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#enzymes
jaubaius · 11 months
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Why do our mouths tingle after eating pineapple?
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An enzyme used in laundry detergent can recycle single-use plastics within 24 hours
Scientists at King's College London have developed an innovative solution for recycling single-use bioplastics commonly used in disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers. The novel method of chemical recycling, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, uses enzymes typically found in biological laundry detergents to "depolymerize"—or break down—landfill-bound bioplastics. Rapidly converting the items into soluble fragments within just 24 hours, the process achieves full degradation of the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA). The approach is 84 times faster than the 12-week-long industrial composting process used for recycling bioplastic materials. This discovery offers a widespread recycling solution for single-use PLA plastics, as the team of chemists at King's found that in a further 24 hours at a temperature of 90°C, the bioplastics break down into their chemical building blocks. Once converted into monomers—single molecules—the materials can be turned into equally high-quality plastic for multiple reuse.
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mindblowingscience · 3 months
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The genetic alphabet contains just four letters, referring to the four nucleotides, the biochemical building blocks that comprise all DNA. Scientists have long wondered whether it's possible to add more letters to this alphabet by creating brand-new nucleotides in the lab, but the utility of this innovation depends on whether or not cells can actually recognize and use artificial nucleotides to make proteins. Now, researchers at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego have come one step closer to unlocking the potential of artificial DNA. The researchers found that RNA polymerase, one of the most important enzymes involved in protein synthesis, was able to recognize and transcribe an artificial base pair in exactly the same manner as it does with natural base pairs.
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cbirt · 5 months
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Through the advent of CRISPR-Cas12, scientists have managed to unlock a new world of gene editing and reprogramming, with important applications for diagnostics, therapeutics, agricultural science, and more. However, their bacterial origin may make them difficult to work with as researchers begin to explore the potential of human genome editing. A new study led by researchers from MIT found thousands of new RNA-guided enzymes known as Fanzors prevalent among eukaryotic organisms that show great promise as novel tools for mammalian genome editing.
RNA-programmable DNA nucleases are essential for the function of prokaryotes in the defense and proliferation of mobile elements. Such nucleases include the likes of CRISPR argonauts, as well as the nucleases that comprise the OMEGA systems (Obligate Mobile Element Guided Activity), which includes nucleases such as IscB, IsrB, and IshB, among others. Of these, one nuclease, the TnpB gene, contains a nuclease domain similar to the one found in the Cas12 gene, suggesting an evolutionary relationship between the two. This is further backed up by phylogenetic analysis conducted on the two domains, which indicates that different subtypes of Cas12 originated independently from different groups of TnpB enzymes. Furthermore, biochemical and cellular experiments have demonstrated that the TnpB-Omegas complex is an RNA-guided and programmable DNA endonuclease.
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indolentinsect · 6 months
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some ELISA results from immunology lab today <3
ELISA stands for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and it’s used to detect antibodies or antigens in a sample
the dark purple color indicates a positive result, and the light purple indicates a mild positive result. the clear indicates a negative result.
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mycochaotix · 3 months
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r/mushroom user asks: “why TF are these guys purple?”
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Cortinarius sp.?
MCX Answers:
Great question!
IMO: The color of mushroom fruit bodies, especially in terms of their penetration colors (color changes upon bruising or cutting), is influenced by the presence of certain chemical compounds. The primary compounds responsible for these color changes are secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols and enzymes.
When a mushroom is injured or bruised, these compounds come into contact with oxygen, leading to oxidation reactions. This oxidation can result in the formation of new pigments and changes in color. For example:
1. ⁠Tyrosinase Enzyme: Mushrooms often contain the enzyme tyrosinase, which plays a role in the production of melanin. When the mushroom tissue is damaged, tyrosinase reacts with compounds like tyrosine to form melanin, leading to darkening or browning.
2. ⁠Polyphenols: Certain mushrooms contain polyphenolic compounds that can undergo enzymatic reactions, causing color changes upon exposure to air. This process is often seen in the browning of mushroom flesh.
3. ⁠Other Compounds: Specific mushroom species may contain unique compounds that contribute to distinct colors upon bruising or cutting.
The specific colors observed can vary among mushroom species due to differences in their biochemical composition. Factors such as genetics, environmental conditions, and the age of the mushroom can also influence the color changes.
Further… biological adaptation!
The pigmentation of mushroom fruit bodies can have evolutionary significance, although the specific adaptive reasons for coloration can vary among different mushroom species. Some evolutionary considerations for pigmentation in mushrooms:
1. ⁠Camouflage and Mimicry: Some mushrooms may have evolved to blend in with their surroundings, providing them with a degree of camouflage. This adaptation could help protect them from herbivores or increase their chances of successful spore dispersal.
2. ⁠Warning Colors: In contrast, certain brightly colored mushrooms may serve as warning signals to deter potential herbivores. This is often seen in toxic or poisonous mushrooms that have evolved to display vivid colors as a way of indicating their unpalatability.
3. ⁠Attraction of Dispersal Agents: The colors of mushrooms can also play a role in attracting specific dispersal agents, such as insects or animals. Some mushrooms have evolved to produce pigments that attract these agents, aiding in spore dispersal.
4. ⁠Environmental Adaptations: Mushroom pigmentation may be influenced by environmental factors, including light exposure. The color of a mushroom might be adapted to enhance its ability to thrive in a particular habitat or microenvironment.
5. ⁠UV Protection: Pigments can act as a form of protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Some mushrooms produce pigments that may help shield them from the potentially harmful effects of UV light.
It's important to note that the evolutionary reasons for mushroom pigmentation can be complex and multifaceted, and they may vary greatly among different species.
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biocheminpics · 1 year
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I'm reading a paper (this one) and just look at this beautiful enzyme. Look at it!
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Could you explain enzymes to me? I have a test today 💀
I could not, would not, and will not ever explain anything of this sort, especially about enzymes, especially with a test on the subject at hand, and will thus not say anything further in this post:
The word "Enzyme" comes from its first discoverer, Robert N. Zyme. Zyme discovered the first enzyme on his exploration of the South Pole, which went off course and ended up in the stomach, where several enzymes were present. The largest Enzyme, Lyso Zyme, bonded with Robert over their same last names and the rest, as they say, is history- Though enzymes are usually studied in biology rather than history class.
Enzymes are the body’s catalysts, which means they are the parts of us most capable of speed running Dark Souls and other FromSoft games.
There are seven types of enzyme, all of which are present in the human mouth, and none of which can be pronounced by it.
Allosteric Modulation is one of the most important parts of how enzymes work, and as such it will not be addressed here at all.
Some enzymes need "cofactors" to work. Much like Mario cannot exit a level's special exit without a key, some enzymes need additional ingredients to be active. An enzyme and its cofactor together are called a "holo-enzyme," named because it sounds cool and sci-fi like.
Enzymes help substances reach a chemical equilibrium. Once they reach that equilibrium, the enzyme will usually fuck off to Newark and start a new reaction, then fail to send any support and refuse to see the resulting substances, repeating this process until they die of old age, alone like they fucking deserve, the assholes.
Enzymes can also be slowed by enzyme inhibitors. Enzyme inhibitions include social anxiety, sexual prudity, and fear of intimacy. Much like myself, enzymes are no less inhibited around alcohol.
The popular anniversary and new year song "Auld Lang Zyme" is about enzymes.
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igcse-bioworld · 3 months
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Happy new year!!
*Updated* We turn off the Bunsen burner in step 2
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fuzzyghost · 1 year
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Major Classes of Enzymes
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gillianthecat · 7 months
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You guys. You guys. There are enzymes called scramblase and flippase. That is the cutest thing ever.
I don't need to know them, they were just in an illustration of a cell membrane my professor used, but apparently (according to Wikipedia) they move phospholipids around within the cell membrane.
Oh wait! Stop the presses. There is also a floppase!
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Wax worm saliva contains enzymes capable of breaking down plastics
A team of CSIC researchers has discovered that wax worm saliva degrades plastic; a discovery with numerous applications for treating or recycling plastic waste. Back in 2017, the team discovered that this worm species (the lepidopteran Galleria mellonella) is able to break down plastic (polyethylene), and now they have discovered just how it does this: its saliva contains enzymes (pertaining to the phenol oxidase family) that can rapidly set off polyethylene degradation at room temperature. These enzymes are the first and only known enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene plastic without requiring pre-treatment, according to Federica Bertocchini, a CSIC researcher at the CIB-CSIC (Centre for Biological Research) who led the study. The results of the work, pending review, have been published in preprint in the BioRxiv online archive.
"For plastic to degrade, oxygen must penetrate the polymer (the plastic molecule). This is the first step in oxidation, which is usually a result of exposure to sunlight or high temperatures, and represents a bottleneck that slows down the degradation of plastics like polyethylene, one of the most resistant polymers," explains Bertocchini. "That is why, under normal environmental conditions, plastic takes months or even years to degrade," she adds.
"Now we have found out that enzymes in the wax worm's saliva perform this crucial step: they oxidize the plastic. This means they can overcome the bottleneck in the plastic degradation process and accelerate its decomposition," she adds.
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mindblowingscience · 7 months
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Scientists have enriched expanded polystyrene waste from a beach in Ireland to isolate a bacterium shown to contain three enzymes that could break down polyester. The team, from Brunel University London, is studying microorganisms that can degrade plastic, in the hope the microorganisms or their plastic-degrading enzymes can be used to manage the growing plastic waste problem. Their research paper "Enrichment of native plastic‐associated biofilm communities to enhance polyester degrading activity," has been published in the journal Environmental Microbiology.
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whats-in-a-sentence · 30 days
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Australine was isolated from the seeds of the Australian tree Castanospermum australe (figure 19.17) and is also an inhibitor of glycoprocessing enzymes.
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"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.
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indolentinsect · 6 months
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gel electrophoresis of lamdaohage DNA digested with EcoRI and HindIII :)
EcoRI digested DNA is in the first and third columns, HindIII digested DNA is in the second and fourth column.
this was done as part of the cell & molecular bio class i’m taking
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