Association Between Bisphenol A Exposure and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in US Adults.

Importance: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a major public health concern because of its high-volume industrial production, ubiquitous exposure to humans, and potential toxic effects on multiple organs and systems in humans. However, prospective studies regarding the association of BPA exposure with long-term health outcomes are sparse. Objective: To examine the association of BPA exposure with all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality among adults in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationally representative cohort study included 3883 adults aged 20 years or older who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2008 and provided urine samples for BPA level measurements. Participants were linked to mortality data from survey date through December 31, 2015. Data analyses were conducted in July 2019. Exposures: Urinary BPA levels were quantified using online solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Main Outcomes and Measures: Mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Results: This cohort study included 3883 adults aged 20 years or older (weighted mean [SE] age, 43.6 [0.3] years; 2032 women [weighted, 51.4%]). During 36 514 person-years of follow-up (median, 9.6 years; maximum, 13.1 years), 344 deaths occurred, including 71 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 75 deaths from cancer. Participants with higher urinary BPA levels were at higher risk for death. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, dietary and lifestyle factors, body mass index, and urinary creatinine levels, the hazard ratio comparing the highest vs lowest tertile of urinary BPA levels was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.01-2.19) for all-cause mortality, 1.46 (95% CI, 0.67-3.15) for cardiovascular disease mortality, and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.40-2.39) for cancer mortality. Conclusions and Relevance: In this nationally representative cohort of US adults, higher BPA exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings in other populations and determine the underlying mechanisms.

Co-Compartmentation of Terpene Biosynthesis and Storage via Synthetic Droplet.

Traditional bioproduct engineering focuses on pathway optimization, yet is often complicated by product inhibition, downstream consumption, and the toxicity of certain products. Here, we present the co-compartmentation of biosynthesis and storage via a synthetic droplet as an effective new strategy to improve the bioproduct yield, with squalene as a model compound. A hydrophobic protein was designed and introduced into the tobacco chloroplast to generate a synthetic droplet for terpene storage. Simultaneously, squalene biosynthesis enzymes were introduced to chloroplasts together with the droplet-forming protein to co-compartmentalize the biosynthesis and storage of squalene. The strategy has enabled a record yield of squalene at 2.6 mg/g fresh weight without compromising plant growth. Confocal fluorescent microscopy imaging, stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, and droplet composition analysis confirmed the formation of synthetic storage droplet in chloroplast. The co-compartmentation of synthetic storage droplet with a targeted metabolic pathway engineering represents a new strategy for enhancing bioproduct yield.

Enhanced limonene production in cyanobacteria reveals photosynthesis limitations.

Terpenes are the major secondary metabolites produced by plants, and have diverse industrial applications as pharmaceuticals, fragrance, solvents, and biofuels. Cyanobacteria are equipped with efficient carbon fixation mechanism, and are ideal cell factories to produce various fuel and chemical products. Past efforts to produce terpenes in photosynthetic organisms have gained only limited success. Here we engineered the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 to efficiently produce limonene through modeling guided study. Computational modeling of limonene flux in response to photosynthetic output has revealed the downstream terpene synthase as a key metabolic flux-controlling node in the MEP (2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate) pathway-derived terpene biosynthesis. By enhancing the downstream limonene carbon sink, we achieved over 100-fold increase in limonene productivity, in contrast to the marginal increase achieved through stepwise metabolic engineering. The establishment of a strong limonene flux revealed potential synergy between photosynthate output and terpene biosynthesis, leading to enhanced carbon flux into the MEP pathway. Moreover, we show that enhanced limonene flux would lead to NADPH accumulation, and slow down photosynthesis electron flow. Fine-tuning ATP/NADPH toward terpene biosynthesis could be a key parameter to adapt photosynthesis to support biofuel/bioproduct production in cyanobacteria.

Phytoestrogens and Mycoestrogens Induce Signature Structure Dynamics Changes on Estrogen Receptor α.

Endocrine disrupters include a broad spectrum of chemicals such as industrial chemicals, natural estrogens and androgens, synthetic estrogens and androgens. Phytoestrogens are widely present in diet and food supplements; mycoestrogens are frequently found in grains. As human beings and animals are commonly exposed to phytoestrogens and mycoestrogens in diet and environment, it is important to understand the potential beneficial or hazardous effects of estrogenic compounds. Many bioassays have been established to study the binding of estrogenic compounds with estrogen receptor (ER) and provided rich data in the literature. However, limited assays can offer structure information with regard to the ligand/ER complex. Our current study surveys the global structure dynamics changes for ERα ligand binding domain (LBD) when phytoestrogens and mycoestrogens bind. The assay is based on the structure dynamics information probed by hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and offers a unique viewpoint to elucidate the mechanism how phytoestrogens and mycoestrogens interact with estrogen receptor. The cluster analysis based on the hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX) assay data reveals a unique pattern when phytoestrogens and mycoestrogens bind with ERα LBD compared to that of estradiol and synthetic estrogen modulators. Our study highlights that structure dynamics could play an important role in the structure function relationship when endocrine disrupters interact with estrogen receptors.

Genomic and molecular mechanisms for efficient biodegradation of aromatic dye.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms for aromatic compound degradation is crucial for the development of effective bioremediation strategies. We report the discovery of a novel phenomenon for improved degradation of Direct Red 5B azo dye by Irpex lacteus CD2 with lignin as a co-substrate. Transcriptomics analysis was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of aromatic degradation in white rot fungus by comparing dye, lignin, and dye/lignin combined treatments. A full spectrum of lignin degradation peroxidases, oxidases, radical producing enzymes, and other relevant components were up-regulated under DR5B and lignin treatments. Lignin induced genes complemented the DR5B induced genes to provide essential enzymes and redox conditions for aromatic compound degradation. The transcriptomics analysis was further verified by manganese peroxidase (MnP) protein over-expression, as revealed by proteomics, dye decolorization assay by purified MnP and increased hydroxyl radical levels, as indicated by an iron reducing activity assay. Overall, the molecular and genomic mechanisms indicated that effective aromatic polymer degradation requires synergistic enzymes and radical-mediated oxidative reactions to form an effective network of chemical processes. This study will help to guide the development of effective bioremediation and biomass degradation strategies.

EADB: an estrogenic activity database for assessing potential endocrine activity.

Endocrine-active chemicals can potentially have adverse effects on both humans and wildlife. They can interfere with the body's endocrine system through direct or indirect interactions with many protein targets. Estrogen receptors (ERs) are one of the major targets, and many endocrine disruptors are estrogenic and affect the normal estrogen signaling pathways. However, ERs can also serve as therapeutic targets for various medical conditions, such as menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and ER-positive breast cancer. Because of the decades-long interest in the safety and therapeutic utility of estrogenic chemicals, a large number of chemicals have been assayed for estrogenic activity, but these data exist in various sources and different formats that restrict the ability of regulatory and industry scientists to utilize them fully for assessing risk-benefit. To address this issue, we have developed an Estrogenic Activity Database (EADB; http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/BioinformaticsTools/EstrogenicActivityDatabaseEADB/default.htm) and made it freely available to the public. EADB contains 18,114 estrogenic activity data points collected for 8212 chemicals tested in 1284 binding, reporter gene, cell proliferation, and in vivo assays in 11 different species. The chemicals cover a broad chemical structure space and the data span a wide range of activities. A set of tools allow users to access EADB and evaluate potential endocrine activity of chemicals. As a case study, a classification model was developed using EADB for predicting ER binding of chemicals.

Microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy as a tool for the determination of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in animal feed and fertilizer.

Quantitative analysis of elements in agricultural products like animal feed and fertilizers by a new instrument using microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES) technology was demonstrated in this work. Hot plate and microwave digestion were used to digest the sample matrices and the consequent digests were subject to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and MP-AES analysis. The detection limit, accuracy and dynamic range for each instrument, were compared and matrix effects were evaluated with respect to the fertilizer and feed materials. The new MP-AES platform can offer comparable or better performance compared to AA and/or ICP-OES with respect to routine analysis for a regulatory program.

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay to quantify camphor extracted from goat serum.

A sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for quantification and pharmacokinetics of camphor, a major monoterpene of juniper plant, in goat serum. Camphor and internal standard (terpinolene) eluates from solid phase extraction (SPE) with ethyl acetate yielded well resolved peaks and were clearly identified in total and selected ion chromatograms. The elution and injection volumes were optimized for improved detection and quantification of camphor based on peak shape, signal to noise ratio, recoveries, and repeatability. The matrix calibration curve with the good linearity (R(2)=0.998) and response in the range of 0.005-10.0 µg/mL was used to determine camphor concentration in goat serum. The GC-MS method offered sufficiently low limits of detection (1 ng/mL) and quantitation (3 ng/mL) for camphor concentration in goat serum for the pharmacokinetic study. The proposed method showed good intra- and inter-day variation with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.2-7.7% and produced good recovery (96.0-111.6%) and reproducibility (1.6-6.1%) at all spiked levels. Using this method on serum samples obtained from two goats orally dosed with camphor confirmed that the method is suitable for camphor studies in animals.

N-glycosylation at non-canonical Asn-X-Cys sequence of an insect recombinant cathepsin B-like counter-defense protein.

CmCatB, a cowpea bruchid cathepsin B-like cysteine protease, facilitates insects coping with dietary protease inhibitor challenge. Expression of recombinant CmCatB using a Pichia pastoris system yielded an enzymatically active protein that was heterogeneously glycosylated, migrating as a smear of > or =50kDa on SDS-PAGE. Treatment with peptide:N-glycosidase F indicated that N-glycosylation was predominant. CmCatB contains three N-glycosylation Asn-X-Ser/Thr consensus sequences. Simultaneously replacing all three Asn residues with Gln via site-directed mutagenesis did not result in completely unglycosylated protein, suggesting the existence of additional atypical glycosylation sites. We subsequently investigated potential N-glycosylation at the two Asn-X-Cys sites (Asn(100) and Asn(236)) in CmCatB. Asn to Gln substitution at Asn(100)-X-Cys on the background of the double mutation at the canonical sites (m1m2, Asn(97)-->Gln and Asn(207)-->Gln) resulted in a single discrete band on the gel, namely m1m2c1 (Asn(97)-->Gln, Asn(207)-->Gln and Asn(100)-->Gln). However, another triple mutant protein m1m2c2 (Asn(97)-->Gln, Asn(207)-->Gln and Asn(236)-->Gln) and quadruple mutant protein m1m2c1c2 were unable to be expressed in Pichia cells. Thus Asn(236) appears necessary for protein expression while Asn(100) is responsible for non-canonical glycosylation. Removal of carbohydrate moieties, particularly at Asn(100), substantially enhanced proteolytic activity but compromised protein stability. Thus, glycosylation could significantly impact biochemical properties of CmCatB.

Unique ligand binding patterns between estrogen receptor alpha and beta revealed by hydrogen-deuterium exchange.

Here we present the use of hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry in analyzing the estrogen receptor beta ligand binding domain (ERbeta LBD) in the absence and presence of a variety of chemical compounds with different binding modes and pharmacological properties. Previously, we reported the use of HDX as a method for predicting the tissue selectivity of ERalpha ligands. HDX profiles of ERalpha LBD in complex with ligand could differentiate compounds of the same chemotype. In contrast, similar analysis of ERbeta LBD showed correlation to the compound chemical structures but little correlation with compound tissue selectivity. The different HDX patterns observed for ERbeta LBD when compared to those for ERalpha LBD bound to the same chemical compounds serve as an indication that ERbeta LBD undergoes a different structural response to the same ligand when compared to ERalpha LBD. The conformational dynamics revealed by HDX for ERbeta LBD together with those for ERalpha LBD shed light on ER ligand interactions and offer new structural insights. The compound-specific perturbations in HDX kinetics observed for each of the two isoforms should aid the development of subtype-selective ER ligands.

Prediction of the tissue-specificity of selective estrogen receptor modulators by using a single biochemical method.

Here, we demonstrate that a single biochemical assay is able to predict the tissue-selective pharmacology of an array of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). We describe an approach to classify estrogen receptor (ER) modulators based on dynamics of the receptor-ligand complex as probed with hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry. Differential HDX mapping coupled with cluster and discriminate analysis effectively predicted tissue-selective function in most, but not all, cases tested. We demonstrate that analysis of dynamics of the receptor-ligand complex facilitates binning of ER modulators into distinct groups based on structural dynamics. Importantly, we were able to differentiate small structural changes within ER ligands of the same chemotype. In addition, HDX revealed differentially stabilized regions within the ligand-binding pocket that may contribute to the different pharmacology phenotypes of the compounds independent of helix 12 positioning. In summary, HDX provides a sensitive and rapid approach to classify modulators of the estrogen receptor that correlates with their pharmacological profile.