Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is an outstanding source of bioactive natural products, with more than 150 different phytocannabinoids isolated throughout the decades; however, studies of their bioactivity have historically concentrated on the so-called “big four” [∆⁹-THC (1a), CBD (2a), CBG (3a) and CBC (4a)]. Among the remaining products, which have traditionally been referred to as “minor cannabinoids”, cannabinol (CBN, 5a) stands out for its important repercussions and implications on the global scientific landscape. Throughout this review, we will describe why CBN (5a) deserves a prominent place within the so-called “cannabinome”, providing an overview on its history, the syntheses developed, and its bioactivity, highlighting its promising pharmacological potential and the significant impact that the study of its chemistry had on the development of new synthetic methodologies.

Hydroxylysine glycosylations are post-translational modifications (PTMs) essential for the maturation and homeostasis of fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagen molecules. The multifunctional collagen lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3/PLOD3) and the collagen galactosyltransferase GLT25D1 are the human enzymes that have been identified as being responsible for the glycosylation of collagen lysines, although a precise description of the contribution of each enzyme to these essential PTMs has not yet been provided in the literature. LH3/PLOD3 is thought to be capable of performing two chemically distinct collagen glycosyltransferase reactions using the same catalytic site: an inverting beta-1,O-galactosylation of hydroxylysines (Gal-T) and a retaining alpha-1,2-glucosylation of galactosyl hydroxylysines (Glc-T). In this work, we have combined indirect luminescence-based assays with direct mass spectrometry-based assays and molecular structure studies to demonstrate that LH3/PLOD3 only has Glc-T activity and that GLT25D1 only has Gal-T activity. Structure-guided mutagenesis confirmed that the Glc-T activity is defined by key residues in the first-shell environment of the glycosyltransferase catalytic site as well as by long-range contributions from residues within the same glycosyltransferase (GT) domain. By solving the molecular structures and characterizing the interactions and solving the molecular structures of human LH3/PLOD3 in complex with different UDP-sugar analogs, we show how these studies could provide insights for LH3/PLOD3 glycosyltransferase inhibitor development. Collectively, our data provide new tools for the direct investigation of collagen hydroxylysine PTMs and a comprehensive overview of the complex network of shapes, charges, and interactions that enable LH3/PLOD3 glycosyltransferase activities, expanding the molecular framework and facilitating an improved understanding and manipulation of glycosyltransferase functions in biomedical applications.