#bioconversion
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evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social
Ah, a nice continuation of their previous Paenibacillus-mediated bioconversion of Pseudomonas lipopeptide (which I already like a lot); now, characterization of enzymes behind the process
evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · Feb 17
Microbial dl-Peptidases Enable Predator Defense and Facilitate Structure Elucidation of Complex Natural Products

J Am Chem Soc from Pierre Stallforth, @hellmichgroup.bsky.social, @mlakemeyer.bsky.social and colleagues @leibniz-hki.de @microverse.bsky.social

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Microbial dl-Peptidases Enable Predator Defense and Facilitate Structure Elucidation of Complex Natural Products
Peptidases are indispensable tools in biotechnology and chemical biology. However, the enzyme repertoire for the selective hydrolysis of dl-amide bonds in peptides is small. Here, we describe novel dl-peptidases that mediate complex microbial interactions. These enzymes, Lip3 and Lip7, convert lipopeptides into potent amoebicidal agents via selective dl-peptide bond cleavage. Using structural analyses and mutagenesis, we identified an unusual Ser–Lys–Lys–Tyr catalytic tetrad required for dl-specificity. Despite their high structural similarity, both enzymes show distinct substrate preferences: Lip3 acts primarily as a carboxypeptidase, removing a single C-terminal residue, while Lip7 excises a tripeptide. Although their substrate scopes are broad, they are highly specific with regard to their respective cutting sites. These features make these dl-peptidases powerful tools for elucidating the structure of complex peptide-based natural products, including tensin and WLIP. Overall, this work elucidates the molecular mechanisms of cooperative microbial defense and provides a new enzymatic toolbox for biocatalysis and natural product discovery.
pubs.acs.org
February 17, 2026 at 3:46 PM
pabnik.bsky.social
Leveraging engineered #Pseudomonas putida minicells for bioconversion of organic acids into short-chain methyl ketones by @katekozaeva.bsky.social, Manu Nieto, Max Stammnitz et al. ACS #SynBio #OpenAccess
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Leveraging Engineered Pseudomonas putida Minicells for Bioconversion of Organic Acids into Short-Chain Methyl Ketones
Methyl ketones, key building blocks widely used in diverse industrial applications, largely depend on oil-derived chemical methods for their production. Here, we investigated biobased production alternatives for short-chain ketones, adapting the solvent-tolerant soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida as a host for ketone biosynthesis either by whole-cell biocatalysis or using engineered minicells, chromosome-free bacterial vesicles. Organic acids (acetate, propanoate, and butanoate) were selected as the main carbon substrate to drive the biosynthesis of acetone, butanone, and 2-pentanone. Pathway optimization identified efficient enzyme variants from Clostridium acetobutylicum and Escherichia coli, tested with both constitutive and inducible expression of the cognate genes. By implementing these optimized pathways in P. putida minicells, which can be prepared through a simple three-step purification protocol, the feedstock was converted into the target short-chain methyl ketones. These results highlight the value of combining morphology and pathway engineering of noncanonical bacterial hosts to establish alternative bioprocesses for toxic chemicals that are difficult to produce by conventional approaches.
pubs.acs.org
January 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
scinews.bsky.social
This review examines ten distinct carbon sources and discuss their origins, bioconversion, and practical advantages and limitations, while also evaluating their technical feasibility and sustainability trade-offs.

www.the-innovation.org/article/doi/...
October 17, 2025 at 12:01 AM
ketanjoshi.co
the reason we keep getting reports showing ultra-low-quality standards for carbon offsets is because it is fundamentally a system that rewards volume of sales, not quality of service

A system of trading climate action for profit will always tends towards not working!!!

cdn.catf.us/wp-content/u...
extent are emissions from biomass preprocessing and bioconversion included in removal quantification? Full inclusion of all relevant sources in quantification. Very Robust Included under conditions; new builds, non-renewable energy sources, or specified GHGs only. Weak Included using conservative default values or emissions factors. Weak Excluded based on a narrow system boundary limited to capture and storage. Very Weak Not discussed. Fund. Flawed How are emissions from the BiCRS system allocated among CDR and coproducts? Full allocation of emissions to the CDR process regardless of coproducts. Satisfactory Based on standardized principles, such as energy or mass balance. Satisfactory At project discretion (partial, full, non
March 22, 2026 at 8:29 AM
cambiochem.bsky.social
Congratulations to @danieleggerichs.bsky.social from @hollfelderlab.bsky.social on his award of the Prize for Bioconversion of Renewable Resources from the German Chemical Society (@gdch.de) for his PhD thesis @tischlerlab.bsky.social at Ruhr University Bochum: www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/news/daniel-...
June 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
pnas.org
A global rise in meat consumption is increasing livestock manure. But that manure could feed black soldier fly larvae, which are currently used at industrial scale for livestock feed protein—resulting in a resilient, circular system. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/p0Qb50ZP8TG
Black soldier fly larvae and frass remaining after the bioconversion of livestock manure. CREDIT: Zhijian Zhang.
September 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM
sarahlambert7.bsky.social
A Black Soldierfly turned up in our garden this week - a new record for the garden and the second locally after my partner found one in a nearby playing field. This now cosmopolitan species is is increasingly farmed in the UK for animal feed, pet food, and organic waste bioconversion.
A Black Soldierfly Hermetia illucens sitting on a piece of weathered wood A Black Soldierfly Hermetia illucens viewed from above sitting on my thumb A Black Soldierfly Hermetia illucens viewed from the side sitting on my thumb
September 3, 2026 at 6:50 AM
leah.myatproto.social
psst #energysky #greensky #sciencesky 🧪 I know we're freaked about various sentient petrochemicals being named to positions of power but remember: Science waits for no man. We're going to keep pushing forward. Like this way to make biodiesel 45 times more efficient. source.washu.edu/2024/11/rese...
Researchers create novel electro-biodiesel more efficient, cleaner than alternatives
Joshua Yuan at Washington University in St. Louis and Susie Dai at the University of Missouri, along with colleagues at WashU and Texas A&M, created biodiesel with electrocatalysis and bioconversion.
source.washu.edu
November 18, 2024 at 4:08 PM
leah.myatproto.social
Hello #EnergySky #AgSky #ClimateSky I got a juicy press release about making biodiesel 45 TIMES more efficient. Electrocatalysis is my favorite catalysis. 🧪🌱🫘https://source.washu.edu/2024/11/researchers-create-novel-electro-biodiesel-more-efficient-cleaner-than-alternatives/
Researchers create novel electro-biodiesel more efficient, cleaner than alternatives
Joshua Yuan at Washington University in St. Louis and Susie Dai at the University of Missouri, along with colleagues at WashU and Texas A&M, created biodiesel with electrocatalysis and bioconversion.
source.washu.edu
November 15, 2024 at 6:56 PM
evgenii-protasov.bsky.social
Acetogens beyond gas fermentation: Enhancing bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass
#microbiology #acetogens #bacteria #biotechnology #MicroSky
doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
March 15, 2026 at 3:45 PM
kevinleecaster.bsky.social
I believe we should abandon the pretense about recycling plastics entirely.

There are better ways to deal with plastic waste, for example:
biochartoday.com/news/insect-...
Insect Farming and Biochar: A Synergistic Approach to Plastic Waste Revalorization
Sanchez-Hernandez and Megharaj propose a two-step bioconversion system using mealworms and black soldier flies to manage plastic waste sustainably as published in Environemntal Science and Ecotechn…
biochartoday.com
May 22, 2026 at 11:31 PM
futurumcareers.bsky.social
In our latest collection of free education resources, we explore bioconversion with Professor Esteban Marcellin, Professor @greening.bsky.social and Dr Leonie Van 't Hag from the RECARB hub. They are using bioconversion to convert greenhouse gases into proteins.
futurumcareers.com/tackling-cli...
October 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
alexandermathys.bsky.social
Our new Singapore-ETH Centre #SEC, National University of Singapore @ethz.ch #openaccess #research on #Physical #properties of #food #waste #influence the #efficiency of #BSFL #bioconversion, congrats to Adrian Fuhrmann & #greatteam, Thanx #NRF
#openaccess Link www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Physical properties of food waste influence the efficiency of black soldier fly larvae bioconversion via microbial activity
Black soldier fly larvae bioconversion is an emerging industrial technology for more sustainable waste management and feed production. Recycling heter…
www.sciencedirect.com
May 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social
and many more interesting studies contributing to understanding the influence of specialized metabolites on (model) microbial communities: induction of biosynthetic gene cluster expression, bioconversion of specialized metabolites, influence of specialized metabolites on establishment
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May 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
pabnik.bsky.social
#Preprint alert: we have engineered #Pseudomonas putida to generate minicells that can execute chemical reactions! In this case, we selected #bioconversion of organic acids into short-chain methyl ketones, with a catalytically-active span of at least 4 months #SynBio Read it here👇
January 7, 2024 at 6:46 PM
msmjetten.bsky.social
Pathways to sustainability: a quantitative comparison of #aerobic and #anaerobic C1 bioconversion routes #methane #methanol www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pathways to sustainability: a quantitative comparison of aerobic and anaerobic C1 bioconversion routes
One-carbon (C1) substrates are attractive feedstocks for biological upgrading as part of a circular, carbon-negative bioeconomy. Nature has evolved a …
www.sciencedirect.com
May 6, 2025 at 5:36 AM
dkountz.bsky.social
Pathways to sustainability: a quantitative comparison of
aerobic and anaerobic C1 bioconversion routes.

Via @woolston-lab.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pathways to sustainability: a quantitative comparison of aerobic and anaerobic C1 bioconversion routes
One-carbon (C1) substrates are attractive feedstocks for biological upgrading as part of a circular, carbon-negative bioeconomy. Nature has evolved a …
www.sciencedirect.com
May 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
engthomas.bsky.social
And of course I have to thank our fearless TEA gurus Nawa Baral and @cdscown.bsky.social for their amazing critical analysis on the economics of bioconversion processes.
March 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
luisabmaia.bsky.social
📢 22nd International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization
🌍 Lisbon
🗓 June 23-27
#ICCDU2025

Erwin Reisner @reisnerlab.bsky.social will tell us all about solar-powered #CO2 #bioconversion

@iccdu_xxii
@fctnova
@istecnico.bsky.social
@spquimica
March 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
bjmiller0.bsky.social
A new #lignin #bioconversion system was constructed by Jin et al. via combining the advantages of high lignin solubility in #alkaline solution and alkali-tolerant #ligninolytic bacteria. sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
July 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
imetascience.bsky.social
Gut microbes help black soldier fly larvae cope with excess uric acid.
⚙️ A uric acid–degrading Enterococcus faecalis strain restores larval growth and improves bioconversion efficiency by catabolizing dietary UA. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:58 AM
carbonenergy.bsky.social
🌱 **New in *Carbon Energy*!**

A comprehensive review of microbial and synthetic pathways for converting formate into valuable biochemicals — advancing the sustainable formate bioeconomy.

👉 Read here: doi.org/10.1002/cey2...
#CarbonEnergy #Bioeconomy #Bioconversion #Sustainability
October 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
wendelvandersluis.bsky.social
♻️ Turning waste into opportunity with nature’s tiny biotechnologists!

New in J. Insects as Food & Feed: “Insect holobionts as tools for waste biomass valorisation.” 🪲

Insects + microbes = powerful allies for #CircularEconomy & #Bioconversion of stubborn #Polymers.

🔗 doi.org/10.1163/2352...
Insects transform waste, outsmarting plastics with nature's own biotech.
October 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
j-bio-bioprod.bsky.social
Jang et al. reported the synthesis of a 100% #bio-based polyester using both #1,12-dodecanedioic acid and #1,12-dodecanediol via a two-step #microbial #bioconversion from a single plant #oil-derived #alkane
DOI: 10.1016/j.jobab.2025.09.005
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 9, 2025 at 12:20 PM
mkddueholm.bsky.social
🚨 New paper from our lab
Diversity and physiology of abundant Rhodoferax species in global wastewater treatment systems - ScienceDirect 🦠🧫
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Diversity and physiology of abundant Rhodoferax species in global wastewater treatment systems
Wastewater treatment plants rely on complex microbial communities for bioconversion and removal of pollutants, but many process-critical species are s…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 6, 2024 at 11:26 PM