Scientists at UC San Diego have uncovered a groundbreaking advancement in the quest to replicate nature’s most remarkable camouflage abilities. By harnessing biotechnology and synthetic biology, researchers have unlocked new ways to produce the elusive pigment xanthommatin—a key molecular player responsible for the dynamic color-shifting skins of cephalopods such as octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. These marine animals have long fascinated scientists and the military alike due to their unparalleled capacity to seamlessly blend into their environment, a biological phenomenon relying on complex pigment chemistry. Until now, efforts to synthesize xanthommatin in the lab and upscale its production had proven challenging, limiting both scientific understanding and practical applications.
This milestone was achieved by a team from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who devised a novel microbial biosynthesis platform that enables mass production of xanthommatin at scales previously unattainable. Their innovative approach leverages genetically engineered bacteria reprogrammed to manufacture the pigment by coupling its biosynthesis directly to cellular growth and survival—a method they term “growth-coupled biosynthesis.” By effectively making pigment production essential for bacterial life, the microbes overcome typical metabolic resistance seen when cells are asked to prioritize foreign compound generation, resulting in yield improvements of up to 1000-fold compared to traditional synthetic and extraction methods.
The origins of this advance lie in the intersection of marine chemistry, molecular biology, and bioengineering. Xanthommatin, a naturally occurring ommochrome pigment, is not exclusive to cephalopods; it also imparts vibrant orange, yellow, and red hues to insects such as monarch butterflies and dragonflies. Despite its widespread role in nature’s palette, the pigment has evaded extensive laboratory study due to difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities. Conventional chemical synthesis approaches are labor-intensive, inefficient, and costly, while sourcing directly from animals is impractical and unsustainable. These hurdles made xanthommatin a “missing link” in translating animal camouflage mechanisms into scalable materials science applications until now.
Central to the team’s strategy was the creation of a synthetic growth feedback loop within Escherichia coli bacteria. The scientists engineered strains whose viability depended on the concurrent production of xanthommatin and formic acid—a co-generated metabolite critical for fueling cell growth. This ingenious design meant that a bacterium unable to produce the pigment would fail to thrive, effectively “forcing” the microbe to allocate its metabolic resources towards pigment biosynthesis. The coupling of pigment output directly to cell survival represents a radical departure from conventional methods, which often incur high metabolic costs that inhibit foreign compound production.
Further refining the bacterial factories, the researchers employed high-throughput adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) using robotics, guided by custom computational bioinformatics developed at UC San Diego. This iterative evolution campaign selected for genetic mutations that enhanced pigment production efficiency and enabled direct synthesis from a single nutrient source. By integrating bioengineering with automated strain optimization, the team rapidly accelerated the development cycle—translating initial conceptual breakthroughs into viable production strains within a remarkably short timeframe. This marriage of automation, data analytics, and molecular design is emblematic of the next generation of sustainable biomanufacturing.
Quantitative results emphasize the impact of their methodology: while traditional xanthommatin synthesis might yield approximately 5 milligrams per liter under ideal conditions, their engineered bacterial system produces between 1 and 3 grams per liter. This dramatic increase offers transformative potential for industrial applications, enabling cost-effective commercial-scale production. Applications envisioned range widely—from incorporation into photoelectronic devices and thermally adaptive coatings to natural dyes and UV-protectant cosmetics. The pigment’s innate ability to shift hues in response to environmental cues could also inspire the development of dynamic color-changing paints and sensitive environmental biosensors.
Importantly, this research signifies a broader paradigm shift in biochemistry and materials science. By unlocking strategies to forcibly couple metabolite production with microbial growth, the study foreshadows a future where sustainable biosynthesis replaces petrochemical-derived materials. This approach not only opens doors to producing xanthommatin but also serves as a versatile platform to biosynthesize myriad valuable natural products currently constrained by supply bottlenecks. As global demand grows for eco-friendly and biologically derived materials, such innovations demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive both scientific discovery and green industrial transformation.
Beyond the technical feats, the discovery offers profound insights into nature’s molecular machinery. Elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of xanthommatin and recreating them in microbial hosts deepens our understanding of pigment biochemistry and the evolutionary adaptations enabling animal camouflage. These findings bridge gaps between ecology, chemistry, and engineering, illustrating how biological principles can be harnessed for technological innovation. Additionally, the creative engineering tactics deployed highlight how synthetic biology can mimic and augment nature’s solutions to longstanding scientific challenges.
Looking ahead, the research team envisions expanding the scope of growth-coupled biosynthesis to a wide array of natural compounds, enhancing microbial platforms to produce functional biomolecules with unprecedented efficiency. Interfaces with cosmetic industries are particularly promising; companies have expressed interest in exploiting xanthommatin’s natural UV protection for formulation of sunscreens employing biocompatible pigments. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense is intrigued by potential applications in advanced camouflage technologies. Therefore, the ripple effects of this discovery extend far beyond the lab, positioning nature-inspired materials at the forefront of future innovation ecosystems.
This achievement was the culmination of years of meticulous work combining expertise from multiple UC San Diego departments and international collaborators. The multidisciplinary composition of the team—spanning marine chemistry, bioengineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and computational biology—was pivotal to overcoming the complex challenges of pigment biosynthesis. The studies were supported by key funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Naval Research, underscoring the strategic importance of sustainable materials innovation for both public health and national security.
For one of the lead researchers, Leah Bushin, the moment the bacteria first demonstrated high-yield pigment production was emblematic of the excitement driving scientific inquiry. “Moments like that are why I do science,” she reflected, recounting her elation upon witnessing the successful growth experiments. Such breakthroughs epitomize the power of inventive thinking and perseverance in biotechnology, inspiring optimism for future advances unlocking nature’s chemical treasure troves for humanity’s benefit.
The publication of this research in the prestigious journal Nature Biotechnology confirms its transformative potential and the broad interest it has generated across scientific and industrial sectors. This new ability to bioengineer and amplify elusive natural pigments not only advances fundamental understanding but also catalyzes the design of novel materials that are sustainable, functional, and inspired by nature’s own ingenuity. As the technology matures, it promises to redefine how we perceive and harness biological coloration, moving us closer to a world where biofabricated materials enhance aesthetics, performance, and environmental compatibility.
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Growth-coupled microbial biosynthesis of the animal pigment xanthommatin
News Publication Date: 3-Nov-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02867-7
References: Moore, B. et al. Growth-coupled microbial biosynthesis of the animal pigment xanthommatin. Nature Biotechnology (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02867-7
Image Credits: Charlotte Seid
Keywords: Biotechnology, Engineering, Cephalopods, Biochemistry, Molecular biology
