Bryophytes are among the earliest groups of land plants, having evolved around 400 million years ago. Despite their long evolutionary history, their biochemical diversity remains relatively unexplored compared with that of other plants.

Understanding the chemistry behind bryophytes

As part of the BRYOMOLECULES project, researchers at Université Jean Monnet (UJM) in Saint-Étienne, France, are investigating how these plants produce their unique compounds. The team’s research focuses on terpenoids, a diverse group of naturally occurring plant compounds. Some of these molecules have interesting biological properties and could have potential applications in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The researchers are investigating the biosynthetic pathways that produce these compounds, identifying and characterising the enzymes responsible for their formation. By understanding how bryophytes naturally synthesise these molecules, the team aims to identify promising pathways that could eventually improve sustainable production.

To learn more about this research, we spoke with Pranav Raj Thirumalamal Kalarickal from Université Jean Monnet. In the interview, he introduces the team’s work on bryophyte biochemistry, shares key research questions they are exploring, and explains how UJM’s contribution fits into the wider objectives of BRYOMOLECULES.

Towards more sustainable bryophyte productionemistry behind bryophytes

Understanding bryophyte chemistry is only one part of the challenge. Many species grow slowly in their natural environments, making conventional harvesting difficult to scale and potentially putting pressure on natural populations.

This raises an important question: how can promising compounds be produced sustainably without large-scale harvesting of wild bryophytes?

Researchers at Université Jean Monnet are exploring the biological mechanisms behind producing these molecules, which could inform alternative approaches using biotechnology and engineered biological systems.

Gaurav Srivastava, a postdoctoral researcher at Université Jean Monnet, offers further insight into this challenge, discussing the difficulties associated with bryophyte cultivation and the importance of finding sustainable ways to access their biochemical potential.