Isabel Desgagné-Penix
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
Biography
Isabel Desgagné-Penix has her expertise in Plant Biochemistry and specialized metabolism. Her research program is aimed at understanding the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry of isoquinoline alkaloid metabolism in Amaryllidaceae plants. Narcisses and snowdrops remains the only commercial source for the anti-cholinesterase galantamine and several potential alkaloid pharmaceuticals. The recent availability of some Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthetic genes creates metabolic engineering opportunities in plants and microorganisms. Her innovative and creative new ways to attempt production of valuable plant metabolites are of interest.