title: Analysis of THCA synthase gene expression in cannabis: a preliminary study by real-time quantitative PCR.
abstract: In this paper we describe analyses performed by Real-Time Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time RT-PCR) on RNA of 12 samples, carried out for forensic purposes to investigate a correlation between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration in Cannabis and the tetrahydrocannabinol acid synthase (THCAS) gene expression. Samples were obtained from an experimental cultivation of declared potency Cannabis variety seeds and from seizures. The Rubisco gene and the 26S ribosomal RNA gene were used as internal control genes for their constant expression and stability. As results we found minor gene expression in samples from leaves of young plants. Further, grouping results for cannabis samples with similar characteristics, we have found an increased relative expression in samples with the highest percentage of THC coming from seized sample and adult plants.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy. f.cascini@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Fidelia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cascini
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passerotti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boschi
mesh_terms: D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000032:analysis; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C034477:RNA primers; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C065096:RNA, ribosomal, 26S; D012313:RNA; D013759:Dronabinol; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C100677:delta(1)-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase
keywords: Cannabis; Forensic science; Potency; RNA; Real-time PCR; THCA synthase gene; Tetrahydrocannabinol; Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid