Professor Kazufumi Yazaki, a plant molecular
biologist at Kyoto University's Research Institute for Sustainable
Humanosphere, has spent three years identifying the Nt-JAT1 gene as the
transporter for nicotine.
He says he now aims to produce a cigarette that still tastes of tobacco
but is less addictive.
"We will proceed now with experiments to raise tobacco plants that have
no nicotine in their leaves, although there may still be some problems
to overcome," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"For example, we may find that blocking the transfer leads to
accumulation of the nicotine in the root cells and that could prove
toxic to the plant itself."
Japan has a relatively high rate of smoking, with a study by Japan
Tobacco in May 2008 showing that 39.5 percent of men and 12.9 percent of
women smoke.
The figure for men was marginally lower than one year previously,
although the figure for women was higher.
According to government statistics, more than 63,000
people die of lung cancer each year in Japan, the leading cause of cancer
deaths.
Professor Yazaki, who is not a smoker, says his breakthrough will be of
particular assistance for people who are trying to give up the habit.
"It has been pointed out that people smoke for the nicotine, but there are a
lot of people who want to quit and have tried to stop, but say they miss the
sensation of having a cigarette in their mouth," he said. "There are people
who will smoke regardless of whether the cigarette contains nicotine or
not."
Perhaps the biggest hurdle that Professor Yazaki needs to overcome is
funding to continue his research, he said, as his grant runs out at the end
of the fiscal year, in March.
"This is very important to human health, so perhaps I should start talking
to Japan Tobacco," he said. "Maybe they will finance my studies."
