Protein Sci. 2026 Jul;35(7):e70683. doi: 10.1002/pro.70683. ABSTRACT In light of the centennial of the Schrödinger equation, this article addresses the popular idea that quantum mechanical effects play an important role in biological systems. We start by defining what is qualified as a quantum effect. We then clarify the idea that quantum mechanical tunneling is a…

Nat Commun. 2026 Jun 19. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74796-1. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Expanding enzyme catalytic diversity is essential to unlocking the full potential of biocatalysis for green chemistry. Halohydrin dehalogenases are promiscuous biocatalysts that typically mediate the intramolecular dehalogenative cyclization of haloalcohols to form cyclic ethers, as well as the ring-opening of these O-heterocycles with…

Fungal Biol Biotechnol. 2026 Jun 19;13(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s40694-026-00214-2. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cytochalasans are a large family of fungal metabolites which inhibit actin polymerization and ultimately lead to a broad range of biological effects in different assays. Investigations into the biosynthesis of cytochalasans has revealed that the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450s) tailoring enzymes possess a somewhat relaxed…

Biomacromolecules. 2026 Jun 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6c00697. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Enzyme-enabled biocatalysis demonstrates potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging performance for oxidative stress mitigation. However, the intrinsic stability and catalytic activity of enzymes are highly susceptible to harsh external microenvironments, which severely restricts their potential applications. Herein, we report the rational design of oxidation-responsive…

J Biol Eng. 2026 Jun 18;20(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s13036-026-00713-1. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: N-Acetyltyramine is increasingly recognized for its diverse pharmaceutically relevant properties. In particular, it exhibits antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant pathogens, which pose a considerable health challenge. Therefore, the demand for a sustainable and efficient N-acetyltyramine production arises. RESULTS: Here, we engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum for de…

Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 18. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-56598-z. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT An alternative strategy to mitigate the ecological and economic challenges posed by invasive fish species is to transform these organisms into valuable resources, generating economic benefits while simultaneously addressing ecosystem-related concerns. However, while the search for sustainable feedstocks continues, the specific potential of…

Metab Eng. 2026 Jun 18:102493. doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2026.102493. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The sustainable bioproduction of high-value aromatic compounds is a significant challenge in synthetic biology, often constrained by the complexity of multi-step metabolic pathways. To address this, we developed a cytochrome P450-driven plug-and-play system that integrates directed enzyme evolution with systems-level metabolic engineering. Using…

ACS Synth Biol. 2026 Jun 18. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.6c00367. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived terephthalic acid for the production of biobased polymers such as polyethylene furanoate (PEF). Various catalytic methods, including chemocatalysis, biocatalysis, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis, have been developed for FDCA synthesis. Among these,…

IEEE Trans Nanobioscience. 2026 Jun 18;PP. doi: 10.1109/TNB.2026.3705324. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Herein, a multifunctional nanocomposite was developed through a green synthesis route using Dolomiaea costus extract to produce ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles, which were subsequently integrated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cellulose acetate (CA) to form a stable ZnFe2O4-MWCNT-CA matrix for horseradish peroxidase (HRP)…