Researchers have built the first genetically encoded biosensor that can detect four valuable sesquiterpenes: valencene, nootkatone, artemisinin, and cedrol. They screened mutant versions of an existing sensor protein until one responded to all four, then boosted its signal 15-to-20-fold by swapping the reporter.
Sesquiterpenes are used as flavors, fragrances, and medicines, but making them usually means harvesting large amounts of plant material or running complex chemical reactions. This biosensor gives scientists a fast way to find the best-producing variants in huge libraries, which could raise yields and make these compounds easier to produce without heavy farming or difficult chemistry.
✦ A new biosensor could help grow medicine and fragrance ingredients in cells instead of fields.