BBSRC Portfolio Analyser
Award details
Design of bioactive sesquiterpene-based chemical signals with enhanced stability
Reference
BBS/E/C/00005105
Principal Investigator / Supervisor
Dr Michael Birkett
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution
Rothamsted Research
Department
Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type
Research
Value (£)
22,126
Status
Completed
Type
Institute Project
Start date
01/01/2011
End date
31/08/2014
Duration
44 months
Abstract
We have previously extensively investigated the active site of terpene synthases by a combination of protein engineering and synthetic chemistry. From this work, we hypothesize that subtle alterations to this chemical space will allow the docking and catalytic conversion of analogues of the natural precursor farnesyl diphosphate (FDP), and lead rationally to the production of analogues of biologically active naturally-occurring sesquiterpenes. Signalling between organisms via small lipophilic molecules (SLMs), e.g. pheromones and other semiochemicals, can have profound impacts on development and, for higher organisms including human and other animals, on behaviour. Our chemical ecology work shows that plant-produced sesquiterpenes can be semiochemicals that modify the behaviour of major world pests, such as aphid pests attacking arable crops and pests of livestock and human health. This includes the highly unstable and volatile sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (S)-germacrene D. We will investigate the chemical space of (S)-germacrene D synthase (GDS) using a synthetic biology approach. Investigations will involve a combination of introducing FDP analogues to GDSs, active site modification of wild type GDS, and production of a library of (S)-germacrene D analogues with greater stability.
Summary
unavailable
Committee
Not funded via Committee
Research Topics
Structural Biology, Synthetic Biology
Research Priority
X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative
X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme
X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
I accept the
terms and conditions of use
(opens in new window)
export PDF file
back to list
new search