Increasing morphinan alkaloid production by over-expressing codeinone reductase in transgenic Papaver somniferum.

Only plants of the Papaver genus (poppies) are able to synthesize morphinan alkaloids, and cultivation of P. somniferum, opium poppy, remains critical for the production and supply of morphine, codeine and various semi-synthetic analgesics. Opium poppy was transformed with constitutively expressed c... View More