The Gene Controlling Marijuana Psychoactivity

[XPATSEEDS]

From the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

 

 

 

http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/279/38/39767

[Luke Skywalker]

Great stuff! I'll be reading that one tonight @ home...

 

God I love botany....

 

*goes away to molest paphiopedilum*

 

*wonders if that makes him a foot fetishist*

 

*wonders if anyone got that*

[Luke Skywalker]

I guess not...

 

Anyway, if anyone else got through that, you would have read a very interesting paper...

 

Here's the most important bits I think can be extracted...

 

 

The liquid culture of the recombinant tobacco hairy roots harboring THCAS converted CBGA into THCA. This result provided not only direct evidence for the in vivo functionality of THCAS but also a potential biotechnological production system for THC, since CBGA is easy to synthesize

 

translation - They discovered and transplanted the gene for THC synthesis, which they've called THCAS, ( 1-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase cDNA) into some tobacco root cultures which they've taken from tobacco plants which were infected via a virus which carried the THCAS genes. These cultured roots then produced THCA when exposed to CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) and thus, they've discovered the specific genetic sequence which allows MJ to do what no other species on the planet, (until these guys got monkeying around that is) is able to do, which is create THC and all the wonderful variants of cannabinoids.

 

Also, note this...

Further molecular studies on cannabinoid biosynthesis may develop a biomimetic production system for THCA without the need for feeding precursors.

 

:thumbsup potentially having cultured GM organisms which can untertake THCA and other cannabinoids on demand, at specific levels and concentrations.....

 

and finally, my favourite...

 

In addition, THCAS would also contribute to the artificial control of THCA production in C. sativa. For example, overexpression of THCA synthase will produce THCA-rich plants with increased therapeutic potential. Because there has been no report on transgenic Cannabis plants, an efficient transformation system for this plant should be established before genetic modifications. However, cloning of THCAS, the gene controlling marijuana psychoactivity, is undoubtedly a key step in producing novel C. sativa plants suitable for medicinal applications.

 

Now there's a kick ass idea....

 

Of course, it would likely mean long and arduous work inserting multiple sequences of this gene into a strain, or even trying to express it stronger with other methods, but damn, it could be very close to GM cannabis with super-THC production. These guys have got the science, and managed to make tobacco produce thc, I'm sure that some enterprising young person out there will do the same with an already strong strain and produce our first super-strain.

 

We must be careful though, as with any genetic modification, there could be many unintented consequences. Still, sounds great to me.

 

Thanks again for that XPAT! Great read!

 

Anyone got a micropropogation/genetic laboratory I can borrow? :whistling