Explanipedia

Methodological Approach for Detecting Polypropylene Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in Southern Portugal Open

Pedro Monteiro de Almeida, Joana Antunes, Filipe Pedra, M. Rita Ventura, Corina Carranca · 2025

Plastics have been widely used in agriculture, particularly as mulching materials, due to their ability to improve soil conditions and enhance productivity. However, their degradation into microplastics (MPs) raises significant environment…

Metabolically engineered plant cell cultures as biofactories for the production of high-value carotenoids astaxanthin and canthaxanthin Open

Bárbara A. Rebelo, M. Rita Ventura, Rita Abranches · 2025

Evolution of Escherichia coli strains under competent or compromised adaptive immunity Open

Camille Ameline, Elsa Seixas, Hugo C. Barreto, Nelson Frazão, Miguel V. Rodrigues , et al. · 2025

Escherichia coli is a commensal of the intestine of most mammals, but also an important human pathogen. Within a healthy human its population structure is highly dynamic, where typically a dominant E. coli strain is accompanied by several …

Cover Feature: Unlocking Lignin′s Potential: Engineered Bacterial Laccases to Produce Biologically Active Molecules (ChemSusChem 7/2025) Open

Vânia Brissos, Márcia Rénio, Magdalena A. Lejmel, Ricardo Estevinho, M. Paula Robalo , et al. · 2025

Metabolically engineered plant cell cultures as biofactories for the production of high-value carotenoid pigments astaxanthin and canthaxanthin Open

Bárbara A. Rebelo, M. Rita Ventura, Rita Abranches · 2025

Ketocarotenoid pigments, namely astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, are naturally produced by a limited number of species. Demand for these high-value molecules is increasing due to their application in industries such as animal feed, cosmetics…

Synthetic Osmolytes for Enhanced RNA Thermotolerance and Extended Plasmid Storage at Room Temperature Open

Catarina Amaral, Eva C. Lourenço, Inês Lança de Morais, Osvaldo S. Ascenso, Sandra I. Aguiar , et al. · 2025

Stable formulations for RNA and plasmid DNA are a matter of paramount significance in several fields, ranging from medicine to biotechnology. We have investigated the potential of 15 compounds derived from natural osmolytes to enhance the …

Thiourea and squaramide organocatalysts for the asymmetric total synthesis of natural compounds Open

Márcia Rénio, M. Rita Ventura · 2025

Thiourea and squaramide organocatalysts have become essential tools in asymmetric synthesis, offering metal-free, highly selective methods for the efficient synthesis of complex natural products with important biological activities.

A new chemo-enzymatic approach to synthesize rare sugars using an engineered glycoside-3-oxidase Open

André Taborda, Márcia Rénio, M. Rita Ventura, Lı́gia O. Martins · 2024

An engineered carbohydrate oxidase with enhanced activity facilitates efficient chemo-enzymatic d -allose synthesis, advancing methods for rare sugar production.

21508. EVALUACIÓN DE EFICACIA Y SEGURIDAD DEL TRATAMIENTO CON TOFERSÉN EN PACIENTES CON ENFERMEDAD DE MOTONEURONA ASOCIADA A MUTACIONES EN SOD1 EN LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA Open

P Casanova, Carlos Marín, Liliana Gómez, M. Rita Ventura, J. Vázquez Costa · 2024

20171. SÍNDROME CANVAS EN UN HOSPITAL TERCIARIO: REVISIÓN DE CUATRO CASOS Open

A. Zahonero Ferríz, M. Rita Ventura, H. Benetó Andrés, A. Monclús Blecua, Manuel García , et al. · 2024

Unlocking Lignin′s Potential: Engineered Bacterial Laccases to Produce Biologically Active Molecules Open

Vânia Brissos, Márcia Rénio, Magdalena A. Lejmel, Ricardo Estevinho, M. Paula Robalo , et al. · 2024

Laccases are biocatalysts with immense potential in lignocellulose biorefineries to valorize emerging lignin monomers for sustainable chemicals. Despite reduced costs over the past two decades, enzymes remain a major expense in biorefining…

Synthesis of Mono‐ and Bis‐Thiourea Organocatalysts and Their Application in Stereoselective Glycosylation Reactions Open

Márcia Rénio, M. Rita Ventura · 2024

Two new mono‐thiourea, four bis‐thiourea and one squaramide organocatalysts were synthesised from L‐tartaric acid. These organocatalysts were able to activate glycosyl phosphates for stereoselective nucleophilic substitution reactions with…

Circulating low-molecular-weight (poly)phenol metabolites in the brain: unveiling in vitro and in vivo blood–brain barrier transport Open

Rafael Carecho, Daniela Marques, Diogo Carregosa, Domenico Masuero, Mar Garcia‐Aloy , et al. · 2024

Circulating metabolites resulting from colonic metabolism of dietary (poly)phenols are highly abundant in the bloodstream, though still marginally explored, particularly concerning their brain accessibility. Our goal is to disclose (poly)p…

Circulating low-molecular-weight (poly)phenol metabolites in the brain: unveiling <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> blood–brain barrier transport Open

Rafael Carecho, Daniela Marques, Diogo Carregosa, Domenico Masuero, Mar Garcia‐Aloy , et al. · 2024

Circulating metabolites resulting from colonic metabolism of dietary (poly)phenols are highly abundant in the bloodstream, though still marginally explored, particularly concerning their brain accessibility.

Mechanistic insights into glycoside 3-oxidases involved in C-glycoside metabolism in soil microorganisms Open

André Taborda, Tomás Frazão, Miguel V. Rodrigues, Xavier Fernández-Luengo, Ferran Sancho , et al. · 2023

C -glycosides are natural products with important biological activities but are recalcitrant to degradation. Glycoside 3-oxidases (G3Oxs) are recently identified bacterial flavo-oxidases from the glucose-methanol-coline (GMC) superfamily t…

Mechanistic Insights into Glycoside 3-Oxidases Involved in C-Glycoside Metabolism in Soil Microorganisms Open

André Taborda, Tomás Frazão, Miguel V. Rodrigues, Xavier Fernández-Luengo, Ferran Sancho , et al. · 2023

C-glycosides are natural products with important biological activities but are recalcitrant to degradation. Glycoside 3-oxidases (G3Oxs) are newly identified bacterial flavo-oxidases from the glucose-methanol-coline (GMC) superfamily that …

Self-recycling and partially conservative replication of mycobacterial methylmannose polysaccharides Open

Ana Maranha, Mafalda Costa, Jorge Ripoll‐Rozada, José A. Manso, Vanessa Miranda , et al. · 2023

The steep increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections makes understanding their unique physiology an urgent health priority. NTM synthesize two polysaccharides proposed to modulate fatty acid metabolism: the ubiquitous 6- O -m…

Synthesis and Potential of Autoinducer‐2 and Analogs to Manipulate Inter‐Species Quorum Sensing Open

Miguel V. Rodrigues, Peter Kis, Karina B. Xavier, M. Rita Ventura · 2023

Quorum sensing (QS) is enabled by the production of signalling molecules called autoinducers, whose presence in the environment modulates the behavior of bacterial populations. Autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) is unique as it is recognized by differen…

Self-recycling and partially conservative replication of mycobacterial methylmannose polysaccharides Open

Ana Maranha, Mafalda Costa, Jorge Ripoll‐Rozada, José A. Manso, Vanessa Miranda , et al. · 2022

The steep increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections makes understanding their unique physiology an urgent health priority. NTM synthesize two polysaccharides proposed to modulate fatty acid metabolism: the ubiquitous 6-O-met…

SAXS Reveals the Stabilization Effects of Modified Sugars on Model Proteins Open

Astra Piccinini, Eva C. Lourenço, Osvaldo S. Ascenso, M. Rita Ventura, Heinz Amenitsch , et al. · 2022

Many proteins are usually not stable under different stresses, such as temperature and pH variations, mechanical stresses, high concentrations, and high saline contents, and their transport is always difficult, because they need to be main…

A molecular test based on RT-LAMP for rapid, sensitive and inexpensive colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples Open

Catarina Amaral, Wilson Antunes, Elin Moe, Américo G. Duarte, Luı́s M. P. Lima , et al. · 2021

An Efficient Synthesis of Optically Active [4-13C] Labelled Quorum Sensing Signal Autoinducer-2 Open

Osvaldo S. Ascenso, Gonzalo Carrau, Karina B. Xavier, M. Rita Ventura, Christopher D. Maycock · 2021

A new synthetic route for the quorum sensing signal Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is described and used for the preparation of [4-13C]-AI-2 starting from [1-13C]-bromoacetic acid. The key step in this process was the enantioselective reduction of a…

Canthaxanthin, a Red-Hot Carotenoid: Applications, Synthesis, and Biosynthetic Evolution Open

Bárbara A. Rebelo, Sara Farrona, M. Rita Ventura, Rita Abranches · 2020

Carotenoids are a class of pigments with a biological role in light capture and antioxidant activities. High value ketocarotenoids, such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, are highly appealing for applications in human nutraceutical, cosmet…

The structural characterization of a glucosylglycerate hydrolase provides insights into the molecular mechanism of mycobacterial recovery from nitrogen starvation Open

Tatiana Cereija, Susana Alarico, Eva C. Lourenço, José A. Manso, M. Rita Ventura , et al. · 2019

Bacteria are challenged to adapt to environmental variations in order to survive. Under nutritional stress, several bacteria are able to slow down their metabolism into a nonreplicating state and wait for favourable conditions. It is almos…

Brain uptake of hydroxytyrosol and its main circulating metabolites: Protective potential in neuronal cells Open

María‐Carmen López de las Hazas, Joana Godinho-Pereira, Alba Macià, A. Filipa Almeida, M. Rita Ventura , et al. · 2018

Polyphenols journey through blood-brain barrier towards neuronal protection Open

Inês Figueira, Gonçalo Garcia, R. C. Pimpão, Ana Paula Terrasso, Igor Gabriel Mendes Costa , et al. · 2017

Cranberry (poly)phenol metabolites correlate with improvements in vascular function: A double‐blind, randomized, controlled, dose‐response, crossover study Open

Ana Rodriguez‐Mateos, Rodrigo P. Feliciano, Albert Boeres, Timon Weber, Cláudia Nunes dos Santos , et al. · 2016

Scope Cranberries are rich in potentially bioactive (poly)phenols. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether cranberry juice intake can improve vascular function in healthy men in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner, and to understand…

Octanoylation of early intermediates of mycobacterial methylglucose lipopolysaccharides Open

Ana Maranha, Patrick J. Moynihan, Vanessa Miranda, Eva C. Lourenço, Daniela Nunes‐Costa , et al. · 2015

Mycobacteria synthesize unique intracellular methylglucose lipopolysaccharides (MGLP) proposed to modulate fatty acid metabolism. In addition to the partial esterification of glucose or methylglucose units with short-chain fatty acids, oct…

Peptidomimetic β-Secretase Inhibitors Comprising a Sequence of Amyloid-β Peptide for Alzheimer’s Disease Open

Hélder Vila-Real, Helena Coelho, João Rocha, Adelaide Fernandes, M. Rita Ventura , et al. · 2015

Alzheimer's disease is a grave social problem in an aging population. A major problem is the passage of drugs through the blood-brain barrier. This work tests the hypothesis that the conjugation of peptidomimetic β-secretase inhibitors wit…

Host Glycan Sugar-Specific Pathways in Streptococcus pneumonia: Galactose as a Key Sugar in Colonisation and Infection Open

Laura Paixão, J.Santos Oliveira, André Veríssimo, Susana Vinga, Eva C. Lourenço , et al. · 2015

The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is a strictly fermentative organism that relies on glycolytic metabolism to obtain energy. In the human nasopharynx S. pneumoniae encounters glycoconjugates composed of a variety of monosaccharid…

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