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Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in bioengineering a rare octopus pigment, developing a technique that enables bacteria to produce it at unprecedented levels.
Octopuses and other cephalopods have long impressed scientists with their remarkable ability to shift colors and blend into their surroundings, a biological capability driven by specialized pigments in their skin. Now, researchers at the University of California San Diego have taken a significant step toward replicating this natural process by engineering bacteria to produce xanthommatin, a rare pigment responsible for the color changing abilities of octopus and squid skin.
The team, led by marine chemist Bradley Moore from Scripps Oceanography, announced that they had created a method that allows microbes to generate this pigment at a much larger scale than ever before. Using an approach known as growth coupled biosynthesis, they achieved pigment yields up to 1,000 times higher than earlier attempts. Rather than synthesizing the pigment directly, the researchers developed bacteria capable of producing it naturally.
How Scientists Engineered Bacteria to Mass Produce the Pigment
To make this possible, lead author Leah Bushin and her colleagues designed dependent bacterial cells that survived only if they continued to manufacture xanthommatin and formic acid. This survival requirement ensured constant pigment output. Bushin said they engineered the cells so that producing the compound was essential for life. As a result, the bacteria produced up to 3 grams of pigment per liter, compared to the previous yield of only 5 milligrams per liter.
Bushin described the moment she saw the results as one of her best days in the lab, celebrating the discovery of the significantly increased pigment production. The success highlights the potential of using engineered bacteria to create complex materials, opening new avenues for future biomanufacturing technology.
Co author Adam Feist, a bioengineer at UC San Diego, said the project illustrates how biology can transform industrial manufacturing. He explained that the research offers a preview of a future where automation and computational design allow microbes to sustainably produce valuable compounds and materials.
