α-Amylase

Effect of Galactooligosaccharides on Calcium Absorption and Preventing Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract. The effects of galactooligosaccharides (GOS), a mixture of galactosyl oligosaccharides formed from lactose by the transgalactosyl reaction of β-D

Uncooked cornstarch for the prevention of hypoglycemic events

Hypoglycemia is a pathological condition characterized by a low plasma glucose concentration associated with typical autonomic and/or neuroglycopenic symptoms, and resolution of these symptoms with carbohydrate consumption. Hypoglycemia is quite common in clinical practice, particularly in insulin-treated patients with diabetes and in other inherited or acquired conditions involving the regulation of glucose metabolism. Beyond symptoms that might strongly affect the quality of life, hypoglycemia can lead to short- and long-term detrimental consequences for health. Hypoglycemia can be prevented by appropriate changes in dietary habits or by relevant modifications of the drug treatment. Several dietary approaches based on the intake of various carbohydrate foods have been tested for hypoglycemia prevention; among them uncooked cornstarch (UCS) has demonstrated a great efficacy. In this narrative review, we have summarized the current evidence on the UCS usefulness in some conditions characterized by high hypoglycemic risk, focusing on some inherited diseases -i.e. glycogen storage diseases and other rare disorders - and acquired conditions such as type 1 diabetes, postprandial hypoglycemia consequent to esophageal-gastric or bariatric surgery, and insulin autoimmune syndrome. We also considered the possible role of UCS during endurance exercise performance. Lastly, we have discussed the dose requirement, the side effects, the limitations of UCS use, and the plausible mechanisms by which UCS could prevent hypoglycemia.

Chitin

Chitin (C8H13O5N)n ( KY-tin) is a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (behind only cellulose); an estimated 1 billion tons of chitin are produced each year in the biosphere. It is a primary component of cell walls in fungi (especially filamentous and mushroom-forming fungi), the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crustaceans and insects, the radulae, cephalopod beaks and gladii of molluscs and in some nematodes and diatoms. It is also synthesised by at least some fish and lissamphibians. Commercially, chitin is extracted from the shells of crabs, shrimps, shellfish and lobsters, which are major by-products of the seafood industry. The structure of chitin is comparable to cellulose, forming crystalline nanofibrils or whiskers. It is functionally comparable to the protein keratin. Chitin has proved useful for several medicinal, industrial and biotechnological purposes.

Claude discovers a novel enzyme system

In early results from our new life sciences research lab, Claude agents found an enzyme system whose function is still unknown.

Termitomyces

Termitomyces is a genus of basidiomycete fungi known as termite mushrooms in Lyophyllaceae family farmed by fungus-growing termites. The fungi and the termites interdepend to live, as the termites house and culture the fungi, and the fungi in turn provide foods for the termites. Often after a raining, the fungi grow mushrooms, which are edible and highly regarded for their flavor.

PTAB Affirms § 101 Rejection of Synthetic Milk Sugar Mixture

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board recently affirmed the 35 U.S.C. § 101 rejection of patent claims for a mixture of three human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), finding the mixture to be ineligible for patenting

DISCO: Inventing Enzymes for Chemistry | FutureHouse

DISCO is a new multimodal generative model that co-designs protein sequence and 3D structure from scratch.

The Art Of Fermentation

The Art Of Fermentation

How sugar is made - manufacture, used, processing, parts, components, composition, steps, product

Before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, sugarcane (from which sugar is made) was harvested on the shores of the Bay of Bengal; it spread to the surrounding territories of Malaysia, Indonesia, Indochina, and southern China. The Arabic people introduced "sugar" (at that point a sticky paste, semi-crystallized and believed to have medicinal value) to the Western world by bringing both the reed and knowledge for its cultivation to Sicily and then Spain in the eighth and ninth centuries. Later, Venice—importing finished sugar from Alexandria—succeeded in establishing a monopoly over this new spice by the fifteenth century; at that point, it started buying raw sugar, and even sugarcane, and treating it in its own refineries. Venice's monopoly, however, was short-lived. In 1498, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama returned from India bringing the sweet flavoring to Portugal. Lisbon started to import and refine raw sugar, and, in the sixteenth century, it became the European sugar capital. It was not long before the sweetener was available in France, where its primary function continued to be medicinal, and during the reign of Louis XIV, sugar could be bought by the ounce at the apothecary. By the 1800s, sugar (though still expensive) was widely available to both upper and middle classes.

DeepMind releases structure predictions for nearly every known protein

Database powered by AlphaFold algorithm now boasts predicted structures for over 200 million proteins

AlphaFold2 @ CASP14: “It feels like one’s child has left home.”

The past week was a momentous occasion for protein structure prediction, structural biology at large, and in due time, may prove to be so for the whole of life sciences. CASP14, the conference for …

Shockingly Easy No-Knead Focaccia

This recipe requires exactly zero skill and provides ample opportunity to be amazed by yourself and the wonders of yeast.

Mushrooms evolved psychedelics twice, baffling scientists

Researchers found that magic mushrooms and fiber caps independently evolved different biochemical pathways to create psilocybin. This convergence shows nature’s ingenuity, but the reason why remains unknown—possibly predator deterrence. Beyond evolutionary mystery, the discovery provides new enzyme tools for biotech, with promising applications for producing psilocybin-based medicines.

Delicious (website)

Delicious was a social bookmarking web service for storing, sharing, and discovering web bookmarks. The site was founded by Joshua Schachter and Peter Gadjokov in 2003 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. By the end of 2008, the service claimed more than 5.3 million users and 180 million unique bookmarked URLs. Yahoo sold Delicious to AVOS Systems in April 2011, and the site relaunched in a "back to beta" state on September 27 that year. In May 2014, AVOS sold the site to Science Inc. In January 2016 Delicious Media, a new alliance, reported it had assumed control of the service.

Specific inulin‐type fructan fibers protect against autoimmune diabetes by modulating gut immunity, barrier function, and microbiota homeostasis

Scope Dietary fibers capable of modifying gut barrier and microbiota homeostasis affect the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here, we aim to compare modulatory effects of inulin‐type fructans (ITFs), natural soluble dietary fibers with different degrees of fermentability from chicory root, on T1D development in nonobese diabetic mice. Methods and results Female nonobese diabetic mice were weaned to long‐ and short‐chain ITFs [ITF(l) and ITF(s), 5%] supplemented diet up to 24 weeks. T1D incidence, pancreatic‐gut immune responses, gut barrier function, and microbiota composition were analyzed. ITF(l) but not ITF(s) supplementation dampened the incidence of T1D. ITF(l) promoted modulatory T‐cell responses, as evidenced by increased CD25 + Foxp3 + CD4 + regulatory T cells, decreased IL17A + CD4 + Th17 cells, and modulated cytokine production profile in the pancreas, spleen, and colon. Furthermore, ITF(l) suppressed NOD like receptor protein 3 caspase‐1‐p20‐IL‐1β inflammasome in the colon. Expression of barrier reinforcing tight junction proteins occludin and claudin‐2, antimicrobial peptides β‐defensin‐1, and cathelicidin‐related antimicrobial peptide as well as short‐chain fatty acid production were enhanced by ITF(l). Next‐generation sequencing analysis revealed that ITF(l) enhanced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio to an antidiabetogenic balance and enriched modulatory Ruminococcaceae and Lactobacilli . Conclusion Our data demonstrate that ITF(l) but not ITF(s) delays the development of T1D via modulation of gut‐pancreatic immunity, barrier function, and microbiota homeostasis.

atforge

atforge is GitLab with the AT Protocol built in: a bundled Personal Data Server, sign-in with a handle or a DID, and a did:web identity for the instance.