The enzyme L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amidohydrolase) catalyzes the breakdown of L-asparagine into aspartate and ammonia, which leads to an anti-neoplastic activity stemming from its capacity to deplete L-asparagine concentrations in the bloodstream, and it is therefore used in cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to inhibit malignant cell growth. Nowadays, this anti-cancer enzyme, largely produced by Escherichia coli, is well established on the market. However, E. coli L-asparaginase therapy has side effects such as anaphylaxis, coagulation abnormality, low plasma half-life, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, protease action, hyperglycemia, and cerebral dysfunction. This review provides a perspective on the use of filamentous fungi as alternative cell factories for L-asparaginase production. Filamentous fungi, such as various Aspergillus species, have superior protein secretion capacity compared to yeast and bacteria and studies show their potential for the future production of proteins with humanized N-linked glycans. This article explores the past and present applications of this important enzyme and discusses the prospects for using filamentous fungi to produce safe eukaryotic asparaginases with high production yields.

The aim of this study was to produce epoxidized monoalkyl esters (EMAE), a valuable class of oleochemicals used in a wide range of products and industries, from used soybean cooking oil (USCO) and fusel oil via a three-step chemoenzymatic process. This process consists of a first enzymatic hydrolysis of USCO to produce free fatty acids (FFA). Here, five microbial lipases with different specificities were tested as biocatalysts. Full hydrolysis of USCO was obtained after a 180 min reaction time under vigorous stirring (1500 rpm) using a non-specific lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL). Then, monoalkyl esters (MAE) were produced via the esterification of FFA and fusel oil in a solvent-free system using the lipase Eversa^® Transform 2.0 (ET2.0) immobilized via physical adsorption on poly(styrenene-divinylbenzene) (PSty-DVB) beads as a biocatalyst. Different water removal strategies (closed and open reactors in the presence or absence of molecular sieves at 5% m.m⁻¹) on the reaction were evaluated. Maximum FFA conversions of 64.3 ± 2.3% (open reactor after a 30 min reaction time) and 73.5 ± 0.4% (closed reactor after a 45 min reaction time) were observed at 40 °C, using a stoichiometric FFA:fusel oil molar ratio (1:1), without molecular sieves, and 5 mg of immobilized protein per gram of reaction mixture. Under these conditions, maximum FFA conversion was only 30.2 ± 2.7% after a 210 min reaction time in a closed reactor using soluble lipase. Reusability tests showed better retention of the original activity of immobilized ET2.0 (around 82%) after eight successive batches of esterification reactions conducted in an open reactor. Finally, the produced MAE was epoxidized via the Prilezhaev reaction, a classical chemical epoxidation process, using hydrogen peroxide and formic acid as a homogeneous catalyst. The products were characterized by standard methods and identified using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Maximum unsaturated bond conversions into epoxy groups were at approximately 33%, with the experimental epoxy oxygen content (OOC_exp.) at 1.75–1.78%, and selectivity (S) at 0.81, using both MAEs produced (open or closed reactors). These results show that this new process is a promising approach for value-added oleochemical production from low-cost and renewable raw materials.

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) and cholesterol lipoprotein levels are widely used to predict cardiovascular risk and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study is to determine how the comprehensive lipidome (individual molecular lipid species) determined by mass spectrometry is correlated to the serum whole-lipidic profile of adults with different lipidemic conditions. The study included samples from 128 adults of both sexes, and they were separated into four groups according to their lipid profile: Group I—normolipidemic (TAG < 150 mg/dL, LDL-C < 160 mg/dL and HDL-c > 40 mg/dL); Group II—isolated hypertriglyceridemia (TAG ≥ 150 mg/dL); Group III—isolated hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C ≥ 160 mg/dL) and Group IV—mixed dyslipidemia. An untargeted mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach was applied to determine the lipidomic signature of 32 healthy and 96 dyslipidemic adults. Limma linear regression was used to predict the correlation of serum TAGs and cholesterol lipoprotein levels with the abundance of the identified MS-annotated lipids found in the subgroups of subjects. Serum TAG levels of dyslipidemic adults have a positive correlation with some of the MS-annotated specific TAGs and ceramides (Cer) and a negative correlation with sphingomyelins (SMs). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are positively correlated with some groups of glycerophosphocholine, while low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) has a positive correlation with SMs.

This review surveys literature from 2010 to 2025 on Aspergillus-derived enzymes for kinetic resolution (KR), using conventional databases and AI-assisted platforms. Among over 340 species, A. niger, A. oryzae, and A. terreus are widely recognized as safe and industrially relevant. Lipases from these fungi exhibit high stability, broad substrate specificity, and enantioselectivity, enabling efficient resolution of racemic mixtures. Advances in enzyme immobilization, protein engineering, and reaction medium optimization have enhanced catalytic performance under diverse conditions. Complementary enzymes, including esterases and epoxide hydrolases, further expand biocatalytic applications. Despite increasing demand for enantiopure compounds, challenges in yield, scalability, and enzyme discovery call for integrated molecular and process strategies. Aspergillus spp. emerge as a promising system for high-level enzyme expression, offering robust secretion capacity, efficient post-translational processing, and strong adaptability for industrial biocatalysis.

This study investigated the effects of a single dose of desvenlafaxine via oral administration on the pharmacokinetic parameters and clinical and laboratory characteristics in healthy volunteers using a pharmacometabolomics approach. In order to optimize desvenlafaxine’s therapeutic use and minimize potential adverse effects, this knowledge is essential. Methods: Thirty-five healthy volunteers were enrolled after a health trial and received a single dose of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq^®, 100 mg). First, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the main pharmacokinetic parameters. Next, ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify plasma metabolites with different relative abundances in the metabolome at pre-dose and when the desvenlafaxine peak plasma concentration was reached (pre-dose vs. post-dose). Results: Correlations were observed between metabolomic profiles, such as tyrosine, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and pharmacokinetic parameters, as well as acetoacetic acid and uridine diphosphate glucose associated with clinical characteristics. Our findings suggest that desvenlafaxine may have a broader effect than previously thought by acting on the proteins responsible for the transport of various molecules at the cellular level, such as the solute carrier SLC and adenosine triphosphate synthase binding cassette ABC transporters. Both of these molecules have been associated with PK parameters and adverse events in our study. Conclusions: This altered transporter activity may be related to the reported side effects of desvenlafaxine, such as changes in blood pressure and liver function. This finding may be part of the explanation as to why people respond differently to the drug.

Lisdexamfetamine is a prodrug that is converted to d-amphetamine in the body, mainly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults. Its mechanism involves the enhancement of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which are critical for attention and behavioral regulation. With the upcoming patent expiration of Vyvanse®, bioanalytical methods for the quantification of lisdexamfetamine in plasma are needed for use in pharmacokinetic studies. In this work, we developed and validated a sensitive bioanalytical method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for lisdexamfetamine quantification in human plasma. The method developed was performed for 4 min per sample and using the concentration range of 0.3-100 ng mL-1. Intra-batch, inter-batch and instrument reproducibility, the precision was lower than 10%. The results demonstrated that the method is rapid, sensitive, robust, and suitable for pharmacokinetic studies.