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Related Experiment Videos

How human neuroblastoma cells make morphine.

Chotima Boettcher1, Monika Fellermeier, Christian Boettcher

  • 1Biocenter, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120 Halle, Germany. chotima.poeaknapo@biozentrum.uni-halle.de

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 7, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Human neuroblastoma cells synthesize morphine through a pathway similar to opium poppies. A key difference lies in the formation of the intermediate (S)-reticuline, proceeding via (S)-norlaudanosoline instead of (S)-norcoclaurine.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) can synthesize morphine.
  • Previous studies demonstrated the capability of human cells to produce morphine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the complete morphine biosynthetic pathway in human neuroblastoma cells.
  • To compare the human morphine pathway with that of the opium poppy.

Main Methods:

  • Isotopic labeling studies using deuterated and 13C-labeled precursors like dopa and dopamine.
  • Feeding experiments with potential morphinan pathway intermediates.
  • Analysis of isotopic enrichment and incorporation into endogenous morphine.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Incorporation of labeled dopa and dopamine into both isoquinoline and benzyl moieties of morphine.
  • Demonstration that (S)-norlaudanosoline is a key intermediate in human morphine synthesis, unlike the plant pathway's (S)-norcoclaurine.
  • Identification of a stereochemical inversion from (S)- to (R)-reticuline via 1,2-dehydroreticuline.
  • Evidence for the involvement of salutaridinol, oripavine, and codeine in the later stages of the pathway.

    • Conclusions:

    • Human morphine biosynthesis involves at least 19 steps and largely mirrors the opium poppy pathway.
    • A fundamental difference exists in the formation of the key intermediate (S)-reticuline, with humans utilizing (S)-norlaudanosoline.
    • The pathway converges to morphine from thebaine via codeine or oripavine in both plants and mammals.