nitrogen-containing chemicals (NCCs) production was explored from the co-pyrolysis of corn cob and the three major biomass components (cellulose, xylan, and lignin) with urea. Compared to individual pyrolysis, the stability of co-pyrolysis oil was significantly enhanced. The three components showed a synergistic effect during co-pyrolysis. The phenolic compounds generated from lignin interacted with the pyran compounds produced from cellulose or xylan. Especially in the presence of urea, this cross-reaction enhanced the formation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles (NHCs). At 500 ℃, the highest yield of NCCs was observed in the co-pyrolysis oil of corn cob and urea, reaching 47.6 wt%. The NHCs exhibited a selectivity of up to 96.9 wt%. The high concentration of urea promoted the pyrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose, inhibiting the reaction between cellulose-derived products and free amines to form amines. FT-IR analysis of the char revealed that the addition of urea promoted the decomposition of corn cob, enhancing C–H bond breakdown and dehydrogenation reactions. Finally, a potential formation mechanism for the primary NHCs during the co-pyrolysis of corn cob and urea was proposed. The findings of this paper provide theoretical support for the production of NCCs from biomass through the synergistic interaction of its three components.

Catalytic Transformation of Biomass into Sustainable Carbocycles: Recent Advances, Prospects, and Challenges.

Organic compounds bearing one or more carbocycles in their molecular structure have a discernible presence in all major classes of organic products of industrial significance. However, sourcing carbocyclic compounds from exhaustible, anthropogenic carbon (e. g., petroleum) raises serious concerns about sustainability in the chemical industries. This review discusses recent advances in the renewable synthesis of carbocyclic compounds from biomass components following catalytic pathways. The mechanistic insights, process optimizations, green metrics, and alternative synthetic strategies of carbocyclic compounds have been detailed. Moreover, the renewable syntheses of carbocycles have been assessed against their existing synthetic routes from petroleum for better perspectives on their sustainability and technological preparedness. This work will assist the researchers in acquiring updated information on the sustainable synthesis of carbocyclic compounds from various biomass components, comprehending the research gaps, and developing superior synthetic processes for their commercial production.

Exploring the Photocatalytic Cleavage Pathway of the β-5 Linkage Lignin Model Compound on Carbon Nitride.

As a globally abundant source of biomass, lignocellulosic biomass has been the centre of attention as a potential resource for green energy generation and value-added chemical production. A key component of lignocellulosic biomass, lignin, which is comprised of aromatic monomers, is a potential feedstock for value added chemical production. The cleavage processes of the linkages between monomers to obtain high value products, however, requires significant investigation as it is a complex, non-facile process. This study focuses on the photocatalytic valorization of a β-5 lignin model compound, a key linkage in the lignin structure. It was found that greater yields of aromatic products were obtained from the photocatalytic conversion of β-5 lignin model compound using carbon nitride (CN) when compared to Evonik P25 titanium dioxide (TiO2). Products of the β-5 model compound photocatalytic conversion were determined and C-C bond cleavage was observed. It was also determined that the solvent participated in the reactions with the introduction of a cyano group to one of the products. Radical quenching experiments revealed that superoxide radicals participated in the CN photocatalytic conversion. These results reveal for the first time the products and possible mechanism of the photocatalytic transformation of β-5 model compounds using CN photocatalysis.

Metagenomic analysis of a top-down enriched straw biodegradation synthetic bacterial consortium (StrBsyn) facilitates anaerobic rice straw degradation

Lignocellulose is a complex and recalcitrant component of plant biomass. Traditional sources of lignocellulose-degrading microorganisms are the rumen system of herbivores and soil microorganisms, with limited studies on marine sediments. In this study, we employed a "top-down" approach to construct a straw biodegradation synthetic bacterial consortium (StrBsyn) capable of degrading lignocellulose from offshore marine sediments. It achieved 66.74 % cellulose, 63.79 % hemicellulose, and 42.85 % lignin conversion within 30 days using 0.2 % rice straws. Additionally, the maximum concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) reached 4.66 g/ml and 15.10 g/L, respectively, with a significant increase in pH. β-glucosidase, xylanase, laccase, and lignin peroxidase activities were detected in StrBsyn. Metagenomic sequencing revealed a dynamic shift in the community composition and functional genes. The taxonomic assignment of these functional genes suggested the genera Clostridium, Glomeromyces, and Sedimentobacter as major contributors to carbohydrate transport, metabolism, and lignin degradation processes. This study demonstrated the significant potential of harnessing the power of marine sediment microbial communities for sustainable and efficient anaerobic lignocellulose bioconversion.

Selective Adsorption of Lignin Peroxidase on Lignin for Biocatalytic Conversion of Poplar Wood Biomass to Value-Added Chemicals.

Lignin-first biorefineries aim to maximize the valorization of lignin by prioritizing its conversion over other biomass components. This study investigates the selective adsorption of lignin peroxidase (LiP) isozymes from white rot fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium on lignin, aiming to enhance the biocatalytic conversion of poplar wood biomass into value-added chemicals. The research focuses on the adsorption characteristics of ten recombinant LiP isozymes, particularly PcLiP03, which exhibited the highest adsorption capacity on lignin and negligible adsorption on cellulose. Adsorption isotherms and structural analyses revealed that hydrophobic interactions significantly contribute to the selective adsorption of PcLiP03. Applying PcLiP03 in a continuous stirring cell system effectively converted lignin in unpretreated poplar wood to 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone under ambient and mild conditions, highlighting its potential for selective lignin depolymerization in integrated biorefineries. This work underscores the importance of enzyme-substrate interactions and offers a promising approach for more efficient and sustainable biomass utilization.

The contribution of tropical forests to climate change mitigation. Biomass estimation techniques a necessary tool in their assessment

Climate change is a global problem caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This leads to indicators of climate change like increased flooding, sea level rise, and water stress. Tropical forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through photosynthesis, storing large amounts of carbon in their biomass. Two methods, destructive and non-destructive, are commonly used to estimate the biomass of tropical forests. There are five components of biomass in these ecosystems, with most of it found aboveground. Belowground biomass is estimated based on aboveground biomass. About 50 % of the dry biomass in forest ecosystems is carbon. Allometric equations are used to estimate biomass and volume based on tree diameter and height. Different equations have been developed for different species and locations. Carbon stocks in forest ecosystems are present in both aboveground and belowground parts.

The function of the Wadden Sea in the life cycle of small pelagic fish

Most fish species require different habitats to complete their life cycle, with coastal areas often playing a crucial role as nursery areas for juveniles. The Wadden Sea is an important nursery area for juvenile fish in the North Sea ecoregion. Despite extensive research on the nursery function of the Wadden Sea for demersal species, its role in the life cycle of small pelagic fish (SPF) remains largely unknown. This limits our understanding of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, as SPF are the dominant component of the overall fish biomass and serve as important food source for higher trophic levels. We studied the role of the Wadden Sea in the life cycle of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) through monthly stow net and seasonal trawl surveys. Our study showed that SPF use the Dutch Wadden Sea primarily as juvenile habitat, with herring being the dominant marine juvenile representative. Length frequency distributions and genetic analysis revealed that the juvenile herring originated predominantly from southwestern waters, such as the English Channel. Additionally, the Wadden Sea still provides spawning grounds for herring and anchovy, with no substantial spawning observed for sprat. While smelt can complete nearly its entire life cycle in the Wadden Sea, it depends on connectivity to nearby freshwater for spawning. In summary, the Wadden Sea functions as a nursery for juveniles, and to a lesser extent as spawning grounds for adults. A thorough understanding of these functions is crucial for identifying bottlenecks and implementing effective conservation and management strategies.

Isolation and Identification of Alkaloid Genes from the Biomass of Fritillaria taipaiensis P.Y. Li.

Fritillaria taipaiensis P.Y. Li is a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb that utilizes bulbs as medicine, which contain multiple alkaloids. Biomass, as a sustainable resource, has promising applications in energy, environmental, and biomedical fields. Recently, the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms of the main biomass components of biomass have become a prominent research topic. In this article, we explored the differences in the heterosteroidal alkaloid components of F. taipaiensis biomass using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. The experimental results demonstrated significant differences in the eight types of heterosteroidal alkaloid components among the biomass of F. taipaiensis, including peimisine, imperialine, peimine, peiminine, ebeinone, ebeiedine, ebeiedinone, and forticine. Transcriptomic analysis revealed substantial significant differences in gene expression patterns in the various samples. Three catalytic enzyme-coding genes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (HMGS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), and terpene synthase (TPS), were speculated to contribute to the regulation of the differential accumulation of alkaloid synthesis in F. taipaiensis bulbs. A strong positive correlation was observed between the transcriptional level of the TPS gene and the alkaloid content of F. taipaiensis biomass, suggesting that TPS may be a key gene in the biosynthesis pathway of alkaloids. This finding can be used for subsequent gene function verification and molecular regulatory network analysis. This work provides fundamental data and novel insights for the subsequent research on alkaloid biosynthesis in F. taipaiensis.

Fine-scale habitat selection in tree-dwelling spiders: an experimental approach.

Habitat selection by spiders is strongly influenced by biotic factors such as the availability and diversity of prey and abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, and the structural complexity of the habitat. Structural complexity is an aspect that intensely affects species persistence, population stability, and the coexistence of interacting species. Trees comprise a complex set of microhabitats due to their large biomass and heterogeneity of the architectural components of their trunk surface and branches. Spider species that live on trunks have diversified physiological or morphological adaptations that confer advantages in this environment. In this study, we experimentally examined the habitat choice by the tree-dwelling spiders Selenops cocheleti (Selenopidae), Corinna rubripes (Corinnidae), and Loxosceles gaucho (Sicariidae). We found that microhabitat specialization was restricted to trunk architectural characteristics rather than plant taxonomy. Selenops cocheleti and C. rubripes significantly preferred loose barks and holes in the trunks, respectively, showing that both spider species can evaluate the physical structure of the microhabitat on a fine scale. On the other hand, L. gaucho selected crevices and holes near the base of the trunk without giving much importance to the physical characteristics of the microhabitat per se (e.g., depth, height, length). Our findings indicate that for generalist predators like spiders, coexistence relies heavily on spatial segregation driven by distinct habitat preferences, irrespective of their method for capturing prey.

Step Towards Enzymatic Bioelectrorefinery: Design of a Ligninolytic Hybrid Air‐Breathing Biocathode

AbstractLignins, abundant aromatic biopolymers and one of the major components of lignocellulosic biomass, remain the most underutilized renewable bioresources of aromatics and hydrocarbons on the Earth. Numerous physical and chemical processes have been developed for lignin valorization; however, they generally suffer from environmentally unfriendly, harsh conditions and lack reaction specificity. On the other hand, milder methods involving biocatalysts exist but are impeded by many limitations, such as cofactor regeneration, deleterious enzyme–lignin interactions, and low stability. In this work, we attempt to eliminate the constrains encountered in enzyme‐based lignin valorization processes through the development of a novel electrochemically assisted bioprocess. This “all‐in‐one” biocathode incorporates a hybrid electrocatalytic interface combining a hydrogen peroxide‐generating passive air‐breathing gas diffusion electrode with an immobilized hydrogen peroxide‐consuming lignin peroxidase on a single surface and catalyzing the depolymerization of lignins. The ligninolytic potential of this bioelectrochemical device is demonstrated using both lignin models (veratryl alcohol and veratrylglycerol β‐guaiacyl ether) and a technical lignin at room temperature in aqueous media with the reaction efficiency of 14.9% per hour.