Generation of a Comprehensive Transcriptome Atlas and Transcriptome Dynamics in Medicinal Cannabis

Abstract

Cannabinoids are the main medicinal compounds of interest in the plant Cannabis sativa, that are primarily synthesised in the glandular trichomes; found on female floral buds. The content, composition and yield of secondary metabolites (cannabinoids and terpenoids) is influenced by the plant’s genetics and environment. Some initial gene expression experiments have been performed from strains of this plant species that contrasted in cannabinoid production, however the present knowledge about detailed trichome transcriptomics in this species is limited. An extensive transcriptome atlas was generated by RNA sequencing using root, shoot, flower and trichome tissues from a female plant strain (Cannbio-2) and was enhanced with the addition of vegetative and reproductive tissues from a male cannabis plant. Differential gene expression analysis identified genes preferentially expressed in different tissues. Detailed trichomics was performed from extractions specifically from glandular trichomes as well as female floral tissues at varying developmental stages, to identify stage-specific differentially expressed genes. Candidate genes involved in terpene and cannabinoid synthesis were identified and the majority were found to have an abundant expression in trichomes. The comprehensive transcriptome is a significant resource in cannabis for further research of functional genomics to improve the yield of specialised metabolites with high pharmacological value.

Terpene Synthases and Terpene Variation in Cannabis sativa

“…6B). This observation is in agreement with previous reports on the cannabis MEP and MEV pathways and selected CsTPS genes previously reported by Booth et al, (2017), Braich et al (2019), and Livingston et al (2020).…”

Metabolic Engineering Strategies of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): A Brief Review of the Advances and Challenges

“…Recently, hemp phytochemical pathway genes have been extensively studied via omics approaches ( Braich et al, 2019 ; Vincent et al, 2019 ; Gao et al, 2020 ). However, the characterization of function on most of phytochemical pathway genes remains to be studied.…”

New frontiers: harnessing pivotal advances in microbial engineering for the biosynthesis of plant-derived terpenoids

“…Detailed transcriptomics performed on extractions from glandular trichomes as well as female floral tissues of Cannabis sativa at varying developmental stages indicate that candidate genes involved in terpene and cannabinoid synthesis have abundant expression in trichomes [7]. A recent study acquired high quality glandular trichome transcriptomes from nine different commercial cannabis strains in an attempt to characterize terpene synthases [8].…”