Publications by authors named "B Hamberger"
The Lamiaceae (mint family) is the largest known source of furanoclerodanes, a subset of clerodane diterpenoids with broad bioactivities including insect antifeedant properties. The Ajugoideae subfamily, in particular, accumulates significant numbers of structurally related furanoclerodanes. The biosynthetic capacity for formation of these diterpenoids is retained across most Lamiaceae subfamilies, including the early-diverging Callicarpoideae which forms a sister clade to the rest of Lamiaceae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Lamiaceae (mint family) is the largest known source of furanoclerodanes, a subset of clerodane diterpenoids with broad bioactivities including insect antifeedant properties. The subfamily, in particular, accumulates significant numbers of structurally related furanoclerodanes. The biosynthetic capacity for formation of these diterpenoids is retained across most Lamiaceae subfamilies, including the early-diverging which forms a sister clade to the rest of Lamiaceae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Salvia hispanica L. (Chia) is an important crop in Mesoamerica, valued for its nutritional benefits linked to fatty acids in its seeds; varieties include Chia pinta (mixed white and black) and Chia negra (black).
- Researchers created a detailed genome assembly of the Chia pinta variety and compared it with an existing Chia negra genome, finding high genetic similarity and identifying more terpene synthase genes in Chia pinta.
- The study also sequenced 20 different Chia accessions based on seed color and origin, shedding light on the population structure and complex evolutionary history of the Salvia genus, which includes evidence of hybridization between species.
Article Synopsis
- Photosynthetic microalgae possess significant potential as eco-friendly production systems for valuable natural products like terpenoids.
- The research focuses on engineering a specific microalga to produce casbene, an important precursor for medicinal compounds, by manipulating its genes and targeting specific enzymes.
- The successful modifications resulted in enhanced yields of casbene, providing a foundation for future advancements in producing complex plant-derived compounds using microalgae.
Terpenes are diverse specialized metabolites naturally found within plants and have important roles in inter-species communication, adaptation and interaction with the environment. Their industrial applications span a broad range, including fragrances, flavors, cosmetics, natural colorants to agrochemicals and therapeutics, yet formal chemical synthesis is economically challenging due to structural complexities. Engineering terpene biosynthesis could represent an alternative in microbial biotechnological workhorses, such as or , utilizing sugars or complex media as feedstocks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF