PROCESS OF PRODUCING MORPHINONE REDUCTASE ENZYME AND USE FOR A METHOD OF DETECTING MORPHINONE OR CODEINONE AND FOR PRODUCING HYDROMORPHONE OR HYDROCODONE

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB93/01129 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 30, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 30, 1994 PCT Filed May 28, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/00565 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 6, 1994A morphinone reductase enzyme and related process provide for the preparation of hydromorphone from morphinone and hydrocodone from neopinone or codeinone. The enzyme has no significant activity with compounds of similar ring structure, has a molecular weight of approximately 81 kilodaltons and is composed of two identical subunits. The enzyme uses NADH as a cofactor and displays no significant enzymatic activity in the reverse direction.