Metabolic pathways and gene product bioprospection in mandacaru species (Cactaceae) for biotechnological purposes: exploring popular knowledge using omics technologies

• Grant number: 23/05589-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Trabuco do Amaral
• Grantee: Danilo Trabuco do Amaral
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cristina Ribas Fürstenau ; Fernando de Faria Franco ; Isabel Aparecida da Silva Bonatelli ; Lívia Seno Ferreira Camargo ; marcus vinicius xavier senra ; Milca Rachel da Costa Ribeiro Lins ; Natália Trabuco do Amaral ; Tales Alexandre da Costa e Silva

Abstract

Bioprospecting, which involves the search for macromolecules from natural sources for economic, ecological, and social use, has become an area of growing interest in recent decades. The discovery of new bioactive compounds-such as pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes, and natural chemicals-has been widely explored as a path to innovative and sustainable solutions for societal challenges. Plants are rich and diverse sources of chemical compounds with potential applications across various sectors, and traditional knowledge associated with medicinal plant use has provided an important foundation for bioprospecting in the Brazilian market. The biotechnological potential of plants from Brazil's semi-arid climate, such as the mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru D.C., Cereus hildmannianus K. Schum., and Cereus fernambucensis Lem.), remains largely unexplored. Despite their traditional use in folk medicine and other applications, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the biomolecules involved in the biotechnological processes associated with these plants. This project will use omics data from Cereus species and bioinformatics tools to identify genes linked to their medicinal properties, particularly those with antimicrobial and anti-dyslipidemic potential. Gene synthesis and heterologous expression will also be employed to better understand their biotechnological applications. The resulting information will be applied in different areas of biotechnology, aiming to explore mandacaru's potential in a sustainable way and to propose its use in innovative biotechnological products. The project also seeks to fill the molecular knowledge gap related to plants from Brazil's semi-arid region, with a focus on the biotechnological properties and potential of mandacaru. (AU)