Precursor-directed Biosynthesis of 5-Hydroxytryptophan

Organism: E. coli. Target product and synonyms: 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-HTP,Serotonyl, Telesol, 5-Hydroxyl-L-tryptophan Target identifier(s): CAS: [4350-09-8]The inventionis comprised of genetically modified organisms, which over-express 5-Hydroxytryptophan(5-HTP).  5-HTP is a naturalnon-proteinogenic amino acid that serves as a direct biosynthetic precursor tothe neurotransmitter serotonin. Deficient serotonin in the central nervoussystem is thought to be an important physiological factor for depression. 5-HTPhas been shown to be effective for the treatment of a variety of conditions,including depression, insomnia, chronic headaches and binge eating associatedwith obesity. At the same time, it has relatively few side effects. Thetherapeutic efficacy of 5-HTP is due to its ability to enhance the synthesis ofserotonin in the brain. 5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose and can easilycross the blood-brain barrier. In most European countries, 5-HTP is a commonlyprescribed drug for multiple treatment purposes; while in North America marketit is sold as an "over-the-counter" dietary supplement.  Currently,5-HTP is obtained through extraction from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a woody climbing shrub grown in Africa.The season- and region-dependent supply of the raw materials has been largelylimiting its cost-effective production and broad clinical applications. Inaddition, Griffonia derived 5-HTP hasbeen contaminated with a compound called Peak X, leading to the USDA brieflyremoving the supplement from shelves in the US. The current bulk wholesaleprice for 5-HTP ranges from 400 to 1000 USD/kg. Yet despite the current highproduction cost and limited supply, the global market of 5-HTP is still about50,000 kg (bulk value 20-50 million dollars).

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