Discovery and engineering the biosynthesis of novel cannabinoid pharmaceuticals

由于私营部门与学术界之间的密切联系，加拿大自大麻娱乐和医疗用途合法化以来一直在引领世界各地的大麻科学和技术发展。随着越来越多的证据表明人类内源性大麻素系统在神经传递和神经保护中的重要性，现在很明显，可以影响其稳态的药物将为许多与该系统密切相关的神经退行性疾病和免疫疾病提供新的治疗方法。近年来，在几种不相关的植物中发现了一类新的大麻素--联苄基大麻素，与大麻类化合物相比，它具有上级和新的生物活性。其生物合成的发现和工程将通过提供新的药物来帮助有需要的患者，从而进一步推动大麻素的创新。Tetra Bio Pharma Inc.该公司从事开发含有大麻素衍生分子和其他药用植物成分的生物制药、天然保健和兽医产品。凭借药理学方面的集体专业知识（Tetra Bio Pharma Inc.）和天然产物生物合成（新玩法大学），我们将1）揭示二苄基大麻素的生物合成，并进一步设计其结构，2）开发生物技术，通过代谢工程有效生产，3）评估其生物活性，以供将来开发成临床有用的药物。为期三年的项目将使11名学员参与产学合作研究，并发展他们的科学和专业技能。该项目的发现和工程工作不仅有利于未来开发植物药物的研究，而且还为加拿大生物经济和加拿大大麻经济创造价值。

With its strong connections between the private sector and academia, Canada has been leading cannabis science and technology development around the world since the legalization of both recreational and medical uses of cannabis. With mounting evidence of the importance of the human endocannabinoid system in neurotransmission and neuroprotection, it is now clear that pharmaceuticals that can impact its homeostasis will offer new treatments for many neurodegenerative and immune diseases that are closely associated with this system. Recently, bibenzyl cannabinoids, a new class of cannabinoids, have been identified in several unrelated plant species shown to possess superior and new bio activities compared to their cannabis counterparts. Discovery and engineering of their biosynthesis will further cannabinoid innovation by providing new pharmaceuticals to help patients in need. The partner company Tetra Bio Pharma Inc. is engaged in developing biopharmaceuticals, natural health and veterinary products containing cannabinoid-derived molecules and other medicinal plant-based elements. With collective expertise in pharmacology (Tetra Bio Pharma Inc.) and natural product biosynthesis (University of New Brunswick), we will 1) uncover the biosynthesis of bibenzyl cannabinoids and further engineer their structures, 2) develop biotechnology for their efficient production by metabolic engineering, and 3) evaluate their bioactivity for their future development into clinically useful drugs. The 3-year project will allow 11 trainees to participate in industry-academia collaborative research and develop their scientific and professional skills. The discovery and engineering efforts in this project will not only benefit future research on developing plant-based medicines, but also create value to the Canadian bioeconomy and the Canadian cannabis economy.