Abstract: A 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.

Abstract: A biosensor for detecting metal ions of elements such as Hg, Cr, As, Tc, Cu, Ag, Se, V, Mo and U which are capable of being reduced to metal by a reductase enzyme. The reductase enzyme is contained in an immobilized enzyme composition also including a cofactor and a coenzyme. The cofactor, for example NADPH, is oxidized by a reaction coupled with the reductase reduction of the metal ions and the cofactor in its oxidized state, e.g., NADP.sup.+, is re-reduced thereby maintaining a supply of the reduced state cofactor by action of the coenzyme in a further oxidation reaction coupled with the cofactor reduction. The further oxidation reaction may be oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde brought about by a dehydrogenase coenzyme. The oxidation brought about by the coenzyme, i.e., the amount of oxidized product, is a measure of the amount of oxidized state cofactor produced which, in turn, is a measure of the concentration of metal ions being detected.

Abstract: A cocaine esterase has been isolated from a strain of the bacteria Pseudomonas maltophilta, The cocaine esterase catalyses the debenzoylation of cocaine, This reaction may be used in the detection of cocaine. The enzyme may be incorporated into sensors for this purpose. The cocaine esterase is preferably obtainable from Pseudomonas sp. NCIMB 40427. It catalyzes the debenzoylation of cocaine, has a molecular weight in the unaggregated form of about 120,000 daltons as determined by gel filtration, has esterase activity specifically at the benzoate ester linkage of cocaine, separates at a major band of Rf about 0.2 on PAGE in its aggregated form, and it is completely inhibited by 1 mM phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride but ineffectively inhibited by 1 mM eserine, each determined at 30.degree. C. with respect to 2 mM cocaine as substrate.

Abstract: Two enzymes, one an acetylmorphine carboxyesterase (AMCE), the other a morphine dehydrogenase (MDH), have been isolated from bacteria. The AMCE degrades heroin to morphine and the MDH oxidizes morphine to morphinone, with the aid of a cofactor. More particularly, the invention pertains to a process for preparing a 6-ketone from morphine or a methyl or ethyl derivative thereof. The process comprises oxidizing morphine or an ether derivative in the presence of a morphine dehydrogenase and the cofactor NADP.sup.+. These reactions are used in detection of heroin (using the two reactions coupled together) or morphine. The enzymes can be incorporated in sensors for this purpose.

Abstract: Two enzymes, one an acetylmorphine carboxyesterase (AMCE), the other a morphine dehydrogenase (MDH), have been isolated from bacteria. The AMCE degrades heroin to morphine and the MDH oxidises morphine to morphinone, with the aid of a cofactor. These reactions are used in detection of heroin (using the two reactions coupled together) or morphine. The enzymes can be incorporated in sensors for this purpose.