We have participated in the 4th Spanish Congress on Biocatalysis (Donosti, Sept 5-6 2024) and the 5th edition of the Ibero-American Congress on Biorefineries (Jaen, Oct 2-4 2024). In both conferences, we have presented our latest work on the synthesis of flavonoid and bioactive oligosaccharide derivatives, using agro-industrial waste in all cases. Specifically, we showcased the main lines of the European LIFE-CYCLOPs project, where we work with waste from the wine and olive oil industries.
9 Oct 2024
17 Sept 2024
Inhibition of hexokinase by polyphenol derivatives and the Warburg effect, published in Chemistry Select
Ref.: “Inhibition of Yeast Hexokinase by Acyl Glucosides of Phloretin and its Implication in the Warburg Effect”. Fadia V. Cervantes, Lucía Fernandez-Arrojo, Cristina Coscolin, Alicia Berrojo, José L. Gonzalez-Alfonso, José M. Perez de la Lastra, Manuel Ferrer, Celia M. Curieses-Andres, Celia Andres-Juan, Antonio O. Ballesteros, Eduardo Perez-Lebeña, and Francisco J. Plou. Chemistry Select (2024) https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202401086
23 Jul 2024
Collaboration with TVE's science outreach program Órbita Laika
Our collaboration with TVE's science outreach program Órbita Laika continues. This time, we assisted them with a demonstration on the enzyme lactase and lactose-free products.
It is a magnificent program, and it is a pleasure to collaborate with them from the Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (CSIC) through their demonstration director Daniel Erice.
12 Jun 2024
IX National Congress of Industrial Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
1 Apr 2024
Publication in Biocatalysis and Biotransformation: acylation of the flavonoid puerarin
Ref: A. Campos; L. Casas-Godoy; J.-G. Torres-Tolentino; G. Sandoval; L. Hernández; F. Plou; J. Arrizon. Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of laurate esters from puerarin and its β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→6)-puerarin derivative. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation (2024), https://doi.org/10.1080/10242422.2024.2332294
14 Feb 2024
A strategy for the enzymatic acylation of polyphenols
In collaboration with Ghent University, CICbioGUNE and the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), we have developed an efficient strategy for the enzymatic acylation of polyphenols. It is based on a first α-glucosylation step catalyzed by a sucrose phosphorylase, followed by acylation using a lipase. The method was applied to phloretin, a bioactive dihydrochalcone mainly present in apples. Phloretin underwent initial glucosylation at the 4′-OH position, followed by subsequent (and quantitative) acylation with C8, C12, and C16 acyl chains employing an immobilized lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Interestingly, C12 acyl-α-glucoside displayed an enhanced (3-fold) transdermal absorption (using pig skin biopsies) compared to phloretin and its α-glucoside.
Ref.: J.L. Gonzalez-Alfonso, C. Alonso, A. Poveda, Z. Ubiparip, A.O. Ballesteros, T. Desmet, J. Jiménez-Barbero, L. Coderch, and F.J. Plou. Strategy for the enzymatic acylation of the apple flavonoid phloretin based on prior α-glucosylation. J. Agric. Food Chem. (2024), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09261
20 Jan 2024
Publication in Microbial Cell Factories: three new chitinases from Mestchnikowia pulcherrima
In collaboration with the group of Prof. Fernández-Lobato at CBMSO (UAM-CSIC), we have investigated three new chitinases from M. pulcherrima, MpChit35, MpChit38 and MpChit41. They were molecularly characterized and extracellularly expressed in Pichia pastoris.The three enzymes hydrolysed colloidal chitin with optimal activity at 45 ºC and pH 4.0-4.5, The partial separation and characterization of the complex COS mixtures produced from the hydrolysis of chitin and chitosan were achieved by a new anionic chromatography HPAEC-PAD method and mass spectrometry assays. An overview of the predicted structures of these proteins and their catalytic modes of action were also presented. Depicted their high sequence and structural homology, MpChit35 acted as an exo-chitinase producing di-acetyl-chitobiose from chitin while MpChit38 and MpChit41 both acted as endo-chitinases producing tri-acetyl-chitotriose as main final product.
Microbial Cell Factories 23, 31 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-024-02300-9
13 Jan 2024
Our research group in the magazine from the Spanish Society for Microbiology
6 Dec 2023
UAM Master of Biotechnology (2023/2024)
Our group has participated again in the Master of Biotechnology of Autonomous University of Madrid (2023/2024). The students of Biocatalysis/Nanobiotechnology subject visited the laboratories of biotransformations and directed evolution to take a closer look at the work of researchers and perform some experiments. We organized a variety of enzymatic workshops: immobilization, lactose removal, chromatography and directed evolution. Excellent teamwork with the Directed Evolution Group of Prof. Miguel Alcalde.
13 Apr 2023
Visit of UCM Master in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology students
Today the students of the Master in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology of the Complutense University of Madrid (with their professor Isabel de la Mata from the Faculty of Biology) visited our institute ICP-CSIC. We delivered two conferences on enzymes and their applications, and directed evolution. After that, they visited the laboratories of Applied Biocatalysis and Directed Evolution. Overall, the visit was productive and successful.
3 Mar 2023
Monitoring meeting of LIFE CYCLOPS project
15 Dec 2022
7 Sept 2022
Bioconversion of xylan into a xylobiose derivative with antioxidant properties
Acidic xylooligosaccharides (XOS), also called aldouronics, are hetero-oligomers of xylose randomly branched with 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid residues linked by α(1 → 2) bonds, which display bioactive properties. We have developed a simple and integrated method for the production of acidic XOS by enzymatic hydrolysis of a glucurono-xylan from beechwood. The acidic fraction contained a major product, characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and mono- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) as 2′-O-α-(4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronosyl)-xylobiose (X2_MeGlcA). Starting from 2 g of beechwood xylan, 1.5 g of total XOS were obtained, from which 225 mg (11% yield) corresponded to the aldouronic X2_MeGlcA. The acidic XOS exhibited higher antioxidant activity (measured by the ABTS·+ discoloration assay) than xylan, whilst neutral XOS displayed no antioxidant activity. This work demonstrates that it is possible to obtain a safe and natural antioxidant by enzymatic biotransformation of hardwood hemicellulose.
“Enzymatic bioconversion of beechwood xylan into the antioxidant 2’-O-α-(4-O-methyl-D-glucuronosyl)-xylobiose”. N. Miguez, D. Fernández-Polo, P. Santos-Moriano, B. Rodríguez-Colinas, A. Poveda, J. Jiménez-Barbero, A.O. Ballesteros, F.J. Plou. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, published online in September 7th 2022 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03240-3.11 Jul 2022
The ABG Group at the Spanish Congress of Chemistry
6 Apr 2022
Elimination of D-Glucose in carbohydrate syrups published in ACS Food Science & Technology
During the synthesis of many bioactive carbohydrates, D-glucose is released as a side-product of the transglycosylation process. It is desirable to remove it due to its caloric contribution and its effect on caries and diabetes.
29 Nov 2021
Participation of the ABG group in the III Spanish Conference on Biocatalysis
The Applied Biocatalysis Group has been present in the III Spanish Conference on Biocatalysis (JEB 2021) that was held in Murcia between Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 November 2021. This congress was organized by the Spanish Biotechnology Society (SEBIOT) and the University of Murcia, giving continuity to the editions held in Madrid in 2015, and in Oviedo in 2018. Fadia Cervantes presented her work on glucose isomerase immobilization, José Luis González-Alfonso on phloretin glycosylation and Marina Minguet on the discovery of novel chitinolytic enzymes. We also contributed to other works in collaboration with several GLICOENZ members.
8 Nov 2021
Article published in the José Luis Garcı́a Fierro Festschrift special issue of I&EC Research
The journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research is publishing a collection of papers honoring Professor José Luis García Fierro of Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry, CSIC (Spain) to recognize his contributions to applied chemistry, mainly in catalysis.
30 Sept 2021
Participation in the book "CSIC Scientific Challenges: Towards 2030"
Our group has participated in the book "CSIC Scientific Challenges: Towards 2030", which provides an insight into the research currently being accomplished at the CSIC, and at the same time, build a global vision of what will be the key scientific challenges over the next decade. We contributed to the Challenge 7, "Catalysis for industrial production and of energy resources", coordinated by Prof. José C. Conesa (ICP-CSIC)
M. López Granados, V. Cortés, F.J. Plou, M.A. Peña, J.M. Coronado, A. Iglesias, P. Ávila, M.A. Bañares, A. Serrano, A. Martínez, M. Boronat, M.A.Centeno, A. Rodríguez González-Elipe and J. Pérez Torrente. "Catalysis for industrial production and of energy sources".
In: "CSIC Scientific Challenges: Towards 2030" (J.M. de Lucas & V. Moreno-Arribas, Coor.).Editorial CSIC (2021), Volume 8: Clean, safe and efficient energy, pp 175-205.
28 Jul 2021
New article about theoretical three-dimensional zinc complexes
In collaboration with other colleages, a theoretical three-dimensional study of known zinc ionophores was performed. Aided by a computational energetic study, we proposed that some dietary flavonoids, glutathione and amino acids could form zinc complexes and facilitate the transport of zinc, with the possible biological implications and potential health benefits of these natural compounds. The study is based on obtaining a molecular conformational structure of the zinc complexes with the lowest possible energy content. The discovery of novel substances that act as zinc ionophores is an attractive research topic that offers exciting opportunities in medicinal chemistry. We propose that these novel complexes could be promising candidates for drug design to provide new solutions for conditions and diseases related to zinc deficiency or impairment derived from the dysregulation of this important metal.
Ref.: "Three-Dimensional Zinc Complexes with Glutathione, Amino Acids and Flavonoids" J. M. Pérez de la Lastra , C. Andrés-Juan , F.J. Plou and E. Pérez-Lebeña. Stresses (2021), 1(3), 123-141; doi: 10.3390/stresses1030011
12 Jul 2021
Fatty acid esters as anticancer agents published in IJMS
We have collaborated with the group of Prof. Maciej Guzik at Polish Academy of Sciences in this work on methods of obtaining various fatty acid esters (SFAEs) using combined biological, chemical and enzymatic methods. It presents how modification of SFAE’s hydrophobic chains can influence their cytotoxicity against human skin melanoma and prostate cancer cell lines. The compound’s cytotoxicity was determined by an MTT assay, which followed an assessment of SFAEs’ potential metastatic properties in concentrations below IC50 values. Despite relatively high IC50 values (63.3–1737.6 μM) of the newly synthesized SFAE, they can compete with other sugar esters already described in the literature. The chosen bioactives caused low polymerization of microtubules and the depolymerization of actin filaments in nontoxic levels, which suggest an apoptotic rather than metastatic process. Altogether, cancer cells showed no propensity for metastasis after treating them with SFAE. They confirmed that lactose-based compounds seem the most promising surfactants among tested sugar esters. This manuscript creates a benchmark for creation of novel anticancer agents based on 3-hydroxylated fatty acids of bacterial origin.