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News Release 05-073
Little Microbe Inside Sea Squirt Makes Big Splash
Bacterial genome sheds light on synthesizing cancer-fighting compounds
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Scientists discovered Prochloron didemnii has the necessary genes to produce patellamides, compounds that may one day be used in cancer treatment. They were also able to transfer the patellamide genes to the laboratory workhorse bacterium, Escherichia coli, directing it to biosynthesize the product.
Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation
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Sea squirts, like the one shown above, contain a microbe that produces potential cancer-fighting chemicals.
Credit: Adriaan Gittenberger (www.ascidians.com)
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