My project focuses on the UV-resistant mycosporine-like amino acid shinorine, which can be harvested from cyanobacteria and macroalgae. I aim to employ synthetic biology methods to engineer the shinorine gene cluster, allowing for a more commercially available way to produce environmentally friendly sunscreen. By introducing additional synthetic promoters and modifying the adenylation domain of the shinorine biosynthetic nonribosomal peptide synthetase, I strive to optimize shinorine overproduction and increase the practical applicability of this medically relevant natural product.
