Biotechnology Journal
Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1225–1226
DOI 10.1002/biot.201400492
www.biotechnology-journal.com
Editorial: “Biotech Methods” − bringing methods to the forefront of biotechnology
J
ust as biotechnologist seeks to constantly innovate and bring about new research, a journal that serves the biotechnology community, such as Biotechnology Journal, should also challenge the status quo and improve itself to provide a better service to the biotech community. An important step in this direction is the introduction of “Biotech Method” as an article type in the Journal. Methods papers have traditionally been a strong focus of Biotechnology Journal, for which we dedicate at least one Special Issue to this per year [1] (submission deadlines are in May every year). To make this unique aspect of BTJ even more prominent and help our readers identify relevant works to advance their research, we introduce the new “Biotech Methods” section to the Journal, with the paper of Je-Kyun Park and colleagues [2] as the very first paper in this new section of BTJ. Park et al.’s paper [2] demonstrate a rapid method of removing oil from alginate microcapsules that contain single-cells, which provides a platform technology to further explore biological questions at a single-cell level. Other method papers in this issue include that of Hongchen Gu and colleagues [3], who report a method for size-selective separation of DNA by varying the concentrations of polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride, and has great implications in automated library preparation for high-throughput DNA sequencing. Another separation tool, in this case for separation of different classes of proteins, is reported by Ana Azevedo’s group [4], who examines the mechanism behind phenylboronate chromatography, whereby the separation of proteins is dependent on pH, electrostatic and cis-diol interactions.
Building on existing knowledge to bring about further progress is a basic premise of research and innovation. In this regard, Navarro and Ventura [5] report a new way to detect amyloid-like aggregates, using the fluorescent dye ProteoStat, which has been shown to detect aggresomes and aggresome-like inclusion bodies in eukaryotic cells [6]. Biocompatibility of materials is crucial for successful application of biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [7]. In this issue, Artur Cavaco-Paulo’s group show that phosphorylation of silk fibroins can be used to alter its hydrophillicity and hydrophobicity and thereby silk fibroins’ biocompatibility [8]. Also on tissue engineering are the reports by Xiaofeng Cui and colleagues[9], who demonstrate a 3D printing approach to examine the effect of nanoparticles on osteogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells, and that of Werner Müller et al. [10], who report eletrospun nanomats that provide a biocompatible surface with suffi-
cient mechanical stability, also for bone regeneration. Biotechnology as a platform technology for the production of biobased chemicals and biofuels is developing rapidly over the past few years (see review [11]). In this issue, four papers deal with industrial biotechnology specifically: Seung Hwan Lee’s group [12] reports a microbial process that enables highlevel conversion of L-lysine into 5-aminovalerate, which in turn can be used as a monomer of nylon 6,5. The ability to convert agricultural waste biomass into useable substrate for microbial fermentation would greatly contribute to realizing a bio-based economy. Fungi have the unique ability to secrete enzymes that degrade plant polysaccharides into monomeric components [13]. Ronald de Vries’s group [14] reports a synergistic effect of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei enzymes wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse saccharification. Katja Bühler and colleagues [15], demonstrate a gram-scale production of
Biotechnology Journal’s mobile app for the iPhone and iPad.
© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
1225
Biotechnology Journal
Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1225–1226 www.biotecvisions.com
www.biotechnology-journal.com
(S)-styrene oxide, an instable, toxic, yet high value chemical, through controlled scale-up of Pseduomonas biofilms. Also related to biofilms is the work of Radhakrishnan Mahadevan’s group [16], which deals with a relatively new area of biotechnology, i.e. the production of electrical energy from biomass. Mahadevan et al. [16] combine genome-scale models with models of the biofilm environment to show that, among others, increasing cell density leads to enhanced electrical current generation. Another important step forward for Biotechnology Journal is our new mobile app, which is available on the iPhone and iPad via the iTunes store (https://itunes.apple.com/app/ biotechnology-journal/id885855047? mt=8). There is now no excuse not to stay up to date with the latest research breakthroughs while on the go. Finally, our efforts in improving the Journal are continuing to yield fruitful results. Last year we announced our very first impact factor of 3.446 [17], this year, we are proud to say that our “score card” puts us at 3.708. While the impact factor is by no means a true measure of scientific relevance and impact, it nevertheless is the current gold standard and we are pleased with the attention that Biotechnology Journal’s papers have received from the biotechnology community.
Judy Peng, PhD. Managing Editor Biotechnology Journal E-mail: [email protected]
1226
References [1] Lee, S. Y., Jungbauer, A., Editorial: Latest methods and advances in biotechnology. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 2–3. [2] Lee, D. H., Jang, M. Park, J. K., Rapid onestep purification of single-cells encapsulated in alginate microcapsules from oil to aqueous phase using a hydrophobic filter paper: Implications for single-cell experiments. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1233–1240. [3] He, Z. Xu, H., Xiong, M., Gu, H., Size-selective DNA separation: Recovery spectra help determine the sodium chloride (NaCl) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations required. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1241–1249. [4] Carvalho, R., Woo, J., Aires-Barros, M. R., Cramer, S. M., Azevedo, A. M., Phenylboronate chromatography selectively separates glycoproteins through the manipulation of electrostatic, charge transfer and cis-diol interactions. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1250–1258. [5] Navarro, S., Ventura, S., ProteoStat to detect and discriminate intracellular amyloid-like aggregates in Escherichia coli. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1259–1266. [6] Raju, I., Kumarasamy, A., Abraham, E. C., Multiple aggregates and aggresomes of C-terminal truncated human alphaAcrystallins in mammalian cells and protection by alphaB-crystallin. PLoS One 2011, 6, e19876. [7] Ekerdt, B., Segalman, R. A., Schaffer, D. V., Spatial organization of cell-adhesive ligands for advanced cell culture. Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8, 1411–1423. [8] Volkov, V., Vasconcelos, A., Sárria, M. P.m Gomes, A. C., Cavaco-Paulo, A., Phosphorylation of silk fibroins improves the cytocompatibility of silk fibroin derived materials: A platform for the production of tuneable materials. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1267–1278. [9] Gao, G., Schilling, A. F., Yonezawa, T., Wang, J. et al., Bioactive nanoparticles stimulate bone tissue formation in bioprinted three-dimensional scaffold and human mesenchymal stem cells. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1304–1311.
Judy Peng
[10] Müller, W. E. G., Tolba, E., Schröder, H. C., Diehl-Seifert, B. et al., Biosilica-loaded poly(e-caprolactone) nanofibers mats provide a morphogenetically active surface scaffold for the growth and mineralization of the osteoclast-related SaOS-2 cells. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1312–1321. [11] Erickson, B., Nelson, J. E., Winters, P., Perspective on opportunities in industrial biotechnology in renewable chemicals. Biotechnol. J. 2012, 7, 176–185. [12] Park, S. J., Oh1, Y. H., Noh, W., Kim, H. Y., High-level conversion of L-lysine into 5-aminovalerate that can be used for nylon 6, 5 synthesis. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1322–1328. [13] Culleton, H., McKie, V., de Vries, R. P., Physiological and molecular aspects of degradation of plant polysaccharides by fungi: what have we learned from Aspergillus? Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8, 884–894. [14] van den Brink, J., Maitan-Alfenas, G. P., Zou, G., Wang, C. et al., Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei enzymes have a synergistic effect on saccharification of wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1329–1338. [15] Halan, B., Letzel, T., Schmid, A., Buehler, K., Solid support membrane aerated catalytic biofilm reactor for the continuous synthesis of (S)-styrene oxide at gram scale. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1339–1349. [16] Jayasinghea, N., Franks, A., Nevinb, K. P., Mahadevan, R., Metabolic modelling of spatial heterogeneity of biofilms in microbial fuel cells reveals substrate limitations in electrical current generation. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1350–1361. [17] Lee, S. Y., Jungbauer, A. Editorial: Flavors of international biotechnology. Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8,754–755.
© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1225–1226
DOI 10.1002/biot.201400492
www.biotechnology-journal.com
Editorial: “Biotech Methods” − bringing methods to the forefront of biotechnology
J
ust as biotechnologist seeks to constantly innovate and bring about new research, a journal that serves the biotechnology community, such as Biotechnology Journal, should also challenge the status quo and improve itself to provide a better service to the biotech community. An important step in this direction is the introduction of “Biotech Method” as an article type in the Journal. Methods papers have traditionally been a strong focus of Biotechnology Journal, for which we dedicate at least one Special Issue to this per year [1] (submission deadlines are in May every year). To make this unique aspect of BTJ even more prominent and help our readers identify relevant works to advance their research, we introduce the new “Biotech Methods” section to the Journal, with the paper of Je-Kyun Park and colleagues [2] as the very first paper in this new section of BTJ. Park et al.’s paper [2] demonstrate a rapid method of removing oil from alginate microcapsules that contain single-cells, which provides a platform technology to further explore biological questions at a single-cell level. Other method papers in this issue include that of Hongchen Gu and colleagues [3], who report a method for size-selective separation of DNA by varying the concentrations of polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride, and has great implications in automated library preparation for high-throughput DNA sequencing. Another separation tool, in this case for separation of different classes of proteins, is reported by Ana Azevedo’s group [4], who examines the mechanism behind phenylboronate chromatography, whereby the separation of proteins is dependent on pH, electrostatic and cis-diol interactions.
Building on existing knowledge to bring about further progress is a basic premise of research and innovation. In this regard, Navarro and Ventura [5] report a new way to detect amyloid-like aggregates, using the fluorescent dye ProteoStat, which has been shown to detect aggresomes and aggresome-like inclusion bodies in eukaryotic cells [6]. Biocompatibility of materials is crucial for successful application of biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [7]. In this issue, Artur Cavaco-Paulo’s group show that phosphorylation of silk fibroins can be used to alter its hydrophillicity and hydrophobicity and thereby silk fibroins’ biocompatibility [8]. Also on tissue engineering are the reports by Xiaofeng Cui and colleagues[9], who demonstrate a 3D printing approach to examine the effect of nanoparticles on osteogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells, and that of Werner Müller et al. [10], who report eletrospun nanomats that provide a biocompatible surface with suffi-
cient mechanical stability, also for bone regeneration. Biotechnology as a platform technology for the production of biobased chemicals and biofuels is developing rapidly over the past few years (see review [11]). In this issue, four papers deal with industrial biotechnology specifically: Seung Hwan Lee’s group [12] reports a microbial process that enables highlevel conversion of L-lysine into 5-aminovalerate, which in turn can be used as a monomer of nylon 6,5. The ability to convert agricultural waste biomass into useable substrate for microbial fermentation would greatly contribute to realizing a bio-based economy. Fungi have the unique ability to secrete enzymes that degrade plant polysaccharides into monomeric components [13]. Ronald de Vries’s group [14] reports a synergistic effect of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei enzymes wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse saccharification. Katja Bühler and colleagues [15], demonstrate a gram-scale production of
Biotechnology Journal’s mobile app for the iPhone and iPad.
© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
1225
Biotechnology Journal
Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1225–1226 www.biotecvisions.com
www.biotechnology-journal.com
(S)-styrene oxide, an instable, toxic, yet high value chemical, through controlled scale-up of Pseduomonas biofilms. Also related to biofilms is the work of Radhakrishnan Mahadevan’s group [16], which deals with a relatively new area of biotechnology, i.e. the production of electrical energy from biomass. Mahadevan et al. [16] combine genome-scale models with models of the biofilm environment to show that, among others, increasing cell density leads to enhanced electrical current generation. Another important step forward for Biotechnology Journal is our new mobile app, which is available on the iPhone and iPad via the iTunes store (https://itunes.apple.com/app/ biotechnology-journal/id885855047? mt=8). There is now no excuse not to stay up to date with the latest research breakthroughs while on the go. Finally, our efforts in improving the Journal are continuing to yield fruitful results. Last year we announced our very first impact factor of 3.446 [17], this year, we are proud to say that our “score card” puts us at 3.708. While the impact factor is by no means a true measure of scientific relevance and impact, it nevertheless is the current gold standard and we are pleased with the attention that Biotechnology Journal’s papers have received from the biotechnology community.
Judy Peng, PhD. Managing Editor Biotechnology Journal E-mail: [email protected]
1226
References [1] Lee, S. Y., Jungbauer, A., Editorial: Latest methods and advances in biotechnology. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 2–3. [2] Lee, D. H., Jang, M. Park, J. K., Rapid onestep purification of single-cells encapsulated in alginate microcapsules from oil to aqueous phase using a hydrophobic filter paper: Implications for single-cell experiments. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1233–1240. [3] He, Z. Xu, H., Xiong, M., Gu, H., Size-selective DNA separation: Recovery spectra help determine the sodium chloride (NaCl) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations required. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1241–1249. [4] Carvalho, R., Woo, J., Aires-Barros, M. R., Cramer, S. M., Azevedo, A. M., Phenylboronate chromatography selectively separates glycoproteins through the manipulation of electrostatic, charge transfer and cis-diol interactions. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1250–1258. [5] Navarro, S., Ventura, S., ProteoStat to detect and discriminate intracellular amyloid-like aggregates in Escherichia coli. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1259–1266. [6] Raju, I., Kumarasamy, A., Abraham, E. C., Multiple aggregates and aggresomes of C-terminal truncated human alphaAcrystallins in mammalian cells and protection by alphaB-crystallin. PLoS One 2011, 6, e19876. [7] Ekerdt, B., Segalman, R. A., Schaffer, D. V., Spatial organization of cell-adhesive ligands for advanced cell culture. Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8, 1411–1423. [8] Volkov, V., Vasconcelos, A., Sárria, M. P.m Gomes, A. C., Cavaco-Paulo, A., Phosphorylation of silk fibroins improves the cytocompatibility of silk fibroin derived materials: A platform for the production of tuneable materials. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1267–1278. [9] Gao, G., Schilling, A. F., Yonezawa, T., Wang, J. et al., Bioactive nanoparticles stimulate bone tissue formation in bioprinted three-dimensional scaffold and human mesenchymal stem cells. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1304–1311.
Judy Peng
[10] Müller, W. E. G., Tolba, E., Schröder, H. C., Diehl-Seifert, B. et al., Biosilica-loaded poly(e-caprolactone) nanofibers mats provide a morphogenetically active surface scaffold for the growth and mineralization of the osteoclast-related SaOS-2 cells. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1312–1321. [11] Erickson, B., Nelson, J. E., Winters, P., Perspective on opportunities in industrial biotechnology in renewable chemicals. Biotechnol. J. 2012, 7, 176–185. [12] Park, S. J., Oh1, Y. H., Noh, W., Kim, H. Y., High-level conversion of L-lysine into 5-aminovalerate that can be used for nylon 6, 5 synthesis. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1322–1328. [13] Culleton, H., McKie, V., de Vries, R. P., Physiological and molecular aspects of degradation of plant polysaccharides by fungi: what have we learned from Aspergillus? Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8, 884–894. [14] van den Brink, J., Maitan-Alfenas, G. P., Zou, G., Wang, C. et al., Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei enzymes have a synergistic effect on saccharification of wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1329–1338. [15] Halan, B., Letzel, T., Schmid, A., Buehler, K., Solid support membrane aerated catalytic biofilm reactor for the continuous synthesis of (S)-styrene oxide at gram scale. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1339–1349. [16] Jayasinghea, N., Franks, A., Nevinb, K. P., Mahadevan, R., Metabolic modelling of spatial heterogeneity of biofilms in microbial fuel cells reveals substrate limitations in electrical current generation. Biotechnol. J. 2014, 9, 1350–1361. [17] Lee, S. Y., Jungbauer, A. Editorial: Flavors of international biotechnology. Biotechnol. J. 2013, 8,754–755.
© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
