Prenylation of olivetolate by a hemp transferase yields cannabigerolic acid, the precursor of tetrahydrocannabinol
Abstract
A new enzyme, geranylpyrophosphate:olivetolate geranyltransferase (GOT), the first enzyme in the biosynthesis of cannabinoids could be detected in extracts of young leaves of Cannabis sativa. The enzyme accepts geranylpyrophosphate (GPP) and to a lesser degree also nerylpyrophosphate (NPP) as a cosubstrate. It is, however, specific for olivetolic acid; its decarboxylation product olivetol is inactive as a prenyl acceptor.
- Publication:
-
FEBS Letters
- Pub Date:
- January 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00450-5
- Bibcode:
- 1998FEBSL.427..283F
- Keywords:
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- Cannabis;
- Cannabigerolic acid biosynthesis;
- Geranylpyrophosphate:olivetolate geranyltransferase