Camptothecin

Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) have metabolically engineered plant cells to increase production of anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT). 

About Camptothecin (CPT):

• Camptothecin is a crucial molecule for chemotherapy in stage 4 cancer and used since centuries as a traditional Chinese medicine.
• Camptothecin is primarily isolated from the bark and stem of trees in Southeast Asia, found mainly in China and India (endemic to Western Ghats).
• Mechanism: CPT is a pentacyclic alkaloid that inhibits the enzyme topoisomerase I, which is involved in DNA replication.
• CPT binds to the enzyme and DNA through hydrogen bonding and prevents DNA relegation (binding).

Significance of the Research:

• The anti-cancer drug camptothecin is traditionally extracted from the endangered plant Nathapodytes nimmoniana.
• The researchers have grown plant cultures in the lab, extracted cells, and engineered them to enhance camptothecin production.
• This requires almost 1,000 tonnes of plant material to obtain 1 tonne of CPT.
• Due to the alarming 20% decline in the plant’s population over the past decade, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) put it under its IUCN Red-list.
• In 2021, IIT Madras researchers identified a microbe as a sustainable alternative source for CPT and prepared a genome-scale metabolic model.
• This was developed using computational tools by integration of metabolic engineering with bioprocess engineering principles.
  • Metabolic engineering is the targeted modification of cellular networks used for increasing the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and biochemicals.
  • Bioprocess engineering deals with the design and development of equipment for manufacturing products like agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, polymers etc.
• It aids in efficient commercial drug production, reducing reliance on endangered plants, and could meet increasing market demand.

Ref: Source