News from the John Innes Centre

Scientists have discovered an enzyme used in nature to make powerful chemicals from catnip to a cancer drug, vinblastine. The discovery opens up the prospect of producing these chemicals cheaply and efficiently. They are produced naturally by some plants such as the medicinal Madagascar periwinkle, but faster-growing plants could be used to produce them. With [...]

Plants and microbes produce thousands of chemicals that facilitate communication with pollinators, competitors and predators.  These chemicals also serve important functions, for example acting as chemical sunblocks, waterproofing agents, and antifreezing agents, which allow the plant or microbe to survive in the environment. Individual species differ enormously in the number and types of specialised chemicals [...]

Scientists are about to make publicly available all the data they have so far on the genetic blueprint of medicinal plants and what beneficial properties are encoded by the genes identified. The release of the resources follows a $6 million initiative to study how plant genes contribute to producing various chemical compounds, some of which [...]

A new variety of broccoli with higher levels of a key phytonutrient is now available in UK shops thanks to experts working on both the biology of plants and the link between human nutrition and health. The new broccoli, which will be known as Beneforté, was developed from publicly-funded research at two of the UK’s [...]

The ‘new drugs for cancer’ public event was held in May 2011 at the JIC Conference Centre. The development of new anti-cancer drugs is a major challenge facing the research community. On the Norwich Research Park, we are harnessing the complex machinery used by plants to produce biologically active natural products. For instance, we are [...]

[UEA Press release] The humble tadpole could provide the key to developing effective anti-skin cancer drugs, thanks to a groundbreaking discovery by researchers at the University of East Anglia. The scientists have identified a compound which, when introduced into Xenopus laevis tadpoles, blocks the movement of the pigment cells that give the tadpoles their distinctive [...]

  Scientists have expressed genes from snapdragon in tomatoes to grow purple tomatoes high in health-protecting anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring pigments found at particularly high levels in berries such as blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry. Scientists are investigating ways to increase the levels of health-promoting compounds in more commonly eaten fruits and vegetables. “Most people [...]

International scientists working on new drug discovery targets for cancer and bacterial diseases are meeting in Norwich next week to share their latest findings. “The meeting presents exciting new opportunities for scientific collaborations and helps to establish Norwich as one of the top places for scientific research in the UK,” says meeting co-organiser Prof. Tony [...]