Publications
ACS synthetic biologyNov 2019 |
8
(
11
),
2464-2471
DOI:
10.1021/acssynbio.9b00352

Interkingdom Genetic Mix-and-Match To Produce Novel Sunscreens

Osborn, Andrew R; Mahmud, Taifo
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Sunscreen-containing skincare products protect the skin from damage caused by sun exposure. However, many of them contain oxybenzone and/or octinoxate, which have been reported to be toxic to juvenile coral and to cause coral bleaching. Thus, there is a growing need for new sunscreen compounds that are less harmful to the environment. Here, we report an engineered biosynthetic pathway employing genes from a vertebrate and two Gram-(+) bacteria that forms novel sunscreen compounds with hybrid structures of gadusol and mycosporine-like amino acids, both of which are found in marine environments. These compounds, named gadusporines, have unique UV absorbance at 340 nm, expanding the range of mycosporine- and gadusol-based sunscreen products. The synthesis of gadusporines in Streptomyces coelicolor establishes a platform for the design and production of novel sunscreens.
Product Used
Genes

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