Isoprenoids are an extremely large and diverse group of natural compounds, with more than 70.000 compounds described to date. They perform a wide range of essential functions in all organisms as well as many non-essential but very important roles (e.g. as antioxidants, hormones, signalling molecules, membrane components). Far beyond their biological relevance, many isoprenoids are of industrial interest: they can be used as pharmaceuticals, food additives, fragrances, colourants, nutraceuticals, fine chemicals, bulk industrial chemicals, agricultural chemicals, biofuels, and fuel additives. This has led to an increasing interest in all these compounds and the development of strategies to produce them in microbes.
Despite their structural and functional diversity, all isoprenoids derive from the same universal C5 building blocks, IPP and its isomer DMAPP, which are naturally produced by two unrelated metabolic pathways: the MVA pathway, mainly present in Eukaryotes (including yeast) and Archaea, and the MEP pathway present in most Bacteria.
The Isoprenoids Program seeks to better understand the regulation, metabolic flux controls, manipulability, and biological functions of isoprenoid pathways. We apply synthetic biology tools to help understand basic biology as well as to re-engineer these pathways for improved industrial production of isoprenoids.
Research projects
- IspH control of IPP and DMAPP ratios in the MEP pathway
- Protein-based biosensors for key sub-cellular metabolites and industrial target molecules
- Production of plant hormones (strigolactones) in microbes
- Virus-like particles as bespoke bioreactor nanocompartments
- Exploring cell-free isoprenoid production
