The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids

Abstract Cannabis has been integral to Eurasian civilization for millennia, but a century of prohibition has limited investigation. With spreading legalization, science is pivoting to study the pharmacopeia of the cannabinoids, and a thorough understanding of their biosynthesis is required to engine...

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Main Authors: M. Nazir Tahir, Farsheed Shahbazi Raz, Simon Rondeau-Gagné, John F. Trant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-03-01
Series:Journal of Cannabis Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00062-4
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author M. Nazir Tahir
Farsheed Shahbazi Raz
Simon Rondeau-Gagné
John F. Trant
author_facet M. Nazir Tahir
Farsheed Shahbazi Raz
Simon Rondeau-Gagné
John F. Trant
author_sort M. Nazir Tahir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cannabis has been integral to Eurasian civilization for millennia, but a century of prohibition has limited investigation. With spreading legalization, science is pivoting to study the pharmacopeia of the cannabinoids, and a thorough understanding of their biosynthesis is required to engineer strains with specific cannabinoid profiles. This review surveys the biosynthesis and biochemistry of cannabinoids. The pathways and the enzymes’ mechanisms of action are discussed as is the non-enzymatic decarboxylation of the cannabinoic acids. There are still many gaps in our knowledge about the biosynthesis of the cannabinoids, especially for the minor components, and this review highlights the tools and approaches that will be applied to generate an improved understanding and consequent access to these potentially biomedically-relevant materials. Graphical abstract
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2522-5782
language English
publishDate 2021-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Cannabis Research
spelling doaj-art-07e837d78b7d4c77ae8e129ac8f4fab02025-08-20T03:05:57ZengBMCJournal of Cannabis Research2522-57822021-03-013111210.1186/s42238-021-00062-4The biosynthesis of the cannabinoidsM. Nazir Tahir0Farsheed Shahbazi Raz1Simon Rondeau-Gagné2John F. Trant3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of WindsorDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of WindsorDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of WindsorDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of WindsorAbstract Cannabis has been integral to Eurasian civilization for millennia, but a century of prohibition has limited investigation. With spreading legalization, science is pivoting to study the pharmacopeia of the cannabinoids, and a thorough understanding of their biosynthesis is required to engineer strains with specific cannabinoid profiles. This review surveys the biosynthesis and biochemistry of cannabinoids. The pathways and the enzymes’ mechanisms of action are discussed as is the non-enzymatic decarboxylation of the cannabinoic acids. There are still many gaps in our knowledge about the biosynthesis of the cannabinoids, especially for the minor components, and this review highlights the tools and approaches that will be applied to generate an improved understanding and consequent access to these potentially biomedically-relevant materials. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00062-4Cannabinoid biosynthesisEnzymatic transformationC. sativaDecarboxylationEnzymatic mechanism
spellingShingle M. Nazir Tahir
Farsheed Shahbazi Raz
Simon Rondeau-Gagné
John F. Trant
The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
Journal of Cannabis Research
Cannabinoid biosynthesis
Enzymatic transformation
C. sativa
Decarboxylation
Enzymatic mechanism
title The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
title_full The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
title_fullStr The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
title_full_unstemmed The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
title_short The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
title_sort biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
topic Cannabinoid biosynthesis
Enzymatic transformation
C. sativa
Decarboxylation
Enzymatic mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00062-4
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