Colored genetic engineering

Color - [GENETIC ENGINEERING - PROCEDURES] (Vol 12) -of gemstones [GEMSTONES - GEMSTONE MATERIALS] (Vol 12)... 

Iran Color Research Center, Tehran, Iran -National Research Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology E-mail rouhani s yahoo.com... 

Introduces novel approaches to the biosynthesis of colorants by microalgae, microorganisms, and genetic engineering... 

Besides its biological significance, the silkworm has economic value. Silk has been a major natural fiber used in textile production for millennia. By utilizing CBP, coloration of a natural fiber by transport of a natural pigment based on molecular genetic engineering has been achieved (Sakudoh et al. 2007). Determination of other genes for cocoon color may lead to the ability to produce custom-colored silks, which may have an impact on the textile industry. 

At first, however, a trace by-product, indirubin, rendered jeans an unfashionable shade of red. Genetic engineering removed the gene for the red pigment. The final color is indistinguishable from the globally popular deep blue of the chemically made dye. To be competitive with the established process, however, the efficiency of the process still needs to be improved. The process, however, is much more environmentally benign and produces much less waste. 

Another approach could be to use genetic engineering to introduce a further step in a biosynthetic pathway, leading to (for the plant) new compounds. This approach has, for example, been used to introduce new flower colors (IS). It could also be of interest in improving the resistance of plants against microorganisms or predators. However, more insight into the role of alkaloids in plant survival in native ecosystems is needed for this. 

Holton TA (1996) Plant transgenosis with flavanoid pathway enzyme gene in genetic engineering of altered flower color. W09636716A1, International Flower Developments Pty. Ltd., Australia... 

The analysis of tomato color mutants found in Solanum lycopersicum or in crosses with related wild species, as well as genetic engineering studies have clarified enormously the bios3uithetic pathway of carotenoids. Carotenoids, as other plastid isoprenoids, derive from isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP). IPP used in the synthesis of these compounds may arise at some developmental stages partly from the mevalonic (MVA) pathway [23], but it is mainly synthesized through the methyler-ythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway [24]. The first enzyme of this pathway. 

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