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SUMMARY:Unlocking the secrets of medicinal crops: from artemisinin to morp
 hine\, why are plants still better than bugs at making these drugs? - Ian 
 Graham\, University of York
DTSTART:20180426T120000Z
DTEND:20180426T130000Z
UID:TALK82561@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:david baulcombe
DESCRIPTION:Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) remains one of the most impor
 tant medicinal plants in the world. The discovery of a 10 gene cluster res
 ponsible for the production of the anti-cancer compound noscapinein opium 
 poppy provided the tools for molecular breeding of new commercial varietie
 s. The discovery of a novel P450 – oxidoreductase gene fusion described 
 the last unknown step in synthesis of the painkiller drugs morphine and co
 deine proving a valuable tool for development of bespoke\, high yielding p
 oppy varieties.\n\nThe Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua (Sweet Worm
 wood or Qing Hao) is the primary source of the leading anti-malarial drug 
 artemisinin. Characterisation and genetic mapping of traits responsible fo
 r production of artemisinin has enabled development of F1 hybrid seed that
  can deliver a robust source of this vital anti-malarial drug for the deve
 loping world. Genetic dissection of artemisinin synthesis demonstrated the
  importance of non-enzymatic conversions in the final steps of artemisinin
  synthesis in A. annua with significant implications for future production
  in native versus heterologous host systems.\n\nNoscapine\, morphinans and
  artemisinic acid (an artemisinin precursor) have all been targets for met
 abolic engineering in heterologous host systems. In this talk I will compa
 re these different production routes with high yielding plant based field 
 production that currently delivers active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) 
 in the price range of $200-300 per Kg.\n\nMany other plant species also pr
 oduce valuable bioactive molecules but in amounts that are not commerciall
 y viable. For example the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family produce a diverse
  range of diterpenoids\, many of which have pharmacological activity. We a
 re elucidating diterpenoid biosynthetic pathways from the spurge family an
 d developing new production platforms for their synthesis. I will reflect 
 on the different production routes for high value chemicals from plants.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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