Genetic Discovery Unlocks Biosynthesis of Medicinal Compound in Poppy

The discovery of a complex gene through a plant has been found in the latest issue of Science Daily. The pathway of noscapine has been looked into along with its ten genes which encode for five different enzyme classes. This is the most complex gene cluster found in plants and has been revealed to find a biochemical pathway for noscapine synthesis. This has also been found to accelerate the breeding of noscapine poppy varieties.

[caption id="attachment_5706" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Scientists at the University of York and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia have discovered a complex gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of the medicinal compound noscapine. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of York"][/caption]

Scientist discovered that the different varieties among the poppy produced noscapine that expressed a number of genes in a lot of offspring between crosses of noscapine and non noscapine varieties. A cluster was identified when looked at these genes all together which were inherited. By cloning and DNA sequencing the identity and arrangement of genes in the cluster was found. Noscapine has been used as a suppressant in cough mixtures for a long time now. It has been reported to have anti-cancer activity.

[caption id="attachment_5707" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Noscapine Structural Formula"][/caption]

 Industrial techniques have looked into large scale poppy harvesting and the extraction on other medicinal poppy alkaloid like “morphine” and the “baine”, to manufacture pain medicine. It has been said that the genes in fact are grouped in a cluster meaning that the plants breeding process becomes much faster and easier. Medicine has become a main part of our society now, and the different discoveries among plants can truly benefit people. The complex gene cluster found in the plant sounds a bit confusing, but I’m sure this pathway will strongly help scientists and pharmacologists introduce a new and improved cough suppressant in the near future.