High Degree Of Polymerization Research Articles

Structure-Assisted Design of Chitosanase Product Specificity for the Production of High-Degree Polymerization Chitooligosaccharides.

Chitosanases are valuable enzymatic tools in the food industry for converting chitosan into functional chitooligosaccharides (COSs). However, most of the chitosanases extensively characterized produced a low degree of polymerization (DP) COSs (DP = 1-3, LdpCOSs), indicating an imperative for enhancements in the product specificity for the high DP COS (DP >3, HdpCOSs) production. In this study, a chitosanase from Methanosarcina sp. 1.H.T.1A.1 (OUC-CsnA4) was cloned and expressed. Analysis of the enzyme-substrate interactions and the subsite architecture of the OUC-CsnA4 indicated that a Ser49 mutation could modify its interaction pattern with the substrate, potentially enhancing product specificity for producing HdpCOSs. Site-directed mutagenesis provided evidence that the S49I and S49P mutations in OUC-CsnA4 enabled the production of up to 24 and 26% of (GlcN)5 from chitosan, respectively─the wild-type enzyme was unable to produce detectable levels of (GlcN)5. These mutations also altered substrate binding preferences, favoring the binding of longer-chain COSs (DP >5) and enhancing (GlcN)5 production. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking studies underscored the significance of +2 subsite interactions in determining the (GlcN)4 and (GlcN)5 product specificity. These findings revealed that the positioning and interactions of the reducing end of the substrate within the catalytic cleft are crucial factors influencing the product specificity of chitosanase.

Enzymatic synthesis of biobased aliphatic-hetero-aromatic furanic copolyesters: Influence of furan dimethyl ester isomerism

Due to environmental concerns, there is a growing demand for more sustainable materials. As a result, the renewability of the raw materials and catalysts involved in production is important for rendering sustainable and circular polymers. Due to its environmentally friendly nature and high selectivity, enzymatic polymerization is a viable approach for producing such polymers. Recent developments in the field of biobased furan building blocks have led to renewed interest in 2,4-furandicarboxylic acid (2,4-FDCA) and 3,4-FDCA. Furthermore, far too little attention has been given to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (2,5-BHMF), another class of hetero-aromatic diol that can be derived from carbohydrates. These furan monomers are attractive due to their potential for producing novel biobased polyesters with interesting properties. To date, however, there has been little discussion about the use of these materials for polymerization via enzymatic approaches. Hence, a comparative study of CALB-catalyzed copolymerization involving two FDCA dimethyl ester isomers, either 2,4- or 3,4-DMFDCA, with 2,5-BHMF and various aliphatic diols has been carried out. This provides further insight into the regioselectivity promoted by CALB for asymmetrical 2,4-DMFDCA over symmetrical 3,4-DMFDCA. This is evidenced by the high degree of polymerization achieved with a weight-average molecular weight of up to 14 kg mol−1. In agreement with previous findings, a preference for the formation of cyclic species from symmetrical monomers catalyzed by CALB was observed. Structural characterization and thermal and crystallinity analyses were used to assess the correlation between structure and material properties.

Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Extraction of Inulin from Ecuadorian Cabuya (Agave americana).

Inulin is a carbohydrate that belongs to fructans; due to its health benefits, it is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this research, cabuya (Agave americana) was employed to obtain inulin by pulsed electric field-assisted extraction (PEFAE) and FTIR analysis confirmed its presence. The influence of PEFAE operating parameters, namely, electric field strength (1, 3 and 5 kV/cm), pulse duration (0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ms), number of pulses (10,000, 20,000 and 40,000) and work cycle (20, 50 and 80%) on the permeabilization index and energy expenditure were tested. Also, once the operating conditions for PEFAE were set, the temperature for conventional extraction (CE) and PEFAE were defined by comparing extraction kinetics. The cabuya meristem slices were exposed to PEFAE to obtain extracts that were quantified, purified and concentrated. The inulin was isolated by fractional precipitation with ethanol to be characterized. The highest permeabilization index and the lowest energy consumption were reached at 5 kV/cm, 0.5 ms, 10,000 pulses and 20%. The same extraction yield and approximately the same amount of inulin were obtained by PEFAE at 60 °C compared to CE at 80 °C. Despite, the lower amount of inulin obtained by PEFAE in comparison to CE, its quality was better because it is mainly constituted of inulin of high average polymerization degree with more than 38 fructose units. In addition, TGA analyses showed that inulin obtained by PEFAE has a lower thermal degradation rate than the obtained by CE and to the standard.

Regiocontrol of the Bulk Polymerization of Lysine Ethyl Ester by the Selection of Suitable Immobilized Enzyme Catalysts.

The development of a green and facile method for the controlled synthesis of functional polypeptides is desired for sustainable material applications. In this study, the regioselective synthesis of poly(l-lysine) (polyLys) via enzyme-catalyzed aminolysis was achieved by bulk polymerization of l-lysine ethyl ester (Lys-OEt) using immobilized Candida antarctica lipase Novozym 435 (IM-lipase) or trypsin (IM-trypsin). Structural characterization of the obtained polyLys revealed that IM-lipase resulted solely in ε-linked amide bond formation, whereas IM-trypsin predominantly provided α-linked polyLys. Optimization of the conditions for the bulk polymerization using immobilized enzymes resulted in high monomer conversion and a high degree of polymerization, with excellent regioselectivity. Molecular docking simulations revealed different binding conformations of Lys-OEt to the catalytic pockets of lipase and trypsin, which putatively resulted in different amino moieties being used for amide bond formation. The immobilized enzymes were recovered and recycled for bulk polymerization, and the initial activity was maintained in the case of IM-trypsin. The obtained α- and ε-linked polyLys products exhibited different degradability against proteolysis, demonstrating the possibility of versatile applications as sustainable materials. This enzymatic regioregular control enabled the synthesis of well-defined polypeptide-based materials with a diverging structural variety.

Ionic Covalent Organic Frameworks Consisting of Tetraborate Nodes and Flexible Linkers.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as versatile materials with many applications, such as carbon capture, molecular separation, catalysis, and energy storage. Traditionally, flexible building blocks have been avoided due to their potential to disrupt ordered structures. Recent studies have demonstrated intriguing properties and enhanced structural diversity achievable with flexible components by judicious selection of building blocks. This study presents a novel series of ionic COFs (ICOFs) consisting of tetraborate nodes and flexible linkers. These ICOFs use borohydrides to irreversibly deprotonate the alcohol monomers to achieve a high polymerization degree. Structural analysis confirms the dia topologies. Reticulation is explored using various monomers and metal counter-ions. Also, these frameworks exhibit excellent stability in alcohols and coordinating solvents. The materials are tested as single-ion conductive solid-state electrolytes. ICOF-203-Li displays one of the lowest activation energies reported for ion conduction. This tetraborate chemistry is anticipated to facilitate further structural diversity and functionality in crystalline polymers.

Analytical ultracentrifugation study of complex formation between like-charged glycinin and polyelectrolytes: Impact of ionic strength and chain length

In food systems, complexes formed between soybean protein and polyelectrolytes are extensively utilized. However, the mechanisms governing their interactions remain elusive, especially when they possess similar net charges. This study investigates the complexation between like-charged glycinin (11S) and diblock copolymers of polyethylene glycol-block-poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PEG-b-PSS) using analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), a first-principle technique that examines macromolecular characteristics such as molecular weight, stoichiometry, and binding properties. The results reveal that 11S can interact with polyelectrolytes of the same net charges. At ionic strengths above 0.1 M, under a specific concentration of PEG-b-PSS with a PSS degree of polymerization of 33, reducing ionic strength augments the binding strength between PEG-b-PSS and 11S while enhancing the electrostatic repulsion between complexes. Consequently, association occurs as ionic strength decreases from 0.5 to 0.3 M due to the predominance of binding strength, and the association disappears at 0.1 M because electrostatic repulsion becomes predominant. Moreover, PEG-b-PSS with a higher degree of polymerization in the PSS blocks facilitates the formation of insoluble complexes of 11S via soluble intermediates. At an ionic strength of 0.025 M, PEG-b-PSS induces the dissociation of 11S into subunits and peptides. This study demonstrates that by controlling the ionic strength and the degree of polymerization of the polyelectrolyte, it is possible to regulate the binding strength between 11S and polyelectrolyte, as well as the structural changes during binding. Furthermore, this study contributes to understanding the complex formation mechanism between soybean protein and polyelectrolytes, and further expands the application of AUC in studying their binding.

Effect of spinning solution concentration of high DP and high S-diad PVA polymer on the structural properties of high-strength and high-modulus PVA fiber

To address the challenge of enhancing the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, constrained by the spinning process limitations, this study introduces a PVA/DMSO spinning solution. The solution, with concentrations ranging from 21.0 wt%, utilized PVA polymer (DP of 7499 and S-diad of 53.7 %) as the raw material. This approach facilitated the production of high-strength and high-modulus PVA fibers through a consistent dry-wet spinning method. The viscosity of the spinning solution was determined using a viscometer, while the PVA fibers underwent comprehensive characterization through various testing methodologies. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis revealed an initial increase followed by a decrease in the hydrogen bonding within PVA fibers as the spinning solution concentration increased. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imagery indicated that the surfaces of the PVA fibers were smooth. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses demonstrated that the melting temperature, thermal decomposition temperature, and crystallinity of the PVA fibers exhibited a similar trend of initial increase and subsequent decrease with rising concentrations of the spinning solution. In addition, mechanical tester indicated that when spinning solution concentration was 22.5 wt% the PVA fibers process best mechanical property, and the breaking strength and elastic modulus reached 15.02 ± 0.5 cN/dtex and 357.12 ± 9.4 cN/dtex, respectively.

The research on the mechanical properties, microstructure, environmental impacts of environmentally friendly Alkali-activated ultra high performance concrete (AAUHPC) matrix with varied design parameters

Alkali-activated material prepared by the silicon aluminum solid wastes are commonly considered as the low-carbon cementitious material, which has important significance for promoting the sustainable development of construction materials. The mechanical properties, reaction mechanisms, and microstructure evolutions of Alkali-activated Ultra High Performance Concrete (AAUHPC) matrix with 7 design parameters were comprehensively studied through testing the fluidity, 28 days compressive strength, 28 days flexural strength, hydration heat, and microstructures. The environmental impacts including carbon emissions and energy consumption are evaluated. Appropriately increasing Na2O dosage, silicate modulus (Ms), and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) to fly ash (FA) mass ratio (GBFS/FA) and decreasing silica fume (SF) content and water to binder ratio (W/B) are conducive to accelerating the early reaction of AAUHPC. High Na2O dosage, Ms, SF content, and W/B are not conducive to increasing the 3 days reaction degree of AAUHPC, while the moderate GBFS/FA is corresponding to the higher 3 days reaction degree of AAUHPC. The optimal Na2O dosage, Ms, GBFS/FA, SF content, sand to binder ratio (S/B), fine sands content in quartz sands, W/B are 8 %, 1.4, 4.5:1, 10 %, 1.0, 50 %, and 0.34 for the 28 days mechanical properties. The acquired AAUHPC matrix with fluidity of 218 mm and the lowest porosity has 28 days compressive strength of 114.8 MPa and 28 days flexural strength of 10.6 MPa, whose microstructure has more high polymerization degree C(N)-A-S-H gels with higher Al/Si, lower Na/Al, and lower Ca/Si molar ratios. Compared to the traditional Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC), the environmentally friendly AAUHPC can reduce the carbon emission by 42%–52 % and the energy consumption by 5%–18 %. The total CO2 emission of per unit compressive strength (1.0 MPa) of concrete per cubic meter (CI) is in range of 2.5–3.7 kg, which is significantly lower than the traditional UHPC (6.98 kg/MPa•m3).

Research Progress of Molecular Simulation in Acrylamide Polymers with High Degree of Polymerization.

Acrylamide polymers with a high degree of polymerization are widely used in petroleum production. It is of great significance to study the oil displacement mechanism of acrylamide polymers with a high degree of polymerization from the micro level. In recent years, the rapid development of computer molecular simulation technology has filed the gaps in macroscopic experiments and theories. This technology has been highly valued in the study of the molecular behaviour of polymer systems. In this paper, the research progress of molecular simulation applied to high-polymerization-degree acrylamide polymer is summarized. The application status of acrylamide polymer flooding, the analysis of polymer flooding mechanisms, and the research progress of molecular simulation in acrylamide linear and crosslinked polymers are expounded. Finally, the development prospect of acrylamide polymer research is given, and suggestions are put forward in terms of simulation direction and simulation tools.

Upcycling of cellulosic textile waste with bacterial cellulose via Ioncell® technology

Currently the textile industry relies strongly on synthetic fibres and cotton, which contribute to many environmental problems. Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) can offer sustainable alternatives. Herein, the development of Lyocell-type MMCF using bacterial cellulose (BC) as alternative raw material in the Ioncell® spinning process was investigated. BC, known for its high degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity and strength was successfully dissolved in the ionic liquid (IL) 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium acetate [DBNH][OAc] to produce solutions with excellent spinnability. BC staple fibres displayed good mechanical properties and crystallinity (CI) and were spun into a yarn which was knitted into garments, demonstrating the potential of BC as suitable cellulose source for textile production. BC is also a valuable additive when recycling waste cellulose textiles (viscose fibres). The high DP and Cl of BC enhanced the spinnability in a viscose/BC blend, consequently improving the mechanical performance of the resulting fibres, as compared to neat viscose fibres.

Investigating the efficacy of purified tannin extracts from underutilized temperate forages in reducing enteric methane emissions in vitro

The study investigated how the concentration and composition of purified tannin extracts, at various inclusion rates, affect the ruminal in vitro fermentation parameters. Tannin extracts were isolated from four different forage species: birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), and salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor). Plants extracts were purified by Sephadex LH-20 gel chromatography and analyzed by UPLC–ESI–MS/MS. The results showed a large variation among the extracts from different species in terms of tannin composition and structural features. The extracts from salad burnet were dominated by hydrolysable tannins, comprising mainly ellagitannins. The extracts derived from sulla and big trefoil contained predominantly proanthocyanidins (PA), primarily composed of prodelphinidins with high mean degree of polymerisation (mDP). Birdsfoot trefoil extracts comprised procyanidin-rich PAs with low mDP. To determine whether the combined presence of tannins and flavonoid together lead to synergistic or antagonistic effects, the tannin extracts were incubated both with or without rutin at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 g/kg DM, using a base substrate of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, control). In general, all the tannin extracts decreased methane (CH4) production compared to the control, while no significant effect of rutin was observed on both gas (GP) and CH4 production, neither pure, nor in the simultaneous presence of tannins. The highest CH4 reduction (15%, at 30 g/kg DM) was observed from sulla and big trefoil extracts compared to control, but this was also supplemented with a concomitant reduction in GP (11%) indicating a reduction in feed digestibility. The extracts from birdsfoot trefoil and salad burnet reduced CH4 by up to 12% without significantly reducing GP, indicating the importance of tannin composition on ruminal fermentation.

Effect of addition of γ-poly glutamic acid on bacterial nanocellulose production under agitated culture conditions.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a natural polymer material, gained significant popularity among researchers and industry. It has great potential in areas, such as textile manufacturing, fiber-based paper, and packaging products, food industry, biomedical materials, and advanced functional bionanocomposites. The main current fermentation methods for BNC involved static culture, as the agitated culture methods had lower raw material conversion rates and resulted in non-uniform product formation. Currently, studies have shown that the production of BNC can be enhanced by incorporating specific additives into the culture medium. These additives included organic acids or polysaccharides. γ-Polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), known for its high polymerization, excellent biodegradability, and environmental friendliness, has found extensive application in various industries including daily chemicals, medicine, food, and agriculture. In this particular study, 0.15g/L of γ-PGA was incorporated as a medium additive to cultivate BNC under agitated culture conditions of 120rpm and 30℃. The BNC production increased remarkably by 209% in the medium with 0.15g/L γ-PGA and initial pH of 5.0 compared to that in the standard medium, and BNC production increased by 7.3% in the medium with 0.06g/L γ-PGA. The addition of γ-PGA as a medium additive resulted in significant improvements in BNC production. Similarly, at initial pH levels of 4.0 and 6.0, the BNC production also increased by 39.3% and 102.3%, respectively. To assess the characteristics of the BNC products, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used. The average diameter of BNC fibers, which was prepared from the medium adding 0.15g/L γ-PGA, was twice thicker than that of BNC fibers prepared from the control culture medium. That might be because that polyglutamic acid relieved the BNC synthesis from the shear stress from the agitation. This experiment held great significance as it explored the use of a novel medium additive, γ-PGA, to improve the production and the glucose conversion rate in BNC fermentation. And the BNC fibers became thicker, with better thermal stability, higher crystallinity, and higher degree of polymerization (DPv). These findings lay a solid foundation for future large-scale fermentation production of BNC using bioreactors.

Development of a High Ductility DP Steel Using a Segregation Neutralization Approach: Benchmarked Against a Commercial Dual Phase Steel

Commercial dual-phase steels are typically synonymous with a banded distribution of martensite in their microstructures, which can degrade ductility and increase the anisotropy of mechanical properties. The concept of neutralizing the effect of Mn segregation is employed to change the distribution of martensite to a non-banded distribution. To this end, the ratio of austenite and ferrite stabilizer elements has been changed in the composition of dual-phase steel. Microstructural analysis has been carried out on both hot-rolled (ferrite + pearlite) and heat-treated (ferrite + martensite) microstructures by optical microscope and EBSD, respectively. The microstructural examinations have confirmed the non-banded distribution of second phase and more equiaxed ferrite grains in the segregated neutralized grade microstructures compared to a commercially benchmarked dual-phase steel. Tensile properties of two grades have also been assessed in hot-rolled and heat-treated conditions in RD, TD, and 45 deg tensile directions. In the case of heat-treated condition, total elongation in RD direction has been improved from 20.9 pct in benchmark dual-phase steel to 25.4 pct in segregated neutralized dual-phase steel. Tensile anisotropy results showed a significant difference in tensile strength by tensile direction in benchmark dual-phase steel in both hot-rolled (~ 85 MPa) and heat-treated conditions (~ 48 MPa), while the corresponding differences for the segregated neutralized grades were 14 and 15 MPa, respectively.

Differential Studies on the Structure of Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes (LCC) in Alkali-Extracted Plant Hemicelluloses.

Hemicellulose extracted by alkali treatment is of interest because of the advantages of its intact sugar structure and high degree of polymerization. However, the hemicellulose extracted by alkali treatment contained more lignin fragments and the presence of a lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC), which affected the isolation and purification of hemicellulose and its comprehensive utilization. Therefore, the evaluation of the LCC structure of different types of lignocellulosic resources is of great significance. In this study, the LCC structures of hardwoods and Gramineae were enriched in alkaline systems. Information on the composition, structural proportions, and connection patterns of LCC samples was discussed. The similarities and differences between the LCC structures of different units of raw materials were comparatively studied. The results indicated that the monosaccharide fractions were higher in the LCC of Gramineae compared to hardwoods. The composition of the lignin fraction was dominated by G and S units. The phenyl glycosidic (PhGlc) bond is the predominant LCC linkage under alkali-stabilized conditions. In addition, Gramineae PhGlc types are more numerous compared to hardwoods. The results of the study provide insights into the differences in the chemical composition and structural features of LCC in different plants and provide important guidance for the optimization of the process of purifying hemicellulose.

Deep eutectic solvent (TMAH·5H2O/Urea) with low viscosity for cellulose dissolution at room temperature

A deep eutectic solvent (DES) formulated with tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate /urea (TMAH·5H2O/Urea) was designed for the first time to dissolve cellulose at room temperature. The optimized system, characterized by a 1:3 M ratio, demonstrates the capability to dissolve approximately 7.5 wt% cellulose, boasting a high degree of polymerization (DP = 526). Notably, both the pure DES and 4.0 wt% cellulose/TMAH·5H2O/Urea mixtures manifests low viscosity, establishing its potential as an effective spinning aid in fiber manufacturing. The structural analyses shows that the cellulose crystal type shifts from type I to type II form, accompanied by a reduction in both crystallinity and DP. A pivotal aspect of this research involves determining Kamlet-Taft parameters for TMAH·5H2O/Urea-DES with different molar ratios. The results reveal these solvate DESs exhibit the high hydrogen bond basicity, which enables them to easily form hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl groups of cellulose and demonstrate good cellulose solubility. In conclusion, this solvent system presents notable advantages, including straightforward synthesis procedures, low viscosity, and well cellulose solubility, paving the way for new approaches and techniques in cellulose utilization.

Effect of auxiliary materials on the formation of humic acid carbon and nitrogen and bacterial dynamics in kitchen waste composting

This study investigated the impacts of different types of auxiliary materials on the humification process and bacterial dynamics during kitchen waste composting. Five types of auxiliary materials, including sawdust (SD), garden waste (GW), aquatic plants (AP), rice straw (RS), and rice husk (RH), were compared. The relationship between humic acid carbon and nitrogen components as well as bacterial community was analyzed by structural equation model and redundancy analysis. The results dindicated that SD and RS exhibited better thermophilic stage duration, germination index, and organic fractions degradation than other groups, which had higher degree of polymerization and the humification index of kitchen waste composting. AP, SD and RS had higher total nitrogen (TN) content and ammonia nitrogen accumulation, and RS had more humic acid nitrogen in TN with more amino acids and polyphenols precursors compared to other groups. High-throughput sequencing indicated that sawdust affected the variation of community structure and bacterial genera associated with lignocellulose degradation more than others. Redundancy analysis showed that Pseudoxanthomonas helped to the NH4+-N conversion to humic acid nitrogen for TN preservation. Structural equation modelling suggested that the conversion and utilization efficiency of microbes directly influenced the accumulation of humic acid carbon and nitrogen based on the types of intermediate metabolites. This study highlighted the role of auxiliary materials on improving the humification process of rapid kitchen waste composting.

Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles reveal fruit peel color variation in two red pomegranate cultivars.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) which belongs to family Lythraceae, is one of the most important fruit crops of many tropical and subtropical regions. A high variability in fruit color is observed among different pomegranate accessions, which arises from the qualitative and quantitative differences in anthocyanins. However, the mechanism of fruit color variation is still not fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the red color mutation between a red-skinned pomegranate 'Hongbaoshi' and a purple-red-skinned cultivar 'Moshiliu', by using transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. A total of 51 anthocyanins were identified from fruit peels, among which 3-glucoside and 3,5-diglucoside of cyanidin (Cy), delphinidin (Dp), and pelargonidin (Pg) were dominant. High proportion of Pg in early stages of 'Hongbaoshi' but high Dp in late stages of 'Moshiliu' were characterized. The unique high levels of Cy and Dp anthocyanins accumulating from early developmental stages accounted for the purple-red phenotype of 'Moshiliu'. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an early down-regulated and late up-regulated of anthocyanin-related structure genes in 'Moshiliu' compared with 'Hongbaoshi'. Alao, ANR was specially expressed in 'Hongbaoshi', with extremely low expression levels in 'Moshiliu'. For transcription factors R2R3-MYB, the profiles demonstrated a much higher transcription levels of three subgroup (SG) 5 MYBs and a sharp decrease in expression of SG6 MYB LOC116202527 in high-anthocyanin 'Moshiliu'. SG4 MYBs exhibited two entirely different patterns, LOC116203744 and LOC116212505 were down-regulated whereas LOC116205515 and LOC116212778 were up-regulated in 'Moshiliu' pomegranate. The results indicate that specific SG members of the MYB family might promote the peel coloration in different manners and play important roles in color mutation in pomegranate.

Modified fructan accumulation through overexpression of wheat fructan biosynthesis pathway fusion genes Ta1SST:Ta6SFT

BackgroundFructans are water-soluble carbohydrates that accumulate in wheat and are thought to contribute to a pool of stored carbon reserves used in grain filling and tolerance to abiotic stress.ResultsIn this study, transgenic wheat plants were engineered to overexpress a fusion of two fructan biosynthesis pathway genes, wheat sucrose: sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (Ta1SST) and wheat sucrose: fructan 6-fructosyltransferase (Ta6SFT), regulated by a wheat ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit (TaRbcS) gene promoter. We have shown that T4 generation transgene-homozygous single-copy events accumulated more fructan polymers in leaf, stem and grain when compared in the same tissues from transgene null lines. Under water-deficit (WD) conditions, transgenic wheat plants showed an increased accumulation of fructan polymers with a high degree of polymerisation (DP) when compared to non-transgenic plants. In wheat grain of a transgenic event, increased deposition of particular fructan polymers such as, DP4 was observed.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the tissue-regulated expression of a gene fusion between Ta1SST and Ta6SFT resulted in modified fructan accumulation in transgenic wheat plants and was influenced by water-deficit stress conditions.

χ(2) and χ(3) enhancement by arylamine substituents in aromatic conjugated polyenyne polymers

In this work, we have determined the χ(1), χ(2), and χ(3) NLO properties of NH2substituted aromatic polyenynes in ortho, meta, and para positions. It is worth noting that Mednis-Genkin’s approximation takes into account the intraband contribution with a derivate of the dipole valence-conduction band moment transition, unlike, for example, Ward’s summation-over-sates (SOS) methodology, which considers the difference of these states. Indeed, we have selected these polymers because of the high asymmetry in their molecular wavefunction. In this way, the calculated χ(3) values of the para-NH2 substituted aromatic polyenyne with a higher degree of polymerization are near 1 X 10−7 esu. For its part, the ortho polymer has higher values, of the order of 1 X 10−6 esu, due to its high transition dipole moment. We have also found that the energy band distribution in the para position of these polymers produces van Hove points, which have a negligible proportion of the NLO properties, compared with singularity regions 1 and 2, which have a contribution of 100 %. These regions are due to the wavefunction coefficients’ first and second-order derivatives. Besides, without considering border effects nor correlation effects, and only the variation of excitation energy, we have calculated that the quaternary monomeric oligomers of these polymers have almost similar values of χ(2) and χ(3). Then, it implies building a methodology to synthesize the polymers to avoid canceling the NLO-χ(2) and -χ(3) values.

Effect of Salts on Laccase-Catalyzed Polymerization of Lignosulfonate.

Enzymatic polymerization of lignosulfonate (LS) has a high potential for various applications ranging from coatings to adhesives. Here, the effect of different ions in low concentrations on enzymatic polymerization of LS was investigated, including salt solutions consisting of mono- and dicarboxylic acids, sulfate, phosphate and chloride with sodium as counter ion. LS polymerization was followed by viscometry and size exclusion (SEC) chromatography. Interestingly, there was only a small effect of ions on the activity of the laccase on standard substrate ABTS, while the effect on polymerization of LS was substantially different. The presence of acetate led to a 39 % higher degree of polymerization (DP) for LS. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed that the structure of the enzyme was largely unaffected by the ions, while the determination of the zeta potential showed that those ions conveying higher negative surface charges onto LS particles showed lower DPs, than those not affecting the surface charge. Further, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy showed 5-times higher intensity in phenoxyl radicals for the monovalent ions compared to the divalent ones. It was concluded that the DPs of LS could be tuned in the presence of certain ions, by facilitating the interaction between the laccase substrate-binding site and the LS molecules.