YEAST Now used to make Morphine

Biologists have successfully introduced bacterial and
poppy plant genes into yeast to manufacture morphine. The research is important because opiates are medically essential. However, current production
via opium poppy leads to supply inefficiencies.

A few years ago biologsts demonstrated that a bio- engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) could produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA)
metabolites, including the alkaloids from which morphine is derived. S. cerevisiae is more commonly used as baker's yeast.

In a further development, Stanford University's Christina Smolke and her colleagues have discovered that S. cerevisiae engineering to express additional enzymes can be coaxed to synthesize naturally occurring opiates and semisynthetic opioids from BIA precursor molecules. The results represent a significant step toward engineered yeast–based biomanufacturing of morphine.

With the study, yeast strains were engineered to express specific genes from bacteria. This allowed the yeast to convert convert thebaine to codeine,
morphine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone and oxycodone; thereby creating medically important opiates. The researcher's optimized approach was capable of yielding up to 131 miligram of opioid products per liter.

Discussing the research, biochemist Neil Bruce from
the University of York, U.K., told The Scientist: "The
authors have demonstrated that it is possible to develop a technology platform in yeast that allows the transformation of [the opiate alkaloid] thebaine
to a variety of opiate drugs by mixing and matching microbial and plant enzymes. This is [an] elegant piece of synthetic biology."

The new development has been published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. The research is
titled "A microbial biomanufacturing platform for
natural and semisynthetic opioids".

Comments

Robbers Rape Nurse in Lagos Hospital

The hospital | credits: Samson Folarin Some robbers have raided a Lagos hospital on Santa Maria Street, in the Egan, Igando area of Lagos State. It was learnt that after carting away valuables of patients, they also raped an 18-year-old auxiliary nurse in the hospital. The incident happened around 4am on Thursday. PUNCH Metro was told that it was the third time the robbers would attack the hospital in a year. It was learnt that the robbers stormed the hospital around 3am, scaling the fence before gaining entrance. They overpowered a 19-year-old security guard from Niger Republic, tied him with rope and locked him in a room before carrying out their operation. The staff on night duty were brutally attacked and wounded and when the robbers could not get enough money, they resorted to raping the teenage nurse in turns. A source said: "The girl was actually the one who went to the police station to report. She accused the management of the hospital of dereliction of duty and sai...

Enjoy the use of Condom this Valentine. Thailand tells citizens

Valentine is fast approaching and the Government of Thailand have decided to launch a campaign to help its citizens that are too shy to buy condoms. They will therefore distribute condoms in large quantities to the citizens in a campaign tagged "Condoms for Confidence". According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong of the Ministry of Public Health, ‎" ‎This valentine, there is a high tendency of people, most especially youths getting involved in unprotected sex". "Teenagers, especially, do not have to be embarrassed about buying condoms. The ‎s ociety also have to accept that teenage girls buy condoms, which is better than more teenage girls getting pregnant. We have to persuade Thais to accept condoms as a hygiene item in everyday life to protect against pregnancy and AIDS".

South Korea becomes first East Asian Country to Legalize Medical Marijuana

South Korea has become the first east Asian country to legalise medical cannabis in a surprising move to expand the treatment options for patients with epilepsy and other rare diseases in the conservative country. The country’s national assembly approved amending the Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs on Friday to allow non-hallucinogenic doses of medical marijuana. Still, using weed even for medical purpose will be strictly controlled with patients required to apply to the Korea Orphan Drug Centre, a government body facilitating patient access to rare medicines, after receiving a doctor’s prescription. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis, according to the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. South Korea has some of the toughest rules on cannabis consumption with citizens prosecuted for using weed in other countries where recreational marijuana is legalised. Under the country’s anti-drug laws, smoking and trading marijuana remains illegal with th...

Daily Gister

Search This Blog