Compounds from Tropical Coral Could Create Novel Sunscreens for Humans or UV-tolerant Plants
September 2, 2011 |
Marine organisms such as corals and fishes may have a way of protecting themselves from harsh UV radiation. This motivated Dr. Paul Long a senior lecturer from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and his team at the King's College London to investigate marine organisms specially corals. The team collected coral samples from the Great Barrier Reef and found that algae living within the corals make compounds utilizing their shikimate pathway which is found only in microorganisms and algae. If the genetic basis of the shikimate pathway is transferred to high yielding crops found in temperate climates, they may be able to thrive and be productive also in tropical and intense sunlight conditions.
The scientists also observed that fish that feed on the coral also benefit from this sunscreen protection. "This led us to believe that if we can determine how this compound is created and passed on, we could biosynthetically develop it in the laboratory to create a sunscreen for human use, perhaps in the form of a tablet, which would work in a similar way. We are very close to being able to reproduce this compound in the lab, and if all goes well we would expect to test it within the next two years," Long said.
The project funded under the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will also focus on how coral bleaching occurs when there is a rise in sea temperature by 2-3 degrees in summer, including the genetic and biochemical changes - a step towards the development of solutions in mitigating the effects of climate change.
The original news can be seen at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/food-security/2011/110831-pr-tropical-coral-sunscreen.aspx
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- 1001 Genome Project – to Complete the Arabidopsis Genome Catalog
- CGIAR Tackles Food Crisis and How Research Can Help
- World Must Fund Famine-Wreaked African Countries to Prevent Generation Dying
- GM Biotech Revenues Increase in U.S.
- Colombia and Argentina Sign Agreement to Promote Cooperation in Biotechnology
- Cornell Researchers Identify How Insects Resist Bt Pesticides
- Regulators Approve New DuPont Corn Seeds
- Pretreatment, Proper Harvest Time Boost Ethanol From Switchgrass
- New Website for Drought Info-Seekers
- Making Tomorrow's Bioenergy Yeasts Strong
- Vietnam Seeks to Develop Safe Biotech System
- BAU Golden Jubilee Celebrations Highlight Biotech
- Scientists Share Facts on Philippine Biotech Crops
- Categorization of EU Member States Based on Approach to Biotech
- New Genome Sequence Could Improve Oilseed Rape and More
- Summer Droughts Affect Plant Growth and Productivity
- Scientists Study Gene Clusters in Plants
-
Research Highlights
- Effects of Bt Proteins from Corn Straw on Enzyme Activities of Redworms
- ALK,the Key Gene for Gelatinization Temperature of Rice
- Arabidopsis TBP-associated factor 5: Necessary for Growth and Development
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Compounds from Tropical Coral Could Create Novel Sunscreens for Humans or UV-tolerant Plants
- Research To Speed The Tracing of Salmonella Outbreaks
- Vietnamese PhD Student Explains Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance
- Gut Bacterium Genome to Explain their Host Specificity
- Lizard Genome Cracked
-
Announcements
- The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus
- Biopesticide International Conference
- International Training Course in Cryopreservation Techniques
-
Resources
- Chile GM Report
- India Bioagriculture Market
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (November 6, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (October 30, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet