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Behavioral Neurobiology of the Endocannabinoid System pp 3–35Cite as

The Life Cycle of the Endocannabinoids: Formation and Inactivation

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 1))

Abstract

In this chapter, we summarise the current thinking about the nature of endocannabinoids. In describing the life cycle of these agents, we highlight the synthetic and catabolic enzymes suggested to be involved. For each of these, we provide a systematic analysis of information on sequence, subcellular and cellular distribution, as well as physiological and pharmacological substrates, enhancers and inhibitors, together with brief descriptions of the impact of manipulating enzyme levels through genetic mechanisms (dealt with in more detail in the chapter “Genetic Models of the Endocannabinoid System” by Monory and Lutz, this volume). In addition, we describe experiments investigating the stimulation of endocannabinoid synthesis and release in intact cell systems.

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Abbreviations

2AG:

2-Arachidonoylglycerol

2AG-3P:

2-Arachidonoylglycerol-3-phosphate

AEA:

Anandamide, N-arachidonoylethanolamine

COX:

Cyclooxygenase

DAG:

Diacylglycerol

DGL:

Diacylglycerol lipase

DSI:

Depolarization-evoked suppression of inhibition

ECB:

Endocannabinoid

EET:

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid

Epac:

Exchange protein activated by cyclic AMP

FAAH:

Fatty acid amide hydrolase

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

LPI:

Lysophosphatidylinositol

LPLC:

Lysophospholipase C

LPLD:

Lysophospholipase D

lysoNAPE:

Lyso-N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine

MAFP:

Methylarachidonylfluorophosphonate

MGL:

Monoacylglycerol lipase

NAAA:

N-Acylethanolamine acid amidase

NAE:

N-Acylethanolamine

NAPE:

N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine

ODA:

Oleamide

OEA:

N-Oleoylethanolamine

PE:

Phosphatidylethanolamine

PEA:

N-Palmitoylethanolamine

PIP2 :

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate

PLA1 :

Phospholipase A1

PLA2 :

Phospholipase A2

PLB:

Phospholipase B

PLC:

Phospholipase C

PLD:

Phospholipase D

SEA:

N-Stearoylethanolamine

THL:

Tetrahydrolipstatin

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  1. School of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Stephen P. H. Alexander & David A. Kendall

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    Stephen Alexander

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Alexander, S.P.H., Kendall, D.A. (2009). The Life Cycle of the Endocannabinoids: Formation and Inactivation. In: Kendall, D., Alexander, S. (eds) Behavioral Neurobiology of the Endocannabinoid System. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88955-7_1

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