WHO WE ARE
Plant and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory
The laboratory has a long-standing interest in the biosynthesis, regulation, and manipulation of isoprenoids, particularly the natural pigments known as carotenoids. These compounds include nutritional and industrial carotenoids such as astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, lycopene, phytoene and apocarotenoids.
GROUP
Research Themes
The Centre’s focus is fundamental and applied research into mechanisms that determine plant traits with agronomical, nutritional and health benefits.
Sustainable production platforms
Plant based cell factories | Non-conventional yeast
Food and nutritional
security
Climate change | Quality traits | Reduced resource input
Technology development
Metabolomics | Synthetic biology | Enzyme assay
GROUP
Products and Enterprise
- Natural Compound Solutions
- Burpee
- Syngenta
Natural Compound Solutions
Carotenoids are natural pigments used across multiple industrial sectors. Production of these compounds has been the major feature of our research portfolio at Royal Holloway University of London for over 50 years. NATCOM is utilising this expertise to market authentic carotenoid standards.
Burpee
Introducing a super-fruit breakthrough naturally bred by Burpee. Luminous orange‐scarlet fruits burst with perfectly balanced flavor and 40% of recommended daily Vitamin A in one tomato. Oval‐shaped, 2½–3″ tomatoes taste meaty yet juicy with just the right combination of sweetness and acidity.
Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions.
LABORATORY
Recent Publications
LABORATORY
The Nigerian Diet and Its Evolution-Review of the Existing Literature and Household Survey Data
- 17 January 2023
LABORATORY
Biochemical characterisation of a cassava diversity panel for PPD
- 25 June 2024
LABORATORY
Carotenoid retention during post-harvest storage of Capsicum annuum the role of the fruit surface structure
- December 2023
LABORATORY
Dually biofortified cisgenic tomatoes with increased flavonoids and branched-chain amino acids content
- 7 August 2023.