Oxidation of isoeugenol by Nocardia iowensis

Complete Genome Sequence of Nocardia iowensis DSM 45197T (= NRRL 5646T)

We report the complete genome sequence and predicted functional profile of Nocardia iowensis DSM 45197^T. N. iowensis DSM 45197^T is a spore-forming, mesophilic, Gram-positive bacterium that was isolated from garden soil in Osceola, Iowa, USA. This organism has been exploited for its production of glycocinnamolyspermidine antibiotics and biotransformation of xenobiotic substances. Other significant features of N. iowensis DSM 45197^T include the first fully characterized carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) and the first bacterial nitric oxide synthase system. The genome sequence of N. iowensis DSM 45197^T can facilitate further understanding of its function, as well as the pathogenesis of Nocardia spp. N. iowensis DSM 45197^T has a genome size of 8.95 Mbp; about 46% of the coding sequences have no known homologues and were labeled hypothetical proteins. This finding implies further potential for biomedical and biotechnological research applications.

Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Supported Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Isoeugenol Conversion into Vanillin

This work presents the synthesis of iron oxide nanocatalysts supported on mesoporous Al-SBA-15 by using a continuous-flow setup. The magnetic nanomaterials were tested as catalysts in the oxidative disruption of isoeugenol by using hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant, featuring high activities (63-88 % conversion) and good selectivities to vanillin (44-68 %). The catalytic systems exhibited good magnetic properties when synthesized under continuous-flow conditions at temperatures not exceeding 190 °C. The use of microwave irradiation significantly reduced times of reaction drastically but exerted negative effects on catalyst reusability.

Nocardiosis from 1888 to 2017

The genus Nocardia is an aerobic bacterium, Gram-positive and catalase positive that is in Nocardiaceae family. This bacterium first described by Edmond Nocard in 1888 and is not in human commensal bacteria. To date, nocardiosis incidence is increasing due to increase population growth rate, increase in patients with immune disorder diseases and immunocompromised patients. We surveyed taxonomic position, isolation methods, phenotypic and molecular identification at the genus and species levels, antibiogram, treatment and epidemiology in the world from 1888 to 2017.

Oxidovanadium(iv) and dioxidovanadium(v) complexes of hydrazones of 2-benzoylpyridine and their catalytic applications

V^V-polymer-supported compounds, their neat analogues and the corresponding peroxido-complexes are prepared and applied as catalyst precursors for the oxidation of isoeugenol.

Selective route to 2-propenyl aryls directly from wood by a tandem organosolv and palladium-catalysed transfer hydrogenolysis

A tandem organosolv pulping and Pd-catalysed transfer hydrogenolysis depolymerisation and deoxygenation has been developed. The tandem process generated 2-methoxy-4-(prop-1-enyl)phenol in 23% yield (92% theoretical monomer yield) starting from pine wood and 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(prop-1-enyl)phenol in 49% yield (92% theoretical monomer yield) starting from birch wood. Only endogenous hydrogen from wood was consumed, and the reaction was performed using green solvents.

Production of natural fragrance aromatic acids by coexpression of trans-anethole oxygenase and p-anisaldehyde dehydrogenase genes of Pseudomonas putida JYR-1 in Escherichia coli

A gene encoding p-anisaldehyde dehydrogenase (PAADH), which catalyzes the oxidation of p-anisaldehyde to p-anisic acid, was identified to be clustered with the trans-anethole oxygenase (tao) gene in Pseudomonas putida JYR-1. Heterologously expressed PAADH in Escherichia coli catalyzed the oxidation of vanillin, veratraldehyde, and piperonal to the corresponding aromatic acids vanillic acid, veratric acid, and piperonylic acid, respectively. Coexpression of trans-anethole oxygenase (TAO) and PAADH in E. coli also resulted in the successful transformation of trans-anethole, isoeugenol, O-methyl isoeugenol, and isosafrole to p-anisic acid, vanillic acid, veratric acid, and piperonylic acid, respectively, which are compounds found in plants as secondary metabolites. Because of the relaxed substrate specificity and high transformation rates by coexpressed TAO and PAADH in E. coli , the engineered strain has potential to be applied in the fragrance industry.

Isolation of a gene responsible for the oxidation of trans-anethole to para-anisaldehyde by Pseudomonas putida JYR-1 and its expression in Escherichia coli

A plasmid, pTA163, in Escherichia coli contained an approximately 34-kb gene fragment from Pseudomonas putida JYR-1 that included the genes responsible for the metabolism of trans-anethole to protocatechuic acid. Three Tn5-disrupted open reading frame 10 (ORF 10) mutants of plasmid pTA163 lost their abilities to catalyze trans-anethole. Heterologously expressed ORF 10 (1,047 nucleotides [nt]) under a T7 promoter in E. coli catalyzed oxidative cleavage of a propenyl group of trans-anethole to an aldehyde group, resulting in the production of para-anisaldehyde, and this gene was designated tao (trans-anethole oxygenase). The deduced amino acid sequence of TAO had the highest identity (34%) to a hypothetical protein of Agrobacterium vitis S4 and likely contained a flavin-binding site. Preferred incorporation of an oxygen molecule from water into p-anisaldehyde using (18)O-labeling experiments indicated stereo preference of TAO for hydrolysis of the epoxide group. Interestingly, unlike the narrow substrate range of isoeugenol monooxygenase from Pseudomonas putida IE27 and Pseudomonas nitroreducens Jin1, TAO from P. putida JYR-1 catalyzed isoeugenol, O-methyl isoeugenol, and isosafrole, all of which contain the 2-propenyl functional group on the aromatic ring structure. Addition of NAD(P)H to the ultrafiltered cell extracts of E. coli (pTA163) increased the activity of TAO. Due to the relaxed substrate range of TAO, it may be utilized for the production of various fragrance compounds from plant phenylpropanoids in the future.

Expanding the regioselective enzymatic repertoire: oxidative mono-cleavage of dialkenes catalyzed by Trametes hirsuta

The first report of a biocatalytic regioselective oxidative mono-cleavage of dialkenes was successfully achieved employing a cell-free enzyme preparation from Trametes hirsuta at the expense of molecular oxygen. Selected reactions were performed on a preparative scale affording high to excellent conversions and chemoselectivities.

Conversion of isoeugenol to vanillin by Psychrobacter sp. strain CSW4

To screen strains of halotolerant or halophile bacteria which are able to convert isoeugenol to vanillin, 36 different strains of bacteria isolated from the salty environments in Iran were investigated. During growth on isoeugenol, a moderately halotolerant Gram-negative coccobacil showed capability of converting isoeugenol to vanillin. Based on morphological, physiological, and phylogenetic studies, strain CSW4 was classified as a bacterium belonging to the genus Psychrobacter. The bioconversion products were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectral data obtained from UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and mass-spectroscopy. Using growing cells, vanillin reached its maximum level of 88.18 mg L(-1) after 24 h of reaction time in the presence of 1 g L(-1) isoeugenol, resulting in a molar yield of 10.2%. The use of resting cells led to the optimal yield of vanillin (16.4%) which was obtained after 18-h reaction using 1 g L(-1) isoeugenol and 3.1 g of dry weight of cells per liter harvested at the end of the exponential growth phase. To improve vanillin yield, the effect of substrate concentration on vanillin production under resting cells conditions was also investigated. Using 10 g L(-1) isoeugenol, the maximal vanillin concentration (1.28 g L(-1)) was achieved after a 48-h reaction, without further optimization. The present study brings the first evidence for biotransformation of isoeugenol to vanillin in the genus Psychrobacter.

Bioproduction of vanillin using an organic solvent-tolerant Brevibacillus agri 13

Nowadays, majority of vanillin supplied to the world market is chemically synthesized from a petroleum-based raw material, raising a concern among the consumers regarding the product safety. In this study, an organic solvent-tolerant Brevibacillus agri 13 previously reported for a strong predilectic property was utilized as a whole-cell biocatalyst for bioproduction of vanillin from isoeugenol (IG). B. agri 13 is the first biocatalyst reported for bioproduction of vanillin at a temperature as high as 45°C. Both pH and temperature were found to affect vanillin production significantly. An extreme level of organic solvent tolerance of B. agri 13 allowed us to utilize it in a biphasic system using organic solvents generally considered as highly toxic to most bacteria. With an addition of butyl acetate at 30% (v/v) as an organic second phase, toxicity of IG exerted onto the biocatalyst was reduced dramatically while faster and more efficient vanillin production was obtained (1.7 g/L after 48 h with 27.8% molar conversion).