Salika Safar
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Filipa Barroso Pereira
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan / Other
Program:
Authors: Filipa Pereira, Salika Safar
Session: Session 3: 11:00 am – 11: 50 am
Poster: 5
Abstract
Currently, most complex molecules of pharmaceutical and commercial use are made using chemical synthesis. However, this past decade alone has seen the rise of using living organisms, mainly yeast and bacteria, to produce natural products with sustainable solutions and promising commercial use. In our project, we are using a model yeast, namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to examine and optimize the production of fungal derivatives of terpenoids. Brevianamide belongs to a class of diketopiperazines natural products, with a variety of biological functions such as anticancer and anti-insecticidal. We are building on previous work done on the initial steps of the in vivo heterologous production of Brevianamide in Escherichia coli. To overcome the flux limitations in E. coli, we are implementing a partial brevianamide biosynthetic pathway in yeast. By optimizing the last two steps in S.cerevisiae, we hope to be able to coculture together with the engineered E. coli to enhance production of final brevianamide product, Brevianamide E. Currency, we are performing microbiology techniques like PCR, DNA purification, Gibson Assembly Cloning, and Transformation, as we monitor S. cerevisiae growth and tolerance to compound production. As we advance further in our studies, we will engage in quantitative data collection like HPLC and LCMS, as we hope to improve the production of novel diketopiperazines.
