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: ...
May 18, 2012 |
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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 ...
Oct 24, 2011 |
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In Ocean's Depths, Heat-Loving 'Extremophile' Evolves a Strange Molecular Trick
(PhysOrg.com) -- Making its home near extreme temperatures of thermal vents on the ocean floor, the organism Methanopyrus kandleri harbors a molecular secret that intrigues evolutionary biologists and even ...
Apr 30, 2009 |
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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.
Aug 23, 2011 |
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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 ...
Nov 18, 2011 |
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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
Jan 04, 2011 |
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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 ...
Mar 14, 2010 |
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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.
Apr 25, 2010 |
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Study Reveals Unexpected Ancient Cellular Structure
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at North Carolina State University have effectively lifted the veil from the structure of an ancient and important RNA-protein complex essential for the biosynthesis and function of the ribosome, ...
Sep 10, 2009 |
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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. ...
Nov 24, 2010 |
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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.
Mar 30, 2012 |
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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 ...
Jun 21, 2010 |
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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
Nov 03, 2010 |
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Novel natural product from environmental DNA: Erdacin is a powerful antioxidant
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have not yet found a way to turn dirt into gold, but they are trying to find something valuable in it nonetheless: starting materials for novel pharmaceuticals.
Jul 31, 2009 |
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Making New Enzymes to Engineer Plants for Biofuel Production
(PhysOrg.com) -- Brookhaven scientists have created a new enzyme with the potential to interfere with a key cell-wall component in plants, possibly leading to plants that are easier to "digest" and convert ...
Dec 21, 2009 |
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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.
