Linked Life Data

9006968

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/9006968

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-3-10
pubmed:abstractText
It has been suggested that anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine), an endogenous cannabinoid substance, may be produced through Ca2+-stimulated hydrolysis of the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivative N-arachidonoyl PE. The presence of N-arachidonoyl PE in adult brain tissue and the enzyme pathways that underlie its biosynthesis are, however, still undetermined. We report here that rat brain tissue contains both anandamide (11 +/- 7 pmol/gm wet tissue) and N-arachidonoyl PE (22 +/- 16 pmol/gm), as assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We describe a N-acyltransferase activity in brain that catalyzes the biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyl PE by transferring an arachidonate group from the sn-1 carbon of phospholipids to the amino group of PE. We also show that sn-1 arachidonoyl phospholipids are present in brain, where they constitute approximately 0.5% of total phospholipids. N-acyltransferase activity is Ca2+ dependent and is enriched in brain and testis. Within the brain, N-acyltransferase activity is highest in brainstem; intermediate in cortex, striatum, hippocampus, medulla, and cerebellum; and lowest in thalamus, hypothalamus, and olfactory bulb. Pharmacological inhibition of N-acyltransferase activity in primary cultures of cortical neurons prevents Ca2+-stimulated N-arachidonoyl PE biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate, therefore, that rat brain tissue contains the complement of enzymatic activity and lipid substrates necessary for the biosynthesis of the anandamide precursor N-arachidonoyl PE. They also suggest that biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyl PE and formation of anandamide are tightly coupled processes, which may concomitantly be stimulated by elevations in intracellular Ca2+ occurring during neural activity.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0270-6474
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
17
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1226-42
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Occurrence and biosynthesis of endogenous cannabinoid precursor, N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, in rat brain.
pubmed:affiliation
The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't