Antibody-catalyzed oxidation of delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol

J Am Chem Soc. 2007 Mar 28;129(12):3698-702. doi: 10.1021/ja070022m. Epub 2007 Mar 3.

Abstract

Marijuana abuse continues to plague society and the lack of effective treatments warrants concern. Catalytic antibodies capable of oxidatively degrading the major psychoactive component of marijuana, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), are presented. The antibodies generate reactive oxygen species from singlet oxygen (1O2*), using riboflavin (vitamin B2) and visible light as the 1O2* source. Cannabitriol was identified as the major degradation product of this reaction, demonstrating the ability of an antibody to catalyze a complex chemical transformation with therapeutic implications for treating marijuana abuse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Dronabinol / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Dronabinol