Nicotiana benthamiana as a production platform for artemisinin precursors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Production of pharmaceuticals in plants provides an alternative for chemical synthesis, fermentation or natural sources. Nicotiana benthamiana is deployed at commercial scale for production of therapeutic proteins. Here the potential of this plant is explored for rapid production of precursors of artemisinin, a sesquiterpenoid compound that is used for malaria treatment.

Methodology/principal findings

Biosynthetic genes leading to artemisinic acid, a precursor of artemisinin, were combined and expressed in N. benthamiana by agro-infiltration. The first committed precursor of artemisinin, amorpha-4,11-diene, was produced upon infiltration of a construct containing amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, accompanied by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and farnesyl diph

SUBMITTER: van Herpen TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2997059 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature