title: Total biosynthesis of opiates by stepwise fermentation using engineered Escherichia coli.
abstract: Opiates such as morphine and codeine are mainly obtained by extraction from opium poppies. Fermentative opiate production in microbes has also been investigated, and complete biosynthesis of opiates from a simple carbon source has recently been accomplished in yeast. Here we demonstrate that Escherichia coli serves as an efficient, robust and flexible platform for total opiate synthesis. Thebaine, the most important raw material in opioid preparations, is produced by stepwise culture of four engineered strains at yields of 2.1 mg l(-1) from glycerol, corresponding to a 300-fold increase from recently developed yeast systems. This improvement is presumably due to strong activity of enzymes related to thebaine synthesis from (R)-reticuline in E. coli. Furthermore, by adding two genes to the thebaine production system, we demonstrate the biosynthesis of hydrocodone, a clinically important opioid. Improvements in opiate production in this E. coli system represent a major step towards the development of alternative opiate production systems.
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Eitaro
authors: E
authors: Matsumura
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Koyanagi
authors: Department of Applied Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors: Takane
authors: T
authors: Katayama
authors: Breeding and Physiology Laboratory, Tsukuba Research Center for Medicinal Plant Resources, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-2 Hachimandai, Tsukuba 305-0843, Japan.
authors: Noriaki
authors: N
authors: Kawano
authors: Breeding and Physiology Laboratory, Tsukuba Research Center for Medicinal Plant Resources, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-2 Hachimandai, Tsukuba 305-0843, Japan.
authors: Kayo
authors: K
authors: Yoshimatsu
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Hidehiko
authors: H
authors: Kumagai
authors: Department of Plant Gene and Totipotency, Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors: Fumihiko
authors: F
authors: Sato
authors: Applied Microbiology laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan.
authors: Hiromichi
authors: H
authors: Minami
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D003061:Codeine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D039323:Coptis / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000378:metabolism; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009020:Morphine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000378:metabolism; D010207:Papaver / Q000235:genetics*; D013797:Thebaine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D013797:Thebaine; D006853:Hydrocodone; D009020:Morphine; D010098:Oxycodone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C520720:salutaridine reductase, Papaver; D008780:Methyltransferases; D000123:Acetyltransferases; C097501:acetyl coenzyme A-salutaridinol-7-O-acetyltransferase; D005990:Glycerol; D003061:Codeine; C003298:reticuline