Page 485 - Applied Pharmacognosy

Engineered biosynthesis 484

In a recent report (Stanford University, CA, USA.),
yeast was successfully engineered to produce
certain opium alkaloids, namely thebaine and
hydrocodone starting from sugar. The scientists
combined pathways knowledge, enzyme
discovery and enzyme engineering to accomplish
full opiate biosynthesis in yeast. The resulting
yeast strains that are capable of biosynthesis of
thebaine and hydrocodone, utilized 21 and 23
enzyme activities, respectively.