The fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants produces specific enzymes in response to different plant substrates SUMMARY: Leaf-cutter ants and a fungus called Leucoagaricus gongylophorus have a symbiotic relationship. The ants harvest plant material for the fungus to “eat” and then the ants feed off of the gongylidia. These swollen parts of the hyphae are no… Continue reading Different Enzymes to Digest Different Plant Substrates
Tag: enzyme specificity
Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics
Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics driving decomposition of the same leaf litter SUMMARY: This study looked at the rate of decay between litter in lab conditions and natural conditions. They used fallen leaves from dogwood trees, oak trees, maple trees, and maple-oak tree mix. Results showed quite a difference in… Continue reading Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics
Using Phytochemicals to Inhibit Efflux Pumps in Bacteria
Inhibiting Bacterial Drug Efflux Pumps via Phyto-Therapeutics to Combat Threatening Antimicrobial Resistance SUMMARY: Many plants produce chemicals that kill bacteria or prevent their growth. This article looks at how the plant chemicals affect efflux pumps. The first and second sections explain what efflux pumps are and describes the many roles they play in bacteria cells,… Continue reading Using Phytochemicals to Inhibit Efflux Pumps in Bacteria
Engineering a Better Enzyme to Degrade PET Plastic
Characterization and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase SUMMARY: There is a bacterium that makes PETase (an enzyme that can digest PET plastic). Researchers in this paper took this PETase enzyme, modified it slightly, and made it better. The modifications aded in sections that were commonly seen in other enzymes such as cutinases and lipases;… Continue reading Engineering a Better Enzyme to Degrade PET Plastic