- Professor Erin Cram, Biology Department, Northeastern University
- Professor Hans-Joerg Jacobsen, Dept. of Plant Molecular Genetics, Leibnitz University
- Dr. James Glick, Director, Mass Spectrometry Facility; Chemistry & Chemical Biology, and Barnett Institute, Northeastern University
- Dr. Marina Hincapie, Barnett Institute, Northeastern University
- Professor Paul Vouros, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University
- Professor Ralph Loring, Pharmaceutical Science, Northeastern University
- Dr. Roger Kautz, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, and Barnett Institute, Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts, USA – August 30, 2010 – Professors Carolyn Lee-Parsons (Chemical Engineering Dept), left, and Erin Cram (Biology Dept), right, hold samples of Hairy roots and seedlings of the Madagascar periwinkle. Cram and Lee-Parsons received a $550K grant from the National Science Foundation for their project entitled, “Transcriptional Control of Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus Cultures.” The Madagascar periwinkle (C. roseus) produces several highly-valued anti-cancer drugs but the slow growth rate of the plant and the low product concentration are significant barriers to efficient drug production. The high cost and need for these pharmaceuticals motivate their research to better understand how cells regulate production and to ultimately overproduce these pharmaceuticals using C. roseus cultures and a novel strategy based on gene silencing. PHOTO: Mary Knox Merrill