Peebles Lab
Colorado State University
Research Overview
Today's society is dependent on many diverse chemicals: fuels for jets and cars, polymers for plastics and rubbers, pigments for dyes and nutraceutical, pharmaceuticals, and many others. Many of these products are petrol-based, which present two problems: (1) petroleum reserves are limited, and (2) burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses which contribute to climate change.
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Microorganisms can synthesize many of these important chemicals using renewable feedstocks (e.g. sugar) with less toxic waste and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Cyanobacteria are a particularly exciting microbe because they utilize carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce chemicals, making them a potentially sustainable production platform. Our lab works primarily with Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We have developed genetic engineering tools, pigment production strains, and fuel production strains.
Plants have wonderful biochemistry responsible for many of the life-saving therapeutics on the market today. However, therapeutic supply from plants alone does not meet the patient demand and thus synthesis by alternative routes is necessary to save lives and keep treatment costs down. Traditional chemical synthesis is difficult when the chemistries are complex, as with many drugs. Using biological synthesis requires an understanding of the biochemistry pathway, including the enzymes responsible for chemical transformations. In many cases, this information is not known. Our lab is working to discovery the pathway responsible for producing vinblastine and vincristine, both anti-cancer drugs. We are using molecular biology and system biology approaches in Madagascar periwinke hairy roots to address these research goals.
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A growing world population demands increased food production capabilities, especially in many areas of the world which are less than ideal for crop production. Engineering drought tolerance in key crops has potential to increase food supplies. Our lab is studying drought tolerance in sorghum, a C4 grain crop, by C13 flux analysis. We hope to increase understanding around how plants thrive in low-water environments with the end-goal of improving drought-tolerance in key crops around the world.