De novo biosynthesis of berberine and halogenated benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Berberine is a plant-derived benzylisoquinoline alkaloid with diverse pharmaceutical activities, however, the production of berberine from medicinal plants and organic synthesis remains unsustainable. Here, the authors report the complete biosynthesis of berberine in yeast by engineering genes from plants and bacteria.