title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fellermeier
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zenk
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000201:enzymology*; D004122:Dimethylallyltranstransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000378:metabolism; D012459:Salicylates / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D011756:Diphosphates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012118:Resorcinols; D012459:Salicylates; C100679:cannabigerolic acid; C112458:olivetolic acid; C016630:olivetol; D013759:Dronabinol; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C112459:geranylpyrophosphate olivetolate geranyltransferase; D004122:Dimethylallyltranstransferase