A Engenharia Genética Transforma Planta do Tabaco em uma Fábrica de Medicamentos Antipalúdicos
Autor: Gilberto Cavalheiro | Publicado: 2016-06-28T19:21:00-03:00

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Nicotiana tabacum


Tabaco (Nicotiana tabacum), a planta responsável pela maior parte das mortes que
poderiam ser prevenidas no mundo, pode muito em breve se tornar a principal
arma contra uma das doenças mais mortais ao redor do mundo. Pesquisadores modificaram, através de engenharia genética, plantas de tabaco para produzirem
um composto químico precursor da artemisínina, a melhor droga antipalúdico (ou antimalária) existente no mercado. Artemisínina é naturalmente produzida em pequenas
quantidades por uma pequena planta chamada Artemisia annua. 




Artemisia annua




Há alguns anos atrás
já haviam transplantado o gene responsável pela produção de artemisinina
para fungos, permitindo que o composto fosse coletado a partir da fermentação
microbiana. Porém, o processo de fermentação é relativamente custoso, então os
cientistas decidiram transplantar o conjunto de genes necessários para a
síntese de ácido artemisínico para o tabaco, recurso barato, com culturas de
alto volume e que é cultivada por todo o mundo.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A equipe calcula que a colheita
de ácido artemisínico a partir de um lote de terra de 200 quilômetros quadrados
– menos da metade da área de Porto Alegre, RS - proporcionaria artemisinina suficiente para atender toda a demanda mundial.
Em um futuro próximo, os autores sugerem que as plantas de tabaco podem servir
como fábricas para a produção de outros medicamentos complexos.