Endophytic Fungi in Cannabis sativa Produce Novel Terpene Synthases
Martinez R, Hesse B, Yamamoto K
Mycorrhizal Networks
Invisible fungi living inside everyday plants — including ones in your garden — may be quietly producing chemicals that could one day become medicines or crop protectants we haven't even imagined yet.
Tiny fungi live inside cannabis plants without causing any harm, and researchers found that these fungi carry genetic instructions for making brand-new natural chemicals never seen before. When scientists coaxed those genes to work in a lab setting, three new substances came out — and all three showed an ability to reduce inflammation at low doses. This hints that the partnerships between plants and their internal fungi are a hidden library of useful compounds waiting to be discovered.
Key Findings
7 novel fungal terpene synthase genes were identified with no close matches in any existing scientific database
3 previously unknown sesquiterpene compounds were successfully produced in the lab from these genes
All 3 novel compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 2–8 µM, indicating potency at low concentrations
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered that fungi living inside cannabis plants carry genes for making entirely new chemical compounds. Three of these novel compounds showed promising anti-inflammatory effects in lab tests, suggesting plant-fungal partnerships are an untapped source of useful medicines.
Abstract Preview
Metagenomic analysis of cannabis endophytes identified 7 fungal terpene synthase genes with no close homologs in public databases. Heterologous expression yielded 3 novel sesquiterpenes with anti-i...
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Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species being recognized: Cannabis sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Al...