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Cannabidiolic-acid synthase, the chemotype-determining enzyme in the fiber-type Cannabis sativa.

Taura F, Sirikantaramas S, Shoyama Y, Yoshikai K, Shoyama Y, Morimoto S

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. taura@phar.kyushu-u.ac.jp <taura@phar.kyushu-u.ac.jp>

Cannabidiolic-acid (CBDA) synthase is the enzyme that catalyzes oxidative cyclization of cannabigerolic-acid into CBDA, the dominant cannabinoid constituent of the fiber-type Cannabis sativa. We cloned a novel cDNA encoding CBDA synthase by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactions with degenerate and gene-specific primers. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme demonstrated that CBDA synthase is a covalently flavinylated oxidase. The structural and functional properties of CBDA synthase are quite similar to those of tetrahydrocannabinolic-acid (THCA) synthase, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of THCA, the major cannabinoid in drug-type Cannabis plants.

Published 18 June 2007 in FEBS Lett, 581(16): 2929-34.
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