The Nara Institute of Science and Technology in Japan recently reported research on the development of caffeine-producing transgenic tobacco plants tolerant to tobacco cutworms (Spodoptera litura). Previously, the researchers isolated genes encoding three distinct N-methyltransferases and demonstrated in vitro production of the recombinant enzymes responsible for caffeine yield. They also published a review of the metabolic engineering of the caffeine biosynthetic pathway utilizing both gene silencing and over-expression approaches. The application of this research supported further efforts to employ transgenic caffeine-expressing plants as insect repellents.

This sure would mess up the organic branding...

Caffeine Producing Transgenic Tobacco: A Novel Pest Control Strategy