Nolan Matthew, Guo Qi, Liu Lei, Dimopoulos Nicolas, Garcia-de Heer Lennard, Barkla Bronwyn J, Kretzschmar Tobias
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
Plant Cell Rep. 2025 Jan 13;44(2):30. doi: 10.1007/s00299-024-03410-9.
Cannabis trichome development progresses in distinct phases that underpin the dynamic biosynthesis of cannabinoids and terpenes. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying cannabinoid and terpenoid biosynthesis in glandular trichomes of Cannabis sativa (CsGTs) throughout their development. Female Cannabis sativa c. Hindu Kush were cultivated under controlled conditions, and trichome development was analysed from week 3 to week 8 of the flowering period. We employed light microscopy, quantitative metabolomics and proteomics to analyse morphological changes in trichome secretory cell development, and temporal changes in metabolite accumulation and protein abundance. Our findings identified three distinct developmental phases: pre-secretory (T3), secretory (T6), and post-secretory (T8), the first time the three phases of trichome development have been identified and investigated in CsGTs. The pre-secretory phase was characterized by smaller secretory cells, limited metabolite accumulation and elevated levels of proteins involved in protein biosynthesis and cellular development. The secretory phase exhibited the highest biosynthetic activity, marked by larger secretory cells, increased plastidal activity, central carbon metabolism, and significant accumulation of cannabinoids and terpenoids. The post-secretory phase showed a decrease in secretory cell size, reduced metabolic activity, and a decrease in the abundance of primary and secondary metabolism enzymes, although THCA continued to accumulate. Key enzymes showed dynamic changes correlating with the stages of trichome development. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating cannabinoid and terpenoid biosynthesis in CsGTs, offering insights for enhancing the production of these valuable compounds through targeted breeding and biotechnological approaches.
大麻腺毛发育经历不同阶段，这些阶段是大麻素和萜类化合物动态生物合成的基础。本研究调查了大麻（CsGTs）腺毛在整个发育过程中，大麻素和萜类化合物生物合成的分子机制。雌性印度大麻在可控条件下种植，在花期第3周和第8周分析腺毛发育情况。我们采用光学显微镜、定量代谢组学和蛋白质组学，分析腺毛分泌细胞发育的形态变化，以及代谢物积累和蛋白质丰度的时间变化。我们的研究结果确定了三个不同的发育阶段：分泌前期（T3）、分泌期（T6）和分泌后期（T8），这是首次在CsGTs中识别和研究腺毛发育的三个阶段。分泌前期的特点是分泌细胞较小，代谢物积累有限，参与蛋白质生物合成和细胞发育的蛋白质水平升高。分泌期表现出最高的生物合成活性，其特征是分泌细胞较大，质体活性增加，中心碳代谢增强，大麻素和萜类化合物大量积累。分泌后期分泌细胞大小减小，代谢活性降低，初级和次级代谢酶丰度下降，尽管四氢大麻酸（THCA）继续积累。关键酶显示出与腺毛发育阶段相关的动态变化。本研究全面了解了调控CsGTs中大麻素和萜类化合物生物合成的分子机制，为通过定向育种和生物技术方法提高这些有价值化合物的产量提供了见解。
