The possibility of using Aspergillus terreus protease in detergent formulations was investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the purified alkaline protease (148.9 U/mg) is a monomeric enzyme with a molecular mass of 16 ± 1 kDa. This was confirmed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The active enzyme degraded the co-polymerized gelatin. The protease demonstrated excellent stability at pH range 8.0–12.0 with optimum at pH 11.0. It was almost 100 % stable at 50 °C for 24 h, enhanced by Ca2+ and Mg2+, but inhibited by Hg2+, and strongly inhibited by phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride. It showed maximum activity against casein followed by gelatin; its Vmax was 12.8 U/ml with its corresponding KM of 5.4 mg/ml. The proteolytic activity was activated by Tween-80, Triton-100 and SDS, and remained unaltered in the presence of H2O2 and NaClO. The enzyme exhibited higher storage stability at 4, 28 and −20 °C. It was stable and compatible to the desired level in the local detergents. The addition of the protease to the Super wheel improved its blood stain removal. The isolated protease can thus be a choice option in detergent industry.

Invertase or β-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.26) was one of the foremost enzyme biocatalysts and established the primary concepts of most enzyme-kinetic principles. Invertases are glycoside hydrolases and occur mostly in microorganisms. Among microbial strains, for many decades yeast species have been extensively researched for invertase production, characterization, and applications in industries. Besides, limited literature is available on invertases from bacterial strains. The enzymic and molecular biological reports from bacterial invertases are scarce. In this minireview, occurrence, production, biochemical properties, and significance of transfructosylation of bacterial invertases are reported.

This study focused on the purification and characterization of an extracellular β-d-fructofuranosidase or invertase from JU12. The protein was purified by size exclusion chromatography with 5.41 fold and 10.87% recovery. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be ~ 35 kDa using SDS-PAGE and confirmed by deconvoluted mass spectrometry. The fungal β-d-fructofuranosidase was suggested to be a monomer by native PAGE and zymography, and was found to be a glycoprotein possessing 68.92% carbohydrate content. The products of enzyme hydrolysis were detected by thin layer chromatography and revealed the monosaccharide units, d-glucose and d-fructose. β-d-fructofuranosidase showed enhanced activity at broad pH 4.0-9.0 and activity at a temperature range from 30 to 70 °C, while the enzyme was stable at pH 8.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The β-d-fructofuranosidase activity was lowered by metal ion inhibitors Ag and Hg whereas elevated by SDS and β-ME. The fungal β-d-fructofuranosidase was capable of hydrolyzing d-sucrose and the kinetics were determined by Lineweaver-Burk plot with of 10.17 mM and of 0.7801 µmol min. Additionally, the extracellular β-d-fructofuranosidase demonstrated tolerance to high ethanol concentrations indicating its applicability in the production of alcoholic fermentation processes.

Bionanotechnology is a branch of science that has revolutionized modern science and technology. Nanomaterials, especially noble metals, have attracted researchers due to their size and application in different branches of sciences that benefit humanity. Metal nanoparticles can be synthesized using green methods, which are good for the environment, economically viable, and facilitate synthesis. Due to their size and form, gold nanoparticles have become significant. Plant materials are of particular interest in the synthesis and manufacture of theranostic gold nanoparticles (NPs), which have been generated using various materials. On the other hand, chemically produced nanoparticles have several drawbacks in terms of cost, toxicity, and effectiveness. A plant-mediated integration of metallic nanoparticles has been developed in the field of nanotechnology to overcome the drawbacks of traditional synthesis, such as physical and synthetic strategies. Nanomaterials′ tunable features make them sophisticated tools in the biomedical platform, especially for developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for malignancy, neurodegenerative, and other chronic disorders. Therefore, this review outlines the theranostic approach, the different plant materials utilized in theranostic applications, and future directions based on current breakthroughs in these fields.

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Palamneus gravimanus envenomated rats showed dose-dependent alterations in serum biochemical parameters. Sub lethal doses of 100, 200, and 400 microg/kg of P. gravimanus venom were injected intramuscularly into rats. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture before and 4 h after crude venom administration. Serum was analyzed for glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, total protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST-SGOT), alanine amino-transferase (ALT-SGPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK). Statistically significant increases in serum levels of glucose, creatinine, AST, ALT, BUN, CPK, and LDH and significant decreases in serum levels of total protein, uric acid, cholesterol, calcium, and potassium 4 h after venom administration could be due to the toxic action of P. gravimanus venom on certain organs in rats.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most pollutant metals that accumulate in the brain mitochondria disrupting mitochondrial structure and function. Though oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species remains the most accepted mechanism of Pb neurotoxicity, some reports suggest the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species in Pb-induced neurotoxicity. But the impact of Pb neurotoxicity on mitochondrial respiratory enzyme complexes remains unknown with no relevant report highlighting the involvement of peroxynitrite (ONOO) in it. Herein, we investigated these effects in in vivo rat model by oral application of MitoQ, a known mitochondria-specific antioxidant with ONOO scavenging activity. Interestingly, MitoQ efficiently alleviated ONOO-mediated mitochondrial complexes II, III and IV inhibition, increased mitochondrial ATP production and restored mitochondrial membrane potential. MitoQ lowered enhanced caspases 3 and 9 activities upon Pb exposure and also suppressed synaptosomal lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation accompanied by diminution of nitrite production and protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine. To ascertain our in vivo findings on mitochondrial dysfunction, we carried out similar experiments in the presence of different antioxidants and free radical scavengers in the in vitro SHSY5Y cell line model. MitoQ provided better protection compared to mercaptoethylguanidine, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and superoxide dismutase suggesting the predominant involvement of ONOO compared to NO and O. However, dimethylsulphoxide and catalase failed to provide protection signifying the noninvolvement of OH and HO in the process. The better protection provided by MitoQ in SHSY5Y cells can be attributed to the fact that MitoQ targets mitochondria whereas mercaptoethylguanidine, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and superoxide dismutase are known to target mainly cytoplasm and not mitochondria. Taken together the results from the present study clearly brings out the potential of MitoQ against ONOO-induced toxicity upon Pb exposure indicating its therapeutic potential in metal toxicity.

The purification and biochemical characterization of extracellular β‐d‐fructofuranosidase from Bacillus subtilis LYN12 was carried out. The enzyme was purified 6.94 folds over the crude extract by gel filtration chromatography with recovery of 15.58%. The molecular mass of ∼66 kDa estimated by SDS‐PAGE was confirmed by LC‐MS as 64512.31 Da. Bacterial β‐d‐fructofuranosidase was found to be a glycoprotein with 62.64% carbohydrate content, and exhibited enhanced activities at broad pH, temperature and stable at pH 7.0, 40°C, respectively. The enzyme showed high affinity for d‐sucrose. Kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were 41.98 mM and 1.184 µmol/min, respectively. β‐d‐fructofuranosidase activity was inhibited by the divalent metal ions Cu2+ and Hg2+, whereas improved by Mg2+, Fe2+ and few sulphydryl group reagents. β‐d‐fructofuranosidase demonstrated ethanol tolerance up to 15% with 76.4% of activity. B. subtilis LYN12 invertase is suggested as a potential enzyme with suitable characteristics for numerous industrial applications. Practical applications β‐d‐fructofuranosidases are one of the industrially important carbohydrases utilized in many applications such as beverages, baking, confectionaries, nutraceuticals and also medicinal formulations. The production of β‐d‐fructofuranosidase from Bacillus subtilis LYN12 by solid‐state fermentation demonstrates the utilization of agro‐industrial wastes, such as wheat bran and molasses. The bacterial β‐d‐fructofuranosidase was produced extracellularly which aids in down‐streaming processes. Most of the industrial alcohol fermentations generally operate at 10%–14% (v/v) of ethanol at the end of fermentation. Interestingly, β‐d‐fructofuranosidase exhibited a significant tolerance towards ethanol, the tolerance level of the bacterial invertase indicates its potentiality in the alcoholic fermentation processes. On the other hand, B. subtilis LYN12 β‐d‐fructofuranosidase was found to be active at a broad pH and temperature range possessing high affinity for d‐sucrose. The biochemical characterization of the bacterial β‐d‐fructofuranosidase is crucial to understand the enzymic nature and properties.