TASMANIAN poppy growers have nothing to fear from a key genetic discovery, paving the way for more effective painkillers.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), in collaboration with scientists at the University of York, have patented the STORR gene that controls alkaloid - morphine and codeine - synthesis.
GSK Opiates Division general manager Steve Morris, said initially the research would be used to improve poppy breeds – and it would be many years before alkaloids could be produced in the laboratory.
“The ever growing speed of computing has increased our knowledge and gives us a lot of tools to make faster decisions around the poppies we grow,” Mr Morris said.
The discovery and patenting of the STORR gene would initially guide breeding and commercial progress of poppies.
Poppies would continue to be grown, for opium and thebaine production, for many years, he said.
“We are not taking this and saying this is an opportunity to go into factory production of alkaloids - certainly, the poppy itself is the best factory, so far, we have got”
Instead, the patenting of the gene would help GSK understand the poppy better and make faster selections of plantrs the company wanted to promote.
Mr Morris said greater understanding of poppy genetics would lead to the company being able to produce more of the material it wanted, either as different products or alkaloid ratios.
GSK’s Opiates Division head of research and development Tim Bowser said the discovery of the gene provided the company with a new tool for molecular plant breeding, making it faster and easier.
“GSK are using this discovery to develop bespoke commercial poppy varieties,” Mr Bowser said.
Scientist at the university said the genetic discovery paved the way for more effective painkillers.
The discovery, published in the latest issue of Science, revealed a gene seen as a critical gateway step in the synthesis of the morphinan class of alkaloids, which include the painkiller drugs morphine and codeine.
It might even lead to production of the anti-cancer compound noscapine.
Professor Ian Graham, who led the research in the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, based at the University of York, said plants produced an amazing array of natural chemicals.
The naturally occurring opiates of the morphinan class of alkaloids included morphine, codeine and thebaine.
Morphine and codeine could be directly used as analgesic painkillers.
Thebaine was widely used as the starting point for synthesis of a number of semi-synthetic opiates including hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.
Dr Thilo Winzer, lead author on the Science publication, said opium poppies were probably one of the most important medicinal plants in the world.
