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RESEARCHERS ENGINEER PLANT CELLS TO PRODUCE DRUG FOR CANCER

Why in the News?

• Scientists at Indian Institutes of Technology Madras and Mandi have successfully metabolically engineered plant cells to enhance the production of the anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT).

Source: ScienceDirect

Addressing Camptothecin Production Challenges

• Camptothecin (CPT), a vital anti-cancer alkaloid, is primarily extracted from the endangered plant Nathapodytes nimmoniana in India.
• Nearly 1,000 tons of plant material are required to produce just one ton of CPT.
• Due to extensive harvesting, major plant sources of CPT are now red-listed by the IUCN, with a 20% population decline in the last decade.
• This research offers a sustainable solution to reduce the pressure on endangered plant species, such as N. nimmoniana, while meeting the demand for vital cancer-fighting drugs.

Technical Details

• The metabolic model was developed using experimental data and computational tools.
• Enzyme targets for overexpression and downregulation were identified and ranked to maximize CPT production in plant cells.
• An enzyme identified through the model led to the development of a 5-fold higher CPT-yielding plant cell line.

Funding and Publication

• The study was funded by the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in India.
• It was published in the peer-reviewed journal “Frontiers of Plant Science.”

Potential Impact and Significance

• Integration of metabolic engineering with bioprocess engineering principles can enhance sustainable CPT production.
• The research paves the way for efficient commercial production of CPT and other vital alkaloids, reducing dependence on nature.
• CPT is a crucial component in the development of cancer drugs, making its production essential.