US Patent 7767428 Salutaridinol 7-

This invention provides a salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase protein, a salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase gene, and a sequence which is complementary thereto. This invention further provides a method for the production of thebaine comprising the steps of (i) contacting in vitro a protein having salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase activity with salutaridinol and acetyl coenzyme A at pH 8 to 9, and (ii) recovering the thebaine thus produced.