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Herbal medicines were widely used in ancient and modern societies as remedies for human ailments. Notably, the Papaveraceae family includes well-known species, such as Papaver somniferum and Chelidonium majus , which possess medicinal properties due to their latex content. Latex-bearing plants are a rich source of diverse bioactive compounds, with applications ranging from narcotics to analgesics and relaxants. With the advent of high-throughput technologies and advancements in sequencing tools, an opportunity exists to bridge the knowledge gap between the genetic information of herbs and the regulatory networks underlying their medicinal activities. This emerging discipline, known as herbgenomics, combines genomic information with other -omics studies to unravel the genetic foundations, including essential gene functions and secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, exploring the genomes of various medicinal plants enables the utilization of modern genetic manipulation techniques, such as Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) or RNA interference. This technological revolution has facilitated systematic studies of model herbs, targeted breeding of medicinal plants, the establishment of gene banks and the adoption of synthetic biology approaches. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic research on species within the Papaveraceae family. Additionally, it briefly explores the potential applications and key opportunities offered by the -omics perspective in the pharmaceutical industry and the agrobiotechnology field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a case study involving a 72-year-old woman who tested positive for codeine and morphine on a urine drug screen. The patient claimed to have not taken any nonprescribed medications and requested copies of the test results. It was later discovered that her positive result may have been caused by the consumption of poppy seeds in her breakfast. The article explores the distinction between codeine ingestion and poppy seed consumption as the cause of a positive drug test result. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication between the laboratory and practitioners, accurate reporting of results, and patient advocacy in reviewing medical records for accuracy. The article concludes with educational points, including the fact that poppy seed-containing food can cause a positive opiates result in urine and that previous guidelines for interpreting opiates results are no longer valid. [Extracted from the article]

Total morphine is an important urinary marker of heroin use but can also be present from prescriptions or poppy seed ingestion. In specimens with morphine concentrations consistent with poppy seed ingestion (<4,000 ng/mL), 6-acetylmorphine has served as an important marker of illicit drug use. However, as illicit fentanyl has become increasingly prevalent as a contaminant in the drug supply, fentanyl might be an alternative marker of illicit opioid use instead of or in combination with 6-acetylmorphine. The aim of this study was to quantify opiates, 6-acetylmorphine, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in 504 morphine-positive (immunoassay 2,000 ng/mL cutoff) urine specimens from workplace drug testing. Almost half (43%) of morphine-positive specimens had morphine concentrations below 4,000 ng/mL, illustrating the need for markers to differentiate illicit drug use. In these specimens, fentanyl (22% co-positivity) was more prevalent than 6-acetylmorphine (12%). Co-positivity of 6-acetylmorphine and semi-synthetic opioids increased with morphine concentration, while fentanyl prevalence did not. In 110 fentanyl-positive specimens, the median norfentanyl concentration (1,520 ng/mL) was 9.6× higher than the median fentanyl concentration (159 ng/mL), illustrating the possibility of using norfentanyl as a urinary marker of fentanyl use. The only fentanyl analog identified was para-fluorofentanyl (n  = 50), with results from most specimens consistent with para-fluorofentanyl contamination in illicit fentanyl. The results confirm the use of fentanyl by employees subject to workplace drug testing and highlight the potential of fentanyl and/or norfentanyl as important markers of illicit drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology has found that consuming seasoning containing poppy seeds can lead to positive urine drug test results for codeine. Previous guidelines that suggested codeine concentrations exceeding 300 ng/mL with a morphine to codeine ratio of less than 2 ruled out poppy seed consumption, but this study refutes those guidelines. The study involved four volunteers who consumed toast sprinkled with a poppy seed-containing seasoning blend, and urine samples collected after consumption showed positive results for codeine and morphine. The study highlights the need for caution when interpreting urine drug test results in the context of poppy seed consumption. The military has also addressed this issue and advised service members to avoid all poppy seed consumption. [Extracted from the article]

The Ranunculales are a hyperdiverse lineage in many aspects of their phenotype, including growth habit, floral and leaf morphology, reproductive mode, and specialized metabolism. Many Ranunculales species, such as opium poppy and goldenseal, have a high medicinal value. In addition, the order includes a large number of commercially important ornamental plants, such as columbines and larkspurs. The phylogenetic position of the order with respect to monocots and core eudicots and the diversity within this lineage make the Ranunculales an excellent group for studying evolutionary processes by comparative studies. Lately, the phylogeny of Ranunculales was revised, and genetic and genomic resources were developed for many species, allowing comparative analyses at the molecular scale. Here, we review the literature on the resources for genetic manipulation and genome sequencing, the recent phylogeny reconstruction of this order, and its fossil record. Further, we explain their habitat range and delve into the diversity in their floral morphology, focusing on perianth organ identity, floral symmetry, occurrences of spurs and nectaries, sexual and pollination systems, and fruit and dehiscence types. The Ranunculales order offers a wealth of opportunities for scientific exploration across various disciplines and scales, to gain novel insights into plant biology for researchers and plant enthusiasts alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the urine and hair opiate profiles associated with the daily consumption of presumptive codeine-predominant poppy seed food products. Ten participants consumed one of five food products at breakfast for 10 consecutive days. Baseline urine and hair samples were collected on Day 1. The urine samples were collected 4, 8 and 12 h following poppy seed consumption on Days 1 and 10, and the first morning void urine samples were collected on Days 2–10. A second hair specimen was collected on Day 20 ± 2. Urine drug test results: Three of the food products were associated with opiate-negative urine drug test results at all time points at a 300 ng/mL cut-off. Two of the food products were associated with opiate-positive drug test results at all non-baseline time points at a 300 ng/mL cut-off. Of these, all samples (n  = 60) were codeine-positive, and 27 (45%) were morphine-positive. Codeine concentrations exceeded morphine concentrations in every sample and always by multiples. Thirty-nine of the 60 samples (65%) were codeine-positive at a 2,000 ng/mL cut-off, while none of these samples were morphine-positive at this cut-off. None of the 60 samples reached an opiate threshold of 15,000 ng/mL, although one participant produced a maximum codeine concentration of 13,161 ng/mL (13,854 ng/mg creatinine). There was no clear trend toward increasing urinary opiate concentrations over the course of the study. Hair drug test results: The hair samples of two participants produced quantifiable codeine (41 pg/mg and 51 pg/mg), but no sample reached a common reporting threshold of 200 pg/mg for codeine or morphine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Commentary on Illegal Drug Use or Not--The Role of the Laboratory in Helping to Interpret Drug Test Results" discusses the challenges of interpreting urine toxicology testing, particularly in cases involving poppy seed ingestion. The article highlights recent studies that have shown that poppy seed-containing products can result in codeine concentrations exceeding those of morphine, leading to false positive results for opiates. The authors recommend counseling patients to avoid poppy seed-containing products before drug monitoring studies and considering poppy seed ingestion as a possible cause for positive opiate results. The article also emphasizes the need for individualized interpretations and the potential risks of erroneous accusations for patients with poor health literacy. [Extracted from the article]

Consumption of poppy seed-containing food products can result in opiate-positive urine drug test results and may pose challenges in distinguishing poppy seed consumption from opiate administration. In this context, guidance has suggested that codeine concentrations exceeding 300 ng/mL coupled with morphine-to-codeine ratios <2 are indicative of codeine consumption and, therefore, exclude poppy seed consumption as a legitimate explanation for the test result. In recent years, we performed independent medical examinations of three individuals who produced codeine-positive/morphine-negative (300 ng/mL) forensic urine drug test results but denied codeine administration, attributing their test results to the consumption of specific poppy seed-containing food products. In the present study, 11 participants consumed one of the 10 unique poppy seed-containing food products, including the three implicated food products. Six of 33 non-baseline urine samples (18%)—representing three food products—were positive for codeine and negative for morphine at 300 ng/mL cut-offs (and therefore featured morphine-to-codeine ratios <2). This study adds to a small literature indicating that consumption of poppy seed-containing food products cannot reliably be distinguished from codeine administration based on previously published urinary opiate concentrations and ratios. An important caveat is that in none of these cases did maximum urinary codeine concentrations exceed 1,300 µg/g creatinine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicologists are often confronted with the abuse of multiple drugs and are obliged to decide which compound may have been the cause of death. We report on a 21-year-old man (182 cm, 84 kg), who was found unconscious in his bed. Beside him, the police found several controlled substances, among them were dried opium poppy pods containing thebaine, codeine and morphine, a clear liquid with the designer benzodiazepines flualprazolam and clonazolam and a white powder with the imprint SGT-25, instead of SGT-78 (CUMYL-4CN-BINACA). These compounds were also found in the urine sample following a non-targeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and a targeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS) screening approach. Subsequently, these compounds were quantified in whole femoral blood and scalp hair. Based on the concentrations measured in femoral blood in particular, we assume that the deceased had taken a lethal dose of the designer benzodiazepines—flualprazolam (0.74 mg/L) and clonazolam (2.08 mg/L), an extremely high dose of the opiates—thebaine (0.81 mg/L), codeine (0.23 mg/L) and morphine (0.13 mg/L ) and a high dose of the synthetic cannabinoid—CUMYL-4CN-BINACA (0.01 mg/L). Besides postmortem concentrations, we also present electron impact and electrospray ionization mass spectra of compounds found in the vicinity of the decedent, namely the tryptamines—4-hydroxy- N -isopropyl- N -methyltryptamine (4-HO-MIPT), 4-hydroxy- N -ethyl- N -methyltryptamine (4-HO-MET) and 4-acetoxy- N , N -diethyltryptamine (4-ACO-DET), the amphetamines—3-fluoroethamphetamine (3-FEA) and 2-fluoromethamphetamine (2-FMA) and the arylcyclohexylamines— N -ethyldeschloroketamine (O-PCE), 3-methoxyphencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP) and 3-methoxyeticyclidine (3-MeO-PCE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recipes found in letters and manuscript receipt books testify to the use of potentially lethal substances in domestic sleep medicine. This article examines the theory behind the use of poisons to induce sleep, contrasting Galenic theory with the radical approach of the Paracelsians. According to Galenic medicine, the coldness of stupefactives such as henbane, deadly nightshade and the opium poppy were useful in counteracting fever and helping a patient to sleep. However, their coldness could also cause death. They were therefore used mainly in external medicine. The exceptions were diacodium made from native poppies that were considered less lethal, and sleeping draughts used in a surgical context. Laudanum , a new drug developed using alchemical methods to separate medicine from poison, broke with traditional safety advice. On account of its novelty, personal experience and recommendation were particularly important in establishing it within the canon of sleeping drugs considered safe for use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome characterization of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica cv. "Hitoezaki"), which produces pharmaceutically important benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), was carried out using the draft genome sequence. The numbers of tRNA and rRNA genes were close to those of the other plant species tested, whereas the frequency of repetitive sequences was distinct from those species. Comparison of the predicted genes with those of Amborella trichopoda, Nelumbo nucifera, Solanum lycopersicum , and Arabidopsis thaliana , and analyses of gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway indicated that the enzyme genes involved in BIA biosynthesis were highly enriched in the California poppy genome. Further comparative analysis using the genome information of Papaver somniferum and Aquilegia coerulea , both BIA-producing plants, revealed that many genes encoding BIA biosynthetic enzymes, transcription factors, transporters, and candidate proteins, possibly related to BIA biosynthesis, were specifically distributed in these plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a source of morphine, codeine, and semisynthetic derivatives, including oxycodone and naltrexone. Here, we report the de novo assembly and genomic analysis of P. somniferum traditional landrace 'Chinese Herbal Medicine'. Variations between the 2.62 Gb CHM genome and that of the previously sequenced high noscapine 1 (HN1) variety were also explored. Among 79,668 protein-coding genes, we functionally annotated 88.9%, compared to 68.8% reported in the HN1 genome. Gene family and 4DTv comparative analyses with three other Papaveraceae species revealed that opium poppy underwent two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events. The first of these, in ancestral Ranunculales, expanded gene families related to characteristic secondary metabolite production and disease resistance. The more recent species-specific WGD mediated by transposable elements resulted in massive genome expansion. Genes carrying structural variations and large-effect variants associated with agronomically different phenotypes between CHM and HN1 that were identified through our transcriptomic comparison of multiple organs and developmental stages can enable the development of new varieties. These genomic and transcriptomic analyses will provide a valuable resource that informs future basic and agricultural studies of the opium poppy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyse reactions of significant industrial interest but are underutilised in large-scale bioprocesses due to enzyme stability, cofactor requirements and the poor aqueous solubility and microbial toxicity of typical substrates and products. In this work, we investigate the potential for preparative-scale N-demethylation of the opium poppy alkaloid noscapine by a P450BM3 (CYP102A1) mutant enzyme in a whole-cell biotransformation system. We identify and address several common limitations of whole-cell P450 biotransformations using this model N-demethylation process. Mass transfer into Escherichia coli cells was found to be a major limitation of biotransformation rate and an alternative Gram-positive expression host Bacillus megaterium provided a 25-fold improvement in specific initial rate. Two methods were investigated to address poor substrate solubility. First, a biphasic biotransformation system was developed by systematic selection of potentially biocompatible solvents and in silico solubility modelling using Hansen solubility parameters. The best-performing biphasic system gave a 2.3-fold improvement in final product titre compared to a single-phase system but had slower initial rates of biotransformation due to low substrate concentration in the aqueous phase. The second strategy aimed to improve aqueous substrate solubility using cyclodextrin and hydrophilic polymers. This approach provided a fivefold improvement in initial biotransformation rate and allowed a sixfold increase in final product concentration. Enzyme stability and cell viability were identified as the next parameters requiring optimisation to improve productivity. The approaches used are also applicable to the development of other pharmaceutical P450-mediated biotransformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a correction to: Gary M Reisfield, Scott A Teitelbaum, Joseph T Jones, Kent Mathias, Ben Lewis, Urine and hair drug test results associated with daily consumption of codeine-predominant poppy seed food products, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 2023; bkad083, https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkad083In the originally published version of this manuscript, in Table IV, Participant 8 data was erroneously omitted.In addition, errors were present in the numbering of references and in-text citations.The Publisher apologizes for these errors, which have been corrected. [Extracted from the article]

Yeast products are extensively used as additives in livestock feed to improve their growth performance and intestinal health. A total of 90 crossbred finishing pigs were allocated to one of three treatments according to their BW and sex (2 barrows and 2 gilts) with 6 replicates per treatment and 5 pigs per pen for eight weeks. The dietary treatments were CON -basal diet, CON + 0.05% yeast hydrolysate (YH), CON + 0.1% YH. The yeast hydrolysate supplement used in this study was commercially prepared in the name of CALMORIN. The active ingredients of YH were 40% of crude protein, 3.5% of nucleotides, 23% of ß-glucans, 4.9% glutamic acid, and 15% of mannan-oligosaccharides. Data were subjected to the statistical analysis as a complete randomized design using the GLM procedures of SAS and the pen was used as the experimental unit. Linear and quadratic polynomial contrasts were performed to determine the effects yeast in the diet with P < 0.05 indicating significance. Dietary inclusion of YH supplement linearly increased (P < 0.05) body weight and average daily gain of pigs at wk 4,8, and overall trail period (respectively). Moreover, apparent total digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy showed linear (P < 0.05) improvement in pigs fed graded level of YH supplementation. Also, the inclusion of YH supplementation linearly increased (P < 0.05) the fecal microbial lactobacillus population. Furthermore, during the end of the trial, pigs fed YH tended to linearly increase (P < 0.05) backfat thickness and lean meat percentage and linearly reduce drip loss (P > 0.05) from meat sample on day 3 and 5 of storage. In conclusion the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, lactobacillus count, and meat quality of finishing pigs were positively enhanced by yeast hydrolysate supplement in the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aim of this study was to determine whether ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase-containing bacterial treatments could enhance the tolerance of poppy ( Papaver somniferum L.) plants against biotic stress of downy mildew caused by Peronospora sp. Methods and Results Three different genotypes of P. somniferum, that is, Sampada, J-16 and I-14 were included in the experiment. The ACC deaminase-containing bacteria Pseudomonas putida ( WPTe) reduced the downy mildew disease severity and significantly improved the growth and yield of P. somniferum plants. The chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were modulated upon WPTe treatments in the poppy plants. We observed reduced synthesis of ethylene precursor ( ACC) and abscisic acid ( ABA), and enhanced production of indole acetic acid ( IAA) in P. somniferum plants upon WPTe treatments. Moreover, WPTe treatment reduced proline and lipid peroxidation in plant leaves. Conclusion These results highlight that the ACC deaminase-containing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance the tolerance of P. somniferum plant against downy mildew. Significance and Impact of the Study ACC deaminase-containing PGPR may be used against phytopathogens which apart from protecting the plants from the disease could also be useful in reducing ethylene-induced damages in the event of abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following sentences, units originally given as "ng/mL" have been corrected to "µg/g creatinine": An important caveat is that in none of these cases did maximum urinary codeine concentrations exceed 1,300 µg/g creatinine. At 4-6 h, the mean (maximum) urinary codeine concentration was 988 ng/mL (1,281 µg/g creatinine) and the mean urinary morphine concentration was 105 ng/mL (30). This adds to a small literature demonstrating that urinary codeine concentrations (at least those below ~1,300 µg/g creatinine) and morphine-to-codeine ratios cannot reliably distinguish poppy seed consumption from codeine administration. [Extracted from the article]

Immunofluorescence labeling and shotgun proteomics were used to establish the cell type–specific localization of morphine biosynthesis in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Polyclonal antibodies for each of six enzymes involved in converting (R)-reticuline to morphine detected corresponding antigens in sieve elements of the phloem, as described previously for all upstream enzymes transforming (S)-norcoclaurine to (S)-reticuline. Validated shotgun proteomics performed on whole-stem and latex total protein extracts generated 2031 and 830 distinct protein families, respectively. Proteins corresponding to nine morphine biosynthetic enzymes were represented in the whole stem, whereas only four of the final five pathway enzymes were detected in the latex. Salutaridine synthase was detected in the whole stem, but not in the latex subproteome. The final three enzymes converting thebaine to morphine were among the most abundant active latex proteins despite a limited occurrence in laticifers suggested by immunofluorescence labeling. Multiple charge isoforms of two key O -demethylases in the latex were revealed by two-dimensional immunoblot analysis. Salutaridine biosynthesis appears to occur only in sieve elements, whereas conversion of thebaine to morphine is predominant in adjacent laticifers, which contain morphine-rich latex. Complementary use of immunofluorescence labeling and shotgun proteomics has substantially resolved the cellular localization of morphine biosynthesis in opium poppy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse group of plant specialized metabolites with a long history of investigation. Although the ecophysiological functions of most BIAs are unknown, the medicinal properties of many compounds have been exploited for centuries. These include the narcotic analgesics codeine and morphine, the antimicrobial agents sanguinarine and berberine, and the antitussive and anticancer drug noscapine. BIA biosynthesis involves a restricted number of enzyme types that catalyze landmark coupling reactions and subsequent functional group modifications. A pathogenesis-related (PR)10/Bet v1 ‘Pictet–Spenglerase’, several O-methyl-, N-methyl- and O-acetyltransferases, cytochromes P450, FAD-dependent oxidases, non-heme dioxygenases and NADPH-dependent reductases have been implicated in the multistep pathways leading to structurally diverse alkaloids. A small number of plant species, including opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and other members of the Ranunculales, have emerged as model systems to study BIA metabolism. The expansion of resources to include a wider range of plant species is creating an opportunity to investigate previously uncharacterized BIA pathways. Contemporary knowledge of BIA metabolism reflects over a century of research coupled with the development of key innovations such as radioactive tracing, enzyme isolation and molecular cloning, and functional genomics approaches such as virus-induced gene silencing. Recently, the emergence of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics has expedited the discovery of new BIA biosynthetic genes. The growing repository of BIA biosynthetic genes is providing the parts required to apply emerging synthetic biology platforms to the development of production systems in microbes as an alternative to plants as a commecial source of valuable BIAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noscapine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid produced in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and other members of the Papaveraceae. It has been used as a cough suppressant and more recently was shown to possess anticancer activity. However, the biosynthesis of noscapine in opium poppy has not been established. A proposed pathway leading from (S)-reficuline to noscapine includes (S)-scoulerine, (S)-canadine, and (S)-N-methylcanadine as intermediates. Stem cDNA libraries and latex extracts of eight opium poppy cultivars displaying different alkaloid profiles were subjected to massively parallel pyrosequencing and liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Comparative transcript and metabolite profiling revealed the occurrence of three cDNAs encoding O-methyltransferases designated as SOMT1, SOMT2, and SOMT3 that correlated with the accumulation of noscapine in the eight cultivars. SOMT transcripts were detected in all opium poppy organs but were most abundant in aerial orgmzs, where noscapine primarily accumulates. SOMT2 and SOMT3 showed strict substrate specificity and regiospecificity as 9-0- methyltransferases targeting (S)-scoulerine. In contrast, SOMT1 was able to sequentially 9- and 2-O-methylate (S)-scoulerme, yielding (S)-tetrahydropalmatine. SOMT1 also sequentially 3'- and 7-O-methylated both (S)-norreticuline and (S)-reticuline with relatively high substrate affinity, yielding (S)-tetrahydropapaverine and (S)-laudanosine, respectively. The metabolic functions of SOMT1, SOMT2, and SOMT3 were investigated in planta using virus-induced gene silencing. Reduction of SOMT1 or SOMT2 transcript levels resulted in a significant decrease in noscapine accumulation. Reduced SOMT1 transcript levels also caused a decrease in papaverine accumulation, confirming the selective roles for these enzymes in the biosynthesis of both alkaloids in opium poppy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which developed, validated and optimized a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation of six target alkaloids from Papaver somniferum L. The study investigated the chromatographic behavior of these alkaloids using a reversed-phase chromatography at acidic and alkaline pH. It also studied the effects of ion-pairing agents, pH value of the mobile phase, concentration of the buffer components and column temperature.

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TyrAT) catalyzes the transamination of L-Tyr and α-ketoglutarate, yielding 4-hydroxyphenylpy-ruvic acid and L-glutamate. The decarboxylation product of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, is a precursor to a large and diverse group of natural products known collectively as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (B1As). We have isolated and characterized a TyrAT cDNA from opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), which remains the only commercial source for several pharmaceutical BIAs, including codeine, morphine, and noscapine. TyrAT belongs to group I pyridoxal 5'phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes wherein Schiff base formation occurs between PLP and a specific Lys residue. The amino acid sequence of TyrAT showed considerable homology to other putative plant TyrATs, although few of these have been functionally characterized. Purified, recombinant TyrAT displayed a molecular mass of approximately 46 kD and a substrate preference for L-Tyr and α-ketoglutarate, with apparent Km values of 1.82 and 0.35 mM, respectively. No specific requirement for PLP was detected in vitro. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the conversion of 1-Tyr to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. TyrAT gene transcripts were most abundant in roots and stems of mature opium poppy plants. Virus-induced gene silencing was used to evaluate the contribution of TyrAT to BIA metabolism in opium poppy. TyrAT transcript levels were reduced by at least 80% in silenced plants compared with controls and showed a moderate reduction in total alkaloid content. The modest correlation between transcript levels and BIA accumulation in opium poppy supports a role for TyrAT in the generation of alkaloid precursors, but it also suggests the occurrence of other sources for 4-hydroxyphenyl- acetaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The MADS-box transcription factor AGAMOUS (AG) is an important regulator of stamen and fruit identity as well as floral meristem determinacy in a number of core eudicots and monocots. However, its role outside of these groups has not been assessed explicitly. Examining its role in opium poppy, a basal eudicot, could uncover much about the evolution and development of flower and fruit development in the angiosperms. Methods AG orthologues were isolated by degenerate RT-PCR and the gene sequence and structure examined; gene expression was characterized using in situ hybridization and the function assessed using virus-induced gene silencing. Key Results In opium poppy, a basal eudicot, the AGAMOUS orthologue is alternatively spliced to produce encoded products that vary at the C-terminus, termed PapsAG-1 and PapsAG-2. Both transcripts are expressed at high levels in stamens and carpels. The functional implications of this alternative transcription were examined using virus-induced gene silencing and the results show that PapsAG-1 has roles in stamen and carpel identity, reflecting those found for Arabidopsis AG. In contrast, PapsAG-2, while displaying redundancy in these functions, has a distinctive role in aspects of carpel development reflected in septae, ovule and stigma defects seen in the loss-of-function line generated. Conclusions These results describe the first explicit functional analysis of an AG-clade gene in a basal eudicot; illustrate one of the few examples of the functional consequences of alternative splicing in transcription factors and reveal the importance of alternative transcription, as well as gene duplication, as a driving force in evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the fatality caused by the ingestion of phenazepam and poppy seed tea. It mentions the use of direct injection and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection in the analysis of the subclavian blood. Results show that the use of Phenazepam can contribute to fatal death, which might be caused by the overdose of the use of the combination of morphine, codeine and phenazepam intoxication.

Norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). NCS from Thalictrum flavum (Tf NCS), Papaver somniferum (Ps NCS1 and Ps NCS2), and Coptis japonica (Cj PR10A) share substantial identity with pathogen-related 10 (PR10) and Bet v1 proteins, whose functions are not well understood. A distinct enzyme (Cj NCS1) with similarity to 2-oxoglutarate–dependent dioxygenases was suggested as the bona fide NCS in C. japonica. Here, we validate the exclusive role of PR10/Bet v1-type NCS enzymes in BIA metabolism. Immunolocalization of Ps NCS2 revealed its cell type–specific occurrence in phloem sieve elements, which contain all other known BIA biosynthetic enzymes. In opium poppy, NCS transcripts and proteins were abundant in root and stem, but at low levels in leaf and carpel. Silencing of NCS in opium poppy profoundly reduced alkaloid levels compared with controls. Immunoprecipitation of NCS from total protein extracts of T. flavum cells resulted in a nearly complete attenuation of NCS activity. A Ps NCS2–green fluorescent protein fusion introduced by microprojectile bombardment into opium poppy cells initially localized to the endoplasmic reticulum but subsequently sorted to the vacuole. In our hands, Cj NCS1 did not catalyze the formation of (S)-norcoclaurine from dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four single crosses (VG20 × SGE48, SGE48 × SG35II, VG26 × SG35II, and SG35II × VG20) in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) were analyzed to study the gene actions involved in the inheritance of quantitative traits, namely plant height, branches/plant, capsules/plant, peduncle length, capsule index, stigmatic rays, straw yield/plant, and morphine content. Simple additive, dominance, and epistatic genetic components were found to be significant for inheritance pattern. Dominance effect (h) was higher than additive effect (d). Digenic interaction indicated the prevalence of dominance × dominance (l) followed by additive × dominance (j) type epistasis. The significance of dominance (h) and dominance × dominance (l) indicated duplicate epistasis for all the traits and crosses except SG35II × VG20 for stigmatic rays. Biparental mating followed by recurrent selection involving desired recombinants may be utilized to improve the component traits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The poppy stem gall wasp, Iraella luteipes (Thompson) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), is one of the main pests of the opium poppy, Papauer somniferum L., an economically important pharmaceutical crop cultivated worldwide. In a previous study, we obtained from I. luteipes larvae a strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) that can become established endophytically in opium poppy plants. A field experiment was conducted to study the ability of this B. bassiana strain to provide systemic protection against damage by I. Iuteipes in opium poppy in southern Spain for three seasons. Conidial suspensions were applied as seed dressings, leaf sprays, or soil sprays. The effect of the treatment was studied by harvesting fully ripened plants and dissecting I. luteipes larvae from the stem. The effect of treatment on growth and yield was also evaluated. Emergence of I. luteipes adults was not uniform over the 3 yr, with important differences exhibited in the duration of the emergence period, although the flight peaks tended to occur in mid-late April. B. bassiana seed dressings, leaf sprays at the fourth true-leaf stage, and soil sprays were not significantly different in their ability to reduce the number of larvae per plant compared with the controls, with percentage reductions of 36.5-58.5, 64.4-73.4, and 51.9-57.2% in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. Even though the population level of I. luteipes increased over the 3 yr, the efficacy of the fungal inoculation in reducing the larval population was maintained throughout the study period. No significant differences between inoculation methods were detected in the percentage of leaf pieces showing fungal growth when placed on B. bassiana selective medium, with mean values in the range of 10-15% for the three seasons. Leaf pieces from controls did not exhibit any sign of B. bassiana growth when placed on B. bassiana-selective medium. Neither adverse effects on growth and yield nor symptomatic tissues were observed in B. bassiana-treated plants compared with controls in any of the three seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two accessions of opium poppy, Pps-1 (dark green leaves, highly resistant to downy mildew [DM]) and H-9 (yellowish green leaves, susceptible to DM), which originated from common progenitor SPS49 were selected, and their F1 and F2 progenies showed that leaf color trait was governed by single recessive nuclear gene, whereas DM resistance appeared to be the interaction between cytoplasmic and nuclear genes. Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) analysis of these 2 accessions through arbitrarily-primed polymerase chain reaction generated a unique fragment in Pps-1. Subsequent sequence analysis upon cloning of this cpDNA fragment revealed its similarity with the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase β' subunit (rpoCl). Full- length rpoCl DNA was therefore isolated from both the genotypes that was 2707 bp long with a 658-bp intron (436-1093) and a 2049-hp open reading frame encoding 682 amino acid long polypeptide. Comparative sequence analysis of the rpoCl gene from both the genotypes, revealed 4 single-nucleotide substitutions at 4 positions that caused 3 amino acid changes in the protein sequence-1) A to C transversion at position 825 (Glu275Asp), 2) A to G transition at position 1203 (I1e401Met), and 3) T to C transition at position 1422 and G to A transition at position 1423 both in same codon of the reading frame (Ala475Thr). This investigation is the first report indicating base substitution changes in the plastid-encoded rpoCl gene in DM-resistant genotypes of opium poppy. This finding may lead to implication of possible role of RNA polymerase β' subunit in resistance to DM caused by Peronospora arborescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spontaneous true breeding homeotic gene mutant Pps-1 with distinct partial petaloid sepals was detected in the population of downy mildew (DM)--resistant elite accession 1-14 during our studies for the identification of disease resistance sources in opium poppy. The trait was found to be stable and inherited truly in the subsequent generations. Genetic studies were carried out through systematic reciprocal crosses with the parental wild-type genotype 1- 14, and segregation pattern of phenotypic characteristics in F1and and F2 populations clearly indicated single recessive nuclear gene control of the mutant character. The studies have demonstrated that the mutant phenotype is due to mutations at the Pps- 1 locus that possibly corresponds to B-class function (according to ABC model) with negative control function, The mutant Pps-1 being single-whorl homeotic mutant might greatly help in providing insight into mechanisms of flower development in opium poppy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Idiomacromerus Crawford (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), Idiomacromerus luteus Nieves-Aldrey & Askew and Idiomacromerus mesoplanus Askew & Nieves-Aldrey are described from Spain. The two new species were reared from stem galls in the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L., induced by the cynipid Iraella luteipes (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). The last instar of I. luteus also is described, and the generic placement and taxonomic affinities of the two species are discussed. Data also are given on the biology of the new species, including illustrations of the host plant and galls. L luteus and I. mesoplanus are part of a community of undescribed parasitic chalcid wasps associated with the opium poppy stem gall. The remaining species will be described elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the use of thin-layer chromatography-densitometry and liquid chromatography analysis for alkaloids in leaves of Papaver somniferum under stress conditions. Effects of stress conditions on the concentrations of secondary metabolites; Alkaloid contents of plants; Research methods and results.

Three key benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes, (S)-N-methylcoclaurine-3'-hydroxylase (CYP8OB1), berberine bridge enzyme (BBE), and codeinone reductase (CUR), were localized in cultured opium poppy (Pa paver somniferurn) cells by sucrose density gradient fractionation and immunogold labeling. CYP8OBI. catalyzes the second to last step in the formation of (S)-reticuline, the last common intermediate in sanguinarine and morphine biosynthesis. BBE converts (S)-reticuline to (S)-scoulerine as the first committed step in sanguinarine biosynthesis, and CUR catalyzes the penultimate step in the branch pathway leading to morphine. Sanguinarine is an antimicrobial alkaloid that accumulates in the vacuoles of cultured opium poppy cells in response to elicitor treatment, whereas the narcotic analgesic morphine, which is abundant in opium poppy plants, is not produced in cultured cells. CYP8OB1 and BBE were rapidly induced to high levels in response to elicitor treatment. By contrast, CUR levels were constitutive in the cell cultures, but remained low and were not induced by addition of the elicitor. Western blots performed on protein homogenates from elicitor-treated cells fractionated on a sucrose density gradient showed the cosedimentation of CYP80B1, BBE, and sanguinarine with calreticulin, and CUR with glutathione S-transferase. Calreticulin and glutathione S-transferase are markers for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the cytosol, respectively. In response to elicitor treatment, large dilated vesicles rapidly developed from the lamellar ER of control cells and fused with the central vacuole. Immunogold localization supported the association of CYP8OBI and BBE with ER vesicles, and CUR with the cytosol in elicitor-treated cells. Our results show that benzylisoquinoline biosynthesis and transport to the vacuole are associated with the ER, which undergoes major ultrastructural modification in response to the elicitor treatment of cultured opium poppy cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the inclusion of the poem "Poppies" in the 1834 poetry collection "Pretty Lessons in Verse for Good Children" by English poet Sara Coleridge, who did not want a poem addressing her use of opiates published in the collection. The author notes that Coleridge made note of this in a dedication of one copy given to friend Dora Wordsworth, daughter of English poet William Wordsworth. The use of opiates by both Sara Coleridge and her father, the famed English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is also covered.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Teresita Flores and colleagues on arginase as source of nitric oxide and another by Jillian M. Hagel and colleagues on the metabolite profiling in opium poppy.

Review on the genetic regulation of fruit development from initiation through harvesting with a focus on two very different fruit types; the opium poppy capsule and the grain of cereals.Fruits come in an impressive array of shapes, sizes, and consistencies, and also display a huge diversity in biochemical/metabolite profiles, wherein lies their value as rich sources of food, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. This is in addition to their fundamental function in supporting and dispersing the developing and mature seeds for the next generation. Understanding developmental processes such as fruit development and ripening, particularly at the genetic level, was once largely restricted to model and crop systems for practical and commercial reasons, but with the expansion of developmental genetic and evo-devo tools/analyses we can now investigate and compare aspects of fruit development in species spanning the angiosperms. We can superimpose recent genetic discoveries onto the detailed characterization of fruit development and ripening conducted with primary considerations such as yield and harvesting efficiency in mind, as well as on the detailed description of taxonomically relevant characters. Based on our own experience we focus on two very morphologically distinct and evolutionary distant fruits: the capsule of opium poppy, and the grain or caryopsis of cereals. Both are of massive economic value, but because of very different constituents; alkaloids of varied pharmaceutical value derived from secondary metabolism in opium poppy capsules, and calorific energy fuel derived from primary metabolism in cereal grains. Through comparative analyses in these and other fruit types, interesting patterns of regulatory gene function diversification and conservation are beginning to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers news briefs related to botany. Hydra Tidal Energy Technology AS has developed turbines' blades using laminated pine. A study found that colour of the plastic mulch used for okra cultivation affects growth and yield. A fungus not yet identified has infected about half of Afghanistan's crop of opium poppy.

Investigates the effects of different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes on the frequency of infection and growth of opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L. and California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Cham. hairy root cultures. Comparison of wild-type and transgenic roots; Effect of auxims on transgenic hairy roots growth in liquid culture.