STEM-CARE Faculty Presentation

Drs. Louis Bradbury and Stephen Fearnley will present their research.

From Climate Change to Human Health: The Multifaceted Potential of Carotenoid Metabolic Engineering 

Louis Bradbury, PhD, Department of Biology

Carotenoids, the vibrant yellow-red pigments found in plants, and other photosynthetic organisms, serve crucial roles in many organisms (including humans).  Primarily, carotenoids are indispensable for photosynthesis due to their function in light harvesting and protecting plants from excess light damage. Beyond their photoprotective role, carotenoids have been identified as vital dietary components for humans. They serve as precursors to vitamin A, an essential nutrient that supports vision, growth, immune function, and overall health. Moreover, specific carotenoids, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, have been associated with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Given the paramount importance of carotenoids, metabolic engineering of their biosynthetic pathway presents a promising avenue for dual objectives: to enhance the efficiency of photosynthesis, which can bolster crop yields and bioenergy production, and to augment the nutritional profile of foods, potentially addressing vitamin A deficiency and other nutrition-related health challenges worldwide. The strategic manipulation of carotenoid pathway genes in plants, using multiple biotechnological tools, not only holds potential for securing the global food supply but also for ushering in a new era of health-promoting foods that can mitigate the prevalence of preventable diseases. 

Heterocyclic Methodology for Natural Products Synthesis

Stephen Fearnley, PhD, Department of Chemistry

As a synthetic organic chemist, my research program involves the ongoing development of new synthetic methodology for the construction of biologically active natural products. Specifically, this encompasses: • Investigation and use of oxazolone as a useful heterocyclic scaffold for alkaloid synthesis: This has primarily involved studies of intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions with oxazolone as the dienophilic species. Extrapolation to other cycloadditions is planned. Application in the synthesis of several alkaloid targets is currently underway. • Novel organosilane chemistry for approaches to bioactive ether targets: We have developed a rapid synthesis of cis-fused bicyclic ether arrays in which oxocarbeniums undergo nucleophilic attack by vinylsilanes in a novel intramolecular annulation process. The related silyl-activated Friedel-Crafts process proceeds through an unusual combination of electronic and steric effects. A series of silicon-mediated cycloadditions are also under investigation. A wide variety of ether natural product motifs are thus accessible.