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Biosynthesis and degradation of the endocannabinoid 2‐arachidonoylglycerol

Biosynthesis and degradation of the endocannabinoid 2‐arachidonoylglycerol 2‐Arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) is a monoacylglycerol (MAG) molecule containing an esterified arachidonic acid chain at sn‐2 position of the glycerol backbone. Together with structurally similar N‐arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), 2‐AG has been extensively studied as an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors (an endocannabinoid) in brain and other mammalian tissues. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the endocannabinoid system, including the central‐type cannabinoid receptor CB1 and 2‐AG, is responsible for synaptic retrograde signaling in the central nervous system. As 2‐AG is rapidly formed from membrane phospholipids on cellular stimuli and degraded to arachidonic acid and glycerol, the enzymes catalyzing its biosynthesis and degradation are believed to play crucial roles in the regulation of its tissue levels. The major biosynthetic pathway appears to consist of sequential hydrolyses of inositol phospholipids via diacylglycerol (DAG) by β‐type phospholipase C and DAG lipase, while MAG lipase is a principal enzyme in the degradation. In this short review, we will briefly outline rapid advances in enzymological research on the biosynthetic and degradative pathways of 2‐AG. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png BioFactors Wiley

Biosynthesis and degradation of the endocannabinoid 2‐arachidonoylglycerol

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References (74)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0951-6433
eISSN
1872-8081
DOI
10.1002/biof.131
pmid
21328621
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

2‐Arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) is a monoacylglycerol (MAG) molecule containing an esterified arachidonic acid chain at sn‐2 position of the glycerol backbone. Together with structurally similar N‐arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), 2‐AG has been extensively studied as an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors (an endocannabinoid) in brain and other mammalian tissues. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the endocannabinoid system, including the central‐type cannabinoid receptor CB1 and 2‐AG, is responsible for synaptic retrograde signaling in the central nervous system. As 2‐AG is rapidly formed from membrane phospholipids on cellular stimuli and degraded to arachidonic acid and glycerol, the enzymes catalyzing its biosynthesis and degradation are believed to play crucial roles in the regulation of its tissue levels. The major biosynthetic pathway appears to consist of sequential hydrolyses of inositol phospholipids via diacylglycerol (DAG) by β‐type phospholipase C and DAG lipase, while MAG lipase is a principal enzyme in the degradation. In this short review, we will briefly outline rapid advances in enzymological research on the biosynthetic and degradative pathways of 2‐AG.

Journal

BioFactorsWiley

Published: Jan 1, 2011

Keywords: ; ; ;

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