ArticleScience (New York, N.Y.)2015
Complete biosynthesis of opioids in yeast.
Article in Science (New York, N.Y.), 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 401 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
401 citing papers in PubMed, 979 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Yeast species resource exploration and application in cell factories.Synthetic and systems biotechnology · 2026Review
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- Characterization of the entry steps in diterpenoid alkaloid biosynthesis.Molecular plant · 2026Article
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- Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinolines through Shono-Type Oxidation.Organic letters · 2026Article
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- Modular reconstruction and multilevel regulation ofSynthetic and systems biotechnology · 2026Article
- A yeast-based platform for etoposide production via yatein bioconversion.Metabolic engineering communications · 2026Article
- Engineering Biosensors to Enhance Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Production in Yeast.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Review
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- Convergent Evolution and De Novo Reconstitution of Apiin Biosynthesis.Plant biotechnology journal · 2026Article
- Systematic engineering of Escherichia coli for biosynthesis of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from glucose and malonate.BMC biotechnology · 2026Article
- Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Production in Yeast via Norlaudanosoline Improves Titer, Selectivity, and Yield.ACS synthetic biology · 2026Article
- Biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and its evolution in plants.Plant communications · 2026Review
- Harnessing endophytes and Multi-Omics for sustainable Colchicine biosynthesis.World journal of microbiology & biotechnology · 2026Review
- Uncovering the molecular basis of high morphinan product efficiency in opium poppy through Multi-omics integrated analysis with multi-capsules.Plant molecular biology · 2026Article
341 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Opioids are the primary drugs used in Western medicine for pain management and palliative care. Farming of opium poppies remains the sole source of these essential medicines, despite diverse market demands and uncertainty in crop yields due to weather, climate change, and pests. We engineered yeast to produce the selected opioid compounds thebaine and hydrocodone starting from sugar. All work was conducted in a laboratory that is permitted and secured for work with controlled substances. We combined enzyme discovery, enzyme engineering, and pathway and strain optimization to realize full opiate biosynthesis in yeast. The resulting opioid biosynthesis strains required the expression of 21 (thebaine) and 23 (hydrocodone) enzyme activities from plants, mammals, bacteria, and yeast itself. This is a proof of principle, and major hurdles remain before optimization and scale-up could be achieved. Open discussions of options for governing this technology are also needed in order to responsibly realize alternative supplies for these medically relevant compounds.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.