Ramanujan Auditorium

Microbial and plant bio-factories for sustainable production of high-value low-volume Phytochemicals: Need for a rational and integrated approach

Smita Srivastava

IIT Madras

This lecture will also be streamed live to the Public via YouTube.
YouTube Live Stream Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a-o8fj46KU

About the Speaker:
Prof. Smita Srivastava and her research group focuses on high-value plant derived phytochemicals like camptothecin, alpha-tocopherol and cyclotides of therapeutic value. The group develops microbial and plant cell based bioprocesses for sustainable production of these plant metabolites, as alternative to natural plant extraction. Many of these high-value compounds are extracted from plants, which have become endangered due to overharvesting to meet the market demand. Moreover, their complex structure makes chemical synthesis uneconomical and challenging. Hence, a bioprocess is a feasible alternative which can not only conserve nature, but also provide a uniform and consistent product quality and quantity, unlike the variations found in natural plant extraction due to uncontrolled geographical and climatic conditions. The research group has been working on developing high-yielding plant cell lines of Nothapodytes nimmoniana, Viola odorata and Helianthus annuus (Sunflower). They have integrated tools like metabolic engineering, FTMS based metabolomics, genome scale metabolic modelling, 13C based metabolic flux analysis for rational development and optimisation of these bioprocesses. The group is also actively pursuing endophytes, to establish a microbial fermentation route for the anti-cancer drug camptothecin. The prospective social, environmental and commercial impact of the work is evident from the fact that the work was recently showcased at All IIT RnD Fair held in New Delhi. This talk will be a brief overview of her research group’s R&D activities at IITM with a focus on “Camptothecin”, a lead molecule for the anti-cancer drugs.