TY - JOUR
T1 - Recent advances in Cannabis sativa research
T2 - Biosynthetic studies and its potential in biotechnology
AU - Sirikantaramas, Supaart
AU - Taura, Futoshi
AU - Morimoto, Satoshi
AU - Shoyama, Yukihiro
PY - 2007/8/1
Y1 - 2007/8/1
N2 - Cannabinoids, consiting of alkylresorcinol and monoterpene groups, are the unique secondary metabolites that are found only in Cannabis sativa. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THQ, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBQ are well known cannabinoids and their pharmacological properties have been extensively studied. Recently, biosynthetic pathways of these cannabinoids have been successfully established. Several biosynthetic enzymes including geranylpyrophosphate: olivetolate geranyltransferase, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthase and cannabigerolic acid (CBCA) synthase have been purified from young rapidly expanding leaves of C. sativa. In addition, molecular cloning, characterization and localization of THCA synthase have been recently reported. THCA and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), its substrate, were shown to be apoptosis-inducing agents that might play a role in plant defense. Transgenic tobacco hairy roots expressing THCA synthase can produce THCA upon feeding. of CBGA. These results open the way for biotechnological production of cannabinoids in the future.
AB - Cannabinoids, consiting of alkylresorcinol and monoterpene groups, are the unique secondary metabolites that are found only in Cannabis sativa. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THQ, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBQ are well known cannabinoids and their pharmacological properties have been extensively studied. Recently, biosynthetic pathways of these cannabinoids have been successfully established. Several biosynthetic enzymes including geranylpyrophosphate: olivetolate geranyltransferase, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthase and cannabigerolic acid (CBCA) synthase have been purified from young rapidly expanding leaves of C. sativa. In addition, molecular cloning, characterization and localization of THCA synthase have been recently reported. THCA and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), its substrate, were shown to be apoptosis-inducing agents that might play a role in plant defense. Transgenic tobacco hairy roots expressing THCA synthase can produce THCA upon feeding. of CBGA. These results open the way for biotechnological production of cannabinoids in the future.
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U2 - 10.2174/138920107781387456
DO - 10.2174/138920107781387456
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17691992
AN - SCOPUS:34548311578
SN - 1389-2010
VL - 8
SP - 237
EP - 243
JO - Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
JF - Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
IS - 4
ER -