Production of industrial compounds, Biology

Assignment Help:

Production of Industrial Compounds

Cultured plant cells retain their metabolic potential and synthesise secondary products of commerce. Cell cultures can also be used as factories for bioconversion of intermediate compounds into more valuable products. Shikonin, an expensive compound, obtained from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has been used by the Japanese traditionally as a vegetable dye and in cosmetics and toiletries. However, due to over exploitation this plant has become almost extinct in Japan.

To reduce dependence on import of this plant material, the Japanese scientists have developed a tissue culture method for the commercial production of Shikonin. Another example in which tissue culture production of an industrial compound has reached commercial level is Berberine from Coptis Japonica. In tissue cultures the yield of high value compounds can be enhanced by feeding the cells with precursors of their biosynthetic pathway (Biotransformation), manipulation of the culture conditions and selecting high yielding cell lines. The production of secondary plant products of commerce would considerably reduce the pressure on shrinking arable land. Besides its practical application, tissue culture systems have been found ideal to study basic aspects such as alternation of generation, morphogenesis, growth and differentiation and host-pathogen interaction. In fact, one important fundamental contribution of plant tissue culture is the discovery of cytokinins.


Related Discussions:- Production of industrial compounds

How many of the four daughter cells produced, If a person is heterozygous f...

If a person is heterozygous for the 32 allele of the CCR5 gene, how many of the four daughter cells produced by meiosis will have the 32 allele?

Explain about microbial polysaccharides, Microbial polysaccharides Many...

Microbial polysaccharides Many microorganisms produce polysaccharides that either remain attached to the cell wall (capsular polysaccharides) or are  secreted into the extracel

Define the lens transparency in metabolism of lens, Define the lens transpa...

Define the lens transparency in metabolism of lens. Lens Transparency: a. Transparency depends on avoidance of large transitions of refractory index. This is in other wor

Presenting features of exstrophy of the bladder, Presenting Features ...

Presenting Features Anterior abdominal wall and anterior bladder wall is deficient and on the surface everted posterior wall of bladder with two ureteric orifices is seen.

Gametes and genotypes, what type of gametes would be produced from genotype...

what type of gametes would be produced from genotype AA, Bb, AABb and someone who is heterozygous for 3 traits

Cell, Ask question #Minimum cell theory 100 words accepted#

Ask question #Minimum cell theory 100 words accepted#

Surgical endodontic & retrograde sealing of immature root, Conventional End...

Conventional Endodontic Treatment Surgical Endodontic & Retrograde sealing of Immature root Apex: After cleaning and shaping of the RC and before filling , I make a surgical

What is the plasma membrane of the cell, What is the plasma membrane of the...

What is the plasma membrane of the cell? What are its main functions? The plasma membrane is the outer membrane of the cell; it delimits the cell itself and a cell interior wit

Why the vitamin niacin is a necessary component of nad, The vitamin niacin ...

The vitamin niacin is a necessary component of NAD. Niacin can be consumed in food or manufactured in the body from tryptophan, an amino acid. How would a person's ability to break

Define drug effects on food intake - cause dry mouth, Define drug effects o...

Define drug effects on food intake - cause dry mouth? cause dry mouth (xerostomia) : Lack of saliva makes it difficult to masticate and swallow foods, especially those of a dry

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd