Effective biodegradation of chlorophenols, sulfonamides, and their mixtures by bacterial laccase immobilized on chitin.

Coexisting multi-pollutants like sulfonamides (SAs) and chlorophenols (CPs) in the ecological environment pose a potential risk to living organisms. The development of a strategy for the effective removal of multiple pollutants has become an urgent need. Herein, we systematically investigated the potential of immobilized bacterial laccase to remove chlorophenols (CPs), sulfonamides (SAs), and their mixtures. Laccase from Bacillus pumilus ZB1 was efficiently immobilized on chitin and its thermal stability, pH stability, and affinity to substrates were improved. Reusability assessment showed the immobilized laccase retained 75.5% of its initial activity after five cycles. The removal efficiency of CPs and SAs by immobilized laccase was significantly improved compared with that of free laccase. In particular, the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol reached 96.9% and 89.3% respectively within 8 h. The immobilized laccase could remove 63.70% of 2,4-dichlorophenol after four cycles. The degradation pathways of 2,4-dichlorophenol and sulfamethazine were proposed via LC/MS analysis. When the co-pollutants containing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and sulfamethoxazole, immobilized laccase showed 100% removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 38.71% removal of sulfamethoxazole simultaneously. Cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity tests indicated that immobilized laccase can alleviate the toxicity of co-pollutants. The results demonstrate that chitin-based laccase immobilization can be an effective strategy for the removal of SAs, CPs, and their co-pollutants.

Treatment recommendations for small gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors: positive endoscopic resection.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic resection and discuss the treatment strategy of small gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) less than 2 cm. Material and methods: The data of 713 patients, who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs), were retrospectively analyzed. We investigated the clinicopathological features and analyzed the risk potential of small gastric GISTs, and documented therapeutic and follow-up outcomes. We also compared the follow-up results between operated patients and 58 patients who were suspected of small gastric GISTs and underwent regular surveillance under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the same period. Results: GISTs were the most common gastric SMTs (289 cases, 40.5%), of which small GISTs were found in 250 cases. The mitotic index was less than 5 in all cases. However, 122 out of 250 cases (48.8%) had adverse factors under EUS, which were related to tumor size (p < .01). ESD was successfully performed in all patients, and no serious complication or perioperative death occurred. The follow-up period for 42.07 ± 22.49 months revealed improvement of symptoms in 80.2% patients and showed no recurrence or metastasis. Of the 58 patients selected for EUS surveillance, 48 (82.8%) presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and 41 out of 48 (85.4%) were not relieved during follow-up and 16 (27.6%) with severe psychological problems. Conclusions: ESD is a safe and effective treatment for small GISTs, which helps to confirm the diagnosis, improve symptoms and reduce the psychological pressure. Thus, we recommend endoscopic resection is a good option for small gastric GISTs once diagnosed.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: a 10-year data analysis of Northern China.

Objective: Endoscopy is the main method to treat gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs), but the specific indications are still controversial. We aim to investigate the clinical outcomes of GI-NETs patients who experienced endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and prognosis of 65 GI-NETs patients who underwent ESD between 2008 and 2018. Results: A total of 65 patients diagnosed with GI-NETs pathologically, bearing 75 lesions, were found by endoscopy incidentally for other symptoms. The locations of these lesions were stomach (n = 24), duodenal bulb (n = 4) and rectum (n = 47). The diameter of 75 tumors were as follows: size ≤ 1 cm (78.7%), 1 cm < size ≤ 2 cm (17.3%), 2 cm < size ≤ 3.5 cm (4.0%). Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) suggested that 72 lesions were confined to submucosa and 3 lesions invaded into muscularis propria. The rates of en bloc resection and complete resection were all 100% and the rates of intraoperative bleeding and perforation were 2.7% and 1.3%, respectively. None of the 65 patients had lymph nodes and distant metastasis during the period of study. Conclusion: For GI-NETs without lymph nodes and distant metastases, the lesion confined to submucosa with the diameter ≤1 cm is absolute indication of ESD. For rectal neuroendocrine tumors limited in submucosa with the diameter between 1 and 2 cm, and Type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors predicted to be T2, ESD should be prioritized to preserve gastrointestinal volume and function at initial treatment.

Proteomic investigation reveals the role of bacterial laccase from Bacillus pumilus in oxidative stress defense.

The wide distribution of laccases in nature makes them involved in different biological processes. However, little information is known about how laccase participates in the defense machinery of bacteria against oxidative stress. The present study aimed to elucidate the oxidative stress response mechanism of Bacillus pumilus ZB1 and the functional role of bacterial laccase in stress defense. The oxidative stress caused by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) significantly induced laccase activity and its transcript level. The morphological analysis revealed that the defense of B. pumilus ZB1 against oxidative stress was activated. Based on the proteomic study, 114 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were up-regulated and 79 DEPs were down-regulated. In COG analysis, 66.40% DEPs were classified into the category "Metabolism". We confirmed that laccase was up-regulated in response to MMS stress and its functional annotation was related to "Secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and catabolism". Based on protein-protein interaction prediction, two up-regulated DEPs (YcnJ and GabP) showed interaction with laccase and contributed to the formation of laccase stability and adaptability. The overexpressed laccase might improve the antioxidative property of B. pumilus ZB1. These findings provide an insight and the guidelines for better exploitation of bioremediation using bacterial laccase. SIGNIFICANCE: Bacillus pumilus is a gram-positive bacterium that has the potential for many applications, such as bioremediation. The expression of bacterial laccase is significantly influenced by oxidative stress, while the underlying mechanism of laccase overexpression in bacteria has not been fully studied. Elucidation of the biological process may benefit the bioremediation using bacteria in the future. In this study, the differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using a TMT-labeling proteomic approach when B. pumilus was treated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Reactive oxygen species induced by MMS activated the secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism in B. pumilus, including laccase overexpression. Moreover, the simultaneously up-regulated YcnJ and GabP may benefit the synthesis and the stability of laccase, then improve the antioxidative property of B. pumilus against environmental stress. Our findings advance the understanding of the adaptive mechanism of B. pumilus to environmental conditions.

Effective biosynthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural via a bi-enzymatic cascade system using bacterial laccase and fungal alcohol oxidase.

BACKGROUND: As a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach, biocatalysis has great potential for the transformation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). However, the compatibility of each enzyme in the cascade reaction limits the transformation efficiency of HMF to FDCA. RESULTS: Coupled with an alcohol oxidase from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (CglAlcOx), this study aims to study the potential of bacterial laccase from Bacillus pumilus (BpLac) in an enzymatic cascade for 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) biosynthesis from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). BpLac showed 100% selectivity for HMF oxidation and generated 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA). CglAlcOx was capable of oxidizing HMFCA to 2-formyl-5-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA). Both BpLac and CglAlcOx could oxidize FFCA to FDCA. At the 5 mM scale, a complete transformation of HMF with a 97.5% yield of FDCA was achieved by coupling BpLac with CglAlcOx in the cascade reaction. The FDCA productivity in the reaction was 5.3 mg/L/h. Notably, BpLac could alleviate the inhibitory effect of FFCA on CglAlcOx activity and boost the transformation efficiency of HMF to FDCA. Moreover, the reaction was scaled up to 40 times the volume, and FDCA titer reached 2.6 mM with a yield of 58.77% at 168 h. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides a candidate and novel insight for better design of an enzymatic cascade in FDCA production.

Deciphering the alkaline stable mechanism of bacterial laccase from Bacillus pumilus by molecular dynamics simulation can improve the decolorization of textile dyes.

Laccases are considered promising tools for removing synthetic dyes from textile and tannery effluents. However, the alkaline pH in the effluents causes laccase instability, inactivation, and difficulty in its bioremediation. Based on a Bacillus pumilus ZB1 (BpLac) derived alkaline stable laccase, this study aimed to elucidate its alkaline stable mechanism at molecular level using molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of metal ions, organic solvents, and inhibitors on BpLac activity were assessed. BpLac formed more salt bridges and negatively charged surface in alkaline environment. Thereafter, pH-induced conformation changes were analyzed using GROMACS at pH 5.0 and 10.0. Among the identified residues with high fluctuation, the distance between Pro359 and Thr414 was stable at pH 10.0 but highly variable at pH 5.0. DSSP analysis suggested that BpLac formed more ß-sheet and less coil at pH 10.0. Principal component analysis and free energy landscape indicated that irregular coils formed at pH 5.0 benefit for activity, while rigid α-helix and ß-sheet structures formed at pH 10.0 contributed to alkaline stability. Breaking the α-helix near T1 copper center would not reduce alkaline stability but could improve dye decolorization by BpLac. Overall, these findings would advance the potential application of bacterial laccase in alkaline effluent treatment.