Overview
- The Jiangnan University team, which published its study Wednesday, rebuilt a zebrafish pathway in E. coli and raised gadusol output to about 4.2 g per liter, roughly 93 times higher than before.
- Gadusol is a clear compound used by fish eggs and coral to block ultraviolet light, and researchers see it as a potential reef-safe sunscreen ingredient.
- The group built a quick color test that shifts from purple to yellow when gadusol neutralizes free radicals, which speeds up picking top-producing bacterial strains.
- Early lab work shows UV protection and antioxidant activity comparable to vitamin C, but there is no direct comparison with commercial sunscreens yet.
- Researchers say products could appear in about two years if they prove long-term safety, solve skin-binding formulations, scale manufacturing, and pass regulatory review, which could broaden options beyond petrochemical filters.