| TECHNOLOGY |
adopted a somewhat different approach to engineering of carotenoid biosynthesis by producing the compounds in tobacco plants rather than in bacteria. They manipulated tobacco's carotenoid biosynthetic pathway by adding a ketolase enzyme from red algae. The modified plant biosynthesized astaxanthin, a compound responsible for the characteristic pink coloring of salmon, trout, and shrimp. Astaxanthin produced by chemical synthesis is currently marketed commercially for use in salmon farming. However, it is also of interest for potential medical applications because it has been shown to boost immune function in humans, reduce oral cancer in rats, and inhibit breast cancer in mice. The approach developed by authors not only provides a way to produce astaxanthin in tobacco but could also be applicable to the production of novel carotenoids in other types of plants. "It's not clear yet if the biotechnological production of carotenoids can become cheaper than chemical synthesis. "However, the biotechnology approach has other advantages: 'cleaner' production, renewable sources, and the ability to provide natural products," such as specific carotenoid enantiomers |
| UPDATE | 08.00 |
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