Biotechnology for the acceleration of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration

The potential for enzymatic acceleration of carbon dioxide capture from combustion products of fossil fuels has been demonstrated. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) accelerates post combustion CO(2) capture, but available CAs are woefully inadequate for the harsh conditions employed in most of these processes. In this review, we summarize recent approaches to improve CA, and processes employing this enzyme, to maximize the benefit from this extremely fast biocatalyst. Approaches to overcoming limitations include sourcing CAs from thermophilic organisms, using protein engineering to evolve thermo-tolerant enzymes, immobilizing the enzyme for stabilization and confinement to cooler regions and process modifications that minimize the (thermo-, solvent) stress on the enzyme.     

An evidence-based approach to flexor tendon laceration repair

The Maintenance of Certification module series is designed to help the clinician structure his or her study in specific areas appropriate to his or her clinical practice. This article is prepared to accompany practice-based assessment of preoperative assessment, anesthesia, surgical treatment plan, perioperative management, and outcomes. In this format, the clinician is invited to compare his or her methods of patient assessment and treatment, outcomes, and complications, with authoritative, information-based references. This information base is then used for self-assessment and benchmarking in parts II and IV of the Maintenance of Certification process of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This article is not intended to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject. Rather, it is designed to serve as a reference point for further in-depth study by review of the reference articles presented.     

Altered protein synthesis during in situ oat leaf senescence

Quantitative and qualitative changes in protein synthesis during in situ senescence of oat ( Avena saliva L. cv. Victory) leaf have been examined. The rate of protein synthesis shows a transitory increase during early stages of senescence. This increase is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in amino acid uptake and is smaller when expressed on a dry weight rather than a protein basis. Total protein, total RNA and poly(A)⁺-RNA decline rapidly during senescence. Analysis of protein populations with 2-D SDS-PAGE shows that while some proteins decline sharply during leaf senescence, the synthesis of several others is induced or enhanced. Synthesis of new proteins shown in this study may explain the reported requriement for protein synthesis in leaf senescence.     

Engineered enzymes for chemical production

In order to enable competitive manufacturing routes, most biocatalysts must be tailor-made for their processes. Enzymes from nature rarely have the combined properties necessary for industrial chemical production such as high activity and selectivity on non-natural substrates and toleration of high concentrations of organic media over the wide range of conditions (decreasing substrate, increasing product concentrations, solvents, etc.,) that will be present over the course of a manufacturing process. With the advances in protein engineering technologies, a variety of enzyme properties can be altered simultaneously, if the appropriate screening parameters are employed. Here we discuss the process of directed evolution for the generation of commercially viable biocatalysts for the production of fine chemicals, and how novel approaches have helped to overcome some of the challenges.