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enzyme

Using bacteria to clean up our carbon mess

Scientists from four Indian universities announced a discovery that enables them to use bacteria enzymes to trap and sequester CO2.

Researches found a way to use seven bacteria enzymes to speed up chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide to calcium carbonate, according to a Cleantech Group article. Calcium carbonate is typically found in limestone or chalk and can be used in cement to built roads.

While it's not clear if this breakthrough could be used to help capture carbon emitted by existing cars on the road, it may have an application to improve the environmental impact of electric cars. … Read more

Running a battery on sugar

A number of companies are trying to figure out ways to make cellulosic ethanol by breaking down sugar with microbes and enzymes. Sony has used similar principles to build a battery.

In short, the anode of the battery consists of enzymes--a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms--which digest sugar while the cathode that breaks down oxygen. The two are connected by a membrane. The anodie extracts electrons and hydrogen. The hydrogen migrates through a membrane to the cathode side and makes water with the oxygen. Those loose electrons go to power your MP3 player or phone.

Test … Read more

MIT reverses autism in mice

Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have found that suppressing a particular enzyme has reversed some symptoms of autism and mental retardation in mice.

An enzyme is a protein that triggers a chemical reaction, and this one, called p21-activated kinase (PAK), affects neural connections in the brain. Suppressing it can counteract the effects of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading cause of retardation and a genetic autism, MIT said Sunday.

"Our study suggests that inhibiting a certain enzyme in the brain could be an effective therapy for countering the debilitating symptoms of FXS in children, and possibly in autistic kids … Read more