Zebrafish have the genes needed to synthesize a compound that can provide protection from ultraviolet radiation.

Such chemicals have been found in fish but it was thought that they came from their diet or from microbes that live in or on the animals. Taifo Mahmud at Oregon State University in Corvallis and his colleagues previously analysed fish genomes and discovered genes involved in making these compounds. They then studied the embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and found that their extracts contained the sunscreen compound gadusol. The team inserted the zebrafish genes for gadusol production into yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which produced milligrams of the compound.

Yeast could be harnessed to make large quantities of the UV protectant, the authors say.

eLife 4, e05919 (2015)