Researchers engineered the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida to produce xanthommatin, a color‑changing pigment found in cephalopods and some insects. By linking pigment synthesis to growth via formic acid, engineered strains generated up to 1,000× more pigment than previous methods. The team identified adaptive mutations and single‑carbon‑source strains to improve efficiency and sustainability. Early interest from cosmetics firms suggests potential for more effective, ocean‑friendly sunscreens, with other uses in paints and sensors pending scale‑up and safety review.
Engineered Microbes Mass‑Produce Octopus Pigment — A Potential Boost for Safer Sunscreens
Researchers engineered the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida to produce xanthommatin, a color‑changing pigment found in cephalopods and some insects. By linking pigment synthesis to growth via formic acid, engineered strains generated up to 1,000× more pigment than previous methods. The team identified adaptive mutations and single‑carbon‑source strains to improve efficiency and sustainability. Early interest from cosmetics firms suggests potential for more effective, ocean‑friendly sunscreens, with other uses in paints and sensors pending scale‑up and safety review.
01:50, 06.11.2025Science
Microbial production of a cephalopod pigment could lead to eco‑friendlier sunscreens and color‑shifting materials
Cephalopods such as squid, octopuses and cuttlefish are masters of disguise: they shift colors and patterns to hide from predators and ambush prey. Observers have marveled at these abilities since Aristotle first noted changing tones in octopuses around 350 B.C. Scientists now point to a pigment called xanthommatin — also responsible for vivid hues in some insects like butterflies — as a key contributor to these color changes.
Xanthommatin absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation across a broad portion of the visible spectrum and has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of conventional chemical sunscreens while potentially being less harmful to marine life. Beyond sun protection, the pigment could be useful for hue‑shifting displays, dyes, color‑changing paints and environmental sensors.
For decades, researchers have struggled to produce xanthommatin at scale. In a new paper reported in Nature Biotechnology, a team led by Leah Bushin describes a microbial approach that increases pigment production by as much as 1,000× compared with earlier genetic‑engineering methods.
To achieve this, the researchers genetically rewired the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida so that pigment synthesis was linked to cell growth. The engineered strains were modified to produce both xanthommatin and formic acid; the formic acid then promoted bacterial growth, creating a self‑sustaining loop that favors pigment production. The team also identified adaptive mutations that boost output and selected variants that can grow on a single carbon source, steps that improve efficiency and sustainability.
“We needed a whole new approach to address this problem,” said lead author Leah Bushin. “Essentially, we came up with a way to trick the bacteria into making more of the material that we needed.”
Although results are promising, the work remains early stage. Key challenges ahead include scaling production, ensuring consistent pigment quality, evaluating safety and environmental impacts, and meeting regulatory requirements for cosmetic or commercial use. The authors note that cosmetics companies have already expressed interest in biologically produced xanthommatin for natural sunscreens, and other potential applications include consumer paints and environmental sensing technologies.
Source: Reported in Nature Biotechnology; this story was originally featured on Nautilus.