A breakthrough in biosynthesis has been announced by researchers at the University of Tokyo. They have successfully achieved the high-level biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid elemene in yeast. This is the first time that such a complex natural product has been synthesized in yeast and it has potential applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and food industries. Elemene is a natural compound with a wide range of medicinal properties and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. By using metabolic engineering to modify the yeast’s metabolic pathways, the researchers were able to produce elemene at levels that are comparable to those found in plants. This is a major step forward for biosynthesis and could lead to improved and more cost-effective production of this important natural compound.

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source: Phys.org