News tagged with biosynthesis

Friendly Fungi: Elucidating the fungal biosynthesis of stipitatic acid

(Phys.org) -- In a tale worthy of Sherlock Holmes, scientists in the School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol, UK have solved a biochemical mystery that had previously proven elusive for 70 years: ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 18, 2012 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast feature

Inside a plant's pharma factory

A newly discovered enzyme brings scientists one step closer to understanding how plants manufacture a molecule with potent medicinal properties.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Mar 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Visualization of DNA synthesis in vivo

Researchers of the University of Zurich have discovered a new substance for labeling and visualization of DNA synthesis in whole animals. Applications for this technique include identifying the sites of virus ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Dec 13, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Enzymatic synthesis of pyrrolysine, the mysterious 22nd amino acid

With few exceptions, all known proteins are built up from only twenty amino acids. 25 years ago scientists discovered a 21st amino acid, selenocysteine and ten years ago a 22nd, the pyrrolysine. However, how the cell produces ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Nov 18, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

First observation of metamorphosis of an enzyme that catalyzes two chemical reactions

Professor Takayoshi Wakagi and Associate Professor Shinya Fushinobu of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo and colleagues were the first to clarify how an enzyme ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Nov 15, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Biologists learn how plants synthesize their growth hormone auxin

Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have succeeded in unraveling, for the first time, the complete chain of biochemical reactions that controls the synthesis of auxin, the hormone that regulates nearly all ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Oct 24, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Newfound hijacked proteins linked to salmonella virulence

Scientists have discovered that bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella have a sneaky way of making minor alterations to their genes to boost their chances for infection.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Aug 23, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Student brings home new expertise to answer question in antibiotic resistance

Working out the structure of a complex formed when a protein binds to DNA has proved to be key in understanding how an antibiotic-producing organism controls resistance to its own antibiotic, and may be an ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Aug 10, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Birch bark ingredient comes with many metabolic benefits

An ingredient found in abundance in birch bark appears to have an array of metabolic benefits, according to new studies in animals that are reported in the January issue of Cell Metabolism. In mice, the compound known as bet ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Jan 04, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Erythromycin A produced in E. coli for first time

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering have reported the first successful production of the antibiotic erythromycin A, and two variations, using E. coli as the production host. ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Nov 24, 2010 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

PET scans reveal estrogen-producing hotspots in human brain

A study at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory has demonstrated that a molecule "tagged" with a radioactive form of carbon can be used to image aromatase, an enzyme responsible for ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Nov 03, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Enzyme Trio for Biosynthesis of Hydrocarbon Fuels

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists with the Joint BioEnergy Institute have identified a trio of bacterial enzymes that can catalyze key steps in the conversion of plant sugars into hydrocarbon compounds for the production ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jun 21, 2010 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Slimming aid from the cell laboratory?

Love handles, muffin tops and stomach tires - white fat tissue forms the typical curves in the notorious problem areas to store energy. Exactly the opposite happens in brown fat tissue: Instead of being stored, ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created May 07, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Scientists crack code of critical bacterial defense mechanism

Scientists have combined chemistry and biology research techniques to explain how certain bacteria grow structures on their surfaces that allow them to simultaneously cause illness and protect themselves from the body's defenses.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Apr 25, 2010 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Unlocking the opium poppy's biggest secret (w/ Video)

Researchers at the University of Calgary have discovered the unique genes that allow the opium poppy to make codeine and morphine, thus opening doors to alternate methods of producing these effective painkillers ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Mar 14, 2010 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (9) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

Biosynthesis

Biosynthesis (also called biogenesis) is an enzyme-catalyzed process in cells of living organisms by which substrates are converted to more complex products. The biosynthesis process often consists of several enzymatic steps in which the product of one step is used as substrate in the following step. Examples for such multi-step biosynthetic pathways are those for the production of amino acids, fatty acids, and natural products. Biosynthesis plays a major role in all cells, and many dedicated metabolic routes combined constitute general metabolism.

The prerequisites for biosynthesis are precursor compounds, chemical energy (such as in the form ATP), and catalytic enzymes, which may require reduction equivalents (e.g., in the form of NADH, NADPH).

Commonly known complex products of biosynthesis include proteins, vitamins, and antibiotics. Most organic compounds in living organisms are built in biosynthetic pathways.

For more information about Biosynthesis, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.