MycoWeekly Newsletter

Your Weekly Dose of Mycology Research

Nanomaterial-Based Biosensors for Aflatoxin B1 Detection: Current Advances, Challenges, and Prospects.

2025-07-29
Small • Level 3 (4 panels)
Boyan Sun, Qiqi Wang, Sihan Wang, Pengpeng Lei, Tony Velkov, Gea Oliveri Conti, Jianzhong Shen, Haiyang Jiang, Chongshan Dai

Aflatoxins, harmful mycotoxins in food production, pose significant health risks, with Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) being notably toxic and carcinogenic. This review unveils advances in nanomaterial-based biosensors which enhance AFB1 detection efficiency. Highlighted are cutting-edge nanomaterials, such as noble metals and quantum dots, offering insights into future biosensor innovations for food safety.

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Epoxide Stereochemistry Controls Regioselective Ketoreduction in Epoxyquinoid Biosynthesis.

2025-07-29
Journal of the American Chemical Society • Level 3 (4 panels)
Szu-Yu Wang, Kuei-Wei Chiu, Ke-Li Lin, Hsin-Yu Wei, Yu-Rong Chen, Zhijay Tu, Yi-Tzu Lin, Chun-Hung Lin, Rong‐Jie Chein, Hsiao-Ching Lin

Epoxyquinoids, compounds with chiral centers and reactive groups, are pivotal in drug discovery. This study elucidates (-)-asperpentyn biosynthesis, highlighting enzymes AtyG, AtyE, AtyD, and AtyC. Notably, substrate epoxide configuration dictates AtyD's regioselectivity in ketoreduction. Mutagenesis uncovers the F97 residue's key role, expanding synthetic potential in epoxyquinoid production.

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Iridium-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Reverse Prenylation of Tryptamines and Other 3‑Substituted Indoles

2025-07-17
Journal of the American Chemical Society • Level 3 (4 panels)
Leon Sander, Jonas M Müller, Christian B. W. Stark

Prenylated indole alkaloids, significant for their biological activity, include the complex C3a-reverse prenylated natural products synthesized through metal-catalyzed reactions. This study unveils an iridium-catalyst system for the first enantioselective reverse prenylation of 3-substituted indoles, achieving high yield and selectivity, advancing synthetic capabilities for tryptamine-derived alkaloids.

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α-glucan remodeling by GH13-domain enzymes shapes fungal cell wall architecture.

2025-07-22
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America • Level 3 (24 panels)
Anand Jacob, Alaina H. Willet, Maya G Igarashi, Mustapha El Hariri El Nokab, Lesley A. Turner, A. K. A. Alsanad, Tuo Wang, Kathy Gould

Fungal cell walls, vital for structural integrity and environmental protection, rely on α-glucan polymers. A recent study reveals that in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, two α-amylase-like enzymes, Aah1 and Aah3, facilitate α-glucan network formation. Their absence leads to structural defects, highlighting GH13-family enzymes as novel antifungal targets due to their role in cell wall biosynthesis.

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