The Protein Factory 2.0
Welcome to a world of new solutions
MAY 2023
Our review on the enantiospecific interaction between proteins and chiral amino acids has been selected as Front Cover on Symmetry
Both L- and D-amino acids play key roles in the biochemical structure and metabolic processes of living organisms, from bacteria to mammals. In this review, we describe the molecular basis of the ability of some of the most important enzymes involved in the metabolism of amino acids to discriminate the opposite enantiomers. Our analysis showcases the power of natural evolution in shaping biological processes. Intriguingly, the active sites of enantioselective enzymes are frequently related by mirror symmetry.
MARCH 2023
Our review on the biological valorization of lignin components into value-added bioproducts has been selected as Front Cover on Catalysts
The biological valorization of lignin components into value-added bioproducts is expected to generate considerable market growth and to make the lignin valorization process profitable and sustainable in the near future. Recent advances in the field of systems metabolic engineering represent a comprehensive proof of concepts for great potentiality of renewable biomasses-derived aromatics.
Rosini E., Molinari F., Miani D., Pollegioni L. 2023.
Catalysts. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13030555
FEBRUARY 2023
New publication:
this work proposed a setup of an efficient and green process for producing such valuable compounds from renewable feedstocks such as lignin and wheat bran.
Our catalytic system represents a sustainable and cost-competitive process to generate cis,cis-muconic acid, a building block for the synthesis of plastic materials.
The success of the proposed process makes our whole-cell system well suited to set up several innovative processes aimed at generating bioproducts and bioplastic monomers: bacterial lignin valorization seems no more a “field of dreams”.
JANUARY 2023
We produced a newly engineered biocatalyst that breaks down more than 99.2% of disposable post-consumer plastic waste in water and within hours (without adding chemicals or using high temperatures).
Watch for yourself!
Enzyme-based plastic degradation represents a valuable tool and a feasible solution for developing sustainable, environmental-friendly, and cost-effective plastic recycling processes from the circular economy perspective.
https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16736.
Conclusion of the research project "Dissecting serine metabolism in the brain"
On 26 January 2023, professor Loredano Pollegioni organized an event to mark the conclusion of "Dissecting serine metabolism in the brain", a research project by The Protein Factory 2.0 (Università degli Studi dell'Insubria) in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Milano, Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca and Università degli Studi di Parma, funded by MIUR (PRIN 2017).
Watch the videos presenting the research results here!
A biochemical study:
An omics study:
Documentary on research at Insubria University by the journalist Alessandro Cecchi Paone
Professor Loredano Pollegioni presents the project carried out in collaboration with Dr. Elena Rosini and Professor Gianluca Molla on the generation of enzymes able to depolymerize lignin. This natural polymer can replace petroleum and allow the production of bioplastics.
New publication:
our optimized mammalian cells culture platform has been used to successfully express and purify a number of human recombinant proteins. As a paradigm, our established protocol has been efficiently adapted to rapidly produce the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2S protein in CHO cells.
Rosini and Pollegioni, 2022. Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. https://doi.org/10.1002/bab.2409.
The research article by E. Vignali, et al. has been selected as front cover in ChemSusChem: this image shows the formation of low-molecular-weight compounds by the oxidative depolymerization of lignin by the laccase-Lig multienzymatic multistep system.
New publications:
In this work, we report a multi-omics analysis of the hippocampus of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy controls. Our study highlights a strong sex effect under normal aging and AD conditions: we observed a decrease in insulin response in AD when comparing the female with the male group; and also a significant modulation of serine metabolism.
A new multienzymatic multistep system for lignin valorization was designed and developed.
Lignin depolymerization through selective and specific enzymatic treatments is a key aspect in the biotechnological valorization of this biopolymer.
Qualitative and quantitative analyses permitted a more comprehensive elucidation of the effect of each biocatalyst used towards the development of a suitable method to obtain value-added end products from technical lignins of different botanical origin.
Can you believe that plastic can be fully degraded simply by an enzyme in water and within hours? Watch for yourself!
We produced a newly engineered biocatalyst capable of breaking down more than 95% of PET in only 48 hours of incubation at 60 °C, without adding chemicals or using high temperatures. Enzyme-based PET biodegradation represents a useful tool and a feasible solution for the development of sustainable, environmental-friendly, and cost-effective processes for plastic recycling in a perspective of the circular economy.
Pirillo et al., 2022. Int. J. Mol. Sci. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010264.
New publication:
New review available on D-amino acids as novel blood-based biomarkers.
Murtas and Pollegioni, 2021. Curr Med Chem. doi: 10.2174/0929867328666211125092438.
OCTOBER 2021
New review available on anticancer therapy based on oxidases that produce reactive oxygen species.
Rosini and Pollegioni, 2021. Biofactors. doi: 10.1002/biof.1789.
New publication:
in this work, we reported the first multi-enzymatic one-pot bioconversion of vanillin into cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA), which is widely used for the production of biodegradable plastic materials. Our proposed biocatalytic system represents a sustainable alternative for the eco-friendly production of a high value-added compound from underutilized lignin, a primary target of the bioeconomy.
Professor Loredano Pollegioni has been elected Treasurer of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Antibody-drug conjugates, also named “armed antibodies”, can direct drugs to specific tissues. Here an evolved version of the ROS-generating enzyme D-amino acid oxidase was delivered to tumors by generating a chimeric protein with the F8 antibody against EDA of fibronectin, a protein abundantly expressed in the subendothelial extracellular matrix of tumor vessels. The recombinant chimeric protein produced in E. coli cells generates a strong cytotoxicity to tumor cells following the supplementation of the pro-drug D-alanine, especially when an inhibitor of the antioxidant systems is used.
Bioeconomy school: from basic science to a new economy. Lake Como School of Advanced Studies, 24-28 May 2021.
Organizing committee:
Loredano Pollegioni – Full Professor of Biochemistry, University of Insubria
Raffaello Seri – Full Professor of Econometrics, University of Insubria
Andrea Vezzulli – Associate Professor of Applied Economics, University of Insubria
Rendered with 3D Protein Imaging
New publication:
the human enzyme D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase catalyzes the first step of the L-serine biosynthesis, which plays an important role in numerous physiological functions. This enzyme is involved in cancer progression and several neurological disorders. Here is our new publication on PHGDH biochemical properties, part of the PRIN project “Dissecting serine metabolism in the brain”. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/8/4231/htm
The cover art by Valentina Pirillo has been selected in The FEBS Journal Cover Competition 2021:
this image is an artist representation of a plastic-degrading enzyme (PET hydrolase) that is correlated with the recent Emerging Methods and Technologies article published in The FEBS Journal: ‘Analytical methods for the investigation of enzyme-catalyzed degradation of polyethylene terephthalate’ by Valentina Pirillo, Loredano Pollegioni and Gianluca Molla.
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Not only regulation of D-amino acids. We propose a new function for human D-amino acid oxidase: DAAO plays an important role in the maintenance of the homeostasis of gut microbiota through the production of two antimicrobial peptides in the intestinal lumen. Murtas et al., 2021. Cell Mol Life Sci. doi: 10.1007/s00018-020-03755-w.
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Serum D- and L-serine levels can represent a suitable, easy-to-detect and precocious biomarker for the diagnosis of the Alzheimer's disease and its progression. Piubelli et al., 2021. Transl Psych. doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01202-3.
NOVEMBER 2020
Elena Rosini produced the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein. The coronavirus spike protein plays a key role in the early steps of COVID-19 viral infection, mainly through the interaction with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) present on the surface of alveolar epithelial cells. Both the full-length and a truncated form (containing only the receptor binding domain) of S-protein are available at "The Protein Factory 2.0" lab and can be used to develop new diagnostic tools.
