The 200-year-old mystery of how the plant tobacco produces nicotine has been solved

Researchers found that tobacco makes nicotine by first attaching glucose, then removing it at the final step.

The team also identified the structures of two key enzymes, NaGR and NicGS, involved in the pathway.

The study from York University, the University of Copenhagen, and others solves a long-standing biological mystery.

The findings could help breed low-nicotine tobacco or engineer plants to produce medicines and vaccines.