Additional Public Info:
Isoprenoids are one of the most diverse groups of natural products in nature. In plants they range
from essential and relatively universal primary metabolites, such as sterols, carotenoids, quinones, and
hormones, to more unique and sometimes species- specific secondary metabolites that may serve in
roles such as plant defense and communication. Isoprenoids are synthesized from universal precursors
and are classified into groups according to the number of carbons they contain; monoterpenes
(C10), sesquiterpenes (C15) and diterpenes (C20). Many terpenoids have been found to exhibit potent
biological activity, with several of them in development or in use therapeutically. The anti-malarial
drug artemisinin and the anti-cancer agent Taxol serve to illustrate the clinical importance of
sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids, respectively. Others have found use as flavors and fragrances,
cleaners and disinfectants, and even biofuels.
Microbial synthesis of complex isoprenoids takes advantage of natural biosynthetic pathways
without the need for long synthetic routes and toxic chemicals. Over the last 15 years, my laboratory
has engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, and assorted other microorganisms to produce
isoprenoid natural products. In my talk, I will describe the tools and methods we have developed for
engineering microorganisms to produce some important plant isoprenoids and some not-so-natural
isoprenoid derivatives, discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead, and discuss our successes in scaling
and commercializing a few molecules.

Jay Keasling is the Philomathia Professor of Alternative Energy at the University of California, Berkeley in the Departments of
Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, senior faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Chief
Executive Officer of the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI). Dr. Keasling’s research focuses on the metabolic engineering of
microorganisms for degradation of environmental contaminants or for environmentally friendly synthesis of drugs, chemicals, and
fuels. Keasling received a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Nebraska and M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical
Engineering from the University of Michigan, and did post-doctoral research in biochemistry at Stanford University. He is a member of the
National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.

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