在不久的将来,鸦片类药物可以完全由酵母菌生物合成。斯坦福大学(Stanford University)的斯莫克(Christina Smolke)和同事们设计出能够利用糖生产鸦片类药物蒂巴因(thebaine)和氢可酮(hydrocodone)的酵母菌。研究工作结合了酶和生物工程,以及菌株优化技术。蒂巴因需要活跃于植物、哺乳类动物、细菌和酵母菌自身中的21种酶,而氢可酮需要23种酶才能合成。 In the near future, opiates can be biosynthesized entirely by yeast. Christina Smolke and colleagues at Stanford University devised yeasts that produce the opium drugs thebaine and hydrocodone using sugar. The research combines enzymes and bioengineering, as well as strain optimization techniques. Tibaine requires 21 enzymes that are active in plants, mammals, bacteria and yeasts themselves, whereas hydrocodone requires 23 enzymes for synthesis.