Production of biological substances for medicine using genetically engineered yeast cells shows new promising results in basic research from an international team of researchers. In 2022, the researchers attracted international attention by programming the longest-ever biosynthetic pathway -- or “assembly line' -- into a microbial cell factory and designing it to produce biological substances for cancer drugs. In an article published on November 6, 2023 in Nature Chemical Biology, biosynthesis of natural and halogenated plant monoterpene indole alkaloids in yeast, the researchers now present results with the artificial production of the naturally occurring substance, alstonine, which has shown promising results for use in treating mental disorders. The open-access article is titled “Biosynthesis of Natural and Halogenated Plant Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids in Yeast.”