Project

Trichomes, the key to an increased production of artemisinin in Artemisia annua

Code
3F013508
Duration
01 October 2008 → 30 September 2012
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund, Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Biochemistry and metabolism
    • Systems biology
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
    • Biomarker discovery and evaluation
    • Drug discovery and development
    • Medicinal products
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry
    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmacotherapy
    • Toxicology and toxinology
    • Other pharmaceutical sciences
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
  • Engineering and technology
    • Biomaterials engineering
    • Biological system engineering
    • Biomaterials engineering
    • Biomechanical engineering
    • Other (bio)medical engineering
    • Environmental engineering and biotechnology
    • Industrial biotechnology
    • Other biotechnology, bio-engineering and biosystem engineering
Keywords
artemisinine malaria trichomes
 
Project description

In their trichomes, Artemisia annua L. synthesises little amounts of artemisinin, active against malaria. The aim is to identify the genes that are involved in the biosynthesis of artemisinin and the formation of trichomes. This to create A. annua cultivars with an increased artemisinin production or to modify yeast to produce artemisinin.