Origins of THC, CBD and CBC in Cannabis Revealed

Origins of THC, CBD and CBC in cannabis revealed

Where do the well-known cannabis compounds THC, CBD and CBC come from? Researchers at Wageningen University & Research have experimentally demonstrated for the first time how cannabis acquired the ability to produce these cannabinoids. In the process, they also developed enzymes that show promise for the biotechnological production of cannabinoids for medicinal applications.

By reconstructing extinct enzymes from millions of years ago, researchers show that cannabis evolved the ability to produce THC, CBD and CBC through gene duplication and enzyme specialization, identifying ancestral enzymes with potential for biotechnologi