Microbial cell factories may help get to the root of understudied plant molecules

A new tool could make it easier to study scarce plant molecules. Researchers have developed so-called microbial cell factories — using E. coli and yeast — to produce a special class of plant hormones, known as strigolactones, at unprecedented levels. By amplifying production of strigolactones, which occur in such low amounts in plants, researchers now have the ability to study these elusive plant molecules in much greater depth than before. The work could help improve sustainable agricultural practices by offering deeper insights into how plants make and use their natural hormones to adapt and survive.
Read more: Microbial cell factories may help get to the root of understudied plant molecules