The engineered S. cerevisiae degraded carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose (PASC), or Avicel. Activity toward microcrystalline cellulose led to an ethanol titer of 1,412 mg/L. PNAS August 14, 2012 vol. 109 no. 33 13260-13265
Team at CAS Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology develops ethanol producing engineered Synechocystis sp. strain
Ethanol-producing efficiency was 5.50 g/L, 212 mg/L/day, and the strain was constructed by genetically introducing pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis and overexpressing endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase through homologous recombination at two different sites of the chromosome, and disrupting the biosynthetic pathway of poly-b-hydroxybutyrate Zhengxu Gao et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22675H
Novozymes completes overseas technology center in Tianjin
As outlined by VP Fleming, Environment and Safety issues, the center will accommodate more than 100 scientists and researchers and will focus on enzyme activity research and optimization, product stability analysis, development and optimization of product formulas and other issues. China Industrial Biotechnology Network, Sept 27, 2012
CAS Chengdu Institute of Biology develops asymetric reduction process for baclofen intermediate based on a new enoate reductase from Achromobacter
A group around Prof. Zhongliu WU identified Achromobacter sp. JA81 which can reduce (Z)-3-cyano-3-phenyl-propenoic acid to (R)-3-cyano-3-phenyl- propanoic acid with 70% yield and good enantioselectivity (90% ee). By sequencing and annotating the genome and cloning candidate genes into E. coli, the enoate reductase responsible for this reaction could be identified. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., Sept. 27, […]
BGI: metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes
This study, based on the sequence of gut microbial DNA of 345 Chinese patients, advances the comprehensively understanding of the genetic characteristics of gut microbiota and their relationship to T2D risk, as well as providing a new way of classifying microbes detected by DNA sequence. Nature doi:10.1038/nature11450, Sept. 26, 2012
CAS Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology achieves 81 % enhanced yield of succinic acid from metabolically engineered strain of E. coli
Two glucose transport proteins and two glucokinases (Glk) from E. coli and Zymomonas mobilis were recruited in PTS− strains of E. coli, leading to 2.13 g/L•h), 81 % higher than the wild-type E. coli. J. TANG et al., Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2012, DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4344-1
UNESCO establishes International Science and Technology Research and Training Center (CISTRAT) in Beijing
The focus of CISTRAT will be on innovation of science and technology policy,on global challenges, on human resources management, support systems, regional innovation and networking issues. Xinhua Net, Sept. 24, 2012
Singapore researchers develop silica nanoparticles absorbing near infrared light for non-invasive light therapy of tumors
Associate professor Yong Zhang at SNU Institute of Bioengineering have developed mesoporic silica nanomaterial which after ingestion absorbs a sufficient dosage of near IR light to permit a light therapy of cancer Science and Technology Daily, Sept. 25, 2012
Researchers at Fudan University, Shanghai, speed up target identification for non-small lung cancer therapy
Dr CHEN Hai-Quan and colleagues at Fudan University tumor hospital developed a real-time quantitative ALK fusion detection which within 90 min indicates if Crizotinib therapy, targeting this gene, is indicated. Science and Technology Daily, Sept. 24, 2012
First commercial biomass to LPG plant starts operation in Xiangyang, Hubei Province
Daily sales volume is about 4.000 m3, serving over 100 taxis and buses. China Industrial Biotechnology Network, Sept. 24, 2012