Description:biosynthesis. Norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) catalyzes the first committed step in BIA biosynthesis in plants. NCS cDNAs were isolated from an opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) elicited cell sequenee in lables as rollows: NeSI PR I 01 MLP Crable 2.4); BBEI F AD-dependenl. Crable 2.5); OMT