Making sense of plant compounds
Chemical biology at the Business Unit Bioscience of Plant Research International is focusing on characterizing plant metabolites and proteins in relation to their biosynthesis and target receptors. As compound-receptor interactions are ultimately responsible for determining and explaining much of the behaviour and wellbeing of organisms, scientific questions in this field range from nanotechnology to ecology. Extension activities to promote the application of our technology include a programme focused on several Asian countries.
- Chemical Biology of Plant Compound Receptor Targets
Target receptors of plant metabolites and proteins in humans and animals are still largely unknown. These compounds are sensed by our nose, tongue, and gut, and affect the rest of our body after passing the gut barrier and entering our bloodstream. A large repertoire of more than a thousand receptor proteins mediates those sensing effects. However, technical hurdles have so far prevented that the interaction profile with those receptors could be effectively determined. In our group we are working on bionanotechnology approaches, that will allow highly multiplexed reporter assays of human and animal receptor proteins to be studied, with the aim to develop biosensor instruments and software capable of mimicking a nose or tongue or identifying plant-derived pharmaceutically active compounds.» Read more...
- Chemical Biology of Plant Compound Biosynthesis
Plants are genetically diverse and have highly variable chemotypes. Apart from characterizing this diversity by metabolomics approaches we are interested in understanding how it is generated at the level of the enzyme network. The biosynthesis of most plant compounds is the result of a complex series of biochemical conversions in diverse cellular compartments and tissues and only a systems biology approach will allow a deeper understanding. In our group we currently study several of these pathways in relation to insect repellent or attractive compounds. » Read more...
- Chemical Biology Extension
Rather than fully depending on local or multinational industry to take our technology further, we also actively interact with universities and companies in countries such as India, China and Korea to jointly carry out specific R&D programmes. This extension work provides examples of meaningful applications of our technology. » Read more...