Organic Seminar – Tyler Dabritz

About the event

Speaker: Tyler Dabritz

Group: Dr. Bernd Lange

Title: Pools of Hidden Conjugates Underlie Prenylated Sulfur Volatile Emission from Cannabis

Abstract

The aroma profile of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) flowers is characterized by a complex array of volatiles that contribute to its distinctive skunky or “gassy” notes, particularly during the flowering and storage phases. Central to this aroma are prenylated volatile sulfur compounds (pVSCs), including prenylthiol, prenylthioacetate, and bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl) disulfide. Despite extensive documentation of VSCs in various cannabis chemotypes, their biosynthetic pathways remain poorly understood. Recent studies demonstrate that the exposure of cannabis inflorescence to tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) leads to a significant release of pVSCs, suggesting a latent reservoir of these odorants. Furthermore, the synthesis of sulfide- and disulfide-bonded prenyl conjugates of GSH and L-Cys, used as authentic standards, allows for a comprehensive analysis of cannabis extracts. This presentation will focus on our labs contribution, the synthesis of relevant conjugates and characterization using HPLC-MS and NMR techniques. Preliminary findings from our collaborators at ProVerede and Abstrax, indicate that while disulfide-bonded conjugates are present at low levels, sulfide-bonded variants accumulate significantly, highlighting the potential for targeted modulation of thiol release to enhance cannabis aroma profiles.