Metabolic engineering with a morphine biosynthetic P450 in opium poppy surpasses breeding

• Published in: Metabolic engineering Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 169 - 176
• Main Authors: Frick, Susanne, Kramell, Robert, Kutchan, Toni M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Belgium Elsevier Inc 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Agriculture - methods; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - genetics; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism; Genetic Enhancement - methods; Metabolic engineering; Morphine - metabolism; Morphine biosynthesis; Opium poppy; P450 enzyme; Papaver - physiology; Papaver somniferum; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Protein Engineering - methods; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Somatic embryogenesis; Transfection - methods; Transformation; Metabolic engineering; Transformation; Opium poppy; Somatic embryogenesis; P450 enzyme; Morphine biosynthesis
• ISSN: 1096-7176; 1096-7184
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2006.10.004

Morphine biosynthesis was genetically engineered in an industrial elite line of the opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum L.), to modify the production of alkaloids in plants. The cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase ( S)- N-methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase (CYP80B3) lies on the pathway to the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid branch point intermediate ( S)-reticuline. Overexpression of cyp80b3 cDNA resulted in an up to 450% increase in the amount of total alkaloid in latex. This increase occurred either without changing the ratio of the individual alkaloids, or together with an overall increase in the ratio of morphine. Correspondingly, antisense-cyp80b3 cDNA expressed in opium poppy caused a reduction of total alkaloid in latex up to 84%, suggesting that the observed phenotypes were dependent on the presence of the transgene. This study found compelling evidence, that cyp80b3 is a key regulation step in morphine biosynthesis and provides practical means to genetically engineer valuable secondary metabolites in this important medicinal plant.