Do polysaccharide-degrading enzymes also help build polysaccharides?

Proteins are essential molecules in living systems. They move, interact and organize themselves to carry out a wide range of functions, from helping cells communicate to forming structures inside the cell. In many cases, proteins do not remain isolated, but instead spontaneously group together, forming assemblies made of many individual molecules. This process, known as self-assembly, is driven by interactions between the proteins themselves.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool, Japan, and Argentina have captured atomic-resolution images of an important copper-containing enzyme using advanced X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) technology at SACLA in Japan. XFEL technology generates ultra-bright, ultra-short X-ray pulses, enabling atomic-scale imaging and real-time observation of chemical, biological, and physical processes.

Results recently published in the journal Plant and Soil by the researchers of the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) show that strip tillage combined with rye mulch can maintain stable yields of white cabbage and celeriac under varying site conditions. In systems with clover as living mulch, however, significant yield declines occurred. The decisive factors are changes in soil nitrogen content, water balance and temperature regime. The findings provide a nuanced basis for

The ability to precisely edit the genomes of bacteria has long been a goal of microbiologists. Such technology would enable scientists to make new inroads into studying disease, developing sustainable materials, and fighting drug-resistant infections. But for years, the most powerful tools for bacterial genome editing have only been available in Escherichia coli (E. coli), the most common laboratory bacteria.