This unexpected plant discovery could change how drugs are made
A University of York team found that a plant alkaloid biosynthetic step uses a bacterial-like decarboxylase gene, suggesting plants co-opt microbial enzymes and creating opportunities to discover and biosynthesize novel drug compounds more sustainably.
Why it mattersUniversity of York shows bacterial-like decarboxylase genes drive alkaloid biosynthesis, guiding biotech teams to engineer sustainable drug production.